This was an excellent year for melodic rock and indie-alternative pop. I didn’t have time to rank everything, but I did want to make another list for you, these are albums that I’ve enjoyed but I didn’t have time to review. More overlooked gems will be reviewed this week. Amiee Mann - Charmer. She’s been making…
Category Archives: Major label releases
Candlebox and Lightships
Candlebox “Love Stories & Other Musings” Candlebox is a perfect example of popular rock band that doesn’t want to be hemmed into a single rock category. With a platinum-selling debut in 1993, they rode the Seattle grunge bandwagon but the wheels fell off in 2000 with numerous personnel changes. They reformed in 2008 and the…
The Beach Boys Reunion
The Beach Boys, together with estranged sonic genius Brian Wilson for the first time in decades, have the brand-new reunion single “That’s Why God Made The Radio.” You can close your eyes and go back in time… “Tuning in the latest star/From the dashboard of my car/Cruising at seven/Push-button heaven” The song proves without a doubt…
Major label reviews: PushPlay and Mayday Parade
PushPlay “Found”Time to see what talent the major labels are pushing through. Produced by Matt Squire (Panic at the Disco) Long Island natives Push Play would like you to toss your Jonas Brothers CDs in the trash and “Watch it Burn.” While the opening track is a nice buzz guitar pop song, it enters boy-band…
Major Label Monday Reviews
Plenty of great new power pop albums have emerged on major labels recently. They are all excellent and too important to ignore. Wilco “Wilco” On the seventh disc Wilco seems to have found its sweet spot with more recent albums, the songs are both gentle and melodic. The self titled track (“Wilco, the song”) is…