Mr. Music Review - Recently Updated Pages

Featured Artist

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:18:51 CDT

Winston
Vancouver, Canada

Young Rival
Hamilton, Canada

Featured Artist: Winston

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:04:38 CDT

Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Winston was quick to gain following on the Canadian indie scene. With their unique sound and gentle pop melodies, Winston’s music was easy to find playing on radio stations across Canada. In 2003, this cultivated into being honored as the winner of CFOX Radio’s Vancouver Seeds band contest. Previous winners of this contest went on to become mainstream successes such as Nickelback, Shocore, and Default. Winston’s single “Love It Up and Fell” soon went on to hit #1 at Vancouver rock radio station “The Q”. The song remained in the top 10 for 15 whole weeks at CKKQ, resulting in substantial airplay on other radio stations around the area. With this growing support and following, the band later won a major FACTOR loan to record their debut full-length album with Alaskan producer John Webster (Bif Naked, Tom Cochrane). Winston released their debut album, titled Passengers, in July of 2003.

At the time of the album recording, Winston was made up of singer/songwriter Ryan Hauschild, guitarist Lanny Hussey (both from EMI's Ginger), drummer Robbie Watkins (Handsome Boy/BMG's Slowburn), and bass guitarist Tony Kerr. However, for personal reasons, the band’s members went their separate ways and Ryan Hauschild, the band’s original driving force, kept the Winston name in his solo efforts. Since then, Winston has not released any albums, though Hauschild’s first solo record, Limited, was released in June 5th, 2007. The 6 track EP has already received numerous raving reviews, as the Vancouver songwriter Winston continues to make a name for himself with his music.

Albums

Interview

What brought you into playing music?

Hauschild: "My Parents were both musicians. Folk musicians. Kind of like Canada's version of Sonny and Cher. We toured the country together and there was always a strong musical presence in our family. I've basically been making music my whole life."

Were there any musical artists that really influenced your musical taste when you first got started?

"Again, I'd really have to say my folks. They taught me how to play guitar, showed me my first songs and always encouraged me when I chose music as a career."

Did you ever imagine playing music as an occupation when you were younger?

"There was a time (you could look at it as a rebellion phase) when I went to University (I got 2 years into my degree) and considered a career as a history teacher. In the end, I couldn't imagine a life without music and returned to writing songs as my sole focus."

The name ‘Winston’ comes from the protagonist character in George Owell’s 1984. Do you feel a special connection to this novel? What inspired the name choice?

"The name Winston was chosen as a band name for the group of guys I was working with a few years ago. For whatever reason, we liked it and it stuck. The more interesting story is how I ended up with it: As the singer in the group, I was often referred to as "Winston" around town. "Hey Winston! How's it going!". When I decided to make a solo record (and the other guys moved on with other projects) it was hard to shake my new moniker."

How did your first song come about?

"I've been writing songs for so long, I can't really remember the first one."

Do you have an emotional attachment to any of your songs in particular?

"I'm attached to all of them. As with most artists, I'm probably more interested in the new songs I'm writing."

As a recognized music artist, you should probably have some connections to other bands/artists. Are there any relatively unknown artists that you really respect or enjoy listening to right now?

"Here's a few Vancouver acts I've really been enjoying lately:

Adrienne Pierce
Che Dorval
Elias"

What are your favorite artists right now?

"Right now, I'm really enjoying Wilco, Death Cab For Cutie, The Magic Numbers, Grandaddy, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Neko Case, The Stills... and so many more."

You won the same CFOX Radio’s Vancouver Seeds Band Contest as Nickelback did when they were first emerging. Do you have any intentions or aspirations to hit the mainstream in the United States as they did, or do you view your musical work as something more than profits?

"The CFOX radio contest was a good way to get exposure and open some doors for my music. In the end, I don't know if my sound really fits in with mainstream US radio. We all know this is a business, but for me... making music is like making art. I'm just trying to focus on making really good art."

What does music mean to you?

"Music means everything to me."

