Rock in PA

CD Spotlight Archive

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Zwan: Mary Star of the Sea
February 13, 2003
Top Ten Reasons Why Zwan is the New Smashing Pumpkins: 10. They're from Chicago, 9. Penned far more songs than one CD could hold, 8. "Endless Summer", 7. "Ride a Black Swan", 6. "Honestly" (the first single), 5. Fourteen-minute title track, 4. Layers of distorted guitars and swirling feedback, 3. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlain (still rocks!), 2. Head honcho Billy Corgan (still bald!), 1. They rock!

Top Ten Reasons Why Zwan isn't the New Smashing Pumpkins: 10. No breakup rumors yet, 9. Pastel album artwork, 8. The band name (duh!), 7. A song with harmonica? ("Come With Me"), 6. Currently sporting original lineup, 5. Predominantly happy lyrics!, 4. Guitarist Dave Pajo, 3. Guitarist Matt Sweeney, 2. Bassist Paz Lenchantin, 1. You probably haven't heard of them!

Seriously, this is a good album (would you expect anything less from Mr. Corgan?). Go pick it up while you can still get the limited edition DVD with it. If you like the later Pumpkins material, you should dig this album. A song or two could have even been right off of Gish! :-)

Zwan official web site: http://www.zwan.com

The Exies: Inertia
February 13, 2003
It seems like there's been a new "next big thing" band every few months since the untimely demise of Nirvana. As I was reading Rolling Stone's "10 To Watch" in 2003 article, a band called "The Exies" stood out from the rest. They made John Lennon's nickname for existentialists their own, and their work drew comparisons to Stone Temple Pilots and Linkin Park. I was intrigued, so I checked out their web site and caught their video for "My Goddess" on MTV2. I liked what I heard, so I picked up their sophomore CD, Inertia for less than $10 at Circuit City.

Now I'm not here to tell you The Exies are the new Nirvana. In case you haven't noticed, there hasn't been a new Nirvana since, well, Nirvana. But I will tell you that The Exies have released a very good album that will be feeding the radio and MTV2 for the better part of 2003. I would describe their sound as melodic modern rock with a dash of electronica.

The Exies clearly wear their influences on their sleeves. The best song on the album is the single, "My Goddess", but the rest of the CD is by no means filler! "My Goddess" has a heavy Fuel and Filter vibe going on. "Without" has a soaring chorus that is also reminiscent of Filter. "Can't Relate" sounds like Stone Temple Pilots on uppers. "Creeper Kamikaze" is a ballad that evokes newer Silverchair. "Calm and Collapsed" reminds me of an early Foo Fighters song. "Lo-Fi", a remix of a song from their first album, is a dead ringer for Nuno Bettencourt (if you don't know Nuno's work, you should!). But if you give this disc a listen, I think you'll understand how The Exies took these styles and made them their own. Inertia should get The Exies noticed, and I fully expect them to do great things in the future!

The Exies official web site: http://www.theexies.com

Audioslave: Audioslave
December 30, 2002
Audioslave is the so-called "supergroup" comprised of Chris Cornell (ex-Soundgarden) and the Rage Against The Machine band (minus singer/rapper Zack de la Rocha). It's a small miracle that this CD ever saw the light of day. The band was excited about their music from the beginning, but a power struggle between Cornell's and Rage's managers almost did them in. The still-unnamed band abruptly pulled out of last summer's Ozzfest, and the media basically wrote them off as finished. Fans were left with a bootlegged demo CD that had leaked to the Internet. They referred to the band as "Civilian" and made up song titles.

Eight short months later, Audioslave's self-titled debut was one of the most anticipated CDs in the pre-Christmas glut of releases. Fortunately, the listening public seemed open to alt-rock again, with Puddle of Mudd, Nirvana and Zwan (featuring Billy Corgan) receiving heavy radio airplay. Audioslave's single and album did not disappoint. I will admit that I was a huge Soundgarden fan and not much of a Rage fan, so I think it speaks volumes that Audioslave is one of my favorite releases of the year.

