Local CD Reviews
Issue 237 / September 2008 More from this Issue
Ask For The Future
Another Love EP
Self-Released
Street: 07.11
Ask For The Future = Fountains OfWayne + The Starting Line
Sure it might sound like anotherradio-rock album that is not worth yourtime, but hear me out on this oneit'sgood. Ask For The Future may be apop/rock band, but they're a damnfine pop/rock band. Former Larussofront man Sam Sorenson founded theband and has really found his nichein this new project. The group has amuch more mature sound and evenfinds time to poke fun at their emocounter-parts when they sing "Oy, oy,sensitive boys!" They're fun, catchyand-something becoming increasinglyrare in the genre-smart. This EP is ablast. I can't wait to get my hands on afull-length album. Kat Kellermeyer
Chaz Prymek
Bicycles & Breakfast
Self-Released
Street: 08.01
Chaz Prymek = Iron & Wine - vocals+ Andres Segovia
Bicycles and Breakfast is a followupto Prymek's Everything Is Wrong,Everything Is Fine, and is music to myears. Prymek could not have chosena better title to describe the pleasantfeeling that overcame me when I leanedback, closed my eyes and listened. It'sthe little things that make this albumreally tick, like the shattering glass inthe background of "To Kill A Man WithTwo J's In His Name" intermingled withtrumpets and of course, the prominentguitar that sweeps over everythingtoward the end of the song. Like theformer album, Bicycles and Breakfastis mainly instrumental, except for the"secret" track of the album. Another bonusis that each album cover is uniqueand hand-drawn, so no two covers arealike. Bicycles & Breakfast enters a newrealm of experimentation and beautythat's not easy to find these days. ErinKelleher
Elizabethan Report
Hola May
Self-Released
Street: 03.08
Elizabethan Report = The ChiliPeppers' Guitar + The Strokes
When I first hunted down ElizabethanReport on the Internet, I was impressedby the band's uninhibited and energeticstage presence. Even when I wasn'tsure their sound was really my bag,I knew I'd have a blast at one of theirshows. On their five-track EP , themixture of fast funk, stand-up-and-jumprock and various noise-making devices(think trashcan lids and toy pianos)could have easily yielded a discordantmish-mash. But these Provo nativesaren't sneezing all these soundstogether at random. The various influencesare tightly wound together andproduce an intentional feeling of somethingloose and hectic. I make it soundcomplicated, but it's not. It's feverish,protean stuff done well. Guitarist SpencerPetersen cites Primus and TheStrokes among his musical influences,but I say his riffs smack of older, lessmelodic Chili Peppers. Either way, theband's melodies are great lively andcatchy without drowning out the lyricsor percussion elements. They're committedto the sound, and their energyand enthusiasm definitely grows onyou. Elizabethan Report was recentlyselected to play at the NAMU Festival inPittsburgh, alongside Bob Dylan andThe Roots. This is a big deal for anylocal band, and I wish them the best ofluck. Jesse Hawlish
Josh Waldron
The Night I Died
Self-Released
Street: Fall 2008
Josh Waldron = Goo Goo Dolls+ Keith Urban + DDT + Ringside+ Nickleback + Garth Brooks +Steven Segal
I'm no psychologist, but it seems thatJosh Waldron may suffer from multiplepersonality disorder. This album flipflopsmore times than Cybil. First hethinks he's in a mariachi band andbefore you know it, he's part of the GooGoo Dolls. I leave the room for oneminute, come back, and he's GarthBrooks. Am I still listening to the samealbum? I think I even heard a little froman 80s Russian band my dad used toplay. I ran out of room trying to list andkeep track of the many sounds (andpersonalities) Waldron threw at me.It's good to have variety, but for God'ssake, keep it consistent. Okay, somaybe there is one consistent aspectof this album. It's Waldron's whispy,harsh, "I'm trying to sound deep andpassionate" voice. Lyuba Basin
Another Love EP
Self-Released
Street: 07.11
Ask For The Future = Fountains OfWayne + The Starting Line
Sure it might sound like anotherradio-rock album that is not worth yourtime, but hear me out on this oneit'sgood. Ask For The Future may be apop/rock band, but they're a damnfine pop/rock band. Former Larussofront man Sam Sorenson founded theband and has really found his nichein this new project. The group has amuch more mature sound and evenfinds time to poke fun at their emocounter-parts when they sing "Oy, oy,sensitive boys!" They're fun, catchyand-something becoming increasinglyrare in the genre-smart. This EP is ablast. I can't wait to get my hands on afull-length album. Kat Kellermeyer
Chaz Prymek
Bicycles & Breakfast
Self-Released
Street: 08.01
Chaz Prymek = Iron & Wine - vocals+ Andres Segovia
Bicycles and Breakfast is a followupto Prymek's Everything Is Wrong,Everything Is Fine, and is music to myears. Prymek could not have chosena better title to describe the pleasantfeeling that overcame me when I leanedback, closed my eyes and listened. It'sthe little things that make this albumreally tick, like the shattering glass inthe background of "To Kill A Man WithTwo J's In His Name" intermingled withtrumpets and of course, the prominentguitar that sweeps over everythingtoward the end of the song. Like theformer album, Bicycles and Breakfastis mainly instrumental, except for the"secret" track of the album. Another bonusis that each album cover is uniqueand hand-drawn, so no two covers arealike. Bicycles & Breakfast enters a newrealm of experimentation and beautythat's not easy to find these days. ErinKelleher
Elizabethan Report
Hola May
Self-Released
Street: 03.08
Elizabethan Report = The ChiliPeppers' Guitar + The Strokes
When I first hunted down ElizabethanReport on the Internet, I was impressedby the band's uninhibited and energeticstage presence. Even when I wasn'tsure their sound was really my bag,I knew I'd have a blast at one of theirshows. On their five-track EP , themixture of fast funk, stand-up-and-jumprock and various noise-making devices(think trashcan lids and toy pianos)could have easily yielded a discordantmish-mash. But these Provo nativesaren't sneezing all these soundstogether at random. The various influencesare tightly wound together andproduce an intentional feeling of somethingloose and hectic. I make it soundcomplicated, but it's not. It's feverish,protean stuff done well. Guitarist SpencerPetersen cites Primus and TheStrokes among his musical influences,but I say his riffs smack of older, lessmelodic Chili Peppers. Either way, theband's melodies are great lively andcatchy without drowning out the lyricsor percussion elements. They're committedto the sound, and their energyand enthusiasm definitely grows onyou. Elizabethan Report was recentlyselected to play at the NAMU Festival inPittsburgh, alongside Bob Dylan andThe Roots. This is a big deal for anylocal band, and I wish them the best ofluck. Jesse Hawlish
Josh Waldron
The Night I Died
Self-Released
Street: Fall 2008
Josh Waldron = Goo Goo Dolls+ Keith Urban + DDT + Ringside+ Nickleback + Garth Brooks +Steven Segal
I'm no psychologist, but it seems thatJosh Waldron may suffer from multiplepersonality disorder. This album flipflopsmore times than Cybil. First hethinks he's in a mariachi band andbefore you know it, he's part of the GooGoo Dolls. I leave the room for oneminute, come back, and he's GarthBrooks. Am I still listening to the samealbum? I think I even heard a little froman 80s Russian band my dad used toplay. I ran out of room trying to list andkeep track of the many sounds (andpersonalities) Waldron threw at me.It's good to have variety, but for God'ssake, keep it consistent. Okay, somaybe there is one consistent aspectof this album. It's Waldron's whispy,harsh, "I'm trying to sound deep andpassionate" voice. Lyuba Basin
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