The Good, The Bad & The Queen

What happens when a bunch of talented and already-famous musicians form a band? The Good, The Bad & The Queen and an amazing album.
If there is a band out there that should be rewarded with a prize for exploring the science of music, there would be some tough competition certainly, but they would receive it no less. The mixture of electonica, trip-hop, and indie blends in nicely to give the audience a structured mesh of sounds. Herculean is probably the most sticking example of that mix. “History Song” is more of an indie-rockish Gorillaz themed song.
But then again, The Good, The Bad & The Queen is way more sophisticated than Gorillaz ever were. Over all, the band has gotten mixed reviews. While the NME is in total awe of the band (a little over-the-top perhaps), others find a deja-vu is definitely in play here from Gorillaz and Blur. A more complex deja-vu with sounds that don’t quite make sense to them…yet. In a couple of months, they will be famous. In a couple of years, they will be legends.

Saliva: Blood Stained Love Story

For the harder rock lovers, a new treat is in stores right now: Saliva’s long overdue new record. The album is a surprisingly good follow-up to both mega-hits “Always” and “Click Click Boom.” The best song on the record is by far “King of Stereo.” The song’s has some pretty powerful guitar scruffs and a very nice solo towards the end. The vocals of Josey Scott that caught us ever since Back Into Your System’s “Always” came out are a bit drowned into the overpowering skills of guitarists Chris Dibaldo and Wayne Swinny.

Matt White- Bleeker Street Stories-EP

Though there is a strong possibility that Matt White will become the next pop/rock sensation, it’s nothing we haven’t really hear before. He does have some nice music to back up his steady vocals. His debut album, Bleeker Street Stories sounds like a nice mixture of John Mayer, Gavin DeGraw and some form of Teddy Geiger in his lyrics. All in all, it’s a nice album. If you enjoy the above artists and are mostly attracted to the same form of music, I strongly suggest you buy his album; the track “Best Days” will please you most. My personal favorite is “Miracles.” It has a very laid-back feel to it.

Kunek- Flight of the Flynns

Kunek, the Oklahoma-born band, describes its music as a blend between science and emotions. But, really, it's so much more than that. The six musicians, Jesse Tabish as lead vocalist, lead guitarist Eric Kiner (also on lap steel and keys), Guitarist and keyboard artist Jon Mooney, bassist Josh Onstott, cellist Jenny Hsy and drummer Colby Owens, work on a melodious ensemble that works together towards a light but meaningful finish.
Their Lyrics, seemingly simple, are surprisingly deep. "Coma" starts off some pretty respectable drum beats and a nice addition from the keyboards when Tabish sings " Wake up/From your coma/ It's in your head." The drums then make way for what sounds like the keyboard solo (celloist Jenny Hsy is ever so present with her enticing notes). The song's progression as it goes into " It's all just the pieces/ of a thousand pages/ lying on the floor/ And it's all just a part/ of a thousand people dying like before" and the melody that seems to be coming back to life after the verse, as if it will never end has the effect the band wants it to have: it moves you.
One cannot listen to Kunek and deny it its novelty. Their website design is a soothing as their songs: A little prairie with a pink-flower bearing tree (the links) and clouds passing by. For more info on the band go to:
http://www.kunek.net/