Monthly Archives: June 2009

Holly Williams Here With Me

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Holly Williams, Here With Me

Holly Williams is the epitome of country royalty.  Her grandfather established the family name with classic songs like “Hey Good Lookin,’” and her father left his mark on country music forever with the help of a devilish, bad boy image, and undeniable outlaw spirit.  With the recent release of her sophomore album, Here With Me, singer/songwriter Holly Williams proves she’s worthy of her family’s notoriety.  Not only is Here With Me packed full of potential singles, but it’s authentic, believable, and flawless.  The music on Here With Me showcases the full scope of Holly’s talent—both as a singer and a songwriter—as she belts out songs about “Mama” to honky tonkin’ boot stompers like the infectious, “A Love I Think Will Last.”  Most impressively, there’s a commanding authority in her storytelling, and life in her lyrics that stretches far beyond her 28 years.

There isn’t a song on Here With Me that doesn’t deserve a moment in the spotlight, but the record shines brightest when Williams sings of heartbreak and hardships.  Bittersweet undertones come through on tracks like, “He’s Makin’ A Fool Out Of You,” “Three Days In Bed,” and “Alone.”  The rawness that resonates in her vocals conveys an honesty that’s been sadly absent from the sugary country-pop of late, and the appropriate simplicity in her lyrics make the whole thing seem effortless.  Other standouts on Here include, “Keep The Change,” and “Without Jesus Here With Me” from which the records title was spawned.

After listening to Here With Me, it becomes abundantly clear that singer/songwriter Holly Williams has country in her blood.  Here is the perfect combination of raw emotion, illustrative lyrics, and beautifully composed melodies, creating one of the best female vocal performances country music has heard in years.  Where other artists prove to be predictable, Williams keeps listeners entertained cranking out song after song of quality country with a contemporary edge and loads of credibility.  Here With Me would be bet served on a warm summer night, under the light of a full moon, with a side of red wine.  It’s a record you can laugh with, cry to, and even learn a few life lessons from along the way.  Here With Me should fit nicely into a library filled with soulful singer/songwriters or country sweethearts like Jennifer Nettles, Emily West, or Katie Armiger.  Whether or not you’re a country fan, however, Holly Williams and her latest release are definitely worth investigating.  You may just fall in love.

Perez Hilton’s outbursts

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Perez Hilton had a little beef to pick with someone today.  Apparently the Black Eyed Pea’s manager punched him in the face as payback for some comments the self-proclaimed media queen made earlier this month.  Last night’s encounter lead Perez to post this video on his site.  Listed simply as “My Statement” the video is more than 11 minutes of Perez describing the incident as it played out.  He played the sympathy card, saying, “violence is never the answer!” and emphasizing the fact the he is a “human being.”  The footage is very heated, and Perez even sheds tears towards the end, screaming, “FUCK YOU Will.I.Am!” and calling Fergie “fugly” yet again.

Check out the fight caught on tape, courtesy of TMZ.com here.

The whole thing seems utterly ridiculous to me, especially when Perez calls Will.I.Am a “faggot” repeatedly for the sole purpose of getting him riled up.  Coming from Mr. Gay rights…little drastic huh?

I really don’t know what Perez expects from people he bashes, i mean…he’s gotta know he’s pissing people off, and sure he’s free to write whatever he wants, but he’s absolutely NO different from any other paparazzo who gets punched in the face for crossing the line one too many times.  News flash Perez!  Just because you hang out with these people, and they pretend to be your friends so you don’t trash them on your website doesn’t actually mean that you’re friends!  You’re just like every other skanky media outlet that banks on other people’s drama.  If I were Will.I.Am i’d say, let’s call it even.  Hopefully you’ll learn your lesson and bring you inflated head back down to earth where it unfortunately belongs.

Kate Voegele, A Fine Mess

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<img class="photo_right" border="0" width="200" height="200" src="http://melodyplant.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/kate-voegele-photo.jpg&quot; alt="Kate Voegele, A Fine Mess” />

Having risen from MySpace roots, singer/songwriter Kate Voegele has made a name for herself in a relatively short amount of time. Her second full-length album, A Fine Mess comes courtesy of Interscope Records and is an emotional roller coaster ride through the depths of Voegele’s psyche. This time around Voegele tackles the usual relationship drama on tracks like “Inside Out” and “Who You Are Without Me” and reinforces the record with more complex themes like those found on “Sweet Silver Lining” and “Angel.”

