1. TROUBLE – Cage the Elephant (1)
2. HEATHENS – twenty øne piløts (2)
3. ALL WE EVER KNEW – The Head and the Heart (4)
4. CHEAP THRILLS – Sia & Sean Paul (5)
5. BANG BANG – Green Day (8)
6. LIFE ITSELF – Glass Animals (13)
7. BURN THE WITCH – Radiohead (3)
8. GOOD GRIEF – Bastille (7)
9. YOU DON’T GET ME HIGH ANYMORE – Phantogram (10)
10. HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND – Coldplay featuring Beyoncé (11)
11. SEND MY LOVE (To Your New Lover) – Adele (6)
12. WAKE UP CALL – Nothing But Thieves (12)
13. SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN – Young the Giant (9)
14. SAY MY NAME – (IAM)WARFACE (16)
15. RIVER – Bishop Briggs (17)
16. HARDWIRED – Metallica (N)
17. THE SOUND – The 1975 (20)
18. WAY DOWN WE GO – Kaleo (14)
19. BORED TO DEATH – blink-182 (15)
20. DARK NECESSITIES – Red Hot Chili Peppers (18)
The charismatic new band COUNCIL plays a dynamic style of alternative pop/rock that’s radio-friendly, yet still edgy. Hailing from rural upstate New York, the band consists of three handsome brothers – Patrick, Doug and Andy Reeves. Patrick (bass and lead vocals) and Doug (drums) are twins, and Andy (guitar) is a year younger. The guys are farmers by day, but spend their evenings working on their passion for making music. They’ve recently gained both local and national attention for their high-energy performances, including numerous successful shows in New York City, and opening for bands like The All American Rejects and The Kooks. The guys hope to someday be the headliner band.
They’ve just finished their debut EP, Rust To Gold, under the guidance and assistance of Grammy nominated producer Justin Gray (who’s worked with Mariah Carey & John Legend), 10-time Grammy nominated mixer Mark Needham (Imagine Dragons, The Killers) and mastering legend Howie Weinberg (U2, Nirvana). The result is a well-crafted EP with a polished sound, and Needham’s influence is strongly evident, as COUNCIL’s songs have a noticeable Imagine Dragons vibe.
Rust to Gold features three anthemic songs, characterized by strong percussion, sweeping orchestration and soaring harmonic choruses. While they all have catchy melodies, their lyrics are quite compelling – sometimes intensely so. The title track “Rust to Gold” is a gorgeous rock song about finding your own truth in the world and holding on to what’s important.
“There is something you should know, I’d die before I’d let you go. I work my fingers to the bone to follow the light of this. All the things that we’ve been told, we will never let them go. All the dreams from rust to gold, we will never let them beat us.“
The powerful “All For You” is an emotional expression of regret and sorrow over the pain caused to a loved one, while pledging undying love and devotion. The lyrics are poetic and deep:
“I was doomed from the start, and I held my regrets. I was covered in dark and I wore it like death. Still I got a heart that pounds in this chest. And my closet is full for days. But when your strength is gone, and the lights go grey, I’ll sing your favorite song. I’ll be your hit parade. With every breath I’ve blown I’ve failed a million ways. And everything I own I tore to pieces.“
The track calls to mind Imagine Dragon’s massive hit “Demons.” Here’s a short video of a live performance.
“Rise Above It All” is a beautiful, extremely moving declaration of strength and determination to overcome life’s hardships and challenges.
“For every time I’ve fallen down. For every wall that keeps us bound. For everyone we’ve beaten to the ground, and watched them fade away. For every wrong I couldn’t right. For every sleepless night I hoped and dreamed. For every one, everywhere, every cross I couldn’t bear to watch you leave. But I will not break when all hope is lost. I will be brave and rise above it all.“
All in all, a great debut EP for three talented guys with a bright future in music.
