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Friday, November 28, 2008
CD Reviews / News CD Review: Shiny Toy Guns
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Shiny Toy Guns
Season of Poison
Universal Motown; Release date: Nov. 4, 2008
The Deal: Shiny Toy Guns gets new singer and releases sophomore album Season of Poison.
The Good: Despite Shiny Toy Guns’ former vocalist Carah Faye Charnow’s departure and her replacement of Sisely Treasure to the band, the album isn’t bad although fans of Charnow might be disappointed. The disc is full of high frequency bouts of electronica-styled rock. Songs like “When Did This Storm Begin,” “Ghost Town,” and “Ricochet!” resemble the group Mindless Self Indulgence with a chaotic electro-punk feel. Throughout the album lyrics seem to be split pretty well between Treasure and Chad Petree. One of the most catching tunes is the softer, more pop-oriented "I Owe You A Love Song." The band's two vocalists blend well together on this track, which also reminded me a bit of the Swedish electronic indie rock band, The Sounds "Hurt You." Other noteworthy songs were "Ricochet!" and "Turned To Real Life."
The Bad: The song “Blown Away” didn’t blow me away at all, along with “Season of Love,” a softer track that seemed to linger on and on. “Poison," chimed in at eight minutes and 14 seconds. The song started off slow with strange electronic vocal elements and featured a dramatic instrumental chorus line, later to end with this distant organ music. The song was too long and unorganized. It didn't do much for me.
The Verdict: Shiny Toy Guns' new album is a combination between softer electro rock and sassy, distorted electro jams. It takes a couple of listens for some of the tracks to hook you, but right away "I Owe You A Love Song," "Ricochet!" and "Turned To Real Life" should do the trick. Check out the album or see the band live when they visit Charlotte for a performance at Tremont Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 30.
10-in-10 CD Reviews / News 10-in-10
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Each Friday, we bring you 10 random CD reviews done in 10 words each...
Beyonce I am…Sasha Fierce — Two CDs, six songs each. “I am…not environmentally conscious.”
Dressy Bessy Holler and Stomp — Simplistic indie-pop sounded a too straight-outta-the-basement.
Fitehouse Open — Spend more on music, less on scratch-and-sniff promos.
Otis Gibbs Grandpa Walked a Picketline — There’s a bit of grit in them thar folk vocals.
Dave Gross Crawling the Walls — 23-year-old rocks an old-school style of blues.
Jolie Holland The Living and the Dead — Weak vocals detract from songwriting. Sorry, but I’m not impressed.
Lordi Deadache — Cheesy metal is more entertaining when seeing them in costume.
Kevin Rudolf In the City — Cash Money backs rocker — even Lil Wayne can’t improve it.
The Sound of Animals Fighting The Ocean and the Sun — Musicians collective releases second album of alt-rock, odd songs.
Robin Thicke Something Else — Something about that falsetto just doesn’t sound natural to me.
News The venue formerly known as Cricket Arena...
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 11:47 AM
First, it was Bobcats Arena changing its name to Time Warner Cable Arena. Now, another Charlotte venue has undergone a name change.
City council has approved that Cricket Arena will now be known as....wait for it... Bojangles Coliseum.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
News More love for Benji Hughes
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Charlottean Benji Hughes has gotten a fair share of love from national magazines since his album, A Love Extreme, hit the streets.
Spin, Rolling Stone and Blender all gave the album high marks, listed it in albums to check out or gave praise in other ways.
The lastest issue of Blender gives him more kudos as he is included in a list of the top songs of the year and is in Jenny Lewis' list of top songs of the year as well.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Concert Announcement / News Slipknot heading to Charlotte
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Slipknot will perform at Cricket Arena on Feb. 10, 2009, it was announced today. Coheed and Cambria and Trivium will be the supporting acts.
Information on ticket sales will be available at the All Hope Is Gone Tour site.
Photos / QC After Dark / News Another season of shenanigans...
Posted By Brittney Cason on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 4:08 PM
More views of the shenanigans going on around the city...
A rather dramatic Larry Sprinkle auctions off FOX Morning Rising’s Anna Kooiman at Uptown Magazine’s Sexy Auction at HOM to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
As you can see, this breaker is breaking it down. The QC Bounce Squad lead by Tom Hill performs at K.I.S.S Lounge during intermission for LA East’s Fashion Friday.
New Releases / News This week's new releases (11/25/2008)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Here's a quick list of some of this week's new releases:
Los Campesinos! We Are Beautiful, We Are
Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak
News Beatlemania in the Q.C.
Posted By Anita Overcash on Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Like The Beatles? If so, then this is the next best thing to seeing them in concert. Listen to your favorite hits as RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles performs tonight at Belk Theater. Tickets are $21 and up. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, click here.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Live Reviews / News Live Review: Soweto Gospel Choir
Posted By Anita Overcash on Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Soweto Gospel Choir
Belk Theater
Nov. 23, 2008
The Deal: South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir visited the Q.C. for a performance at Belk Theater.
On TV / Awards / News 2008 American Music Awards winners
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Here's a list of the winners from last night's American Music Awards. It makes me weep for the future of music...
Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist — Chris Brown
Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist — Rihanna
Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group — Daughtry
Favorite Pop/Rock Album — "As I Am" by Alicia Keys
Favorite Country Male Artist — Brad Paisley
Favorite Country Female Artist — Taylor Swift
Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group — Rascal Flatts
Favorite Country Album — "Carnival Ride" by Carrie Underwood
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist — Chris Brown
Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist — Rihanna
Favorite Soul/R&B Album — "As I Am" by Alicia Keys
Favorite Rap/Hip-hop Band, Duo or Group — Three 6 Mafia
Favorite Rap/Hip-hop Male Artist — Kanye West
Favorite Rap/Hip-hop Album — "Graduation" by Kanye West
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist — Jordin Sparks
Favorite Latin Music Artist — Enrique Iglesias
Favorite Alternative Rock Artist — Linkin Park
Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist — Third Day
Favorite Soundtrack Album — "Alvin and the Chipmunks"
T - Mobile Favorite Breakthrough Artist — Jonas Brothers
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Live review: Fiona Apple, The Fillmore (9/26/2012) 16
Fans ate it up, but it was a trainwreck of tragic and frustrating proportions.
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Frank Ocean tops Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll
Annual critics list creates requisite buzz
