Strengthen What Remains Kick Off 2015 With Ultimhate Tour

STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS have announced that they will kick-off their 2015 with a tour alongside Ultimhate from France. You can check out a full list of dates below and also at www.bloodandinkrecords.com.

STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS W/ ULTIMHATE

02/08 - Orlando, FL - Uncle Lou's 02/09 - Tallahassee, FL - Atmosphere 02/10 - Panama City, FL - A&M Theatre 02/11 - Albany, GA - Knights of Columbus 02/12 - Birmingham, AL - The Forge 02/13 - Chattanooga, TN - Cloud Springs Deli 02/14 - Mansfield, OH - Belchers House of Rock 02/15 - Grand Rapids, MI - Take Hold Church 02/16 - Toronto, ON - Smiling Buddha 02/18 - Albany, NY - Bogies 02/19 - Montclair, NJ - The Meatlocker 02/21 - Brooklyn, NY - Coco 66

Top 30 of 2014

Honorable mentions:

Revivalist - Brother EP
Project 86 - Knives To The Future
Flyleaf - Between the Stars
Copeland - Ixora
Jars of Clay - 20
No Punk Influence - Fight Within
House of Heroes - Smoke EP
Jason Barrows - Island Of My Soul
Lexi  Elisha - Rope EP


                                                          30. Bethan - Time Gone By

Bethan's Time Gone By is everything I love about Velvet Blue Music. It's a reminder of what made me fall in love with the label and indie music in the first place. Slightly quirky, offbeat, and interesting simple songs with unexpected melodies.


                                                 29. With Increase - Death Is Inevitable

I like hardcore. And I like old school, raw, gritty, dirty hardcore. And that's what With Increase delivers.


                                                   28. Brooke Fraser - Brutal Romantic

Brutal Romantic is pop music for adults or sophisticated teens. It's not hooky, bubble gum pop. It's complicated and well crafted. Each note meticulously placed, creating an album for the casual music fan and music snobs a like.


                                                     27. Demon Hunter - Extremist

After, what I considered, a disappointing outing in True Defiance, Demon Hunter delivers Extremists!  Heavy, fast, melodic. Everything Demon Hunter has done well in the past, all the while continuing to grow and try new things.


                                                           26. Wovenwar - Woverwar

It took a whole for Wovenwar to grow on me. But it finally did. Post As I Lay Dying, the former members have created a metal masterpiece that doesn't reflect their former self in any way. And that's probably for the better. Solos galore, great melodies, and a record that breaks the mold of your standard metal fair.


                                                              25. Lakes - Fire Ahead

I've never paid Lakes much attention. I wasn't a Watashi Wa fan, so I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the indie rock version of that. I was wrong. Fire Ahead has some nice alt-country moments, but it's mostly, week crafted rock songs. Seth Roberts can craft a tune!


                                             24. Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil - Goliath

 Cue nostalgia and memories of my childhood and my dad. Which is fine by me. I love Steve Taylor and Goliath feels like a throwback rock and roll record! The perfect follow-up to Squint.


                                                         23. Owl City - Ultraviolet

Adam Young just knows how to make great music! There's not much that Owl City releases that I don't love and Ultraviolet is no exception.


                                22. Mike Mains & The Branches - Calm Down, Everything Is Fine

Fun, upbeat rock and roll that at times reminds me of Sunny Day Real Estate. That's what Mike Mains delivered on his band's sophomore record.


                                                    21. MxPx - The Acoustic Collection

Acoustic versions of songs from my favorite punk band. I think even my wife would enjoy this! It's on the lost for Doing Time alone. But new takes on songs like Punk Rawk Show, Buildings Tumble, and For Always make this a must have for MxPx fans.


                                                                20. Gideon - Calloused

Gideon has gotten better on every record and Calloused is by far the band's best record yet. Heavy with great hooks, Calloused is another progression forward and Gideon is fast becoming one of my favorite bands on Facedown.