1. TROUBLE – Cage the Elephant (1)
2. HEATHENS – twenty øne piløts (2)
3. BURN THE WITCH – Radiohead (3)
4. ALL WE EVER KNEW – The Head and the Heart (5)
5. CHEAP THRILLS – Sia featuring Sean Paul (6)
6. SEND MY LOVE (To Your New Lover) – Adele (4)
7. GOOD GRIEF – Bastille (7)
8. BANG BANG – Green Day (10)
9. SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN – Young the Giant (11)
10. YOU DON’T GET ME HIGH ANYMORE – Phantogram (12)
11. HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND – Coldplay featuring Beyoncé (16)
12. WAKE UP CALL – Nothing But Thieves (15)
13. LIFE ITSELF – Glass Animals (17)
14. WAY DOWN WE GO – Kaleo (8)
15. BORED TO DEATH – blink-182 (9)
16. SAY MY NAME – (IAM)WARFACE (18)
17. RIVER – Bishop Briggs (20)
18. DARK NECESSITIES – Red Hot Chili Peppers (13)
19. WOW – Beck (14)
20. THE SOUND – The 1975 (N)
I’m head over heels in love with the astonishingly beautiful album What Comes Around by alternative electronic pop/rock band Matto Rules. The album, which dropped in May 2016, is a sonic masterpiece of lush electro-synth chords, sleek guitars and gorgeous vocals. I think it’s one of the best albums of 2016, with 11 superb tracks – any one of which could be a hit single!
Hailing from Bern, Switzerland, the band’s name was inspired by Matto, the insane ghost and fictional ruler of a psychiatric clinic portrayed in Swiss author Friedrich Glauser’s pulp crime novel In Matto’s Realm. But there’s certainly nothing insane about Matto Rules, except to say their music is insanely awesome! The band told me they thought Matto was a good metaphor for the atmospheric and psychedelic touch of their music.
Matto Rules consists of frontman and lead vocalist Lorenzo Bonati, bassist Fabian Baer, drummer Thomas Blanchat and lead guitarist Pascal Glauser (no relation to the author). The band recorded their first single “All Over” in 2012, then released a follow up double-sided single “Syd” in 2013, followed by a four-song EP “Lonely Cat” later that same year. Through that early music, the band gained a fan base and rave reviews as they toured around Switzerland and Europe.
Wanting a more polished sound for their new album, the band enlisted Chicago producer and sound engineer Ben Treimer (who’s worked with MUTEMATH and Emmylou Harris, among others), and the result is the stunning What Comes Around.
The first single, released prior to the album in November 2015, is the mesmerizing, psychedelic-tinged “Crystal Bay.” This gorgeous song seemingly floats on water. Shimmering guitars and smooth electronic synths, along with Bonati’s captivating vocals and airy backing vocals by Monica Gibbs, all serve to create an ethereal, atmospheric mood. The heartfelt lyrics address the wish to overcome a painful, addictive relationship:
“My flesh is strong, my will is weak. Insanity rushing in, swelling over me. I need to get away, clear my mind and let my world sink in to Crystal Bay, just want to fade away. I’m off to detox, off to detox for a day. I’m off to detox, off to detox once again.”
The rather dark video – which contains footage of images of various objects artistically tied together symbolizing trash, a man driving a motorboat that’s towing pool floats, Bonati dressed in a colorful patterned suit paddling a raft, and the trash burning on the shore – was filmed at beautiful Lake Lucerne.
The first track on the album and second to be released as a single, “Tonight” is a sweeping, joyously upbeat synth-pop tune that’s as exhilarating as it is beautiful.
“Let’s outrun all of our troubles, like we did when we were young. 808’s until the sun’s up, tomorrow it will be the same. But we’re here tonight.”
We’re introduced to the song by Bonati’s sublime vocals accompanied by gentle synth chords, then hammering drums and swirling guitars rain down in a cascade of rich synthesizers, all held together by a thumping bassline. It’s so gorgeous I don’t want it to end.
The fascinating, clever video shows the band playing the song in a series of traffic circles at night, with the camera panning around them. A woman driver circles them in her car, taking photographs she later uses to create artistic geometric images on her computer that are then superimposed on the traffic circles.
“Somewhere Else” keeps the energy flowing with a driving, synth-fueled beat and chiming guitars that shred at just the right moments. The song has a decidedly 80’s feel, which is why I love it. The pace slows a bit with the melodic, synth and bass-heavy “Alive,” with its beautiful harmonizing vocals. Synthesizers rule and guitars sing in the Depeche Mode-esque tracks “Let it Rain,” “In the Agency” and “Sleeper.” Bonati’s vocals in these tracks are so damn good! Well, truth be told, they’re damn good in every single song.
