Sorting Through My Inbox

A guest blogger for PMA did a post a few weeks back about the adventures of a low-level music blogger and his email inbox, a story to which I could relate all too well. I, too, a couple dozen emails a week from promotions companies asking me to listen to their next big thing. More often than not it's either terrible or not worth the time (example: "indie dance pop fused with rock" = terrible. Band saying 'check out our MySpace page for song samples' = "not worth the time". Don't make me work that hard to hear your music). Every once in awhile though, something good breaks through. I give you some of those examples.

Exile Parade are raw, raucous and just a little bit sloppy. In other words, they're exactly what rock music could use these days. With the Foo Fighters taking a break for a few years, the stage might be set for someone like Exile Parade to give rock music a swift punch to the kidneys.

Exile Parade - Heart into Suicide

Love, She Wrote take four-chord punk rock and give it a better-than-average lead singer (given the state of punk rock these days, that's a compliment) and some catchy lyrics. Overall they're not the most memorable thing you'll hear, but they've at least got enough talent and hook to warrant a few listens, which is more than I can say for countless others.

Love, She Wrote - December Nights

Lastly, I've got Letha Allen. Letha Allen is what I wish soft rock sounded like more often. It's got less forceful and more mellowed out than standard rock n' roll, but at the same time, it doesn't put me to sleep (looking at you, Fleet Foxes). If you're a fan of Counting Crows or Ryan Adams, this is a good place to pick up something new.

Letha Allen - You Do It Right

That's it for now, back with a little more soon.

==TJ==