Latest Posts

In For The Long Haul

August 18, 2014

Last week, I picked up the new Judas Priest album, Redeemer Of Souls, and I have to say, I’m stunned at how great it is. At 13 tracks, and a running time over an hour, I never got bored while listening to it. It reminded me of everything that made me love Priest to begin with, and you could slot it in comfortably next to classics like Screaming For Vengeance and British Steel. After each listen, I found myself wondering how a band exactly 40 years removed from their first studio album could sound so fresh and vital. Shouldn’t they be getting stale and disinterested by now? The Rolling Stones are the first band we think when we think of bands who hang around forever, mainly because they’re the oldest band that hasn’t broken up (although it’ been nine years since their last album…). These days, bands being in their third[...]

Remembering Echo, Tom Petty’s Overlooked Masterpiece

August 11, 2014

In the new issue of Rolling Stone, Tom Petty is asked if there’s any album he’s made that he’s not fond of. He responds by telling us that he’s not particularly thrilled with 1999’s Echo, although people have told him it’s “not that bad.” Well, I can safely say that this is an enormous udnerstatement. Not only is Echo not bad, it’s Petty’s most underrated album, and one of his best. Of course, I don’t blame Tom for not being a fan of it – he recorded it while going through a bitter divorce, and it features some of the darkest songs he’s ever recorded. But while that experience may not be fun for Petty to relive, the album is extremely rewarding on repeated listens. Petty has always been the kind of artist whose songs are from the hip, and often feel autobiographical, but this is the rare album where[...]

Can We Still Believe In Weezer?

August 4, 2014

So a few weeks ago Weezer released a new single and… it’s actually pretty good. If you haven’t heard “Back To The Shack” yet, I’d recommend checking it out. It’s catchy as hell and it displays the sense of humor that has always been one of Rivers Cuomo’s strong suits. So do we get excited for the new album now? After years of disappointment, have Weezer finally gotten their shit together? Well, that’s where it gets a bit tricky. Weezer have came out with strong lead singles before and failed to deliver on the album. In 2009, Weezer released “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” as the first single off Ratitude, and everyone agreed it was the best thing they had done in years. The following album failed to live up the hype. It was full of tracks that were catchy enough, but rather soulless,[...]

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye

July 30, 2014

When you woke up on the morning of Tuesday, July 29th, 2014, you might have noticed that the grass was a bit greener, and the air was a bit cleaner. There’s an easy explanation for that: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers released a new album! Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but after four years since the last Heartbreakers record, it was about time for one of the most consistently great rock bands in the world to finally get back in the studio. I can happily report that the results are good: Hypnotic Eye is yet another strong Heartbreakers record, and furthers Petty’s status as the most reliable songwriter in rock (if you’re wondering, Jack White is second, Dave Grohl is third). The buzz about this album in the months before its release centered around the idea that Petty would be returning to the sound of his[...]

Mikaela Davis at Buffalo Iron Works (7/25/14)

July 28, 2014

This was a show that our fair city had waited six months for. Mikaela Davis was scheduled to come to the Tralf on January 3rd, but the show was canceled due to a pipe bursting at the venue. The weeks and months continued to build up, and we were left to wonder if the brilliant harpist from Rochester would be headed back any time soon. Thankfully, our prayers were answered, as Davis and her band played a fantastic show at Buffalo Iron Works on Friday. Davis’ band, consisting of drummer Alex Cote and guitarist Cian McCarthy (who played several other instruments during the evening), was extremely tight throughout the evening, providing the perfect compliment to Davis’ harp. Early this year, Davis released the EP Fortune Teller, and the tracks from it were featured prominently in the set list. “When The White Worse Takes Me Away” and “Feels Like Forever” in[...]

