Born Without Bones is a laid back indie power pop band that you'll find hanging around Milford, MA. Say Hello is the first album for the band and it's a compilation that pretty much expands on the power pop/emo rock phase that most bands seemed to be stuck in for awhile.

The album features 12 tracks that run the gamut of punk, acoustic pop, and a bit of indie rock. I'm gonna put it out there that if you dislike power pop or anthemic highschool emo rock, then you best stay away. But if you live for this stuff, keep reading and you just might find a gem in this record.

The band is composed of Scott Ayotte (Vocals, Guitar), Jim Creighton (Bass) and Patrick Murphy (Drums) with Say Hello being only about a year old. It was recorded back in July 2010 at Pin Up Recording in Lancaster, PA.

It kickstarts everything with it's title track; an upbeat, pop punk song that you can easily imagine playing over local radio stations. The track beams with rolling drums accompanied by heavy guitars and typical lyrics about relationships. It nicely starts off the album, setting up a good expectation for the upcoming songs.

Meanwhile, Out of Step and Falling Asleep, follow through on the energy and help to form the best part of the record. These first three songs definitely come with charm, typical of most emo pop punk tracks. Both instrument work and vocals are done really well plus the songs suit their style more. Certain cuts like You, on the other hand, showcase the band's quiet side with a melodic piano ballad. Although I much prefer them to be loud and rocking out than taming it down, the song isn't that bad.

Overall, the record is a typical, fun power pop/punk album that most people won't have trouble enjoying. The album is a nice mix and most of the songs are pretty tight with catchy beats that stay on for a long while. As mentioned, I favor that they stay on the louder side of things than mellowing out, but they do show good versatility with the more subdued songs. Take a listen.

Related Links:
Born Without Bones on BandCamp
Born Without Bones on Facebook
Born Without Bones on Twitter
Born Without Bones on Tumblr
Born Without Bones on Last FM

Rozwell Kid is the brainchild of Jordan Hudkins, a drummer from the band The Demon Beat. For this LP, he took a break from his drumming and tried out his hand at creating alternative electro noise pop. Listening to it now, it seems he's stumbled onto something here.

This is his first foray into the solo route and it's proving a success. The Rozwell Kid LP comes with 10 tracks and one bonus single. According to the artist, his goal for the album was "to create the kind of music I love listening to, release it into the wild, and hope it finds an audience who can relate to my passion for thick, noisy power-pop.”  

Noisy power pop is definitely what the album is all about. It comes with upbeat tempos, catchy hooks and just feel-good lyrics that remind you of epic pop rockers, Weezer, in places. Opening the record is Rocket, a single that introduces listeners to Rozwell Kid's brand of pop rock. The song is enjoyable with slightly chanty vocals. It's followed by Dylan, Don't Do It, which is more upbeat and hints at a 90s sound. The song is quite catchy and features gritty guitars alongside melodic vocals.

A few other tracks worth noting include the '93 Connie and Ronnie; thanks to its slight electro infused sound, the song provides enough interest without really overwhelming the listener. There's also born 2 drum, which actually reminds me of The Strokes more than anybody else. The hipster sound and the steady beat fits the song quite properly as it seems to be an ode to Hudkins destiny for drumming.

In the end, you get a really good, easy listening noise rock record.  The album was basically done to showcase Jordan's love for music other than what his regular band plays, and so far it's doing a good job at impressing listeners. He definitely has a future if ever he decides to take this route full time. Take a listen.

Related Links:
Rozwell Kid on Tumblr
Rozwell Kid on BandCamp
Rozwell Kid on Twitter
Rozwell Kid on Music-Box

At the mention of the phrase “music from Sweden”, the odds are you'll sing in your head a line or two from Dancing Queen or, if your affinities lie at the opposite pole, make a mental list of your favorite death metal bands from that part of the world. Much as outsider impression of Swedish music is limited to the spirited disco pop of ABBA and the baneful loudness of the country's vibrant metal scene, a genre that's somewhere near the confluence into which these opposing musical streams flow is peeking out for some attention.

Cavanaugh, a four-piece band from Borlänge, Dalarana, is among the proponents of this genre, which the group unabashedly calls “mainstream rock”. But even as we hear that from the band itself, a deeper look into its music reveals sensibilities that have recently been missing from the mainstream scene at large. The 2009 EP Far From Chicago, spirited as it is in a way heavy, is without most of the unneccessary trappings.

The songs are rife with beautiful, catchy – but not maudlin – melodies, insinuating regret and forlorn feelings over what has long been gone but still pined for. The melodies and their delivery take cue from 80s rock ballads, but not the ones bordering on metal; they lean much closer toward the work of post-Eagles Don Henley, as in the artist's The Boys of Summer. To achieve this, band employs a little heartland rock, in the vein of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.

