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 Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
(Warner Bros)
Metal is back... with a vengeance! I have been rather sick of what heavy metal had become over the past, oh, ten years or more. It’s nice to hear a band who actually grasp what metal actually was when it started. It wasn’t rap, it wasn’t Cookie Monster vocals, it was raw and pure. It was something that you could sing along to while bouncing your head until your neck snapped in half. For being a young band of upstarts, A7X really has it together. “City Of Evil” is geuninely one of the best heavy metal/hard rock albums that I have heard in years. Not being of the teen generation anymore, this CD brings me back to what made me happy about hearing hard rock to begin with. My first introduction was first hearing “Bat Country” on the radio. To me, that is the most perfect metal song. It has every aspect in it - bouncing beats, driving energy, sing-song, harmonies, and blistering guitar work. Speaking of which, the guitar chemistry of Synystery Gates and Zacky Vengeance is amazing. And the rest of the band really gels as well. I could go on and on sounding like I’m kissing ass, but I am just so overwhelmed by A7X that I’ve got to be honest. From the onward trot of opening track “Beast And The Harlot” to the final notes of “M.I.A.” (another amazing tune), this album just blows doors on the competition. Amongst all the metal attributes that this band offers, I am most impressed by the songwriter abilities, and especially the melodies. And when it comes to the vocal harmonies, Avenged Sevenfold’s choir voices put any Boy Band to shame. Backstreet Boys, you are put out of business, by a metal band. There are some religious, and definite socio-political overtones to the songs, but you can listen or ignore them. Either way, the energy is what keeps the heart pumping. The latest single “Sieze The Day,” with its most obvious G’N’R “November Rain” influences, is sure to be for this band what “Dream On” was for Aerosmith. “Sidewinder” as well is a brilliantly epic tune with the twists and turns that it takes, from rock to flamenco to its classical guitar outro (played by Syn’s father). Do yourself a favor, do not pass by the CD. But it today and quit your whimpering. Metal is back, and A7X is going to shove it down your throat.
- Written by Philip Anderson
 VHS or BETA - Night On Fire
(Astralwerks)
Brilliant prog-funk-rock from a unique band. I found out about these guys when seeing them play with Electric Six. What an experience, only made better by listening to this CD on the way home (and over and over ever since). The music flows within a subtle variety of styles beginning with a sound reminiscent of The Cure on the opening title track. Later Duran Duran can be picked up, along with some more funk influences, some dance, and even flourishes of psychadelia. This is top notch and something worth listening to more than once. Great stuff.
- Written by Philip Anderson
 Marina V - Simple Magic
(Crazy Apples Worldwide)
Marina V is a name that not everyone might have heard yet, but should. With shades of Tori Amos, Enya, and even Garbage’s Shirley Manson (at times), Marina is destined for fame and popularity. At this moment, she has this self-released title available - and it should not be overlooked. Marina’s story, as it is, is amazing as the daughter of a Soviet scientist, who later left for America in search of making music. Her voice is emotive and infectious, and her piano style lends carefully to that. Although there are certain production issues that I take with this release, the songs are brilliantly composed and Marina delivers them as only she could. Opening track “In My Head,” pulls you right into the rest, as it’s followed by the romantic “Make This Moment Last.” “I’ll Be Alright” is a certain radio hit in the making. During “Underneath Your Sky,” I can hear arena crowds singing along in my head. Amongst it all, “If I Could Read Your Mind” has a subtle country tinge to it. Another unforgettable song is ending track “Killing My Dream.” Find this CD and buy it. You will not be disappointed.
