Owl City - Ultraviolet EP

                                                    Genre: Electronica/Pop
                                                    Label: Sky Harbor Records/Universal Republic
                                                    Release: June 27 2014
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1. Beautiful Times (feat. Lindsey Stirling) -
This song is A very fun & catchy track. Definately an awesome opening to the EP. Owl City & Lindsey Stirling mesh perfectly musically. The lyrics are amazing & are performed very well. The instrumental is very upbeat and catchy.

2. Up All Night -
This is one of my personal favorites off the EP. It is all-around amazing, The instrumental is amazingly performed. The lyrics are beautifully written, The Vocals are perfectly performed. This in my opinion is the biggest standout track on the EP.

3. This Isn't The End -
This track is another amazing song. The instrumental is slower but still very catchy, The vocals are amazing. The lyrics are beautifully written, They are very deep & meaningful. This song is a very big standout track, Definately the most planned out track on the EP I believe.

4. Wolf Bite -
Another fun track, very catchy & easy to listen to. The instrumental is very well performed, It is one of the more danceable instrumentals on the EP. The lyrics are quite amazing, The vocals are excellantly performed and follow along to the instrumental perfectly.

Definately another masterpiece created by Owl City. Listening to this EP I am more excited than ever to hear what mastermind Adam Young comes up with next. I see this EP as one of the best Owl City releases to date and cannot wait to hear whats next.

Overall Rating: 10 / 10
                                 

The Story So Far - The Songs Of EP

                                                   Genre: Pop-Punk / Acoustic
                                                   Label: Pure Noise Records
                                                   Release: June 17 2014
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1. The Glass -
A very amazing opening track. The lyrics are beautifully written, The vocals are amazing. The instrumental is a beautiful & mellow melody. This song truly starts off the EP perfectly.

2. Navy Blue -
Another Strongly mellow melody based track. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are perfectly performed and very fitting with the instrumental. It features A very nice orchestra style back beat which is a very nice touch in my opinion.

3. All Wrong -
A very nice short interlude. The lyrics are amazing & amazingly performed over a nice & simple guitar melody.

4. Bad Luck -
This song starts off just as "All Wrong" ends, It continues off the previous track perfectly. The instrumental is A bit less mellow than previous track but amazing none the less. The lyrics are beautiful and very well written, The vocals are executed nicely.

5. Waiting In Vain -
What better way to end an acoustic EP than with a Bob Marley cover. The band truly took an  already amazing song and made it their own. The instrumental is amazingly recorded. The vocals are performed perfectly.

I had alot of doubt that the singer could pull off an acoustic style, That doubt was destroyed when the band released "Clairvoyant" off their split EP with Stick To Your Guns. So when this EP was announced i truly had alot of excitement & a high expectation. The band truly did not let down at all.

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Scare Don't Fear - From The Ground Up

                                                         Genre: Hip-Hop / Metal
                                                         Label: KBB Records
                                                         Release: June 17 2014
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1. Shut It Down -
This is an incredible opening track, The instrumental is an amazing combination of heavy & catchy. The lyrics are extremely well written, The vocals are quite incredible & fit the instrumental perfectly. I was instantly hooked on the album just listening to this track.

2. Rebuild -
Starting off with an extremely bad ass heavy melody, this song does not lose my interest through out the whole time. The lyrics are awesome, The vocals are executed perfectly. This song keeps the listener wanting to listen.

3. Already Dead -
 It's safe to say this song keeps the excitement. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are amazingly well performed. The instrumental is completely bad ass. This song is all-around amazing.

4. City of Skeletons -
This song starts off with an all-around Hip-Hop beat than quickly turns into a kick ass rock song. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are performed very well. This song is just all-around incredible.

5. Someone To Talk To -
This song is extremely awesome, It is definately one of my favorite tracks if not my favorite. The lyrics are beautifully written and quite perfectly performed. This is one of the more Hip-Hop oriented tracks on the album for sure.

6. Hustle -
This is another amazing track, The instrumental is amazingly performed. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are awesomely executed. I feel like this is a track that fans are really gonna enjoy due to the heaviness of the instrumental yet the catchy vocals.

7. Can't Go Back -
This song definately is another standout track in my personal opinion. It is another primarily Hip-Hop oriented track, However this song is basically a longer interlude style track. In the 2 minutes and 4 seconds this songs plays the band gets there point across. The lyrics are quite awesome and the vocals are really well performed.

8. No 9 to 5 -
This song has an almost electronic style opening beat but quickly goes to a Hip-Hop style and changes againg to a heavy rock instrumental. The lyrics are awesomely written, The vocals are really well written. This is another song that may be my personal favorite.

9. Heavy Collision -
This is one of the heavier tracks on the album, however it still sticks with the catchy factor. This song features a quite heavy instrumental that is amazingly performed. The lyrics are quite amazing, The vocals are excellently performed.

10. Don't Stop -
This is A song that features one of the catchiest beats on the album. The vocals are perfection, The lyrics are quite great. This song starts off catchy as hell and stays that way til the end. This is one of my personal favorites off the album.

11. R.I.ot -
This is another heavier track, The instrumental is amazingly performed. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are amazingly performed. This song is another track that does not lose excitement, I feel songs like this will make current fans of the band happy but will also catch the attention of new fans.

12. Problems -
This is an amazing way to end an amazing album. The instrumental is very well performed, It is quite havy and all-around bad ass. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are simply perfection in my opinion. This song ends the album as perfectly as "Shut It Down" started it.

This album is a very good detour away from today's typical "Metal". This album has something that everyone will like. I think the band excellently mixed the genres of Hip-Hop & Metal and kind made them their own by added their own personal touch. This album is A definate sign that Scare Don't Fear truly have a bright future ahead of them.