Featured Artist: Young Rival

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:03:25 CDT

“A time that rock and roll was young and fearless.” Young Rival claim that we’ve forgotten how good music can really sound and that they’re the ones to remind us. With two full length albums under their old moniker of The Ride Theory, Young Rival is a rock quartet based in Hamilton, Canada. The band consists of Aron D'Alesio at lead guitar and vocals, Noah Fralick at drums, Kyle Kuchmey at rhythm guitar and John Smith at bass. Their sound as The Ride Theory was stylish and compared to the Beatles with a signature style to bring the garage band-esque feel from the 60’s bands they emulate to the new generation. With high ambitions and this sound with the “subtlety of The Zombies and the brashness of Arctic Monkeys” as their website puts it, Young Rival have made a name for themselves on the concert scene touring with such acts as Tokyo Police Club and the Born Ruffians. Their EP’s for their newest works have also been receiving substantial radio airplay particularly in the UK. With their debut album under their new band name in the works for release within 2008 and two noteworthy releases under The Ride Theory available on iTunes already, Young Rival are prepped and ready to take America by storm. Just like the band suggests on their site, stay tuned – Young Rival are coming to your town in stereo.

Discography

Interview

What inspired your group to start playing music together?

Noah Fralick: "Things came about quite naturally. Aron and I grew up together, and used to play drums and guitar together. Kyle is Aron's cousin, and John went to school with Kyle. That's sounds convoluted, but ultimately we just grew up in the same part of Hamilton and came together over a mutual appreciation of rock and roll."

Back in the days when you still toted your name as The Ride Theory, your music had a 60’s garage band feel. Is there one band in particular that really influenced your work?

"Growing up we were fans of guitar-rock bands like Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, Ugly Ducklings, and a lot of that kind of stuff. There wasn't one band in particular that really influenced us, but we were certainly drawn to the authenticity of bands from that era. things were more stripped down and ballsy. Bands weren't afraid to make abrasive sounds in the studio, and they were true musicians. Not to say that there aren't true musicians now, but musicianship, as a craft, has certainly changed into something much different, and arguably, for the worse."

What made you decide to change your band name to Young Rival? Why the switch?

"It was something we had wanted to do for a while. When we first name the band, we had no idea how serious it would become, so we didn't really give it much thought. Last spring we were in a position to freshen things up a bit, so we changed it. It's horrible to be confident about your music, but not about your name. Now we're confident about all aspects of the band, so it was a smart move."

With your previous two albums under The Ride Theory, your sound had a classic, almost Beatles-esque sensation. In your debut as Young Rival, are you trying to focus on another style of music?

"Ultimately we're just writing the music we want to write. We would never approach an album and say to ourselves, "let's try and make a record that sounds like this band, or that band". We've been doing this long enough that we don't need anything like that. Our approach for this record was to make a cohesive artistic statement, something where all the songs sounded well together, and complimented each other. There's some nice variety between straight-ahead rock and roll songs, and more melodic, deeper songs. We're really excited about it."

Recording for Young Rival’s debut started in January. When do you expect to have a finished product you’re happy with?

"We actually did the record in December at 2 studios - one in NYC, the other in New Jersey. Aron was back there mixing tracks in January. We're hoping to have it all done in the next few weeks. We'll hopefully release it in the summer or fall of this year, depending on what happens with labels and such."

You’ve been touring with some big names on the indie scene like Tokyo Police Club. Do you hope to reach mainstream America with your new release?

"We've always wanted to find representation in the US, and I think we've got a good chance of it with this record. Being commercially isn't a huge goal of ours, since it comes with a lot of compromise artistically. Certainly we'd love to better known in the US though - I don't know of a single band who wouldn't. So much of the industry is there, and it'd be great to add to the many cool bands that are currently calling the US 'home'."

On your website, you mention a similarity to the Arctic Monkeys. What modern day bands do you look to for inspiration?

"There aren't too many current bands that inspire our sound. Aron writes most of our songs, and he isn't a big follower of current trends in music. As I said earlier, he just writes what comes to him, and we go from there."

As a successful artist, you probably have connections to other groups and artists. Any suggestions on what we should be listening to?