Tonight: Mikaela Davis

July 25, 2014

If you want to be able to say you saw a huge star before she was famous, you would be wise to get yourself the Buffalo Iron Works tonight and catch Mikaela Davis. Davis is a harpist from Rochester who has recorded two fantastic albums. The first was 2012’s self-titled record, and her January release, the Fortune Teller EP, was one of the best albums of 2014 so far. The manner in which Davis blends classical and pop is remarkable. Tracks like “I Wouldn’t” and “Lady Lavender” blend immediately catchy melodies with lush, intricate orchestration. Davis has an incredible ability to create complex, intricate music, and make it seem immediately accessible. After her show at the Tralf in January was canceled because of burst pipe, it’s wonderful to have this brilliant performer back in our fair city. As someone who was planning on attending that show, I was sorely bummed out.[...]

The Stunning Endurance Of Weird Al

July 21, 2014

Last week, the winner of the internet was pretty much unanimous: it was Weird Al by a mile. After releasing his new album Mandatory Fun and putting out a new video for eight straight days, it became abundantly clear that the world is still interested in Weird Al’s warped take on the popular songs of the day. Really, this isn’t surprising; he’s a hilarous guy, and he always has been. But one interesting thing to consider is that Weird Al has managed to remain relevant in music for 30 years now. That sort of thing is practically unheard of. As the trends in popular music have shifted again and again, the only thing that’s really remained constant is Weird Al’s ability to mock them. There’s always a New Dylan, a Next Springsteen, and a Madonna-in-waiting. But Weird Al is pretty much irreplaceable. Plenty of aging musicians still have their albums[...]

The De-Evolution of Robin Thicke

July 14, 2014

At the end of 2013, when I made my predictions for what would happen in the year to come, one of them was “Robin Thicke will return to pre-Blurred Lines fame level.” It was something of a throwaway line. I figured a 36-year-old lucking into a monster hit was more of a fluke then a signal that he’s going to be a mainstay on the top 40. What I couldn’t have predicted was just how far he would sink. Thicke’s new album Paula came out two weeks ago, and has been one of the biggest bombs the music world has seen in some time. It sold about 530 copies in the UK, and just 53 in Australia. Things were a little better in the US, where the album debuted at No. 9, and sold 24,000 copies. Still, the notion that Thicke was going to turn his smash hit into a[...]

Tonight: Justin Timberlake

July 9, 2014

If you’re going to First Niagara Center tonight for Justin Timberlake’s big show, you’ve probably had your tickets for quite some time now. The show was already sold out before its original date in February, which was postponed, with the re-scheduled date memorably being announced on The Tonight Show. Timberlake is still one of the biggest draws in pop music. While his 2-part album The 20/20 Experience received somewhat mixed reviews (I was a fan of both records), it was one of the best selling albums of the year, with “Suit & Tie,” “Mirrors,” and “Not A Bad Thing” all cracking the top 10.  Also, if you saw the NSYNC reunion at last years VMAs, you know that JT is just as much a showman as he ever was – well, I mean he’s only 32 – and tonight’s show should be quite a spectacle. This show was sold out[...]

Pink Elephant Releases Grungy, Self-Titled Debut LP

July 8, 2014

The debut LP from Rochester’s Pink Elephant is a head-rush of grunge, punk, and psychedelia that fans of bands like Mudhoney and The Melvins will likely be quite fond of. For 10 songs, the band captures the energy of pre-mainstream grunge mixed with late-60s psych rock similar to the 13th Floor Elevator. The album makes a strong impression, and should do a fine job of introducing the band to a larger audience. The best track might be “Stupid Fuck,” which features the kind of self-lacerating rage that wouldn’t exactly be out of place on a Dinosaur, Jr. album, or maybe one of Soundgarden’s pre-fame efforts. Lyrics about putting a picture of your self on the wall “to remind myself that I’m a stupid fuck” is the kind of vitriol that Chris Cornell might have shrieked about back in 1989, long before the embarrassing Timbaland collaboration and Michael Jackson covers starting[...]

