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So this week i'm in the mood for something different. There hasn't been too much I would consider "great" yet this year so far. There has only been 1 truly GREAT album and maybe 2 other albums out of the others and a handful of songs from the rest. I will tell you one thing. I am really, really happy I took the time to get to know The Rocket Summers new album. That shit is dope as fuck. This week, there was a lot to choose from, but ultimately I heard all of them out for a track or two and finally decided on this band... KUNG-FU. The name was cool and after watching a video or two on youtube, I decided to that THIS was the album for this week.
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Track 1 - Daddy O
The first track brings the funk! It reminds me of old 70's funk bands like Parliment. This song is really good and it definitely has a feel good 70's vibe to it. It's hard to believe that this is a new song. These guys definitely know the genre and deliver perfectly on their opening track.
3.5/5
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Track 2 - Chin Music
Track 2 is mostly instrumental. It has a 70's cop show kinda, pumping vibe to it. I could definitely see mustashed cops chasing down bad guys while this song plays in the background. The sax player is AMAZING. It's official. This band is awesome.
3.5/5
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Track 3 - Vroom
This track has a very cool vibe to it. It is a lot like the last track and has an old school Incubus playing as the Tonight Show band kind of vibe to it. One thing I like about this band already is how long these tracks are. This one is 8:01 long!!! Get your attention span ready! It will be well worth it.
3.5/5
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Track 4 - Joyride
This song is AWESOME! It has a 70's vibe to it and sounds like it could have been on a movie soundtrack in the 80's like Ghostbusters. This song just makes you want to get the fuck down and boogie all night long. This is definitely a great starting point!
4/5
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Track 5 - Speed Bump Of Your Love
This might be the best song overall of 2016! This song is funky in all the right ways and really delivers. This is the stand out track on here and sounds like something you'd see the Harlem Globetrotters dunking to. If you like funk, it doesn't get much better than this.
5/5
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Track 6 - Prime Time Rib
So far I haven't heard a bad track on this album. This is easily the best funk album i've heard in a long time. Any song that's about ribs is ok with me. Not too much lyrically here, but with this band, that's just fine.
3.5/5
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Track 7 - The Getdown
This is the kind of music that puts you in a good mood. Another mostly instrumental track, I will say one thing... if funky, instrumental, 6 minute plus songs are not your thing, this band is not for you. However, if it is... you are in for a treat!
3.5/5
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Track 8 - Gold Coast
Musically, this is one of the best bands i've heard in awhile. It's rare for me to find a band I like without any vocals for the most part. But this band not only impressed me, they made me a fan for life.
3.5/5
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Track 9 - Samurai
This last track has a very cool feel to it. It is also the longest track on this album at 8:53! This band has been phenomenal and it makes me sad that it's over. That;s my only beef, 9 tracks was not near enough.
4/5
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Overall - 34/45
Overall, this album was GREAT! I really enjoyed listening to something different for a change. Willowbee, out.
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Wow, almost 3 months into 2016 already. Time really flies too fast, doesn't it? Well, with that time flying by, it leads us to my next review! This week I will be checking out, The Word Alive's new album, "Dark Matter". Let's go!
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Track 1 - Dreamer
The first track is a tad slow and emo, but towards the end their are some subtle screams that suggest they're about to get a lot heavier. I like this one even though it's slow and emo. You can definitely hear this band clicking on all cylinders. If this is any indication to how the rest of this album will play out, I think I will be pretty happy.
2.5/5
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Track 2 - Trapped
Track 2 reminds me of the music I loved in the late 90's. The screamer is spot on. The emo guy actually sounds a little better on this track as well. I really like this one. Very heavy and the music behind the screams is perfect. This band is actually really good! The breakdown in this song is ridiculously cool and for that, this song gets a 4/5.
4/5
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Track 3 - Face To Face
Ok, so maybe the emo guy isn't all too emo afterall. He actually has a pretty good voice and the he definitely compliments the singer. This song is a little slower, but thank god they don't shy away from the screamer. My wife heard a couple of these songs and immediately compared them to Linkin Park. I can hear that a little. Overall, they are impressive! With so many groups out there claiming to be post-hardcore or post-punk, these guys are actually worthy of that title.
3.5/5
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Track 4 - Sellout
This screamer is... simply put, AWESOME. He definitely shows off his abilities in this song. This is definitely one of my new favorite heavier bands. These are the kinds of songs that would be cool to listen to driving nowhere with the music blaring in the middle of the night. A good starry night kinda band. I wish more bands came out like this.
