Combinations by Eisley (Music)

Combinations is probably one of our favorite CDs of all time. It's hard to believe it came out over a year ago, it still sounds so amazing it's like new. This marks a good amount of growth from Room Noises with more layering, more complexity on a musical level, and more developed voices for Sherri and Stacy (the lead singers). However Eisley still manages to capture a kind of innocence and whimsy that is unique to them, and gives them their distinct vibe. Eisley's lyrics occupy a world completely their own. Each song alone is good to listen to, but when taken as a whole it becomes even better.

Highlights:
Come Clean: This song is one of the most original out at the moment. It has a sense of freshness and is extremely genuine. It has a slightly more pop feel to it but it still incorporates the indie sound that Eisley uses for the majority of their music.

A Sight to Behold: The drums are amazing!! This song is more driven than the majority of Eisley songs, but the slight edge that it has gives it more depth than many of the other songs. The contrast between Eisley's hopeful lyrics and the intensity of the music gives this song a tension that makes it endlessly listenable. Obi Wan's personal favorite.

Combinations: Cutest song ever. The beginning is wonderful and takes the song from a traditional romantic song to something with a different tone. It is far more adorable than the traditional love song, because it isn't overly sweet yet still manages to capture the feeling of the lyrics in the music.

Deadpan Serious

Verde EP by Green Sweater Society (Music)

Green Sweater Society is a local band of straight up rock. Their songs are catchy, fun and good to dance to. Very rhythm driven, but still full and fun. All the members of the band are extremely talented, and the EP sounds clean and musically sound. The lyrics are nothing heavy or deep, but still well-written, and they add to the generally upbeat mood of the album. Of the five songs, four have a very similar vibe, which is probably the biggest downside to the EP. Although it's enjoyable, it seems the band could have more depth in their sound, especially when the fifth song is put into perspective. Water Walkers is slower, more introspective, and the band pulls it off very well. The more one listens to it, the better it becomes. If and when the band comes out with a full-length CD, it would be ideal to see more variety in the songs.

Highlights:
Opening riff of Constance, Please
To Entertain You-upbeat, inescapable, fun. Great drums.
Water Walkers

-Obi Wan Kimono

Hail Social by Hail Social (Music)

Greatest bass riffs ever. It's pretty hardcore, although not in a metal kind of way. It has a groove that is completely inescapable. Great music to listen to in the car, roll down the windows and turn up the bass. The lyrics may or may not be good, but the music is so distracting that we haven't listened to the lyrics very carefully. Singing along to the guitar/bass parts is far more entertaining.

Highlights include:
Hands Are Tied-extremely hardcoretastical. Gets stuck in your head, but in a good way. Inexorable.
Track #1-Drumcore amazing. Nuff said.

Signed, Deadpan Serious

Forgive Durden-Razia's Shadow (Music)

Description:This CD is a form of a musical, although it does not have a script or acting. It does follow have characters and have a plotline. It has many guest artists from other bands and very full orchestration as well as some badass guitar riffs. Very intense music for a very intense story.

IT'S AMAZING!!!!!!!! So this is kind of like a book, but not really...it's technically a CD, but it really has a better plot than many of the "books" written for teens. The music reflects the story very well and covers many emotions with badassery. It flows very well listening to the album as a whole, but the songs can be taken as individual tracks and still stand their badassical ground.

Highlights include:
Doctor Doctor featuring Shawn Harris of The Matches-completely terrifying and wonderfully orchestrated, the music makes you want to pee your pants because Shawn Harris is badtastically pretty.

The Missing Piece featuring Lizzie Huffman and It's True Love featuring Greta Salpeter of The Hush Sound are two love songs that are the most adorable things ever heard. Lyrically gorgeous and badass on love.

The Spider and the Lamps featuring Max Bemis from Say Anything-mostly highlighted because Max Bemis is really badass. One of the best vocally as far as capturing emotion and acting through his singing. Also, congrats on his recent marriage. It was badass too. One of our favorite things about this song is that they overlapped lyrics from Say Anything's Spider Song within the song sung by Max Bemis.

Overall, an extremely good listen, very different from the average music being put out right now, covering a variety of styles and with many badassical guest artists.

Signed, Deadpan Serious