Citizens - Citizens

I wasn't sure about Citizens... I hadn't listened to a track but I wasn't sure none-the-less.

The band's new self-titled record sounds like what I imagine The Classic Crime would sound like if they were an 80's new wave band. Citizens is much less electronic 80's than recent offerings from Lovelite, Hillsong, and Jeff Schneeweis. It's the arrangements that gives Citizens an 80's feel, which is a nice change from the influx of electronic worship records lately.

Sweetness In Freedom is a great upbeat rock song. It's not at all what I expected to hear but it caught my attention and made me want to listen to the record. The song has great swing and movement that reminds of a more rocking Arcade Fire. It's the kind of worship song I'd love to play in church! In Tenderness starts pretty sweet with a nice piano riff but when the hook hits, the song would get any audience dancing. Made Alive has a beautifully chunky bass line throughout the song. Jesus is more of a straight forward pop song.

Citizens debut will appeal to the indie rock fans. If you like Arcade Fire and always wished there was a worship band with a similar sound, Citizens is that band for you. I enjoyed Citizen's debut a lot more than I thought I would. A great, fun worship album.

Surrogate - Post-Heroic

Surrogate is my kind of indie rock band. Polished but still lo-fi. Infectious pop hooks without losing any rock edge. Just enough Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" influence. The band's new record, Post-Heroic, is all of the above. THere's something 90's indie rock about Post-Heroic that I absolutely love. Like listening to a lost Granddaddy record (although better than anything Granddaddy ever released).

From the great keyboard riff (and tone) to Christopher Keene's vocals, there's something very charming and easy about Blank Page (the album's opener). Even when the song breaks down into controlled chaos, you never feel like you aren't listening to a beautiful pop single. The title-track has a beautiful slow groove that compliments the vocal melody perfectly. Battleground, Washington busts out a little more rock. Keene's vocals get buried in the mix a little during the verses but the mean guitar riffage is what really grabs your attention on the song.

Post-Heroic is a real easy listen. Whether it's a beautiful pop ballad like Belongings and Close Enough or an upbeat rock song like Sleep Alone and Crimes, each track is crafted so masterfully that there's nothing jarring or off-putting about any song on the record, making it an enjoyable listen.

Surrogate knocked it out of the park with Post-Heroic. Easily their best work to date. Late 90's/early 2000's indie fans rejoice! This is a record for you!

You can download Post-Heroic here: http://surrogatemusic.bandcamp.com/

Andy Mineo - Heroes For Sale

I've never heard much from Andy Mineo before giving Heroes For Sale a spin.

I'm a huge fan of Heroes For Sale.

The intro to Superhuman throws me off a little. It doesn't give away where the record is going, or the track for that matter, right off the bat. Some light strings and middle eastern influenced singing. It's nice but it took me by surprise. And then Mineo's rhymes kick in. It's a nice musical journey with a couple of twists that make it a solid song and sets up the record nicely. I love Mineo's line "I don't have to be great because my God is."

Ex Nihilo features a great hook from Christon Gray. Ayo is a great hype song. It's the album's first single for a reason. It took a couple listens to grow on me but the hook is infectious. The Saints is a fantastic hip-hop anthem. Bitter hits hard as Mineo's honest lyrics take heart with the listener.

Fans of Lecrae and Trip Lee will love Heroes For Sale. Mineo is another new emcee helping make christian hip-hop relevant and great. Heroes For Sale is not an album for hip-hop fans to miss.

The Rock Music - Sow

The Rock Music's new ep, Sow, is another great worship ep in Come and Live's discography. Admittedly I like the band's debut ep, Alive My Soul more than Sow. But Sow had some great heartfelt moments that I connect with.

From Down Here, the album's opener, has a country vibe to it. Sometimes I like the song. Sometimes I'm not a fan. Sometimes I like the song more the longer the song goes. Your Love has a darker tone and it's the same vibe that I loved about Alive My Soul. Slow building without ever becoming overbearing. Holy has a similar feel, but it's more upbeat and rocking. Owe It To You brings back the southern, country vibe. I like Owe It To You more than From Down Here. It's more southern rock than country.

Sow is a solid ep and worship music fans will dig this album.

You can download Sow for free at http://www.comeandlive.com/CLD/TheRock-Sow/

The Meltdown 114

New music from Fallstar, Surrogate, Andy Mineo, and My Epic.

Hippos Of Doom to Release Free Ep

Hippos of Doom breach surface; team up with Thumper Punk Records and Veritas Vinyl
Free download of “Road Trip” EP through Indie Vision Music.


The Masked Hippo and Old Hippo have combined their wonder twin powers to breach the surface and answer the questions of our generation – Star Wars versus Star Trek? Would Punky Brewster survive a circle-pit? Can someone with fingers the size of sausages successfully impersonate Matt Freeman’s bass riffs?  The Hippos of Doom also wax eloquent regarding other mind-melding and mind-numbing questions over a variety of musical styles including ska, melodic, old school and three-chord punk.  Get ready for a double slab of fun.  The first serving will be a FREE five song EP called “Road Trip,” which will be available for download exclusively through Indie Vision Music on April 23, 2013.


Somehow the band ABSOLVED seems to have temporarily misplaced their two biggies, bass player Byron and guitarist Bob.  Said Thumper Punk Records, “God must have a sense of humor.  How else could you explain these guys?”  To add to the insanity drum duties are being assigned to ex HIT THE DECK,  ZIPPY JOSH drummer Jak Thorpe.  TMZ recently spotted Waldo Nava III at the Hippo compound.  It has been confirmed that his left handed guitar skills will melt your face, or at least butter on a warm biscuit.

Learn more about the Hippos of Doom athttps://www.facebook.com/hipposofdoom.  Thumper Punk Records (www.thumperpunkrecords.com) helps artists record, produce and distribute music that reflects a positive, Christ-centered message.  Veritas Vinyl (www.veritasvinyl.net) -- In times of universal deceit speaking truth is a revolutionary act

Hawk Nelson - Made

I like Hawk Nelson. They've never blown me away but their brand of fun emo/pop punk has always found a special place in my heart. Crazy Love maybe should have been a sign that things were going to change. The album wasn't my favorite and there were only a handful of songs that I thought were good.  But with Jason Dunn leaving to pursue a solo career, I thought maybe the band would return to some fun pop punk.

I was wrong.

Made is an album that makes me scratch my head and say "what the hell?' Made is way more CCM than I could've ever imagined. It's weird. It's an album where you'd say, you lost your vocalist and changed your sound, now just change your name.

It's not that Made is a bad record. There are a lot of really good songs. The album opener, What I'm Looking For, is a nice upbeat, catchy pop song. It's a dripping CCM hit waiting to happen. It will probably be on a WOW cd (are those still a thing?). A Millions Miles Away follows that up with more pop goodness. The track is the closest thing resembling old Hawk Nelson on the record but it feels more like Owl City than Hawk Nelson at parts. Elevator is a super catchy fusion song that features Blanca Callahan from Group 1 Crew. Part hip-hop, part pop rock, all fun. Anyone But You is a fun pseudo 80's track.

There's a lot to like about Made and Hawk Nelson is going to reach a whole new group of fans. Made could be the album that makes Hawk Nelson huge in CCm circles.

But to long time fans like myself, this record is weird and disappointing. Yes, losing their lead singer makes sense to re-group and start fresh and do something different, and they do it well, but... I like pop punk.

Crazy Love makes the shift in sound less drastic and like I said, there's a ton of great song on Made. But it's different. And listeners and long time fans should be aware that the Hawk Nelson you loved is no more.