Overall Rating: 9.5 / 10

Outline In Color - Masks

                                                       Genre: Post Hardcore/Screamo/Electro
                                                       Label: Standby Records
                                                       Release: June 24 2014
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1. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea -
This is an amazing track, It opens up the album incredibly well. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are incredibly performed. The instrumental is incredible, It leads the vocals perfectly. This is A definate standout track off the album.

2. Animal Masks -
This song is one of my personal favorites off the album. The lyrics are amazingly well written, The vocals are incredibly performed. The instrumental is all-around amazingness, It truly leads the vocals perfectly. This is possibly my favorite song off the album.

3. Beautiful Secrets -
This is such A kickass song, The lyrics are amazingly well written. The vocals are perfectly performed, The instrumental is amazing, It follows the vocals perfectly & is very fitting to the vocals. This is A majorly standout track on the album, It is one of my personal favorites.

4. Lifer -
This is an amazing track, The lyrics are extremely well written. The vocals are amazing, The instrumental is incredibly performed, It leads the vocals perfectly. This is another standout track, It is another of my favorites.

5. Water In The Desert -
This is one of the most kickass songs on the album. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are perfectly performed, They follow the instrumental very well. The instrumental is amazing, This is A very standout track, This is another song that might be my personal favorite off the album.

6. Con Artist Culture Vs. Pax Americana -
This is another amazing track. The Lyrics are insanely well written, The vocals are quite amazing. The instrumental is amazingly performed, It leads the vocals very well. This is another standout track.

7. Happy Hunting (A Title She Deserves) -
This song is amazingly well written. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are amazingly performed. The instrumental is incredible, It leads the vocals amazingly well. This is another one of my personal favorites off the album.

8. Pick Your Poison -
This is an incredible song. The lyrics are amazingly well written, The vocals are perfectly performed. The instrumental is amazing, It leads the vocals beautifully.

9. The Souvenir Scheme -
This is possibly my favorite song off the album. The lyrics are extremely well written, The vocals are incredible. The instrumental is amazingly performed, It follows the vocals very well.

10. Whispers -
This is such A badass song. The lyrics are beautifully written, The vocals are boarderline perfection. The instrumental is amazing, It leads the vocals perfectly. This is the softest song on the album, It is also my definate favorite track. This song is absolute perfection in my opinion.

11. The Golden Rule -
This is another amazing track. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are incredibly performed. The instrumental is incredible, It leads the vocals very well. This is another standout track.

12. 55 -
This is an amazing track, It closes the album perfectly. The lyrics are incredible, The vocals are perfectly performed. The instrumental is amazing, It follows the vocals quite amazingly. This is another one of my personal favorites.

Overall this is an amazing album. It is the epitamy of Post-Hardcore at it's finest. This album truly lived up to my hopes 10x.

Overall Rating: 9.5 / 10

The Relapse Symphony - Shadows

                                                           Genre:Rock
                                                           Label: Standby Records
                                                           Release: July 8 2014
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1. Embrace The Darkness -
A very cool instrumental intro track. Definately opens up the album very well. The band could not have opened the album better in my opinion.

2. We Are The Broken -
This song is extremely well written all around. The lyrics are extremely well written. The vocals are incredibly performed & lead the instrumental very well. This song truly previews what you will hear in the album.

3. Battlefield Of Lies -
This song really showcases the chemistry the band has. The lyrics are extremely well written & performed. The instrumental meshes with the lyrics & vocals perfectly. This is one of my personal favorite tracks off the album.

4. One More Yesterday -
This is such an amazing track. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are basically perfectly performed. The instrumental really leads the vocals well. This song actually may be my top favorite song off the album because of how kickass it is.

5. Make Your Move -
This is another standout track off the album. The vocals are extremely well performed, The instrumental follows the vocals perfectly. The lyrics are amazingly well written. This is another one of my personal favorites off the album.

6. Savage Eyes -
This is such A kickass song, The instrumental really stands out most in my opinion. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are incredibly performed. This is also in the rank of being my personal favorite song off the album.

7. Walls -
This song is very well written, The lyrics are amazingly written. The vocals are incredibly well performed, The instrumental is extremely well written & performed, It leads the vocals very well. This is another standout track off the album.

8. Angels Take Us Demons Save Us -
This is an all-around amazing song. The vocals are extremely well performed, The lyrics are amazing, Some of my favorites off the album. The instrumental is incredibly performed & leads the vocals amazingly. This is one of the most standout tracks off the album in my opinion.

9. The Ghost That Got Away -
This is an amazing track, The lyrics are incredible. The vocals are amazingly performed, The instrumental is amazing & follows the vocals perfectly. This is another one of my personal favorite tracks.

10. Forever Slowly -
This is absolutely my personal favorite track off the album, It is all-around amazing. The lyrics are beautifully written & perfectly performed. The instrumental is the most kickass instrumental on the entire album. This song is A perfect combination of heartfelt & catchy all in one.

11. Shadows -
This song is incredible, The lyrics are amazing. The vocals are incredibly performed & follow the instrumental perfectly. The instrumental is incredible, This song is an amazing closing trrack to this album.

Have to admit going into this album had slight hopes but not too much, But this album quickly passed my hopes. It is an incredible album all-around. I really am shocked by how amazing this album really is. The Relapse Symphony have A similar style to Black Veil Brides but really add their own style to the genre.

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Sylar - To Whom It May Concern

                                                          Genre: Post-Hardcore / Metalcore
                                                          Release: 5/13/2014
                                                          Label: Razor & Tie
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Listening to this album from start to finish it is easy to see Sylar has A big future ahead of them. The album is filled with kick-ass in your face songs that can't be ignored. The lyrics are incredibly well written, The vocals are amazingly performed and fitting to the lyrics. The instrumentals really make it easy to locate each emotion behind the songs. I feel like for being A debut album it shows this band is not one you can sleep on. If you have not heard of Sylar yet you are in for an incredibly bad-ass journey when listening to this album. My personal favorites off the album are Prescription Medication & Live-Breath. I expect big things from this band in the future & have the feeling they will continue to impress me.

