Buddy Wakefield - Run on Anything

In honor of the National Poetry Slam going on now (August 3-9) in Madison, Wisconsin. This is Buddy Wakefield. Buddy won the Individual World Poetry Slam Competition in 2004 and 2005. He has since released this album on Strange Famous Records featuring live performances and also studio pieces. Sage Francis appears (and actually the name of Sage's last record 'Human the Death Dance' is taken from a Buddy piece of the same name.)
To quote Buddy directly:
"If you've never been rocked back by the presence of purpose
this poem is too soon for you.
Return to your mediocrity
plug it into an amplifier
and rrrre-think yerself!"


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Spark is a Diamond - Try This on For Size

there's really only one way to describe this disc, and it happens to be the name of track seven: "destination: awesome". you're welcome.

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Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust

somehow in all the sage francis posts this album was left out. how? this is probably his strongest release. killer tracks from danger mouse and reanimator and the lyrical genius of sage are found throughout. 'slow down ghandi' is a great political angst track in the vein of well, hip hop, before it went commercial.

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Flogging Molly - Float

i'll argue that flogging molly are one of the greatest bands of all time. on their latest release they've written more songs that are 'flogging molly' songs and less irish songs with a punk flavoring. though the title track takes a while to hit it's groove, the following song 'you won't make a fool out of me' has the familiar upbeat molly sound.

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Dusty Rhodes and the River Band - First You Live

The Beatles meets every classic rock band ever, with more hooks than your grandpa's tackle box. At least one song will get stuck in your head (mine was 'dear honey', if for no other reason than i'm partial to songs about drinking). Most of the band members play at least two instruments giving an incredibly full sound. yessir.

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The Gaslight Anthem - Señor and the Queen EP

The Gaslight Anthem is one of those bands. Avoiding any one genre, the music they play is best described as heartfelt. Call it rock, punk, blues, folk, whatever, they do it well. They are easily and favorably compared with Against Me! and, at least for me, brought The Lawrence Arms to mind. Though 'Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts' reflects some definite John Mellencamp influences. Señor and the Queen brings four songs that don't sound similar, but somehow manage to convey a common theme. Raw, powerful, and brutally honest, the buzz building around this band is well deserved.

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