"I've been really into the new Raveonettes album - I really respect that band because they aren't afraid to overdrive their sound. So many albums are really tame right now....it's like people are afraid of putting high-end sounds on their records, because it means they won't get played on the radio. The raves don't follow that though, which is cool. Also, the new Born Ruffians record is just about to come out, and i think it's going to be received very well. You should check them out."

Your live performances are receiving raving reviews all over the web. How are you trying to transfer the energy you exude live to the record?

"We're trying to make a record that's energetic in its delivery - we don't want it to sound tame, we want it to have some bite, and really strike listeners in a raw and bright way. It's tough to do, but I think we've done it on the new record."

What does music mean to you?

"That's a deep question. Music is everything to us. Without it, the world would be bleak, bland, and colourless."

The Playlist

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:02:34 CDT

Each month, several of our reviewers will collaborate to bring you a playlist of 10 songs that have caught our attention. These tracks may not get recognition on the radio or be on top-selling albums, but we still believe they deserve attention and we would like to share with you some of our favorite finds. Hopefully when you look at this list, these songs will be unfamiliar. This is a section to help share with you either unknown/unsigned artists or tracks that simply deserve more attention. To get a sneak peek at any of the songs, just stay here and check out the videos, which vary from live performances to music videos.

"Dead Sound" Raveonettes (Lust Lust Lust)

"Pull Me Out Alive" Kaki King (Dreaming of Revenge)

Playlist Archive

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:00:53 CDT

2006
December

2007
January
February
March
April
May
June
December

2008
January

The Playlist (January 2008)

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:59:57 CDT

Each month, several of our reviewers will collaborate to bring you a playlist of 10 songs that have caught our attention. These tracks may not get recognition on the radio or be on top-selling albums, but we still believe they deserve attention and we would like to share with you some of our favorite finds. Hopefully when you look at this list, these songs will be unfamiliar. This is a section to help share with you either unknown/unsigned artists or tracks that simply deserve more attention. To get a sneak peek at any of the songs, just stay here and check out the videos, which vary from live performances to music videos.

"Tuned to a Different Station" Dogs (Turn Against This Land)

Mr. Music Review

justin_hawkins — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:59:28 CST

Welcome to Mr. Music Review, your guide to great musical listenings. Our mission is to help you find worthwhile music and also to raise awareness about bands that have received little to no attention. Please feel free to approach us with any suggestions or merely post your opinions if you feel that we are not fulfilling our mission, or even if you think that we are. Just don't be shy; we're here with our ears open and will definitely respond to your comments. If you are looking to become a part of our community, please check out our requirements for becoming a writer.

Navigation: (Also available to the left)

Review Central: Here, you can find our most recently written reviews.
Featured Artist: This is an artist we think deserves more attention. Includes an artist biography, an exclusive interview, and a review of their entire discography. (Updated Bimonthly)

The Playlist: These are the songs that we're listening to right now. We think that you should look into these bands. (Updated Monthly)

Archive: Looking for a review that was previously on the Review Central page? When replaced by newer reviews, reviews go straight to the archive.
Open Forum: Want a place to share your opinions on anything and everything to do with music? Check this out.

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Artist

justin_hawkins — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:27:12 CST

Artist names are in alphabetical order. Note: Bands starting with 'The' are not listed under 'T'.

0-9

2Cents
Lost At Sea

A

Art & Ransom
We Couldn't Even Believe What We Saw

Audioslave
Revelations

B

Bloc Party
A Weekend in the City

The Bravery
The Bravery

C

Cold War Kids
Robbers & Cowards

D

Dirty Pretty Things
Waterloo to Anywhere

E

Editors
The Back Room
An End Has a Start

The Elms
The Chess Hotel

F

The Flaming Lips
At War With the Mystics

Franz Ferdinand
You Could Have It So Much Better

G

Gomez
How We Operate

H

Hail Social
Hail Social

I

J

Jet
Shine On

K

The Killers
Sam's Town

L

M

The Magic Numbers
Those the Brokes

Mates of State
Team Boo

Modest Mouse
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

Muse
Black Holes & Revelations

My Morning Jacket
Z

N

Nine Inch Nails
Year Zero

O

O.K. Go
Oh No

Of Montreal
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

P

The Pink Spiders
Teenage Graffiti

Q

R

S

The Shins
Wincing the Night Away

The Spinto Band
Nice and Nicely Done

Stereophonics
Language.Sex.Violence.Other?

