City and Colour

City and Colour – Fragile Bird

     Simply beautiful.  That's pretty much all I can say about this new album, Little Hell, from City and Colour, a.k.a. Dallas Green.  It actually isn't that new, but hey, I just found out about it.  I've heard that this artist is far more popular in Australia and his native Canada, which might be why I've never heard of him.  Or maybe I'm just not hip enough?  Either way, Green is truly talented.  I love the romantic sound of "We Found Each Other In the Dark", the lovely harmony of "O' Sister", the guitar riffs of "Weightless", and the uptempo beat of "Natural Disaster".     
     City in Colour's sound is the farthest from Green's former band, Alexisonfire.  The Punk/hardcore/screamo band just announced last month that they are officially breaking up.  His voice is so clear and profound.  It's soothing to listen to, full of depth and raw emotion.  He definitely provides wonderful background homework music.

City and Colour - We Found Each Other In The Dark

Vocal Rating: 8.5
Album: 8

NEEDTOBREATHE's new album

      NEEDTOBREATHE is back with their new album The Reckoning.  Originally having music only on Christian radio, this band has gotten a lot of mainstream attention since their recent tour with Taylor Swift.  Their music is more alt-country lately with lots of soul.  The Reckoning takes NEEDTOBREATHE back to their folk-ish sound, but this time they seem a little bit darker.
     Bear Rinehart, lead singer, has seriously one my favorite voices.  He sounds like a wonderful mix of John Meyer meets Jack Johnson, but with a gospel twist.  Rinehart could easily be a voice on the stage at your local bar or the leader of a large Black Baptists choir.
     This album is great to wake up to, study to, or go on a nice long drive with friends to.  It's perfect for so many different occasions.  NEEDTOBREATHE has had a pattern for making chill yet inspirational music.  Their music is good and just plain fun.

My favorite NEEDTOBREATHE song:                                                                                                     Girl Named Tennessee

The title track from this album:
NEEDTOBREATHE - The Reckoning by NeedToBreathe

VOCAL RATING: 9
ALBUM: 6

Evanescence?

They're back???
     So it looks like it's true, ladies and gents.  That band, the one you cried and head-banged to in junior high, the one that caused your ears to bleed in high school, is indeed back with a new single.  After five years since their last release, Evanescence is finally coming out with a new album at the beginning of next month. 

     I stumbled across this single and music video while randomly browsing iTunes, and I was pretty shocked that these rockers were even still together.  Yeah, I've heard they've gone through a couple of changes in the lineup, but seriously where is this coming from?  I will admit that I was a huge fan of Evanescence back when I was about twelve or thirteen.  However, they lost me with their somehow Grammy winning album, The Open Door.  There was just too much contrived pain and agony in those songs.  It was the kind of music you listened to when you wanted to feel depressed or give yourself some kind of street cred as a really dark souled metal kid.  When last hearing from them though, didn't it seem as though liking Evanescence had kind of become a joke?
     This is why I was mildly surprised when hearing this song.  It somehow, in a weird way, is surprisingly upbeat, not that that's a good thing.  The whole persona of Amy Lee and the rest of the clan is that they're supposed to be sad and dark.  Yet, this song is oddly bright and catchy.  The opening percussion rhythm is reminiscent of early 2000s pop punk bands and the chorus is melodically fun.  Then the hook "Do what you want, you want", is just one of those things you know that, after five seconds of listening to the song, will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.  What I find so funny though is that, according to an MTV.com interview, the band claims that this album is heavier than others.  They definitely weren't convincing of that with this first single though.
     I'm utterly confused.  To me this sounds like a song that kids will be dancing and jumping around to while singing the lyrics into a hairbrush, but in the music video, Amy Lee still scares the heck out of me.  Even after being on the scene for about eight years, she still hasn't retired her dark eye makeup, flowy long skirts, or snarling at the camera.  It seems completely inconsistent with the sound of the song.
     Though I will say, Lee's voice is still monumental.  The melody is rather unique, and this classically trained artist could still rival many opera singers.  I also enjoy the lower harmony backing vocal on the chorus.  I mean, this girl can belt and there's no denying it.  I'm pretty sure it's the only thing that really gives Evanescence an even remotely individual sound.
     Overall, this band needs some more consistency.  I really still don't understand what they're purpose is for coming back and releasing this album.  Hopefully there are still some diehard fans of Amy Lee's voice out there that actually care about them returning.

Might I interest you in some nostalgia???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YxaaGgTQYM

VOCAL RATING: 7
VIDEO: 3

Emery's New Video for "Scissors"

     There's been quite some buzz about this new video from Emery.  There was an article about it on Alternative Press's website, and it even premiered on MTV2's Head Bangers Ball.  All I have to say is, it's about time Emery receives some attention.
      I've personally been a fan of this band for years, but they definitely are usually a little more under the radar.  They're one of the most understated hardcore screamo bands out there, with amazing vocal and lyrical talents throughout the band.  Still, this song is a bit different than their usual stuff.  At first no one would even notice, but those who loyally follow Emery would have to agree that their music has gotten heavier on this new album We Do What We Want.  There's more screaming, more low-register bass rifts, just more metal in general.  It's also one of their most spiritual albums with songs like "Fix Me" (one of few that aren't so hardcore).  "Scissors" shows this as well, with lines like, "Hope, but there is doubt that bleeds through" and "So God I'm asking you do you even care". 
     This is definitely a good song to mosh to and blast when you want to viciously punch someone in the face.  Maybe it's a good choice if you're going through some intense internal conflict.  What is a bit disappointing about this album though is that, while there's still very solid vocals coming from the band--the factor I most appreciate from them--the screaming does overshadow their usual incredible harmonies.  In the past, Emery has had some chilling, goose-bump leaving harmonies that would put choral singers to shame.   And while there are still hints of that here with their haunting voices, it just isn't the same with all the extra hardness.
     Regardless of their vocal style or what the cause is for this new sound, Emery will most likely be attracting a new audience this year.  Don't be surprised if the long-haired, all black wearing, angsty fourteen-year-olds are soon head banging to them at the skate park.

VOCAL RATING: 5
VIDEO: 3