The lovely, melodic ballad “Caveman” is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Gentle percussion, beautiful piano and captivating guitar riffs make this song soar to the heavens. Another awesome track, “Monster,” has a bit of a Tears For Fears vibe, and really showcases Bonati’s impassioned vocals: “I feed a monster, in my unconscious. From time to time, it gets the best of me. Growing stronger everyday. I feel it’s time to let you hunt. I’ll drive you out, my little monster.”
The parade of gorgeous songs continues with the lush, synth-rock “Evil Eyes.”
“Let’s seal the contract. Engrave it with a promise. Denial will be useless. I’m always close behind. Show me your pain, and I will give you an escape. There is another path that you can take.”
The album closer “New Beginning” is a hopeful, psychedelic-infused anthem that’s the perfect ending to a perfect album.
I turn my Artist Spotlight back to New Zealand for a look at the outstanding alternative rock band DarkWater. They formed in 2009 as a four-person band, but are now three, with founding members Nathan Waipouri (lead guitar and vocals) and Merran Dixon (bass and backing vocals), and Ross Kilgour (drums) who joined the band in 2012.
DarkWater released their first EP in 2010, first full album in 2012, and another EP in 2014, all to critical acclaim. Their latest album – You’re only as addicted as you’re willing to be – dropped in May 2016, and it’s a stunning collection of kick-ass rock songs, many with a psychedelic vibe and featuring complex arrangements, multi-textured heavy guitar riffs, powerful drums and crashing cymbals. Waipouri’s raw vocals call to mind Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and – to my ears, at least – DarkWater’s music seems influenced by Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull and Cream, albeit updated to today’s rock sensibilities.
The album opens strong with the superb “The Old Town of Visoki,” a sonic-boom of a track with furious guitars, accompanied by Waipouri’s raw, snarling vocals and Kilgour’s hammering drums. “A Little Time” and “Numbered” keep the energy flowing with dazzling guitar riffs, strong percussion, and more of Waipouri’s urgent vocals.
The standout track “Animal Mind” serves up more killer, multi-layered riffs, thumping bass, pulse-pounding drums, crashing cymbals, and Waipouri’s impassioned vocals – backed by Dixon’s own beguiling vocals – singing some pretty compelling lyrics:
“I sometimes sit here and wonder why I’m alive, those thoughts from a whisper, that voice from inside. No seas of confusion that set us aside, from words of the wounded sad lullaby. Hard times, no pride.”
The late-60’s psychedelic rock vibe is strongly evident in “Paradox,” “Melee,” “A Murder of Crows,” and “Caution in a Jar,” with slightly distorted but melodic guitars, and intertwining harmonic vocals. Here’s a video of a live performance of “Caution in a Jar” at the indie underground club Lovelands last May.
“Only You” is another awesome track. It starts out with a nimble guitar riff and gentle drumbeat, then gradually builds to a bombastic climax of pummeling guitar riffs, more of Kilgour’s formidable drums, and powerful soaring vocals. This is my favorite song on the album.
Another of my favorites is the highly melodic “Harmonic Tinker Toys,” featuring more of DarkWater’s amazing signature guitar riffs. Holy hell, Waipouri and Dixon sure do coax some magnificent sounds from their guitars!
The remaining tracks “Astray,” “Cleverywhere,” and “Right Here” are all very good, with more of those impressive guitars, so there’s not a single forgettable or throwaway song on the album.
1. TROUBLE – Cage the Elephant (2)
2. HEATHENS – twenty øne piløts (1)
3. BURN THE WITCH – Radiohead (3)
4. SEND MY LOVE (To Your New Lover) – Adele (4)
5. ALL WE EVER KNEW – The Head and the Heart (6)
6. CHEAP THRILLS – Sia featuring Sean Paul (10)
7. GOOD GRIEF – Bastille (9)
8. WAY DOWN WE GO – Kaleo (5)
9. BORED TO DEATH – blink-182 (7)
10. BANG BANG – Green Day (18)
11. SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN – Young the Giant (11)
12. YOU DON’T GET ME HIGH ANYMORE – Phantogram (12)
13. DARK NECESSITIES – Red Hot Chili Peppers (8)
14. WOW – Beck (14)
15. WAKE UP CALL – Nothing But Thieves (15)
16. HYMN FOR A WEEKEND – Coldplay featuring Beyoncé (16)
17. LIFE ITSELF – Glass Animals (19)
18. SAY MY NAME – (IAM)WARFACE (20)
19. ASKING FOR IT – Shinedown (13)
20. RIVER – Bishop Briggs (N)
I finally got the long-overdue opportunity to see one of my all-time favorite bands Coldplay in concert on August 21. It was the second night of two concerts they played to a crowd of 80,000 at the legendary Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, and they didn’t disappoint. Chris Martin and his band mates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion put on a tremendously colorful and entertaining show, complete with laser lights, fireworks, confetti and huge floating balls. It was amazing!
