Each Friday, in an effort to listen to everything that hits my desk, I review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Alyssa Graham The Lock, Stock & Soul EP — Four-song album full of folk-pop precedes third album.
Alexis Marceaux Orange Moon — New Orleans musician’s soothing vocal style has refreshing musical accompaniment.
Trevor Hall Everything Everytime Everywhere — Ben Harper and Bob Marley influence apparent on sophomore album.
Sunny Sweeney Concrete — Yet another pop-country singer who sounds like the rest.
Tom Hambridge Boom! — Singer/producer releases traditional blues album, sounds like George Thorogood.
Brian Molnar & The Naked Hearts Of the Fall — Strong infusion of country in this mediocre Americana/folk album.
Barbra Streisand What Matters Most — Babs sings the exclusive lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
JK and the Lost Boys Time is Trouble — Sister Hazel guitarist offers seven songs with his solo venture. (At the Evening Muse on Sept. 2.)
Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines — Getting to point where I can’t tell country artists apart.
Heartsounds Drifter — Band’s semi-post-hardcore music gets punk vocal style overlay.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Yellow Ostrich The Mistress — Sparse music background gets layers thanks to interesting vocal looping.
Puddle of Mudd Re(disc)overed — Rock band covers classic songs from Rolling Stones to AC/DC.
Eli Young Band Life At Best — Album, led by “Crazy Girl,” hasn’t changed its country style.
Wagons Rumble, Shake and Tumble — Band’s country-folk style has some Johnny Cash in it.
Tom McBride A Brief Head Spin — His style reminds me of Springsteen, without the lyrical abilities.
David Serby Poor Man’s Poem — Singer’s country folk is delivered in sleepy, old-school style.
2 Cellos 2 Cellos — Anyone wanna guess what instruments these covers are played on?
Mike Zito Greyhound — Solid, gritty, rock/blues album was produced by Anders Osborne. (At The Double Door Inn on Sept. 30.)
Hotel Lights Girl Graffiti — Ben Folds Five drummer releases sophomore album of mellow rock.
Glee The 3D Concert Movie Soundtrack — OK, enough is enough already with this overrated happy horseshit.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
John Hiatt Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns — Singer’s 20th solo album features more of his gritty Americana.
Justin Hines Days to Recall — Canadian singer comes off a bit whiny on his debut.
Drive-By Truckers Ugly Buildings, Whores & Politicians — I think they put a new album out every week.
Last Winter The Heart & The Broken Compass — Orlando band does its best impression of pop-leaning Sevendust.
Dehlia Low Ravens & Crows — Asheville band drives its bluegrass sound forward with latest album.
Eric Church Chief —Latest album continues down the pop side of twang street.
In Flames Sounds of a Playground Fading — Angry Swedish metal band probably not singing songs about puppies.
Reluctant Saints Long Drive — Atlanta band draws from Southern, country influences for its rock.
Thomas Porter Thomas Porter — Singer’s country style gets a dose of Southern bluegrass infusion.
Thomas Porter & Copper River Band Trolley Days — Not quite sure what difference is between band vs. solo.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Theophilus London Timez Are Weird These Days — As is too often the case, don’t believe the hype.
Aabaraki Aabaraki EP — Neo-soul group brings in elements of funk and jazz.
Burn Halo Up from the Ashes — Another generic rock album that does little to stand out.
The Dayton Family Charges of Indictment — Rap trio’s names are Backstabba, Bootleg and Shoe String… seriously.
David Bromberg Use Me — Levon Helm, Dr. John, Widespread, Linda Ronstadt and others guest.
The Middle East I Want That You Are Always Happy — Seven-member Australian music collective bounces around indie-based genres.
William Elliott Whitmore Field Songs — Songs belong out in the field; wish for less vibrato.
Beyonce 4 — Pop singer returns with another album focusing on dance, vocals.
Ben Williams State of Art — Bassist jazzes up songs, including slowed down “Part-time Lover.”
Curren$y Weekend at Burnies — New Orleans rapper’s sixth album precedes others planned for 2011.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Robert Ellis Photographs — 22-year-old’s sophomore release offers mellow and moody folk.
Justin Moore Outlaws Like Me — Another pop-country singer with a big hat and accent
Alec Gross Strip the Lanterns —Album has drawn out vocals for emotional style of Americana.
Jeff Golub Band The Three Kings — Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth guest on traditional style blues album.
Dolly Parton Better Day — Still waiting for song about Howard Stern to be released.
Moby Destroyed — Remember when Moby was popular? Maybe he needs Gwen Stefani.
Jean Caffeine Geckos in the Elevator — First release in 10 years is pretty straight-forward folk.
Young Antiques A Man, Not a Biography — Reunited Atlanta power pop trio offers radio-friendly, catchy tunes. (At the Milestone on July 8.)
Old 97s The Grand Theatre Volume Two — Band’s ninth studio album is companion to Volume One… obviously.