4th Of July

June 30, 2014

America – better known as Murica -is celebrating its 238th birthday on Friday. And that seems like a perfectly good excuse to get drunk and enjoy some barbecue (note: do we need an excuse?). So, with that in mind, we presented this list of songs that will make of 4thof July party even July-ier than last year. Neil Diamond – “America” Are you swelling with patriotic mucus yet? You can claim to be to cool for Neil Diamond, but this song is just fuckin’ awesome. Every time that flag unfurls, THEY’RE COMIN TO AMERICA! TODAY! Right on! Forever in blue jeans! Jimmy Eat World – “Just Watch the Fireworks” Ok, this is a bit more subdued, but it does describe another key part of and Indepedence Day: awkwardly trying to decide if you should make a move on the girl you’re watching the fireworks show with. Ah, Jimmy Eat World,[...]

Tonight: Sam Roberts Band

June 26, 2014

For more than a decade now, Sam Roberts has been churning out dozens of memorable songs, both on his solo albums, and in recent years, his work with Sam Roberts Band. His work could fairly be described as power-pop, as exemplified on hits such as “Bridge To Nowhere,” and “Don’t Walk Away Eileen,” but he’s not afraid to venture into other realms, and have some of his longer songs – particularly 2006’s Chemical City – have some decidedly prog-rock tendencies. While the band has retained a cult following in the US, Roberts is huge in his native Canada, frequently topping the Canadian Indie Singles charts, and in 2007, winning a Juno Award for Video of The Year. Tonight, Roberts will be appearing for a free show show at Canalside, which figures to be well-attended by his ample cult following. Roberts is just one of several Canadian artists coming to town in the[...]

Is Originality Overrated?

June 23, 2014

I’m still not sure what my favorite song on the new Black Keys album is. It might be the one that sounds like Pink Floyd, or the one sounds like Sweet, or the one with the riff that sort of sounds like an electric version of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World.” Or maybe the other one that sounds like Pink Floyd…. Ok, you get the idea. But while many of the songs on Turn Blue can be directly traced to 70s classic rock, that doesn’t make me love it any less. If you go to The Black Keys looking for originality, you’re looking in the wrong direction. They have loads of great songs, but they are more than happy to be revivalists rather than originators. This brings up an interesting question: Is originality really all that important? We’ve spent more than a decade appreciating songs from rock bands who we love because[...]

Best Case/Worst Case: Up-and-Coming Pop Stars

June 16, 2014

Pop music is in a transitional stage right now. New performers keep sprouting up with mega-hits faster than we can keep track of them. So, with that mind, let’s look and some of the bright new faces in pop and determine what would be the best ways for their careers to play out, and what scenarios would leave us sick with disappointment. Lorde Best case: Continues to embrace weirdness, and largely ignores what’s going on with contemporary pop stars. In a perfect world, she could keep making the music she wants to make while staying a force in the mainstream, but if she fades out of view of the Billboard Hot 100 and continues to do her own thing, that would be fine, too. Really, just as long as she stays weird, and continues to grow as a songwriter without blatantly seeking out huge pop hits, that would be great.[...]

Tonight: Alternative 90s Dance Party

June 13, 2014

Are you only happy when it rains? Do you want to be the girl with the most cake? Is today the greatest day you’ve ever known? Well, then you’ll want to get down to Allen Street Hardware Cafe for tonight’s 90s alternative dance party. Hosted by DJs Jen and Bill Page( the latter of Transmission), this event will feature on the classic 90s alt-rock hits that you probably haven’t heard on the radio for at least 15 years. If you’re expecting to dance to Sir Mix-A-Lot or Ace Of Base, this party is definitely not for you. It’s going to be focused on alt-rock, techno, and Britpop, and will foresake many of the decades cheesier pop smashes. So, if jams like “Firestarter,” “Girls And Boys,” or “Seether” (the Veruca Salt song, not the post-grunge band) are your thing, youd be wise to get down to Hardware tonight. Tickets are $5,[...]