Speak In Rhythms

LAWRENCE ARMS (for fans of Jawbreaker and Crimpshrine)

2005-10-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

When Jawbreaker broke up in the mid-90's, dirty faced punks and emo kids agreed on one thing. The band gave up to early. "How could they leave us behind so quickly?" All sorts of theories flew around. Among the most used was that Jawbreaker's marriage with DGC Records did them in. A void was there. In 1999 a bandmate of mine played me something that made my ears do a double take. "Is this an unreleased Jawbreaker song?" I asked. What I was hearing was another three piece, this time from Chicago, called The Lawrence Arms. It was all there. The tension between the downtrodden and hopeful lyrics. The icy guitars that sounded like they were being played through walls of broken amplifiers. All of this being coated with melodious vocal lines throughout. They are signed to punk institution Fat Records and are currently in the studio working on their fourth album. I've posted my favorite Lawrence Arms song which comes from their Ghost Stories album.

THE LAWRENCE ARMS, "100 Resolutions"

DEPECHE MODE (for fans of classic Depeche Mode)

2005-10-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Yes I know, Alan Wilder hasn't been in Depeche Mode for over 10 years! But I had to post a classic era photo. This is the new single from the synth pop forefathers and it brings them full circle to their glory days. 'Precious' could have easily been on the Violater album. The new offering, Playing The Angel,will be out on October 18th.

DEPECHE MODE, "Precious"

ROBBIE TAKAC (for fans of Cheap Trick and Husker Du)

2005-10-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Criminally reduced to the "fat guy" from the Goo Goo Dolls, Robbie Takac writes the kind of songs that hook right into you from the first time you hear them. There is no pretension to his style. No fancy or cluttered arrangements. What you do get is a simple yet highly effective approach that harkens back to the mid-80's days of Husker Du and The Replacements. One thing his songs usually carry are a sense of utter urgency. With each release, Johnny Reznick's (the main songwriter and face of the band) songwriting gets closer to adult contemperary oblivion. But Robbie's material has kept true to his style. Let's hope he continues on that path. I've posted 2 songs from A Boy Named Goo and one from their Gutterflower album.

GOO GOO DOLLS (w/ ROBBIE TAKAC on vocals), "Burning Up"

GOO GOO DOLLS (w/ ROBBIE TAKAC on vocals), "Somethin' Bad"

GOO GOO DOLLS (w/ ROBBIE TAKAC on vocals), "Tucked Away"

EXPLODING HEARTS (for fans of The Strokes, The Undertones and Flamin Groovies)

2005-10-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

The Exploding Hearts were a 4 piece from Portland, Oregon who played music steeped in the schools of power pop and 1977 punk. Sadly, the band only had the chance to release one album due to a van accident the young band was involved in during the spring of 2003. I'm not biggest expert on the current american punk scene but when I heard these songs I wasn't going to deny them. They are timeless. I've posted "THROWAWAY STYLE" and the "could of been written in 1979" gem, "JAILBIRD" which are both on the 'Guitar Romantic' album.

EXPLODING HEARTS, "Throwaway Style"

EXPLODING HEARTS, "Jailbird"

GWEN STEFANI (for fans of Madonna and Stacey Q)

2005-09-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

She's beautiful. Her talent is unmistakable. Her band, No Doubt, have released irresistable pop records for the better part of 10 years. And her solo debut has sold in the millions since it's release last year. It would be easy to hate Gwen Stefani if she wasn't so damn intoxicating! I posted "Cool" which reminds me of the kind of stuff the major station here in NYC, Z-100, played in 1987. That my friends is not a bad thing at all.

GWEN STEFANI, "Cool"

INFORMATION SOCIETY (for fans of Human League and TKA)

2005-09-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

When you first find out that Information Society hailed from Minnesota, you can't believe your ears! I actually thought they were from the UK when I first heard the single "Running" in the summer of 1985. Back then, NYC pop radio was getting taken over by freestyle music. It was a latin flavored type of electro. Groups like TKA and Expose had massive local hits in that period. Information Society's early output was held in high esteem in freestyle circles. Producer/songwriter, Paul Robb, remains one of the most innovative studio technicians in dance music. His influence can still be heard in house music, synth pop and dark wave. The vocals of Kurt Harland sounded eerily like those of Peter Murphy. Especially on the song I posted, the aforementioned, "Running."

