Jan 29 2010

The Reveling – 3D Radio EP

Category: Music In My Earsdryvetyme @ 07:00

The Reveling
3D Radio EP
Self-Released; 2009

3D Radio

There’s a beauty in the simplicity of this nifty little project – four songs total, all clocking in at barely three minutes long. The strength of 3D Radio is that it’s a brash, youthful sort of power/pop-punk that calls to mind the semi-classic New Jersey tones of acts like Gaslight Anthem, old-school Saves The Day, and underground mavens Static Radio. The Reveling have a solid sound rooted in a disdain for flash, complete with a tight rhythm section and tough guitar lines that are bereft of pomp. Fronted by “The Faces We Know” and its stellar line, “Where we’ll go, I don’t know, but it’s kind of like a preemptive strike on the mundane and perfectly normal,” these are rousing tunes pumping with proletarian heart and passion. These youngsters apparently have a strong grasp of punk fundamentals – big gang vocals, fist-pumping tunes, high energy, and straightforward song construction – and that makes me excited to hear what they’ll create next.


Jan 28 2010

The Cold Beat / Movers & Shakers – Split 7″

Category: Music In My Earsdryvetyme @ 07:00

The Cold Beat / Movers & Shakers
Split 7”
Self-Released; 2010

The Cold Beat

When I reviewed Dumbwaiter by The Cold Beat in Summer 2009, I noted that I found myself with mostly fond thoughts regarding the record’s working class bar rock sound. Well, the outfit has returned with a split 7” that it’s releasing with fellow Boston, MA residents Movers & Shakers, and the result is yet another earnest, blue-collar project that is equal parts The Replacements, Gaslight Anthem, and Lucero. The Cold Beat present “Absolute Zero” and “Tracks,” two straight-up-no-chaser tunes that call to mind a bunch of hard-drinking buddies who love to jam. Movers & Shakers show themselves to bit a bit more musically adept with “Movin’ On” and “An Original Idea” by adding in some tasteful organ work atop a bed of guitar lines that hint at both indie-pop and classic rock.

Movers & Shakers

Unfortunately, much like I felt with Dumbwaiter, these songs also blur together a bit, as they all have the same sort of “spending time with the guys down at the corner bar” feel, and that can occasionally get as stale as old beer. I dig that it’s readily apparent that these two bands know each other and have an easy rapport with each other, and I’m sure I’d enjoy hearing them ply their trade at a variety of dive bars across Beantown. Yet, I think that these songs are a bit too dirty and rough-and-tumble. Basically, I’m looking for a bit more pop polish – I’m not asking for suits and ties; I merely wish for the hands to be washed before you sit down at the table.


Jan 27 2010

Daylight – Sinking 10″

Category: Music In My Earsdryvetyme @ 07:00

Daylight
Sinking 10”
Get This Right; 2009

Sinking

There was a time in my life when I consistently consumed the sort of sounds I hear all over these five songs. The most obvious touchstone for the music of Daylight is Hot Water Music (as the press release aptly notes), but a more general description would be that the Sinking 10″ is laden with prototypical, aggressive East Coast punk rock mixed with a solid second-wave hardcore twist. All of the appropriate components are present and accounted for, as growling vocals, heavy-hitting drums, and buzzing guitars anchor key tracks like “You’re Not My Father” and “Sinking.” There’s attitude and energy aplenty on this tasty slab of white vinyl, complete with an understated pop flair and a keen aptitude for tempo shifts, whether it’s a big break or some amped-up double-time.
Continue reading “Daylight – Sinking 10″


Jan 26 2010

Franz Nicolay – St. Sebastian Of The Short Stage

Category: Music In My Earsdryvetyme @ 07:00

Franz Nicolay
St. Sebastian Of The Short Stage
Team Science; 2009

St Sebastian Of The Short Stage

More often than not, when any given member of a band makes a break from his/her normal outfit, the resulting solo material sounds very similar to that of the original outfit. It’s to be expected, mostly because it’s easy to understand how the sort of music you’ve been playing with a group for many years can permanently impact your personal creative output. So, when I heard that Franz Nicolay, the long-running multi-instrumentalist for The Hold Steady, was releasing a small batch of his own material, I wondered how closely his songs might mirror that of his now-former band. Amazingly, the only thing that St. Sebastian Of The Short Stage shares with Craig Finn is a penchant for cramming lots of words into a very tight space in order to tell a really great story.
Continue reading “Franz Nicolay – St. Sebastian Of The Short Stage


Jan 25 2010

Media Monday – 01/25/2010

Category: Media & More,Music In My Earsdryvetyme @ 12:00


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