Metallica, Azoora, Dashboard Confessional, Trusty, Fugazi, Soundgarden, Nena, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Cure, Attack Ships on Fire, Rancid and Beastie Boys.
It was a veritable rockin’ rollercoaster…dig it.
- Drago
Mar 312011
Mar 282011
artist: Ledaswan | genre: alternative, indie-rock | label: unsigned
album: NUM83R5…available now on 
listen now:
Faulkner :: 25 Years :: What a Way Two Drown
We first introduced San Antonio indie-rockers Ledaswan to the Froglix Faithful via a recent video post for “Faulkner,” a de-lovely track from their latest self-released EP NUM83R5 (aka Numbers) with a promise that a full-fledged review would be forthcoming. I am a man of my word…so here it goes.
A recent review on another network, as they say, refer to Ledaswan as having a “pop” sound. Pop? Really? If theses cats are pop than Brittany Spears is R&B. I’m not buying it. This just in, melodic does not always have to equal pop. Rant over…moving on.
Mazzy Star? Nope. The Cranberries? Definitely not. Erica Monzon (lead vox, guitars, keys), brothers Jaime and David Monzon (electric guitars, keys), Lalo Rodriguez (bass guitar) and Oscar Linares (drums) deserve a little more credit than being compared to the “standard” female fronted, alternative/indie rock bands. How about Gwen Stefani meets the Jesus and Mary Chain? That’s a bit more like it. Was I smitten by Erica’s charming, diaphanous voice? Of course, I’m only human and…she’s really good! Mind you, she’s not as gritty as Alison Mosshart from The Dead Weather nor as powerful as, dare I say it, Ann Wilson from Heart. But that’s a good thing as neither of those styles would work for this band. Her voice (and stage presence for that matter) actually remind me somewhat of Sarah Shannon from Velocity Girl. Remember them? Meanwhile, the colourful guitar work turned in by the brothers Monzon really stands out on this album but I especially like what they did with “What a Way to Drown.” Lalo’s active bass style on “25 Years” is quite impressive as it creates intresting textures while simultaneously staying in the pocket with Mr. Linares’ drumming which, quite frankly, is both stellar and solid all the way through. Is that a piccolo snare I hear? Tight. Very tight.
So…my final ruling on Ledaswan? I like ‘em. Not a little, but a lot. Go to iTunes. Get NUMB3R5. Learn it. Live it. Love it.
- Drago
Mar 102010
genre: electro | indie | rock
label: unsigned
Denver, CO’s 28-200 (twenty eight to two hundred) joins the broadcast with “I Kiss U” from their 2009 independent release Video Games & Popsicle Sticks . Mr. L (guitar, bass, vox) and Aimee (vox, drums, other) deliver an electro-indie rock gem that lies somewhere between Dido and the Cure. Ambient, ethereal and eclectic…what’s not to like?
- Drago
Oct 222009
Label: unsigned
Genre: indie pop
The latest EP from British singer-songwriter Vinny Piana entitled Love Is Your Fear is an intriguing blend of acoustic guitars, strings, keys, rhythms and vocals that are rich in character, tone and originality. In “You’re Everything” Piana takes a simple yet solid bassline and brilliantly builds an entire song around it. The addition of colourful guitars and fairy dust keys gives the track a certain Cure-like quality that is simply hypnotic. “Beg Me To Forgive” has a bit of a bouncier cadence as does the title track, “Love Is Your Fear” which also leans a little more to the edgier side. Falling somewhere in between is “All I Wanted” with a heart-beat like rhythm, sparkling keys and melancholy lyrics. Vinny Piana takes the ever popular indie pop sound and mixes in just the right amount of old school alternative and delivers an engaging hybrid that is truly unique and remarkably memorable.
-Drago
