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New Release Tuesday

2012-01-31T08:29:00.000-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Mike Doughty - The Question Jar Show
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad - Country
The Pines - Dark So Gold
Fionn Regan - 100 Acres Of Sycamore
SOJA - Strength To Survive
Underworld - A Collection
Underworld - 1992-2012 Anthology

REVIEW: Rebelution - Peace Of Mind

2012-01-25T10:50:00.002-05:00

Rebelution's latest release is a bit of an undertaking on their part. Essentially they have released 3 full length albums. The first is "Peace Of Mind," a collection of brand new original reggae fueled tracks that is their best yet. The other two are the first album reinvented. "Peace Of Mind Dub" is a remix album by Michael Goldwasser of Easy Star Allstars which takes the already excellent reggae sound of Rebelution's new album and revamps it into a dirty funky dub reggae masterpiece. This is the kind of stuff that you'd excpect to hear coming straight out of Jamaica. The third in the set is an acoustic take on the full length album, showing off the intricacies of the songs, focusing on the lyrics and melody, rather than the funk and reggae. "Peace Of Mind Acoustic" solidifies Rebelution as a force in the reggae world, showing that the band is not just all about being fun and funky, but the whole package of making music is very important to them. As for the songs, there are some really great tunes on here. "Sky Is The Limit," the album's debut single, is by far Rebelution's most energetic song and bridges their signature style with the accessibility of mainstream alternative and reggae rock music. "Route Around" is the gem of the collection, sowing a softer more poignant side of the band. SOJA's Jacob Hemphill and Blues Traveler's John Popper make guest appearances on the disc, and each of their songs is amplified by their contributions. Rebelution is blasting to the forefront of their genre and is now a force to be reckoned with.

New Release Tuesday

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Madi Diaz - Plastic Moon
Craig Finn - Clear Heat Full Eyes
K'naan - More Beautiful Than Silence
moe. - What Happened To The La La's
Grace Woodroofe - Always Want

REVIEW: The White Buffalo - The Lost & Found EP & Once Upon A Time In The West

2012-01-17T09:17:00.000-05:00

The White Buffalo has been around the block a few times, but he finally has landed in a spot when the recognition he deserves will certainly find him. The recent release of "The Lost And Found EP" and the pending release of his album "One Upon A Time In The West" show off a musical talent that is far beyond what is comprehensible in today's musical world. He has been doing the folk rock thing for a while, long before anyone cared about listening to an acoustic guitar or kicking back with some mellow tunes. The difference is that he delivers with an intensity that can be compared to that of a metal band or even Johnny Cash (who he is compared to all the time). The first singles "How The West Was Won" and "The Pilot" are featured on both releases, giving the listener a pure idea of the music that The White Buffalo is capable of. American rock and roll are the cornerstone, with a heavy emphasis on folk and his acoustic guitar. The White Buffalo's deep voice is what make him stand out, but what makes him a valuable piece of the folk rock community are songs like "Wish It Was True" and "Sleepy Little Town." These songs show off his masterful and poetic lyrics and meld them securely with the music to create a package that epitomizes American folk rock music. AAA and alternative rock radio should make space and time in their rotations for this music, as The White Buffalo is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered by the masses.

REVIEW: Michael Kiwanuka's EPs - Tell Me A Tale, I'm Getting Ready, & Home Again

2012-01-17T09:05:00.000-05:00

Michael Kiwanuka is a bright new talent out of the UK doing some throwback music that translates well with the folk rock trends that have recently come out of the indie world. Recently, Kiwanuka has released 3 EPs that showcase his old soul and folk sensibilities. The singles "I'm Getting Ready" and "Home Again" invoke just as much Bob Dylan as they do Al Green, and Kiwanuka's delivery comes from a place that is rooted deeply the music of the 60's and 70's. Fans of current musicians like Ray LaMontagne and even indie rockers such as The Head And The Heart will find Kiwanuka's music inviting and satisfying. His track "Tell Me A Tale" is the song that will make your head turn, as it is a mix of 70's funk and soul and 60's folk, featuring horns that set the mood wonderfully. He is poised to make a huge name for himself once his debut full length isreleased, and after the hugely successful year for old souls (i.e. Adele), it will set him up for equalled success.

