American Authors - Oh, What a Life Album Review

Origin: Boston, Massachusetts
Genre: Alternative rock/Folk rock
Record Label: Mercury Records

With their debut studio album, Oh, What a Life, comes Boston’s newest up-and-comers in the alternative rock scene, American Authors. In the seven years that the band has been together for, they have released one self-titled extended play, along with their recently released full-length studio album signed with Mercury Records. American Authors is undergoing a rapid climb to success, which allows their first album to be something unique and compelling to listen to.
          
The album starts out with the uplifting anthem “Believer”. This song is well-equipped with inspirational lyrics, and a remarkably catchy chorus that is captivating from start to finish. This is the type of song that one starts off their morning with in order to gain motivation for the day. This song epitomizes the mood of the entire album: energy and encouragement. The track also displays the lead singer’s rough and powerful male vocals that are an unexpected feature for each and every song. The well-received single of the album, “Best Day of my Life”, pairs fun and memorable lyrics with a distinct beat throughout the verses. This track continues the theme of happiness and reassurance, while providing an entertaining atmosphere to carry listeners well in to the summer months. It can already be heard in TV series such as “Glee” and “The Vampire Diaries”, as well as in several advertisements. An instant hit amongst the charts and a favourite of the critics, this song catalyzed American Authors’ launch to triumph.
          
Furthermore, the band demonstrates their diversity through the song “Love”. The track features electronic elements that is laced throughout, and also shows a more romantic side to album. It also supplies a nostalgic and youthful feel that allows the listener to reminisce about their first love. Finally, the album closes with the album-titled track, “Oh, What a Life”. In addition to “Love”, this song also shows the dynamics in the band’s music. With a more folk-rock vibe to the beginning and chorus, the song becomes an instantaneously compelling change of pace. The start contains a violin and banjo, while the bridge kicks up the original alternative rock feel. The chorus combines the previous folk atmosphere and becomes coupled with the band’s usual sound to create an unbelievably flawless ending to the debut album.
         
 American Authors created a diverse and uniquely uplifting album to announce a warm hello to music industry and their audience. The band’s high energy, rough vocals and motivational lyrics combine to create complete harmony in the debut album, Oh, What a Life.

Oh What a Life:  9.6/10

The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars Album Review

Origin: Nashville, Tennessee

Genre: Americana/Folk/Alternative Country

Record Label: Columbia, Sensibility Records

Band Members: Joy Williams and John Paul White

 

After months of being on hiatus, The Civil Wars are back in the music scene with their new self-titled album. This album features twelve incredible and haunting tracks that are each filled with a story. Although many bands fail to make their sophomore album memorable, The Civil Wars have beaten the odds and made a remarkable sequel to Barton Hollow.

 

The album kicks off with the track entitled “The One That Got Away”. This song provides a strong, distinctive sound that sets up the tone for the rest of the tracks. Williams takes the lead with powerful vocals that harmonize flawlessly with White’s lower voice. With added instruments, this song delivers an edgy tone that remains throughout the album. White takes the lead on the second track of the album entitled “I Had Me a Girl”. His low tenor voice combined with his high falsetto creates a masculine, commanding energy to the country-rock song. Williams adds a sweeter tone that evens out the track and adds balance.

 

To add diversity, the duo winds down for a softer, melancholy track called “Tell Mama”. Lyrically enchanting, this song is as moving as it is dark. Williams performs with a more gentle approach that allows the listener to drift away. My favourite track on the album would have to be “Devil’s Backbone”. This song is badass on all levels, and the combination of the drums and the power behind the vocalists brought this song to life.

Although The Civil Wars are known for their soft, acoustic-folk sound, they have been experimenting more with country and rock genres that make this album truly unique. Each song told a vivid story, and the lyrics made their self-titled album dark and mysterious. This, in my opinion, is their best album yet.

The Civil Wars: 9.1/10

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This Counts For Everything! - Believe EP Review

Genre: Alternative Rock
Origin: Gilbert, Arizona
Record Label: Independent
Band Members: Justin, Malik, Chris, Andy, and Colten.

From Gilbert, Arizona is an edgy alternative rock band of five male members. This Counts for Everything has just recently released their EP Believe. This short but incredibly loud EP has a lot to offer the listener with its fast-paced instrumentals and rough vocals.

The tracks featured on this EP include “Wash You Away”, “Believe”, “Sorry, I’m Not Sorry”, and “Here I am”.

