Angels & Airwaves – ‘We Don’t Need To Whisper’

We Don’t Need To Whisper
Release Date: May 23, 2006
Geffen Records | buy now

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"Everyone, everyone will listen, even if it hurts sometimes. If you will come and hear the message. Everyone wants to learn to love again." The opening lines of "Valkyrie Mission," the introductory track of the debut album, We Don’t Need To Whisper, by Angels & Airwaves, offers a short summary of what exactly this new band, led by Tom DeLonge of blink-182 fame, has sought to accomplish. While the introductory track offers insight into the band’s intent to assist listeners in finding love, "The Adventure," which is the first single off of Whisper, offers even further insight into what this band, and album, is all about, which is gaining that sense of feeling when you know that you are alive and living, with Delonge having gone through a sort of rebirth himself with this new endeavor. [READ MORE]

All-American Rejects – ‘Move Along’

Move Along
Release Date: July 12, 2005
Interscope Records | buy now

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Oklahoma band, The All-American Rejects deliver ever a blend of pop/rock, pure talent and maturity on their sophomore record Move Along, the follow up to their now Platinum 2002 self-titled debut.

Produced by Howard Benson (Hoobastank, My Chemical Romance) this album displays a growth in the band as both musicians and songwriters. Each song tells a story in a musical form which makes them unique.

The first track and single, "Dirty Little Secret" is a potential hit all in it’s self. I always wonder when I hear music like this, ‘did they know they were writing a hit or does this just come naturally?’ The music, lyrics and concept of the song are well crafted and take pop/rock to a whole other level. [READ MORE]

Blink-182 – ‘Greatest Hits’

Greatest Hits
Release Date: November 1, 2005
Geffen Records | buy now

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Of all of the terms that may be identifiable with blink-182, greatness is often overlooked. That’s not to say that the band hasn’t achieved it, because blink’s greatness is legitimately exemplified in this 17-track collection.

With the band going on an indefinite hiatus in early-2005, Greatest Hits may be blink-182′s swan song of sorts. The anthology, chronologically spanning the successful career of what is arguably the greatest punk band ever, opens with two tracks from Cheshire Cat (1994), followed by two from Dude Ranch (1997), three from Enema of The State (1999), one from the band’s sole live album, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back), three from Take Off Your Pants & Jacket (2001), and four from blink-182 (2003). The album closes with two bonus tracks which were previously unreleased in the US. [READ MORE]

Butch Walker & The Lets-Go-Out-Tonites – ‘Rise And Fall of…’

The Rise And Fall of… Butch Walker & The Lets-Go-Out-Tonites
Release Date: July 11, 2006
EPIC/Red Ink Records | buy now

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The name Butch Walker may be a familiar one for fans who read the album credits of their favorite artist or band. As a songwriter/producer, he has worked with big time acts such as Avril Lavigne, Hot Hot Heat, The All-American Rejects, and Lindsay Lohan. However, as a singer/songwriter, he has had several solid releases that have gone under the radar despite the continued growth that is evident with each new album. The follow-up to 2004′s impressive Letters has Butch enlist a band to back him, leading to the appropriately named album title:The Rise And Fall of… Butch Walker And The-Lets-Go-Out-Tonites. What follows is a phenomenal album that takes a different approach from previous efforts. [READ MORE]

Christina Aguilera – ‘Stripped’

Stripped
Release Date: October 29, 2002
RCA Records | buy now

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Being Christina’s second album, Stripped was already long-awaited. But, after hearing numerous times that she was going for a ‘different sound’ — that tends to make you think. "Will this album be able to live up to her first release?" When, I sat down to listen to Stripped – I was a bit skeptical…the first track which is the "Stripped Intro" seemed sort of pointless to me. Playing clips of different news breaks about the rumors that have circulated around her the last couple of years.