New Release Tuesdday

2012-01-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Jessie Baylin - Little Spark

New Release Tuesday

2012-01-10T10:35:00.002-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Rebelution - Peace Of Mind
Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires

BURN THIS / January 2012

2012-01-01T21:11:00.000-05:00

Zach Heckendorf "All The Right Places"
Cris Cab "No Hatred"
Rebelution "Sky Is The Limit"
SOJA "Strength To Survive"
The Green "Love & Affection"
Rootdown "All I Wanna Do"
Passafire "Dimming Sky"
Three Legged Fox "Let You Down"
Barefoot Truth "Eagle Front"
Trevor Hall "Good Rain"
Chadwick Stokes (featuring Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars) "Coffee And Wine"
Piers Faccini "Tribe"
Zee Avi "Milestone Moon"
Release The Sunbird "No Light"
Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations "Movin' On"
Good Old War "Calling Me Names"
Mike Doughty "Strike Motion"
Sam Roberts Band "Without A Map"
Mat Kearney "Ships In The Night"
Parachute "Something To Believe In (Jeremiah)"

THE 30 BEST ALBUMS OF 2011

2011-12-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
Brett Dennen - Loverboy
The Head And The Heat - The Head And The Heart
O.A.R. - King
G. Love - Fixin' To Die
Dispatch - Dispatch EP
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Matt Nathanson - Modern Love
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors - Chasing Someday
Death Cab For Cutie - Codes And Keys
My Morning Jacket - Circuital
Sam Roberts Band - Collider
Trevor Hall - Everything Everytime Everywhere
Bahamas - Pink Strat
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
The Black Keys - El Camino
Mat Kearney - Young Love
Release The Sunbird - Come Back To Us
Bob Schneider - A Perfect Day
Needtobreathe - The Reckoning
William Fitzsimmons - Gold In The Shadow
Amos Lee - Mission Bell
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Chadwick Stokes - Simmerkane II
Barefoot Truth - Carry Us On
Mike Doughty - Yes And Also Yes
Zee Avi - Ghostbird
Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me
James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

If you'd like to view and/or purchase albums on this and previous top 30 lists click here.

CD REVIEW: Chamberlin "Cabin Covers EP"

2011-12-29T22:18:00.001-05:00

When bands release cover songs they can be one of two things: karaoke copycat versions or total reinventions. Chamberlin has reinvented a small handful of tunes that have recently graced the airwaves of alternative and indie rock radio. Covering fresh new material is always a challenge, but it's also refreshing to hear a different take on catchy music that is still floating around in your head. The coolest is the interpretation of Kanye West's "Lost In The World" which takes a rock band covering hip hop in a different direction. Now, Kanye sung much of that tracks, but Chamberlin adds a bit of spookiness that is similar to Bon Iver (which coincidentally cowrote and sung on Kanye's track). Foster The People's gigantic hit "Pumped Up Kicks" gets a new spin with Chamerlin's signature style, and sounds nothing like the original, but still maintains it's slick catchy nature. Cults, Vampire Weekend, and Passion Pit songs also get a fresh coat of Chamberlin paint. This EP is a steller, yet short, collection of cover songs that are so well performed that they could easily be mistaken for Chamberlin originals.

CD REVIEW: Graham Colton "Pacific Coast Eyes, Vol. 2"

2011-12-29T21:36:00.001-05:00

Graham Colton's rerelease of his latest album is coupled with a short EP of new tunes. The EP (which is actually, the Vol. 2 portion) has three tracks from the original collection which he rerecorded and three tracks that were left off the original mix. The bottom line is that Graham wanted his fans to get the most out of this album, and rereleasing it was the best way. The album features the hit title song single (as well as the EP) which showcases Colton at his pop songwriting best. "Love Comes Back Around" and "1981" are also standouts of the album. The nicest reinvention of a song on the album is "Twenty Something" which gets the full pop rock treatment in this updated version of one of the best tracks from Colton's self released EPs. Graham Colton has proven that he in no way needs a major label behind him to make and release great music. He is a true underappreciated talent that has no where to go but up.

New Release Tuesday

2011-12-13T08:13:00.001-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Dispatch - Live At Red Bull Arena (DVD)
Keller Williams - Bass

New Release Tuesday

2011-12-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

The Black Keys - El Camino
Dia Frampton - Red
Dave Matthews Band - Live In Atlantic City
The Roots - Undun

BURN THIS / December 2011

2011-12-01T00:01:00.013-05:00

The Fray "Heartbeat"
Jon McLaughlin (featuring Xenia) "Maybe It's Over"
Tim Blane "Magnetic"
Kina Grannis "In Your Arms"
Steve Moakler "Waiting"
Mat Kearney "Count On Me"
Javier Colon (featuring Adam Levine) "Stand Up"
Dia Frampton "The Broken Ones"
William Fitzsimmons "The Winter From Her Leaving"
Ed Sheeran "Lego House"
Joshua Hyslop "Cold Wind"
Chris Trapper (featuring Rob Thomas) "Here All Along"
Will Dailey & The Rivals "How Good It Feels"
Bronze Radio Return "Shake, Shake, Shake"
Greg Holden "I Don't Believe You"
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers "Roots And Wings"
Matthew Mayfield "Fire Escape"
Needtobreathe "Slumber"
The White Buffalo "The Pilot"
Gary Clark Jr. "Don't Owe You A Thang"

Listen live to the entire playlist in the music player in the right sidebar all month long during December.

