Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

Name: Tim Tibbitts Album: Portraits Released: November 2006 Members: Tim Tibbitts – vocals, accoustic guitar Noel Webb – drums Attila Toth – bass Justin Abedin – electric guitar Ron Lopata – keyboards Website: www.timtibbitts.com Favourite Song: She Is Not Alone [track 8]

It’s always so cute to hear about how boys write songs about girls. And it’s just awe inspiring when these songs get recorded, and released, and used in all sorts of media. And it’s just sort of funny when you have the song-writer admit that the woman he’s writing all these love songs about, really doesn’t react to it, perhaps too much of a good thing?

I think I’m safe to say that Tim’s music is a lot of romantic love songs, and many are of the ballad type, and the most part would be accoustic. I say I feel safe in saying this, since I heard him say it on stage when I last saw him play. Considering he admitted to writing many of the love songs for his wife, it’s not particularly surprising.

After that last paragraph, it still surprised me, the music that’s on the album. Just because the songs are love songs, and are ballads, doesn’t mean they’re all slow and sound the same. Each song is quite unique in how it’s written, and what, and how the instruments are used. A lot of the songs are powerful and moving, and definately make me jealous of Tim’s wife that she’s had so many beautiful songs written about her.

These are romantic songs, I’d listen to them if I’m feeling exceptionally girly and want to feel happy and loved. Most weekend in other words. If I happen to be with any particular “special someone” who wouldn’t mind listening, I’d play it then too. It’s hard to say. I’m pretty sure I listened to this CD all Valentines Day.

So it’s been noted that 10 days is a pretty long time to wait between reviews. I haven’t been able to decide whether or not I should maybe alternate album reviews and live show reviews and cycle those through, or if I should do live show reviews sort of… as they come.

So as of right now, it’s a 10 day rotation for album reviews, and live show reviews I’ll write pretty much when I go to them (within a week or so at least since it’s still fresh in my mind). But to appease the music fans out there, I will be dropping to an 8 day rotation starting in May. I’ll keep that for the duration of the summer.

Maybe during the summer I’ll be going to more shows and I’ll have to archive and date those as well, giving me a more… I don’t know, a more frequent posting habit.  Right now I’m still struggling with the fact my site doesn’t look right in IE (not that I particularly enjoy IE but I know a large majority of the internet viewing public does) and a miryaid of other things.  Ughs.

It’s my plan that by then I’ll have popular enough site that more musicians will want to be reviewed, as well that more writers would want to help me out with all this reviewing. And by September I can drop to a 6 day rotation.

It’s slow going, but I’m looking for realistic goals, and not be a flash-in-the-pan type website.

Bear with me!

Name: jemo Album: oaks with rushes Released: summer 2006 Members: jeff dantowitz – vocals/guitars james bastable – bass michael beauclerc – drums/percussion Website: www.jemo.net Unofficial Website: www.jemounofficial.com Favourite Song: settlement

jemo is one of my all time favourite indie bands. first if you’ll notice i won’t use capital letters with their work, it just doesn’t feel right. this album was released in the summer of 2006 just before their east-canadian tour that involved two-shows-in-one-day where bookstores were hit in the afternoon and pubs or clubs were hit at night. i was lucky enough to pick up this cd on their last show before they headed out.

i have no idea what i could classify jemo as. it’s sort of rock, but not a heavy rock, but rather a very well thought out and carefully executed rock music that i could never fathom anyone being able to replicate it, but is awesome. it’s heavy with emotion and almost haunting in a way because of the lyrics and instruments blending so well together. it doesn’t fit a lifestyle or a genre. i’m just throughly confused.

some of the songs on this cd have been released previously through their first cd titled jemo, and their second not-particularly-released cd six-fingered salmagundi, but these versions have been re-recorded so they’re different. i can’t find a single song i don’t adore the minute i hear it. i sing along to everything on this cd over and over and never grow tired. i can go to a jemo show and sing along to everything (except new songs and covers.) i’ve tried to delve into the mind of jeff who writes the lyrics to see where he’s coming from, sometimes i get it, sometimes i don’t. it’s stunning and beautiful whether i understand it or not.

