Corinne Bailey Rae — The Sea

Corinne Bailey Rae, the bubbly, bike-riding, curly-coiffed "Put Your Records On" crooner, returns with The Sea, an eleven-track tribute to love, loss, and no regrets. Rae is certainly no stranger to loss, losing husband and bandmate Jason Rae in early 2008. The Sea, she admits, owes much of its melody to his passing. That melancholy heavily resonates on the opener, "Are You Here" and lead single, "I'd Do It All Again," where Rae reveals, "You're searching for something I know won't make you happy." It's this thinly-veiled reference that stitches each song together. Whether with soul ("Closer"), hope ("I Would Like to Call It Beauty"), or heart ("Diving for Hearts"), the British songstress builds a largely successful—albeit unfortunate—story. Rae temporarily stumbles, her vocals getting lost amid the frenzied, back-and-forth, continent-crossing "Paris Nights/New York Mornings," but regains her footing on the farewell-filled title track, "The Sea." The Sea is out now on Capitol... Read More »

The Ugly Club — Sing What You Want

This six-piece New Jersey outfit describes itself as "Ray Charles meets Weezer meets The Beatles." While they do indeed have a unique style, these influences belie their very modern sound, at times reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys and the Libertines. Comprising more traditional rock band components, The Ugly Club also includes a trumpet and a trombone, giving it the rare soul edge that lends a charismatic swing to a couple of the songs. If this five-track EP from the as of yet unsigned band is any indicator of their later work, I would expect The Ugly Club to have a bright future ahead. The opening track, "Claim Somebody," while perfectly acceptable, recalling earlier offerings from Rooney and Phantom Planet, doesn't fully represent the band's potential. It is the next song, "The Limbo of Sasha Ipei," a frenetic whirling dervish of raw guitar riff, brass and bass thudding a three note repetition and harmonising vocals that really... Read More »

Paul Doughtery — Grace Under Water

Recorded in Munich, Germany on his self-owned label (Bake it Black Records), Paul Dougherty comes out swinging on the opening track of Grace Under Water (2009), "Zoe."  The song starts out slow, but explodes into some creative lyrics during the third verse:

Times are troubled, times are confused Wills are broken by minds misused Man wants and man takes Humans love and humans break

Sadly, however, "Zoe" is where the album peaks.  Whereas the melodies differ from track to track, not once does Grace Under Water feel like it changes pace.  Generally, albums are filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, uptempo and slow songs alike.  Sometimes, an album will even maintain a general tone throughout, such as coming in and going out with a bang while maintaining the adrenaline the entire time.  A few albums even explore the opposite end of the spectrum with track after track of sad, slow, heartbreaking lyrics and melodies.  Grace Under Water attempts... Read More »

Landon Pigg – The Boy Who Never

Landon Pigg describes his second album, The Boy Who Never, as a “fun listen.”  He says, “It’s got your faster songs that will be more of a fun live experience, and it’s got some other songs that make more sense with a couch and a glass of wine,” including the song that everyone who watches television will know, “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop,” which was featured nationwide on AT&T commercials. One thing that stays strong throughout this album is Pigg’s voice.  His control and transitions are impeccable and give the words he sings much more credibility.  “Rooftop” is a great showcase of Pigg’s falsetto.  “A Ghost” is a sultry jazz/blues tune that has lyrics that everyone can relate to such as, “Am I believing in a ghost, am I wishing on a star…Because I can’t be where you are.” The strongest track on the album is undoubtedly the newly arranged “Falling in Love at a... Read More »

Jordyn Shellhart — In A Room

In A Room was recorded by Jordyn Shellhart in her manager's office where the up-and-coming singer/songwriter sang lead and overdubbed backing vocals as well as playing the piano and guitar on this fifteen-track album. The angle, besides the unconventional recording location? Jordyn is a 15-year-old girl. I listened to this album without any knowledge of Shellhart, and would not have guessed she was a teenager until, through the course of my research, I came across her website with photos of her youthful smiling face. When you hear "teenage country singer" thoughts will inevitably spring to Taylor Swift, but Shellhart is so much more than a Swift imitator. Her voice is sharper in all the right places recalling, besides the youthful confessional tones of Swift, twangs of her much more adult contemporary Martina McBride. Her songwriting is mature for her years with more than a little echoing of the sweet yet knowledgeable style of Colbie Caillat.  It... Read More »

