Author Archive

Spotlight: The Helio Sequence

The Helio SequenceThe Helio Sequence of Portland, OR, have recently released their highly anticipated third album Keep Your Eyes Ahead a few days past – January 29th. The band is made of two; Brandon Summers, guitar and vocals, while Benjamin Weikel takes control of drums and keyboard. This indie pop/rock duo give us rich ambient atmosphere, as such in the title track “Keep Your Eyes Ahead,” with wonderfully flavored lyrical tone to guide us through. Also noteable are the acoustic, more folky tune of “Shed Your Love,” and “Broken Afternoon.” The Helio Sequence are currently touring the United States, with European dates to show after April. Full tour dates will be listed below.

The Helio Sequence — “Keep Your Eyes Ahead” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/keep_your_eyes_ahead.mp3]

The Helio Sequence — “Blood Bleeds” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/blood_bleeds.mp3]

The Helio Sequence — “Everyone Knows Everyone” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/everyone_knows_everyone.mp3]

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Spotlight: Papercuts

PapercutsPapercuts, fronted by Jason Robert Quever, bring us two unique and refreshing pop/folk rock albums: his debut Mockingbird (2004), and latest release Can’t Go Back (2007). In both albums, Quever takes on airy vocals that blend beautifully with his folk-style guitar work interlaced with string instruments, gentle percussion, and cheery pop tunes. His timeless style, most apparent in “Take the 227th Exit” and “Outside Looking In,” will very likely keep him in the spotlight for many years to come. Papercuts will also be going on tour this year beginning February 28th through April. Further information on tour dates may be found on gnomonsong.com.

Papercuts — “John Brown”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/papercuts-john_brown.mp3]

All Out War – Assassins in the House of God

Assassins in the House of God starts hard and ends, well, hard. This metalcore outfit really knows what they’re doing with their sound, and it shows in the resulting record. The album is fast, the drums punching and the guitar stabbing with distortion. (more…)

Between the Trees – The Story and the Song

This debut release from pop-rockers Between the Trees is synth-led and guitar-heavy, fronted by a vocalist that emboides the growingly popular slightly-high-but-not-too-whiney vocal style. Between the Trees is undoubtedly a rock group with pop sensibilities, but they manage to remain only slightly reserved about it. The tracks on The Story and the Song are well-paced and reasonably well crafted, though the band certainly isn’t going to win any comparisons to Lennon and McCartney.

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Amiina – Kurr

The latest in post-rock from Iceland sounds surprisingly similar to Iceland’s premier post-rock group, Sigur Rós, and with good reason. The quartet has performed with Sigur Rós on many occassions, both in the studio and live, typically as a string quartet. As such, it’s fairly reasonable to equate Amiina with the soft, ethereal glow of the Sigur Rós sound; it’s not far off to make that connection, either.

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ActionReaction – 3 is the Magic Number

The latest — and true debut, excepting a short tour EP — from ActionReaction, 3 is the Magic Number, is a glossy work of pop-rock with an element of careful production. ActionReaction’s attention to detail is apparent, what with a fair amount of meticulous timing and instrumentation.

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Betrayed – Substance

Betrayed’s first full-length release, Substance, accentuates their hardcore stylings with more than just a tinge of punk attitude and the expected accompanying musical tactics. Substance features a thick wall of distortion (though not a Spector-style Wall of Sound — which would undoubtedly be an interesting addition to the punk and hardcore canon,) those familiar not-quite-screaming vocals (recognizably influenced by veterans Suicidal Tendencies, among countless others,) and a certain amount of flare on the guitar.

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Blue Merle – Burning in the Sun

The first time I heard Nashville’s Blue Merle, I could have sworn it was a side project of Coldplay’s Chris Martin based on the singer’s voice. Although the singer may sound alot like Martin, the music itself goes in several different directions with an occasional fiddle or violin thrown in.

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