Overall Rating:8/10

Mushroomhead - The Righteous & The Butterfly

                                                                 Genre:Rock/Metal
                                                                 Release:5/13/2014
                                                                 Label:Filthy Hands / Megaforce / Sony / Ridgedale Records
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This album is incredibly well made, The band did not let me down and I know other fans will not be let down. The lyrics are amazingly written & even better performed. The instrumentals are A perfect example of why this band is so kick-ass, due to how well they mash together with the lyrics & vocals. This album is definately one I will enjoy for A long time. A couple of my personal favorite tracks are QWERTY & Childlike. Before listening to this album I had very high expectations, but in the end my expectations were fulfilled and then some.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Timeflies - After Hours (Deluxe Version)

                                                Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap / Pop / Electro / Dub-something
                                                Release: 4/29/2014
                                                Label:  Forty Eight Fifty Music Group / Island Def Jam
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This group has been A personal favorite for me for about A year & A half now, I had very high expectations for this album and they were fulfilled. From start to finish each track has it's own personality. The lyrics were written extremely well, The vocals were performed perfectly. The instrumental's really made each song standout. The few features on the album were extremely well picked and brought their tracks to A whole new level. My personal favorite tracks are Monsters (feat. Katie Sky) & Fall (feat. Fabolous). I strongly believe this album will not only make the groups current fanbase happy but will also bring foward A whole new fanbase.

Overall Rating: 9 / 10
          

TEAM - Good Morning Bad Day

                                                         Genre: Rock/Indie
                                                         Label: Independent (Field Day Records)
                                                         Release: May 6 2014
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This band does not stop amazing me with their music. This EP from start to finish is pure gold. The lyrics are beautifully written & the vocals are near perfection. The instrumentals are incredibly well performed. I personally feel that this EP is A preview of the bright future ahead of TEAM. My personal favorite track is "Alone In My Room", With this song the band almost has A Folk vibe to it. I honestly look forward to the future of TEAM it definately is A band to look into. Overall fans of the band will love this new project & I feel the band may get some new fans once this album is officially released.

For fans of: Vampire Weekend, Artic Monkeys

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Stereowolf - Bad Business EP

                                                       Genre: Pop / Electronic
                                                       Label: Crystal Lake Music Group
                                                       Release: Out Now
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This is an extremely different & interesting project. Blending elements of pop, rock, & even hip-hop this EP is the debut release from the band. It is an all-around incredible project, The lyrics are very fitting to the instrumentals & the vocals are extremely well performed. This EP consists of 6 extremely catchy & just fun songs. With this being the groups debut release it get's me excited for the future of the group. The band recorded an excellant EP it does not seem like A "Debut Release" at all. Overall I feel fans of music will find something in this EP they will enjoy.

Overall Rating: 7 / 10

Review Style Change

Anybody who reads my reviews may have noticed how they have changed, The reason is because I have gotten some complaints about my Track by Track reviews. Therefore starting from now til the end I will be doing my reviews as one single review if you liked the old way better or you like the new way better let me know leave A message on the Oblivion Reviews Facebook page and make sure to give that page A like as well. Thank you very much for the support you have given me the last few months & hopefully will continue to give me. Starting now im hoping the wait on new post's won't be as long as it has so please keep with me and continue to read my reviews. Also if you have A favorite artist you would like me to review or interview or you are A solo artist or are in A band message me on the Oblivion Reviews facebook and I will be glad to do my best to oblige your request. Thank you all very much for taking the time to read my reviews
                                                                                                               Sincerely, Oblivion Reviews
                                                                                                                 (AKA Daniel)

James Durbin - Celebrate

                                                                 Genre: Pop/Rock
                                                                 Release:April 8 2014
                                                                 Label: Wind-Up Records
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From start to finish this album is quite incredible, Every lyrics is done justice by the awesome vocals of James Durbin. In my opinion not alot of former American Idol contestants release anything truly great after their debut album, So with this album I truly have to ad James Durbin to the list of those who did. This album is all-around greatness, Every song tells A different story however every story is followed by another. I personally feel that This album will be one of my favorites for ever. The lyrics are beautifully written, The Vocals are damn near perfection and the instrumentals are very fitting to the lyrics & follow the vocals perfectly.In the end I will say listening to this album I am truly proud to say I have been A fan of James Durbin since he was on American Idol and will continue to be A fan for the rest of my life.

Standout Tracks: Fool For You, Loud Like A Loaded Gun & Real Love

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Punk Goes 90's 2

                                                            Genre: Covers / Punk??
                                                            Release: April 1 2014
                                                            Label: Fearless Records

 This is the newest of the Punk Goes series, As always Fearless Records does not cease to amaze me. With this particular album I could not find a way to review each song individually. Listening to this album all the way through I realized that this is not just another "Cover Album" but more of A re-imagining album. The bands on this compilation took these songs and made them their own. A few of my personal favorites are Hands Like Houses - Torn, Asking Alexandria - Closer, Memphis May Fire - Interstate Love Song & The Color Morale - Everlong. I feel that this is an album that any music lover should really give A listen. The bands recorded these songs so well you forget they are covers. The instrumentals of each song fit the songs perfectly. All in all i feel this album is all-around incredible.

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Chiodos - Devil

                                                        Genre: Post-Hardcore / Metalcore
                                                         Label: Tooth & Nail
                                                         Release: April 1 2014
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1. U.G. Introduction -
A very complex instrumental intro track. It opens the album up beautifully.

2. We're Talking About Practice -
This is an incredible track, The lyrics are beautifully written. The instrumental is incredibly performed, The vocals are perfectly executed. This song really showcases the future of this album.

3. Ole Fishlips Is Dead Now -
This song is very well performed, The lyrics are very complex & well written. The instrumental is boarderline perfect, The vocals are amazingly performed. This song is one of my personal favorites.

