Instant Grat

If you’re familiar with All City Affair’s sound, their third release, Identity Theft, will come as no surprise. If you’ve never heard it before, it’s a little tough to describe the one-man band’s sound. Baby Teeth drummer Peter Andreadis made this album in his home studio. It’s sort of a mix of this and a mix of that, with heavy synthesizer influenced beats. Keep Reading

The New York Dolls played their first show together in 1971 at a homeless shelter. Here they are, 38 years later, with only their fourth album, ‘Cause I Sez So, but it’s definitely a keeper. The band really brought about the glam rock scene into New York City and paved the way for bands like Blondie, The Ramones, and Talking Heads. In their earlier years, it was all about the red leather outfits, lipstick, and big hair. Even though the girl group look has been pushed to the wayside, the band still has that “it” factor. Keep Reading

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I really loved this rock song…until they started singing,” then Germany-based Long Distance Calling’s sophomore album Avoid The Light is for you. There really are no words to speak of, just a continuation of guitar, drums, bass and a little something different-ambience. Keep On Reading...

simakDialog has been making music together since 1993. Formed in Indonesia, this group plays an eclectic mix of music and their fifth release, Demi Masa really puts their eccentricities on display. Riza Arshad, who composes and produces mostly all of the music on the CD, leads the group on the Fender Rhodes electric piano which, with its distinctive sound, really stands out from the rest of the instruments. The band has an interesting mix of them including an electric and acoustic guitar, tambourine, grand piano, various Sundanese kendang percussion, clapping and soundscapes. There are even “toys” listed as an instrument on the CD jacket. Keep Reading

Irene Nachreiner, who comes from a Russian father and an Irish mother, loves Latin music. She finds it romantic and seductive. She grew up in Eastern Los Angeles listening to it along with classical tunes. Her and her band’s sophomore album and latest addition to the Latin Jazz genre is titled A Song Of You. Keep Reading