Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP (2010)

Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Album: All Delighted People EP
Date Released: August 20, 2010
Genre: Folk/Indie

Album Review:

With a diversity to folk hardly before experienced (and a pretty interesting collage-like album cover), Sufjan Stevens releases "All Delighted People EP" in an attempt to truly delight all. The hour-long EP starts with the title track, and 11 minute track, where Stevens incorporates a unique vocal style, moving his voice every which way, almost striking the bizarre realms of space. The background instruments (everything from zithers, to organs, to banjos, to choir backup vocals) really help lift the listener into an ethereal state. The theme of the song seems simple and innocent, but it serves to strike a seemingly simple point hard: "and the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made, and what difference does it make? 'I love you so much anyway'".

The following songs are so that they are great by themselves, not just fill-in sessions. Songs like "Heirloom" strike more of a happy/content feel, while songs like The Owl and the Tanager reflect on Steven's ability to make morose dirges that still glimmer with hope. The instrumentation on the Classic Rock version of All Delighted People really gives off a 'trippy' feel, with synthesizers and swells and drops that made me question how much LSD I had prior to cracking into the song.

All in all, this album had too much reliance on the longer symphonies, and though the shorter songs were great as stand-alones, they refused to stick out. Sufjan is a master of instrumentation and piecing together wonderful pieces to listen to.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

The Secret Handshake - Night and Day (2010)

Artist: The Secret Handshake
Album: Night & Day
Date released: August 17, 2010
Genre: Powerpop/Motown

Album Review:

Texas-based Luis Dubuc (aka The Secret Handshake) decided not to stick with the standard electronic-based music he relied on before, and made an album that he describes as "a Motown record, man". Instead of synthesizers and vocoders, there are brass instruments, gospel vocals, and upbeat piano rhythms in Night & Day. In addition, an album simply called "Night" will feature techno remixes of the songs on this release.

It goes without saying that this is a big change for fans of TSH, and a big step for Dubuc. Motown is not a field of music one would expect him to jump into, and yet on this album it surfaces in many songs. The opening track "Every Single Time" explodes with trumpets and piano upfront. Although some of the songs are catchy in themselves, like the track "Domino", the whole album has an awkward feel, not because of how different it is, but simply the music itself. Clearly, Dubuc has far to go if he is to exemplify soul music, with the random falsetto notes and lack of overall elegance vocally. The track "Used to be Sweet" features Lights, and even her normally stellar voice went astray. Though a great songwriter, the songs on Night & Day seem overly cheesy and thematically shallow.

Overall, Dubuc's desire to make music for himself is admirable, but if this motown-style of music is what he wants to stick to, let his music just be for himself.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Enemy Logic - Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind (2010)

Artist: Enemy Logic
Album: Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
Date Released: August 4, 2010
Genre: Death Metal\Metalcore

Album Review:

This 4-piece metalcore group from Cork, Ireland don't seem to believe in baby steps. With a courage and persistence not seen in other bands, Enemy Logic have made their best efforts to break through the "local band" arena and be a true force to be reckoned with.

Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind Starts with the gun cocked, and doesn't cease fire until the closing track. With harmonized riffs, panic chords, and solid breakdowns, this band has already got the dynamics of metal down to a science. And though there's still that under-produced tone, the album has a heavy aspect to it that makes it a serious contender (though the guitars seem empty at some points, perhaps due to a lack of second guitarist).

Tracks like "Heart of Stone" display the vocalist's ability to produce both high-pitched screams and lower growls that fit the music well. "Vengeance Served Cold" feature synth and pianos to intro the track, which could serve as a helpful platform for the band's musical style in the future. In "Fall of the Sun", a female's voice is heard (though very quietly) in the background, giving it a haunted tone. The album's main weakness is a poor mix and thus an empty, unfinished sound.

Overall, this album was surprisingly well made in terms of musicianship, and Enemy Logic shows a lot of promise for growth and maturity as a talented group of metalheads!

Rating: 7 out of 10.

Reign of Kindo - This Is What Happens (2010)

Artist: Reign of Kindo

Album: This Is What Happens

Date Released: August 3, 2010

Genre: Jazz/Alternative Rock

Album Review:

To pin this band under a genre would do them a disservice, for their style is definitely unique, combining avant-garde jazz elements into alternative rock to present some refreshing sounds that one doesn't often come by in the music world.

Their second full length, This Is What Happens, opens with an explosive introduction and a song rich with emotion. The songs have very soothing harmonies to them, and yet cry out distinct messages. Songs like "Symptoms of a Stumbling" are more downtempo and are reminiscent of older and quant piano-driven ballads, while songs like the opening "Thrill of the Fall" are more chaotic and upbeat. "Now We Make Our Ascent" is the obvious part two to the previous "Til We Make Our Ascent", and mirrors it with the vocal melodies.

It is uncanny how the music can make the most down-to-earth topics seem bizarre and surreal, giving them a mysterious element and added depth. The acoustic "Soon it Shall Be" is a simple flamenco-laiden romantic: "So I wrote you this song, though in vain dear, for no lyric or rhyme could contain all the gladness you bring to the saddest of days, oh my love, how I yearn for you now..." Lastly, the outro song "Psalm" is a great song that encapsulates the album, finishing the almost hour-long love song.


