This CD is recorded really well, good, clean, and everything on time. The next time these guys are playing I recommend you see them live, but in the mean time you can check them out at www.myspace.com/thecig  and please do check them out and hear this amazing music for your self.

If I did a most pit ratings like some of our other writers I would give them a 10.

1. Jacks Mannequin “Bruised”
2. The Audition “Don’t Be So Hard”
3. +44 “Baby Come On”
4. Daphne Loves Derby “Sun”
5. Say Anything “”Woe”
6. Alesana “Apology”
7. All Time Low “Jasey Rae”
8. Silverstein “Red Light Pledge”
9. All American Rejects “Night Drive”
10. Mayday Parade “Three Cheers For Five Years”
11. The Spill Canvas “Staplegunned”
12. Relient K “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been
13. Anti-Flag “Welcome To 1984”
14. Sherwood “The Only Song”
15. Set Your Goals “Echoes”

  All of these songs sound a lot different than how they play normally, all of these band put in a lot of effort into these songs and when your listening to this CD you can really tell. Out of all these bands I think I would like to see +44, Alesana, Set Your Goals and Jacks Mannequin should come out with a full acoustic CD or play an acoustic show sometime. These 4 bands really impressed me with their acoustic ability!! You can check out this CD and some of these bands at:
www.fearlessrecords.com
www.myspace.com/alesana
www.myspace.com/maydayparade
www.myspace.com/setyourgoals

Check these guys out at www.DwellRecords.com

The new 4 track EP from The Lives of Famous Men “Rehearsal” is 4 tracks of catchy foot tapping music. Rehearsal is a great fusion of acoustic and electric pop rock, the random anthem like choruses shows the bands willingness to experiment and try new things, but at the same time they keep there roots as pop punk that Lives of Famous Men are known for. Sometimes his voice reminds me too much of Panic at the Disco but everything else is there own, and it’s all congenial. My two favorites off this EP are “After the Party” and “You’re Everyone I Know Right Now”. The lyrics definitely left me wishing for something with more substances it really didn’t matter because Lives of Famous Men are just a fun loving band who are hear to put smiles on your face. If your looking for some good old pop punk I say pick up Lives of Famous Men you will not be disappointed.

The Lives of Famous Men new EP “Modern Love, The Wooden Vehicle” is an instant flash back to early 2000’s pop rock scene, the singers  voice echoes of Antonio Longo of Taking Back Sunday without the lyrically genius to back it up. The 3 song track is full of catchy rifts and halcyon lyrics. You have to enjoy the use of multiple instruments, but this all just wanting more, wanting to see where there going to take this band. So in short if your feeling a little bit nostalgic for early “emo” and alternative rock, I say put on your old t-shirt then  pre order the CD  “Modern Love, The Wooden Vehicle”  or find them on there myspace, http://www.myspace.com/thelivesoffamousmen and  go to one of there shows to see them first hand

Driving down a rain soaked PCH in middle of the night, with a lover or maybe even alone there is few cds I would want playing in my Zune than the new 8 track E.P. from the band Yellow Red Sparks. A band that shows that the stand up bass is not restricted to ska or psychobilly but brings back the bow with a melancholy force with an acoustic sound that very few singers can bring. With lyrics screaming (in a soft voice) of loves lost and even some where given up its quite horrible CD to listen to for the lonely souls out there as it delivers with every track a lugubrious blow straight to all the wrong places. Yellow Red Sparks is not your normal acoustic band, its not just there stand up bass or there clever lyrics it has to be the pain and loved that flows with every cord. The love that is sung in the last track “I’ll make you happy, yes I will, build a house on a hill, tow all the neighbors move them away, will raise the stakes, ill cry if your lonely, ill cough if your sick, ill awake you up with one simple kiss, and you will be reminded of what we were, and what we are is more of what we are before…..ill make you happy, yes I will, if you can pretend that were more than a number in someone’s race, numbers run out, eventually, ill smile if your laughing, ill pray when your not, ill help you climb stars when you cant walk……” how can anyone not connect with such beauty, how can anyone not remember when such emotions echoed through there own body that all they wanted to do was care and love someone else, his hope and wisdom from past spews over the speakers straight to my soul, I have to listen to the song over and over again each time wondering why  I do for I know that it will just reopen old wounds and  shine a light on things I don’t want them to shine on, but as soon as its over every time I see myself starting it all over, the mellifluent in his  voice and cries of PJ’s bass are all to powerful of an addiction for any one being to ignore. Yellow Red Sparks is now added to a small playlist of mine for times where only Elliot Smith, Pedro the Lion, Iron & Wine, and of course Cat power seem to sooth a wounded soul as mine. The E.P. is a collection of amazing live performances, at home random recordings and couple of studio recorded tracks. The saddest thing is that you can’t find this EP anywhere but at a live show, but don’t worry soon there will be a real CD with 6 of the 8 tracks returning and couple new ones all studio performed, but I say don’t wait go to there myspace and find the soonest show enjoy a good night of music and friends, and pick up a CD. Quickly get it before the rain comes back and you see yourself once again driving up and down changing from song to song wishing there was that perfect CD playing…