Frequency Face-Off: John Mayer — Battle Studies

This is the start of a new feature here at Frequency Magazine.  This album was reviewed by two authors with different opinions.  The goal of Frequency Face-Off is to offer two takes on certain albums so readers have a wider range of opinions from different, but equally well-argued perspectives. Fuschiag's Review When I heard the excited whisperings among the masses that a new John Mayer record was coming out, I struggled to remember who this guy actually was – and then it dawned; he was the one who’d been all over the radio with "Your Body’s a Wonderland."  He certainly had fans, so I thought why not indoctrinate myself with what seemed like his most highly anticipated release yet? Battle Studies’ tracklisting entails a series of military references and metaphors in an endeavour to encapsulate his apparent recent heartbreak.  Unfortunately, the opening track, "Heartbreak Warfare," fails to set the stage for not only a bold emotional statement, but... Read More »

Patrick Wolf — The Bachelor

Patrick Wolf came onto my radar a few years ago with The Magic Position, a delightfully catchy, somewhat indie release evocative of early Human League, so my initial reaction upon first hearing The Bachelor was utter shock – in the best possible way.  Indie-pop melodies had been abandoned in favour of a reckless but entirely ambitious venture into a dark, extravagant territory.  Traditional Celtic, almost medieval folk music intermingles with sinister, simultaneously futuristic and retro sounds.  Additionally, we find stripped down, emotionally raw ballads, which are enhanced by awe-inspiring string arrangements, heart-wrenching lyrics and Wolf’s chilling voice, reminiscent of both Phil Oakey and Antony Hegarty. The Bachelor is the first half of a double release, with The Conqueror to follow later in 2010.  So far, it is perhaps the most extraordinary and wonderfully artistic undertaking of recent years.  Wolf appears to defy genre, combining a sort of post-new wave electronica with an abundance of strings, choirs,... Read More »

Bobby Long – Dirty Pond Songs

Bobby Long’s music is the backdrop to a loner sitting in a coffee shop on a rainy night.  At least that’s what his latest effort, Dirty Pond Songs, sounds like.  Long calls it “a big EP” of ten original songs that were recorded in his bedroom. In "A Passing Tale," Long channels his folk inspirations such as Bob Dylan and Elliott Smith with lyrics, "I don’t know where I’m headed to, but at least I know where I’ve been."  The raw sounds of the record contribute to the melancholic theme it possesses. Dirty Pond Songs opens with “Who Have You Been Loving,” a Jeff Buckley-esque song with chords and lyrics that are dreary but addicting -- a smart choice for a first track to a debut record. “The Bounty of Mary Jane” melds his influences of Tom Waits balladry and the bluesy chords of Dylan.  Long shows off his guitar playing skills with the intricate chords of “So Tear... Read More »

Sugarland — Gold and Green

To prepare for the next album, you should park yourself next to a twinkling Christmas tree, maybe some hot cocoa in your hand--though that might be overkill. If you don’t have a Christmas tree, fear not. Load this album onto your iPod and listen to it as you walk around rich neighborhoods with brightly lit houses at dusk. Sugarland’s Christmas album Green and Gold seems made for both scenarios. There’s something about country music that can be both sad and hopeful at the same time. It’s the underlying current of melancholy in country music that keeps me coming back for more. It’s not surprising, then, that even the more upbeat tracks on the record, like “Holly Jolly Christmas” sound almost as if Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are singing their hearts out in the snow, watching the visions of cheer from outside a fogged-up window. This is a Christmas album for the lonely during the... Read More »

Ernie Halter — Christmas Album

For Under the Radar artist Ernie Halter, there's no need for bells and whistles. Halter's 8-track holiday disc, is precisely that: an honest, raw, and soulfully stripped-down Mayer-Mraz-esque mix. The opener, "Angels We Have Heard on High," is more drummer boy than classic French carol. Acoustic renditions of "Silver Bells" and "Silent Night" easily transport each listener to downtown streets lined with wreaths and bright lights, while his take on Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" features enough hand claps to make the Fedora-donning Mr. Mraz tip his hat. It's a noble effort—but as is Christmas tradition, things don't always mix. "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "The First Noel" feature crystal-clear acoustics, but Halter overpowers, his near-nasal vocals too heavy for such delicate songs. But he readily recovers his niche with the bluesy, thumping backbeats and tight harmonies of "The Christmas Song" and "Joy to the World." In the end, Halter pulls it all together—and that alone is... Read More »

Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream

I forget whom, but a British comedian made the joke that Susan Boyle's debut album I Dreamed a Dream would become a success because of guilt: because everyone made a snap judgment based on appearance when she first appeared on Britain's Got Talent, they would feel morally compelled to buy it for their mothers in time for Christmas.  Indeed, it is hardly difficult to be cynical about this offering, Boyle being as she is a product of the reality TV show system, and a hugely well-known one at that, but this detracts from what should be the main and only factor: the woman can sing. No watcher of television (at least on this side of the Atlantic) is unfamiliar with the outline of her background. Born and still residing in a sleepy ex-mining town in West Lothian, Scotland, Susan Boyle was bullied as a child and diagnosed with learning difficulties.  She worked as a volunteer, and... Read More »

Norah Jones — The Fall

Piano phenom and Ravi Shankar-bred Norah Jones is a woman of her word. True to its title, The Fall features driving drums, crunching guitars, and enough whimsy to confuse and charm fans in its thirteen-track span. She even dives into satire, offering an ode to man's best friend. Who wouldn't fall for that? Jones' yellow-brick road has its fortune--and its folly. The lead single "Chasing Pirates" exposes Jones at her most fantastic. Nod-to-New York "Back to Manhattan" maintains that charm: "I've a prince who is waiting/And a kingdom downtown," she croons, but continues, "I know nothing 'bout leaving/But I know I should do it today." That dilemma resurfaces on the guitar-heavy "Stuck," Jones' words--"Just lost the plot/Got a little caught"--fighting for existence amid the flurry of instruments. It's easy to see the real-life connection. Classic Jones makes appearances on "You've Ruined Me" and "December," but strays on the electric "It's Gonna Be" and blantantly Hank Williams Jr-esque "Tell Yer Mama." Jones strives for a balance between old and new, hard... Read More »

Mumford and Sons — Sigh No More

I’ve never learned to drive, and throughout the course of our relationship, my dearest fiancé has often been my source of transport; a warm alternative to bus shelters and icy footpaths – and an alternative equipped with a stereo.  The downside?  The endless old man, middle of the road, hippy folk Canadiana soundtrack he insists on pouring into every journey. I don’t like songs about farmers or the prairies, I don’t like banjos, and I definitely don’t disappear off to Folk Fest every summer like 90% of my city counterparts.  I’m pretty open-minded when it comes to most music, but I’ve always struggled with folk – its lack of complexity in arrangement, in voice and in lyrics; its generic sound, and the whole image that goes along with it.  Maybe it’s because I grew up in Britain, and my exposure to anything even slightly folk was pretty much limited to the Cotton-Eyed Joe, but I’ve grown... Read More »

The N Result — Lines

With Lines, New Brunswick, NJ-bred band The N Result pops and punks its way through a twelve-track trek--even surprising with doses of soul, hip-hop, and blues. Unsurprisingly, the members are as diverse as the music. "It's a natural result of putting six people from different backgrounds together," says Ross Lippencott, vocalist, guitarist, and manager for the band. That organic, DIY-tune pervades most of the disc's space--but like others under the radar, the band yearns for bigger, better things. On the aptly-titled "Hollywood," Lippencott and MC Chase Innis consider an oft-illusory dream:  fame. Between booking Greyhounds, Lippencott laments, "I ain't got a leading lady of my own." It's the least of his worries--and he knows it. "On My Shoulders," Lines' defiant opening track, casts a shadow on record labels and routines, the "weight of the world" and "dark days" coming to a head at the hands of drummer Nate Sankary and guitarist Dan Bascom's Santana-strength riffs. Lippencott delivers both with startling soul and intensity--but the fire flickers. The title track "Lines" and Maroon... Read More »

Muse — The Resistance

I’m pretty new around here, but I decided my first review would have to be of the latest effort from my all-time favorite band, Muse.  The Resistance, the fifth studio album from the British alt-rock trio, had a lot of hype to live up to.  Following 2007’s HAARP tour (including a spectacular performance with aerial trapeze artists, full orchestras, 70,000+ crowds and giant video screens the wind could blow through) and the storming international success of Black Holes and Revelations (despite the band’s detour from their usual rock, and exploration of the new electronic, funk and industrial terrain) – the stakes were set pretty high. To be honest, I was surprised at Revelations’ success.  It wasn’t what Muse fans were used to, and though die-hards found a way to love it anyway, it all seemed a little too reminiscent of when Radiohead went and did Hail to the Thief.  It wasn’t what we fell in love... Read More »