The next installment of Ozzfest is near. And along comes the new single from Arch Enemy’s “Doomsday Machine,” as if to remind America just which Swedish act was the breakout band at last year’s festival. “My Apocalypse” strikes up a marching band beat, then layers on razor-sharp guitars that morph into buzz saws. Vocalist Angela […]
Times of crisis can breed some beautiful noise. A Canadian citizen deeply concerned with the state of “our country,” Neil Young returns to his classic Crazy Horse sound, welding warmly distorted, amp-blowing guitars with frail vocals and taut drums. It’s the perfect medium for a raw, unfiltered message. “America has a leader/But he’s not in […]
Cheyenne Kimball has been practicing for this moment all her life. Playing guitar since 7, writing since 8 and performing in public since 9, the teen prodigy won NBC’s “America’s Most Talented Kid” reality series in 2003 and subsequently signed a multirecord deal with Epic. Launch single “Hanging On” fits the Michelle Branch niche (conveniently […]
When C Note’s first album, “Different Kind of Love,” peaked at a less-than-lofty No. 163 six years ago, boy band godfather and pop mogul Lou Pearlman retooled its members and reinvented its mission. Pearlman — best-known for putting ‘N Sync and Backstreet Boys into orbit — hopes to hit two markets with one C Note […]
Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell steps forward as a solo artist with a bold new album targeting the Christian market. This gorgeous single, however, is well-suited to either Christian or mainstream formats with its positive lyric and engaging melody. It celebrates pursuing your dreams and reveling in the knowledge that love will always welcome you home. […]
As Hoobastank continues to gain ground with striking ballad “If I Were You” at adult top 40, modern rock and top 40, Island preps the band’s upcoming third album “Every Man for Himself,” streeting May 16, with a reminder of its hard rock roots via the more aggressive “Inside of You.” The band’s breakthrough mainstream […]
This talented Texas band makes its national bow with an impressive single that provides a perfect showcase for lead Danny Rivera’s earthy, heartfelt vocals that beautifully convey the emotional angst in this well-written ballad. The song looks at an impending breakup from the point of view of the guy in the relationship. He knows what’s […]
Before getting his record deal, Jeff Bates had more than his share of personal turmoil, having dealt with drug addiction and time spent in jail for theft and possession. Perhaps that is why he connects so powerfully with this lyric about a man looking for a second chance. The first verse describes an ex-con trying […]
Just as D.H.T.’s 2005 high-energy cover of Roxette’s “Listen to Your Heart” went exactly where you expected it to — refashioning a beloved downtempo retro hit into an anthemic thumper — established dance artist Kim Sozzi’s remake of Heart’s “Alone” works the 1987 No. 1 power ballad into a frenzied workout mantra. It’s hard to […]
Sad-sack storyteller Five for Fighting — the larger-than-life persona of singer/songwriter John Ondrasik — returns with “The Riddle,” refreshingly more uptempo and optimistic than previous “Superman” and “100 Years,” albeit still probing for the meaning of life. This time around, after discussions with a wise man and his kid, Ondrasik concludes, “I guess we’re big […]
If there was ever a song to bring country back to the pop forefront, it’s “What Hurts the Most.” Rascal Flatts has already taken the song to No. 1 at its country home, and a new “Hot Mix,” which sweeps away the steel guitar and slightly pops up the arrangement, makes it an ideal candidate […]
“XXX” marks the spot for Chicago, whose new album on Rhino marks more than 35 years on the charts, a staggering achievement. While the full-length project is experimental, even daring in spots, second single “Love Will Come Back” is a vintage, hit-worthy effort, featuring the intricate harmonies, grandiose production and signature horn section that have […]
Lynne cracked the top 30 with his first effort and should achieve an even higher score this time around with the impressive “Do We Still.” Lynne wrote the song with Rob Crosby and Will Rambeaux, and the lyric captures the emotional angst of a relationship that’s unraveling, especially in the clever hook “We said ‘I […]
Black Stone Cherry’s “Lonely Train” is catching the retro-rock trend as the single from the group’s forthcoming Roadrunner Records debut gains radio traction. The Kentucky band counts Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Lynyrd Skynyrd among its influences, which this track clearly reflects. But the song really comes across as a lighter version of Zakk Wylde’s […]
