Alice Cooper | Welcome 2 My Nightmare | Rating: 7/11 | As a music critic, I tend to be wary of “sequel” albums… Actually, I tend to avoid “concept albums” to begin with. However, there are those life-long musical heroes whom I’ll happily indulge, even if their prime was quite a few decades ago… And there are few I’m happier to do that for […]

The Trews | Hope & Ruin | (Bumstead Records) | There are a few running themes throughout The Trews’ fourth studio album, Hope & Ruin, such as redemption, heartbreak, crafty vocal arrangements, homage to CCR, roots rock, guitar distortion, familiarity, and when all neatly line up in a music row, they fair well as a soundtrack to gassing up and […]

Kings of Leon | Come Around Sundown | Rating: 9/11 | It’s hard to believe that Come Around Sundown marks Kings of Leon fifth studio album. This band has sure come a long way since Youth & Young Manhood‘s release in 2003. Going from a dirty southern-garage rock band to a melodic arena-rock-friendly adult contemporary type band. Don’t get me wrong, they haven’t completely lost their edge. Lyrics […]

Whetherman The Great Lull (Adorable Records) By: Naimah Holmes Nicholas Williams is a one man band; he handles everything from vocals and guitar, to the lute. His sound is soulful and reflective. The opening track “Sundial Sunset” recalls afternoons at the beach with old friends. In “Following To Catch Up” Williams reminds himself ( Don’t let it mark your heart […]

The Hard Lessons | Arms Forest | There are many, many things that I love about my home state (Michigan). For instance, I like sitting on the beloved Swinging Bridge in my hometown or swinging on the swings at the Lexington Harbor with my homies during the wee hours of the morning. I also love that my mom will make […]

Amy Kuney Birds Eye View (Spinmove Records) Reviewed By: Naimah Holmes The opening track of Amy Kuney’s Birds Eye View, “Simple Things,” sets the tone of the record as whimsical, lighthearted, and full of heart, a reminder that “It’s the simple things that make us feel at home.” At times it sounds as if every song is meant to stand […]

Coconut Records | Davy | (Young Baby Records) | Reviewed By: Jade Amey If you love Jason Schwartzman as much as I do, then I’m sure you were eager to get your hands on his sophomore album earlier this week. Recording under the alias Coconut Records, Schwartzman’s second solo effort, Davy, is just as good as his first, Nighttiming. Davy […]