The Strokes
First Impressions of Earth

Summoning
Oath Bound

T

Tokyo Police Club
A Lesson in Crime

TV on the Radio
Return to Cookie Mountain

U

Unified Theory
Unified Theory

V

The Village Green
Feeling the Fall

The Vines
Vision Valley

W

We Are Scientists
With Love & Squalor

Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wolf Parade
Apologies to the Queen Mary

X

Y

Z

The Zutons
Tired of Hanging Around

Cake (Fashion Nugget)

aaronros — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:26:06 CST

Released: September 17th, 1996
14 songs –48min 10sec
Zomba Recording Corporation

7 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "The Distance", "Nugget", "I Will Survive"

Intro goes here

~ Aaron

Aaron: (7)
Review

Joe: (score)
Review

What Did They Say?
NME: (not available)
Rolling Stone: (not available)
Metacritic: (not available)
Pitchfork: (not available)

The Playlist (December 07)

justin_hawkins — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:42:37 CST

Sorry for the long absence. The Playlist is back and should run monthly from now on.

Each month, several of our reviewers will collaborate to bring you a playlist of 10 songs that have caught our attention. These tracks may not get recognition on the radio or be on top-selling albums, but we still believe they deserve attention and we would like to share with you some of our favorite finds. Hopefully when you look at this list, these songs will be unfamiliar. This is a section to help share with you either unknown/unsigned artists or tracks that simply deserve more attention. To get a sneak peek at any of the songs, just stay here and check out the videos, which vary from live performances to music videos.

“Fireworks” Animal Collective (Strawberry Jam)

"Friends Like These" Mobius Band

Arctic Monkeys (Favourite Worst Nightmare)

justin_hawkins — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:30:59 CST

Released: April 24, 2007
12 Tracks – 37:30
Domino Recording Company

6.5 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Brainstorm", "Old Yellow Bricks", "Fluorescent Adolescent"

It is said that a band’s second album defines their career. In the case of the Arctic Monkeys, to live up to their debut, Whatever People Say I Am, I Am Not, was no small feat. But Favourite Worst Nightmare took on this difficult task anyways, and to determine whether it succeeded in justly following the hype of the first album is up for debate, but there is no argument when it comes to declaring this is FAR from a “sophomore slump”.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 6.5
At first listen, it’s easy to compare FWN with previous Arctic Monkeys works, constantly seeking an “I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor” equivalent and the same garage-band quality of energy and jaded imperfection that made the debut so memorable. Yet with FWN, you’ll notice these qualities are all absent. But that’s not to say FWN isn’t worthwhile-- it finds its ways to be memorable in a different regard. Right from the get go with “Brainstorm”, the Arctic Monkeys find a new sound that consists of up-tempo, hectic, and compulsive jam sessions combined with slower, elegant sections to create a feeling of unsteadiness. Retaining Alex Turner’s signature British accent, songs like “D is for Dangerous”, “Fluorescent Adolescent”, and “Balaclava” are catchy displays of the Arctic Monkeys’ ability to twist lovable vocals with head-nodding guitars while maintaining elegance to create tracks you can’t get out of your head. Favourite Worst Nightmare remains consistent throughout with hooky songs sprinkled through the album, though the best is saved for last with “Old Yellow Bricks” and “505”. While “Old Yellow Bricks” seems to be the epitome of the Arctic Monkeys’ new sound melded perfectly, “505” is this album’s sing-along ballad replacing the debut’s “Riot Van”. All in all, it is impossible to compare Favourite Worst Nightmare to the original WPSIAIAN due to the differences in sound, though it is quite clear that the Arctic Monkeys are back and here to stay.