4/5
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Track 5 - Insane
This I believe is the song my wife heard and compared them to Linkin Park. I most DEFINITELY agree. You can really hear a "Numb" inspiration on this track. That is not always a bad thing though, I hate when people compare bands and then say they stole the others song. Not the case, they simply were inspired by it enough to create their own.
3.5/5
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Track 6 - Made This Way
This song kinda reminds of Linkin Park as well. I definitely like this band. They're kind of a heavier version of them without all of the dj, rapping crap. I will say the guitar breakdown in this song is ridiculously awesome! Very cool, very cool indeed.
4/5
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Track 7 - Suffocating
I do not like the vocal effect at the beginning of this song. It quickly bounces out of that though and actually becomes pretty enjoyable. Not as good as most of the other tracks, this one still definitely holds its own! Pretty good! I really have liked this album so far.
3.5/5
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Track 8 - Piece Of Me
This song is weird. It has too much space. I think they went a little overboard with the reverb on this one. It's not bad, but not one of the better tracks on this album. Go figure... no screaming. Funny I used to pretty much hate music that screamed, but as I have gotten older I have grown this strange affinity towards it.
3.5/5
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Track 9 - Branded
I really like the tempo this song starts with. I am now realizing that the singer may actually be the screamer as well. Which is pretty cool. Definitely sounds pretty versatile. His scream really is pretty awesome. It's like a mix of Cisco Miranda and Daryl Palumbo. Different, yet still somehow familiar.
3.5/5
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Track 10 - Grunge
This song may be the best track on this album and the breakdown is PERFECT!!! If you listen to any songs on this album, make it this one. This one should be the leading single, but it probably won't be.
4/5
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Track 11 - Dark Matter
This song isn't too bad. It's not the shining moment on this album, but nevertheless it is a nice filler track. The screams towards the end are definitely interesting. As Peyton Manning would say, "I like it".
3/5
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Track 12 - Oxy
I was hoping for something a little heavier closing out this album, but it hasn't been bad, so i'm not going to complain. It has been pretty enjoyable actually.
3/5
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Overall - 42/60
Overall, this album was pretty good. If you decide to buy it, it will be money well spent. Willowbee, out.
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So needless to say, The Rocket Summer's, Zoetic has my current vote for album of the year. I have bumped that shit all week. This week i'm going to listen and review something a tad bit heavier. Outline In Color's, Struggle. Let's take a listen!
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Track 1 - Paradise Is Burning
It's not bad so far. I kinda get a "Panic At The Disco" vibe from them. I love the part with the soft heavy screaming buried in the background. If this is the set up for this album, I may just like the direction they take it. Probably not though. These kinds of albums can definitely go sour real quick. This song was awesome!
4/5
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Track 2 - Dead Gardens
Way heavier than what I expected. I'll admit, I like it, but I don't. The screaming is on point but the chorus sounds a little too Silverstein meets Hawthorne Heights for me. I do love the italian feel towards the end of the song. Overall, not bad.
2/5
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Track 3 - Eat Your Heart Out
This band definitely likes to scream. If they would just ditch this stupid emo singer I think they could be an awesome band. This song is pretty cool but that guy really annoys me. The screamer is actually pretty good.
2/5
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Track 4 - Alive
The singer makes these songs sound very repetitive. What happened to tracks like the first one? This album started off with so much promise but is losing ground very quickly with me. This isn't post-hardcore like advertised at all, this is more emo-bullshit and that isn't fair to this excellent screamer at all.
2/5
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Track 5 - The Way The World Turns
While the screamer is the only thing saving this band from deletion, he is starting to over stay his welcome on these tracks. I guess it's a hard balancing act with a singer as shitty as this one.
2/5
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Track 6 - Silencers
I really expected a lot more from this band. So far I am extremely disappointed that I picked this one. They sound like a bad copy of every single other hardcore/emo band out there. So far, I do not dig this album at all. I guess this song isn't the worst one on the album though. The outro riffing is pretty cool actually.
2/5
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Track 7 - Happy Endings
This band isn't going to be breaking any serious ground with this album. Halfway through and all I can think about is how much I wanted to hear a quality heavy album. But alas, I am left with this shell of a good album.
2/5
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Track 8 - The Monster In The Mirror
These songs all sound repetitive and uninspired. Their singer really is bad. He just has one of those voices that fit the mold for this kind of music. It seems like they only shine when they break into instrumental parts.
2/5
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Track 9 - My Other Car Is A Time Machine II
I can remember a time when listening to a new album was an event. It's become a rarity to find excellence and it usually only flashes a dozen or so times a year now if that. This is not one of those albums at all. At this point I would be pissed if I would have purchased this on a whim.