There were two opening acts – singers Bishop Briggs and Alessia Cara – who were both awesome, and got the crowd energized before Coldplay took the stage. Bishop Briggs, who was born in the UK, raised in Japan and Hong Kong, and now lives in Los Angeles, sings a rather intense style of bluesy alternative pop-rock with an almost gospel quality. She performed her songs “Wild Horses,” “Pray” and “The Way I Do,” and finished up with an impassioned performance of her excellent torch song “The River,” which is currently #5 on the Billboard Alternative Chart.
Here’s a video of “The River”:
Next on stage was the 20-year old Canadian singer Alessia Cara, who immediately won me over with her warm, genuine personality, not to mention incredible voice. The only song of hers I was very familiar with was her big 2015 hit “Here,” but I found myself liking all the songs she sang, including “I’m Yours,” “Wild Things,” and her latest single “Scars to Your Beautiful” – of which she gave a tremendously moving performance. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a clear photo of her performance, so this one will have to do.
Here’s a video of Alessia singing “Scars to Your Beautiful”:
Despite the two ladies’ awesome performances, I and all the Coldplay fans were thrilled to see our boys finally take the stage at 9:05. They opened with “A Head Full of Dreams,” and the show took off with a bang, with fireworks and a dazzling light display.
Next up was an uplifting performance of the perennial crowd favorite “Yellow.”
Coldplay kept the energy flowing as they performed many of their hits, including “The Scientist,” “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” “Viva La Vida,” “Fix You,” “Magic,” “Midnight,” “Adventure of a Lifetime,” and my personal favorite “Clocks,” which I was able to film. The video and audio aren’t too bad, if I must say so myself.
Chris Martin is amiable and charismatic, with the energy of a 20-year old, running up and down the ramp and dancing about the stage. Halfway through the set, they paid tribute to David Bowie with a decent cover of “Heroes.” We were all given plastic wristbands when we entered the stadium, and at various times throughout the concert they would all light up through remote controlled computers, creating an amazing light display throughout the stadium that was truly magical.
Late into the concert, the band moved to a smaller stage at the north end of the stadium and performed a few songs, including another of my favorites “In My Place” from A Rush of Blood to the Head. We were then treated to a surprise visit by late night talk show host and singer James Corden, who joined Coldplay for a great tribute performance of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” It also happened to be Corden’s birthday, so a cake was presented, to tremendous applause from the audience. What an awesome treat that was!
The band returned to the main stage for the rest of the show, and sang “A Sky Full of Stars,” “Charlie Brown,” “Everglow,” and closed with “Up And Up.” They played for two full hours! Other than for challenges of getting out of the complex because of so many all leaving at the same time, it was a terrific concert experience, and one that I’ll cherish the rest of my days. I only wish I’d had a seat closer to the stage.
I recently stumbled upon the uniquely talented singer/songwriter/musician Rikki C. Ricci, who goes by the artistic name ToxSyn. Hailing from Toronto, Canada, ToxSyn plays a formidable mix of heavy metal, industrial goth rock and 90’s grunge, influenced by Nine Inch Nails and Alice In Chains, among others. He began playing bass at the age of 14, and has been making music for over 30 years, playing in metal bands Quick Trixx, Back Alley Boyz, Gangster, Bent, Hand Over Fist, Social Strife, SKROU, WAZP and Paranoid, as well as a number of tribute bands.
ToxSyn is Ricci’s solo project, and he writes his own music and lyrics, plays all instruments and sings all vocals. The most notable aspect of his music is the awesome guitar work. He coaxes some killer sounds from his bass that give his songs incredible force and depth. This is readily evident in the head banger “Crumble To Clay.” The monumental bass line is a thing of wonder.
