MIni Music Reviews

I can't even begin to tell you how much money I spend on music every year. I know that this last year it has roared past the amount I spent on books. Between my eMusic subscription, Amazon, iTunes, & buying from the artists themselves I am a musician's best friend. Here are a few albums that I have been listening to lately. Take a listen, maybe you will find something that hits you in the musical gut.

USS - Questamation

USS stands for Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker and with a name like that how can you lose. The first single I heard off of this album was "Anti-Venom". I loved it the first time I heard it but I loved the whole record even more. They mix and blend several unique sounds. There is some ska, dance beats, alternative rock. It is fun music and I can see myself putting it into my writing rotation (this is the big list for me. If I can write to you I will listen to your music a lot).

Zeus - Sounds Like Zeus

This was just an Ep of 5 songs. I caught "How Does It Feel" on XM Radio and went looking for their music. I enjoyed the Ep. It falls squarely in the alternative rock field. Interesting instrumentation and a nice sounding lead singer. Fairly mellow music, but they do have a wonderful cover of "That's All" by Genesis.

Thao - Know Better Learn Faster

Thao is quickly becoming an artist that I see myself buying anything she produces. I took a quick listen and then immediately downloaded it. For me this album keeps her momentum as an artist barreling forward. If you haven't heard her yet run quickly and get ahold of some of her music. The songs "We Swam" & "The Give" are my early album favorites.

The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come

Wow and wow. Did I say wow. Maybe one of my top ten favorite records of the year. I will say that The Mountain Goats are not for everyone. John Darnielle's voice is definitely different. His lyrics are phenomenal and I love listening to him weave his story. You know that I had to love it when all the song titles are titled after sections in the Bible. Listen to "Psalms 40:2" if you don't like that song, you are not going to like this album.