Reviewer 2: (score)
Review

Meet the Reviewers

brazilada322 — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:44:32 CST

(back to home)
Joe Pinsker (joe.pinsker@students.menloschool.org) Contact Me
Co-Founder, Reviewer, Editor
“Music is delivering blow after blow and I can't fight back.”
Favorite Genres: Alternative, Rock, Classic Rock
Favorite Artists: Franz Ferdinand, Nine Black Alps, They Might Be Giants, The Shins
Now Playing: "Well Thought Out Twinkles" (Silversun Pickups), "Get in the Car" (Hail Social), "Citizens of Tomorrow" (Tokyo Police Club)

Justin Hawkins (justin.hawkins@students.menloschool.org) contact me
Co-Founder, Reviewer, Secondary Editor
"Music is to me as water is to life"
Favorite Genres: Grunge, Alternative, Experimental
Favorite Artists: Gomez, The Doors, Wilco
Now Playing: "Low" (Cracker), "505" (Arctic Monkeys), "East Mountain Joint" (MV & EE with the Bummer Road), "Guaranteed" (Eddie Vedder), "Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings" (Sunset Rubdown)

Aaron Rosales (aaronros@sbcglobal.net) post me
Site Manager, Reviewer
"Music is bigger than me and bigger than you"
Favorite Genres: Alternative, Rock, Ska, "New Rock", Reggae
Favorite Artists: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Gomez, Muse...too hard to choose
Now Playing: "Thrash Unreal" (Against Me!) "My Body is a Cage" (Arcade Fire) "She's Craty" Beastie Boys, "Girl America" Mat Kearney

Alexis Schwartz (alexis.schwartz@students.menloschool.org)Myspace

Reviewer
“Music is the key to salvation...”
Favorite Genres: Jazz, IndieRock, Reggae, Psychedelic, TechnoHybrid

note: absolutely no country
Favorite Artists: Radiohead, Liquid Tension Experiment, Decemberists, Thieverey Corporation, Michael Franti, Wolfmother
Now Playing:"Tell it Like You Mean It" (Quantic), "Cherokee" (Modern Jazz Quartet), "Young Bride" (Midlake)

Ben Ross (priestson@gmail.com)
Reviewer
“Music is the only thing seperating us from the Man”
Favorite Genres: Rock & Roll, "Alternative," Good Music
Favorite Artists: The White Stripes, Death Cab For Cutie, Franz Ferdinand, Radiohead, Modest Mouse
Now Playing: We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank- Modest Mouse

Ben Southgate (ben.southgate@students.menloschool.org)
General Music Filter/Reviewer
“Music is the never ending supply of powerful fuel that keeps the burning flame of audible art passion from ever being stomped out by the incessant will of of the modern pop mentality.”
Favorite Genres: Indie Pop, Alternative-Folk, Indie Rock, Neo-Disco, Afro Cuban, Funk
Favorite Artists: Iron & Wine, Elliott Smith, Wolf Parade, Mates of State, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Sufjan Stevens, Death From Above 1979, Built to Spill
Now Playing: "Melon" by Home Video

Trevor Nibbi (trevor.nibbi@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is not something you just dump stuff into. Music is not a truck. It's a series of tubes.”
Favorite Genres: Alternative Rock, Punk, Rock, Jazz
Favorite Artists: Muse, Nine Black Alps, Franz Ferdinand, Nirvana
Now Playing: "Ruby" Kaiser Chiefs

David Andresen (david.andresen@students.menloschool.org)

Reviewer

“Music is ”

Favorite Genres: Alternative, Rock, Anything but Country
Favorite Artists: Jimi Hendrix, The White Stripes, Wolfmother, Santana
Now Playing: "Axis Bold As Love" Jimi Hendrix

David Miracchi (david.miracchi@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is. But the real question is 'why?'”
Favorite Genres: Hip Hop, Trance, Bluegrass
Favorite Artists: Van Gogh, 50 Cent, Justin Hawkins' Doodlings of the Mind
Now Playing: Sound of Music Soundtrack

Matt Carvell (matt.carvell@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is …”
Favorite Genres: Rock, Alternative
Favorite Artists: The White Stripes, Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, Nada Surf
Now Playing: Rubber Factory (The Black Keys)

Nicky Ferguson (nicole.ferguson@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is my jomo mojo”
Favorite Genres: alternative, classic rock
Favorite Artists: aerosmith, the killers, the strokes, plain white t's, pink floyd
Now Playing: "wiseman [acoustic]" (slightly stoopid), "kissing the lipless" (the shins)