Although A Fine Mess peaked at No. 5 on both the Top Digital Album chart and Top Modern Rock Albums chart Voegele has yet to make any major waves on radio. Her delicate, almost childish vocals are front and center on Mess, unlike her last record where layers of guitar, synths and keys hide any character-building imperfections. First single, “99 Times” is carefully crafted, complete with pulsating strings and a repetitive hook where Voegele definitely sounds more mature, but the song itself is lackluster.

One of the most polished songs on Mess is “Who You Are Wthout Me.” It’s more likeable than “99 times,” the melody is solid, and Voegele’s voice sounds stronger with a slight country twang that leaves her somewhere on the singer/songwriter spectrum between Michelle Branch, Anna Nalick and Jessica Andrews.

Voegele unleashes a sassier, sexier side on “Playing With My Heart,” an infectious uptempo with a carefree, dancy beat that grows on you with every listen. The subsequent, “Manhattan From The Sky” spawned the album’s title, and finds Voegele comparing a relationship to the streets of New York City. On the chorus she croons,

“You are my Manhattan from the sky/you look so neat and tidy when I’m way up high/but I know your streets are lined with a fine mess inside/I wanna, come down and walk around your mind.”

The lyrics are a bit cheesy, and the tune sounds like the fraternal twin of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles”, but it’s fairly catchy, and works well for Voegele. “Manhattan From The Sky” is followed by another standout, “Talkin’ Smooth.” It showcases Voegele’s vocals perfectly with that same bluesy, country swing as “Who You Are Without Me,” and there’s no cheese anywhere in sight. Voegele’s attitude comes through when she moans, “I don’t mean to presume that/you don’t love me like you say you do but you’re/gonna have to proof that you do, you’re not just talkin’ smooth.”

The only real disappointment on Mess is “Lift Me Up.” Surprising to say the least, the album’s first real ballad sounds more like something you’d hear on Christian radio, and its four-minute playing time is way longer than necessary. The song feels almost out of place on the record, and uncharacteristic of Voegele.

Mess wraps up with a slew of ballads, including the most radio-friendly single Voegele has ever been behind. “Say Anything” sounds like it could have been on the new Kelly Clarkson record, and Voegele pulls off the vocal effortlessly. The alternative edge suits her well, and perhaps if she had filled Mess with more power ballads like “Say Anything” it would have been easier to compete with chart toppers like Katy Perry and Mylie Cyrus.

Overall, A Fine Mess is generally likeable. It’s catchy, and fun, carefree and optimistic, but anyone who’s not a die-hard pop fan will probably get bored before the second track. And while Mess is a decent record, it offers up little that could compete with singles like The Black Eyed Peas, “Gotta Feeling” or Kelly Clarkson’s “I do not hook up.” The lyrics are too bland, and even though a few tracks showcase Voegele’s talent fabulously, others seem out of place and disconnected, making it hard to decipher what direction Voegele was trying to head with her sophomore release. Nonetheless, if you’re a fan of female singer/songwriters, or enjoyed Voegele’s first album and need a second helping, check out A Fine Mess today.

CD Review: Taking Back Sunday, New Again

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Taking Back Sunday, New Again

Almost two years after parting ways with guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino over creative differences, alt/indie-band Taking Back Sunday has re-grouped, re-structured, and re-invented itself in the form of their fourth studio album, New Again. With a new line-up that includes Matt Fazzi on guitar/vocals and bassist Matt Rubano now rounding out the band’s three-part harmonies, TBS has truly created something new with their latest release. New Again is a masterfully orchestrated combination of melodic hooks and intricate riffs that demonstrates just how far TBS have really come. After all, it’s been more than seven years since the release of the bands first full-length album, “Tell All Your Friends,” and without fail, every record since then has been an improvement on the one before.

As the title suggests, New Again is a slight departure for TBS. Producer David Kahne (Paul McCartney, Regina Spektor) left a huge mark on New, via strategically placed riffs and polished vocals that seem to take the band in a more subdued direction. But while some fans would argue the edginess they fell in love with has been sacrificed, the fact of the matter is, the new sound fits Taking Back Sunday like a glove. Thanks to a slightly more mature sound, Lazzara and company can tell more mature stories in more complex ways, and they pull it off without a hitch. Tracks like “Summer, Man” and “Swing” tell tales of adulthood, while “Catholic Knees” looks back in time with a new found understanding.