4. Why The Munsters Matter -
This is one of the more standout tracks off the album in my opinion, The instrumental is the epitime of incredible. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are performed incredibly.

5. 3 AM -
This is A very interesting track, The instrumental is amazing. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are beautifully performed. This song is on my top 5 favorite tracks from the album, It is also one of the softer songs off the album.

6. Sunny Days & Hand Grenades -
This is A track with an extremely dark feel to it, This track is boarderline creepy. The instrumental is very fitting to the lyrics, The vocals are perfectly performed. This song is one of the more standout tracks off the album.

7. Duct Tape -
This is one of my personal favorites off the album, It has A majorly dark & creepy factor that I really enjoy. The instrumental really allows the lyrics to shine in this track, The vocals are performed to perfection. This song is the epitime of genius in my book.

8. Behvis Bullock -
This track is an extreme in your face experience. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are A true test of how amazing of A vocalist Craig Owens is. The instrumental really follows the vocals perfectly. This song shows just how well Chiodos works together as A whole.

9. Looking For A Tornado -
This is one of the most incredible song I have heard from Chiodos in A long time. It starts off slow with an acoustic guitar melody & slowly gets faster. The instrumental is amazing, The lyrics are incredibly well written. The vocals are executed perfectly, This song really stood out to me personally & is probably my favorite track on the album.

10. Expensive Conversations In Cheap Motels -
This song May actually be my favorite track off the album. The lyrics are quite dark, However they are very beautifully written. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental is perfectly fitting with the vocals & lyrics. All around this is an incredible song.

11. I'm Akward & Unusual -
This song is incredible, It really showcases the perfect writing ability Chiodos has. The lyrics are incredible, The vocals are extremely well performed. The instrumental really allows the lyrics to be shown off by frontman Craig Owens. This song really stands out to me personally.

12. Under Your Halo -
This is probably the softest track on the album, This song really showcases the vocal ability of Craig Owens. The lyrics are beautifully written. The instrumental really follows the vocals perfectly. The vocals are some of my favorite off the entire albums, Craig Owens really went A step further in my opinion.

13. I Am Everything That's Normal -
This song close the album perfectly, The instrumental is very well performed. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are perfectly executed to fit the instrumental & lyrics. I really enjoy the sudden mood change in the song, It starts off really slow & piano driven & quickly gets quite heavy. This is another of my personal favorites off the album.

All in all this is an incredible comeback album. To me it sounds as if Craig Owens had never left to begin with, The chemistry still appears to be the same.

Overall Rating: 9 / 10

X Blake Freeman X Interview

At what age did you know you wanted to make music for A living?

X Blake Freeman X:  I'd say around 16. Around 16, I really started thinking about being a serious musician.

Were there any specific artist that influenced you to start writing?

X Blake Freeman X:Tupac Shakur. When I started writing full, legitimate songs, they were just really long poems for girls. I remember when I was a kid, my aunt had this book of poems that were published by Shakur. Every single one of the poems, in the entire book, were to girls. So when I started writing my music, I just tried to remember what he did in that book. He wrote poems for girls, turned it into music. I was writing poems, wanting to turn it into music. He was definitely one of the early influences to start writing.

 very cool. How would you describe your music?

X Blake Freeman X: I'd describe it as just Hip-Hop.

 Ok. What are some projects you are working on this year?

X Blake Freeman X: Well, I guess what you could consider my biggest project, would be trying to play on the Van's Warped Tour.

 ok. is there a site where fans can vote to help you play Warped Tour?

X Blake Freeman X: Absolutely, you can vote as many times as you'd like. Just refresh the page. Every single vote is appreciated.You can vote here

  ok. so take a minute to tell fans and people who have not heard of you why they should vote for you? What seperates you from any other person trying to play Warped Tour?

X Blake Freeman X: I have a real reason why everybody should vote for me. It's not some ''I want to be rich and famous'' answer, like any other contestant would tell you. Back to Tupac Shakur, I'm trying to change the world. I promise you I'm going to make this world better. I want to win this contest and let all these people from small towns, that didn't start out with the best lives, know that you can still make it. I want all the people in the world that had dreams of being musicians or actors, anything that made them a celebrity, know that they're living vicariously through me. I'm a mixture every single person that's ever had a dream but didn't follow through with it. When you see my name on a billboard, don't even read my name, read yours. I am exactly like you and I don't want you to look at me any differently. That alone separates me from the ''hot shot'', ''big-timer'' artists you already see on the Van's Warped Tour. I've already gained some success with music and I'm always talking to the kids, teaching them confidence, showing them ''Look, it doesn't matter what you look like, where you come from, what you've done, if you work hard it happens.'' I'm just trying to reach even more people on a bigger level, and that's what the Van's Warped Tour is to me.

 Awesome I wish you best of luck in the contest.Is there anywhere people can listen to your music? Also do you have any last words for your fans?

X Blake Freeman X: Thank you, please vote. Yeah, my music is all over YouTube and Google Play. Just search ''X Blake Freeman X'' on Google and you'll find everything. Yeah, let me say, I do know who's really there for me. I love y'all more than I'll ever express.

Everybody should take A moment to like X Blake Freeman X on facebook & also vote for him to play the 2014 Vans Warped Tour the links for those will be posted below. Thank you to X Blake Freeman X for taking the time to talk with Oblivion Reviews.

X Blake Freeman X Facebook
Vote for him to play the 2014 Vans Warped Tour here

Nathan Ryan Interview

I had the chance to chat with rapper Nathan Ryan to ask him A few questions, This is what he had to say.

At what age did you know you wanted to make music for A living?

Nathan Ryan: When I turned 18 and I went to a bunch of shows and when I went I loved the screaming crowds and the chills the performance gave me and that's when I realized I wanted to do that for people

 Very cool. Was there A particular artist that really inspired the decision?

NR:  I went to see gym class Heroes and The Roots live and it was just non-stop music for 4 hours and I had a really good time

Ok, I know you just released your "Top Shelf" mixtape and your currently getting ready for the "Smoke Loud Play Loud Tour" are their any other scheduled projects for you this year?

NR:  Bringing back all my YouTube parodies and YouTube channel. So I'm going back to doing parodies and music. I'm pretty much doing it all. Keeping my YouTube channel going with parodies when I'm not on the road doing shows and might be tagging along with some warped tour dates this summer.

 Awesome, Would this be your first time on warped tour?

NR: No I was on it in 2010

 Ok, so how was your first experience on warped? Did you get good reactions from the crowds?

NR:  I went along to do signings at a tent but I had anywhere from 50-100 kids come everyday for signings and pictures which was so awesome meeting everybody

 Very cool, So do you prefer performing live or recording in the studio more?

NR:  Live shows because I like the adrenaline rather than being in the studio because it's just me

 Awesome, Have fans reacted any different to your new music over your parodies?

NR:  Yes some people think my parodies are my actual music when really it's something I do in my spare time to keep new content up. I'm getting a really good reaction off of TopShelf since TopShelf is all me.

 Nice I really enjoyed Top Shelf I think it's some of the best work you've ever done what inspired you to give it away as A free download? I feel like it could have easily been an album also will there ever be hard copies made?

NR: I wanted to release something for free cause I have never had any of my music up for free and I just wanted people to hear it and tell all their friends. Nobody pays for music these days and the ones who do should be rewarded with some free tunes sometimes,And no hard copies or anything just free download on all my sites such as YouTube and soundcloud.

 My final question is where do you see yourself at 10 years from now?

NR: In 10 years I see myself helping others in music and I would like to be a host of an award show or hosting a tv show. I feel like it would be entertaining

I would like to thank Nathan Ryan for taking the time to talk to me and answer my questions. I suggest if you like him follow him on Facebook & Twitter for latest info. Nathan Ryan just released the Top Shelf mixtape which is up for free download on his Soundcloud. He is getting ready to hit the road for the Smoke Loud Play Loud Tour with Steez Click (Sev. & Rise of Brokencyde), Phat J (Formely of Brokencyde), JJ Demon & Potent Da Rockstar.

Nathan's Facebook

Nathan's Twitter

Nathan's Soundcloud

311 - Stereolithic

                                                             Genre: Alternative / Reggae-Rock
                                                             Release: March 11 2014
                                                             Label: 311 Records
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1. Ebb and Flow -
A very good opening track, The Lyrics are beautiful. The vocals are performed incredibly, The instrumental is the epitime of perfect. This song Is A perfect sample of what is to come in the future of this album.

2. Five Of Everything -
This song was released as the lead single off the album, Which I believe was the smartest move to make. This song really showcases the overall sound of the entire album. The lyrics are incredibly well written & meaningful, The vocals are performed to perfection. The instrumental is amazingly performed. This song overall is one of the many standout tracks off this album.

3. Showdown -
This song is amazing, It showcases the talent the band have been known for since the start. The lyrics are flawlessly written, They really fit the instrumental perfectly. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental is amazing. The song is all-around perfection. This is another standout track, It is also one of my personal favorites off the album. This song has an old school (Beautiful Disaster) 311 feel to it.

4. Revelation Of The Year -
This is A pretty awesome track, It personally is not my favorite but it's still pretty good. The lyrics are beautifully written, The vocals are very fitting with the instrumental. The instrumental is pretty well performed. This song is pretty interesting, It is A good song, just not one of the best songs off the album.

5. Sand Dollars -
This is an interesting track, The instrumental is awesomely performed. This song has A slower reggae feel to it, The lyrics are beautiful & meaningful. The vocals are executed to perfection. This is another standout track, It also is in my top 5 list of favorites off the album.

6. Boom Shanka -
This is an amazing track, It is possibly my favorite off the album. The instrumental is Quite dancy & catchy, The lyrics are beautifully written. The vocals are outstanding, This is definately one of the more standout tracks off the album.

7. Make It Rough -
This is an incredible song, The lyrics are written amazingly well. The vocals are performed to perfection, This song has some of the best vocals on the album in my opinion. The instrumental is amazing it leads the vocals along perfectly. This is another majorly standout track.

8. The Great Divide -
This is another track with an old school 311 feel to it, It is also A major standout track. The Lyrics are very well written, The vocals are performed perfectly. The instrumental is amazing, This song is very well mashed up Rap-Rock & Reggae track. This song is one of my personal favorites off the album.

9. Friday Afternoon -
This is an amazing track, It has A major chill, good vibrations feel to it. It is slower and overall very easy to listen to. The lyrics are written beautifully, The vocals are performed to perfection. The instrumental is incredible, At the end it speeds up A bit but it stills stays very easy to listen to, This song is actually my personal favorite. It is A major standout track.

10. Simple True -
This is an incredible song, The instrumental is really catchy and has A funk attribute to it. The lyrics are incredibly well written, The vocals are excellently performed. It is another standout track, it is also in my top 5 favorites.

11. First Dimension -
This is another incredible track, The instrumental is overall perfection. The lyrics are amazingly written, The vocals are perfectly performed. This song has A major "Beautiful Disaster" feel to it, This song is all-around incredible. This is one of the more standout track off the album.

12. Made In The Shade -
This song is amazing, The instrumental is very catchy & just amazing. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are excellently performed. This song is one of my personal favorites.

13. Existential Hero -
This song is awesome, The instrumental is excellent. The lyrics are written incredibly, The vocals are performed perfectly. This is one of the more standout tracks, It is another Rap-Rock type song. It is another of my personal favorites.

14. The Call -
This is another amazing track, The instrumental is amazingly performed. The lyrics are beautifully written, The vocals are executed very nicely. This song is all-around amazing, This is another standout track.

15. Tranquility -
The perfect Closing track to this amazing album, The instrumental is majorly relaxed. The lyrics are quite deep & meaningful, The vocals are perfectly performed. This song closed this album as well as "Ebb and Flow" opened it. Definately one of my favorites off the album, It is A majorly standout track.