ToxSyn shreds his guitar to pieces in “Toxic Shock.” His furious, raw vocals and thrashing guitar convey the brutal aftermath of nuclear war. “Skin burning from atomic blast, biotoxic radiation. Toxic fallout happened so fast, nuclear eradication.”
The guitars in “Be My Evil” are so amazing that I actually prefer the instrumental version, where they’re on full display. Again, the powerful bass propels the song forward, with layer upon layer of guitar riffs accompanied by pulse-pounding drums making this a sonically hard-hitting track.
Ricci told me he has more music projects planned, which I can’t wait to hear. He produces a series of documentary videos about his involvement with many cover bands, called “Rockin’ Adventures.” Here’s a recent one:
1. HEATHENS – twenty øne piløts (1)
2. TROUBLE – Cage the Elephant (2)
3. BURN THE WITCH – Radiohead (3)
4. SEND MY LOVE (To Your New Lover) – Adele (7)
5. WAY DOWN WE GO – Kaleo (6)
6. ALL WE EVER KNEW – The Head and the Heart (8)
7. BORED TO DEATH – blink-182 (5)
8. DARK NECESSITIES – Red Hot Chili Peppers (4)
9. GOOD GRIEF – Bastille (9)
10. CHEAP THRILLS – Sia featuring Sean Paul (13)
11. SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN – Young the Giant (12)
12. YOU DON’T GET ME HIGH ANYMORE – Phantogram (14)
13. ASKING FOR IT – Shinedown (16)
14. WOW – Beck (17)
15. WAKE UP CALL – Nothing But Thieves (19)
16. HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND – Coldplay featuring Beyoncé (20)
17. CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! – Justin Timberlake (11)
18. BANG BANG – Green Day (N)
19. LIFE ITSELF – Glass Animals (N)
20. SAY MY NAME – (IAM)WARFACE (N)
Peter Noreika is an accomplished singer-songwriter from New York state who started out as a guitarist for several heavy metal/thrash bands, but eventually put his music career on a back burner in order to make a living and start a family. One day his then 4-year-old son told Peter he wished his dad was a songwriter so he could stay home and play with him, instead of going off to work in an office. It was that life-altering incident that shook him back into doing what he loved – writing songs and playing music. Remembering that being in a band was challenging and wrought with obstacles, he made the decision to go it alone. With his background in heavy metal, but sensibilities now leaning more toward acoustic rock and folk, Peter spent his spare time writing lyrics and music, and practicing hours on end. Finally, in 2015, he recorded his highly acclaimed debut EP METACOUSTiFOLK.
Now Peter has released his follow-up sophomore effort, a great four-track EP titled Throw the Switch to Begin, which dropped on August 19. Our ears are once again treated to Peter’s nimble acoustic guitar and emotionally raw vocals, accompanied by Joe Garetti on drums.
The first track “Ride” declares the powerful need to escape a troubled existence by setting out on the open road:
“I can’t stand the way I feel. Trapped inside this cage again. I don’t wanna see the day begin. Driving much too slow, I’m moving with the flow. I’m not going to stay here trapped inside. I got to get on out and ride.”
The song starts out with a slow, driving drumbeat and a rather mournful guitar riff, then, halfway through, the tempo speeds up, beautifully conveying the feeling of sudden freedom. It’s my favorite track off the EP.
“You’re the One” addresses the enduring strength of real love: “Another day in paradise. It all looks better when you are near. We watch the years go by us. My mind hides the mirror’s lines. The only one who knows me. The only one I wanna know.”
The third track “Win or Lose” is a catchy, fast-paced song with some pretty cool guitar riffs.
“Said it before and I say it again. It’s never to late to get up and begin. Talk the talk and walk the mile. I don’t care about what’s in style. It’s up to you, to win or lose. Now you can choose to win or lose.”
Peter shows a more whimsical side with “Rocketship,” a fun romp of a tune told from a child’s perspective. The clever, entertaining video for the song shows Peter’s son in his “rocketship” made of a decorated cardboard box and brightly-colored mailing tubes, and wearing a helmet as he gazes up to the skies. “Hop right in, throw the switch to begin, in my rocketship.”