The instrumentation, come to think of it, exhibits the greatest amount of the mainstream flavor the band speaks of. With the innocuous chugging guitars on Get It Right and modern-day riffings on Fade Away, the band's message is clear: it wants to be relevant. And indeed, it is, and not necessarily at the expense of its musicality.

Related Links:
Cavanaugh's Official Website
Cavanaugh on Facebook
Cavanaugh on YouTube

Hunt Club definitely knows how to put together an energy-filled rocking compilation. These boys have been around the block since 2005. So far they've released 5 compilations, each one bearing their resident indie post punk rock sound.

Even though it's already 3 years old, this Hunt Club LP still sounds fresh and filled with a raw energy that echo right off the stereo as you play it.

Reflecting this postpunk vibe, growling vocals and loud instrument work; Hunt Club is worth "hearing" in action.

"Hunt Club is the sound of a Frenchman, an Irishman, and a Californian having an arm wrestling contest in a walk-in refrigerator. Hunt Club is the sound that Thomas Jefferson’s bones make when he rolls over in his grave. Hunt Club sounds like Jerry Falwell trimming his hedges with an electric toothbrush. It is the sound of abandoned motherboards howling at the moon in a waste treatment facility in China..." (Jamendo)

It might seem weird to associate the band's sound with  their self-written description, nevertheless, it does perfectly capture the band's sound aesthetics. Their eclectic arrangements and weird vocal work in certain songs, keep listeners guessing what they'll do next. Although I'm not fully sold out on the entire record, there are several tracks that are worth checking out.

Opening track, Knife Fight, is a mix of gypsy rock and roll that is catchy and loud. Meanwhile, Drowning Man, is a quieter cut with a rather darker mood. The latter also incorporates some weird vocal work; bordering on kitschy but it works great for the song nonetheless.

You can check out this record as well as the other albums that the guys have to offer right on Jamendo page. Their compilations are offered for free legal download under a creative commons license.

Related Links:
Hunt Club on Jamendo
Hunt Club on Myspace
Hunt Club on Free Music is Awesome
Hunt Club on Last FM
Hunt Club on The Punk Site

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

A hodgepodge of rock, alternative, grunge, noise and progressive rock, Life Support is a pretty good album to check out. This is the latest release from a singer/songwriter and producer from England who dubs himself as, Karmafish.

Although there's not much info on who this guy is, he sure has quite a number of albums under his belt. Life Support is his latest release following 4 previous records - all of which are available for free download on Jamendo and under a creative commons license.

This careful menagerie of sounds and noise is perfect for any rock lover. The artists' skillful and creative take on various genres of rock is impressive at best and certainly warrants a listen.

Life Support is filled with 10 tracks that  resonate like a "sonic patchwork" of sound. There are plenty of things going on in each track but it still manages to hold itself together and entertain.

Starting with the glorious rock opener, Eternal Sunshine, Karmafish kicks the door with some bad ass guitar licks while peppering the track with retro sounding, lo-fi vocal work. Sure, you can barely understand what he's saying but it won't stop you from head bobbing once in awhile. Most of the other tracks traverse the same vein while injecting a certain dose of hipster/Beach Boys feel on Where Do You Go?, pulling a noise progrock fusion on The Looking Glass, and even exuding a rockish yet eerie Floyd-like atmosphere in The Rule.

I'm not going to say that the album is a complete win but it does gather enough elements together to make it an interesting record to have. There were moments when I wished the vocals were more prominent. However, most of the time, I was too content with listening to the droning guitars, noise and various sounds littering the air to care about anything else. Take a listen and judge for yourself.

Related Links:
Karmafish on Jamendo
Karmafish on Myspace
Karmafish on Facebook
Karmafish on NME

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Listening to Dust River is like suffering through a 90s de'javu. If you didn't know better, you could easily mistake this French band for a popular, now-defunct grunge genius band named, Nirvana.  The only real giveaway is the French sounding vocals as opposed to the garbled words of Cobain.

Nevertheless, Permanent Crisis reflects a moody, grunge sound that's reminiscent of the movement when it first came out.  The songs feature prominent jangly guitars, a rockin' vibe and plenty of attitude. This is the first EP from the group and so far, they're still trying to shape their sound.

Dust River originally got together back in 2006. The group recorded their first three tracks in a demo the following year and by 2008, they finally released this 7 track EP, Permanent Crisis. This three-man crew has since then worked to establish their own sound and gain an audience. The EP as well as the first three singles they recorded are available as a free download from their website.

Permanent Crisis contains 7 tracks that are heavily influenced by the grunge movement. Opener, Never Forgive, is a straight up sounding homage to prominent Seattle grunge groups. From the guitars to the riffs, it's a nice track that you can easily crank up. Other cuts worth checking out include Slipping Down, with its moody pace and low key vocals; and of course, the title track, Permanent Crisis.

Although the album isn't for everybody, the songs are likable. If there's a place for grunge in your heart, then this one will be an easy favorite. Recording quality is good. I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals, but it works nonetheless.