This is one of the best albums i've heard lately. For me personally 311 can't disappoint. I've had their music in my life since I was younger, So it is A major honor to be reviewing this album. I strongly suggest you check out this album you will not be let down.

Overall Rating: 9 / 10

JJ Demon Interview

I had the chance to chat with rapper JJ Demon and ask him A few questions, Here is what he had to say.

At what age did you know you wanted to make music for  A living?
     
JJ Demon: It was never a question. I never had any other plan. I was drawing my album covers when I was like 7. The only time I ever doubted it was AFTER I got signed and started seeing the way the industry really works. I realized it wasn't really built for real artists. It's for puppets that want to take orders and jump through hoops. Which I don't do.

wow. I know you had A group called "Cult Classics" in your teenage years with your late friend Damien how exactly would you say you have matured as an artist since then you mentioned seeing the music industry for what it is how else have you matured artistically?
     
JJ Demon:  His name is actually Dominic, but you gave it a good shot. haha Um, yeah our music was very different from what I make now, but then again every time I release something new I tweak my sound a bit. It's not even intentional, it's just natural. Artists grow. I think an artist that deliberately tries to keep their music the same to appease fans is really hurting himself. Make the music that feels most natural to you at any given time. I could never make another Funeral Disco album. I know that now. I can bring the same energy to my new music, but I can't just make a carbon copy. I have to grow and do what feels true. Classics was like hardcore/horrorcore shit. I'd love to revisit the sound at some point. The Dead Have Highways.

I apologize for the name flop I thought i saw Damien was his name my mistake. I have heard A few cult Classics songs on youtube and it is definately more out there, I personally would love to hear more stuff like that. With "Funeral Disco" you kind of changed the "Scene-rap" "Crunkcore" genre, what kind of inspired you to take that road musically?
    
JJ Demon: Well I don't even know what those words mean. I just wanted to make uptempo dance-type songs with dark undertones, but have the song-writing be poetic and nuanced. Sinister, serious, sarcastic, cinematic. That album was me finding myself at a crossroads. I had just gotten out of jail and I was in a weird spot. I wanted to cleanse myself of the life I was living before and start something fresh. I never even heard the word "crunkcore" until the album was done. And I coined the phrase "scene-hop" myself, but mostly as a joke.

 very cool. Back in the day when you first started writing was there A specific artist that inspired you to pick up that pen for the very first time?
    
JJ Demon: I can't remember that far back. I was writing lyrics and poetry from the moment I learned words. But yeah, once I started to develop an ear as a learned listener, I'd say Wu-Tang was my earliest influence. I guess I was around 11 or 12. But I played guitar and bass back then too. I was very into 90's hardcore and punk. The Misfits and Dead Kennedys. Integrity and Earth Crisis. I used to like to learn Nirvana songs on the ax cuz they were mostly just simple power chords and I could easily sing along while I played. I always knew I wanted to be a vocalist, no matter what. I kinda answered you and kinda didn't, sorry I go on tangents. Aesop Rock. Cannibal Ox. El-P. The old Def Jux line up were big inspiration on me when I was a little kid.

 Since "Funeral Disco" you have released the "Live Backwords" Mixtape, The "Limbo" EP & even the album "Growing Ill" with your group Josie Wails, Each release showing A little more and more change. What would you say fans can expect from this new music?
    
JJ Demon: Um, well I have a single I'm gonna try to release before I leave for tour in May. I'd say it's the closest thing to Funeral Disco, sound-wise, that I've made since FD came out. But it also has more of a live band kinda feel as well. It's def one of the poppiest songs I've ever done. BUT... lol after I get back from tour I'm going to start recording the songs I've written for an ep I'm doing with Captain Midnite, who just finished working with Jonny Craig. He's an incredible producer and I'm stoked to work with him, but it's def not gonna be anything like my next single. It's darker, more intense and personal. Lyrically it's more Josie Wails-esque. Heavy on emotion. But sonically it'll be the most grandiose, cinematic release from me so far. It has a BIG, FULL sound that hits hard and washes over you. I'm trynna take people somewhere with me. Somewhere they may not want to go at first, but they'll be glad I took them once they're there.

 You mentioned working with Captain Midnite who has worked with some incredible artists and you even mentioned Jonny craig, Is there any chance of A JJ Demon, Captain Midnite, Kyle Lucas & Jonny Craig Collab at some point?
    
JJ Demon:  I can't really speak on it. I mean, me and Midnite are def doing about 6 songs, I'd love for Kyle to hop on at least 1, which I'm sure he'd be stoked to do. He and I are always looking for stuff to collab on, we just can't always work it out. And I'd fucking LOVE for Jonny to go in on something. I think all of us are all high caliber artists and our sounds would mesh perfectly. Everybody is busy, but we're all at our best and we're all having a great time doing what we're doing right now.

 very cool I really hope the four of you get on A track together at some point. From where you are right now, Where do you see your career going in the next 10 years?
    
JJ Demon: I'm a nightmare for an industry that is all calculated. Because everything I do is spontaneous. And I can't keep my mouth shut about my beliefs. So it's difficult for managers to control me, which scares the suits. So there's no telling. Anyone that knows rap music, lyricism, song-writing or just music in general will tell you I'm good at this. But it's my reluctance to conform and become what they want me to become that will always hold me back, and I kinda like it that way. Would blowing up be cool? Sure. But it was never the plan or the reason I do this. 10 years? I'll either be in an apartment somewhere, a house somewhere, or sleeping under a bridge. Who the fuck knows? As long as I'm not back in jail, it's a win.

 Really cool. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this interview, Over the span of your career you have aquired quite A loyal fan base is there anything right now you would like to tell them?
    
