Cinder, Coloring Outside The Lines, and Pope Syndicate Reviews

Here are reviews of a few CDs - and a rock-oriented book - that have been released in the last few months, with accompanying links and info. Next week - an interview with Jeremy Penick of Depswa.

Cinder Break The Silence (Geffen Records)

Produced by Scott Weiland, this Florida based band's debut CD Break The Silence is an album in need of a release date. (It was supposed to be officially released in February). Interspersing the cliches of aggro/nu-metal with the unpretentious lead vocals of Roger Young (a sound-alike, at times, for producer Weiland), songs could easily fit into any alterna-metal playlist. Any Ozzfest mosh-pit patron would take a shine to the 11 tracks on Break The Silence. A worthy debut, but there isn't much here to separate it from the rest of the dwindling nu-metal crowd. www.amazon.com to pre-order

Pope Syndicate Energy Pimps EP (Self-Produced)

Merging the recklessness of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alice In Chains with subtle production and clean edges, Energy Pimps, the 7 song EP from Westchester, New York's Pope Syndicate, showcases a tidy version of hard rock & funk. The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Dave Portal a mere two years ago, but they have gelled admirably in such a short time. Starting off with the bass-heavy "Lenore", a truly funkified white boy beat with a definite ode to the Chili Peppers. "Veer", the vaguely Alice In Chains-ish ballad, resolves into musical calamity similar to anything Jerry Cantrell, in places. Like its title, the song does veer from ballad to uncompromising grungy rock (though I hate to use that term "grunge" after the fact). "Blown" has a chord progression reminiscent of "Angry Chair", rife with funky touches -- an unforeseen association, but it works. "Stray" features lyrics about coming to grips with maturity, with clear, straightforward punch. Kudos are in order to the bassist Jordan Marion and drummer Mike Bambace on this one, though their rhythm section is more than just a background, but the preliminary musical force throughout the EP. "Downfall" has a laid back, jazzy lounge room feel -- a little like the Dave Matthews Band with more guts -- while "Bring In The New" lies low on the harder rock and concentrates on the jazz-funk portion of the equation. The EP closer, the moody "To Rectify", is a quieter version of any selection from Alice In Chains Unplugged. The exaggeration that's implied by this mixture is simply that -- an implication. The production work forms the songs as unsullied, slightly calmer homages to the bands influences. The band is working on a full-length CD, Intransit, to be finished in the spring. It should deliver similarly tasty, hard rock/funk stylings.

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