Various Artists: Country Heat Summer BBQ 2

4 stars

Crank up the volume to this country CD at your next BBQ.

If you’re a guy or gal who loves to get down to country music, you need to go out and get yourself the Country Heat Summer BBQ 2 CD. The great thing about this CD is that it’s a blend of every type of country music, catering to a mix of fans. Featuring a variety of artists like Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and Shane Yellowbird, this compilation CD has the hottest songs! Have a listen to Shane Yellowbird’s Bare Feet on the Blacktop – it’s a grooving tune with an upbeat rhythm that will get you up and dancing! Even if you’re not a big country music fan, Country Heat Summer BBQ 2 is sure to put a smile on your face with its fun and happy tunes – songs about people losing their dogs or having a sad life don’t exist in this CD world.

Micah’s fave track: Bare Feet on the Blacktop by Shane Yellowbird

The Dead Weather: Sea of Cowards

3 stars

Jack White gets in touch with his darker, grungier side.

Low, grungy guitar riffs and Jack White’s darker side combine to create an album full of resentment and hate. The Dead Weather's sophomore album makes it seem like Jack White knows he had much happier times with his other groups, The Raconteurs and The White Stripes. The album isn’t bad though as it contains some powerful lines, but most of the songs do sound somewhat the same. Sea of Cowards lacks a lot of the infectious energy and spunk heard in the songs by his other bands, like The Raconteurs’ Hold Up. Don’t get your hopes up too high when you hear that Jack White is part of this band, because the music definitely isn’t the same as his usual tunes.

Greg’s fave track: Looking at the Invisible Man

ProJect: Alchemist

4 stars

Alchemist is the nostalgic techno-jazz music from your dreams.

Th very first time you hear ProJect, you will probably think one of two things: either that you vaguely recall the music from a long forgotten dream, or that you are instantly struck by the successful mix of jazz and electronica. In ProJect’s debut EP, Alchemist, we hear all the experimental gains the “ProJect” has made, in the group’s insatiably catchy blending of horns, drums, keyboard, and saxophone. One thing is for sure: this group has a sound like no other, with dreamy harmonies and jazzy beats. Be sure to check up on the group when ProJect releases its full-length album later this year.

Chris’ fave track: Hiding the Stars

Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants: Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants

5 stars

Foo Fighters’ lead guitarist finds his own voice.

This self-titled album is the debut solo production of the Foo Fighters’ longtime lead guitarist Chris Shiflett. A little toned down compared to past Foo Fighters’ albums, it still features the same energy and passion. As soon as Shiflett begins to sing, the ear is not only drawn to his vocal uniqueness and quality, but also to the clear cleverness of the lyrics. With lyrics such as, “We are only everything that we know,” listeners are encouraged to relate these songs to their own lives. The charm of this album lies within the variety of instruments used during recording: violins, mandolins, a pedal steel and more. I can’t wait to see what Shiflett is going to come up with next!

Sandra’s fave track: Not Going Down Alone

Scott Lanaway: Mergers & Acquisitions

3 stars

Mergers & Acquisitions is soothing background music.

Scott Lanaway’s sophomore album, Mergers & Acquisitions, is not quite as good as his 2006 debut album, Answering Machine Diaries. However, if you like the sad and drowning type of music, than this is the CD for you. The Torontonian’s electrofolk songs all come from the heart, reaching you in a way that you just can’t forget. It really is very distinctive music, with Scott’s use of acoustic instruments amidst an electronic background. While this is not the type of music I usually listen to, most of my friends loved the music and found it somewhat peaceful and soothing. Although I did enjoy a few of the tracks on Mergers & Acquisitions, I’m hoping that I’ll be more impressed by his next album.

Stephanie’s fave track: Juliet of the Spirits

Sleigh Bells: Treats

4 stars

Pop music like you’ve never heard it before.

Treats, the debut album from Brooklyn duo Sleigh Bells, is 32 minutes of pure originality. The independent scene’s most aggressive, distorted percussion and guitars support each of the album’s 11 tracks. As if teasing the abrasive instrumentals, singer Alexis Krauss performs with a detached calmness to her voice. These two contrasting elements mould the unique sound bred by Sleigh Bells, but this same uniqueness could also hurt the accessibility of the duo’s energetic album. However, infectious tracks like Rill Rill and A/B Machines force repeat listens that slowly uncover the elegance behind the havoc. With this new form of pop, Sleigh Bells has struck gold.

Vasanth’s fave track: Rill Rill

The Constellations: Southern Gothic

4 stars

The Constellations are on the way up to success.

Difficult to classify, The Constellations’ debut album brings together a variety of genres, from hip hop to an electric and hazy mix of trippy rock influences. Containing 11 tracks full of gritty aggression, Southern Gothic tells tales of what happens in Atlanta in the middle of the night. Have a listen to Take a Ride, which features a celebratory chorus that sets a memorable vibe, elevating the song above the late night subject matter. The Constellations demonstrate versatility to their sound by ending with a piano-driven track, On My Way Up, which perfectly describes the band. It will be interesting to see where the eight-piece band goes from here!

Theresa’s fave track: What I See

Sarah Harmer: Oh Little Fire

4 stars

Oh Little Fire is fresh, elegant and Canadian.

Sarah Harmer’s fifth album, Oh Little Fire, offers steady beats and lustrous vocals amidst a rich blend of rock and folk tunes that left my mind relaxed and my soul ignited. The Canadian artist-activist keeps the mood lively in Captive, but croons along to a mellow Late Bloomer. Meanwhile, the drums and electric guitar set a fresh beat that is Canadian, tasteful and elegant. With a ripened sound compared to previous albums, Harmer’s smooth hipster tracks will certainly rule my earphones for the next little while. Oh Little Fire easily set my fingers alight as they effortless snapped along to the rhythm.

Cameron’s fave track: Captive

Charice: Charice

3 stars

Filipino talent penetrates the market.

Starting off by performing on Youtube for anyone who would watch, Charice later became known after being discovered by Ellen Degeneres, which led to her eventual contact with David Foster and performing on the Oprah show. Most known for her single Pyramid featuring Iyaz, this regular teen is the first Asian artist to land in the Top 10 Billboard 200 album chart. Although repetitive in sound at times, Charice, her debut CD, is replete with lyrics relative to matters close to her heart. With a variation of sentiments ranging from love to precarious issues, the 18-year old has surely expressed her voice and talent to the world.

Krystele’s fave track: Reset

Leif Vollebekk: Inland

4 stars

Leif Vollebekk’s Inland embraces listeners with warm whispers and love.

Montreal’s singer-songwriter Leif Vollebekk brings us the charmingly delightful 10-track album, Inland. By incorporating the use of a vast array of instruments, such as the electric violin and the harmonica, Vollebekk’s music is successful in making us desperately long for something else to define our lives; something more beautiful and more liberated. With a distinct Bob Dylan-meets-Paolo Nutini style of guitar playing, Vollebekk never falls to the level of the countless desperate and heartbroken singers that can be overheard in Starbucks stores. Instead, he sings out his soul in a foot-tapping album that is best heard while strolling in the summer rain.

Raeesa’s fave track: You Couldn’t Lie to Me in Paris