Paul Dempsey Everything Is True — Something for Kate singer releases emo-ish alt-folk solo debut.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Dave Alvin Eleven Eleven — Solid blues music, but the talking style of vocals disappointed.
EG Kight Lip Service — Georgia Songbird offers Southern-accented, vibrato-vocaled, blue-infused album.
Greg Nagy Fell Toward None — Soulful vocals fail to set blues musician apart from pack.
Nikka Costa Pro*Whoa — Six-song EP brings soulful singer into new pop direction.
The Wilders Broken Pieces — Roots band plays a slow, sleepy brand of country folk.
Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80 From Africa With Fury: Rise — In front of his father’s band, son keeps energy flowing.
Matt Nathanson Modern Love — Catchy tunes, strong songwriter will likely land songs on TV.
John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light Beautiful Empty — Acoustic album set apart through its orchestral arrangements, soulful vocals.
Potluck Rhymes and Resin — More generic hip-hop centered around act of smoking pot.
The Dear Hunter The Color Spectrum — Bands latest album is a roller coaster of good, mediocre.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Philip Gibbs The Petroleum Age — Country folk album combines musings about the past and present.
Elephant Revival Break in the Clouds — Colorado band’s sophomore effort brings Americana into new directions, combinations.
Milos Mediterraneo — 28-year-old guitar virtuoso releases instrumental U.S. debut.
Pale In the Time of Dangerous Men — Texas indie-rockers sound like odd combination of U2, Radiohead.
Cody Canada & The Departed This Is Indian Land — Debut from singer’s new band pays tribute to Oklahoma songwriters.
The Bo-Keys Got to Get Back! — Memphis soul music stalwarts release first album in seven years.
Gary Nicholson Texas Songbook — Lone Star State plays prominent role in country singer’s lyrics.
Stefon Harris, David Sanchez, Christian Scott Ninety Miles — Talented vibraphonist, saxophonist and trumpeter join forces under jazz umbrella.
Corey Smith The Broken Record — College crowd favorite re-records some favorites for new label debut.
The Greencards The Brick Album — Sam Bush, Vince Gill guest on newgrass band’s energetic album.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Frank Turner England Keep My Bones — Fourth studio album continues English singers strong style of folk.
JD Souther Natural History — Singer combines elements of jazz, country, soul in his vocals.
Tea Leaf Green Radio Tragedy — California troubadours continue down path balancing jams with pop-rock.
Bedouin Soundclash Light the Horizon — Toronto band fuses island style with laid-back reggae rhythms.
James Torme Love for Sale — Son of legendary Mel Torme tackles pop and jazz standards.
Duncan Sheik Covers 80s — 12 songs include Depeche Mode, The Cure, Smiths and more.
Gallhammer The End — Japanese band fuses psychedelic droning metal with raw punk elements.
Patrolled By Radar Be Happy — There’s a definite Bob Dylan quality to Jay Souza’s vocals.
The Melvins Sugar Daddy Live — New album captures live, grungy, trudging sound of Seattle band.
Barry Manilow 15 Minutes — Legendary singer releases first new original album in 10 years.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Pear Extemp’ore — Collection of free jazz is haphazard, infused with Miles’ spirit.
Krays Sangre — NYC punk group released first album in nearly a decade.
Queens of the Stone Age Queens of the Stone Age — 1998 debut album gets the remastered and expanded reissue treatement.
Los Vigilantes S/T — San Juan, Puerto Rico, quintet brings no-bullshit punk attitude.
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine Enhanced Methods of Questioning — Quick-hitting album only has five songs, one bonus track.
Paul Brady Hooba Dooba — Dublin rocker’s 12th solo album shows eclectic range of styles.
Breaking Laces When You Find Out — Brooklyn trio infuses pop into its solid brand of rock. (At the Evening Muse on 6/10)
Louis Ludwig Nichevo — New Orleans producer/engineer releases debut lo-fi country album.
Son Lux We Are Rising — Oddly, this electronica album is as mellow as I expected.
Glasvegas Euphoric/Heartbreak — Scottish rockers sounds more like a poor-man’s whiny U2.
Each Friday, we review 10 recently released CDs in 10 words each:
Sean Jones No Need for Words — Jazz songs tackle theme of love through instrumentation, no vocals.
Ear Pwr CAK63 — N.C. band combines percussion with easy female vocals, digital layers.
David Bazan Strange Negotiations — Pedro the Lion songwriter continues down solo, indie rock path.
Elvin Bishop Raisin’ Hell Revue — Live Delta blues-style album recorded on the Blues Cruise.
Brainkiller The Infiltration — Unique power trio attacks music via drums, trombone and keyboards.
Autopsy Macabre Eternal — Don’t expect songs about puppies, kittens with that band name…
Euge Groove S7ven Large — People hear this jazz playing when they get root canals.
New Boyz Too Cool to Care — Two 20-year-olds bring pop approach to hip-hop.
Glee, Volume 6 — Seriously, it’s enough already with all this happy horse shit.
Foster the People Torches — California indie pop band is sure to storm radios soon.