Get on Board The Blue Van

What is it about Scandanavians that kick butt? I discovered another band from that region of the world that you absoluetly need to purchase. The Blue Van is this Sweedish quartet that, unlike countrymen like The Hives, reach into the depths of 60's garage rock and don't filter it through the punk era. These guys play like a hidden track on the famous "Nuggets" compilation, full of raucous yet melodic energy that seems directly channeled from mid-60s Who, The Yardbirds, and the Kinks. The stuff is pure danceable rock 'n' roll, with a instrumental twist that seems completely foreign these days: They rock the Hammond. That's right. The dust off the ol' Hammond organ and they unleash its full power all over these songs. Plus, their drummer does the best Keith Moon impersonation I've heard in years. You all know how much I like Mooney on the kit, so that's no lighthearted praise. The guy is seriously good. The vocals are best described as sultry in the classic '60's sense, adding the occasional dashes of Eric Burdon, Mick Jagger, and the softer side of Robert Plant. If these guys make it big, this guy will have American girls throwing all kinds of undergarments at him, I'm telling you. But don't let that discourage you from buying the album. Get it today!

Coverville

I just found this great podcast site today called Coverville which is just what the title implies...Covers.

I've already listened to 4 of them here at work and they are great fun. The very first show Brian (the shows creator) did in Sept 2004 started with "Hold your head Up/Hello" by you know who. This guy is a big power pop fan and you can tell by the covers he unearths.

Give a listen while idling the day away, it's fun I tell ya.

Disciple Rocks

Alright folks, it's time to put away the candy shop pop and start bangin' your head...Disciple's back!

I discovered these guys from Tennessee in 1998 when they played at a small hard-core music festival. A year later they released a full length album on their own, "This Might Sting a Little." It's still one of my favorite albums of all time. From start to finish they serve up fast, loud, in-your-face, I-don't-care-if-you-don't-like-it metal, all the while pounding into your head that Christ died for you. Very effective. Then they fell of my radar. I went to every known website for them...nothing. I've searched Google a thousand times...nothing. Then just two days ago a friend gave me an early birthday present: The new Disciple album!


Turns out the guys have been making music all along...they just never told me about it...the downside of being an indy band. Well this time around they got major label backing from S/R/E Records. Disciple still brings the heavy riffs, otherworldly screams courtesy of singer Kevin Young and intelligent writing that gives you something to think about. This time around they show a more radio-friendly, pop side (Effects of a major label? No doubt), but rest assured there's more than enough material to make your neck hurt. If you listen to the short clips that most online retailers give you, it's of the "friendly" parts (another label decision?), but stick around to the end and you'll be rewarded with a snippet of metallic blis.

They give you the energy of the old Metallica, with some of the new sound Metallica, but with one key ingredient missing in that bands latest release...guitar solo's! Brad Noah certainly knows how to get the job done, delivering a guitar smack down you won't believe. He's not Kirk Hammett in the solo department, but he can hang with Hetfield down low. My advice, buy this album...if you don't like it, I'll buy it back from you. With all the power pop fans on this site, you might like it just the way it is. If it's too smily for you (Dave) get "This Might Sting A Little", and you just might find yourself yelling about Jesus too!

FYI, the new album was produced by Travis Wyrick, who's taken care of business for Christian groups like P.O.D, Pillar, and Toby Mac.