                                                      19. Propaganda - Crimson Cord

I wasn't a huge fan of Excellent, but Propaganda hit back hard with Crimson Cord. The album feels looser and more natural. Props lyrics still hit hard and pick at social issues that sometimes hurt, but ultimately are what him such a great artists.


                                                    18. The Overseer - Rest and Let Go

What Underoath was trying to accomplish on Disambiguation, The Overseer has smashed and perfected over two albums. Beautiful melodies and introspective moments, broken by sheer terror and heavy riffs that create a beautiful soundtrack. Heavy music without boarders!


                                                         17. Living Fire - Dead To Sin

I'm not sure I've heard a new punk band that I've liked this much in a while. Fast, intense, clean, biting. Everything a good punk record should be. Thumper Punk's best release yet!


                                                         16. Comrades - Safekeeper

Some had accused Comrades of suffering from Russian Circles syndrome. Well the band addressed that on their first official Blood and Ink full-length. The band has incorporated these quiet moments that create this drama and tension when the band explodes. It's post rock done well but it's also post rock done differently.


                                                       15. Household - With or Without

Household is a hardcore band that I'd label emo. Not as melodic or feels like the band intentionally created these "emo" moments as The Frailty of Words, but just as affective in conveying a sense pain and emotion. A great album!


                                                          14. Lights - Little Machines

Little Machines doesn't have the instantaneous charm of Siberia, but it is still a great pop record. There's a lot of growth. Lyrically, musically, and production wise, Little Machines is a huge step forward! And the only reason it's not higher on the list is because, well, I expected it to be this good.


                                                              13. Lecrae - Anomaly

2014 was Lecrae's year! Anomaly was the number 1 album on the billboard charts in it's first week and Lecrae got to sit in with The Roots on the Tonight Show. And I loved Anomaly. But I just liked Gravity more.


                                                      12. Wolves At The Gate - VxV

A new vocalist, no problem. It might not always seem "innovative" but Wolves At The Gate always delivers quality melodic metalcore.


                                                                   11. Trip Lee - Rise

Trip Lee gave us his best outing with Rise. Great songs with a maturity that sets Lee up to take the next step. This is the first of many big things in store for Trip Lee.


                                                 10. Islander - Violence and Destruction

Is nu-metal back? Probably not. But if it is, Islander would be leading the charge. Great hooks over riffs you've probably heard before, but that nostalgia creates a feel good vibe.


                                                         9. Beartooth - Disgusting

Beartooth is the best new metal/metalcore/hardcore/heavy band out there! Their Sick ep last year was nuts and Disgusting takes that intensity and multiplies it. The band also added some great melodic tracks and created the best heavy record of the year!


                                                          8. Kye Kye - Fantasize

It took a while for me t fully embraced Kye Kye's second LP, but one day it just dawned on me. Fantasize is great! Hook heavy, 80's inspired synth goodness. It's not a step back, but a huge step forward and sideways.


                                                           7. SPZRKT - Bonefire

SPZRKT is an artist to keep an eye on. His self-released full-length Bonfire is a downtempo/R&B masterpiece. Great songs and a great new voice! A label needs to pick this man up!


                                                       6. Alert 312 - Singular Vision

Alert 312's ep was too short in my book. Each track was full of originality and artistry, that only four was not enough! I kept this record on repeat often! Hip-hop and creativity at it's finest!


                                                         5. Tedashii - Below Paradise

Sometimes great pain produces great art. And that's what we got from Tedashii. He turned tragedy into one of hip-hops best records this year! The songs are on fire. Filled with pain, questions, and ultimately love. Below Paradise is not a record to skip!


                                           4. Kings Kaleidoscope - Becoming Who We Are

Kings Kaleidoscope have turned worship music on it's head! There's nothing stale about Becoming Who We Are. Jazzy, marching band, indie rock in church. It's amazing music on it's own, but as worship music, it's revolutionary. Not that it will ever be played at your church on Sundays.


