15 Jun 10

Hey, blogspot readers, summer's fast approaching and SouthSide's hard at work previewing new releases hitting the stereo waves ...in which she suggests you personally add to your collection.


JR
Jonny Rummble
www.myspace.com/jonnyrumble


This latest effort, billed as a limited edition, by Jonny Rumble had SouthSide enjoying the various rock genres differently represented in each of their ten tracks. This gave the songs its own uniqueness and style so no two songs will sound alike. Within this CD, fans will hear a bit of powerpop mixed with melodic R&B (track 1 - Cox Road) to a psychedelic groove (track - 4 Victim of the Times) and alternative-country/rock (track - 7 To Foolishness). SouthSide suggests listening to track 2 - Handgun Blues for its fun rock alternative sound in which this reviewer liked the directness in the lyrics "...try not to leave her house with a loaded gun..." - LOL. She couldn't help laughing at that line ...track - 3 BRZRKR for its "in your face" vocal style and the gradual rise in the guitars, percussion, and vocals sounding like Jonny Rumble is ready to explode your ears with rockin' music ...and track 4 - Victim of the Times for almost reminding her of The Zombies' She's Not There ...plus this reviewer loved how the vocal effects had a soothing tone. This CD also includes fan favorites Courtney's Basement (track 6) and Toe The Line (track 9) - listen to this song for its near acoustic-like sound as the guitar gently play allowing the emotions in the vocals to shine. Track 10 - Time may seem like a downer to end a fun rockin' CD yet in all things, there are no real "happy" endings. And that's the beauty of JR - there's a sense of reality ...no fantasy jargon just direct to the point on how the band feels about life, love, society etc throughout this album. SouthSide recommends snagging a copy of this Jonny Rumble limited edition vinyl set to release on June 15th. She also highly recommends rockin' Jonny Rumble live during their CD release show on June 25th at the Beat Kitchen.



The World Is A Beat: 2010 Dance Sampler
Concord Music Group
www.concordmusicgroup.com


SouthSide loves to party as much as she loves dancing to rockin' club/party music. She found this CD one day while shopping at Janet's Planet of Sound Record Store (located in Lincoln Square) and had a fun time dancing (and listening) to the ten sampler tracks of popular/club remixes. The World Is A Beat features well-known artists such as Sergio Mendes, Macy Gray, Vanessa Williams, and Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson. Recently, SouthSide tested this CD at a private party in which the lively energetic techno music was big hit ...kept the crowd dancing track after track. The biggest response occurred during track 4 - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (by Abdul & Jackson), patrygoers liked the techno sound that pumped excitement into the room. and track 2 - Emorio in which contained some remixes of Sergio Mendes' Mas Que Nada and The Frog in this song. SouthSide really enjoyed track 9 - Waters of March. First recorded by Polish artist Basia, this updated version (by Sergio Mendes featuring Ledisi on vocals) was turned into a lively remix under a rhythmic bossa nova/samba sound. The title track (10) - The World Is A Beat by N'dami featured funky guitar and techno rhythms that will immediately get you dancing along to the song. Yes, it's true, blogspot readers ...if you look around, the world around us is a beat waiting to be discovered. And all you have to do is listen to the various styles/genres of music playing. This is SouthSide's theme for summer 2010 and beyond. If you're able to find this promotional CD - SNAG IT! It's great for all of your summertime parties.



Mathematica
Makeshift Prodigy
www.makeshiftprodigy.com
www.myspace.com/makeshiftprodigy


Compared to Makeshift Prodigy's earlier CD, Welcome To The World (2008), Mathematica is the next step into this popular local band's music evolution ...actually, blogspot readers, more like a revolution. This latest CD is more philosophical then the previous one yet SouthSide viewed it as a continuation of MSP's spiritual as well as inspirational journey to wherever the music is guiding them. For example, the title track (1) - Mathematica is part two to The Circle (track 4 on Welcome To The World) ...it almost has the same fire and passionate energy (and almost the same lyrics) as its predecessor yet having more electrionica/ambient rock sound. Or take both versions of Revolution (track 2 on the old CD and track 4 on Mathematica) - SouthSide loves the revamped version on the new album ...it comes with more explosive music and sound than its somewhat first incarnation (it sounds somber than the energy and passion as you hear it now). Still the message remains the same in both songs - all of us can start a revolution by starting it within us. During a live MSP performance, their fans go absolutely wild whenever this song is performed. They can feel the revolution happening along with the band ...it's an amazing sight to behold, blogspot readers. Other songs on this CD include track 3 - Alive (the live version of this song is one you should hear and see when fans come alive during the bursts of music and lighting effects running in sync ...and for the powerful lyrics "...and when you call my name / do you go insane / through all of this time / could you come alive / I AM ALIVE..." due to Anthony's (MSP front man on vocals and piano/guitar) vocals ....track 4 - Sentimentalist (Vyolet says "...this song has great heartfelt lyrics attached to music that makes me want to dance..." - it's her favorite song) ...track 8 - Clockwork (Brandon on the lyrical rap/hiphop portion of this album ...hope to here more from this talented artist). The live version lights up the stage with exuberant energy and fan-band momentum as both feed off each other. SouthSide highly recommends listening to Sirens (track 7) in which Anthony's vocals truly shine while the music gradually rises in a steady crescendo (a real heart pounding prelude) for what's to be a guitar-piano explosion of pop sound. Yet it still allows Anthony's voice to continue having its moment under the spotlight. During the live version, there's never a dry eye in the house ...sometimes you can catch fans hugging each other during this song. Track 9 may say This Is The End but not really for this band. They haven't reached that point yet in their music evolution and SouthSide eagerly (and patiently) awaits where the MSP revolutionary sound and music will take her next. SNAG a copy of Mathematica for your collection and experience this inspirational CD for yourself. OR see them live ...up close and personal. She highly recommends seeing Makeshift Prodigy live on Jun 25th at the Metro during MOB Fest when they'll be sharing the stage with Treaty of Paris and/or July 9th at Lincoln Hall with Riot Inside and A Friend Called Fire. Both shows are all-ages performances so expect to see SouthSide in attendance with the test audience (Vyolet and Sunday).


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide