Charles Crossingham - Talkers Talk

These tracks by Charles Crossingham kick ass. They start off with the bouncy and upbeat 'That Time in My Life'. This song has unique instrumentals and is just happy, happy, and happy. At times the lyrics get semi-serious but still maintain the overall happy air of the song. 'That Time in My Life' is the kinda song that you want to listen to with friends and dance to.

After 'That Time in My Life' we delve into 'California Tendencies' which sounds somewhat like modern country music but has more of a rock air to it. Its extremely rhythmic, and you'll find yourself involuntarily bobbing your head to it. I really want to get in a car and drive towards the future with this song playing. 'California Tendencies' makes you think about the future and what it holds.

'Choir on Fire' is a bit different from the previous two tracks. It starts out with just a piano playing with very emotional lyrics. Then the other instruments join in and we have a us a hell of a song. 'Choir on Fire' is way more relaxing than 'California Tendencies 'which really didn't seem possible. 'Choir on Fire' uses awesome lyrics coupled with beautiful instrumentals to create astounding visuals to set a very beautiful scene. Just wow. This is easily my favorite song from Charles Crossingham.

In 'Go On Your Way' we jump back to the happy and upbeat stuff that started us off. This song uses guitar to express ideas much like 'Choir on Fire' did with piano. Imagine driving along a coastal highway at twilight and you'll have an idea of the feeling this song gives. I love the guitar use in this song too. As the lyrics start to become more descriptive its hard not too envision everything that's being described.

You owe it to yourself to give theses promotional tracks a listen and then buy the album.

Grab the two promos here.

Buy the album here.

Charles Crossingham - Talkers Talk

Destroy Nate Allen/ Nate Allen - Perfect Recipe For A Smile/Don't Let This Smile Fool You

Joy! Hope! Love! Guitar! Tambourine! Nostalgia! Conflict Resolution! Banjo! Cooking! The Perfect Recipe For A Smile. I think Nate and Tessa know what they are talking about because when I opened my mailbox and saw their album inside, all I could do was smile. The packaging is bright, colorful, and full of detail. Also, they are the first artist to send me a physical CD for me to review which is excellent seeing they are entirely DIY. What you're getting with your purchase is really a double album between Destroy Nate Allen and Nate Allen. For the first ten tracks expect Destroy Nate Allen, a sing-along folk punk band from Portland, Oregon. They are a two piece married couple that play high energy interactive shows across the country. Nate Allen then takes over for the next ten with just him and his great grandfathers banjo. He claims to not be able to play the banjo, but just tuned it like a guitar and hoped for the best. I think he did a really excellent job in pulling it off.

I never reviewed a double album before, so let's just start off with A Perfect Recipe For A Smile. Tessa wrote her first songs "Turns Out You're Perfect For Me" and "Recipe". "Recipe" takes place from when they made a bad batch of pancakes and is a reminder to follow directions. This track definitely reinforces their claim to be "Children songs for adults" showing an urgency to stick to the recipe. Some of my favorite tracks "His Lips Are Sealed Hallelujah" and "White Flag" were written together and are a true collaboration of efforts. Destroy Nate Allen really pulls my attention in the rock n' roll inspired tracks "Loving You", "Anchors Away", and the Tessa-written track "Turns Out You're Perfect For Me" which is a loving song that will have you singing along even when there's nobody else to sing along with. You can tell their music is really about the love for the music, friends, and for each-other. Destroy Nate Allen will truly make you smile no matter what.

Don't Let This Smile Fool You is yet again Nate Allen's solo work on his great grandfather's guitar. It's a collection of short, sentimental, D.I.Y pop songs. It's a more restrained, honest banjo/ukulele playing that focuses on the lyrics more than instrumentation. It starts off with a quick banjo-poppy track called "Phil Collins" with the lyric "I'm not Phil Collins, but I might be Henry Rollins, banging out a tune on this old banjo" which really sets up the album to what it's about. The momentum is carried to track 3, "35, 35, 35" which tunes it down with some affectionately nostalgic lyrics. My favorite track has to be "Glow In The Dark" which is an adorable piece with the chorus "Hold my hand, we'll glow in the dark together". Overall, you're going to love the stripped down Nate Allen solo work that he's done.

Destroy Nate Allen is one of the most honest, catchy, sing-along, nostalgic duos I have ever listened to. It's entirely impossible to not smile when listening to this album when both of the albums are full of love for everything. You can get their albums on any of the links below and I highly recommend buying the physical CD. The packaging is amazing and will look great in your collection. If that hasn't sold you, all the lyrics AND tabs are in the in the insert so you can play their songs for your friends and sing along. I look forward to seeing more from this truly folk punk duo.

destroynateallen.com
destroynateallen.bandcamp.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/destroynateallen

Destroy Nate Allen/ Nate Allen - Perfect Recipe For A Smile/Don't Let This Smile Fool You

The Knockdown - Test/Retest

Normally I don't post bands that I have seen or CDs that I own but I am all about promotion. I saw The Knockdown in the beginning of the semester in a small basement which was the perfect venue for these guys. They turned the small group of people into what seemed like 40 with their mass amounts of energy. The singer has a great voice which is rare for a hardcore band to have. They seem to be a cross between Latterman and Hot Water Music filled with sing-alongs and repetative catchy lyrics. The show was a lot of fun and the album definitely does not dissapoint at all. The cover art for the album is really neat and it was printed on cardboard from Kiss of Death Records so it's really cool to buy this album. Really nice guys and really killer album.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nxmnmmiqwym

The Knockdown - Test/Retest