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Louque: So Long
A truly unique musical style dubbed as Faya, Louque combines New Orleans street
beats with Caribbean dance hall flavorings in an electronic format.
Singer/songwriter Dustan Louque fronts this group bearing his name, and his
bluesy and soulful voice are just icing on a cake of music that borders on
brilliant. “Cry, Cry” stands out as a beautiful anthem among nine great tracks.
Cooper Temple Clause: Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose
British band The Cooper Temple Clause returns with their second full-length
release. There are flavors of Oasis, Radiohead and Coldplay here, but this band
still maintains its identity with fresh melodies and grooves. Two of the best
tracks are “New Toys” and “Blind Pilots,” driving melodic Brit pop at its best.
Buddahead: Crossing The Invisible Line
Buddahead is another name for New York-based singer/songwriter Raman Kia, who
spent the first nine years of his life in war torn Iran. This is one guy who took advantage of the opportunity freedom provided him.
It doesn’t hurt that
he writes infectious pop/rock and has a singsong voice that balances an edgy
backing band. The first single, “When I Fall,” and “How Does it Feel?” are radio-ready ear
candy.
An Evening with John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess: self-titled
It’s so hard to classify this kind of music, but let’s put it this way: holy
crap, can these guys play their instruments. Not easy listening by any means,
but still like something to help you relax in the dentist’s chair or enjoy with
some wine and cheese, guitarist Petrucci and keyboardist Rudess deliver this
live performance with masterful precision. Another one of those CDs to impress your girl with.
Cary Hudson: Cool Breeze
Former Blue Mountain guitarist Hudson has arrived in a big way with his first
solo effort. From the shit-kicking “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” to the
melancholy “8 Ball Blues” to the breezy “Some Things Never Change,” Cool Breeze
rides like a roller coaster but never loses sight of what makes Hudson great --
compelling songs. You’ll want to put it in your car’s CD player and drive toward
the mountains.
Story of the Year: Page Avenue
Story of the Year’s Page Avenue is as infectious as it is rocking. At
times the vocal screams seem a little forced and unnecessary, but the songs are
good and the band delivers them with undeniable punch. If there could be a
punk/metal/pop/rock category at the record store, Story of the Year would pretty
much own it. But the rest of the “story” is that they’re just a damn good band.
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~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
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