- Written by Philip Anderson
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 Toothpick - Time Travelin' Couch
(Universal)
Although the name might not ring a bell, Toothpick was made (in)famous by Morgan Spurlock’s film “Super Size Me.” The main direction of this rather fun audio outing is upbeat hip-hop-ish folky rock that keeps the toes tapping, although at times mellowing a bit into a jazzier dub sound that lulls you in. It’s a bit hard to describe any particular genre that Toothpick follows, but it would be fairest to say that it’s infectious. Toothpick has a very flowing style of rhyming along with the musical wave, a bit in the style of Lyrics Born. To compare his lyrical flow to someone like Eminem is apples and oranges, although lyrically the words are clever and intelligent. One can derive many conceptual visuals. Amongst the choice tracks are the title tune, and “Super Size Me.”
- Written by Philip Anderson
 Yola - Another Girl
(Top Shelf Records)
Singer-songwriter Yola Naklicka (known in the US simply as Yola) originally hails from Lublin, Poland, eventually settling in New York to become a DJ, and to study R&B singing with a Patti LaBelle backup singer. This is the kind of music to get lost into. From the funky “Intro” going into the jazzier rock sounds of the title track, to the following “Love You,” which almost has a serenading Prince feel to it, this debut CD has its own unique flavor. There is a nice mix of jazz, rock, pop, funk, hip-hop, and more, all blended nicely with Yola’s expressive, subtley accented voice. There is also a reworking of the classic “Venus.” I’ve never really been a fan of the original, but I’m even less a fan of this version as it sounds out of tune and out of sync vocally and musically. Yola’s attempt at faux vamp doesn’t come off on this one. At times, Yola sounds a bit like the giggly girl who just got to sing onstage with her favorite idol - fresh and fun. This is a CD for those who like to keep their day mellow and moving forward.
- Written by Philip Anderson
 30 Seconds To Mars - A Beautiful Lie
(Virgin)
I’m still amused by the critics who ripped on Jared Leto for his band’s first CD outing. They complained about a “vanity project,” later to complain that it was “too complex.” You can never please everyone. As it is, I love the first release, and thought it brought some new complexities to music that I hadn’t heard in a long time. Certainly something to get caught up in. So on this, 30STM’s second release, the road continues, but on a changed path. “A Beautiful Lie” offers up songs that are a bit stripped down, but still maintain a variety from song to song. Not a boring moment to be found. Again Jared is at hand as the songwriter, while the band plays everything. It works out just fine. The fullness, texture, and ambience of this CD has the makings of a well-studied, full band. I could only imagine what more could come into play if everyone was involved. But for now... The guitars all have their places as they layer upon each other to form an unmistakable aural soundscape. The bass and drums drive it all home. The production is right on the mark as everything is clear and resonant. But most importantly, the songwriting has only improved. The title track alone screams radio all over it, while songs like “The Kill” carry you into a new mental landscape. There are elements of goth, progressive, art-rock, metal, and just about anything that puts an emotion through your ears. “The Story” is an exceptional track, as is a cover of Bjork’s “The Hunter,” an added “bonus” track which is equally haunting. “The Battle Of One” is a metal madhouse that, as another “bonus” track could have just as well served as a powerful opener. This is really good stuff, intelligent and emotional. I can’t wait to see what Jared comes up with next.
- Written by Philip Anderson
 Miss Crazy
(Metal Mayhem Music)
Gotta love it when a band decides to masquerade as another band. But I won’t give away who this is, as I’m sure any die-hard fan will figure it out. And no, despite the music overtones, this is not Def Leppard in disguise (although one would could wonder). Miss Crazy is a new music project from the South Bay of San Francisco. Hard, fast, driving music (almost like sex). Opening track “No Compromise” is a great opener, followed by the more pop flavored AC/DC-ish “Billie.” Now, I won’t lie to you, lyrically this is about as banal as one could get, but it has been given its best effort vocally. Musically and in production, this is exactly what one would hope for from a hard rocking album. Everything is right in front, in your face. There are no pretenses here - it’s a rock’n’roll album from start to finish. No frills, no surprises. If rock is what you want, you’ll get it from Miss Crazy. It’s fun, it rocks.
- Written by Philip Anderson
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