                                                        3. Twin Forks - Twin Forks

I love Chris Carrabba. What more can I say. It doesn't matter if it's Further Seems Forever, Dashboard Confessional, or now, Twin Forks. Carrabba's new folk act is great! Each track just as catchy as the one before. The hooks get stuck in your head and you want them there! It's what a pop record should be!


                                                     2. Jackie Hill Perry - The Art of Joy

Welcome to the hip-hop world! Spoken word artist turned emcee, Jackie Hill Perry's debut is perfect! Hard hitting lyrics, songs of brokenness and hope, great production, interesting features that compliment what Perry is doing perfectly. In a year full of strong hip-hop albums, Perry's was tops in my book.


                                             1. Number One Gun - This Is All We Know

I was blown away when I heard This Is All We Know at the beginning of the year and I thought it was the start to a great year in music. I expected that this would be a top contender but that something would come along and knock it off the top spot. But nothing did. Every song on This Is All We Know is perfect. I have no complaints. If it took the band breaking up and spending some time apart to create this album, then I'm glad they did! Rock and roll at its finest!

A Merry Meltdown Christmas Week 3

A Merry Meltdown Christmas Week 2

Review Wrap Up 6

The return of Copeland. It seems more like an ideal than something to be actually excited about. Copeland's first two records are fantastic and the memory a lot of people have with the band. I always felt like the band got a little lost in itself after In Motion. Too many studio tricks and vocals effects, masking beauty. Which makes the band's reunion and new album an interesting concept. It's been six years since You Are My Sunshine. Marsh has been working as an engineer and producer. The other members have been releasing really rest records with States. So what would Copeland's return look like? The band that myself and many other feel in love with is no more. Which is fine. Everyone gets older and grows and matures. So has Copeland. Which isn't to say anything disparaging about Ixora. In fact I think it's some of the band's best work since In Motion. Yet it's very different. There's a nice post rock vibe in the music. From the swing to the instrumentation and guitar tones/riffs, Ixor has a real soundtrack feel to it. Ixora is a beautiful record and one that I truly enjoy listening to. I imagine that on vinyl the record just shines. Ixora's problem is that nothing stands out. There aren't songs where I go "goodness, that's great." It's a nice record and one that I imagine listening to often and enjoying. But there's nothing the "stands out." 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

I think I've mentioned before that I root for Solid State Records. It's the hardcore label I grew up invested in. I loved their bands! And I want them to have more great bands. Of course the good old days are just that, old. Young kids don't sound like or listen to the bands that I liked or listened to when I was there age. And so what I want and hope for doesn't exist or get signed. Silent Planet is the labels newest signing. And the band isn't bad. The Night God Slept is a nice little metalcore record. The shades of bands like The Devil Wears Prada, For Today, Becoming The Archetype cover the record. It's another heavy band playing heavy music well, wearing their influences on their sleeves. I like it a lot. At times I hear things that really impress me, or at least connect with me from other bands that I love. As I've said about countless other records, I enjoy them and as a fan of heavy music they're records and bands that I will add to my collection and possibly enjoy in the future. But there's nothing that stands out and makes me say, watch out for this band. 4 out of 5 Stars.

I respect Project 86. They always find new ways to reinvent themselves without ever losing what makes them Project 86. But reinvention isn't always good and doesn't always work. And Project 86 has had some missteps in their catalog. The reworked version of the band released an excellent record with Wait For the Sirens. Knives To The Future is a bit up and down. There are some songs that I think are classic Project 86 hits. And others where I kind of shrug and don't get it. The addition of Darren King from The Overseer as studio guitarist on this album really shines on those moments when King does what he does best. I've seen people say that at times Project 86 sounds more The Overseer, Underoath (Disambiguation era) and the Deftones. I'd say... Sort of. It's still Schwab on vocals and his unique vocal stylings make it Project 86. But the songs that have that ambient hardcore vibe are some of my favorite's on the record (Ambigram, Genosha). But I honestly think that Knives To The Future is the record Truthless Heroes was supposed to be. It's a little punk, a little more "pop", but still heavy and innovative. It's what I think the band would've like to do following Drawing Black Lines but got lost in trying to please a new label and make it big. The title track is a new classic Project 86 anthem, a song with that hook that crowds will go nuts for. Captive Bolt Pistol might be the best song Project 86 has EVER released! Pale Rider is the best example of a Truthless Heroes do over. I think if you put that song randomly into the Truthless Heroes track list, you'd hear it. The gang vocal chorus interplaying with Schwab is perfect! While I think Wait For the Sirens was a better record, there's more on Knives To The Future that the band can take on the road and play in front of an audience and get an immediate response from. 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

There has been a lot of great hip-hop released this year. But I'm just going to say it, Jackie Hill Perry's Humble Beast debut, The Art of Joy, is the best of year! I know that's a lofty statement in a year that saw Lecrae blow up bigger than ever. But The Art of Joy is special. It's not flashy and at times very understated, but that's when Perry shines. The production from Courtland Urbano and the Beautiful Eulogy crew creates the perfect score to Perry's hard hitting and honest lyrics. In the same way that Beautiful Eulogy's debut had that special quality, so does The Art of Joy. Natalie Lauren's almost painful hook on Better highlights the want and need of something better than what the world is offering. As a woman Perry brings a different perspective to justice issues that shine on tracks like Miss Fearful. The guest appearances from Eshon Burgundy and JGivens showcase the new breed of the Humble Beast crew and the future is bright! Ode To Lauryn is great song for Lauryn Hill. It's an appreciation for the great things Lauryn did, as well a concern for her spiritual well being and life. As a spoken word artist, Suffering Servant showcases where Perry came from. There's an undercurrent of hurt and want throughout the album, so when the upbeat piano on the title track kicks in, you're instantly uplifted. It's the light at the end of the tunnel and ending the record on an upbeat note is perfect! You exhale a sigh of joy! Jackie Hill Perry rhyming style is different and that comes from her  spoken word past. It's a fresh voice in hip-hop and you don't find many women in hip-hop and even less in the christian side of the genre. The Art of Joy is worth your time! 5 out of 5 Stars!

There must've been a concept behind the new Tourniquet record that I missed when they kickstarted the record. It's really a solo record, but Ted's always written and recorded the music for the band anyway. And Luke and Aaron still appear on the album, so it's not like "they're out." So... It's Tourniquet... With guests. Which is a great concept. Write and record a great metal record and invite all my friends to come sing and play guitar solos on the record. The only combination that I thought didn't work as well as I had hoped was on the album opener and title trac. Onward to Freedom (the song) features both Mattie Montgomery from For Today and Michael Sweet from Stryper. I love Sweet's vocals and it matches with the song beautifully. But Mattie Montgomery's part just feel like an add on to a different song. Luckily Montgomery gets a second chance and nails it on The Slave Ring. Some of the vocal and vocal combinations seem weird, and probably just different for a "Tourniquet" record. But musically, it's what you'd expect. The guitar solos are all amazing! Some of the band's best guitar solos ever! A lot of people aren't happy about it being a themed record, with each song being about animal rights, but that's always been a passion of Tourniquet's and it's not surprise that the band choose to focus an entire an album on the subject. Musically it's top notch. A lot of instrumental and weird moments that keep this record from being perfect, but it's very good! 4 out of 5 Stars.

An acoustic record from P.O.D. Honestly, I was looking forward to the SoCal Sessions. It's exactly what it sounds like. Acoustic renditions of P.O.D. songs. Some hits, some nice deeper cuts that make good acoustic songs. Maybe more hits would've been nicer, but there's nothing wrong with the songs the band chose. The new version of Youth of The Nation is great and actually makes me like the song again! Alive is always great! And going back to The Fundamental Elements of Southtown,  the band closes the record with Set Your Eyes To Zion. Panic and Run was an interesting choice, but it's a nice reggae take on the song. Lost In Forever and Higher are both nice but don't really give you anything new to the track. Strength Of My Life might be the best new rendition of any song on the album. I mean, it's hard to really say much about the album because it's P.O.D. doing acoustic versions of their songs. If you like P.O.D. you'll probably enjoy this album. 4 out of 5 Stars.

