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Band: Awesome New Republic
Album: Hearts

Awesome New Republic combines Electronica, early R&B and Soul music for a unique style of music. Hailing from Miami, Florida, MJ and B-Rob started ANR in 2005. Hearts was critically acclaimed by Stereogum and was played on BBC and KCRW. Catchy synthesizer lines and up-tempo beats creates a dance vibe. ANR sounds like a mix between MGMT and Billy Ocean. Songs like “Whatever” and “Birthday” fit the description of a party song. ANR’s 2009 album “Hearts” is definitely something to look out for.

Songs To Listen To: Track #1,2,3,4,5,10

Band: Mastodon
Album: Crack The Skye

Mastodon is back with there 2009 album “Crack The Skye.” Coming full circle, Mastodon has completed its concept album saga of the four elements. “Crack The Skye” deals with the final element, Wind. Combination of deep lyrics and spacey guitar riffs creates the perfect ambiance for hard-rock listening. The vocal style of Brent Hinds and Troy Sanders are on opposite sides of the spectrum. This makes the Verse and Chorus seem like two completely different songs. Mastodon formed in 1999 in Atlanta, Georgia. Mastodon is a Grammy Award nominated band and have songs throughout pop culture. Fusing classic rock and progressive metal, Mastodon creates a style of music that is unmatchable. Check out Mastodon on their second US tour for “Crack The Skye,” with Between The Buried And Me.

Songs To Listen To: The Whole Album.

Band: Scale The Summit

Album: Carving Desert Canyons

Scale The Summit is an all instrumental band formed in 2004. I recently saw them during their North American tour when they played along side Cynic, Devin Townsend Project, and Between The Buried And Me. Scale The Summit started in Houston Texas and released their first album Monument in 2007. Now they release “Carving Desert Canyons” which is one of the most amazing instrumental album’s I’ve ever heard. “The Great Plains” combines a smooth bass line with alternate picking which is literally a mind explosion. Scale The Summit brings together blues roots, experimental, and metal which is something remarkable. Scale The Summit is relatively new and I would look out for upcoming news on this band.

Songs To Listen To: Track # 1, 3, 5, 7, 8

Kanye West is arguably the hottest hip hop artist for the past few years. Most people would do anything to reach the level of stardom that West has achieved in his lifetime. It has been nothing but Grammy awards and nothing less than platinum plaques for him. West was basically sitting on top of the world.

The latter part of ’08 has hit ye’ hard. After the nasty breakup with his fiancé and his mother’s passing, it seems as if West has lost the people who were most important to him. This has lead to what is West’s saddest album yet 808’s and Heartbreak. It surprised many of West’s fans when they realized that he is not rapping at all in this album. In fact, the only rap verse found in the entire album is Young Jeezy’s verse in “Amazing.” Some fans dismissed this album before listening to it while others claimed that he “sold out.” I am here today to tell you that this album is nothing less than genius.

The entire album is filled with heavy synths and dramatic drums. Any haters that thought that West was a one sided artist are proved wrong with this album. These instruments work together to create the melancholic mood which is evident throughout the entire album. That is not to say that 808’s and Heartbreak gets boring or annoying after a few songs. Not only are the beats different and crafty, but his lyrics have substance.

This is obviously going to be the hardest album for West fans to enjoy. Instead of complaining about no rap in this album, do what Eminem said once; “Just shut up and listen.”

Im sure you can agree with me that hip-hop has taken a strange turn these days. A new type of hip-hop has emerged from this. Its called hipster hip-hop. Hipster hip hop is essentially made up of groups and rappers such as the Cool Kids and Asher Roth.

So here comes two brothers new to the rap scene that call themselves The Knux with their debut album “Remind Me in 3 Days.” What should you make of this group and their music?

The tracks to check out are F!RE, Parking Lot, Playboy, and Bang Bang. With their experimental beats and nonchalant lyrics The Knux are perfect to sit back and chill to. But if your looking for lyrics with substance then they are not for you

Just by looking at the albums artwork and analyzing the name of this group the listener can make two assumptions of this album.

1) The Morning Light sounds like a happy go lucky band

2) This album is going to be full of joyful, upbeat songs

Neither assumption is true. With the exception of two songs, the entire album’s mood is intolerably mellow. I was hoping to hear music similar to their EP, The  Sounds of Love, which was enjoyable and catchy. However, this album takes an entire change in direction. The mellow music does not work to their advantage because the tracks seem to gel into one big song.

In spite of all this, I still would like to believe that this band has potential. I believe that they can make good music but the must go back to their original formula.

Will The Morning Light be to return to making quality music again? I guess we will have to wait for the next LP.

Question: What has been a major reason for most succesfulk artists to linger in the minds of thier fans while catching the intrest of new ones?

Answer: The ability to reinvent and produce quality music at the same time.

The reason i say this is because after four albums from Akron, Ohio’s The Black Keys (Dan Auerbach playing the guitar and on the vocals, Patrick Carney playing the drums) seemed to be losing their creative edge. Right when it seemed like all hope was lost for the duo, they managed to hook up with the brilliant producer Danger Mouse (of Gnarls Barkley fame) for a collaboration with Ike Turner. Unfortunately, Ike Turner passed away and the project could not be completed.

I don’t want to seem like an evil person but passing of Ike Turner paved the way for their latest album Attack and Release. This was a great decision because Danger Mouse does not let the album get boring for one second. Danger Mouse does not let the album get boring for one second. Danger Mouse manages to blend his hip-hop knowledge with the Key’s bluesy-rockish style to create music that is superiour to any things that they have done before. Attack and Release consists of eleven good songs that get better the more the listener pays attention to them.

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If I had to describe Ben Folds with one word, it would be consistent. Throughout the years, Folds has managed to draw his audience to new levels with his music while gaining new fans at the same time. Folds ability to describe dramatic stories in his songs scores again with this same formula only now, it is in a much more personal level. This album comes after a tough year for Folds which includes a divorce and a remarriage. Folds focuses around these moments in his life in Way to Normal. That is why it makes sense to say that Way to Normal is not normal at all. Fortunately not being normal works well for Folds.

Way to Normal is a solid album from the first track to the last. Folds manages to keep his listeners engaged in both a lyrical and a musical level. Standout tracks include: “You don’t know”, “Colonge”, “Brainwascht”, and “Kylie from Connecticut.”

 Robbers on High Street

The Brooklyn quartet, who call themselves Robbers on High Street or R.O.H.S. for short have struck gold. Their 2nd CD, Grand Animals is on a major label, New Line Records. Their Myspace page is getting hit up more times than Paris Hilton sex tapes. Now that their album is out in stores now, you can check out how great it is for yourself. The main track that is catching everyone’s attention is The Fatalist. Also check out “Crown Victoria” and “Across Your Knee”.
Review by: Dima Yakhnis