One complaint, if any are to be made, is the album lacking the same lead guitar as before (songs like Needle & Thread were made alive by the jazzy guitar licks). It is hardly noticed here and there (Out of Sight, Out of Mind for example) but otherwise absent. I feel that this makes the album empty in comparison to previous efforts. To make up for it, Reign of Kindo incorporated some Latin influences, which have definitely matured the band's sound.


Overall, the album has its dragging points, but it is a great follow up to Rhythm Chord & Melody. Very easy on the ears, and not too heavy on the heart!


Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Black Veil Brides - We Stitch These Wounds (2010)

Artist: Black Veil Brides
Album: We Stitch These Wounds
Date Released: July 20, 2010
Genre: Emo/Post Hardcore

Album Review:

After the single Knives and Pens was released, quite a stir has followed the name Black Veil Brides. With a heavy Hot Topic endorsement and quick fanbase, this LA group seemed to have a bright and promising future.

But alas, there is nothing impressive, unique, or interesting about this release. It seems like BVB borrowed elements from different post-hardcore bands, watered them down, and crammed them into 12 highly boring songs. The album is laced with emotionless guitar solos, awkwardly placed screams, and an all-too-familiar set of guitar riffs. This band could easily have been renamed "insert name of a screamo band here". As a debut album, this doesn't favor well for the band. We Stitch These Wounds should be an album that defines BVB, and makes them stick out of the massive crowd of bands in their niche. Instead, it is Black Veil Brides that are stitching their wounds, the wounds of failure.

Everything from the generic lyrical themes to the pathetic breakdowns interspersed, to the Joker-influenced face plastered onto the cover make this an album worth skipping, or it will be the listener who will have wounds to stitch.

Rating: 3.5 out of 10

The Devil Wears Prada - Zombie EP (2010)

Artist: The Devil Wears Prada
Album: Zombie EP
Date Released: August 24, 2010
Genre: Metalcore

Album Review:

The Devil Wears Prada has brought the metal audience a very solid group of 5 songs in their EP Zombie. As the name suggests, the concept regards apocalyptic themes in the form of zombie infestation. From the chainsaw-like riff opening the EP to the audio clips describing the end, this is, as the band claims, some of their heaviest work. TDWP seems to have such a unity within its members that gives them the ability to write creative and heavy songs.

With intense drum fills, and DePortnoy offering the ever-familiar clean vocals, the album opens with Anatomy,  one of the heaviest and fastest of their songs to date. This EP doesn't contain humorously titled tracks as before, but has a seriousness that only adds to its frightening atmosphere.  The haunting arpeggios from the piano and eerie sound clips give metalcore a truly frightening twist. Outnumbered finishes the EP with a 35 second clip of some broadcast heralding the apocalyptic onslaught of said "zombies".

This EP is definitely worth looking out for, as it defines The Devil Wears Prada as one of the most creative and skilled metal musicians to exist. Be scared!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Ivoryline - Vessels (2010)

Artist: Ivoryline
Album: Vessels
Date Released: August 3, 2010
Genre: Pop punk/Alternative Rock

Album Review:

The "Anberlin minions" released Vessels with the intent of breaking through an imprinted underdog position, and place themselves in a prominent spot among the alternative rock kings. It has been two years since the last release, and one can't help but wonder: how has the band grown since then?

This second full-release album starts with an energy not seen on There Came a Lion, with the opening track The Healing featuring Jason Verna. With synths and a Coheed & Cambria feel in the harmonies, it was a great way to start the album. However, as the album progresses sequentially, it ceases to do so musically. With crooning repetitive songs, one after another, it makes such songs hard to stand out from the others. The single "Instincts" deserves a nod, a song full of passion and truth "narrow is the gate that leads to life". Broken Bodies contains some subtle vocoder action that might raise some eyebrows. Otherwise, the songs seem quirky and don't run together. Even the songs themselves, like "Walking Dead" with it's woah-woahs, have a sense of awkwardness that misses the mark of originality, and instead rings out a tone of disorderliness.

The album was hard to listen to from start to finish. That should be a good indicator of the band's progress. Let's hope Vessels was just an over-produced hiccup.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Haste the Day - Attack of the Wolf King (2010)

Artist: Haste the Day
Album: Attack of the Wolf King
Date Released: June 29, 2010
Genre: Metalcore

Album Review:

From the band's inception, Haste the Day has steadily grown to garner respect from both Christian and non-Christian metalheads, with unique riffs and slamming breakdowns that definitely made them competitors for iPod space. Even with vocalist changes in their lineup, the band has prospered under the shade of Solid State, and have thus released their fifth album.

Attack of the Wolf King is a heavier attempt at music than Dreamer and Pressure the Hinges were. The danger, however, is the temptation of throwing something heavy together and forgetting to put actual talent into it. The album features generic breakdowns, and though it has some impressive riffs, and great intros like the song The Un-Manifest, the album has the same flow of any album in the genre, except without a decent ending track (White As Snow would have been a great ender, but it was placed in the middle). However, in spite of how predictable the album is, it offers some great chorus lines, like in the song Merit For Sadness; "open my heart to sadness, it's through the pain that I believe, it's through the pain that I can see". And the album does have a heaviness to it than can merit some respect.

I enjoyed the album, to be sure. But I expected more from the band's ability to surprise me in the past with outstanding metalcore tunezzz.

Rating: 6 out of 10