The Hives new album, "The Black and White Album," is full of many different guitar dynamics as well as many diverse tracks. One minute it's "Tick Tick Boom," a song exploding with energy with a title that really speaks for itself, and then it's "A Stroll Through Hive Manor Corridors," a track that is just calm and mysterious in its simple style attitude. "Try It Again" is a really fun bouncy rock song that has an instant hook in its intro. "Giddy Up" is just really silly and full of nonsense; which, if you know them, is what The Hives are all about. "Square One Here I Come" is a great song to listen to if you're looking for something to just purely enjoy and possibly move around to. "Well All Right!" is a really silly song full of woohoo's and again just a fun song. This album has so much different variety to it and I really recommend this album to anyone who likes The Hives and hasn't heard this album or to music listeners that like fun silly rock music with crazy lyrics and random guitar dynamics.

                                        Edited By:  Dean G. Daniels

China Room’s 10 song CD blew me away, it was so good. Their style is indie-ish but they throw in their own style. They do a magnificent job at creating their own sound and style. In this CD, their songs are more like a story then just random lines of words. I really enjoyed listening to this CD, defiantly something  I would listen to while driving down PCH. You can check out China Room at: www.chinaroomband.com

Down is a mix between hard rock and metal pretty much in-between. Its nice to hear a lot more singing for a change instead of growling or screaming from the ex singer of pantera. These guys perform well on this cd. For those of you that like a mix of Velvet Revolver, Spades and Blades and Pantera than you’ll love these guys. Also you can check them out at www.myspace.com/downnola

Dying Messiah’s CD I found at Bionic Records and listened to it for a bit and decided to do a review on it.  This 9 song CD is full of great metal guitar riffs, fast and original, lots of double bass and they have a great sound. The recording is a little lower quality but besides that this is a great freaking CD. The CD didn't have any contact info so I recommend trying to find these guys on myspace sometime.

Scarlet Sins Is an all girls metal band from Canada that doesn’t sound like typical metal chick band. They actually have a very strong sound and good solid metal sound to them.
   This 13 song cd was recorded by Richard Chycki (Rush, Aerosmith, Mick Jagger) beautifully! It is an extremely clean  and professional recording.
   These girls defiantly know how to play and to rock out. When they are on tour in a town near you I would recommend seeing them life. In the mean time you can check them out at www.myspace.com/ScarletSins or www.scarletsinsonline.com

I would also like to leave a little side note to other magazines and record labels that Scarlet Sins sent me the best press kit I’ve seen so far, it had a lot of information and was put together extremely well and organized.

Before I even popped the cd in the cd player I was looking and admiring all the great artwork in the 16 page insert.

  This is my first time listening to  Portugal the Man, I’ve heard a cover band called priests and paramedics. Within the first 2 or 3 songs I instantly fell in love with this band,  they have their own sound and it feels like they are making music passionately.  I cant name another band that sounds like them but I can tell you that one listen and you will be hooked! Please check them out at www.fearlessrecords.com or www.portugaltheman.net

Hail Hornet 10 song CD from Dwell Records stood out from the pile a little bit with some interesting CD artwork and these guys look like a gnarly hardcore metal bunch of dudes. They are metal, just sick raw metal! Their pits I can only imagine would be with full force and this CD is great, it does its job, it makes me want more!

Check these guys out at www.DwellRecords.com