No doubt a result of Mascherino’s departure, New Again is also riddled with themes of change, more specifically of relationships ending. The opening and title track, finds singer Adam Lazzara questioning, “what are we to do with you?” just before proclaiming he’s “ready to be new again,” while the explosive closer, “Everything Must Go” illustrates the moment when a relationship can no longer move forward as it is. On the verse Lazzara sings, “We found a house with a yard/And moved all of my things in/And most of your things in/And honey I was proud of it.” And then screams the bridge, “But so much stuff must go tonight/Oh Lord, what have I done?” It’s an almost haunting track that fades out without notice, leaving the listener wanting more, and wondering if the album really just ended.

Other tracks from the same thread include, “Where My Mouth Is” which gives off an extremely regretful, almost bittersweet air, and “Lonely, Lonely”. On the chorus of “Mouth” Lazzara wails, “I had it all/sittin’ on top of the world/but I threw it away/jut to prove that I could.” It’s a song that will speak to the bands less aggressive fans that congregated around, “New American Classic” or “My Blue Heaven” on previous records.

Luckily for hardcore fans, not everything on New Again is of a softer variety. Lead single, “Sink Into Me” is reminiscent of tunes like “Bonus Mosh Pt. II,” and “The Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know),” and the aggressive, “Cut Me Up Jenny” sounds more like Tell All Your Friends than perhaps it should. Nonetheless, the sexy undertones, and quirky beats on such tracks are what make New Again refreshingly old school for TBS fans.

The one thing missing from New Again is, of course, Mascherino’s vocal. After being part of the band for so long, it’s only natural that new releases would seem to be lacking without him. Yes, New Again is missing a bit of that classic TBS edge, but who’s to say it wouldn’t have worn away with time anyway? Even without the extra oomph, Taking Back Sunday has pulled off another amazing record for the masses to enjoy.

Over the years, Taking Back Sunday have grown from angst-ridden, punk-inspired teens to genre-defining men, meanwhile creating a sound that has remained unmatched. With New Again, Taking Back Sunday proves there’s nothing it cannot overcome, and while some might argue a shinier sound means a change in attitude, there’s still plenty of signature TBS gusto present. Thanks to New Again, Taking Back Sunday has only further solidified its place at the top of the alt/rock totem pole.

Living With Lions, Make Your Mark

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Living With Lions, Make Your Mark

What do you get when you mix pure punk attitude with viral energy, in-your-face lyrics, and raw vocals? How about when you put five punk rockers in a Vancouver pad nick named the Dude Manor, mix with alcohol and serve cold to the masses? In this case, the result is a no frills LP, courtesy of Canadian punks Living With Lions.

The band’s first full-length release, Make Your Mark sounds like a combination of Rise Against, circa Siren Song of the Counter Culture, and more recent releases by The Bouncing Souls. There are just enough snare-filled verses, and anti-authority lyrics to classify these guys as a punk band, but occasionally, LWL unleashes a catchy hook or two, showing off a more refined sound than was present on their debut EP, Dude Manor. Make Your Mark’s opener, “She’s A Hack,” sets the tone for the record with strong choruses, and lead single, “A Bottle of Charades” is one of the most commercial friendly tunes the guys have ever penned. LWL taps into influences like Hot Water Music with the track, “Cold Coffee,” which sounds like a mosh pit to the face, and slows things down a bit with a softer chorus on “Hotel: Part Seven,” but never skimps on the energy. Make Your Mark closes with “Dude Manor (R.I.P.),” a tribute to the band’s old crib and then a short “Outro,” which gives a nod to old school punk acts, swelling from one simple note into a whirlwind of screeching guitars and intricate drum fills before fading out just under the two-minute mark.

There’s no denying Make Your Mark draws on some strong influences, but the bulk of the record is incredibly original, and full of potential. As a freshman LP, Mark makes a strong statement as an honest punk record by five guys who just happen to love playing music together. For a first attempt it’ll do, and it will be interesting to see how Living With Lions evolves. So, if you’re looking for a more melodically driven record, Make Your Mark may not be for you. But, if you’re at all a fan of bands like the Bouncing Souls, Green Day, Hot Water Music, Lifetime, Rancid, or Bad Religion definitely give Living With Lions a listen.