INFORMATION SOCIETY, "Running"

INTERPOL (for fans of Echo & The Bunnymen and The Chameleons)

2005-09-21T00:05:00.000-07:00

Interpol get a lot of flack for merely being a retread of Joy Division. Sure, Paul Banks' vocals seem influenced by Ian Curtis and Carlos Dengler's bass playing often floats around the higher notes like the great Peter Hook. But critics have largely failed to get beyond it. Interpol are a much more polished animal. The guitar work is leaps and bounds more involved than Bernard Sumner's. I hear more of an Echo & The Bunnymen influence in the songwriting. Go check out their 'Crocodiles' album and see if you agree. I've posted the trance meditative, 'Directions,' from the HBO series 'Six Feet Under' soundtrack.

INTERPOL, "Directions"

P.S. I grew up with Carlos from Interpol. We played in our first bands together. We wrote songs that tried, and often failed, to meld the sounds of Voivod, Iron Maiden and Testament together. I have tapes that will stay in the vault forever. Check out the bad pic below which was taken in 1988 in Carlos' bedroom.

(l-r) Carlos Ramirez, Rob Savage and Carlos Dengler

GRATITUDE (for fans of Jimmy Eat World and Samiam)

2005-09-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Gratitude is the latest project fronted by Jonah Matranga who has also done time with New End Original, Far and his fine solo records under the name Onelinedrawing. He's joined in this new venture with ex-members of bands like The Stereo and Crumb. Just like all the bands mentioned, Gratitude's main focus is the melody and they never stray from that. That said, the guitars pack enough wallop to keep the rock purists satisfied. They released their debut record a few months back but it's flying a bit under the radar right now. Hopefully people will come around because this has "hit" written all over it.

GRATITUDE, "Dream Again"

FEEDER (for fans of Muse and Coldplay)

2005-09-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Feeder enjoy hit singles and a massive following in their native U.K. Grant Nicholas is capable of writing guitar anthems yet he peppers their albums with enough meloncholic style to offset the mood. The one thing that always stays are his sugary vocal melodies. I've posted "Buck Rogers" from their 'Echo Park' album which reminds me of Blur's "Song 2" in it's playfullness.

Feeder, "Buck Rogers"

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK (for fans of Elvis Costello and Get Up Kids)

2005-09-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Motion City Soundtrack is the Minnesota band lead by singer/songwriter Justin Pierre. They recentely released their second album, 'Commit This To Memory,' for the Epitaph label. The 5 piece always get lumped in with the whole teenage emo thing but they offer so much more. Sharp hooks, witty wordplay and timeless melodies are abundant throughout Justin's songs. Blink 182's Mark Hoppus produced their new record and sprinkled a little radio sheen for good measure.

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, "Feels Like Rain"

THE CONNELLS (for fans of Counting Crows and Buffalo Tom)

2005-08-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Connells have been around in some form or another since the college rock boom of the 80's. They hail from North Carolina and have released 8 albums of jangle pop with a definite Americana edge to it. They flirted with crossover success with the release of their 'Ring' album but they never quite reached that lofty level contemporaries like REM gained. I've posted their MTV 120 Minutes' staple, "Slackjawed," from 1993.

THE CONNELLS, "Slackjawed"

WOLFSHEIM (for fans of Depeche Mode and 80's synth pop)

2005-08-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen the Saturday Night Live sketch Mike Myers did called 'Sprockets' back in the day? Germany's Wolfsheim remind me of that. But it in a good way. Thanks to my drummer, Jimmy, for introducing me to the these fine synth sounds! If you love David Gahan and Depeche Mode, this is for you. I've uploaded Wolfsheim's most celebrated song, "Once In A Lifetime," from their 'Spectators' album.

WOLFSHEIM, "Once In A Lifetime"

IDLEWILD (for fans of Brit Pop and REM)

2005-08-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

In the UK, bands like Manic Street Preachers and Embrace play arenas and have top 10 hits. Here in the states, they enjoy more of a small yet feverish following. Scotland's Idlewild are members of that elite club. With each release, the combo shifted gears and injected different nuances to their songwriting and arrangements. Their earlier material was heavier on the fuzz pedals while their later work flexes more melodic flare. I've posted one of the finer moments from their most recent effort, 'Warnings/Promises' which is out now.

IDLEWILD, "Blame it on the Obvious Ways"

OZZY OSBOURNE & JAKE E. LEE (for fans of poppy yet heavy metal)

2005-08-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Danny Todzia lent me 'The Ultimate Sin' by Ozzy Osbourne when I was in 6th grade. I never gave it back. Jake E. Lee was the guitarist on this album. He replaced the greater celebrated Randy Rhodes after his untimely death at the age of 25. Jake did a fine job filling in as Ozzy's sideman but would never get the full respect from his audience. It's too bad cause his playing is stellar on this particular record. I've posted "Shot in the Dark" which captures his economic yet scorching style. If you wanna see a parking lot of has-been metalheads erupt in an air guitar frenzy, play this song.