Graeme Radlo (graeme.radlo@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer/co-founder/ jesus
“Music is cisum backwards”
Favorite Genres:Rock, classic rock, hard rock, metal, any band with a good drummer (except country and emo)
Favorite Artists:New Muse Stuff, some Red Hot Chili Peppers and Led Zeppelin and raconteurs, Nirvana, Metallica, and in Flames
Now Playing: thats for you to decide
Jackie Mora (jaclyn.mora@sbcglobal.net) MySpace
Reviewer/The Coolest Person At This Joint/ An Actual Power Ranger
"Music is who I am. I am not defined by it, I define my music."
Favorite Genres: Rock, Alternative, Classic Rock, some Hard Rock
Favorite Artists: Pink Floyd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots
Now Playing: "Parallel Universe" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Get Well Soon" by Reggie and the Full Effect, "Omaha Stylee" by 311

Matt Calvi (mgcalvi@pacbell.net)
AIM: TheSheik404
(Cynic/"Player Hater")
"Music is something countless morons and saps will try to define without ever, ever, ever being correct."
Favorite Genres: Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Industrial, Metalcore, Alternative, Grunge, Rap, Raggae, Techno, Trance
Favorite Artists: Rammstein, Stone Temple Pilots, Killswitch Engage, Oomph!, Cradles of Filth, NWA, Danzig, Nirvana, H.I.M., Filo and Peri, Scarf!, Johnny Cash, etc.
Now Playing: "Nymphetamine Fix" by Cradles of Filth

Nine Inch Nails (Year Zero)

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:29:55 CST

Released: April 17th, 2007
16 songs – 1:03:42
Interscope Records

5.0 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Survivalism", "My Violent Heart", "God Given"

Intro goes here

Reviewer 1: Score
Review

Joe: 5
Trent Reznor is officially a veteran. With relative ease, he cranks out beat after beat and riff after riff of consistently evil goodness. However, no matter how good Year Zero’s instrumental qualities are, Year Zero as a concept album is a retread of craptastic1950s sci-fi flicks. Exhibit A: “The Warning,” which depicts a scene in which an alien comes to earth. Even the album artwork comes off as cheesy. But the reason Year Zero isn’t a worthless chronicle of martians is that it has such amazing beats and intense clicks. In fact, “The Warning” saves itself with such great instrumental qualities, which are good enough to make me forget about its lyrical weakness. Otherwise, Reznor works his experienced magic with beep-boops on “Survivalism” and paints potent soundscapes on “The Good Soldier” and “Me, I’m Not.” And who could forget the rally cry of a chorus on “God Given”? This albums primary weak spot is “Zero-Sum,” a 6-minute Homeric ballad that proves Year Zero is most easily digested in small bites. But don’t get me wrong: those small bites are delicious.

What Did They Say?
NME: [Not available]
Rolling Stone: 4/5
Metacritic: 76/100
Pitchfork: 6.7/10

Winston (Passengers)

joe_pinsker — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:44:09 CST

Released: July 18th, 2003
12 songs –52:06
CD Baby Records

6.8 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Love It Up and Fell", "Lonely", "Bottom of the World"

