Last American Buffalo- Marquis for the Debutante Review

Artist: Last American Buffalo
Title: Marquis for the Debutante
Website: http://www.lastamericanbuffalo.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/lastamericanbuffalo
Style: Rock
Lineup: Jesse Carmichael (drums),  Kevin Compton (vocals,guitars) , Brian Sadler (keys),  Jesse Taylor (guitars, vocals), Ashley Taylor (tambourine, BG vocals)
Musical Influences: The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Oasis, Beck, Bob Marley, Ryan Adams, Coldplay, The Doors, Elliot Smith, The Flaming Lips, Scissors for Lefty, Arcade Fire, Interpol, Neil Young, The Who, The Dandy Warhols, The Stills, Wilco, The Rolling Stones.
Rating: 7.2 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

Last American Buffalo, is like their name implies, a lost breed in a modern world. The band's press material harkens back to a time when buffalo ran free on the range and the railroads were the kings of transportation.  That being said the band's music offers modern arrangements that include rolling drumbeats and fresh guitar parts.

 

For the most part the songs fall into the Indie rock category although the band does take a side trip on songs like, "Privateer", and ""Sunshine" that include banjo and harmonica parts in them. The songs have a 60's country folk feel to them.

 

The song "Ordinary Girl" also has an interesting Oriental sounding start to it. Most of the song's subjects deal with issues of love and relationships.

 

My favorite songs were the more rocking ones like track-1, "Breaking Up Mine" with its catchy melody and "Fon" which features nice interaction between the guitars and drums.

 

While the band didn't hit it out of the park with Marquis for the Debutante it's still a good solid sounding Indie rock release worth hearing.

 

Ellen Tipper- Flanagan's Field Review

Artist: Ellen Tipper
Title: Flanagan's Field
Website: http://www.ellentipper.com
CDBaby Site: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ellentipper
Style: Singer Songwriter/ Piano Folk
Label: Self- Released
Rating: 8.9 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

Ellen Tipper is a Maine-based artist. Her new release Flanagan's Field is a collection of eleven songs that will entertain you while also pulling at your heartstrings. Most of the songs are driven by Ellen's stellar piano playing, but the song's lyrics are what really reach out and grab you.

 

The songs take on some tough subjects head on like in, "Not This Time," a story about a husband who constantly degrades his wife with emotional abuse, seeing her only as an object for his sexual pleasures and the woman finally getting the courage to say enough is enough. 

 

"Let it Be Real," deals with the issue of divorce and blindly searching for love in the aftermath of such a tough situation.  "Play It Blue" offers up suggestions for living with the disappointments that can be found sometimes in long-term type relationships.  The songs are written in a way to be honest but also offer up some hope and strength.

 

Another main theme found in Flanagan's Field is the need to slow down your life, to relax and enjoy even the simplest things in life. One example of this is found in the title track, "Flanagan's Field", the song talks about the joy that can be found in the simplest things like viewing a beautiful sunset.

 

One of the more interesting tracks, style wise is, "Fatima" with its African rhythms.  Ellen has a connection with the country. After college and grad school in the U.S. and her studies in London, she moved to West Africa where she worked with women's cooperatives and AIDS education efforts.

 

When asked about her songs Ellen said, "Songs allow you to be transported, like traveling, it's the crooked path that's usually the most interesting. Distilling songs to their essence from that faucet of raw ideas is like emerging from that path, renewed, emboldened and ready for more."

 

With Flanagan's Field Ellen Tipper has shown that she has both the talent and heart to entertain, inform, and move people to make this world a better place. What more could you ask for from someone's music.