OZZY OSBOURNE, "Shot in the Dark"

CHRIS BELL (for fans of The Beatles and Wilco)

2005-08-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Chris Bell was in a 70's band called Big Star. They were influential and stuff. He was the co-writer and largely looked at as the Beatles/poppy side of the band. He was making his first solo album when he died in a car accident. This was his best song.

CHRIS BELL, "I Am The Cosmos"

COUNTING CROWS (for fans of REM and Ryan Adams)

2005-08-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

My introduction to the Counting Crows, like most people, was the single "Mr. Jones" in the early 90's. I hated that song! Luckily, my friend Rob picked up their second album, 'Recovering the Sattelites,' and MADE me listen to it. OK, so he was right. I've sang the praises of Adam Duritz's songwriting ever since. This song comes off their 'Hard Candy' album from 2002. It was co-written by Ryan Adams.

COUNTING CROWS, "Butterfly in Reverse"

JEALOUS SOUND (for fans of Superchunk and Cursive)

2005-08-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

How San Diego's The Jealous Sound isn't huge is beyond me. Big guitars? Check. Infectious vocal lines? Check. Atmosphere? Check. Just download "The Fold Out" from their 'Kill Them With Kindness" album and let me know what you think.

JEALOUS SOUND, "The Fold Out"

RANDY NEWMAN (for fans of the great american songbook)

2005-08-02T22:42:00.000-07:00

When I was kid, my 7th grade gym teacher, Mr. Hanz, asked me why I listened to heavy metal. He thought it was garbage. I told him that I liked the anger and aggression. He then said, "You think that shit is angry? You haven't heard Randy Newman man!" He wasn't off the mark on that one. But Newman's acerbic wit was way too much for a junior high kid to get. I'm 30 now and a fan. I've posted the tear inducing "Same Girl" from his 'Trouble In Paradise' album. I was 8 when it came out.

RANDY NEWMAN, "Same Girl"

VENDETTA RED (for fans of The Used and huge choruses)

2005-07-31T23:46:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, Seattle's Vendetta Red were on the lips of many music insiders. They were being touted as the next saviors of rock-n-roll. It didn't quite pan out that way but they did release a strong album called 'Between The Never & Now' in the process. The single "Shatterday" even garnered some radio and Mtv attention. The band is about to unleash their 3rd album, 'The Sisters of the Red Death' on the Epic label. Fans of The Used will appreciate Vendetta Red's guitar work and swelling choruses. Frontman Zach Davidson is a powerhouse presence who's never afraid to push his instrument to the brink. I've posted 'Silhouette Serenade' for your listening pleasure!

VENDETTA RED, "Silhouette Serenade"

AIRIEL (for fans of poppier shoegaze)

2005-07-29T02:58:00.000-07:00

I was such a shoegaze freak in the early 90's! This guy named Scott Lane I worked with at Discorama Records in Greenwich Village turned me onto the scene. He was an anglophile of the largest measure and it rubbed off on me. We would make our boss order all the import singles from the UK just so we could have first crack at them. Bands like Chapterhouse, Ride and Curve all represented different sides to the shoegaze label the press overseas stamped the sound with. Surfing the internet recentely I discovered a band out of the Chicago area called Airiel. If you dug any of the aforementioned outfits, download "Kiss Me Slowly" immediately! It's off their 'Frosted' EP. Shoegaze is alive and well in 2005 and to think it's right here in the states...

AIRIEL, "Kiss Me Slowly"

NO KNIFE (for fans of Jawbox and Girls Against Boys)

2005-07-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

In the 1990's, San Diego had a rich music scene sprouting bands like Rocket From The Crypt and the mega selling pop punkers, Blink 182. Public awareness for No Knife never reached the kind of levels that some of their counterparts enjoyed. Yet, many musicians have cited them as an influence in the past few years. The endlessly shifting rhythms and layered guitars bring to mind classic Jawbox. But something about Mitch Wilson's vocals really pull you in. They lend the compositions a poppier edge that offsets the quirkier arrangements. I posted quite possibly No Knife's strongest song "The Red Bedroom" for your download pleasure. It can be found on their 'Riot For Romance' album that was released in 2002 by the fine floks at Better Looking Records.

NO KNIFE, "The Red Bedroom"

GENE (for fans of Morrissey)

2005-07-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Throughout their decade plus career, England's Gene was constantly compared to Morrissey. Was it a fair call? Probably. Bands like Gene and to a larger degree, Suede, shared a love for over the top, impassioned vocals and guitars that screamed of Mick Ronson. Much like Moz always has. But Gene's songwriting rose above mere imitation. Check out "Fighting Fit" from their second album, 'Drawn To The Deep End' and hear for yourself.

