The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq

Usually when confronted with a comeback artists push to be edgier and try to seem 'on-the-verge' (i.e. MC Hammer becomes Hammer, Vanilla Ice becomes a heavy metal band) however Raphael Saadiq (formerly of Tony! Toni! Tone!) took a different approach. Saadiq went for a tamer almost retro image with his debut throwback album The Way I See It. The album is reminiscent of the good old days of Motown when artists didn't rely on studio tricks to make them sound less "toxic" (get it?). The album features a collection of fun and danceable tracks that have what I will now refer to as "extreme clapability". With guests like Joss Stone and Jay-Z Saadiq manages to keep this album relevant and interesting. 10/10

-Dylan

Holy EP, Love as Laughter

Love as Laughter are veterans of the recent independent music movement. The band was formed in the early 1990s but were overshadowed by the hip-hop and grunge groups that overpopulated the airwaves. Audiences craving new sounds quickly turned to this band. "All Parts of Me" and "Cross eyed Beautiful Youngunz" are featured on the full-length album of the same name. "Icarus" is a rerecorded B-Side that makes this EP a must have for indie music fans. The EP on a whole sounds shockingly similar to a Modest Mouse side project, perhaps that is why Isaac Brock (vocalist/songwriter-Modest Mouse) signed the band to his new label..? 8.5/10

-Palumbo 

Shogun, Trivium

Taking their thrash sound to a new level Trivium uses some cool riffs and heavy melodies to make the latest CD Shogun sound pretty unique. Vocalist Matt Heafy is usually going back and forth between singing and screaming in the verses and choruses. Unlike some bands his screams don't become overpowering allowing everyone in the band to have a place in the sound. Heafys singing isn't all that bad either causing me to wonder why he wouldn't sing more in the songs. A majority of the album references Japanese and Greek mythology about pain and suffering. The lyrics tend to get a bit gruesome with lines like "I pull my ribs open now/Bled my heart upon the grounds/Drink of the blood and take me in/My flesh is ripped at daily/It's the cross I bear", it's hard not to notice. 9/10

-Brian

Ben Folds, Way To Normal

Despite the play on words in the title, Ben Folds' newest solo effort just isn't up to the witty standards set forth by earlier work. Though his heavy piano style continues, some of the tracks get a little 'happy-go-lucky' and try maybe a little too hard to be funny. However, there are some stand out tracks including "Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)", "Brainwascht" and "Effington" which offer some snappy commentary on suburban life. Overall Mr. Folds falls short with this one and comes across as a 40-year old trying to relate to a younger audience. Oh Wait... 5.5/10

-Katie

A Larum, Johnny Flynn

With this mellow, folksy sound Johnny Flynn's A Larum sounds like something you'd hear in a rundown bar in the deserted part of Colorado at 4pm on a Sunday when the only people in there are old men silently sitting around smoking and drinking whiskey and beer. Songs like "The Box", "Tickle Me Pink" and "Eyeless in Holloway" have more upbeat sounds, like an Oklahoma ho down. He is very faithful to the sound of instruments in their purest form, no electronic tampering leaves the guitars, horns and strings prevalent throughout. With songs like "The Wrote & The Pink" Flynn strangely conjures up memories of The Beatles in the later years, only toned down and without the LSD.

-Steph

WELCOME!!!

Hello All, Welcome to the new WMAR MUSIC REVIEWS BLOG! We have a great team of people working hard to bring some great reviews and to hopefully get you interested in some NEW MUSIC. If you don't already know our webcast is located HEREHEREHEREHERE. Many of our Reviewers have shows, so you can hear the music they loved/hated and even call in or IM in to tell them what YOU think. Thanks for reading this crappy first entry and following will be reviews added weekly. Thanks!