The general consensus seems to be that Audioslave sounds more like Soundgarden than Rage Against The Machine. I tend to agree (Chris Cornell singing over anything is bound to sound a lot like Soundgarden), but there is definitely a strong Rage presence in the music. Tom Morello's buzzing guitar and Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk's pulsating rhythms evoke the big Rage hits in Audioslave tracks such as "Light My Way" and "Gasoline". However, gone are the rap vocals and politically-charged lyrics of de la Rocha, replaced by the mellow howl-come-anguished scream and less-Ragey lyrics of Chris Cornell. If you like Soundgarden or the first Audioslave single, "Cochise", you should like the entire album. It really does rock hard, regardless of who's performing on it. Here's hoping this band can survive the hype and scrutiny and continue to make great music!

Audioslave official web site: http://www.audioslave.com

Tonic: Head On Straight
October 31, 2002
Rock and Roll!!! I'm still saddened by the list of great '90s bands that have broken up, but it sure has been encouraging to listen to the radio lately. Nirvana has a new single more than 8 years after Kurt Cobain's death. Puddle of Mudd - well, frankly, they sound a lot like Nirvana. Chris Cornell's unparalleled voice is back with the new supergroup Audioslave. Pearl Jam will soon be releasing their seventh studio album. And bands like Tonic and the Foo Fighters continue to release great music!

Tonic is another one of those bands you know even if you don't know it. Don't believe me? I have 5 words for you: "If You Could Only See". Yes, it was a huge hit, as was "Open Up Your Eyes" from the same wonderful 1996 album (Lemon Parade). But there are now two more albums in Tonic's arsenal: 1999's Sugar and the recently-released Head On Straight, and this band has proven that they have the goods.

The inevitable pigeonholing lands Tonic with the label "power-pop", but that description doesn't really capture their solid guitar and rhythm arrangements or Emerson Hart's anguished vocals. Tonic has a very original and recognizable style that provides a common ground for their 3 albums without sounding repetitive. Highlights from the disc are the rockin' "Roses", "Take Me As I Am" and "Liar", the anthemic "Do You Know", and the more ballad-like "Head On Straight" and "Count On Me (Somebody)". You should really check this disc out!

Tonic official web site: http://www.tonic-online.com

Foo Fighters: One By One
October 31, 2002
I can't say enough good things about the Foo Fighters. Their founder and the face of the band was the drummer in that other great band (yes, of course I mean Queens of the Stone Age - what were you thinking?). They make some of the coolest and funniest videos out there. They seem to have a blast wherever they go -- you can just tell that Dave and Taylor love hanging out with each other. Dave Grohl is one funny man when interviewed, and David Letterman loves the band. Oh, and they have released 4 excellent albums!

The latest Foo Fighters collection is called One By One. Before it came out, interviewers were (insert gag here) asking the Foos about saving rock and roll. Fact is, the Foo Fighters are rock and roll, and they have been with every release since their 1995 self-titled debut. It's not their fault if nobody has been paying attention (although I would argue that most people have been paying attention). One By One is certainly one of the best releases of this year, if not the best. Listening to the disc, I enjoy guessing which songs will be the singles. "All My Life" is the first one, and I would bet on "Times Like These", "Disenchanted Lullaby", "Have It All", "Halo" and "Overdrive" as future singles. The whole album is great, and you really need to buy this one soon so you get the free DVD with it. :-)

Foo Fighters official web site: http://www.foofighters.com

Michelle Branch: The Spirit Room
August 19, 2002
Let the record show that I don't hate pop music. To me, "pop" is a silly label, much like "alternative", "emo" and "hard rock". Some of my favorite bands label themselves pop/rock or pop/punk, and to me that just means that they're writing catchy tunes with accessible lyrics. I guess the aspect of current pop music that irks critics (including me) is that so many pop artists are worshipped for gyrating on stage to music they had no part in creating. But rest assured, the times are a'changin. Dubbed the "anti-Britneys" in several reviews (I love that term!), artists such as Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne and Vanessa Carlton are here to prove that young females can do more than just dance and sell sex. Today I will tell you a little about the first two of these "anti-Britneys" (sorry, Vanessa - I don't have your album yet!).

Michelle Branch was the first of these young ladies to break through with a big hit. Her first single "Everywhere" truly was. If you didn't hear it on a WB show, you probably heard it on the radio or maybe the sound waves from the song simply entered your brain while you were sleeping. Don't think that's a bad thing, though -- the song ROCKS! Michelle wrote and recorded the (dare I say it?) pop/rock tune before she turned 18. Now 19, she continues to release great tracks from her debut CD, The Spirit Room, as she takes a break to record her second CD. You've probably already heard her follow-up singles "All You Wanted" and "Goodbye to You" (I love the way this song builds up and then explodes!), and if you like these tunes, you'll love the whole disc. Look for her new CD sometime in 2003!

