American Alternative music reviews

A Whole new side of Train comes out on She's ON Fire.. It's a great up beat rockin' summer song.. So, if you liked DOJ, you might like She's On Fire.. It's totally different, and better in my opinon!

This is one of the first albums i got by the Rustic Overtones after seeing them live. I was very impressed with the music and I soon became a large fan of the group. I have all of their albums now and this is one of my favorites! I have had it for years and still enjoy it greatly. It is the kind of cd to listen to when you are in the mood for something fresh. Whenever i am sick of the pop trash on the radio, i throw in some rustic. Usually this is the album.

I bought this CD because of the extra track penned by Stevie Nicks and including her on backing vocals (called You're Not The One). The CD was worth every cent just for that track!! It's a beautiful track, so Stevie, and will satisfy every Stevie fan's longing for more and new music from her. Her vocals haunt the track and the lyrics just scream STEVIE NICKS WROTE THIS!

Not to leave the Sheryl fans out, but this CD also gives you two more songs not included on any CD to satisfy your longing for new Sheryl music.

True fans (whether Stevie or Sheryl or both!)will not be disappointed!

This compilation is excellent, and it also holds an important place in history because it was released back when these bands were not well known. This is not an after-the-fact retrospective, it's the real thing. It has great songs from bands that became classics, such as Youth Brigade and Bad Religion, as well as some bands that most people will probably only hear right here. Also, as far as I know this compilation is the only place that you can get some of Youth Brigade's best songs, such as "Look In the Mirror" and "Boys In the Brigade." If you like early 80's US hardcore, get this. If you think you like it but you don't know yet, get this first.

I've been looking for this Birdsongs collection for a couple of years, and am glad that Amazon hooked me up with a seller. I have enjoyed my two Mission of Burma cd's and was intrigued by the story of that band's driving force being driven into modern chamber music due to hearing problems resulting from years of punk guitar thrash. Unfortunately, the only Birdsongs currently available were recorded after significant changes in line-up.

This cd was worth the wait. Rites of Spring, Rocky and Bullwinkle and everything in between. Great stuff to settle the soul during the rush hour commute without putting you to sleep. These are not pop songs, nor mind bending frenzy. More like orderly small electric ensemble.

Good luck finding it!

I have owned Spirit Feathers since it first came out. In college, my dog stayed with me in my apartment and we would go to sleep listening to it. I am now 38 years old and still play 'repeat all' on my c.d. player for both my daughter's room and mine at night, literally every night. My daughter and I both agree that Spirit Feathers is the only c.d. that you can't get tired of for background relaxing music. And not only that, it takes you into a magical place where you can become more creative in your thinking. I can't praise it enough. This c.d. has stayed with me for a long time and I don't plan on losing it.

One of the finest Native American music albums that I have heard. Too bad that the Mesa Music Consort has not been producing more music,highly recomended.

Better than any other Native American drumming or Flute music. Gave it to a friend who has been in a drumming circle for years and is a message therapist and spirtual advisor and it is her favorite CD.

A lively compilation that's all over the map. The unifying themes are support for sensible gun laws and an uplifting optimism, and the quality of the artists and songs are high. I recommend this Rounder release.

There are radio favorites like "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer, "Someday" by Sugar Ray, and "I Could Not Ask For More" by Edwin McCain. Fun covers include "Lovely Day" by Hootie & The Blowfish and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" by Jonathan Edwards and friends, both recorded especially for this album, as are several more previously unreleased gems. Since I wholeheartedly support this very worthy cause, I particularly enjoyed the overtly political "Put Down Your Gun" by Jon Pousette-Dart" and "If It Were Up To Me" by Cheryl Wheeler.

There are a couple of strange choices, like The Infractions' "Sharing the Night Together" (which most of us could happily live the rest of our lives without ever hearing again) and Chicago's "Show Me a Sign" (they are so over the hill), but the good stuff more than make up for the misfires: Bonnie Raitt, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Vertical Horizon, Ben Folds Five, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and much more, over 70 minutes of good listening.

