Pink Strikes Her Next Blow

Good thing there isn't a clone of Pink. The planet couldn't hold that much raw energy. Up first from "The Truth About Love" is attitude served up as only she could. "Blow Me (One Last Kiss) is whoop ass on full crank. As "U and Ur Hand" proved she's no stranger to skewering men who are taking up too much of her oxygen. This ditty treads the same ground. She recalls those many arguments she and her soon to be ex main squeeze had. It dawns on her that this must be why a royal kiss off is in order. Front and center in most listeners' minds ought to be "Would I want to be putting up with his dramas after I had a shit day?" The rhythms are muscular, another adjective Pink's world brings to mind. He'll rue the day he drove them both to the edge of this break-up. Being equal parts rock chick and carnival spectacle it's hard not to laugh at how forthright she can be. It's also been a cool breath of fresh air for the longest time. She manages to come out of the head her man claims is so filled with seriousness to spell out for him how the cow ate the cabbage. I already sense "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" could grow to be a middle finger salute for all the wronged high school girls who've been with the wrong guys long enough and need the motivational  influence to send them packing. The 2012-13 school year ought to be intriguing with this new bolt of lightning injected into the mix.

Down to Earth Soulfulness From a Solid Citizen

Citizen Cope is most assuredly a sound for sore ears. His rhythm section saturates the air with the warmer temperatures of the aural color wheel. His is a vocal styling not lacking for earnestness. If you're searching for someone to keep you grounded in the face of what seems to be ever escalating weirdness then Cope's your wordsmith. "One Lovely Day" takes listeners through a wide assortment of loveliness with nary a note that disappoints. In the spirit of getting to dessert first I shower praise all over "Dancer From Brazil". It's a wonderful aphrodisiac that moves methodically as if it's very happy in the moment thank you and therefore isn't in a hurry to tackle the needful. Musical tributes to the opposite sex are a dime a dozen but with Citizen Cope lending extra grind to the bump and grind nice and easy it's a refreshing subject all over again. Close your eyes and try not to be fantasizing about peeling the layers of clothing off of your girl while you listen. On the opposite side of the pacing spectrum there's "DFW", the bittersweet tale of seeing that special someone fade out of sight as she boards a plane headed for Big D. Cope's jaunty way with the guitar underscores how tough it is dealing with the mercilessly precise timing of the airline industry as it clashes with the need for an unhurried bon voyage to she who makes your world spin just a little bit easier. Piano keys on steroids only reaffirm how the tension involved in this heartbreaking goodbye is touchable. Even at this eleventh hour there's no shortage of heart on the sleeve sentiment yet to be shared. The title track continues to keep the home fires burning bright. You'll knowingly nod your head in appreciation when you dig into this delicately beautiful acknowledgement of how you've struck gold when you find time and space to appreciate loved ones fully. There's a misty-eyed que sera sera at work yet it's kept in check by a cozy atmosphere of hopefulness. As you might expect from a song called "Something to Believe In", there's purpose in spades leading the charge. The drums beat fiercely as if to say "Try and keep me from what I put first". The beat isn't hyper-aggressive though. Just enough defiance to warn others of what awesome force is barreling around the bend. There's never reason to quit life so long as a certain someone values your continued participation.. Piano melodies seem headed for destruction but Cope's there to indicate all will be fine. Grandiose production values ramp up the attractiveness quotient. "Summertime" moves at a slow enough clip to summon up dog day afternoon visions. Though summer is the featured season, Cope makes reference to the other three. It's as if summer is the center of the wheel and, for now anyway, spring, fall, and winter all spin in its orbit. The finger snapping accompaniment puts the sign out on the door attesting to the fact that loose is the only mood allowed to prevail. "One Lovely Day" easily provides the tasty formula for what will surely be scores of lovely nights. Cope is in step with his priorities. That's great news for music lovers of all stripes.

Soup of Sounds Characterizes "Swing Lo Magellan"

Give the nod to Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors. They have many ingredients in play as part of their musical recipe book. "Swing Lo Magellan" gives listeners numerous tastes that aren't short on tantalizing mouth feel. "Offspring" leans towards ghoulish foreboding arrangements that will have you wondering what oddball hallway you've stumbled your way into. "Swing Lo" swipes a page out of the early '70s folk tune handbook. This flower is delicate and a delight to watch unfold. If a song that thinks it's too cool for your plebe ears is up your alley then "The Socialites" is worth getting to know even if the lyrics suggest these particular socialites can't give you the bum's rush fast enough. Try to keep your tongues in your head once you've gotten your eyes and ears wrapped around the pretty lady with hair voluminous and chic. David Longstreth has proves himself a worthy MC for arthouse audio films such as this. Amber Coffman and Olga Bell contribute magical harmonies to the chorus. You'll eat hearty from a genre standpoint if you pour yourself a bowl of what Dirty Projectors have to offer.

