Returning to Mezzic is Madison’s own composer/producer Jimmy Roxy. Ever since his dog died, the world has become a cruel, senseless place filled with hateful cats who feel the need to mark their territory in his closet. When the gangsta rappers of yore are playing cops on Law and Order, starring in Are We There(…)
Radio Singles
Review Roundup: Cake, Cage the Elephant, Social Distortion, The Dirty Heads, and Sick Puppies
It’s been a long while since the last roundup, a feature that takes brief looks at the radio singles on the FM airwaves. Time to start it back up and visit some new old friends. Cage the Elephant - Shake Me Down “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” was undeniable with its country twang that can’t(…)
Review Roundup: Trapt, Interpol, Nelly, Puddle of Mudd, Muse, Korn, Three Days Grace
Interpol – Barricade Think “Slow Hands” with a diluted “No I in Threesome” and you’ve got the latest from Interpol. It is the awkward dance of an indie kid with superb drumming from Greg Drudy with guitars that distract like a pair of glow sticks in a dark room. 6.0 Korn – Let The Guilt(…)
Review Roundup: Superbus, KiD CuDi, Apocalyptica, We Are Scientists, Flyleaf, Godsmack
Apocalyptica – End of Me (feat. Gavin Rossdale) 2008 brought the Finnish metal Stateside through Corey Taylor’s and Adam Gontier’s contributions to Worlds Collide. The seriousness devoted to creating cello-driven metal music is undeniable, and continues through Gavin Rossdale. A step back musically from “I’m Not Jesus,” “End of Me” effortlessly tops the reviving single(…)
Review Roundup: Soundgarden, Jimmy Eat World, Katy Perry, Shy’m, Bush, Smashing Pumpkins, Switchfoot, Lo-Pro
Bush – Afterlife Gavin Rossdale returned briefly on Apocalyptica‘s “End of Me” just prior to Bush releasing “Afterlife” following 2001′s “The People That We Love” and “Headful of Ghosts.” The new single reintroduces the band, preparing Everything Always Now, in pursuing the pounding nature behind “Machinehead” or “The Chemicals Between Us.” It feels like a(…)
Review Roundup: Weezer, Kanye, Eminem, Linkin Park, Filter, Stone Sour, Maroon 5, Stone Temple Pilots
Filter – The Inevitable Relapse Quoted to focus on the industrial and electronic elements that gave Filter their signature, “The Inevitable Relapse” makes good on that promise. It avoids the missteps of “Soldiers of Fortune,” setting its sights on Title of Record. Although it doesn’t attain the electronic of “The Best Things,” it aims for(…)
Review Roundup: Travie McCoy, Shinedown, La Roux, Justin Nozuka, 3OH!3, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha
3OH!3 – My First Kiss (feat. Ke$ha) From copying Uffie to concocting pop music recalling the cringe-worthy influx of “pop punk” circa 2001 combines 3OH!3 and Ke$ha. Just like back then, ignore the lyrics; it makes swallowing this pill so good those commercialized side effects that hit you down the road make it well worth(…)
Review Roundup: B.o.B., Muse, Jack Johnson, Drowning Pool, We Are The Fallen, The Black Keys, Katy Perry, Black Sunshine
The Black Keys – Tighten Up Accelerating into the song akin to Spoon, the dirty blues rock duo returns with a Rubber Factory sounding single. Patrick Carney’s drumming tugs you in like Hugo and a black mysterious chord before Dan Auerbach’s grunge-tinged blues seizes you from behind with a surprising, well-placed breakdown. Best since before(…)