I've listened to a handful of Brooke Fraser's solo work but never really given it much thought. So I'm not sure compelled me to check out Brutal Romantic. It seems cheap to call what Fraser is doing pop music. But there's also no better term for it. Pop in the same way Lorde or Florence and the Machine are pop. But more electronic. There are the super catchy, radio friendly pop tunes you might want or expect from a pop record (although Kings & Queens has been working it's way into my brain the last couple of days). But what you get is a very intelligent and smart pop record that more sophisticated listeners can enjoy without having to dive into another genre. There's an art to the complexities of Fraser's music that's Radiohead esque (a high compliment). Using drum machines to change dynamics, keeping instrumentation simple to highlight it's point and need when it arrives and leaves. Using melodies, harmonies, and choirs to bring attention to the importance of the vocal. Of course there are more "commercial" numbers on the album. Songs like Kings and Queens, Start A War, Bloodrush, and Magical Machine offer a little more depth of sound and a hook that gives the album it's "accessibility" but even in their arrangement, the songs would still put Taylor Swift's most artsy moments to shame. This is pop music fro adults! 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

The reason I love christian music is much has a lot to do with my dad. Steve Taylor always sticks out in my head as the artist my dad really introduced me to. Goliath is Taylor's first record since 1993's Squint. Talk about waiting for a follow-up! I love Squint! It would probably rank as one of my top 20 favorite albums of all-time. Possibly top 10. So yes, I was excited for Goliath! Goliath is a rock and roll record that sounds like it's the follow-up to Squint. It's almost classic in sound. Which is another way of just saying it's a simple rock and roll record. Mixed with Taylor's fun loving but never without meaning and purpose lyrics and demeanor, Goliath is a great record. It might be nostalgia, but I love this record! 5 out of 5 Stars!

A Merry Meltdown Christmas Week 1

Christmas Music to put you in the Holiday mood!

Review Wrap Up 5

Much like Lecrae's Anomaly, I was waiting and looking forward to Rise. Trip Lee released an enjoyable record with The Good Life but I just knew that there was going to be something special about Rise. From beats to wordplay to album structure, Rise is near perfect! The hooks on Lights On, Shweet, You Don't Know, and All Rise Up showcase a maturity as an artist. The transition from drum machine to real drums on You Don't Know creates a depth musically that makes me smile. The wordplay between Lee and Lecrae on Manolo is vicious! There isn't a moment on Rise where I find myself uninterested or hearing Lee repeat things he did previously. Reach Record has released all gold this year! 5 out of 5 Stars!

At some point in the last five years you've heard a Taylor Swift song and enjoyed it. It's ok to admit it. I think Fearless has a bunch of great songs! And State Of Grace, the opener on Red, is perfection! But I don't think anyone was prepared for 1989. T-Swift's first full fledge pop endeavor (although I'd argue she's always been a pop artist) is a masterpiece. Even the moments on the album that don't seem to fit, listened to out of context, are earwigs that you can't help but like a little bit. From the upbeat opener of Welcome To New York to the records first single, Blank Space, to the down-tempo Style, each song has something different but each is catchy and three songs into the record, I was hooked! I couldn't help but admit that I like Taylor Swift. It's that damn good! As a whole, the record is enjoyable. But there are songs where you go, meh. The super 80's Out Of The Woods is catchy and when the hook comes in I get it more, but the verses don't have the super lush vibe that the rest of the record has had up to this point. It's like an extra instrumentation was needed to thicken the sound up just a hair. Shake It Off is the ear worm above al ear worms and when it's on the radio I'm going to stop and listen and sing at the top of my lungs. But when it comes on in the context of the record, it sounds weird and out of place and doesn't jive with the feel of the rest of the album. Yes, Taylor has released some of the greatest songs of her career on 1989, but as a whole album, it doesn't hold up as "great" from start to finish. 4 out of 5 Stars.