jemo songs i would play in my car, as i have been doing lots, and at home just chilling. i also play it a lot to show my friends “hey check out this band!” and at like a really relaxed get-together, type of dinner-party i wouldn’t have any problems playing their music. it’s chill, it relaxes me and… it’s seriously hot.

catch jemo at holy joe’s for an all ages show march 2, 2007

Name: The Matadors Album: Horrorbilly 9000 Released: 2006 Members: Howlin’ Hooch Parkins – Guitar/Vocals Creepin’ Jeff Sheppard – Bass/Backing Vocals Rob ‘the hatchet’ Carvell – Drums Website: www.thematadors.net Label: Stereo Dynamite Recordings Favourite Song: 9 Shots of Bourbon (Track 13)

I’ve known The Matadors for a while now, they play every BMEfest I’ve ever been to, as well as all the freak-show events my friends throw… and after years of crazy dancing in front of their stage while they rock out as only rockabilly rockers can rock. I’ve heard rumours the bassist is a man-whore, but if you could see what, and how, he plays, you really couldn’t blame him.

The Matadors are pretty standard rockabilly, with a horror theme. That would explain the “Horrorbilly” label they give themselves. I haven’t found anyone who’s been offended by their music, even though you would assume that if the songs are inspired by the devil that EVERYONE would be offended by it!

The songs on Horrorbilly 9000 are all super catchy, and easy to listen to. I don’t normally listen to rockabilly music, but they’ve got a great way about it that makes you get up and dance. Each song is pretty unique. They sing about drinking, and girls, and corpses, and gore. Some of the songs, if you just read the lyrics you’d think depressing, emo, and sad, but when you pop the CD in you’ll think differently.

I would listen to this album everywhere. I’ve listened to it in my car, I’ve heard songs played on college radio (especally during Halloween!) I’ve had friends play it at parties, lots of my friends get them to play live at their club events… the list goes on. Halloween parties would be a top favourite, but any time I need cheering up, I just pop the CD in. It works. Try it.

I can’t believe the day has already arrived!

In a few short (very short) hours, the first review of Big Rock Finish’s career will be posted.

Time flies, I’m still not done the design layout, and I’ve been trying to push the site for the past month and a half.

I already have bands wanting to be reviewed, inviting me to shows, release parties, sending CD’s and MP3′s and totally gunning for their reviews so they can start citing them on their own websites and message forums.

I also have lots of people wanting to help me write, review, and locate more great talent around Toronto and around the world as well.

This may very well be the biggest project I’ve ever encountered, I couldn’t do it without everyone’s help, and I definately am going to keep at it!

It’s going to be long, hard, and probably very tiring (what with early job calls and late night band practices) but here goes nothing!

Alright so I’m running WordPress since it’s the “one-click install” on my webhosting program, and it’s also what I was given when I first started a personal blog a good many years ago by now. (Scary to think how long I’ve been publishing my life online!)

Anyways I went to go upgrade them all when the new upgrade was released that patched a lot of security holes that I wouldn’t understand if my life depended on it.  And of course the first thing that happens is my personal blog looks and works fine.  I go in to update the database and all is peachy.

Of course.  I go in and check out how Big Rock Finish is faring, and am finding that there’s some scary database error showing and none of my page is set up anymore.  After freaking out, running in circles going “ohmigod  ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod ohmigod”…

I finally realized there was an e-mail stating to update the database FIRST before viewing your newly updated blog so to avoid seeing scary database errors.

Update the database.

Blog is… mostly working.  My theme reverted back to it’s original, and now I am scrambling to re-insert code, because as only I can do, I didn’t bother to save it before upgrading.  Mostly what I’m sad about losing are my little buttons, as those took a while actually to find/locate and to do it again (even though I only hd a few at this point) is feeling quite daunting.

Back to the grind!