From My Ears To Your Eyes: Short & Sweet

t’s been forever since I’ve done one of these..as is usually the case..but with all the Maystache Maynia happening, I just didn’t have a chance. Either that or I get really lazy. In any event, here’s a big ol list of swiftly reviewed musical mumbo jumbo that’s come out lately that I’ve investigated. I think I might also add a recent and recommended blurb up on a sidebar somewhere where I can just put little suggestions of music for you guys to listen to. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

November 5, 1955 – ‘Bears Of The Sea’
Released Feb 19, 2008
Ironclad/Metal Blade

Besides having a ridiculously favorable album title for this blog, this record all packs a ton of awesomeness as well. Our buddy Fool Of Gold brought these guys to my attention a little while back and I’ve only recent gotten around to checking them out. Boy I’m glad I did. These guys bring to mind Circle Takes The Square, Glassjaw, ATDI, maybe a little Dillinger Escape Plan, with a few other flavors added to the pot for good measure. Musically creative & interesting and seemingly pretty solid lyrically, this cd might be the best metal cd I’ve heard all year and so far probably has the best chance of staying in my heavy music rotation as the year goes on.
Year End List Potential: 4.4/5

Scarlett Johansson – ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’
Released May 20, 2008
Atco Records

Great, a hot actress trying to prove her musical worth by recording an album of Tom Waits songs. How about we just forget this thing ever happened? Where are the Men In Black with their little memory eraser thing when you need them. This record has three things going for it: the musical arrangements of the songs are lovely, David Bowie sings back up on a few tracks (WTF??), and they’re Tom Waits songs. Notice that none of those things have anything to do with Ms. Johannson. She comes across as bored (and quite possibly a man) vocally and just doesn’t do any justice to the songs she’s singing. Sorry Scarlett, you’re hot, but this shit pretty much sucks.
Year End List Potential: 1.3/5

Seach The City – ‘A Fire So Big The Heavens Can See It’
Released April 1, 2008
Tooth & Nail

Much like their counterparts at Solid State, Tooth & Nail has a certain sound that ALL their bands more or less have..and that’s cool I guess..at least you generally know what to expect when you listen to something and it makes putting tours together super simple. Search The City falls into that same category, as they fit the emo/pop whatever category the label specializes in. As a matter of fact, there are a few a zillion times on this record where you’d SWEAR you were listening to some new slightly dumbed down Anberlin release..they’re ridin’ that jock like whoa. Don’t get me wrong, I guess the songs are enjoyable and fun for what they are; there’s a pretty consistent up-tempo thing going on throughout the record and it makes for a catchy record and a surprisingly decent listen, but I don’t feel like there’s anything there that I’ll remember in a month or two. There is probably some potential here, but they’re gonna havta work a lot harder at writing songs to tap into it. It’s hard to stand out when you sound like a carbon-copy of a million other bands. And shame on T&N for signing an Anberlin clone so soon after losing the real thing to a major label. Lame-o.
Year End List Potential: 2.3/5