Sorry, I’m Not Sorry:
The first track starts the EP off with a bang, with its fast-paced beat and higher vocals from the lead singer. The theme of this song is obviously about a break-up, as it paints the image of a bitter end of a relationship. The lead guitarist is captivating during this track, with a unique guitar solo at the beginning of the track to lead the way for the rest of the instrumentalists and vocalist.
Sorry, I’m Not Sorry: 9/10

Here I am:

This track gives the album it’s meaning with inspirational lyrics, lighter instrumentals, and a brighter tone to the lead singer. While this song is lighter and more joyful, it maintains its alternative rock feel. The lyrics are well-written, and provide a comforting, encouraging sound. This track allows the EP to have some diversity within the second song, and that gives the fans what they want to hear.
Here I am: 9.3/10

Believe (Acoustic):
The second last track that was shown on the band’s EP was an acoustic version of the title track “Believe”. This was the slowest and most honest song on this EP, and it was a charming break to the harder songs that were featured.
Believe: 8.5/10

Wash You Away:
With harder instrumentals and darker vocals, Wash You Away sets the tone for the EP. Unique guitar solos and bass lines hold this track together for the lead singer to keep control with his deeper tenor vocals. While the song has a Yellowcard vibe, the band puts their own spin on things with mixing a lighter chorus with a darker verse.
Wash You Away: 8.5/10

Overall, This Counts For Everything! delivers a fun and entertaining EP, while maintaining honest and relatable lyrics. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Yellowcard, Jimmy Eat World, and other bands of the pop-punk genre.

Believe: 8.8/10

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California Lane Change: Interview

California Lane Change is a Canadian pop-rock band from Leduc/Edmonton, Alberta. The band has played shows all across Alberta, and played a show during this year’s Canada Day celebration. I got to interview California Lane Change after they finished their show. This is how my first interview went down.

Continuous Conversations: How was the band formed?

California Lane Change: We were formed by me and my brother and Kyle back in junior high, grade eight. Just started playing together and we had a band called the Underscored. Kevin was in a band that they called The White Stripes, which didn’t work out because of copyright. And then from there, we moved to Leduc. We then met Tyler, our drummer, and we met Steve, our other guitarist. Steve and Kevin played in another band, and then they came over here with us. And that’s how we formed.

Continuous Conversations: So how many band members is this comprised of?

California Lane Change: Five, and then the occasional triangle-player.  

Continuous Conversations: Do you guys get to travel much?

California Lane Change: We try to, but we get busy with school, and we get busy with work. So we haven’t left Alberta, but we’ve gone to Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, and here. So, basically within three or four hours distance.

Continuous Conversations: Do you guys all go to school?

California Lane Change: I’m the only one in school. That kind of holds us back from travelling. But the rest of them work, and  Kevin is an electrician, Steve is a millwright, Tyler works fire-protection, and Kyle does something.

Continuous Conversations: What’s the age range?

California Lane Change: I’m the youngest, as I’m 20. And then it goes up to 24.

Continuous Conversations: How long have you guys been a band for?

California Lane Change: Three or four years. In that area.

Continuous Conversations: What kind of genre would you put yourselves in?

California Lane Change: It started out pop-rock, and now we’ve done everything from pop-rock to 90’s, and we have some harder songs. We’re swinging over to the country-folk kind of thing.

Continuous Conversations: Are you guys signed to any label?

California Lane Change: No label. We’ve gotten attention from Universal Canada, and Gene Simmons gave us a call and wanted to come check us out. He said to give it a little while.

Continuous Conversations: How many albums/EPs do you have out right now?

California Lane Change: Our first EP was five songs, and the last album we’ve done is ten songs.

I strongly encourage everyone to check them out, as I have a good feeling that they will become a big success one day.

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California Lane Change Live Review

 

From Edmonton, Alberta comes a fresh pop-rock/punk band called California Lane Change. The members of this band are Joey Vos on vocals, Kevin Vos on bass guitar, Kyle Radzick on lead guitar, Steve Chwyl on rhythm, and Tyler Ennis on drums. This group of five young men created an energy-filled atmosphere with the lead singer’s tenor vocals, and the rowdy instrumentals from the rest of the band.

Unfortunately, this review will be quite short, as I showed up when the band only had three songs left. That was my fault.