Give the album a listen. It's available as a free download on Jamendo and licensed under creative commons.

Related Links:
Dust River on Jamendo
Dust River Official Website
Dust River on Facebook
Dust River on Myspace

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 France License.

The Eclectic is a Dublin five piece crew that create music with an alt rock infused electronica sound. Their Breathe EP, has garnered comparison to top Brit band, Muse. Even though the group isn't exactly thrilled with this comparison, there's no denying that they do sound like the Matt Bellamy-led group. From the voice to the synth rock sound, it's hard not to compare.

Their sound is a beautiful mix of laid back cuts to menacing synth alternative.

One thing for sure, whether they really sound like Muse or not; this five track EP is worth checking out.

This short compilation opens up with heavy breathing on the first track, The Man Who Thought He Looked Like Himself But Didn't, while progressing into a sort of dancy electronic beat. The sultry vocals and the electronic vibe adds personality to the cut. If I had to pick a track that showcases their similarity with Muse, then this would be it.

It's followed by a personal favorite off the EP, Scream. This one has a haunting feel to it without really going full into the dark side. Again, the vocals are lovable as the track slowly heads to rockish alternative route mid-way. Meanwhile, The Lobotomist, has a dreamy quality to it, thanks to the deep synths revolving around the cut.

Out of all the tracks, Potholes has to be the most reflective and melancholic. It exudes a deep atmosphere especially once the guitars start playing. Finally, the compilation is capped off by the sweeping cut, Lucky Landing. Maybe it's the title, but this one makes me think of astronauts maneuvering their bulky gear in space.

Overall, the album is definitely a worthy listen. It's not just for fans of alternative rock but even electronica/synth fanboys will adore this as well.

Related Links:
The Eclectic Official Website
The Eclectic on Harmless Noise
The Eclectic on BandCamp
The Eclectic on State. IE Album Reviews

‘TenPenny Joke’ are a Pop Rock band from Australia and prior to their current hiatus, the band had been playing and writing for over ten years. On top of this achievement, the band has been played regularly on Australian radio and has even appeared on television a number of times.

The album ‘Ambush on All Sides’ brings a quality that can be expected from 10 years of experience and its mainstream style reveals an attempt to connect with a larger audience. ‘TenPenny Joke’ have promised ‘15 original, killer tracks with diverse shades and roaring guitars’ and its success on both internet polls and radio shows suggests that this is a fair call.

'She' gives an adequate preview of what this band is capable of. In particular, the 'Jungle percussion' used within the intro and verses, exhibits the drummers versatility and talent. Furthermore, the Chorus of this song offers a thick and powerful texture which is created by 'the roaring guitar' described above and thick and rich vocal tracks. An intense section of guitar solo also squeals the sounds in which all rock fans crave. Finally, an outro played by the strings gives this song the sending off it requires. After listening to 'She', a viewer will be able to explain why it has over 31000 viewings on Jamendo.

'Across the Ocean' is also worthy of mention. It is one of the more laid back songs on the album and its vocal melodies are immensely catchy. Slow guitar solos and riffs litter this song and in verses the vocals are similar to those found in some Linkin Park songs. ‘Sirens’ sounds almost identical to music produced by ‘The Butterfly effect’, while other songs on this album sound similar to famous bands such as: Papa Roach and Nickelback.

If you are into rock, download this album and encourage this awesome band to end their Hiatus!

Related Links:
Download ‘Ambush From All Sides’ from Jamendo
TenPenny Joke Website
TenPenny Joke on Myspace

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Remember the tight leather pants, long hair, makeup, amazing drums and the heavy addition of loud, aggressive, and distorted electric guitars?! Well, although the great era of hard rock glam and bands (such as Guns'n'Roses, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and AC/DC) that will forever fill the musical hall of fame, will more than likely never come back to us in its full glory - it is good to know that there are still musicians out there, like Michelle, who can preserve some of its sounds today.

Formed in 2000, Michelle hails from Asturias in Spain. Michelle plays hard rock. Michelle plays it pretty well. The production of their latest record, Rock and Roll Babilonia, that has been released in 2007 under the Creative Commons license, is near perfect and includes many great guitar solos (as in 40 Grados and Malas Artes), amazing drums, and vocals that will surely remind you of the good 'old' days.
And for those of you who can't understand the lyrics (as all of the songs are written in Castilian) - don't worry there is still the universally understood language of instruments which will surely make up for everything else.

Unfortunately there is little information on the band anywhere on the Internet and it appears that no new tracks were released since Rock and Roll Babilonia, even thou the record was followed by some great reviews. Let's just hope there is something in store for the future.

The band:
Jacobo G. Polledo (vocals)
Jorge Regadera (lead guitar and vocals)
Damian Rey (rhythm guitar)
Ángel Carrasco (bass)
Jaime Suarez (drums)

Related Links:
Michelle on Jamendo
Michelle on Myspace

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons NonCommercial Sampling Plus 1.0 License.