 

Jupiter One- Jupiter One Review

Artist: Jupiter One
Title: Jupiter One
Website: http://www.jupiterone.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jupiterone
Style: Rock/ Electronica/New Wave
Label: Cordless Recording
Lineup: K. Ishibashi (lead vocals, guitar, violin),  Zac Colwell (keyboard),  Mocha (keyboard),  Ben Wright (bass),  Dave Heilman (drums)
Rating: 7.9 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

To make the cocktail that is Jupiter One- Take large amounts of Talking Heads, Styx, and the Cars styles and finish it off with a few quick splashes of funk, electronica , and new wave, along with club beats and you'll have the musical cocktail that is Jupiter One's music.

 

The band got their name, Jupiter One, from the failed starship in 1960's TV sci-fi show Lost in Space.

 

Jupiter One was formed in 2003 and started out as an instrumental group. They would play their music while kung-fu type movies would be shown behind them.

 

This self-titled debut from Jupiter One is filled with infectious songs that feature killer rhythmic bass parts and guitars that drive the songs as smoothly as a Ferrari driving down the German Autobahn. All of this is completed by the keyboard and synth. sounds.

 

The songs are rich and full with most of them lasting between 4-5 minutes. The only thing I missed on the CD was a completely instrumental track. The band came close on a few tracks with mostly instruments and only a few lyrics but with their style of music lending itself to it an instrumental song I wish that they would have just let loose for an epic 7-9 minute instrumental track.

 

Besides the point mentioned above I thought that the album flowed really well and the songs were well done. The music mixed a little of the old with new to make fresh, inventive songs.

 

Cordless Recording founder and music legend Jac Holzman personally sequenced the release. Here's what he had to say about it,  "When the hairs on the back of my neck stand up with the excitement of discovery I pay close attention. And stand they did for Jupiter One's first single, "Countdown," an uncommonly fresh and gripping track," Holzman raved. "Then my silent prayer, 'I hope the album is as good.' Every time I listen to Jupiter One's debut album it is with joyous anticipation and delight in knowing that others will soon share that joy."

 

For any of you gamers out there you probably have heard the band's music already. Their songs can be found on several of the EA Sports releases including, Madden 2008, and FIFA 2008, along with on the video game NHL2K8.

 

If you're a fan of bands like, The Cars, Killers, Styx, Franz Ferdinand, Talking Heads, and Bloc Party, then you should really enjoy Jupiter One's self titled debut release.

 

Indie Vision Music- Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2 Review

 

Artist: Indie Vision Music
Title: Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2
Website: http://www.indievisiomusic.com
Style: Compilation (Pop/Punk/Rock/Hardcore)
Label: Indie Vision Music
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross

 

Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2 is the second in the series that feature unsigned bands. The music found on it ranges from hardcore and metal to punk, alternative and rock in style.

 

With its 20 tracks you're sure to find something that you'll like on this release. The price is also right at only $4.00 at Indie Vision Music's online store. I like these compilation style releases as they offer many different bands a chance to get heard and the listener a chance to hear some good bands that they might not get the chance to hear any other way.

 

Here's the CD's track listing:

1. Olivia "Feelings", 2. Sophia "Mocking Birds After The Picture Show", 3. Take It Back "Lights In This Town", 4. Avery Pkwy "Sleep Now" 5. Someday "The Sink Is Here Cause I Got Problems",6. Thyne Scabbard "Call of God",7. Kings to You "Strike Back",8. All But Screaming "Wide Eyed", 9. Quick and the Dead "Nothing Changes",10. Spacepilot "Without Stitch",11. Abandon Kansas "Minutes", 12. Stand The Gaff "Frankly My Dear", 13. One Star Story "Near To Far", 14. Death Is Not Welcome Here "Facing Today", 15. Newvale "Summer's Gone", 16. Fixed Til Tuesday "Heaven Knocking, Hell Rising", 17. The Distance Between "Building Bridges", 18. The Relay "Back Seat Driver Sara", 19. Ashcroft "Behind the Bruised" and 20. The Trade "White Noise."

 

Out of the 20 tracks I really liked 12 of them, which is a pretty good ratio. 77 minutes worth of music for a couple of bucks sounds like a real good deal to me!