New Release Tuesday

2011-11-15T13:15:00.003-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Gym Class Heroes - The Papercut Chronicles II
David Mead - Dudes
Jason Reeves - Caged Birds Set Free
Tegan & Sara - Get Along
Various Artists - This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday, Vol. 2

New Release Tuesday

2011-11-08T12:12:00.006-05:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Lissie - Covered In Flowers
Medeski, Scofield, Martin, & Wood - In Case The World
Ozomatli - Happy Feet Two: The Video Game Soundtrack

BURN THIS / November 2011

2011-11-01T00:01:00.021-04:00

Grace Woodroofe (featuring Ben Harper) "I've Handled Myself Wrong"
Piers Faccini "My Wilderness"
Josh Garrels "White Owl"
Chadwick Stokes "Rainsong"
The White Buffalo "I Wish It Was True"
John Craigie "Boston In November"
Joshua Hyslop "If I Was A Better Man"
Michael Kiwanuka "I'm Getting Ready"
Ed Sheeran "The A Team"
Ben Howard "Three Tree Town"
Greg Holden "Following Footsteps"
The Milk Carton Kids "Michigan"
Bobby Long "Dead And Done"
Lisa Hannigan (featuring Ray LaMontagne) "O Sleep"
Mason Jennings "Clutch"
The Head And The Heart "Coeur d'Alene"
Caitlin Rose "Shanghai Cigarettes"
The Belle Brigade "Losers"
Motopony "King Of Diamonds"
Dawes "A Little Bit Of Everything"

Listen live to the entire playlist in the music player in the right sidebar all month long during November.

New Release Tuesday

2011-10-25T13:56:00.003-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
The Green - Ways & Means
She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas
Matt Wertz - Snow Globe

New Release Tuesday

2011-10-18T12:48:00.000-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Graham Colton - Pacific Coast Eyes, Vol. 2
Chris Trapper - The Few & The Far Between

New Release Tuesday

2011-10-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Piers Faccini - My Wilderness
Ben Folds - The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers - Gift Horse
James Morrison - The Awakening
Rachael Yamagata - Chesapeake

New Release Tuesday

2011-10-04T11:42:00.005-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Feist - Metals
Ari Hest - Ari Hest Live: An Intimate Evening At Rockwood Music Hall
Mutemath - Odd Soul

BURN THIS / October 2011

2011-10-01T08:00:00.005-04:00

The White Buffalo "How The West Was Won"
Dispatch "Broken American"
Mike Doughty "Vegetable"
Bronze Radio Return "Down There"
Gary Clark Jr. "Bright Lights"
Matthew Mayfield "Missed Me"
Needtobreathe "Drive All Night"
Gabe Dixon "My Favorite"
Gavin DeGraw "Not Over You"
Rachael Yamagata "Starlight"
Joseph Arthur "Over The Sun"
James Vincent McMorrow "Sparrow And The Wolf"
Lisa Hannigan "Knots"
Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations "Oh, Look What The Sun Did!"
Kina Grannis "The One You Say Goodnight To"
Will Dailey & The Rivals "Counting On Karma"
Tyler James "The Only One"
Madi Diaz "Let's Go"
matt pond PA "Love To Get Used"
Halloween, Alaska "Empire Waist"

Listen live to the entire playlist in the music player in the right sidebar all month long during October.

New Release Tuesday

2011-09-27T07:55:00.000-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Alberta Cross - The Rolling Thunder EP
Barenaked Ladies - Hits From Yesterday And The Day Before
Zach Deputy - Another Day
Everclear - Return To Santa Monica
Will Hoge - Number Seven
Sarah Jaffe - The Way Sound Leaves A Room
Tony Lucca - Under The Influence
Tyler Ramsey - The Valley Wind
Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now
Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations - Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations
Switchfoot - Vice Verses

New Release Tuesday

2011-09-20T07:22:00.000-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

Will Dailey & The Rivals - Will Dailey & The Rivals
Gavin DeGraw - Sweeter
Madi Diaz - Far From Things That We Know EP
Halloween, Alaska - All Night The Calls Came In
Lisa Hannigan - Passenger
Needtobreathe - The Reckoning
Passafire - Start From Scratch

New Release Tuesday

2011-09-13T09:30:00.000-04:00

New music out today worth checking out:

J.J. Grey & Mofro - Brighter Days
Mason Jennings - Minnesota
The Kooks - Junk Of The Heart
Lady Antebellum - Own The Night
Lotus - Lotus
Young The Giant - Remix EP