| Between the Trees The Story and the Song In a modern world of emo-pop, Between the Trees of Orlando fit right in. With a force of Fall Out Boy meets Panic! At the Disco and some more hardcore- style vocals, the Between the Trees album "The Story and the Song" is toe-tapping and even dance worthy from track one. The band’s sound is very together though with a hint of an un-mastered air. In a move reminiscent of Jersey rockers, My Chemical Romance, drummer Josh has a younger brother , Jeremy who picked up a bass and joined the line up of Between the Trees. With lyrics that sometimes fall to clichés such as “the deeper you cut it only gets worse” and “all you need is love” the music is what carries the songs. One of the highlights is a song that resembles The Smashing Pumpkins’ song “Tonight Tonight”, a song called "The Greatest of These (a little love)” which is a touching ballad. All in all, if a rougher emo-pop sound is what you want, you need "The Story and the Song" by Between the Trees. |
| Leeroy Stagger Depression River 4/5 Favorite Track: Where I Live Leeroy Stagger brings a folk-blues-rock feel back to music, making this an album that can reach out and shake everyone to the roots of their musical foundation. Stagger's voice is soothing and gritty at the same time, making this a record that both parents and kids can listen to without arguing over what channel to change it to. Depression River is the perfect lake-side summer party sound track despite what the title. |
| Neurosonic Drama Queen 1.5/5 Favorite Track: N/A Jason Darr's Neurosonic delivers an album that is very reminiscent of the late 90's electric synth-rock that lasted only as long as it took to describe the sound. Darr combines rock and slight amounts of hiphop in the same way Linkin Park had, but falls short of the intended mark when the lyrics leave the safe haven of catchy and become preachy. I respect the fact that he was bold enough to litter the lyrics with his opinions, but that really isn't my bag. The music quality is great and all, and the flow of music to lyrics commendable, but the lyrics themselves lacked true substance. It was sheer ranting. Tell me a story, tell me facts, but don't show ideas or obvious images down my throat. I think Darr's popularity would soar if he left the "Drama Queen" act behind and took a page from my immortal beloved Morrissey. No one states the negatives in such a fun way like Morrissey. |
