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June '03 Update

© Paul Landkamer

May and the first part of June have been quite busy, but, I've still had opportunities to listen to some more music.

Heard

• Starflyer 59: Anesthetic Coffeehouse alternative. One source said their hard stuff makes Black Sabbath sound like top 40s. Apparently, I didn't get the right CD for that sound, though I'd really like to hear it. [4]

• Sonicflood: Almost stereotypical praise and worship, but with a softish rock sound to it. Sonicflood has a hardness fairly comparable to Mercy Me or Delirious?. Great stuff with which to sing along! I'd buy a greatest hits CD, but that's about it. [3]

• Justifide: (Did I do these guys before?) Heavy, almost death metal but with understandable lyrics. Some sing/yell/rap. In a Metallica vein. [4]

• Lifehouse: Alternative, with lots of white-noise guitar. Mumbling vocals, similar to Switchfoot. Musically similar too, but slightly more plodding and liquid. [3]

• The Swift: Imagine a cross between Beatles, Billy Joel and Queen. It's piano-driven rock similar to PFR and Elms, but with a bit less sneer than the Elms in the vocals. [5]

Added to the Collection

• Column 5: OK, I know I did a review on this band a short time ago, but they sent me their second CD, and the least I could do was let you in on my opinions (and remind you of their desire to minister). You probably noticed this section of the Update says "Added..." and not "Bought", like it usually says. Well, I didn't "buy" the CD, so I had to change the heading. Enough of this. On with the review.

  Column 5's second album, Share shows a lot more creativity in the synthesizer work. There's been growth in that area. In otherwords, it's not one really long song this time. Though the vocal style didn't change for album #2, they grabbed my attention. I'm a bit unsettled about them. The vocalist has a great voice, and can, when he needs to, carry a tune. The vocals, however, are more chanted than really sung, and what tune there is seems rather arbitrary. I think there's a mis-match between lyrics, melody, and rhythm. Maybe that's typical of synth-pop. Most of the choruses have a real melody to them. I don't have much with which to compare. [4]

• Three Crosses: Great country-rock alternative. Similar to the Eagles' harder or at least livelier stuff. The vocalist sounds a lot like Mick Jagger, giving the sound quite a Rolling Stones flavor, too. This could sound like a late '60s Stones experimental Christian album. Other bands which come to mind are: Rod Stewart, Georgia Satellites, The Seventy-Sevens and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Years ago, a kid at church (estimating him to have been in his very early double-digit years), recommended Three Crosses to me, but I shrugged it off because he also recommended a real softie (forgot who). Hint: Check out ANY tip. [4]

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