The Black Keys Display The "Right" Stuff

Some songs approach the ear with the persistence of the stray puppy that, no matter how many times you try to shoo it back to its panicked owner it always comes back for more. Such is the case with "Run Right Back", the latest single from The Black Keys' critically lauded project "El Camino". Dan Auerbach's guitar work here possesses that "Don't you want to know what's on my mind?" quality. What feeds its randy slyness is one combustible dame destined to explode before she hits the ground. A bibliophile she's not but blessed with the kind of curves that get men's tongues rolling out of their heads. Dan's voice is lust personified as he examines she who refuses to be tamed. Toss in the equally provocative drumming of Patrick Carney and the sinfully naughty result is a grimy rocker that could be best enjoyed while doing the 'ol bump and grind in the back of a flatbed truck.

Matisyahu Ignites a Fresh Spark

Liberation of the mind is the name of Matisyahu's game. If the abiding spirit cleanser emerging within the 13 gold nuggets on the new "Spark Seeker" is any indication he plays it well. We could all do well to follow the advice of "Live Like a Warrior" which is don't let the past be the anchor which blinds you to the potential beauty of the future. "Fire of Freedom" puts his intelligent phrase turning on full display. The drums billowing out here only add to the song's defiant sense of purpose. "Shine on You" charms with its playful horns scampering through the bridge. You're soon awash in beneficial light. You've been assured once Matty's light of inner truth penetrates your darkest reaches you'll be fine. File "Tel Aviv'n" under guilty pleasure due to its eternally magnetic dance magic. Don't harrumph at the inclusion of "I Believe In Love" in this bunch. It's a saucy attention-grabber adorable enough to keep the love pursuit theme from getting stale. You'll find a generosity of sparks carrying "Spark Seeker" along. Astute record buyers would be wise to help Matisyahu's spark translate into impressive sales.

The Killers Are Poised for "Runaways" Success

The proud tradition of songs outlining the exodus of young lovers pursuing a better life continues with this brash bomb blast off of "Battle Born" a CD sure to be among the fall's more hotly anticipated releases. Brandon Flowers assumes his position as one of rock's more arresting storytellers. Images of newly gained marital bliss become tangled with his betrothed's quest to escape modern life's prison. This enterprise gleams with America's freedom-loving ideals, particularly Brandon's conclusion that we the people are all runaways. Ronnie Vannucci, Jr. drums with a rebellious bent that lends itself well to Brandon's tale. As for Dave Keuning his deftly woven guitar licks forge an undaunted backbone. "Runaways" is full of the multi-hued dynamism The Killers has become known for during its ten years and change existence. The Las Vegas band has rolled boxcars with this sparkling saga. The "Born To Run" era Bruce Springsteen would have approved.

Serj's Conscious Awareness Very Scary on Harikari

Serj Tankian does a bang-up job of playing the hard rock inmate who's running the asylum. "Harikari" amounts to one long defiant shout in the face of widespread ignorance and alienation. He's at his best in preacher mode. Nowhere is this ace in the hole posture clearer than on short raw bursts of adrenaline like "Figure It Out". His guitar's cranked up to twelve and he's intellectually armed for bear. His riff roaring acknowledges no restraint. If "Fuck it. Let's figure it out" doesn't get his herd mentality dictated point across clearly enough than the exercise is in vain. Serj deserves some sort of humanitarian medal for having had the won tons to cry out the words "I abhor the whore who calls herself Reality TV. During a time where the boob tube is hyper saturated with shades of this voyeuristic dreck it's good to know one voice of reason still exists. "Reality TV" is grimy as a Middle Eastern casbah room teeming with potential harem babes. "Uneducated Democracy" bears full fang to speak out against how inexcusable an ignorant populace is. Serj's stream-of-consciousness wordplay serves him well in this instance. There's a rocket booster intensity afoot that explodes with each note. "Harikari" continues to see Serj sharpening his already impressive gifts of observation.