            California Lane Change had grabbed my attention as soon as I walked in. Their ability to entertain and maintain their tight vocals and instruments was befuddling. The lead singer, Joey, had a stage presence that instantly attracted one’s attention, with his ability to have as much fun on stage as the audience did on the ground. Meanwhile, the instrumentalists played a consistently catchy rhythm that had every one in the mood for dancing. The band played a mixture of covers and original tracks, which made it easy to sing along to. The second from last song that they had performed was their cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”. They added their own flavour to it while keeping the original feel to the song. The familiar track had many young adults singing along, and excited screams escaped many of the fans.

 

            With a familiar sound to early pop-punk bands, California Lane Change has what it takes to grab and hold individual’s attention, while maintaining their own unique sound.

 

Rating for California Lane Change: 9/10

 

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Glass Tiger Live Review

 

This Canada Day I had the privilege of meeting quite the famous Canadian band. Glass Tiger was established back in 1984, in Newmarket, Ontario. They have marked their place in the world as one of Canada’s greatest bands of all time, and have won five Juno awards and a Grammy nomination. They have sold millions of albums and singles, and have many hits below their belts.

 

The concert I went to was located in central Alberta. With a hot, sunny day as their playing field, the band went on to play for thousands. Belting out the lyrics with high energy, the crowd went wild for their early hits, and fell in love with their latest songs. The instruments were blaring, and they placed a strong beat that the audience danced to, despite the crazy heat of the sun. Songs such as “My Town”, “Diamond Sun”, and “Watching Worlds Crumble” had the audience screaming for more, and they stayed on their feet throughout the entirety of the hits.

 

As the concert ended, the audience cried for more, and Glass Tiger obeyed their fans’ pleads and hopped back on the stage for an encore. They played their classic hit “Animal Heart”, and the fans sang along and cheered. Finally, they decided to end off the evening with “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”. As soon as the band announced this song, the crowed erupted in to a frenzy of screaming and anticipated jumping. The song was sung with a mixture of the lead vocalist’s voice and the excited vocals of the fans. Finally, the concert ended, and the night was brought to a close.

 

Overall, I feel like the show was high energy from start to finish, and it gave the crowd exactly what they asked for.

  
Rating for Glass Tiger: 10/10
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Friendly Savages - O, Joshua! Album Review

Genre: Indie Rock/Folk

Origin: Austin, Texas

Record Label: Unsigned

Band members: Josh Coulter, Scott Krenitski, John McDonald, Malcolm White, and Michael Summers

 

What do you get when you mix folk rock with four young men from Austin, Texas? You get the Friendly Savages and their new album O, Joshua! With quirky instruments, original lyrics and entertaining, talented male vocals, this band is gaining speed in the music industry. With a sixteen-track album brought to the table, this unsigned band has a lot to offer.

 

O, Joshua! starts out with one short, beautiful piano instrumental called “To an Asteroid”. Although it has a more solemn tone, the rest of the album maintains a fairly upbeat, rock feel. The instrumental was followed by the song “Counted Lost”. While it started out with gentle guitars and piano, it gained urgency towards the final half of this brilliantly-written folk piece. The lyrics contain optimism in dark times, and convey a sense of sanguinity for the listener. Additionally, “The Hold of the Lord on my Sparrow” is also filled with a rustic sound, as well as emotional lyrics and a fantastic combination of ringing banjo strings and heart-rending acoustic guitar.

 

The album isn’t just filled with solemn instrumentals and half-sombre, half-cheerful lyrics. Songs such as “The Escape” and “I Have Your Ghost” are energetic, bright songs that are fun to rock out to. A surprising twist was when a lovely female vocalist joined the lead singer in “The Escape”. With faultless harmonies, these two conquered the song and gave it a certain unexpected edge. “Her Locket on a Chain” let the lead take charge and show off his gleaming vocal abilities, and showcased a more bluesy sound towards the end with the combination of instruments.

 

Overall, the album portrayed the highs and lows of life. It showed a viewpoint from someone who has loved, lost, and found who they are along the way. Furthermore, it gave one the sense of hope in complicated times, and paired that emotion with the happiness that one can find. The emotions were well-planned out, as it went in a story-like chronological order. “Gold and Silver (Love is Lost)” ended the heartbreaking part of the album, and “For Grace (Love is Found)” started the more contented side of the story.

 

With a fine mix of acapella, instrumental, glum, and cheerful tracks, O, Joshua! has found a home in my favourite album collection. With brilliantly-written lyrics, sensational harmonies, and a well-thought out story line, Friendly Savages delivered near-flawless songs. This album contains all that one needs to start and end their day. It is highly recommended to take a listen, and be prepared to have your ears and mind rejuvenated.

 

O, Joshua! : 9/10

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