I also wanted to quickly remind everyone the importance of picking up an album or two every once and awhile. I understand it's much easier (and free) to download these albums. But just reading today that HMV UK is set to close it's doors permanently, it's only a matter of time before our chain retailers (like my defunct former job with CD Plus/E One Ent.) like HMV Canada and Sunrise Records will see their end as well. Record shops play a vital part in our music industry, same as online retailers and independent music stores (all of which you can check out on the side columns of AFGM).
But who spoke for Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley? They were teenagers when they were convicted for the 1993 murder of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. (Echols alone was sentenced to death.) They spent 18 years in prison, while outside the gates, mounting evidence cast doubt on their conviction. And the three are subjects of a 2012 documentary directed by Amy Berg, West of Memphis, that’s opening in Toronto and Vancouver on Jan. 25.
Those who fought for the trio’s acquittal – they were finally freed in 2011 but still haven’t been exonerated – included musicians such as Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, Marilyn Manson, Patti Smith and Natalie Maines, all of whom contributed to an emotional soundtrack to Berg’s film.
This album, however, features “music and songs inspired by the film.” The actual score was written and performed by the soundtrack-specializing duo of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (both of the Australian alt-rock band Grinderman and, in Cave’s case, the Bad Seeds). -Globe And Mail
With my small issues aside, it’s actually a solid album and one that gets better with repeat listens; I just hope their fans take to the bands slightly adjusted sound. If someone had told me The Plot in You were going to add a nu-metal vibe to their next album I’d have probably rolled my eyes, but after hearing the album in its entirety I can safely say it’s a step in the right direction. -Rock N Reel Reviews
New Jersey's Mutiny Within have returned with a more accessible and melodic follow-up to their 2010 debut album. They play an interesting blend of progressive metal that contains elements from metalcore, melodic death metal, and power metal. I thoroughly enjoyed their last output so I had high expectations for this. The band unfortunately was dropped from Roadrunner Records due to low record sales. Since then vocalist Chris Clancy moved back to England and the band went on a hiatus for almost 2 years. This record came as a surprise to many fans and this time around the band decided to take a do it yourself approach with Clancy handling mixing and production duties. -Metal Archives
2CELLOS have established themselves as an innovative classical-pop/rock duo who took their classical instrument into the contemporary repertoire. Their second album, IN2ITION, takes their original concept even further. Produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin and featuring guest artists Elton John, guitarist Steve Vai, Glee's Naya Rivera, classical superstar Lang Lang, legendary Italian vocalist Zucchero and pop artist Sky Ferriera, IN2ITION features a fresh and unique twist on classics such as Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh, Well,' The Prodigy's 'Voodoo People,' Coldplay's 'Clocks,' Rhianna's 'We Found Love,' AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell,' Muse's 'Supermassive Black Hole,' Cher and Nancy Sinatra's 'Bang Bang', and Elton John's 'Candle In The Wind.' -Amazon
Released three years after Remigio Pereira, Victor Micallef, Fraser Walters, and Clifton Murray topped the holiday charts with 2009's certified platinum Christmas outing The Perfect Gift, the Canadian Tenors third full-length outing, the 12-track Lead with Your Heart, draws on influences from all over the world and from numerous genres. A lush mix of classical, opera, and pop, the album includes stirring renditions of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word," the much-beloved aria “Nessun Dorma,” and new compositions that were co-written by the Tenors themselves. Lead with Your Heart also features guest appearances from Chris Botti ("Lullaby [The Smile Upon Your Face]") and Natalie Grant ("Amazing Grace"), and will be eventually be accompanied by a PBS concert special CD/DVD that was recorded at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas. -All Music
The musicianship from everyone on this album is outstanding and top class in every way, they produce amazing sounds throughout and the album really captures the feel of being at a live show. It also demonstrates how Michael is on top form, his performance is so slick and professional, evoking the feeling that you’re there watching the guitar maestro perform his metal magic. -Metal Shock Finland
He’s after gasps of shock and horror, and he garners plenty of both throughout Caligula. By definition, Caligula doesn’t have the novelty or freshness of Shakespeare (in that sense, it really is no Shakespeare), and there are moments throughout when Jeselnik’s sensibility threatens to devolve into mere shtick. But if Jeselnik sometimes comes off as a one-joke comedian, that joke isn’t just still funny—it’s downright hilarious.
On Caligula, Jeselnik isn’t satisfied until he’s left absolute carnage in his wake. -AV Club
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