I liked this about as much as I thought I would. Alternative indie rock that you can dance to. I found it about as challenging as I find most dance music. So, now they've gone farther into the dance thing. And it rarely rocks. So, you may love it, it's just not my bag. This is almost a concept album about a debaucherous night out drinking and screwing. Obviously, stealing everything from my own concept album Game Of Monopoly a few years ago. I'm HUGE in Scotland. Had a favorite though, the Pulp-y rocker, "Bite Hard". (2 of 5 Stars)
New York oddity follows up his morbid debut with an equally dark tale of baroque woe. I can hardly describe it any better than this allmusic.com review: "Musically, the softness and restrained textural lushness — always propelled by the intimate, mysterious, exploring piano of Hegarty — is highlighted by his voice that bears the traces of every heartbreak ever confessed, every quiet yet desperate hope ever held, and each prayer whispered to an unknown and unknowable God."(4 of 5 stars)
Salt Lake City band who throws back to a not-so-distant past of mid-90s post-grunge X103 Alt. Rock. I am going to assume that this band LOVED Candlebox. They're not a Christian band(because they love their whiskey), but they also sing about redemption and "growing up". It's not bad. It just passes in one ear and out the other. It's basically music for the kids that haven't gotten this far in life and hope to have the experiences and the good friends that Royal Bliss are reminiscing over. But I'm kinda over that, my damn self. So... (1.5 of 5 stars)
I gave this a listen primarily because it was only album released January 6th that I could find. But I enjoy a little chick singer-songwriter action now and again- Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, etc. - so I didn't mind tying her on. Now, with respect to those previously mentioned chicks, Erin's a bit more beautiful. And I point that out because while she's in the same vain, her presentation is a little more pretty, a little less thoughtful and a little more showy. She says, "I can taste it/I can't face it" for example.
If you were going to go to a concert where Vanessa Carlton was opening for Fiona Apple, you wouldn't mind seeing Erin sandwiched in the middle. An issue that's gonna come across Erin's desk is that the audience that would be inclined to take in these songs sentiments, I think, are going to be turned off by her production, which is lavish and busy. I could recommend this to pretty chicks who see a lot of guys but doesn't understand why it doesn't ever work out. But there's nothing to cross over to rock dudes like me. (2 of 5 stars)
