Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

Unknown Component is the musical project of Keith Lynch.

The project began in 2002, and originated in Iowa City, Iowa. To date, the project consists of seven self-released independent albums, and two unreleased albums, volumes I and II. All of which were written, and recorded by Lynch. The new album, titled ‘The Infinite Definitive’ is scheduled for release in the fall of 2010.

website: http://unknowncomponent.com
Unknown Component – “Electric Dissolution”
Youtube: http://youtu.be/g1D3qr1qLQ4

The Two Man Gentlemen Band’s hot, raucous, old-time Vaudevillian sound has made them an underground sensation. They traverse the country incessantly, playing hundreds of shows per year including recent dates with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.

Their style – musically & visually – incorporates elements of hot jazz, rhythm & blues, tin-pan alley, and western swing and their original songs consistently “prove that making old-fashioned music needn’t be polite or predictable” (Time Out New York).

They deftly balance lighthearted and often hysterical romps about reefer, wine, boy/girl parties, and chocolate milk with tender ballads of loneliness and fidelity. And with their cautionary, gospel-tinged stomp about the forgotten, alcoholic President Franklin Pierce they once again “take smart songwriting to a whole new level.” (Mental Floss) It is a party record, and a dance record, yes. But it’s also a musical portrait of the thrills, troubles, and temptations of a life spent barnstorming from coast to coast.

website: http://www.thetwogentlemen.com/

“This is who we are” is the latest effort by the Philadelphia alternative band Stellarscope. The release marks a new era of songwriting and sound experimentation, a perfect blend of pop songwriting, sonic mayhem, and quality structure not touched upon by their previous efforts.

The first single from “This is who we are” titled “still standing” was selected for the Playlist 7 promotion sponsored by Microsoft Windows 7 and Reverbnation.

Current members
* Tom Lugo – vox, guitar, fx, samples, programming
* Rob DeFlaviis – bass, keys
* Bob Forman – drums, percussion

website: http://www.myspace.com/stellarscope

There are songs that make you feel peace, anger, shivers; songs that make you believe that life is like a sitcom, with a soundtrack.

Songs to face the grey days, long office hours, stupid bosses and ignorant teachers.

Songs that make you wanna cry, kiss, learn from defeat and start all over again.

Songs to step out and live a movie, to step out and live a city.

Here you will find songs. Here you will find music made by people who love making music. Something you can feel, something you can never hide, because when you hear it, one believes from deep inside that there’s no lie, you have been there too … it’s all about wings, it’s all about storms.

One takes a deep breath as shivers climb your back while the song is there, reminding we’re all human, song’s a parachute, song’s a painkiller … Sometimes unsteady.

Here’s music as a promise that things can be different, there’s a chance … to soon to know, to easy to wonder.

Music to ride a sled.

Music to choose love over fear.

website: http://www.luge.mx

Based out of Hollywood, California, Love Darling is an indie rock trio that pushes boundaries by channeling an array of rock influences from Band of Skulls to PJ Harvey, from Smashing Pumpkins to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Continuing on the momentum of their debut EP Pawnshop Radio ON and international tour (with a residency at the Chesterfield Café in Paris, France); Love Darling release their follow up Sunshine Dust, recorded with Gordon Raphael (The Strokes, Regina Spektor).

The band is currently lining up dates in the US and have several songs featured on popular Showtime series The Real L Word.

Love Darling is:
Shay Magro | Lead vocals & guitar
Mike Wolpe | Bass, guitar & keys
Christian Jovanny Trujillo | Drums & percussion

website: http://www.lovedarlingmusic.com/

The band is the brainchild of drummer Karl Sweet and guitarist/vocalist Daryl Purdy, who met when Sweet was playing in the band ICHOR alongside Christian Lisso on bass and Charles G. Watson on keyboards. Purdy was hired to mix ICHOR opening for Test Department, when he discovered an instant chemistry with the band members.

After a few years of intermittently playing together in the Goth outfit Masochistic Religion, Sweet and Purdy decided to pursue a project they talked of years earlier: a primitive rock n’ roll band with tribal rhythm section. From there, Hyena Dog Robbery was born.

Website: http://www.hyenadog.com

Half Past Four is a unique and innovative art-rock band. Crafting original, fresh soundscapes from their headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Half Past Four offers exquisite musical novelty and experimentation to true musical connoisseurs and rock-party goers alike.

Drawing its inspiration from unique heritage of King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull and many other progressive, kraut, art and math-rock bands, Half Past Four takes pride and pleasure in taking art-rock a little further and planting its seeds in the harsh soil of contemporary popular culture.

Half Past Four’s style is hard to describe as the group does not restrict itself to following one specific genre. Free of mercantile ambitions, musicians concern themselves with what they do best – writing and performing a free spirited, never before played chord structures and melodies. Experimental arrangement, fusion composition, polyrhythmic structures and atonal melodies are not uncommon in Half Past Four music.

Going as far as constructing their own sound equipment and musical instruments, Half Past Four sheds the traditionalist shell and presents itself in its inimitable, distinctive and inspiring sound which breathes positivism and freedom. Listen to it, and you will know what I mean.

website: http://www.halfpastfour.com