Indie

Gunslingers Anonymous
KARMA (2008)
South Jersey, NJ

‘Karma’, GSA’s latest album, and track-for-track my favorite and most played band on my iPod, is simply pure genius. I’ve been a huge fan of this South Jersey duo since introduced to their music over a year ago now. I recall visiting their myspace page and launching a hilarious GSA promo video and realizing, I could party with these guys! Then the music, ahhh that was the clincher. I immediately dove into ‘This Type of Behavior’, to date my all time fav GSA track. The chill piano intro is deceiving…then bang straight into this rad synth number. Very, very cool. A close second is ‘The Distance Between Infatuation and Love is Closer Than We Had Thought (Boy, Did I have You)…Whew, yea that’s the track name and an incredible cut that spotlights Michael and Shane’s vox and instrumental talents. The lyrics are really Rounding out an incredibly solid album is ‘Save The World’ which GSA personally shared with Fierce.com before releasing to the general public. Pay particular attention to the fade throughout between ballad and hard hitting synth and guitar on this track, not to mention the incredible piano ending. Check out the video promo for ‘Karma’ at Fierce.com and show some love and download the album here.

Fatal Lucciauno
Label - Sportin Life Records

I just finished a 4 hour flight which gave me plenty of quality time to dive into Seattle battle rapper Fatal Lucciauno. Born Rahmeece Chevosier Howell to respected Jazz and Gospel singer Josephine Howell, Fatal is pure street. His intelligent, hard-hitting preach is an emotional weave of the life he’s lead since a boy growing up on the streets of Chicago and Seattle. To be true, I don’t write nearly enough Rap/Hip-Hop reviews; I know the talent exists. It’s just not as apparent and often gets lost in the mainstream. That’s why I was more than pleasantly surprised when I launched into Fatal’s freshman CD ‘The Only Forgotten Son’ (2007 Sportin Life Records). Each track is wicked hard and laced with ghoulish lyrics and chill instrumentals. Pay particular mind to ‘Q.U.E.E.N.’, ‘Focus’ and ‘Won’t Change’, my 3 fav cuts. There are a few tracks that didn’t strike a note but all around Fatal Lucciauno will round out any discerning Rap aficionado’s collection. I picked up all 20 tracks at iTunes but you can also pick it up directly at Sportin Life Records.

Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer

I’m so stoked to finally be writing about Pa. based Powerpop band, Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer. I’ve been so completely off the hook on these guys thanks to my intro to ‘Arg! I’m a Pirate’ off The Popsicle LP, (Eyeball Records). Then someone hit me up with the video which was really, really well…odd but well done for an Indie band. More recently I’ve turned my attention to their new creative work Schematics. I pulled the tracks from iTunes prior to a cross country flight which made my day. I’ve just finished listening to the entire album and hands down I’m hooked on ‘Death or Radio’ and ‘Can’t Stand It’; both well orchestrated tracks blending the hard hitting vox of Rachel Minton , guitar and synth.

Check out the video ‘Arg I’m a Pirate’ at Fierce.com. More Zolof here.

Mile High School
Yorktown, VA
Label - Very soon…

Influenced by ‘anything having to do with crying or drinking’ and sounds like ‘What you want to hear…’. Thanks Passion Brand Clothing for the wicked intro to Mile High School. I am thoroughly impressed with this band. Each cut I sampled displayed a fine blend of well orchestrated instrumentals and cutter vox from frontman Craig Kleeman. An interesting and pleasant nuance I picked up on; killer keys/synth lends a bit of Electronica to each track…very cool. Be sure to check out my favs ‘Wake Me Up’ and ‘Cut Your Losses’. You’ll immediately hear the Goo Goo Dolls influence in the former. Help support these talented cats by storming their myspace page and buying up all their music.

Neurosonic
Vancouver, BC
Label - Bodog Music

I’m completely off the hook on Neurosonic brought to me thanks to BODOG Music. These cats are by far the most well rounded, lyrically aggressive band we’ve highlighted to date. Just dive into ‘So Many People’ for a skull blowing sample of Jason Darr and his vox skills. Loved the hard driving guitar and bass on ‘Are Solar’. Ended a rather busy day with ‘Me Myself and I’, a slowdown but nonetheless hardriving rock preach. Pick up their 2007 debut album ‘Drama Queen’ at iTunes or Bodog Music.

Check out the video for ‘So Many People’ at Fierce.com.