Thera

So I didn't know music existed in the barren wasteland of Alaska, but apparently, I was wrong. Thera is a great female fronted rock outfit out of Anchorage, AK. Sounds kinda like Evanescence with extra male singing/screaming vocals accenting. Pretty darn good considering it was probably recorded in a garage overlooking the tundra. They have 3 songs released to date, all are up on MySpace. Still no label as far as I know.

www.myspace.com/theraak

check em out

Switchfoot- Nothing Is Sound

Switchfoot- Nothing Is Sound
Release Date: Sept., 2005
Review Date: April 26, 2009

In light of Switchfoot's forthcoming releases this next year and the beautiful summer weather, I I figured it was time to give a shout out to this great nationally known band from San Diego. Nothing is Sound is an odd album to say the least. I didn't really like it very much when I first received it and nonchalantly tossed it aside. I have since picked it back up and spun it a few more times, only to discover an amazing slow-burn album.

Nothing is Sound is not overpowering, but it's strong, subtle good-ness only grows as you listen to it. There are some really good songs on this album, but they all seem to fall short of amazing or spectacular. It's strange, but the album ends up still working well. There are no errors on it, but I doubt that it's Switchfoot's best work.

Some of the standout tracks: "The Fatal Wound" is a spectacular song with a quirky uniqueness that has always stuck with me; "The Shadow Proves the Sunshine" is dear and delicate, vulnerably touching the listener; "Stars," "Lonely Nation," "Setting Sun," "Easier than Love" and "Politicians" are all great straight-up rock numbers perfect for summer driving on the highway.

All in all, Nothing is Sound really is a good album. Although not the best, you don't have to worry about being distracted by flaws on this '05 disc.

Score: 8/10

-joe

Conditions

Conditions
listen: www.purevolume.com/conditions

This is a shameless plug for Conditions, a great band I discovered this winter when Purevolume announced the top 21 unsigned bands of 2008. Conditions, an unsigned alternative/rock band, is well deserving of the aforementioned honor. I haven't heard an unsigned band whom I liked this much since discovering Red. Hopefully they will land a record deal with a big label like T&N and get some serious production behind them. Their purevolume site is chalk full of great songs. Enjoy :) If you go to listen to them, you MUST listen to Citizen. It's absolutely amazing. They remind me of a scaled back Emery: plenty of harmony and off-balance song signatures, a great vocal aesthetic and a slight edge.

-joe

Thousand Foot Krutch- Bring Me to Life (song)

Hey hey hey!

here's the link for the song: http://www.feedthebeat.com/

free listen and download of the new track from the unreleased new album from TFK. This is probably the best TFK music since Phenomenon, and certainly a return to the general style of that record with a little more edge and attitude this time around. Parts of this song are reminiscent of Disturbed, even.

Look for the new release in fall 2009, Welcome to the Masquerade

enjoy ;) -joe