I can't even explain how much I adore David. I've been a fan for years, but considering Fiona Apple knows her stuff and currently has him on tour with her, I have a feeling he may finally become more popular. I would complain about this, because I am so attached to and in love with his music that I almost feel as if it is mine, but he deserves to be a millionaire, so bring on the new fans!
I first saw David in a Best Buy commercial, and loved the little 30 second snippet of his song "Kinder" so much that I recorded the commercial the next time it came on TV. In it, he said, "My name is David Garza. You don't know me yet, but you will." And YOU SHOULD! Later on I purchased the soundtrack to one of my favorite movies (Alfonso Cuaron's Great Expectations) and found him there with "Slave," one of the most gorgeous songs I had ever heard. It was a struggle to find his albums--I had to special order most of them--so when this came out, I couldn't have been any happier.
First of all the packaging itself is gorgeous: David's own artwork and all of the lyrics. And the music! Inexplicible. It's so perfect, it's beyond words. It'll make you cry, smile, dance, remember, and sing along. I cannot praise this man enough for his songwriting skills, his magnificent guitar playing, and his beautiful voice. I can't think of even one other musician who could put out a box set with this many songs on it and end up with nothing but amazing tracks. You'd be hard-pressed to pick even one song on here that is lacking.
I guess if I had to compare him to someone, I'd quote my friend who said he sounds like Jeff Buckley, Conor Oberst and Elliott Smith all rolled into one. But he's so original that it's basically impossible to compare him to anyone accurately. He is blazing his own trail and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for making the most beautiful, extraordinary music in the world.

some stats:
CD#1= 56:46
CD#2= 61:05
CD#3= 61:09
CD#4= 67:15
CD#5= DVD

So much can be said about this inexpensive 4-cd box set (including all the lyrics AND his personal artwork!). The MASS of collected music assembled here defies easy catagorization. David Garza makes music from all genres and is quite good at it throughout this massive offering.

This set is the essence of pure artistic genius, so complete in itself that one could argue that it's all the David Garza you could possibly need, or want for that matter. If A STRANGE MESS OF FLOWERS could have a downside I suppose that would be it.

The truth of it is...I am hard pressed to find anything to complain about. Sure, there are some tracks I prefer over others,what's new about that? There still is a BOUNTY of top-notch material here (98% worth).
What's his music like? First I would suggest reading over the 6 prior reviews for a "feeeeeeel" of what others say his 'sound' is.
If you like singer/songwriter alternative acoustic folk music, sometimes infused with brian eno'esque sound collages and minimal support musicians, backed by lyrics both personal and mystical and often twisted with strange cosmic wordplay, David is worth a grand listen.

As mentioned by others, David Garza has a full range falsetto, though I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that his vocal phrasing can be (is!) a spot-on Marc Bolan, so exact in all the nuances it's uncanny. More than a few tracks could be misconstrued as bonified T-REX or TYRANOSAURUS REX. Just listen to the tracks 'Your Sister's Leopard Coat' or 'Valerian Aquarian' for examples. Even those song titles hint of Bolan's fantastic imagery (and I think it was Garza's intention too).

You'll have to make your own associations regarding his 'sound'. The output here is so diverse yet coherent that I hear elements of Bob Dylan,T-Rex,Brian Eno,Pink Floyd,...to name a few. There is no Tejano(sic) music here whatsoever. Do not confuse him with the other artist of the same name. The music presented here is something ELSE altogether. I have'nt even gotten around to the DVD yet!

Although one could call this a 'best of' or 'greatest' album, I found it to be much more than that. It's the closest thing to an entire collection that I have been able to come by since my downloading days in college. This 4 disc set incorporates David from his earliest stages and the influence of Tejano, to his newest and more experimental stages. Overall this is an excruciatingly memorable album. Watch out for disc two's "Foul Jasmine", it makes my heart break everytime I hear it. If you are in the mood to really get to know David Garza as an artist, I think this is right for you (man, it's 4 cds and 1 dvd -how cheap!)

Kevin's songwriting matured over the course of several earlier albums. "Sunday Driver" is the fruit of that evolution. Whereas earlier work reached ambitiously into several genres at once (new folk, country, power pop, and jazzy stuff all on the same disk), this collection is stylistically grounded around Kevin's key skills: reedy, worldwise vocals; hook-friendly melodies, and thinking-man's lyrics. The always guitar-friendly arrangements now accommodate a balanced palate of keyboards and tasteful backing vocals. Kevin has produced his best effort yet by simply working within his own gifted boundaries.

A great starting point for anyone looking to discover hardcore or rediscover thier love for hardcore. good overview of a lot of the different sounds going on in NY at the time. My personal favourites are Reagan Youth, Warzone, Bold and Judge. pick it up.

This comp is by far some of the best old school hardcore there is. A must own for any hardcore fan.