I've had a confusing past few weeks, and I'll try to get this Update up-to-date.
Artists heard, but not yet added to the collection
- Aaron Spiro: jangly Tears for Fears/U-2esque guitars and the vocals combine for a soft to mild rock sound [3].
- John Starnes: hitting the extremes with lots of 1s and 4s on the same CD, with little in between. The musical style is bluesy Southern Gospel, but without the country twang. There's lots of violin, piano and chimes, combined with an almost operatic male contra-alto vocal. I hardly know what to say. I gave three 4s and five 1s on the same CD. I guess he covers the interest-spectrum.
- Jill Phillips: no-fault female vocals, quite a bit like Ginny Owens, Sherri Youngward and Sarah Sadler. The musical style, however, is fairly heavy on the country side of Country rock. [4]
- Greatest Hits: Live at Cornerstone 2001 -80's Metal Retro Night with M8 (compilation CD): I didn't see the "Metal Retro Night" part of the title when I checked the CD from the library. It was all heavy big hair and spandex stuff. It's not on my buy-list, but might make for a good sampler for someone else with such taste in music.
- Raze: Hip-hop electro-dance-pop. It's geared for kids, but quite catchy, musically. In places it's lyrically cliche. The instrumentals are fairly light, but it's pleasant without being overly syrupy. I like the airy ethereal background female vocals. The CD, The Plan ended with a nice altar call. [3]
- Eager: Retro-flavored modern rock. Eager's got a hard, artsy John Lennonesque sound. Another PFR? [5]
- Ace Troubleshooter: speed-punk and often heavy. "1 Corinthians 13" is quite good. Ace Troubleshooter is a bit too intense for a 4, so I give it a [3], but not by much.
- Brides of Jesus: Bluesy soul psychedelic jazz rock with strong '60s flavorings. Lots of horns, and woodwinds. It rates a [4] in small doses, otherwise it's almost too anesthetic.
- Believeable Picnic: more retro hard rock on the line of PFR. [5]
- Walter Eugenes: Rock with a sharp artsy edge. The vocals sounded like INXS, Lou Reed and David Bowie all rolled into one. They're a very pleasant listen. [4]
- Mark Schultz: SCCM, nasal, cliche lyrics with a big-production orchestral (too heavily keyboarded) sounds. I call it mush. Mark Schultz fits well with Crystal Lewis, Natalie Grant, Rachel Lampa, Lincoln Brewster, Avalon and Point of Grace. Other than "Kyrie", which I rated a benefit-of-doubt 4, Shultz gets a weak [2] from me.
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