Archive for the 'Music' Category

Album of the Month: Cigarettes and Gasoline by dan

New segment. Back in the day we’d have a “Song of the week.” But sometimes, choosing a single song from an album just isn’t right. Some works are best viewed as a whole. For said occasions we’ve started a new category, “Album of the Month.” - C&V

It’s so easy to be derivative. Especially once you’re successful. You make a million bucks. You stick to the formula. And in rolls a million more. I mean, look at Coldplay. Jesus God, look at Coldplay. Celine Dion woulda been proud of their 3rd album… It’s exceptionally rare nowadays that someone, once established, chooses to take the risk of progressing in their art. So I’ve got to give props to anyone in music willing to take a chance and follow their gut. Led Zeppelin 3, Dylan going electric, And then there’s now… who comes to mind? If it was a rare event for an artist to take risks before, in the commerciality of the now it’s a near impossibility. The only modern example that really comes to mind is something like the shift from “Midnite Vultures” to “Sea Change”…. but, as later albums would prove, that was less an evolution so much as a one off shot at gaining some cred.

So there you have it. The prelude. Now, based off of the above prelude, what artist would you guess I’m about to talk about?… Odds are you’re looking at the title, “Cigarettes and Gasoline” and coming up empty. The album’s “Cigarettes and Gasoline.” The artist is Emerson Hart. You know him as the head singer-songwriter-brainchild of Tonic, the band that gave us “If You Could Only See” and “Open Up Your Eyes.” I realize that a lot of you out there right now are saying, “What the hell, Tonic? I thought I was reading C&V!” Bear with me, it’s worth it. We pride ourselves on being taste makers. And would never waste your time.

“Cigarettes and Gasoline” represents the maturation of an artist who went multi-platinum at age 27. Think of that. Age 27 and multi-platinum. I’ll be happy if I can keep myself a steady girlfriend by 27, but multi-platinum? Jesus. Well, it’s 2007, Emerson’s older. Tonic’s done. And he’s free to make whatever kind of music he wants. Enter “Cigarettes and Gasoline,” at once a progression and a departure from what Hart began with Tonic. On the single, “If You’re Gonna Leave,” you get something that sounds pretty close to some of those Tonic ballads, but the overall feel is of something quite different. I guess that’s the logic in releasing this as the single. It’s just familiar enough. For me, however, The meat of “Cigarettes and Gasoline,” the part that makes me want to post this as the “Album of the month,” is to be found elsewhere on the album’s dozen or so tracks. “Friend to a Stranger,” a song you might have heard on Grey’s Anatomy, is a damn good song. And that’s not just a phrase I throw around. Give it a listen on Emerson’s Myspace. When those drums kick in, or when he takes it to the bridge, I dare you to not like the song. It’s wholly different, yet just familiar enough. It’s an artist moving foward. And the rest of the album is just as good.

“Cigarettes and Gasoline” is not derivative. It’s not the easy path. It’s an artist taking risks in a world where no one does. It’s someone following their gut and being truly creative AND for that reason, it deserves your attention and a spot on your shelf. “Cigarettes and Gasoline” is a damn good album. And we don’t just throw that phrase around. Pick it up in stores this June.

Half in the light. Half in the darkness. The duality of the soul.

Buy the Single at and get a free acoustic “If You Could Only See.”
Emerson on Myspace.

posted on 3:47 pm 04/24/2007
Headlines, Music, Reviews, Songs of the Week | Comments (4) | Permalink |

Red Hot Concert With The Chili Peppers by seth

We’d like to welcome our newest east coast C&V contributor, Seth Cohen, and commemorate the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 23rd anniversary with his review of an October 18th, 2006/Continental Arena concert.

-Amit

From the opening notes of “Can’t Stop” to the closing chords of “Give It Away,” only one word can describe the Chili Peppers experience: INTENSE. And I mean good old grit-your-teeth, stomp-your-feet, and pump-your-fists intense.

The show began with the trio of musicians - Flea on bass guitar, Chad Smith on drums, and John Frusciante on guitar building a quiet and steady jam. The slow build-up into the show’s opening number, “Can’t Stop,” created a feeling of great anticipation as the fourth band member, Anthony Kiedis, exploded onto the stage with a primordial scream. Blinding lights and video screens that reached halfway across the ceiling lit up the sold out arena as the audience went berserk.

No time was wasted as RHCP launched into their newest hit single, “Dani California,” off of their current album, “Stadium Arcadium.” While the song does sounds suspiciously like Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” it holds its own with a perfect blend of pop, funk and metal that the Chili Peppers pull off so well.

Following this crowd pleaser, the group continued with a mix of show standards – “Scar Tissue,” “Parallel Universe,” “Right on Time,” and “Californication,” – and a number of songs from the new album such as “Charlie,” “Hump de Bump,” and “Tell Me Baby.”

While all of these songs rocked in their own right, “Don’t Forget Me” was undeniably the highlight. Beginning slowly and quietly with Flea’s perfectly timed bass licks, and building into a mesmerizing climax in which Anthony Kiedis wails in perfect harmony with Frusciante’s ripping guitar solo, this tune sent people into a wild frenzy. The show could have ended there and you would have left with a smile on your face.