Michelle Branch official web site: http://www.michellebranch.com

Avril Lavigne: Let Go
August 19, 2002
Avril Lavigne is the latest young female artist to make some noise on radio and TV. The first time I caught the video for her debut single "Complicated", I found myself singing along to the chorus. I had no idea how I knew the chorus to the song, having never even heard of Avril Lavigne. This was obviously a great pop tune. As it turns out, Avril's debut CD, Let Go, features an impressive assortment of pop, rock and punk tunes, all written by the 17-year old Canadian artist. Avril takes pride in breaking the mold of the overproduced "pop princess". She spends her free time at skate parks and performs wearing long pants, a tank top and a neck tie. More importantly, Avril achieves songwriter and performer credability with tunes like "Complicated", "Sk8er Boi", "Losing Grip", "Things I'll Never Say". Here's hoping Let Go is just the first in a string of quality albums from this exciting new artist.

Avril Lavigne official web site: http://www.avril-lavigne.com

Our Lady Peace: Gravity
July 4, 2002
Looking back at my CD reviews, I'm amazed that I've never reviewed an Our Lady Peace album. I got into this Canadian band when their mega-hits "Superman's Dead" and "Clumsy" were on the radio back in 1997. Go give those songs a listen - I bet you'll recognize them. Our Lady Peace's wall-of-guitars sound and Corgan-esque lead singer made them sound a bit like a lesser-heard version of the Smashing Pumpkins, but their sound is distinctive enough that they weren't written off as Pumpkins knockoffs. Unfortunately, the band sank into relative obscurity after the success of 1997's Clumsy. 1999's Happiness... Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch and 2001's Spiritual Machines were solid albums, but did not enjoy much commercial success thanks to pop, rap-rock and nü-metal.

On to the good news: There have been signs that radio is ready to rock again, and Our Lady Peace's latest effort, Gravity is evidence that good rock bands still exist. The album's first single, "Somewhere Out There" is a real rocker, and actually seems to be getting some attention on radio and MTV2. The entire album is filled with catchy melodies and chord transitions, well-placed breaks and loud/soft dynamics. These elements make me wish Our Lady Peace would graduate from clubs to arenas so I could hear these songs turned up a few more notches! In addition to the single, my other favorites on this disc are the explosive "All For You", the sing-along "Innocent" and the anthemic powerhouses "Sell My Soul" and "Not Enough".

If I have one complaint about Gravity, it's that it's too short. Clocking in at just over 40 minutes and containing only 10 songs, Gravity would spend more time in my CD player if it would include a few more songs. But I'll take quality over quantity any day, and as long as Our Lady Peace is delivering an album every year or so, I guess shorter albums are OK. Also, special promotions have this album priced at $9 to $10 in most stores, and I can't think of a better value for your money right now. Go get it!

Official web site: http://www.ourladypeace.com

Moodroom: Hung Up On Breathing
May 13, 2002
Moodroom is a five-piece female-fronted band from the Washington, D.C. area. Looking through the various reviews in their press kit is fairly amusing - not because the reviewers are great humorists, but because they seem to have such a hard time categorizing the band. The truth is that Moodroom is a great example of why music categorization is in many cases a complete waste of time. I don't care if it's pop, rock, pop/rock, alt-rock, electronic-rock or trip hop, as long as I like it. And in Moodroom's case, I like it!

In February 2002, Moodroom released their first full-length CD, Hung Up On Breathing on indie powerhouse label Fowl Records. This CD follows two enormously successful independent EPs released by the band since their formation in 1997. Moodroom's style has been compared to that of Belly, The Pixies, Garbage, Portishead, Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt, but they definitely have a sound all their own. The 15 (yes, fifteen!) tracks on Hung Up On Breathing combine irresistable hooks, the "wall of sound" made popular by Phil Spector and Butch Vig, soft/loud dynamics, and introspective lyrics passionately delivered by lead singer Stef Magro.

