Candlebox’s self titled album managed to sell two million copies. This was quite an accomplishment as it was their first album. The song “Far Behind”, one of the only so called catchy songs on the record, was described as taking the heavy sound of Alice In Chains from the previous generation and confining it to the constraints of a pop song with heavy alternative influences. This album may have been well known for it’s time, but similar to Saving Abel, Candlebox got lost over time. Here is the golden oldie from 1993:
Category: Music
Representing The Underrepresented: Crash Kings
This little number by the Crash Kings at one point topped the alternative charts in the U.S. Now is the perfect time to shed some light on the Crash Kings as they are about to drop a new album this month. The Crash Kings received some superb production from Dave Sardy and it shows on the track “Mountain Man”. For a trio, the Crash Kings achieve a big sound and some killer vocals.
Performance Spotlight: Promised Ones
A couple months ago Guitar World Magazine and Blessthefall teamed up to form a guitar cover contest. Contestants uploaded their cover videos and then the band chose a couple lucky prize winners. The contest concluded a while ago, but blessthefall recorded an awesome video for Guitar World where guitarists Eric Lambert and Elliott Gruenberg showed viewers how to play their hit song “Promised Ones”. The video is located below the descriptions.
Guitar World is a magazine that provides resourceful information about guitars, equipment, playing technique, bands, and how to play songs on guitar. If you happen to be a guitar player, or just like music in general, check out their website!
Blessthefall is a metalcore/post-hardcore band from Phoenix, Arizona. Their music has a collaborative feel overall and is very well put together in terms of composition. Singer Beau Bokan only sings vocals while bassist Jared Warth jumps in for all the growling. Eric Lambert and Elliott Gruenberg trade guitar parts at times, each taking turns playing lead melodies in the riffs. If you pay attention to the chorus riff in this song, they will switch who plays the rhythm and who plays the lead parts at different intervals of the song. By the way I’m not going to leave out drummer Matt Traynor. His double bass can pound a hole in your wall and it accents the guitar notes quite well.
Representing The Underrepresented: UGK
The rap savvy may have discovered UGK, however they remain a largely unknown group. The incarceration of Pimp C in 2002 led to Bun B forming a grass roots movement to free his counterpart in the rap duo. In doing so Bun B released the album Trill to support his partner. This brought Bun B attention on a national level and soon after attention to UGK’s 2007 album Underground Kingz (what UGK stands for). UGK’s recent recordings have surfaced in the main media, but most of their older recordings still remain in the underground scene. This is their song “Underground” from the 1994 album Super Tight.
** Warning, the content below is heavily explicit. If you are offended by this as a listener please choose a different selection from the Music tab.
Spotlight: UKF Dubstep
UKF Dubstep is the self proclaimed leading provider of bass heavy music to the UK. Their youtube channel is also a really good source for upcoming dubstep and electronic music from quality artists that are outside the mainstream circle. This is a track from the Skeptiks who made their debut with the single “Cobwebs”, which found its way onto the Beatport Top Ten. “Without A Name” is definitely bass heavy.
Representing The Underrepresented: Jam Y’all Some Junior Reid
Hiding inside the inner circles of reggae’s deep cuts, Junior Reid has been considered an underground artist for most of his career. He became most noticed when rapper, The Game, sampled his track for the single “One Blood”. However that rap song is synonymous to a little known number originally recorded by Reid. Here is the original for your listening pleasure.
Foster the People
Foster the People
Torches
★★★/5
This is the first full album from Foster the People. It’s electronic and synthy, but remains grounded in perfectly danceable pop. Torches can seem a little gimicky and cheesy at times, perhaps even unmemorable, but the tracks “Pumped Up K
icks” and “Don’t Stop” are pretty good. But the album does drag a bit, it gets repetitive, and you feel as if you’ve heard it all before, which may not be a completely a bad thing, But it gets strong again on the track “Miss You”
Tessa
The Ladybug Transistor
The Ladybug Transistor
Clutching Stems
★★★/5
It’s been 16 years since this Brooklyn based band started making albums, this is their 7th. The lush pop music that has characterized The Ladybug Transistor’s sound is still true as ever in
Clutching Stems. This is the first album released after, drummer, San Fadyl’s death in 2007. It is apparent that this new album was made with their past drummer’s memory in mind. The album is sad but hopeful, most songs about love, lost unrequited, found. Lead singer, Gary Olson’s voice is nicely complimented throughout the album by Frida Eklund’s backing vocals.
Tessa
bedouin soundclash
Bedouin Soundclash
Light the Horizon
★★★/5
This is the Toronto based group’s fourth full length album
and it is very very good. The mix of punk, reggae, rock and soul work together to create a full sound which leaves the listener satisfied. The opening track “Mountain Top” is so upbeat and light it borders on Vampire Weekend type cheesy, but it remains fun and serious enough to keep you listening. By the third song, “May you Be the Road” which is so personal and touching you’re hooked. Coeur de pirate features on the song “Brutal Hearts” which after listening to you’ll also feel would be a perfect song on any mix cd. Give them a listen, I like them, it’s a serious kind of album, with hints of mournfulness and melancholy amidst the reggae.
Tessa
When Saints Go Machine
Konkylie ★★★★★/5
Two years in the making Konkylie, When Saints Go Machine’s debut album might be perfection. This is electronic synth music at its best. There is warmth and an organic feel that I have rarely found in this genre. This feeling is probably 
contributed to by the spaces that the vocals were recorded in, forests and tunnels. There is so much detail in the music that it does not seem repetitive or boring, ever. The album opens with the title track and sets the bar for the many layer musical experience about to ensue. My favorite track would be Parix, it is at this song where the album takes off and blossoms. I may be in love, go listen now.