 When I reviewed Phoenix I said I wasn't a fan of The Classic Crime. A fine band, but not my cup of tea and even though there are songs that I like, I've never felt compelled to listen to the band. But when the band teamed up with Bad Christian and the BC Podcast sampled the bands acoustic retrospective, I found myself thinking I might enjoy the acoustic take more than what I'd heard previously from The Classic Crime. And there is a new charm to these songs. The stripped down versions with the addition of the string section add something new and dynamic that I never felt about The Classic Crime's music. The ballads lend themselves perfectly to the stripped down nature of the record. The strings add a level of emotion that compliments the acoustic guitars and Matt MacDonald's vocals. Songs like Salt In The Snow, Who Needs Air, Headlights, and The Fight are all songs and moments that I truly enjoy. Even the more upbeat Vagabonds is a great rendition. But the other upbeat songs like You and Me Both, The Coldest Heart, and God and Drugs are nice but at various moments in the songs, it just doesn't feel right. The two new tracks, Selfish and Where Did You Go are both excellent and two of the best songs on the record. 3.5 out of 5 Stars.

Revivalist teamed up with On The Attack Records and HM Magazine to offer their debut ep, Brother, for free. And because it's free, you should make sure you pick it up! Not just because it's free. But because it's a really good hardcore record. Paradise opens the record up with a bang! Tough guy is alive and well! The ending hook is catchy and along with the chugging chords and the circle pit breakdown, 90's hardcore fans will drool all over this track. The album then rips into Jeremiah with a vicious riff!Brother features Josiah Lyle from Mouth of the South and keeps the punishing pace.  But juxtapose that with the melodic hardcore sound on Vanity and Free and you see depth in Revivalist's writing. It's not just play a lot of chugging chords and moshy parts. The band can write and play with the heavy hitting tough guy crews but would blend well with bands like Your Memorial and Misery Signals. This is a great ep and I'm looking forward to more from Revivalist. 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

So... At some point KJ-52 became a legit hip-hop artist. I know people will argue that KJ's always been great and his album's are worth listening to, but... KJ's been this bubble christian artist. But listening to tracks on KJ's last record, Dangerous, I heard something different. And Mental is a whole new ballgame. KJ manages to balance two audiences on Mental. It has it's super hype, dub step inspired, Family Force Five esque beats, that young kids and youth groupers will instantly be drawn to and love. But having guest appearances from Lecrae, Tedashii, Propaganda, KB, Social Club, SPZRKT all instantly raises the credibility of what KJ is doing. That those guys want to work with KJ says a lot. To be fair, Lecrae's track (Fight Music) is a remixed version of They Like Me, but that fact that Lecrae was a head of curve...It speaks volumes to what KJ is doing. Island of Misfit Toy (featuring Social Club and SPZRKT) is one of KJ's best tracks ever! Tonight is bit old school Toby Mac, but I still really like the song. Gameface has two editions. Each similar but differences that even though you can tell it's the same song, it's still enjoyable. The second half edition is better than the first. Brand New Day is a full on power pop beat and it's a great party song that closes the record! KJ-52 isn't my favorite record, but Mental is a fun record. Sure, it has it's flaws, but it's better than anything I've previously from KJ. 4 out of 5 Stars.