2/5
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Track 10 - The Calm
For only being 2 minutes long and starting off as an instrumental I definitely thought this was going to be a lot slower. Nope, actually it is one of the more decent songs on this album. The end reminds me of old Fred Durst screaming. Pretty cool.
3/5
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Track 11 - The Storm
This song the singer is somewhat tolerable. This may be the best track on this album, but that doesn't say a lot. It has been a very mediocre album and most definitely not worth the money or time involved to listen.
3/5
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Track 12 - Something We Can Dance To
This may be the worst track on this album. The singer becomes even more annoying and this song really brings that out a lot more. I will probably never listen to this band again after this.
2/5
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Track 13 - From The Bottom Of My Black Heart
Well with one track left on this album, the only thing that comes to mind is, thank god! This album has been more of a chore than anything this week. That is never a good sign, ever.
2/5
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Track 14 - I Will Struggle
This is the worst album this year. It may even be worse than, WWE's Adelita's Way. Not impressed, Not a fan.
2/5
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Overall - 32/70
Overall, crap. Completely and without a doubt. Willowbee, out.
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So last week I threw around the idea of reviewing this one. I changed my mind only to regret it! I have been listening to a couple of the songs on this album non-stop since then and they really are catchy and surprisingly pretty good! With that being said, let's sit down and check it out in it's entirety!
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Track 1 - Cold War
I'll admit... this song will get STUCK in your head. It's extremely catchy and reminiscent of old Michael Jackson. It has a power to it and demands your attention. This will probably never get the play that it deserves so just take my word for it and at least youtube this guy. His older stuff was a little... juvenile, but this new cd really shows what he has to offer and the direction he is going in.
4/5
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Track 2 - Same Air
This track may even be catchier than the first! I definitely understand why i've never heard of the guy before, but nevertheless I am happy I took the time to listen to at least the first 2 tracks on this album. You might eventually hear one of these songs on your local pop station or MTV, but like I said, probably not. This one even has a music video!
4/5
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Track 3 - UNI
While this track isn't as strong as the first two, this one is still pretty good. I really am digging this guys sound and he truly is completely different from all of the other shitty bands making their rounds at the moment. It's always fun to hear something fresh and this album hit that on the button.
3.5/5
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Track 4 - Help Me Out
This track isn't going to hit well with everyone, but it's not bad. It's just not near as good as the first 3 tracks on this album. It reminds me of the older tracks I listened to and those weren't nearly as developed and thought out as the first three tracks.
3/5
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Track 5 - Get Over It
I have really enjoyed listening to this album and it has instantly become a guilty pleasure kind of album. I really hear a LOT of Michael Jackson and Prince influence and it's cool to hear the guy scream a little bit. It's very cool that he also writes, performs, records and produces his own music.
3.5/5
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Track 6 - White Fireworks
So at the halfway point it is becoming clearly evident that this guy really has his own style and for him, it's definitely working out to his advantage. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any album this is comparable to. These days, that should be an achievement worth some kind of award!
3.5/5
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Track 7 - You Are, You Are
The intro to this song is very, very cool. This guy has a 80's Michael Jackson vibe to him. I'll be honest, only listening to this album 2 or 3 times really won't do it justice. You can tell it's pretty good, but this is a multiple listens kind of album. I really do like it though.
3.5/5
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Track 8 - FL, CA
This might not sound like a heavy song but this is probably one of the heaviest songs he has to offer and yes, once again, extremely catchy! You can definitely tell this guy is a seasoned musician that has been doing this for a long time. His songs are very precisely put together and never leave you with the feeling that something is missing.
4/5
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Track 9 - Rule Of Thirds Kind Of Life
This song is definitely the heaviest and once again, one of the catchiest. There is actually some screaming on this one. His Prince side comes out a lot more on this track and it quickly becomes a power-pop masterpiece. A lot of people are going to HATE this album, but those of you who take the time to listen to it more than once, will quickly be rewarded with one of the best albums of 2016 so far.
4/5
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Track 10 - Sharks
This is another one of those songs that are very well written. I will give The Rocket Summer this... they are EXTREMELY catchy. Be prepared to learn the lyrics and hear these songs in your sleep. This album is really, really good.
3.5/5
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Track 11 - Emergency Landings
I wish he would have closed with a stronger song, but I am not disappointed at all. This album definitely went well beyond my expectations and made me an instant fan. There are definitely some interesting melodies on this track that make it well worth listening to.
3/5
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Overall - 39.5/55
Overall, this album has made me a fan of The Rocket Summer. Definitely worth owning a copy and supporting a great musician. This is easily one of the better albums of 2016. I should have listened to it last week... OH YEAH! Adelita's Way... TOTALLY a WWE band, I googled it. =0) Willowbee, out.
