Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

Sorry all!
Next update I will get another review up!
Life/Job/Work has been crazy, and just… crazy!

Name: Adam Hill Album: Four Shades of Green Released: 2007 Members: Adam Hill Website: www.myspace.com/mradamhill Favourite Song: Next Stop Winona

I have to say, the sweetest thing I’ve ever received in a band package is a hand-written note. And the absolutely most endearing thing about it is, Mr. Adam Hill (I like calling him that now, after listening to the tracks, he just seems like a Mr.) wrote my note on the back of some sheet music. And I’m curious to see what it is, if I could bother remembering how to read music. And to see one guy bombarding himself with so many instruments… I think I heard a jug in there somewhere.

Acoustic. Jazz. Folk. I would dare say country, but I guess Folk would do. I wonder what the difference is, they both sound very “American” in terms of the out-back country feel. Nice and simple, nothing overly complicated, and that you feel you can join in at any time with very little musical training. I think I like this kind of music best because it just invites people to join in, and make the song their own.

The songs on Four shades of Green have a way of making me smile. It’s a lot of what sound like really happy types of songs. Nothing really harsh sounding, and nothing really mean sounding. Inspiring on a spiritual level, because the world is too serious these days. It’s nice to kick back and just listen to what feels like some wishful thinking. I’ll admit, it’s not always something I will want to listen to, I prefer high energy, which Adam doesn’t give a whole lot of. The kicking back, he gives lots of.

Driving through country roads, long stretches of not a lot of traffic and wide open spaces. I think I would feel most inspired listening to Mr. Adam Hill during these types of excursions. Any other time, I don’t think I would appreciate it nearly as much. There’s just a good old country charm that you can’t appreciate while driving in the city.

Name: BROOMFILLER Album: Enter the Storm Released: 2006 Members: Music & Words by Richard D. Leko Website: www.broomfiller.com Record Label: Back 2 Forward Records Favourite Song: Turn (Track 6)

I caution myself whenever I write a review on a band if I had a schoolgirl crush on one or more of the band members. However, reviews must be written if this blog is to stay in business. So write I will do.

Punk. Alternative. Rock. Oh myspace, how I love the fact that you do my job for me most of the time. BROOMFILLER are definitely a rocking alternative band. I don’t know how much anyone is punk anymore since I was always under the impression that punk was anti-establishment and I have yet to hear any antiestablishmentarianism’s in the music but a lot of what is considered punk is not anti-establishment, so punk it is! Heh. I just used one of the longest words in the English language for this review. That tickled me pink.

To me a song is all about tempo. And all of the songs BROOMFILLER does has good tempo. Dare I say slightly repetitive. The writing style definitely lends itself to having a lot of repetition. Then again, I do remember from marketing 101 that if something is good and it works, keep doing it. So they’re obviously doing something right.

Where would I listen to BROOMFILLER? In the car. Seriously. For long road trips singing along is about the only way I can stay awake. It’s never exciting to do a 5 hour road trip alone. Not only does the music keep me awake, it keeps me driving at a relatively quick clip just to make it to my destination that much faster. Thank god for cruise control, or I’m sure I would have been pulled over 5 times before I hit the ground.

Now… a show review. It’s always hard reviewing a band you’ve listened to for a long time. Surprisingly enough I enjoy reviewing bands I’d never heard of before at all. It works better in my opinion. But for a band that I really do enjoy, it’s just fun going to the show. Not to mention, shows that are dedicated to good causes are always just awesome in general.

BROOMFILLER’s set kicked off, hard. I’ve never been much for foreplay but no introduction, no hey how are you, just jumping right into the first few songs (sorry, it’s been a few weeks since the show by now and my memory grows fuzzy) before even saying hello is something that would actually grab my attention if I weren’t already “in the know” about who was on stage.

If I were ever to convince myself a band was on caffeine pills, or possibly speed, this might be it. I highly doubt I’d ever seen a band jump up down and all around on a stage before in my life. The amount of head-banging gave me sympathy headaches. And for the times that the lead singer/guitarist Richard jumps off the stage to play in the crowd, I highly suggest investing in a wireless system.