JJ Demon:  Be good to people. Stay weird. Laugh at everything. Kill your darlings. Learn to love yourself. Learn to love your life. Don't let go. Hail Satan! (lol)

I want to give A big thank you to JJ Demon for taking the time to sit down and talk with me. Everyone should take A moment to check out his music if you have not already. I can honestly say I have been A fan since the start and will continue to be. Stay tuned on his Facebook & Twitter for the latest info on what is to come. He is currently announcing tour dates for the upcoming Smoke Loud Play Loud Tour with Steez Click (Sev & Rise Of Brokencyde), Potent Da Rockstar, Nathan Ryan & Phat J (Formerly Of Brokencyde). He is also in the process of releasing A collection of unreleased & rerecorded music entitled "Radio Nowhere" so stay tuned for that.

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Combichrist - We Love You

                                                         Genre: Industrial Metal
                                                         Release: March 21 2014
                                                         Label: Metropolis Records
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1. We Were Made To Love You -
This is A very powerful opening track. The instrumental is incredibly well made, It leads the vocals amazingly. The vocals are perfectly executed, The lyrics are very fitting to the instrumental.

2. Every Day Is War -
This is A very interesting song, The lyrics are incredible. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental is outstanding. This is A definate standout track.

3. Can't Control -
This song has A almost creepy feel to it, The song is primarily instrumental except for occasional computer generated vocals. The instrumental is really amazing, A great interlude type track.

4. Satan's Propaganda -
This is another cool track, The lyrics are very well written. The vocals are incredibly performed, The instrumental adds A whole new layer to this song. The instrumental is quite amazing.

5. Maggots At The Party -
This is another very interesting track, The lyrics are quite dark and eery. The vocals are performed amazingly, The instrumental is quite incredible. This is another standout track from the album.

6. Denial -
This is A very awesome song, The instrumental is incredible. The lyrics are very well written, The vocals are incredibly executed. This is one of my favorite songs on the album, It definately stands out.

7. The Evil In Me -
This is an incredible song, It is quite slower than most of the rest of the album. The lyrics are beautifully written, They are quite dark & meaningful. The instrumental is amazing, It is A beautiful acoustic guitar and piano melody.

8. Fuck Unicorns -
This is another interlude type track,it is primarily instrumental. It is another incredible interlude track from this album. The instrumental is very catchy and quite dancy, Until around the end then it turns into A quite dark beat with A Marilyn Manson feel to it.

9. Love Is A Razorblade -
A quite fast and heavy track, The instrumental is really well performed. The lyrics are pretty well written, The vocals are very well performed. This is A very interesting song, For me personally it's not my favorite.

10. From My Cold Dead Hands -
This is another very cool track, The instrumental is quite catchy but still heavier at the same time. The lyrics are very well written. The vocals are very interesting, They go from being screamed incredibly to being computer generated back and forth. This song is one of my personal favorites off the album.

11. We Rule The World Motherfuckers -
This another quite interesting track, The instrumental is very catchy and poppy. The lyrics are amazing, The vocals are performed pretty much perfectly. This is A definate standout track, This is possibly my personal favorite track off the album.

12. Retreat Hell Part 1 -
This is another very well written track, The lyrics are beautifully written. The vocals are some of the best I have heard on this album, The instrumental is amazing. This is an all-around incredible song.

13. Retreat Hell Part 2 -
This is an all-around perfect closing track to this album, The instrumental is an amazing acoustic guitar melody. The lyrics are incredible, The vocals are all-around perfect. This is another standout track, Definately one of my personal favorites.

This is one of the most interesting albums I have heard lately, It has alot of up & down moments, But overall is very well made. Fans of Marilyn Manson & Nine Inch Nails if you have not heard of this band you should definately give this album A listen.

Overall Rating: 8 / 10
 

Pharrell - G I R L

   
                                                               Genre: R&B
                                                               Release: March 3 2014
                                                               Label: Columbia Records
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1. Marilyn Monroe -
This is A all-around incredible song, The instrumental is very catchy and fun. The lyrics are very well written, They are amazingly performed. The perfection of how much the instrumental & lyrics mesh is amazing. This song is basically the epitime of perfection.

2. Brand New (ft Justin Timberlake) -
This song is terrific, The instrumental is amazing. The lyrics are beautifully written. The vocals by Pharrell are incredible, They are only topped by Justin Timberlake's in A scale of perfection. These two pop heavyweights created A pop masterpiece with this one.

3. Hunter -
This is one of my personal favorites on the album, The lyrics are amazingly well written & incredibly performed. The instrumental is boarder line perfection, I personally can't think of A single complaint about this beat. The vocals are perfectly lead by the instrumental.

4. Gush -
This is A very sexual song, The instrumental is catchy & dirty. The lyrics are extremely explicit, The vocals are perfectly executed. This is definately A standout track.

5. Happy -
I don't think I have to describe this song, but I will anyway. It definately is A happy song, Really upbeat & fun this song is really well done. The instrumental is very dancy & fun. The lyrics are very uplifting & peaceful. I don't think anyone can listen to this song and not smile.

6. Come Get It Bae (ft Miley Cyrus) -
This is another sexual song, The instrumental is incredible. The lyrics are amazingly sexual without being obvious, Pharrell's vocals are incredibly well performed, Miley Cyrus's vocals are very fitting with the song. This is another one of my personal favorites on the album.

7. Gust Of Wind (ft Daft Punk) -
This song is awesome, The instrumental is amazingly perfect. The lyrics are beautifully written, Pharrell's vocals are perfectly performed, Daft Punk adds an awesome boost to the song withe the chorus. This song actually might be my personal favorite on the album.

8. Lost Queen -
This song is pretty cool, The instrumental is awesomely different. The lyrics are incredibly well written, The vocals are amazingly performed. The lyrics are perfectly fitting with the instrumental. It is an incredibly weird track but in the best way possible.