Perhaps the reason you haven’t heard of Winston is because he is just a small self-produced singer/songwriter from Canada. Or perhaps it’s because his work is nowhere to be found on the US store of iTunes. In any case, the real question that should be asked is "WHY hasn’t anybody heard of this guy?" With poppy radio knockouts along with sentimental ballads worthy of a tear, it’s no wonder Vue Weekly said, "Winston's material is sophisticated enough to impress even the most jaded radio listener..." And with one listen to this truly impressive artist, you’ll be asking yourself why you hadn’t heard of him sooner.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 7.5
From first touch to 50th listen, this album never ceases to amaze me. Even without a high budget record deal, Winston is able to create a full-feeling sound with their precision and perfectionist attitude in the studio. Immediately with the opening track, “Long Way From the Right Way”, Winston grabs you with hooky pop guitar and never lets go through Passengers. Tracks like “Love It Up and Fell” and “Rock (If You Need It)” are fit for the radio with catchy hooks and sing-along choruses backed by Hauschild’s signature voice. And who can forget “Bottom of the World”, with the most addictive opening guitar effect I have ever heard. With songs like these, it’s hard to imagine that such complete, great sounding songs came from such an unknown band. Yet through this all, what makes Winston special is the personable touch Hauschild creates. With a voice easily attached to and fallen in love with combined with very relatable and personal lyrics, Winston retains a sentimental, affable touch to his songs, whether they are backed by poppy instrumentation or acoustic guitar. This softness and sweetness Winston has is exemplified in “Lonely”, the one true ballad of Passengers. The Canadian Music Network puts it perfectly when they say, "Lonely has a gorgeously melodic chorus that's ready-made for high school proms and weddings”. It’s this personal feel Winston has that truly makes their music special, making this album a must if you can get your hands on it. Just as the title track suggests, please “come board this train” and you won’t be disappointed as a passenger on Passengers.

Joe: 6
With Passengers, Winston isn’t exactly treading new waters. The brand of pop he thrives on is something I’ve heard before, and will almost assuredly hear again. Power ballads are nothing new to me. But, in a sense, Passengers is indeed something unprecedented: Winston injects such personality and emotion into his music. As a result, his soaring choruses, which may seem commonplace in a genre centered on a single pattern (intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-outro), jump out as if entirely fresh. And freshness is just what cliché packaged-pop needs – Winston breathes life into a genre I’d already given up on a while ago. A perfect example of the emotion Winston invests in his music is the chorus of “Lonely.” Somehow, Winston steers clear of the cliché-saturated pop we’re used to and instead makes a song worth listening to. Passengers is simply an impressively personal piece of work. Nonetheless, it’s hard to forget that I’ve heard something like this before.

Winston (Limited)

justin_hawkins — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:56:37 CST

Released: June 5th, 2007
6songs –28:20
CD Baby Records

7.0 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Butterflies", "Denim", "Saying the Same Thing"

Trent Reznor wrote, conducted, and played the music we call Nine Inch Nails all by himself right? Well, technically yes… but he did it with computers. In Hauschild’s first go at a solo record, he chose not only to play by himself, but also self-produce without the help of digital devices. In the title track, Winston uses an egg timer to keep the beat. Yet this isn’t some experimental meshing of kitchen sounds, but rather a complete, personable sound Winston is known for.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 7
Even without the accompaniment of band members, Winston still retains the same full, perfected sound that made Passengers so memorable. Limited is just a short sample of Winston’s new works, only containing 6 tracks. However, these six tracks show promise of the solo artist’s future as they are some of the best material released under the Winston name. For obvious reasons, Winston has taken a more acoustic, ballad focused approach to his works (think “Lonely”), complete with another batch of sentimental, personal lyrics. This EP literally has no low points, solid all the way through from the opening “All Alone” to the fantastic finish “Butterflies”. Hauschild’s voice is in full spotlight and all these tracks, showing off his talented versatility and range. Though all the tracks are worthwhile in their own regard and interesting due to the situation of no digital recording devices, the real highlights are “Denim” and “Butterflies”, both exemplifying Winston’s lovable voice and perfectionist attention to detail. All in all however, this EP is just a reinforcing indication that Winston is not lost with the disbanding of the previous group, but instead, has just begun creating sweet music for ages to come.

Joe: Score
review 2

Videos

"All Alone"

Review Central

justin_hawkins — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:07:37 CST

Here is where you can find links to our most recent reviews. Here, we'll guide you through new releases, expose overlooked gems, and also make sure that you don't spend your money on something that just isn't worth it. They'll be updated regularly, so check back soon for more. Once a new review is added to one of these three categories, (and since there are only a handful of "current" reviews in a category), the oldest review of the group will no longer be on this page. But don't fear, you can find them either by searching this site, or by going to the archive.