I felt she could have just replaced that space with an energy releasing track…instead the first song is her duet with ‘Lil Kim, "Can’t Hold Us Down" an anthem to all the ladies, I think these lyrics give you idea of what it’s about.. "If you look back in history it’s a common double standard of society. The guy gets all the glory the more he can score. While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore. I don’t understand why it’s OK, the guy can get away with it, the girl gets named. All my ladies come together make a change. And start a new beginning for us, everybody sang…" [READ MORE]

The Click 5 – ‘Greetings From Imrie House’

Greetings From Imrie House
Release Date: August 16, 2005
LAVA Records | buy now

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After thinking the "boy-band" trend was over, we’re ready to open our arms for Boston-based band, The Click Five. "Greetings From Imrie House" is the title of the debut album from the Lava Records quintet. The record is filled with in-your-face "new school powerpop" within 11 tracks. After opening for Alanis Morissette, Ashlee Simpson, Jesse McCartney and most recently, the Backstreet Boys — The Click Five is ready to take the US by storm.

"Just The Girl" an irresistibly contagious tune, perfectly chosen as the bands first single is powerpop at it’s best. The heart-throbbing band members, Ben Romans, Eric Dill, Joe Guese, Ethan Mentzer and Joey Zehr who you’ll usually find performing in suits — yea we know, very "Beatles," very classy, are all graduates of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA, [with the exception of Dill, who graduated from Purdue] display a mature and impressive sounding pop/rock that is sure to capture the hearts of young females everywhere. [READ MORE]

Craig David – ‘Born To Do It’

Born To Do It
Release Date: July 17, 2001
Atlantic Records | buy now

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For an increasingly mundane and redundant pop and R&B music scene, imports are always nice. One such package is the fast talking, trip hopping British superstar Craig David. At just 21 years old, David has risen to mega star status, swooning fanatics closely in tow. Although conquering his homeland was task enough, winning over American fans may prove a bit more tedious. [READ MORE]

Dashboard Confessional – ‘A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar’

A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar
Release Date: August 12, 2003
Vagrant Records | buy now

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What a difference a band makes.

For longtime fans who identify Dashboard Confessional solely as Chris Carrabba, an emotional songwriter who gives his all to anyone who will listen, there may be some early skepticism at first hearing his latest, titled A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. Without question, Dashboard, which is now a full-fledged band (A quartet made up of Chris, along with Scott Schoenbeck, John Lefler, and Mike Marsh – the latter being the only member who had previously been credited on a Dashboard LP), has grown tremendously since The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most. [READ MORE]

Dashboard Confessional – ‘Dusk & Summer’

Dusk & Summer
Release Date: June 27, 2006
Vagrant Records | buy now

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It’s been three years since Dashboard Confessional’s gold-release of A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar, and the long-awaited follow-up, Dusk & Summer, dually produced by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne) and Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan), is a well put-together collection that matches, and at times exceeds the excellency of the band’s previous works and in the process, only makes one wonder why the wait was so long.

The album opens with the inspirational and anthemic "Don’t Wait," which offers much of the intensity that fans of the band have come to not only appreciate, but also expect. The message here is a clear one: Do not wait for opportunity to arrive as it may never show itself, as waiting for "the right moment" may have such opportunity come to pass. Rather, cease the day, as the moment may in fact be now. While the second track of the album, "Reason To Believe," maintains this feeling of optimism that seems to be far more common on this effort than in any of the band’s previous releases, "The Secret’s In The Telling," dealing with the struggle one must face when involved in a love that is as forbidden as it is desirable, is perhaps the strongest of the three opening tracks. [READ MORE]

Death Cab For Cutie – ‘Plans’

Plans
Release Date: August 30, 2005
Atlantic/Wea Records | buy now

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In what is arguably their defining album, Death Cab For Cutie present a more laid back feel with Plans than what they offered with Transatlanticism, and while Transatlanticism was a great album from beginning to end in itself, Plans feels much more mature in a sense. It’s always a good thing when a band is able to show its growth in comparison to previous releases, as it can help fans of prior works to find growth in themselves by listening songs that they can continue to relate to, as opposed to dwelling on past experiences and emotions. While a great album can quite possibly stand the test of time, it is with this growth and maturity that allows for longevity. [READ MORE]

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