GENE, "Fighting Fit"

WALKING CONCERT (for fans of Walter Schreifels and Brit Pop)

2005-07-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

Walking Concert is songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Walter Schreifels' newest project. Most of us know him from his previous work in Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits and most recentely, Rival Schools. He's joined in this new band by some veterans of the NYC scene. Among them, Drew Thomas who played in 90's powerhouse act, Into Another. But enough about their past accomplishments cause Walking Concert is a unit not to be ignored. Imagine Walter's distinctive vocals married with some Brit rock flair. The guitars cut through with a punchy sheen but never reach ear splitting levels like they did in his previous work. I posted, "Audrey," my favorite song on their debut album, 'Run To Be Born.' Let me know what you think.

WALKING CONCERT, "Audrey"

P.S. I remember around 1995 or so, I was working at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square and I saw Walter there. I had a Ride (90's British shoegaze band) t-shirt on and he got all giddy when he saw it and asked me where I got it. I felt so effin' cool!!!

RIALTO (for fans of Pulp, Suede and early Blur)

2005-07-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

Rialto got around to releasing their debut album at the tailend of the Brit Pop craze that took over the U.K. in the mid to late 90's. The band was lead by Louis Eliot who had a major hard on for late 60's soundtracks by the likes of John Barry and Lalo Shifrin. So expect some dramatic chord changes melded with Rialto's brand of poppy Brit Pop. I've posted 'Monday Morning 5:19' from their debut album which was released in 1998 to little fanfare here in the states. The band broke up a few years later and Louis is now working the solo circuit.

RIALTO, "Monday Morning 5:19"

BEN WATT (for fans of hushed, sweet vocals and guitars)

2005-07-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

Ben is the male half of Everything But The Girl. This is the title track of his 1983 solo album 'North Marine Drive.' It's supposed to evoke this feeling of summer love but it's done by someone NOT from California. It's sung and written by a pasty Londoner. Maybe that's part of the song's charm. Or maybe it's just the honeyed vocal melody. Whatever it is, download it.

BEN WATT, "North Marine Drive"

LET GO (for fans of Cheap Trick, 80's FM hard rock and Marvelous 3)

2005-07-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Do you love high energy rock of the catchiest degree? Sure you do silly! I present to you Arizona's favorite sons, Let Go. They are lead by Jamie Woolford who was the mastermind behind the much lamented, The Stereo. Let Go's songs always have two constants. One would be catchy guitar hooks. The second would be Jamie's sugary vocals. This band should strike a nerve with all fans of big, sing along choruses. You will be hooked! I posted "Spotlights" from their upcoming debut album coming out in fall.

LET GO, "Spotlights"

JEFF HANSON (for fans of Elliot Smith and Sunny Day Real Estate)

2005-07-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Jeff was born and raised in Milwaukee and has played in bands since his early teens. His last band, M.I.J., gained a small yet dedicated following. He just released his second solo effort on the Kill Rock Stars label. The first thing people always mention is how Jeff's voice sounds like a female's. It's true. If you thought Elliot Smith's voice was fragile, you haven't heard nuthin yet! But that delicacy lends his songs an air of mystery that creeps through all of his material. Most of the time the only thing accompanying his singing is a guitar. If you, like me, were a fan of Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate) and his solo record, you will be hooked on Jeff Hanson in a big way. I posted a song from his first album below.

JEFF HANSON, "Hiding Behind The Moon"

ALOHA (for fans of Minus The Bear and 70's era Yes)

2005-07-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

This Bowling Green, Ohio quartet are a truly original voice in today's music scene. It's not often you hear the sounds of a vibraphone in a rock band. But this exciting yet risky move pays off in a major way. Check out "Summer Away" and you can even hear a guitar figure that rests somewhere in 1970's Yes terrain of melody. Aloha keep you guessing but they always deliver an infectious sweetness beneath all the experimentation.

Go to www.musicofaloha.com for more info

ALOHA, "Summer Away"

JOSH ROUSE (for fans of Pete Yorn and Brit Pop)

2005-07-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

A singer/songwriter originally from Nebraska, Josh currently resides in Spain where he mantains a much healthier fanbase. He has released 5 albums. His writing style has always been rich in vocal melodies but with each passing record, he adds a new sphere of influence to the textures. On his latest album, 'Nashville,' there are hints of The Smiths era Johnny Marr in the guitar work on "Winter in the Hamptons." On "My Love Has Gone" you can imagine what it would sound like if Tom Petty sideman, Mike Campell, was playing slide guitar along to a lost Fleetwood Mac b-side. OK, so maybe that reference was way over the top in music geekness. But I encourage you to check out the 2 tracks I posted below...

JOHN ROUSE, "Winter in the Hamptons"

JOHN ROUSE, "My Love Has Gone"