Josh Fix--Free At Last
Favorite Tracks: "Don't Call Me in the Morning", "Whiskey & Speed", "Bad With the Superbad"

Rose Hill Drive--Moon Is The New Earth

Favorite Tracks: "Laughing in the Streets", "Altar Junkie", "The 8th Wonder"

Alkaline Trio--Agony & Irony

Relentlessly catchy songs with huge choruses mark a definite change in direction for Alkaline Trio.  They've morphed their music from the hard punk of their earlier releases to some of finest punk-laced Pop/Rock around.  In fact, "Agony & Irony" plants them smack in the middle of other heavyweights of the genre like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and All-American Rejects. 

 While the lyrics are not exactly uplifting, the melodies are mostly bright, hummable parties for the ears.  The soaring chorus of "Do You Wanna Know?" is one of the many highlights here and "Love Love, Kiss Kiss" features some great two-part harmonies and a chorus that'll have you singing along just as soon as the love love, kiss kiss, blah blah blah sinks forever into your skull.  The first single "Help Me" is radio-ready, and as deserving of heavy rotation as anything Foo Fighters or Weezer have offered up recently.
Favorite Tracks: "Love Love, Kiss Kiss", "Do You Wanna Know?", "Help Me"

King's X--XV
Favorite Tracks: "Free", "I Just Want To Live", "I Don't Know"

The Pink Spiders--Sweat It Out

The Pink Spiders have hammered out a glammy, sparkly good time with their latest, "Sweat It Out".  This album pretty much smokes from start to finish with a mash-up of big Power Pop tunes.  From the very first listen, you'll marvel at the consistently top-notch songs that jam-pack this release.

The CD's leadoff track "Busy Signals" comes complete with sneaky snyths, buzzy guitars, Jellyfish-y harmonies and even cowbell...really, how much more do you need?  And if that wasn't enough, the next track "Gimme Chemicals" shouts it's way into your head with it's huge, glam-rock goodness!  This is seriously a lot of fun and if you're a fan of Ok Go, Butch Walker, Everybody Else or even the one-time wonder that was Imperial Drag, there's little doubt that "Sweat It Out" will have you high-kicking within moments of pressing play.
Favorite Tracks: "Gimme Chemicals", "Busy Signals", "Falling With Every Step"

Weezer--Weezer (red)
Favorite Tracks: "Automatic", "Troublemaker", "Pork and Beans"

Mike Viola--Lurch
Favorite Tracks: "You're Alright But You Never Admit When You're Wrong", "So Much Better", "The Strawberry Blonde"

Rick Springfield--Venus In Overdrive
Favorite Tracks: "What's Victoria's Secret?", "She", "I'll Miss That Someday"

Diffuser--Sincerely, Wasting Away
Favorite Tracks: "Redefined", "Shallow", "Free"

Class Three Overbite--Horses For Courses

Class Three Overbite has assembled a collection of refreshingly different tunes that pay tribute to their influences but have their own unique sound. Melodic pop is the best overall description of the CD, but it flirts with dance, funk and some country-tinged acoustic pop as well.
Now that I've tried to describe the sound of Class Three Overbite, I'll state that their guitar work and vocals are better than ever. What about the songs themselves? The chorus of "Sunshine" and it's underlying orchestration will undoubtedly have you recalling ELO. The complexities and polish of "Dropping The Bombs" tips it's hat to the music of Adrian Belew and The Bears, while "Reptiles" and it's vocals and circus big top melody definitely has a Jellyfish vibe.
"Porn Addict" is a playful romp that is as radio-ready as anything on the album. It's upper register vocals and sleazy funk sound sticks instantly between the ears.  One of the surprises you'll hear is "Wait For Me". It's a sparse, silky-smooth ballad that during it's last moments, reveals its desire to be a big arena rock beast.  "She Can't Make A Decision" is a classic example of Class Three Overbite and their ability to put together a song that is as different as it is catchy. It's got a Stone Temple Pilots meets King's X flavor and it features some great guitar.
You can also dance to the driving beat behind "Lex Luthor". This song is loaded with those aforementioned little touches that add so much depth to the music. Again, it's great when bands sweat the details and there are plenty of examples of that here. And not to sound like a broken record about the guitar work, but this tune features an oh-so-sweet solo.  "You'd Better Love" is a great closing song and is a very nice Lennon-flavored ballad with Beatles influences in abundance.  You'd better do yourself a favor and treat yourself to Class Three Overbite's latest pop wonder.
Favorite Tracks: "She Can't Make A Decision", "Reptiles", "You'd Better Love"