The disc kicks off with "Loving", a Pumpkins-meet-Garbage breakup song that sets the soft/loud mood for the remainder of the album. The prevalent rhythm section and power chords of the second track, "Open Minded", give it a unique and enjoyable groove. "Connection" picks up the pace a bit and showcases Moodroom's talent for balancing guitars and synthesizers to arrive at a thoroughly catchy result. "Safe In The Sound" and "Declined" are excellent examples of Moodroom's knack for slow, melodic grooves. The majority of the album's tracks feature soft/loud arrangements that allow the band to showcase both their rockin'-out sides and their passion for ambience. All in all, an excellent disc. Categories aside, if you like full-sounding yet melodic guitar rock and female vocalists, pick up this CD!

Official web site: http://www.moodroom.net

Clove: Absolutely Nothing
March 1, 2002
2001 brought a bit of a shake-up to the local band I most like to follow around. Three of Clove's five members left at once, leaving the band with more new faces than familiar ones, and a lot of practice time ahead of them. But personnel changes alone would not be enough to stop the growing momentum of this band. Founding members David Cerreta (drums) and Jennifer Cerreta (vocals) brought Brad Fisher (guitar, vocals), Bill Fry (bass, vocals) and Matt MacBeth (guitar, vocals) on board and picked right up where they left off! Since last year the band has been on a songwriting frenzy. The 5-song EP Clove had been planning to release rapidly turned into the 8-song album that is Absolutely Nothing, Clove's first CD release since 2000's Go.

The first thing I noticed about this disc was that it was not a massive departure from previous Clove albums. Although the new band members are talented songwriters and performers in their own right, the reworked band has retained all the elements that have always made Clove great. Still, Clove is not retracing any steps here. As the individuals in the group have continued to evolve as songwriters, the group itself has arrived at a polished sound often not attained by bands who have been playing together much longer.

All 8 songs on Absolutely Nothing kick major ass. The rockers rock harder than anything Clove has ever recorded, and include "Dive", "Bruises", "Absolutely Nothing" and "Recognize". The softer side of Clove is evident in "Star" and "Souvenir", both excellent tracks. The band proves that they still know how to get the party started with "Like That" and "Keep it Live", two anthems you can sing along to on the first listen! My personal favorites are "Dive" and "Bruises" at the moment, but any of the tracks on Absolutely Nothing could pass as my favorite on a given day. This is a must-own, folks! Order it online today at http://www.cloverocks.com.

Lennon: 5:30 Saturday Morning
January 15, 2002
There are some pretty incredible stories in the world of rock and roll, but few are as touching as the story of Lennon Murphy. Her mother was an aspiring songwriter (Lennon was named after the famous Beatle), but it was Lennon who showed the real talent. She started writing songs at age 7, and began performing in front of audiences at age 15. Just weeks before her high school graduation, Lennon found her mother dead in her bedroom closet, the apparent result of an allergic reaction. The very same day, Lennon was invited to perform at a 3-day musicfest in nearby Nashville.

Opting to live out her mother's dream in her memory, Lennon signed a record deal with Arista shortly thereafter, and released 5:30 Saturday Morning in September 2001 (at age 19). She's created a lot of buzz in the industry, and rightfully so. Unlike the other female musicians in her age group, Lennon is not a pop artist. Accurately described at the UBL as a "headbanging hottie", she draws influences from artists as diverse as Ani DiFranco, Nine Inch Nails and Korn. Stylistically, her music ranges from goth-rock to piano-based ballads (she writes her own music and plays both guitar and piano). Seamlessly combining heavy metal riffs with sensitive lyrics, Lennon quietly released one of the best debut albums of 2001.

"Brake of Your Car" is the first single, and is one of the most rockin' tunes on the disc. The mega-riffs on "Couldn't Breathe" and "Property of Goatf***er" showcase Lennon's love affair with heavy metal, and are also among my favorites. Ballads such as "Thank You" and "Asking You" help give the album balance, and the vocals-and-piano track "My Beautiful" strips Lennon's music down to its bare minimum and showcases her amazing voice and writing. The very few negative reviews I've seen of this disc say that Lennon doesn't live up to the hype that preceded 5:30 Saturday Morning, but I disagree. If you like guitar rock, female vocals and good writing, you'll like this disc!

Official site: http://www.lennononline.com
Cool fan site: http://www.couldntbreathe.com