I’m pretty sure I got to hear all of my favourite songs from all 3 albums at the show, which shows that my predictability on what songs are awesome and what songs the band think are awesome are pretty on cue. Sweet. Running around taking pictures does not bode well for singing along though. Alas, I enjoy taking pictures more than singing I suppose.

I’ve heard rumours from reliable sources that BROOMFILLER are going on tour again soon. So wherever it is on earth that you’re reading this, go look them up. If anything, it will be educational.

Name: Jen Militia Album: Berlin Boot Camp Released: 2006 Members: Michael Dainjah – vocals and blackness J.Double – Guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion and booze Gord Pesst – synths, samples and beat jacking Christion – drums and hating Kyle Nova – Bass and dreadlocks Holla – Back up vocals and the finest of hooks. Website: www.jenmilitia.com Favourite Song: This is not a test (track 1)

Punk. Soul. Hip Hop. Is political a genre of music? Because I really urgently want to write political. Screw it. I’m adding it as a genre of music. It doesn’t even really take a politic major, or a political comedian like my friend Erik, to know that. If the cover art doesn’t totally give it away, I’m sure the song titles would have. It’s an interesting mix of music styles though I must admit. The cover art on the CD really doesn’t give away who’s in the band, so I was definitely surprised when I read that the creator of the band, or the lead of the band, or… well SOMEONE in the band, was originally from Trinidad. Just because I don’t meet a whole lot of people from Trinidad.

I…… really……. like the songs. Seriously, because I’m such a non-political person I had some reservations to reviewing this, thinking I wouldn’t understand any of it and would just end up not wanting to listen because it would have all been about how “the man” is keeping us down or whatever. But it’s not. It’s catchy, it’s got a hook. (I keep thinking about suspension when I write stuff like that) It’s got… it’s got a lot that makes me want to keep listening. Do you know how hard it is to try and look cool in front of your webcam while you dance in your chair listening to music through a set of headphones? Well that’s what I’m doing right now. Thank god the webcam isn’t turned on right now.

Some sort of rally, protest, or march. I remember being all opinionated when I was in high school because it got me out of afternoon math class. And in university because we somehow were convinced that marching up to some government house and chanting outside in the cold would make a difference in our tuition costs. If I recall… it didn’t. But this is really uplifting music, that would really suit these types of protests. Because while it never lowered tuition, those rallys always uplifted spirits. And it’s in the act of getting people together whether it be to protest the government or to listen to good music, it’s a good thing. Mind as well put the two together.

Name: The Crawling Kingsnakes Album: Shed your Skin Released: 2005 Members: Chris Belanger – bass Jesse Parker – vocals Christian Bonner – guitar Michael Bonner – guitar Bobby Parker – drums Website: www.crawlingkingsnakes.com Favourite Song: Teenage Queen (track 2)

Rock. Blues. Country. I’ll definitely agree with the rock and country. I just don’t know enough about Blues to be able to say yay or nay. But what I hear about The Crawling Kingsnakes? It’s got that country feel. Not the hokey cheesy country that everyone always thinks about when they go “eww, country!” but the cool country that you can dance to without being in square formations.

I never want to say that music sounds like country, because it almost seems like it’s an insult considering how many people are so uneducated about the fact that country music can still sound good. The songs on Shed your Skin are pretty relaxing. Nothing too heavy or loud, and just sort of flow together. I hear things that I’ve heard before so they probably sampled something at some point, but they did it well so it’s nice. In my opinion nothing really sticks out, but I’m giving this album a few more listens because I often like music that can blend into the background. It’s somewhat unfortunate that nothing sticks out to me when I give a listen though.

Alright, I would still listen to The Crawling Kingsnakes at a country bar, or somewhere where there are unfinished wood floors, cowboy boots and peanut shells. But that doesn’t make me a horrible person. It’s fitting. It would work. I just can’t get my feet into cowboy boots.