06 Jul 10

Hey, blogspot readers, summer 2010 is really heating up ...not only in temperatures but also with new CDs being added to SouthSide's vast collection. She highly recommends giving the following a spin on your stereo.


Sky White Tiger
www.skywhitetiger.com
www.myspace.com/skywhitetiger.com

This six (6) track EP will astound and amaze the mind and senses while taking the listener on a fantastical journey via its music that combines symphonic rhythms and rock sound. And what a journey did SouthSide undertook listening to this album (thanks to good friend August Forte). Plenty of vivid imagery as well as orchestral music rules Sky's CD in which the lyrics pop to life in songs such as Fantasy Man or Twisted Trail. SouthSide enjoyed the piano rhythms during Say You're The First (track 3) that the downtempo pace highlighted the emotion heard from the vocals. Or find yourself wrapped in the mystery of Sky's Time as haunting lyrics (bordering delicately between fantasy and reality) and music blow you away. This was SouthSide's personal favorite. Though ending on a somber note with Miles To Go (track 6), this reviewer took it as a coded message that this journey's merely the beginning for both band and listener. Who knows where Sky White Tiger will take us next time. Fans in or near Chicago are encouraged to attend the Adler After Dark on July 15 at Adler Planetarium in which this band will perform 2 live shows (7p and 8:45p). There will be visuals (designed by A.J. Epstein, a Seattle-based light/video artist) accompanying this extraordinary music. Like Pink Floyd, this will give the audience one incredible sky show (no pun intended) they'll never forget. SouthSide hopes to attend one of the shows for an extra special "On The Town" review.


Easy, Maverick
The Nod
www.thenodmusic.com
www.myspace.com/thenodwi

This eleven (11) track album (minus the funny 0:34 opening titled Hello) was a fascinating collection of stories which took three years of work and thirty days to record, according to the band, The Nod. There are tall tales ...then are really REALLY TALL TALES - problem was deciding which were which for this reviewer. She had a fun time deciphering between the truth and fiction of these unbelievably stories while reviewing each song. However it was too time-consuming and exhausting because she was too busy laughing so hard from The Nod's eclectic humor. SouthSide enjoyed rockin' along with the band to its lively retro rock sound heard in most of their songs like Naked In Public (anyone's biggest fear unless you're a practicing nudist) in which she loved the lyrics - "...and I'll be damned/if we can't pull this off at 40..." or Vinyl Bluez (ah ...the lost art of owning a dinosaur i.e. a vinyl record in the new tech age). SouthSide highly suggests reading the lyrics for each song while listening to this CD ...plenty of head scratching laughs as Brett (front man and "mediocre" guitarist) brings these wild tales to life. Fans are also suggested getting to know (or not) the sexy, sloppy woman in She's A Wreck (track 6) or watch out, Houston we have a problem in Glitch Thang (track 8) or feel the Chicago winds blow in Flask (track 9). Also there's a wonderful art lesson in Pseudo Picasso (track 10) in which "...this isn't abstract/and it's not a work of art..." moral to that story. Catch The Nod on July 16 when they bring their wild live to the Elbo Room stage. SouthSide shall be there to review the performance.


Conception
Bambi Raptor
www.officialbambiraptor.com
www.myspace.com/bambiraptors

SouthSide highly recommends reading Bambi's full review on their recent MOB Fest performance live at Martyrs' on June 26. It can be found at http://southsideonthetown.blogspot.com/.

Meanwhile this six (6) track EP somewhat captures the essence, sound and feel of what Bambi's live shows are like despite rockin' along to the recorded tracks. Still you're able to picture the split personality of someone suffering from serious anger issues between Roger (front man) on vocals and Kenneth's (bass) screamo especially during Gunslinger (track 1) and Griffin (track 2). Yet fans will enjoy the punk/pop/alternative (and everything else in between) rockin' the stereo speakers. SouthSide does highly suggest cranking this one up on the volume - just to scare your neighbors a bit as Bambi rants and screams while listening to Alaska (heartache screamo), BSP (sexual screamo) and Echo (seemingly "calm" out of all of Bambi's songs ...but hidden in there is screamo). Plus take a moment to be mesmerized by the best CD cover art (on the Disc itself) with the dino spermie wormies at the millisecond of conception. Check out the Bambi Raptor websites for places and dates when they'll be rockin' the stage again including their August 28 I AM Fest appearance at the legendary House of Blues.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide