Highlight Tracks: "No Love" and "Is It So Strange"
For More Info: Visit http://www.davidhurn.co.uk
Artist: Cursive/Eastern Youth
Album: 8 Teeth To Eat You
The Scoop: Yowza. Cursive comes from the West (Nebraska), Eastern Youth comes from the East (Japan), and both bands chew up a lot of scenery on this split disc. The biggest development for Cursive is the addition of cellist Gretta Cohn, whose touch may become the band's trademark. Cohn adds discord and highwire tension to an already volatile mix of aggressive punk and indie rock. When Tim Kasher screeches "Jealousy! Am I not yours?" on the second track, it sounds not so much that his heart is breaking as his heart is exploding as he sings. Their half of the album is the better half-all four songs are solid. Eastern Youth employs somewhat the same formula, but to different ends. They crank the volume up to 11-and it's hard to imagine wildman singer Hisashi Yoshino not wrecking his voice within the year-but their aggressive sound has a poppier gloss. 8 Teeth offers a great intro to two bands worth watching. Bring earplugs.Highlight Tracks: Eastern Youth's "Muyohnosuke" and Cursive's "Am I Not Yours?"
For More Info: Visit the label site at http://www.fiveoneinc.com
Artist: My Fine Friend Phil
Album: Damn Glad To Meet Ya
The Scoop: Dude, Britney could be listening to these guys. Doug Petty, from the pop princess's band, is one of several well-resumed men who back singer/songwriter Phil Mann on this album of good old-fashioned AAA rock (another member is a veteran of John Mellencamp's band). Mann crafts his songs well-there are strong builds and crescendos on almost every track. And he's a smart songwriter, too, especially when he's turned his eyes on various wonder women ("Beauty Queen," "Supermodel"). The steadily propellant rhythm of "I'm Not Superman" (with its great chorus of "I'm not in your control / I'm in your command") sounds like the Dave Matthews Band starting up their engines. Damn Glad To Meet Ya (dig that cover photo, by the way) isn't a seamless album, but it's a winning one. With most of the above bands, we expected fine products and they delivered. This one comes out of seemingly nowhere and is the pleasant surprise of the month.Highlight Tracks: "Beauty Queen" and "A Love Song"
For More Info: Visit http://www.philman.com for more info and to listen to the album.
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