Blogcritics

Music Review: Appearance Of Nothing - Wasted Time

Jeff Perkins — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:54:11 EST

Appearance Of Nothing arrive on the Prog-Metal scene.
We’re off to Basel, Switzerland to bring you the album Wasted Time by Appearance Of Nothing. They were formed back in the last century as No Thanx by guitarist and singer Pat Gerber and drummer Yves Luthi. Following some line up changes, they morphed into Appearance Of Nothing adding bass player Omar Cuna, guitarist Peter Berger, and the...

Music Review: The Guggenheim Grotto -Tigers EP

Jeff Perkins — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:51:34 EST

Soon, introductions will become superfluous.
The term multi-instrumentalist seems to have been invented for the Dublin band The Guggenheim Grotto.When they take the stage, they bring a whole host of instruments with them. In the studio they use their playing skills to create a richness of sound that perfectly suits their ability to write some endearing and lasting bittersweet melodies. In...

Music Review: Neondaze - Neondaze

Jeff Perkins — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:43:20 EST

For fans of melodic rock everywhere.
When Marcus Lundgren appeared on Swedish TV talent show Star Search he decided to be the late, great Bon Scott of AC/DC fame. He lost, but sometimes good can come from even the most disappointing defeat. Watching television that night was Lars Boquist. The former Reptilian and Pole Position guitarist was mightily impressed and quickly invited...

Music Review: Beautiful Lunar Landscape - Alone In This Dark Romantic Night E.P.

Jeff Perkins — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:51:35 EST

A perfectly named band produce a simply stunning debut.
Hidden Shoal Recordings are on a mission. The Australian label are busy enhancing minds, widening musical consciousness, opening ears, and taking us beyond the sometimes all too comfortably familiar. Okay, I'll stop waffling, but they definitely do provide some damned good music, full stop. A few weeks back I delighted to the sounds of Sankt...

Music Review: Rabbi John - Further

Jeff Perkins — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:56:26 EST

Rabbi John serve up a highly enjoyable album. Even Arthur Brown briefly drops by.
I love the sticker that is on the CD cover of Rabbi John’s latest album Further (Dreadnought Records, August 2008). It tells us that each song contains the following ingredients. 50% less schmaltz, 5.5 grams of longing, 35.3 grams of euphoria, 18.5 grams of angst, 18.1 grams of heartache, and 45.4 grams of pleasure.It is also little wonder...

Music Review: Jade Warrior - Now

Jeff Perkins — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:06:05 EST

Jade Warrior make a very welcome and triumphant return.
With a return that is even more welcome than that of the Jedi, Jade Warrior are back with a simply stunning album, Now (Windweaver Records, 2008). There is always an element of risk when you have a long, established, and highly respected tradition surrounding a band, and you decide to return to the studio to revive that name. No need to worry here....

Music Review: Hellbilly Boys - Hellbilly Boys

Jeff Perkins — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:08:32 EST

Good old foot stomping Hellbilly Boys music.
One click that is all it takes to discover the wild rockabilly world of the Hellbilly Boys. On their MySpace page they describe their style as, ‘REAL music by REAL people that is played on REAL instruments.’ This tends to be confirmed by a quick examination of the photographs. This is a band with more tattoos than Miami Ink and they...

Music Review: Thea Gilmore -Liejacker

Jeff Perkins — Sat, 8 Nov 2008 19:24:42 EST

Thea Gilmore's most personal and reflective album to date.
Thea Gimore has always had something to say. Her often outspoken views have added a fire to her already passionate song writing. It has resulted in many mixed reactions. Liejacker arrives ten years after her debut album and it will no doubt divide opinion. Thea is still the younger side of thirty, but is now married and a recent mother and there is...

Music Review: Clay Allison -Tonight There Will Be No TV

Jeff Perkins — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 17:02:11 EST

Tonight There Will Be No TV so be entertained by Clay Allison instead.
There’s a saying that you learn something new every day. When starting from a limited knowledge base, like I do, you can actually learn something new every five minutes or so. This was definitely the case when the CD by Swedish band Clay Allison arrived on my doormat.I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know who they were named...

Music Review: Herman Dune - Next Year In Zion

Jeff Perkins — Sat, 1 Nov 2008 00:50:18 EDT

This Parisian duo defy any attempt to get pigeonholed and is all the better for it.
The phrase "cult following" has always interested me. No, I’m not going to shave my head and preach about the end of time, but the saying still attracts me. Let me explain my reasoning. In a world where "mainstream" suggests having some otherwise average commerciality rammed down your throat, it sometimes pays to delve...