JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound – Beat Of Our Own Drum
On their latest album, Beat Of Our Own Drum, Chicago’s own JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound dish out post-punky neo-soul that’s as manic and noisy as it is soulful and grooving. Brooks’ vocals are amazing and can be either sweet or incendiary depending on what’s called for. His band features guitarist Billy Bungeroth, drummer (Read more…)
Ben Davis & The Jetts – Charge It Up
Admittedly, this is the first “solo” offering I’ve heard from Ben Davis (formerly of bands like Milemarker and Sleepytime Trio) so I can’t really compare it to his other material but as a big fan of Milemarker, I at least have a frame of reference. Charge It Up (Davis’ third full length) is full of (Read more…)
Nakatomi Plaza – Ghosts
Having never before heard anything from Nakatomi Plaza and considering just how good their final album Ghosts is, I’m actually a bit disappointed that the band recently called it quits. While that means I won’t have a chance to see ‘em live, I do know that I’ll be digging around through their other releases. On (Read more…)
Shark Speed – Sea Sick Music
I’m not sure that I ever thought I would describe a band as sound like a cross between Minus The Bear and Maximo Park playing friendly Midwestern late-90’s emo. Then Utah’s Shark Speed and their album Sea Sick Music came across my desk. I know, I know. Actually, I think the band sounds a whole (Read more…)
Maximo Park vs. Cajun Dance Party
I liked both of Maximo Park’s previous albums so I was quite surprised to find their new one, Quicken The Heart, to be rather boring and unexciting. It isn’t terribly bad but it just falls flat when compared to the band’s vibrant and endearing earlier work. Mainly (I think) it’s just that the songs aren’t (Read more…)
