Artists Q thru
T
Kevin Reeves--Its' About Time
Soaring harmonies and sparkling vocals are the order of business on Kevin Reeves' great new release It's About Time. Reeves' songs echo the sounds of acts like Jellyfish, PFR, Bleu and The Tories. The production here sounds top-notch even though we've learned it was pretty much patched together in his apartment on a small budget (ah, the wonders of technology). Reeves songs are melodic trips with enough twists and turns and ooohs and aaahs to satisfy the most rabid seeker of catchy rock.
Featured Tracks: "Afraid and Alone", "Said and Done", "The Game"
Retrograde--Headphones EP (self-released)
A hard-rocking, melodic good time! Retrograde's crushing music is an exciting blend of heavier than lead guitars and outstanding lead and backing vocals. This EP features four new songs, two from an upcoming full-length release, and a killer remake of Peter Gabriel's "Digging In The Dirt". Retrograde's music seems a mix of Foo Fighters, Year of the Rabbit, Magna-Fi and Incubus. This EP is nothing less than a great shot of Rock and Roll from a supremely talented band.
Favorite Tracks: "Letting Go", "Headphones", "The Cure"
Retrograde--The Frequency We Share (MapleNationWide/Universal)
This release is the follow-up to 2004's HEADPHONES ep, which made our "Best of 2004" list. These rockers from north of the border have done it again with another collection of hard rock songs with some stunning vocals and harmonies. The lead vocals of Toby Hulse range from cord-shredding to pillow-soft and at times it seems he's channeling Freddie Mercury. The rest of the band is super tight with power chords in check. Retrograde is a huge band with a huge sound that seems poised for a huge following.
Featured Tracks: "The Frequency We Share", "Looking Into You", "The Unknown"
Riddlin' Kids--Stop The World (Aware Records)
"Stop The World" is a major-label release riddled with smart, powerful punk-emo-pop. Riddlin' Kids is a hard-rocking outfit that pounds home tight, melodic songs much like Lit, The Black Mollys and Diffuser.
Featured Tracks: "Never Live It Down", "Promise You Anything", "Just Another Day"
Rooney--Rooney (Geffen)
"Imagine Ric Ocasek and Rivers Cuomo having an illicit love child . . . Throw in a few other classic Britpop references here and there and you've got the fun sound of Rooney."--PopMatters.com
This one just keeps getting better with each listen! Great major-label Power Pop!
Favorite Tracks: "That Girl Has Love", "I'm Shakin'", "If It Were Up To Me"
Second Saturday--Greetings From Mount Rockmore (self-released)
Smokin' hot Power Pop packs this EP from Second Saturday. Listen to this release and try to dismiss the classic summertime sounds of "The Fox". Take your best shot and try to ignore the spell-along chorus of "Arianna". Attempt to keep your feet from tapping along to the punchy beats and atmospheric harmonies of "Have You Held On?". This is totally top-notch Power Pop. More PLEASE!!!!
Featured Tracks: "Arianna", "Stand Off", "Have You Held On?"
Shades Apart--"Eyewitness" (Universal)
Similar Artists: Sugarbomb, Oleander, Foo Fighters
Favorite Tracks: "Stranger By The Day", "Sputnik (Watching Over You)", "Know-It-All"
Similar Artists: Dada, Vertical Horizon
Favorite Tracks: "High", "Maybe Someday", "The Loneliest Person I Know"
Stara Zagora--Stara Zagora (myspace.com)
More and more often, the record companies confuse the hell out of us. How a band like Stara Zagora escapes the exposure they deserve is practically insane. Take a listen to the three tunes we are streaming for you and try to solve the mystery yourself. It isn't possible for Modern Rock to sound better than this.
Featured Tracks: "Dustbin Parade", "Our Own Device", "Luster"
Similar Artists: Foo Fighters, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello
Favorite Tracks: "I Confess To All This Mess", "New Tokyo", "Get Set For Sound"
The Stereo--"Rewind+Record" (Fueled By Ramen)
Similar Artists: Foo Fighters, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello
Favorite Tracks: "Don't Say Uncle", "You Better Believe It", "Stop Breathing"
Steriogram--Schmack (Capitol)
Man, is this one good time! "Schmack" is loaded with shameless nods to heavy metal, rap-rock and Power Pop. Nearly all of the tunes here are led by the rap-vocal styles of bands like Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sum 41 combined with the sweet background vocals of "Frosting on the Beater"-era Posies and Sloan. The music is '80s metal mixed with pop-punk. Steriogram is a different, dynamic band that deserves a big audience.
Sugarbomb--"Bully" (RCA)
Similar Artists: Jellyfish, Queen, Supertramp
Favorite Tracks: "What A Drag", Clover", "Waiting"
Sugarcult--Palm Trees and Power Lines (Fearless/Artemis Records)
Sugarcult returns with the follow-up to "Smart Static" and it's a blast! "Palm Trees and Power Lines" is more exciting power pop-punk that can be placed alongside the best from other bands like The Ataris, Diffuser and Lit. This release does not disappoint, with relentless guitars, gunshot drums and soaring vocals. This band has established itself as one of rock's most vital new acts.
Favorite Tracks: "She's The Blade", "Champagne", "Crying"
Similar Artists: Sum-41, Jimmy Eat World, Lit
Favorite Tracks: "Bouncing Off The Walls", "You're The One", "Stuck In America"
Similar Artists: Smashmouth, Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots
Favorite Tracks: "Falls Apart", "Glory", "Personal Space Invader"
Sum 41--"All Killer No Filler" (Island)
Similar Artists: Green Day, Blink-182
Favorite Tracks: "In Too Deep", "Fat Lip", "Handle This"
Similar Artists: Guided By Voices, The Replacements, Weezer
Favorite Tracks: "Lighting The Way", "True Believer", "In The Valley Of Dying Stars"
Switchfoot--The Beautiful Letdown (Red Ink/Columbia)
"Meant To Live" starts off this album with a boom, with guitars wailing, rising and crashing. The songs that follow are varied in style and slowly reveal themselves as you listen. Inspirational and enjoyable, Switchfoot's optimism is a fresh change from the current mainstream mood.
Favorite Tracks: "Meant To Live", "Gone", "Ammunition"
The Thornbirds--All The Same (Warrior Records)
Fans of hard Power Pop will absolutely eat this one up. Take the big glam sound of Enuff Z'Nuff, swagger from Marvelous 3, power of King's X and the fun of 40 Ft. Ringo and you'll have a great idea of what The Thornbirds are all about. Great vocals and harmonies wrap themselves around powerful guitar-driven hooks. "All The Same" is not to be missed and is highly recommended.
Favorite Tracks: "Best Friend Kay", "Internet Xplorer", "Better You
Than Me"
The Tories--"Wonderful Life" (N2K Encoded Music)
Year Released: 1997
Favorite Tracks: "Gladys Kravitz", "Happy"
The Tubes--"Love Bomb" (BGO-Beat Goes On)
Year Released: 1985
Favorite Tracks: "Night People (medley tracks 6-14)", "Piece By Piece", "Bora Bora 2000/Love Bomb"