New Blog Site

Hi,

 

I've decided to transfer my blog to my own site. I found this nice little simple blog program and have set it up. So please update your bookmarks for my 'The Music Freelancers Blog' to this new web url:

 

http://www.thecdreviewer.com

 

Thanks,

 

CW

 

Collin Herring- Past Life Crashing Review

Artist: Collin Herring
Title: Past Life Crashing
Website: http://www.myspace.com/collinherring
Style: Roots/Alt. Rock/ Alt. Country
Rating: 8.9 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

Past Life Crashing is the third release from Collin. Since his last release, The Other Side of Kindness, in 2005 Collin's life has been like a whirlwind of turmoil. He had to go into rehab twice along with getting married and divorced.

 

In the songs found on this release Collin bares his soul for you to see. Even though the song lyrics deal with strife, trouble and painful times they also hold out the hope of pulling yourself out of your bad situations and being triumphant over them.

 

In his press material Collins says about the songs, " I was just doing what I love to do, having no other choice than to get what is inside of me out."

 

The songs are filled with Collin's signature roots alt. rock meets Texas country. The release does take a side trip on the last two tracks with more of an experimental side to those songs.

 

Past Life Crashing took over 2 and a half years and included many song rewrites and production changes. You'll also find multiple artist that helped out including, Ken Coomer (former drummer for Wilco), Kathleen Edwards, Audley Freed (Black Crowes, Cry of Love), and Andrew Duplantis (Meat Puppets). His father Ben Roi Herring who played pedal steel and keyboards along with contributing some vocals also joined Collin.

 

Collin made sure that the songs weren't overworked though. He said that, "I wanted them to sound frayed enough that people heard them and felt the way I did when I wrote them."

 

Collin Herring already has a growing reputation as both a singer songwriter and a leader in the alt. rock music world and Past Life Crashing will only help to continue that growth. This release is ripe with soul baring songs that work on so many different levels.

 

A Boy Named Earth- Seasons Review

Artist: A Boy Named Earth
Title: Seasons
Website:http://www.myspace.com/aboynamedearthnj
Style: Rock Opera
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

I've been getting the chance recently to review a lot of rather eclectic Indie music and Seasons from A Boy Named Earth is no exception.

 

Described by the group as a rock-opera it revolves around the story of a boy leaving home in search of something better in his life.

 

The story is broken up into the four weather seasons. Track 1 is "Autumn." The song's running time is just under nine minutes and sets the stage for the story with it's moody, meandering pace.

 

Like also found in the other seasons there is almost several songs in each of them, as the tempo changes like the months of the season changing.

 

Track-2 "Winter," is over 6 minutes in length and portrays the season with heavy sounding instruments. Track-3 "Spring," lasting just under 10 minutes, is where hope starts again with lines like, I finally have reason to care. Track-4 "Summer" that last just over 10 minutes wraps up the journey with its melodic tones.

 

The songs are rich in guitar and drum parts but the violin is the instrument that really takes the lead and controls the flow of the songs. The vocals weave in and out of the songs letting the instruments freely flow.

 

The release ends up with the song, "Gavotte In G-Minor" a short instrumental track that last for just 3 minutes but gives the instruments time to take a bow in the musical spotlight of Seasons.

 

I got to mention the band members to give them their due credit. Evan Acuna (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dan Brown (violin, backing vocals), Tom "Goat" Healey (lead guitar), Steven Sandler (drums), and Kevin Rovner (bass). Job well done guys!

 

The version I reviewed had 5 tracks but in a correspondence with the band they have decided to divide the release into 12 individual tracks to make it an easier listen.

 

Either way Seasons is worth your time.

 

Technology Versus Horse- Four Against The Minotaur Review

Artist: Technology Versus Horse
Title: Four Against The Minotaur
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/technologyvshorse
Style: Experimental
Label: Dozing Lady Records
Rating: 7 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

This band hailing from Bowling Green, Kentucky started out in 2004 as an avant-garde noise rock band but since then have switched to a more experimental sound.

 

The band's current lineup includes, Matt Bitner (bass), Mike Farmer (lead vocals), Rafe Heltsley (guitar), Josh Hines (drums) and David Prater (keyboards).

 

The band members have a wide ranging list of musical influences that include artist like, The Beach Boys, The Pixies, The Cure, Talking Heads, Miles Davis, Red Hot Chili Peppers Jane's Addiction, and Concrete Blonde to name just a few.

 

If you're looking for an easy listen then Four Against The Minotaur isn't the CD for you. Listening to this release is much like stopping at a car wreck or watching a house on fire burning.

 

The music is crunchy and often harsh to the ears but somehow manages to work and excite your ears like a hot pepper that you can't help from eating, even though you know that the few seconds of pleasure are going to be quickly followed by pain.

 

From their web site and CD cover art I'm guessing that the band takes their music serious, but not themselves, and like to have some fun with what their doing.

 

Coming from that point of view Four Against The Minotaur offers up a nice off-the-beaten path style of interesting music and is worth a listen.