Smashing Pumpkins Take Fans and Newbies Alike On a Sonic Voyage

Get ready for a prime '90s flashback. The Smashing Pumpkins have a new CD, "Oceania" You will likely be emotionally drained, not so much from the torment springing from Billy Corgan's lips but from the multi-tiered songs the entire foursome bands together to unveil. For instance, "Quasar" is the perfect showcase for Mike Byrne. He rips into his drums with such violence you'd think they tried to make off with his woman. Nice chunk of premium Pumpkins rock. For more of a magnum opus attitude "Oceania", the title track, walks through many mesmerizing mood doors from gun it rock to deliberate saga stuffed into the closing credits of major motion picture. All the while Corgan's guitar briskly shuffles up and down like some whiz kid trying to play teacher's pet by demonstrating how oh so smart he is. Somehow Billy's made time to fashion himself as the dashing hero that damsels should feel free to hold onto for dear life. That's the carnival ride "One Diamond One Heart" presents. More often than not Billy's tied to broad in scope artsy vision. It's still apparent here but with a nice dollop of restraint for the benefit of neophytes who don't want to be smacked upside the head with elitist artwork. Much of the time the provocatively complex song arrangements are motivation enough to encourage repeated listenings. I found some unique chord embellishment, flourish or chord blend in practically every track. It may be 2012 but The Smashing Pumpkins have once again found a way to make it justifiable to hop in the time machine, destination 1990s.

Memphis May Fire Enters The Rock Arena As Defending Challenger

Erupting out of Dallas with its new CD "Challenger" is Memphis May Fire, a Dallas metalcore band which manages to balance go for the jugular menace with compellingly melodic song structure. Matty Mullins and Kellen McGregor comprise a double-edged vocal attack. Matty's angst slices through "Red In Tooth Claw". Romance has left him wounded to the core and he merely wants to move forward. Kellie's polished pitch perfect chord interjections ease the blunt lyrical edge Matt provides. "Prove Me Right" is an explosion of shame on yous leveled at a record industry loathe to enable creative control. Jake Garland blasts out unrelenting drum wizardry which insures his beats move in lock step with the message. One can't help but pull for Matt as he writhes in agony throughout "Alive In The Lights". He revisits territory hammering home the importance of not surrendering your uniqueness. "Generation: Hate" deserves kudos for throwing a spotlight on cyberbullying, a 21st century psychological torment just as insipid if not more so than physical violence. Memphis May Fire brings the sonic salvos on this release. While Matt's emoting might prove an agonizing listen for some, don't rule these guys out until you've had a chance to sample the total package.

Teenage Bottlerocket Lets Its Freak Flag Fly

If punk rock is essentially short bursts of rebellious fury then Laramie, Wyoming's Teenage Bottlerocket has done its homework. The new "Freak Out" CD never lags in the energy department. Just examine the steroid blitz that is "Who Killed Sensei" and you'll get my point. "Summertime" is awash in warm chord shiftings that demand this be played with a white sand beach backdrop. "Done With Love" successfully hammers home one man's being too busy to indulge a minor trifle such as the whole love and be loved game. Credit vocalist Ray Carlisle's snarling defiance for allowing him to fit into the shoes of sympathetic victim."Radical" is an amusing little composition based on its use of soundalike words such as fanatical and hypothetical. The rhythms are solid due in no small measure to Brandon Carlisle who gamely keeps pace with Kody Templeman as he races up and down the fretboard. As is common with punk albums many of these tracks are astonishingly short. The lyrics can come off as puerile but that too isn't foreign to punk where attitude rules the day. "Freak Out" may not offer any Mensa scholar musings but can at least be used as a primer for neophytes stumbling through the punk world trying to grasp the genre's essence.

Legendary Aerosmith Adds Dimension To Its Legacy

Upon hearing "Legendary Child", the first single from Aerosmith's upcoming "Music From Another Dimension", I wholeheartedly say to the eager masses that the party's back on. It's easily got more firepower than anything from "Just Push Play". Who really cares if the guys are in their 60s? We should all have our rock mojo cranked up to eleven at that age. Joey Kramer is still a blistering drummer. Joe Perry is still a psychotic axe man. Steven Tyler hasn't lost his touch with rock poetry regardless of how high school corny it might be. Some might say they're past their prime but I don't agree. Every artist needs some time to recharge his or her battery. "Legendary Child" is one hell of a juggernaut. For me you have to go back to their initial late '80s resurgence to locate this level of octane. Upon first listen you'll walk away feeling like a hurricane just ran into you. If the rest of the album is this hook-driven I'll snatch it up in seconds flat.