On they went for almost two hours, closing the set with the literally show stopping “By The Way.” This was the band’s final chance to show off their chops before leaving for the encore break. Anthony twirled around the stage at breakneck speeds. Flea leapt 4 feet in the air with his multicolored pajamas, thrashing his head in a way that would make members of Metalica green with envy. Pounding the skins, Chad Smith perfectly complemented Flea’s funk by holding it down behind the kit. And, of course, Frusciante’s almost animalistic guitar-playing united with the other’s energy for one final explosive climax…or so we all thought.

The band returned for the encore to a cheering crowd. Those cheers then turned into a group sing-along as the band began perhaps their most notable song, “Under the Bridge.” While this song is a beautifully written confession of the trials of heroin addiction, the performance was somewhat tainted as Kiedis’ and Frusciante’s vocals were drowned out by the out-of-key audience.

The final song of the night, “Give It Away,” was, other than “Under the Bridge”, the only pre-1999 song of the night. I found this somewhat disappointing, but this loud funk rock number took those in the arena older than age 17 back to the good ole days. The loud rap-rock vocals Kiedis delivered were flawless. After the final verse, he left the stage and the show ended as it had begun; the three remaining musicians were left to jam the night away.

Edited by Amy Zolla

posted on 1:51 pm 12/28/2006
Music, Reviews | Comments (0) | Permalink |

John Fogerty: The Long Road Home - In Concert 70/100 by abbey

John Fogerty is definitely before my time, but it’s nice to know that even though hip-hop and rap music dominate today’s pop culture, classic rock’n roll music is still a major force.

Fogerty’s new compilation album “John Fogerty: The Long Road Home—In Concert” is the audio companion to his popular 2006 DVD. All 26 songs on the 2-CD set were recorded at his September 2005 performance at the legendary Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. The album includes songs from his days as a member of Creedence Clearwater and as a solo artist. But then again, John Fogerty was Creedence Clearwater.

Look for Creedence Clearwater hits “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary,” “Down on the Corner” and “ Who’ll Stop the Rain.” You can also expect to find his solo smash hits “Centerfield,” “Rockin’ All Over the World,” and “Déjà vu All Over Again.”

If you have to share this album with a friend, give them one CD and keep the other for yourself. My recommendation is to hold onto the second disk which includes favorites like “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Down on the Corner,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Proud Mary.” Whatever you decide, don’t miss this album.

posted on 12:23 pm 12/01/2006
Music, Reviews | Comments (0) | Permalink |

Songs of the Week: 27 November 2006 by candv

Long overdue…

Eels - “Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)”
Remember this band? They had a hit with “Novocaine for the Soul” and became the first band to sign with Dreamworks’ record label back in ‘96. Fast forward ten years to 2006 and they’re still at it. Here’s a catchy ditty that leaves out the dental drugs and instead injects wholesome, electrically contagious music.

Listen/Buy/Support C&V at

posted on 12:36 pm 11/27/2006
Music, Songs of the Week | Comments (1) | Permalink |

Sosohuman’s “Twenty-six” 26/100 by chad popular

I’ll say this for the band Sosohuman’s debut album, “Twenty-Six”: If it were 10 years ago, and I was in Junior High, and I still sat in my room after school and listened to Candlebox and Soul Asylum while writing notes to pass to some field hockey player I had special feelings for, this stuff would be cool.

Now, flash foward 10 years, and not only is Sosohuman stuck in a time warp made of shit walls, but it’s a time when there is no remaining audience for this generic 90s alternative crap, aside from some confused Nickelback fans. It blows my mind that this is a new band from the year 2006. Lead singer, Earl, tries a bit too hard to sound like Brandon Boyd of Incubus and doesn’t pull it off. Monotonous guitar riffs and repetitive chords that speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down, 15 times in each song, with our only respite being guitar feedback. It gets really, really old after just the first song. Don’t get me started on the atrocious lyrics- “frenchy, frenchy, oh french vanilla! ohhhh salad, salad, salad barrrr!”(These may or may not be the correct lyrics but they’re pretty close)………….What?

Drummer Rob Oswald, their latest in a long line of drummers (70 to be exact), from the band Karma to Burn, who also namedrops Queens of the Stone Age as one of his contributions for some reason, is pretty decent. He needs to leave this band pronto.

The only songs that are in any way worth paying attention to purely for the “takes-you-back” nostalgia of 90s alternative bliss are “Homeless” and “All The Same”, but they’re still difficult to bare. The simple album cover art involving the silhouette of the three members rocking out together tricks you in to thinking they are some fun, party, pop-punk band. Far from it. It amazes me that there are still bands this oblivious to their own sound. On track number six, “Punisher”, the singer begins: “I like to punish myself, I’d like to bang my head against a brick wall, and I’d like to stick my hand in a fire, and I’d like to jump from the top of my roof.” My advice for Earl as to how to ease the pain: don’t quit your day job, unless your day job involves writing songs.

posted on 10:20 pm 11/21/2006
Headlines, Music, Reviews | Comments (5) | Permalink |