9. Know Who You Are (ft Alicia Keys) -
This is an incredible song, The lyrics are really well written. The instrumental is incredible, It is catchy and down to the point. Pharrell's vocals are really well performed, Alicia Keys' vocals are incredibly well performed. This is A major standout track on the album in my opinion.

10. It Girl -
This song closed the album so well, It is incredible. The instrumental is amazing, The lyrics are beautifully well written. Pharrell's vocals are extremely well performed. This song really was the perfect closing track to the album.

My overall thoughts are can Pharrell make bad music? Seriously is it possible? This is the best R&B album i've heard in A while. This album  just all-around amazing.

Overall Rating: 8 / 10

Redrick Sultan - Redrick Sultan EP

                                                         Genre: Experimental Indie
                                                         Release: Febuary 5 2014
                                                         Label: Unsigned
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So before I start I should say I found out about this band through the drummers sister, who im not gonna name on here because the review is about the band, but thank you to her because I really enjoyed this EP.

1. jest us -
This song is very quite interesting, It is A really excellent opening track. The instrumental is really quite incredible. The lyrics are very well written & performed, I really enjoyed the whole dual singer aspect. One of my personal favorite tracks on the album.

2. Strawman -
This is A more upbeat track, It is really well written. The lyrics are really well written & incredibly performed. The instrumental is amazing, It really Leads the vocals along quite well. This song is overall quite awesome, It is A definate standout track.

3. Devil's Diamonds -
First thing I have to say is the title is pretty awesome. Now that I said that, This track is actually possibly my personal favorite. I really enjoyed The whole crossroads storyline in the lyrics, It was incredibly well done. The instrumental has A bit of A bluesy feel to it which fits the lyrics perfectly. The vocals are amazingly executed.

4. The Prince -
This song is really quite incredible, It has A quite ominous intro. The instrumental quickly kicks in and goes from slow and ominous to A faster pace less creepy vibe. The lyrics are quite perfectly meshed with the instrumental, They are really well written. The vocals are very suited to the song.

5. Recurring Mimosa -
This is an excellent closing track, It is amazingly well written all-around. The vocals are perfectly lead by the instrumental. The lyrics are really interesting in an incredible way. The vocals are very well executed, The instrumental is incredibly performed. Another one of my personal favorites on the EP.

My overall thoughts are that I really enjoy how different the band sounds, They have like their own style which is refreshing to see nowadays. The band is A truly incredible upcoming talent. They truly conquer the need for A genre in my book. I really look foward to any future work the band may put out.

You can get the EP here at A name your price option.

I also want to tell the band sorry for all the "A's" it actually was not intentional, however I thought it was pretty funny as I was reading it back.

Overall Rating: 7 / 10

American Authors - Oh, What A Life

                                                             Genre: Alternative
                                                             Release: March 3 2014
                                                             Label: Island Def Jam
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1. Believer -
This song is very fun and catchy, It has very uplifting lyrics. This is an incredible song, it starts the album off the right way. This song is A perfect example of what's to come in the rest of the album. This song was originally released on the bands self titled EP, It truly sets the mude for an amazing album.

2. Think About It -
Another fun catchy song, This song is incredibly well written. This song really keeps the the mood set for the album. The instrumental is A very amazing mix, The lyrics are beautifully written and performed.

3. Best Day Of My Life -
This is by far one of the most uplifting song's I've ever heard. I legitimately can not be in A bad mood listening to this song. The lyrics are all-around amazing. The instrumental leads the beautifully performed lyrics perfectly. Easily one of my favorite songs on the album.

4. Luck -
This song is A interesting song, It is seriously about regrets but it's not sad, in fact it is quite the opposite. The lyrics are amazingly well performed, The instrumental is perfectly catchy and fits the lyrics amazingly. This song is another one of my favorites on the album.

5. Trouble -
This song is an almost folk type of song. I love how the instrumental Follows the lyrics in the beginning but quickly changes and starts leading them. The lyrics are beautiful and awesomely performed. The instrumental is very catchy and well performed.

6. Hit It -
The instrumental to this song is very cool, It is A like electronic type of beat over the bands instruments. It is A very fun dancy instrumental, The lyrics are very well sung. The song is very much just incredible. Definately one of the standout tracks on the album.

7. Home -
This song is another uplifting track, It really is amazingly deep. I really connect with this song, for instance the first lyrics are "I Got These Letters Tattooed On My Arm That Remind Me Each Second Of Where I Come From And The Long Hard Road To Guide Me Back Home" I also have letters tattooed on my arm that lead me home as well so I really liked feeling connected to the song. The lyrics are beautiful and very well performed. The instrumental is very amazing and fitting to the lyrics, It leads them perfectly.

8.Love -
This is possibly my favorite track on the album. It is all-around amazing. The lyrics are incredible, The instrumental is perfectly performed, The vocals are completely Terrific. I honestly think this song is the epitime of perfection.

9. Heart Of Stone -
One of the more rock sounding songs, It's very guitar fueled. The lyrics are really well written, The instrumental is quite amazing, It leads the lyrics very nicely. The vocals are incredibly performed. This song is another major standout track in my opinion.

10. Ghost -
This is A very well written track, The lyrics are amazingly good. The instrumental is quite perfectly fitting with the lyrics. The vocals are beautifully executed. In my opinion this song should have been the lead single to the album due to how well it sums up how the album sounds.

11. Oh, What A Life -
This song has A very big country feel to it, The instrumental is really well performed.The lyrics are quite amazing and very incredibly performed. This song is A perfect closing track to the album, It is quite interesting that the title track is the closing song but really worked out well.

12. Best Day Of My Life (Acoustic) -
There is not much to say except in my opinion the acoustic version of any song is always better, This is no exception. It takes all theincredible features of the original version and makes it A little bit more incredible.

My overall thoughts are that I really like the whole Country / Folk / Pop / Rock thing they have going on. It is A really amazing album and I truly see it topping charts when it drops. I strongly reccomend you pick up A copy when it drops.

Overall Rating: 8.5 / 10