Archive for the ‘4 song review’ Category

EP Review – City of Glass – The Diving Bell plus video

Posted: July 20, 2011 in 4 song review, City of Glass, Dance, ep review, Jade Sperry, JadedPhotography, Melodic, Pop Rock, Vancouver BC Band
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EP review – City Of Glass – The Diving Bell EP

Released: 21 June 2011

by Jade Sperry

Jadedphotography

EP cover. Photo couretsy of the band.

Vancouver’s City of Glass are having a very good summer. In June, they released their newest EP The Diving Bell and they are on tour in Germany and in the UK beginning August 12. I’ve written two previous articles on City of Glass which you can read here and here.

First off, I’d like to state that the mixing and mastering of this EP is superb. Having said that the first song is “Sticks and Stones” which has an upbeat melody that has a slight sadness or melancholy feeling to it musically. Lyrically, this song speaks of someone who’s questioning their life on a deep and personal level. I like the way the synths and guitars compliment each other and the vocals Michael delivers are done well with feeling and emotion. “Tourist” is slower in its tempo musically as well as having a slight forlorn feeling of regret weaved within the melody (“I can’t feel it anymore”). The synths are kind of creepy sounding but fit in the song itself in a subtle way. I like the haunted feeling of the song as well. “Little Shadows” has an infectious groove that invites you to get your groove on. Lyrically it sounds a lot like paranoia or of being paranoid (“spies hiding from the corner/when you’re alone”) as well as someone reflecting on their life. “Control” begins with syths that are dreamy and makes the song sound surreal. Odd time signatures and minor keys make this song a standout as well as the vocals that Michael lays down. This song is mixed and mastered particularly well which gives the song a full sound.

This four song EP is recommended if you like indie dance pop music.

City of Glass have several videos on YouTube – this video is for the song “Sticks and Stones” live:

EP Review – Ghosthouse – Fashionably Late

Posted: March 28, 2011 in 4 song review, Beat Electronic old skool, Chicago IL USA, Dance, Electronic, ep review, Ghosthouse, Jade Sperry, JadedPhotography
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EP Review – Ghosthouse – Fashionably Late

Released: March 1, 2011

by Jade Sperry

JadedPhotography

Jimmy Con and Chuck. Photo courtesy of the band.

Ghosthouse is a Chicago IL project headed by the infamous Jimmy Con and his tasty beats. Jimmy is a singer/songwriter who makes some mighty fine beats and has dance tracks that are infectious and classy. Original beats, sampled beats mixed with original beats and old school beats make for a fine four song EP. The track listing is as follows:

  1. Private Dancer
  2. Analog Man
  3. I’m Not Your (Stepping Stone)
  4. Comearound

Fashionably Late was produced by Jimmy Con with his musical partner in crime Chuck. They equally share production credits as well as writing the tracks except for a cover by The Monkees.

It was mixed and mastered by Graeme Williams at Dr.Caw Studio in Northbrook, IL. He is their most trusted engineer as nobody is more intuitive when it comes to working with the infamous Ghosthouse gang. Crystal Bishop and her company Ear Candy Chicago are an integral part of Ghosthoue’s success and future plans. Besides managing Ghosthouse, Crystal also manages a group, Pyrofighter, that you should check out as well. (Ghosthouse did a remix for them that went to #1 on Purevolume). And the good news – Ghosthouse is currently in production for the follow up to this EP.

Starting with “Private Dancer” which from the get go sounds like a classic 80′s dance track in the vein of Prince and Sheila E – but only in the beats and music. The lyrics are reminiscent of making public scenes of affection, taking it off and being a private dancer for someone for that one night. I like the way the song flows, the vocals really suit the song and the timing is bang on. A good lighthearted dance tune about a night of passion. “Analog Man” has an awesome funky groove that is on the skank and dirty side. So good. I really like how intuitive Jimmy and Chuck are when working on the beats and timing of the vocals in the layers of the song. Speaking of “the power of the toolbox” and being an analog man who has the power, the touch and the total package. Skank and dirty indeed! Swagger also goes a long way for the hipster in this song. Covering the 1960′s song from The Monkees, “I’m Not Your (Stepping Stone)” has a good opening that doesn’t really seem to sound like the song until it hits the chorus. Impressive. I like the original fresh beats in the verses of the song which only hint at the original melody of the song. Vocals are done well and come in at the right times. The final song “Comearound” is a ballad that is wrapped in deep beats and vocals. This song actually feels like velvet coming out of the speaker its that good. Good timing, vocal and harmonies, this song has a soft sweet melody under all those deep beats. I also like the real passion in the vocals in this song. Well done Ghosthouse!

The Stick – EP Review – Fight Mode

Posted: March 28, 2011 in 4 song review, Electronic, ep review, Jade Sperry, JadedPhotography, Melodic, Rap, The Stick, Trance, Vancouver BC Band
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EP Review – The Stick – Fight Mode

Released – September 30, 2010

by Jade Sperry

JadedPhotography

EP cover. Photo courtesy of the band.

The Stick are an electronic/trance/rap project from Vancouver BC and the 4 song EP is produced rather well. The track listing is as follows:

  1. Fight Mode
  2. The Grand Kowloon
  3. Pseudo Breaker
  4. Let Us Eat

At just under 2 minutes, the title track “Fight Mode” begins with some cool keys and when the voice comes in under the keys, it totally sounds like its underwater. Great opening for an electronic song! And the vocals get more layered into the music as the song flows very well until the fade out. “The Grand Kowloon” has some interesting sounds within the music and the song itself has some good time changes. With lyrics like “police say please/keep the peace” indicating that they don’t want to do that for the neighborhood where the rapper lives. This is very reminiscent of our society in today’s world. “Pseudo Breaker” opens with some funky electronic sounds with very good rap vocal structure coming right out of the speakers at you in a soft kinda laid back way. Speaking of “getting the scene” and “playing it safe” can be taken in many ways. I like the “mystery” in the vocals and how they are delivered and performed, especially towards the buildup at the end. “Let Us Eat” has a really cool groove and gets more layered as other sounds come into the song for the first minute and a half. The vocals sound far away which gives the song a good overall effect. Lyrically, it has nothing to do with food.

You can download the EP free from the link above and it would be well worth your while to have this EP in your collection if you like rap, electronic music with a trace vibe to it.