Mike Hale
Lives Like Mine
Suburban Home (2009)
In the Red frontman Mike Hale recently made the decision to be a musician full-time and he's been very busy at work considering that his solo record, Lives Like Mine, was recorded only two weeks after In the Red's second album was released. One would think that the album may have been rushed and the quality of the songs may have been effected but that is certainly not the case here as Hale's songwriting skills really blossom on Lives Like Mine. Lives Like Mine shows a deeper, stripped down version of Mike Hale as most songs only feature his voice and an acoustic guitar, with an accompanying piano on a few tracks. He uses these instruments to give Lives Like Mine a very depressing vibe. It's a very dark and melancholy record with most of the lyrics dealing with love loss and pain. What really makes it great is how well most of these songs are written and how Hale makes his lyrics not sound cliche at all. The deep, yet brutally honest and sincere tone to his voice adds to the vibe, as well. The beautiful piano-driven ballad "For That Working Hour" is the main highlight as he croons … Read more
GREYMACHINE
Vultures Descend
Hydra Head (2009)
What do you get when you toss members of Jesu, Isis, Godflesh, House of Low Culture, The Lotus Eaters, Mamiffer … Read more
Swamp Thing
In Shame
6131 (2009)
Rob Gordon's first lines uttered in High Fidelity are What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about … Read more
The Mars Volta
Octahedron
Warner Bros. (2009)
Throughout their eight-year tenure as a band, The Mars Volta has never been timid about doing whatever they please. The … Read more
