Reviews

Albums, singles and shows, reviewed.

567 stories · Page 13 of 29

ReviewsAlbum Review: Soul Brothers – God’s SonsGreeley Rap trio Soul Brothers show off their talent while furthering their immersion into the culture of Hip-Hop, both on God’s Sons and live in concert, so pay close attention. With inspiring performances that promote crowd participation, their lyrics are relevant and relatable to anyone with even a mild appreciation for rap and hip-hopJamar Johnson · Oct 25, 2018ReviewsEminem – KamikazeEminem fans were elated when he surprise-dropped his 10th studio album Kamikaze at the end of August.Kyle Eustice · Oct 12, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Alright Alright – NearbySeth and China Kent are the married couple behind Alright Alright, each of whom have very different musical backgrounds, explaining AA’s unique, diverse sound. China is a classically trained pianist from Vanderbilt University; Seth a former guitar tech for The Fray (“How to Save a Life”). Alright Alright stand out from the masses with a gentle sense of depth and even gravitas on their new album, Nearby.Jay Wallace · Oct 4, 2018ReviewsAlbum review: Jungle – For EverLondon based neo-soul band Jungle are gearing up to release what is going to be the best sleeper album of the year.Jed Murphy · Sep 17, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Murder By Death: The Other ShoreIn 2014, Murder By Death was the first Rock & Roll act to play the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park; this year, their fifth annual winter residency extended to five sold-out shows. As much as the American Gothic sound of Murder By Death fits the open prairies and rugged mountains of Northern Colorado, it is equally out of this world. It’s fitting, then, that their latest studio album, The Other Shore is a space western.Nick Bode · Sep 14, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Draghoria – Thrash ADDraghoria is a multi-generational metal band from Greeley with a recurring theme that describes their music to a tee – thrash metal.Nate Wilde · Sep 10, 2018ReviewsSingle Review: Gingerbomb – WildfireGetting a 5-piece, all-redhead band with members from New York, Denver and Los Angeles together is an accomplishment. Colorado songstress Megan Burtt has wrangled such a group, aptly named: Gingerbomb. LA via NYC producer/drummer Ryan Vaughn and engineer/multi-instrumentalist Zach Berkman along with Burtt, vocalist / keyboardist Sara Dee and bassist Casey Sidwell join forces for the project with a maturity that defies any red-headed stepchild jokes critics might conjure. They kicking off the Bohemian Nights New West Fest in Fort Collins August 11th, 2018.Kevin Johnston · Aug 1, 2018FeaturesDeVotchKa’s ‘Night’ Finally Falls On Fans’ Ears“Straight Shot,” the lead single from DeVotchKa’s forthcoming release This Night Falls Forever, takes both citizens of “Old Denver” and global fans of the pioneering Gypsy-Folk band “right back to the good times – before the paperwork got signed.” After years of soon-to-be-released announcements, the album finally arrives this August 24. “We have been extremely lucky in attracting so many great collaborations,” Nick Urata says. He admits, however, “with the benefit of hindsight, we now see that it took us away from finishing our album. We can only hope that the projects we have done will somehow find a way to influence our latest music.”Kevin Johnston · Aug 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: I Am The Owl – A Mission to Civilize: Part III Am The Owl’s newest release is for longtime fans of the Fort Collins punk/metal band and new listeners alike. Recorded at the Blasting Room, a heavy hitting local recording studio readers should familiarize themselves with (if you haven’t already), A Mission to Civilize: Part II rips. Fans of the hybrid genre will dig the searing guitars and signature “tight, but huge” drums. Following up their first release, A Mission to Civilize: Part I, the new drop expands on I Am The Owl’s galvanizing sound with much-welcomed production value increase. Fans of local DIY punk rock, don’t let that turn you off.Michael Olivier · Jul 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Heavy Beauty – Self-Titled EPThe Golden-based “Desert Grass” quartet Heavy Beauty has a clean but unfiltered sound to their work. The three songs on the EP – “Dreams,” “Butterflies” and “Stars” – are simple but elegant. They possess a slow, even flow to their singing that never stutters or overpowers certain elements. Dobro player Mike Testagrossa, bassist Angel Edgemon and Willie Thomas on the mandolin provide vocals, with Dax Hunter Jordan on drums.Jay Wallace · Jul 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Modern Leisure – Super Sad Rom-ComModern Leisure’s Super Sad Rom-Com is a chilled-out / bummed-out illustration of a songwriter’s studio apartment life. Having departed from former Denver bands The Outfit and Shady Elders, mastermind Casey Banker “wanted to express the loneliness and euphoria of being a guy living in a semi-big city in my 20’s.” Made layer by layer and then re-recorded from scratch, the resulting collection of mid-tempo dream-folk jams make us want to hit the beach and text our ex with a Bluetooth boombox and ice-cold LaCroix in hand.Kevin Johnston · Jun 29, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Covenhoven – A Kind Of Revelation“Where To Begin” – a simple question revealing that there’s much to tell.Kevin Johnston · Jun 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Kinesics – SurfacingThe release of Kinesics’ full-length album Surfacing will be its third attempt at seeing the light of day. Self-proclaimed “sad rock songs” sung mournfully and deep, this is the full and final realization of music which began its journey back in 2015. There’s a beauty in the unexpected here, most notably the fact that the somber, low voice of Kinesics’ songwriter belongs to the diminutive, dare we say cute, alto – Kenzi Everitt. A solo project on her first two tries, there’s now a universality to the work. The androgyny in her liquid vocal delivery, fully-invested band arrangements, and the fact that her main collaborator (guitarist Jason Bartek) is also her fiancé reflect the band’s mantra of community, teamwork, and equality. Did I mention that the drummer and bassist are married to each other too? They are. It’s adorable.Kevin Johnston · Jun 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Chloe Tang – StrangerHometown For The Holidays finalist Chloe Tang’s newest EP Stranger has the Denver songstress aiming for the fences.Jed Murphy · Jun 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Bitter Suns – Broke Off BluesBitter Suns is on to something with Broken Off Bones. Produced by Alan Hlavacek of the Ft. Collins band Attack On Venus, the tracks are tight and the guitar tones crisp, making a fine punk record. It’s less of a ‘fuck the man’ style of punk and more of a ‘what’s your damage dude, I’m trying to get pitted with my boys’ sound. The song “Pitted” summarizes the whole vibe of the EP (and the band) with lyrics like; “yesterday I got totally pitted, it’s been a while since I’ve been this broke off.” Not exactly Shakespearean level poetry, but coupled with the rich punk instrumentals throughout, it hits the mark more closely than if they sang about something they didn’t care about.Jed Murphy · May 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Chain Station – Where I Want To BeThis proud bluegrass band – consisting of Jarett Mason on the mandolin, Jon Pickett on bass, Alex Thoele on guitar, and James Weatherly on Banjo – is held together by the harmonizing voices of Mason, Pickett, and Thoele and the fast-paced picking of all four members. Where I Want To Be, released in 2016, is probably the most pure bluegrass album we’ve heard in some time.Jay Wallace · May 1, 2018MusicAlbum Review: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats – Tearing at the SeamsNathaniel Rateliff is a name that carries a lot of weight in the Colorado.Jed Murphy · Apr 2, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Left Hand Shakes – Sit StillFirst and foremost, while the band is breaking up after the release of this album, it is not the end.Jed Murphy · Apr 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Chris Daniels and The Kings with Freddi Gowdy – Blues with Horns Vol. 1He was inducted in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2013.Jay Wallace · Apr 1, 2018ReviewsAlbum Review: Giants & Pilgrims – BellwetherGiants & Pilgrims call themselves “a marriage of art and music.” Aptly, Bellwether, the Greeley group’s forthcoming full-length, feels like an impressionist painting, lush with color and rife with rustic detail.Kevin Johnston · Mar 1, 2018