| Dancehall Apocalypse Firescape 3.0 Firescape, the side project of Something Corporate guitarist and songwriter Josh Partington, on their sophomore record Dancehall Apocalypse Partington and the gang shy even further away from that “piano rock” that Something Corporate has been known for and for good reason. This isn’t a Something Corporate record, this is a Firescape record. It’s always a shady thing when someone does a side project most of the time they contain the same amount of substance as Paris Hilton’s head, but every once in a while you come across a real Gem, and Dancehall Apocalypse is that tiny warm center that both of those sides huddle around. If Dancehall was a few degrees further to either side it could be classic or a lost cause. Dancehall may leave Something Corporate fans in the dust worried and confused, but again that’s ok, because this isn’t a Something Corporate record, but if you’re always waiting for more guitars in Something Corporate records Dancehall is a must have. The Jimmy Eat World factor is in full effect, on Dancehall. |
| The Bigger Picture Run Doris Run 3.5 On their debut these west coast boys deliver us the perfect EP. The Bigger Picture does exactly what an EP is meant to do; it gives us a taste of what is to come. Even without a record deal Run Doris Run was still able to land an opening spot on the Taste of Chaos tour this spring. If you were lucky enough catch one of these California kids outside after a Taste of Chaos gig, you would catch them peddling their EP for a mere 5 bucks, and if you were ballsy enough to buy one, then you do cherish it. On Picture Doris sounds like a popper Rise Against most obviously on From Now On and Turn it Around, with it’s mid song bass lines and catchy choruses. Like I said this is a mere taste and it is a tease, just like Patty the prom queen. |
| Another Song…EP The Dark Romantics 4.0 Tampa’s Trailblazer The Dark Romantics somehow find the ghost of Thom Yorke’s past in a Florida basement (a state without them), somewhere hiding behind the Moog synthesizer, old Beck samples, and a drum machine. The Dark Romantics 2006 EP release Another Song EP pulls out all the stops with there own brand of garage rock revival, only it’s just a bit more polished. Another Song is only 5 songs long, chalked full of “Emo-ed” out James Bond theme songs which is apparent in Mode 59,a remix of So Confused, and Morrissey- esque darkly sarcastic lyrics that all the girls will be finding darkly romantic like on the original So Confused, “You’ve been there before/Outside someone’s door/ Playing your lays to stop the shakes/ And no heartbreaks because you won’ t want me no more”. Thom Yorke’s ghost is alive and rapid on When She Says…She Loves Me, the sultry synth- pop gem. Somewhere in the mix The Romantics even find time for a remix of So Confused that would leave The Dust Brothers in awe. |