by Nicole Shevloff
Category Archives: artists
All Time Low Segment from CTV
Sons of Sylvia Revelation Review
By Samantha PonoroffWARNING: Take this review with a grain of salt, as I am not an avid country music listener. Then again, Sons of Sylvia is not just a country band; SOS takes inspiration from pop, rock, and country music. When listening to their CD one readily notices this eclectic approach: SOS sounds as if they are going through an identity crisis, not able to pick one sound to carry through the CD in its entirety.Bands are often scolded because all of their tracks sound the same. I am doing the opposite. Yes, it is boring when a CD sounds like one 30 minute long song, versus ten three-minute long tracks. But it is confusing when a band makes a CD that sounds like a mix-tape full of ten different bands.. This is SOS’s biggest mistake: making their tracks sound TOO different.Regardless, SOS has far-reaching Top 40 potential: their 2010 debut album Revelation peaked at the number two spot on iTunes’ pop albums chart and they preformed their single “Love Left to Lose” (Track 2) on American Idol, as introduced by American Idol alum and country-music superstar Carrie Underwood.You can find out more about Sons of Sylvia on their myspace, http://www.myspace.com/sonsofsylvia. Meanwhile, check these tracks out:“Love Left to Lose,” their hit single, as preformed on American Idol, a much more ballad-like song with an upbeat twist (it reminds me of Nick Lachey).“50 Ways,” a much more upbeat and pop-inspired song. Check it out ifyou’re in an upbeat mood and just wanna dance!
Anarbor-“The Words You Don’t Swallow”
by Alex Rivera
On Anarbor’s new record, the band keeps true to what they know best: give their fans ballads about heartbreak and relationships with a pop-rock feel. The new album, The Words You Don’t Swallow, is the band’s first full-length release since their EP Free Your Mind in 2009. The new album includes some songs from the EP, but the majority of it consists of newer songs.
For the most part, the CD is good, but not anything great or different than what the band puts out. Actually, it sounded as if I were listening to the EP all over again, just longer in length. The incorporation of songs off of the EP didn’t make listening to the record any better, either.
Although I am an Anarbor fan, I have to pass on this one. It just didn’t do anything for me, and the songs on the album sound just like everything else out in the scene: generic and mundane. Nothing really set this new record apart from anything else released by them. Thus, The Words You Don’t Swallow is a hit for newer listeners of Anarbor, but it’s a miss for older fans.
“School Gyrls” Review
by Alex Rivera
Upon first glance of “School Gyrls”, I thought “Dear God, spare me the agony of yet another wannabe girl group.” My thoughts were semi-correct.
I’m not going to lie, the beats in this song are really, really good. But, the vocals are somewhat of overkill. It doesn’t really sound like singing, but more like whining. Also, the random guy trying to sound like Lil Jon and screaming in the background doesn’t make it any better. Plus, the lyrics aren’t anything special. The entire song is about going to a party and dancing. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Honestly, this group sounds like Ke$ha, but worse (considering that I actually like Ke$ha). They can’t really sing, and the whole “cutesy” schoolgirl image has to go. Stop trying to gain a fan base by dressing like you’re half-naked in provocative outfits and singing like the Cheetah Girls. It’s not going to work.