Articles by E. Fox on ArticleSnatch.com

Album Review: Hootie & the Blowfish; Looking for Lucky

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Itâs been quite some time since we last heard from the Blowfish. Their last album, Best of Hootie & the Blowfish: 1993 â 2003, came out two years ago. Considering that, Looking for Lucky is the first collection of purely original works that this group from our perennial high school days has sent our way. Iâll say this now, the wait was worth it. The band returns to classic Hootie sounds while simultaneously stepping things up for todayâs music lover. Theyâve taken their classic Bluegrass/Rockabilly/Jazz/Rock fusion sound and let it steep in itâs own juices for a while to perfect that melding. The result is something that works for the die-hard fan, the cerebral music-lover, and the causal radio listener all at once. Quite honestly, thereâs something for everyone in the twelve tracks. The album starts off energetically with a happy, care-free tone that makes for great afternoon listening, cools down a bit by the nostalgic track 5, Another Yearâs Gone By, to the nearly whimsical Can I See You. Track 7, A Smile, provides a powerful humanist message to the political world that bears an almost R.E.M.-esque sound.** End Summary**

About the Author:
Screamin' E has been my live radio personality in central New York since early 2001. Currently, you can catch me on Brockport-based WBSU 89.1, the Point. For more information, contact me via email through ArsMajika@comic-geek.com

Album Review: The Fray; How to Save a Life

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Perhaps some of you remember The Frayâs hit single last year, âOver My Head (Cable Car)â. Itâs success on pop-rock radio paved the way for their debut album, How to Save a Life, which hit stores last month. With twelve tracks, including the aforementioned single, How to Save a Life makes for a decent road trip set. Its clear lyrics and slower, soft melodies make it an easy follow for one to sing along to. That being said, I am sorry to say that Iâm not terribly impressed with this album. Granted, Iâve not been a huge fan of the pop-rock genre since my high school days. Itâs too simplistic in its message and lacks a complexity of the vocal-instrumental dynamic Iâve come to expect from music classified as rock. With a few notable exceptions, The Fray doesnât deviate from the standards of this genre. From start to end, the album doesnât vary much in tempo or voice, causing tracks to run together and leaving few as exceptionally memorable. I think my major complaint with this album is that there is nothing in particular which grabs my attention and makes me sit back and say, âhey! Thereâs something newâ.** End Summary**

Album Review: Weezer; Make Believe

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

From the band that had us all thinking we looked like Buddy Holly comes an album that makes music dweebs everywhere think they have a chance at romping with Playmates in sunny Beverly Hills. Yes, the self-proclaimed âNerds of Rockâ are back with a spanking new set of 12 tracks that remind us all of those days back in middle school when a pseudo-prep grunge-punk song could get us close to a girl at that dance. You know the one Iâm talkinâ about. But I digress. Make Believe, Weezerâs latest album, shows that even after all these years, theyâve still got the guts to throw a new sound to the masses. Iâm particularly impressed with the first four tracks, most notably Perfect Situation and This is Such a Pity. Both exhibit a decisively âWeezerâ sound, while taking the band in new and experimental directions with a really great payoff. To successfully draw influence from Flock of Seagulls and Duran Duran in 2005 takes real talent, not to mention one serious pair of cojones. By the fourth track, hooked fans are rewarded with a rousing piece drawn straight from classic Weezer.** End Summary**

Album Review: Franz Ferdinand; You Could Have it So Much Better

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

When these guys first started getting radio play about a year ago, I knew the rock world was onto something special. Franz Ferdinand hit the scene hard and fast with a sound that mainstream rock had not heard in over a decade. Take one part Elvis Presley, one part Oasis, and a heapinâ helpinâ of the Sex Pistols. Give âem a cheap bottle of gin, the keys to a seedy motel room and let Bob Dylan watch, and youâve got Franz Ferdinand. Their latest album, You Could Have it So Much Better, lives up to, and surpasses all expectations. This is what rock and roll was meant to be: Hard, gritty, and sexy. The simple dynamic of two guitars, a bass, and a drum-set that has been the foundation of every great rock group remains a winning combination here with Franz Ferdinandâs return to the traditional sounds that heralded the birth of punk in the late 1970âs. The result is a modern punk without the angst and pretension thatâs been flooding the rock world since the mid 90âs.** End Summary**