Blog: Rebel Riffs

Hear The Track HereI have given ol' Lazza a lot of stick in the past about being one of the most reviewed people on my monthly Soundclick list but after all, we shouldn't forget that he's busier than a blue arsed fly. Not only does he have side project Speak Words Speak, but he can be found in collaboration with almost anyone who asks him including some stellar (but not comfortable) appearances

Hear The Track HereAlthough I haven't found anything to get really excited about with the previous two Mike B is for Byj tracks - Crybaby (April 2011) and Average Joe (June 2011) - I'm certainly impressed with this Canadian's knack of going about his business. Both songs are kind of pop rock of the melodic variety and show that the man has some chops even if the tracks haven't exactly set my

Hear The Track HereAlthough I have reviewed Sheffield, UK band The Usual Pleasures a few times, one of those doesn't count. See, if ya remember I reviewed their Kevlar Heart a couple of times; once as their introductory track and again with a remix/remaster which did - in all fairness - definitely make the track better. Mind you, you'd have to like your music pretty raw because punk lives on

Hear The Track HereIf I had known, at the beginning of this year when I named Avalanche as my Artist Of The Year 2010, what I know now, I'd have probably draped them in ermine and proclaimed them King Of The World, Ma into the bargain. For my money, with a band as long-lived as Avalanche, adaptability is a required skill but this year they have surpassed themselves in that respect, and in many

Hear The Track HereYou know ol' Weylin is a deceptive cove. Took me a while to get what he was saying but that's usually the way. Mind you, with a Goth image and metal(ish) material his music would be a shoo-in with me. Ahhhh, but that is before the P word enters already muddy waters (Ed: hope it had wellingtons....Good Grief!! I'm getting as bad as him) P as in Progressive chums, although

Hear The Track HereIn all the years I have been reviewing like this I have never, until this moment, reviewed a 'mixtape', although I certainly got through my share of hip hop in general. Fact is, I have loved the genre since back in the day and followed it all the way to the hollow shell the commercial world is trying to foist on us. T'ain't hip hop I tell you, I call it by its true name -

Hear The Track HereAs the brighter sparks among you may have already gathered, Andrey Mischenko is a Russian musician. What you do not realise, maybe because you just plain don't care, is that he also proving to be an amazingly difficult musician to pin down or pigeonhole. Come on, you guys know me of old, you know I am going to try to fit labels to everything I see, it's a fine Gilmore

Hear The Track HereIt would appear that this economic number storm whirling around our lives is also affecting our corner of the world. Even Satellite 3 are no longer three, but two with the departure of guitarist Joey Saha. Meanwhile surviving members Justin Storie and Aaron Cook have come up with the first tune since the excellent Love Was Never Enough (June 2011). Although my initial

Hear The Track HereAnother musician with a long Soundclick pedigree, John Brandon first came to my attention back in 2003 when he was one half of the then darlings of the Soundclick scene, Silvertrain. Having gone through considerable ups and downs after Silvertrain ran out of steam (come on, how could I resist it?), John landed on his feet with Those Among Us, ably and convincingly abetted by

Hear The Track HereFirst Soundclick artist up this month (yeah finally), and that's a sudden break from this blogs norm, it's only fitting that the spot should be occupied by one of the very first Soundclick groups I came across back in 2003. Fear 2 Stop are probably the most reviewed (by me) Soundclick artists of all time, a three piece experimental outfit from Houston,Texas who have achieved a

Hear The Track HereRebel Riffs review requests come in an amazing variety of styles, from every corner of the net world and it never ceases to amaze me how inventive so many people are. OK, so I admit that you do have to have a modicum of talent, a networking skill and a bit of experience in what works and what doesn't but making music (of whatever kind) is far easier today than ever before. Of

Hear The Track HereAs you well know, my musical interests cover a huge range of styles and moods but - like all musicians - I have my favourites; both to play and to listen. Rock, obviously plays a big, big part in it (because that's where I grew my own music) but 1960's pop, soul and r&b played their part too but I have to say that the biggest influence on me - all my musical life - has been

Hear The Track HereYou may have noticed that all the reviews so far are from musicians we (me and you lot, that is) haven't come across before and, in many ways, that is a mixed blessing. Mainly because I am scrabbling desperately to get past the long lead in between someone asking for a review and actually getting one. So I'm concentrating this month on reducing the ever increasing pile of

Hear The Track HereOne of the absolute joys of the often thankless task of reviewing is that - every once in a while - musical providence throws this particular starving critical dog a nice juicy bone. In this case juicy, meaty and all the other saliva inducing words we can conjure up. For sure, I find as I get further and further down the line as a reviewer, it is becoming harder and harder to

Hear The Track HereStarting this month off (late again I know) with a review request from the Rebel Riffs blog, Imposter Syndrome approached me months ago to review their new (then) Block Party EP. Finally, then we get to it and, in some ways, I am glad to have heard some good old fashioned New York City rock because it's been a while since I've heard it this raw. I specify New York City rock

Hear The Track HereFrom the progressive rock of Thielus Grenon to the progressive metal of Weylin's Slayer Orchestra means that prog is the taste that will remain in the mouth after this months reviews. Ewwwwww indeed. It's a good job that both of these musicians deliver their brand of venom (ooops, sorry I mean prog) with much more attention to detail than most other proggies, even though I

Hear The Track HereLooking at the tumbleweed strewn desolation of Soundclick's forums (which may well be reaching their Aral Sea moment), you couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to be busy, let alone buzzing. There was a time though, where these forums were so active, and the music flowed accordingly. As the old saying goes, everyone should get 15 minutes of fame, around 2004 was

Hear The Track HereDon't know why I automatically assume that all hip hop is a) American urban or b) even strictly hip hop when a great deal of the hip hop I get to review - most of it very good indeed - is neither American or strictly what could be termed hip hop. Canada, surprisingly enough, houses a substantial amount of hip hop musicians and rappers. One of my own favourites Twizzie (aka

Hear The Track HereLast night I was able yet again to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes; holding up the drinks trolley over at Mixposure's Saturday Night Rocks radio show, where I imbibed huge quantities of hard and heavy rock as is my custom on a Saturday night. Which is why I am now suggesting that Diamond Lil also look at getting themselves over there - as well as Soundclick of course.

Hear The Track HereThose people (a multitude probably) know and love Cameron Bastedo's poppy Cam's Even Song tracks, and probably a few more that like his Christian message side but I'd say very few know that this man can also work with electronica, and well too - listen to side project The Sonic Salad for proof positive. The reason I am saying this is because the intro of this track may throw