FEATURED - Editors

RECENT RELEASES (Less than 6 Months Old):
Magic Numbers' Those The Brokes
Magic Bullets' a CHILD but in life yet a DOCTOR in love
Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero
Editors' An End Has a Start

OLDER RELEASES (6 Months and Older):
Cold War Kids' Robbers & Cowards
Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary
The White Stripes' The White Stripes

Unified Theory's Unified Theory

Editors' The Back Room

OUR FAVORITES:
The Bravery's The Bravery - 7.6
Gomez's How We Operate - 7.3

Cold War Kids (Robbers & Cowards)

justin_hawkins — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:01:01 CST

Released: October 10, 2006
12 songs –52: 24
Downtown Music

7.8 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Hospital Beds", "Hang Me Up to Dry", "We Used to Vacation"

Descending from California, The Cold War Kids is an ambitious new band that draws its influences from such greats as Bob Dylan and The Velvet Underground. The band’s sound pillars around Nathan Willet’s adaptable voice alongside clattering guitars and piano that makes for a live performance feel, without the inconveniences of lacking studio quality.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 8
The Cold War Kids’ debut full-length album, Robbers & Cowards, carries a sound unlike any other current release. Inspired by the Velvet Underground, the raggedy piano, clangy guitars and down-to-earth drums create a sort of saloon-like atmosphere for which Robbers & Cowards dwells in. This is only accentuated by Willet’s signature voice, ranging from mellow to eruptive in “Hang Me Up to Dry” all the way to falsetto in “Pregnant”. This versatility backed by catchy, deep tones of piano and guitars create for a memorable sound that finds success throughout the 12 tracks. While the beginning of the album opens itself up to radio anthems with “Hang Me Up to Dry” and “We Used to Vacation”, the real jewels of this album are where the radio won’t touch. Highlights include “Passing the Hat”, “Red Wine, Success!” and “Pregnant”. However, where the Cold War Kids’ sound really shines is in “Hospital Beds” where Willet’s vocals are accompanied by a perfect mixture of thundering drums, guitars always on the verge of exploding in crescendo and delicate piano. The Cold War Kids produce their very own sound in their debut, and it’s a very good one at that. We can only hope that they perfect their winning combination even more in future releases.

Aaron: 7.5
Exactly as Justin states... these guys know how to mix it up to give an authentic original feel. While the drums, guitar, and piano are solid, the real magic is found in Willet's astoundingly versatile voice that controls the mood of the song and subtle instrumental additions such as the tambourine or extra cymbal in "Saint John". "Saint John" is not to be ignored, and is truly one of there best songs performed live. If you have the chance to see this unique band perform, do not miss your chance. While the album is by all means excellent, their performance would truly demand a score as high as 8.5 or 9.

Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins (Rabbit Fur Coat)

justin_hawkins — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:12:56 CST

Released: January 24th, 2006
12 tracks –38:17
Team Love Records

6.0 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Handle With Care", "Melt Your Heart", "The Charging Sky"

Growing up in the spotlight of stardom, appearing on multiple television spots and fronting Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis is no stranger to what it takes in the music industry. With her solo debut accompanied by the Watson twins, Rabbit Fur Coat proves worthy of praise with a blend of ballads and pop influenced tracks all backed by the lovable vocals by Lewis.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 6
Rabbit Fur Coat draws most of its attention from its signature vocals, though that’s not to say the instrumentation can’t hook you in either. Jenny Lewis makes the most of the album’s ballads, with poignant vocals to go along with fitting strumming and shakers in tracks like “Happy” and “Born Secular”. The highlight of this sentimental ballad is “Melt Your Heart”, where Lewis’s dreamy voice is perfectly matched with the Watson twins’ eerie background vocals and subtle shakers and instrumentation. Rabbit Fur Coat proves to be a joy to listen to as the lightness and sense of soothing these ballads bring combined with the catchy, yet still gentle beauty of tracks like “You Are What You Love” and the perfect rendition of the Traveling Wilbury’s “Handle With Care”. The softness of Jenny Lewis’s voice will keep you coming back for more, as her first solo effort fulfills high expectations by being a light, easy listen.

Reviewer 2: Score
Review 2

Albums Pending Reviewers

justin_hawkins — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:55:24 CST

This is a folder containing all the albums still waiting to be reviewed by 2 reviewers. Feel free to choose any and finish them off, or put a major review up (review 1 and intro) for a new album. Thank you