Kings Kaleidoscope do worship music differently. And I LOVE that! It's nice when a band isn't afraid to take risks, especially in a genre in which convention is king. But Kings Kaleidoscope isn't worried about fitting in. The music comes from a heart of worship and creativity, not trying to have their songs played every week in every church in America. From instrumentation to arrangement, there's nothing boring or normal about what Kings K is bring to the table. From gated key riffs to a horn solo, to varying drum patterns, Felix Culpa is the perfect song for anyone interested in what you might be hearing when spinning Becoming Who We Are. I described the band's last ep as jazzy, marching band indie rock. Becoming Who We Are still has that feel in a lot of spots, but it's matured and more electronic in spots. All the while still feeling very organic and live. The strings are a beautiful layer on the album's opener, Glorious. But the synth line the flutters in and out in the background create an odd interplay, while the drums kind of sound like a well produced 90's church kit (does that even make any sense?). It's a mixture of super well produced, computer tricks, and underproduced that creates interesting layers. Over all this Chad Gardner's beautiful voice belts his heart out in complete worship. Seek Your Kingdom as a huge guitar riff that gives way to flutes and strings on the chorus. Kings Kaleidoscope isn't afraid of doing things differently and it pays off. I Know has a very electronic/computer vibe. It's upbeat and you wouldn't be surprised if the song has a rap breakdown... Until the harp plays. Nothing is off limits. The band's take on All Creatures is another hymn that Kings K has deconstructed and made their own, updating a great song! Dreams and Redemption in Motion both have an R&B ballad feel, without fully committing to the genre. How Deep is another cover that just sounds like a modern twist on a classic, without actually sounding updated. It's like members of the high school marching bad were invited to play at your church in 2000. I just can't say enough about this record. 5 out of Stars!

Island of My Soul is interesting. I enjoy it because you get a wide glimpse at what Jason Barrows wants to do musically. I have a hard time following because the record is such a wide spectrum of sound and ideas that at times it doesn't even sound like the same artist. Voyagers opens the album with a very spacey singer/songwriter vibe with surfer undertones... But floating through space. It's actually really great! If Denison Witmer wrote a song inspired by Slowdive. That's in the ballpark of what Voyagers sounds like. Children of Light is also very shoegazer, but more on the side of M83. Very Kim and Jesse. It's easily my favorite track on the record. Golden Light is way less shoegaze and a whole lot of Coldplay influence. Promise Land is more standard singer/songwriter with a hint of atmosphere. License to Kill is more of a rock song in the vein of John Mark McMillan. Up From The Sea ups the rock and roll and it's more akin to the Foo Fighters. Heart On Fire is again, back to more of the standard singer/songwriter vibe, but the ambience and background guitars make it feel like a classic LN track. All of these things I like and I love listening to Island of My Soul. Jason Barrows delivered a musical odyssey. But it feels a tad disjointed at time. 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

I heard about Dominic Balli because Sonny from P.O.D. was on his last record, American Dream. I enjoyed American Dream. American Dream had some bite to it. It wasn't a hard hitting album but there was some push back. It was a great reggae record. Not For Sale has no bite. It's more of a surfer/reggae inspired singer/songwriter record. The album is upbeat and happy. It's easy listening. It's a completely different feel and it's a little hard to believe that the same artist recorded both albums. From piano ballads to r&b slow jams, Balli shows a different side on Not For Sale. Sure, Balli's reggae side comes out on Love Is The Final Fight and Not For Sale, which, no surprise, are my favorite tracks on the record. There are some nice moments on Not For Sale, but overall I was a little underwhelmed. 3 out of 5 Stars.

Having never been a huge fan of Jennifer Knapp before her coming out, I loved Letting Go! There was an attitude and freedom about the record that resonated with me. And I was excited for Set Me Free! Set Me Free is a little more of a mixed bag for me than Letting Go was. But the songs that are great, are top notch. The album opener, Remedy, is a rip roaring rock and roll song with a great hook. Set Me Free is a fine song but nothing that knocks my socks off. Why Wait is one of the more upbeat songs we've heard from Knapp in two records. The strings on Neosho are fantastic but the rest of the song is a little weird to me. Pseudo country western without ever fully committing. The main guitar theme on Mercy's Tree is excellent. So Happy is a bit of a downer musically, but it's one of the best tracks on the record. Almost classic Jennifer Knapp... If classic Jennifer Knapp wrote more downer, sad music. Set Me Free doesn't move me the way Letting Go did. But it's still has some great songs. 3.5 out of 5 Stars.