Rock music you will love

Rock

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DISGUISED AS BIRDS: New Demons
The hard rock EP, when used correctly, can be a powerful tool, a bludgeoning ax that doesn't concern itself with wasting time or space. When you've got a handful of songs (five, in this case) within which to say your piece, you better make 'em count. This Milwaukee band doesn't waste a breath or a beat, rattling through these tracks by way of craftily ragged grooves, slyly finessed guitars, and a rhythm section that hits incredibly hard. It's this solid foundation that the other members play off, wrenching the time signatures around a bit while still maintaining the original intentions of the compositions. While the group is clearly influenced by DC post-hardcore heroes of decades past, they've updated the approach of their predecessors and created something that needn't be defined by comparisons that ultimately won't hold true. "New Demons," the EP's final number, is in itself about four different songs. Give it a go; you'll be surprised by where it starts and floored by where it ends.
CD price: $5.00 / MP3 price: $4.95
THE IVYS: Requiem
"Details," the opening track on the six-song EP from these New York City multi-layered precision rockers, is a perfect opener for this steady but diverse collection of songs. The electric piano that ushers it in is initially ominous, but once it spreads out and welcomes in the vocals and the rest of the band, things become immediately urgent and substantially brighter. It's this dark undercurrent that really makes these songs work, and assures that they never slip into easy pop ruts. "Never Let You In" is borderline timid in the verses, but the chorus skips to double time, stacks harmonies on top of each other, and charges through maniacally. Lead singer Trisha Ivy's lyrics add to the shadowy tones of the songs, mixing doubt with angst, exhaustion with ambition. "Smoke," the closer, may be the hidden gem here, a song that takes a bare-bones approach but manages to conjure up plenty of emotion. Looking for an affordable EP to use as your summer soundtrack? Here it is.
CD price: $6.00
SATAN'S PILGRIMS: Psychsploitation
These NW surf/psych/garage legends left us hanging almost a decade ago, and though a greatest hits comp surfaced about five years back, it felt like more of a tease than anything, as they were still nowhere to be seen. Maybe they just wanted to remind us of what we were missing, and if that was indeed their ploy, it worked. Folks, I am happy to report they have emerged, haven't lost a step, and are ready to, in a way no impostor could, fill the void they left. Stylishly (of course) slinking back onto the scene with this 13-track disc, they seem confident, invigorated, and sharper than ever. "Chestnut Trees and Bumblebees" dials in the guitars, but also allows plenty of room for organ solos that make the song both expansive and diverse. "Tomorrow Night's Mourning" is two-minutes of garage savagery, a cut that gets in, gets out, and channels momentum. The other songs are the same way: tight, masterfully arranged, and just a helluva lot of fun. It's great to see these cats back at it again.
CD price: $15.00 / MP3 price: $9.99
DESIREE' APOLONIO BASSETT: Power & Force, Vol. II
While this guitar-centric propulsion of quick-fingered rock would be impressive regardless of who those nimble digits belonged to, the fact that these sounds are squealing from the amp of a young lady who is still a few years shy of graduating high school makes it all the more impressive. Also impressive: the fact that these are all original compositions. Perhaps most impressive: the level of dexterity represented within the shifting genres and methods she tackles over the course of these 10 songs. Whether fast ("Power & Force"), slow ("Never Back Down"), acoustic ("Love Her"), or straight up shredding ("Pulse"), she never seems out of her comfort zone. While some young prodigies are content to cover classic rock staples and sacrifice groove and feel for technicality, this is a girl who seems to already have a handle on the way this music ticks. Oh, and she sings, too. While her hands continue to work double overtime. If this hasn't convinced you, look her up on YouTube. Hit play, get your mind blown, then come back here and get in on the ground floor.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $9.99
A CAMP: Colonia
Nina Persson stays pretty darned busy. When she’s not fronting Swedish pop darlings The Cardigans, she is one half of A Camp, along with Niclas Frisk of Atomic Swing. The Cardigans and A Camp aren’t exactly night and day. But you will certainly find an adventurous, exploratory spirit in A Camp’s music that has led them into more gritty, fragile territory. Setting cinematic lyrics to a sonic mixture of Brill Building arrangements, Memphis Soul, twee pop, and folk rock, A Camp has created a record both homey and transporting.
CD price: $12.99

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ALEXI MURDOCH: Four Songs
This highly praised beautiful debut collection of dark folk songs from newcomer Alexi Murdoch is CDBaby's all time best selling record. (*THIS OUT OF PRINT LIMTED EDITION IS AVAILABLE ONLY AT CDBABY WHILE STOCK LASTS.*)
REGINA SPEKTOR: Songs
Magical realism involving pickles, death penalties and hot baths... influenced by the anti folkers, the punkers, tom waits, bjork, mozart, and many others... a secret let loose.
CD price: $14.00
GARY JULES: Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets
Rootsy urban folk rock. His version of "Mad World", heard on this CD, was featured in Donnie Darko.
CD price: $14.00 / MP3 price: $9.99
O.A.R.: The Wanderer
a roots rock, island vibe feeling with an energy and passion that leaves dance floors shaking after every performance.
O.A.R.: Souls Aflame
an island vibe, roots rock feeling with an energy and passion that leaves dance floors shaking after every performance
CD price: $11.98
JACK JOHNSON: Brushfire Fairytales
Jack's multi-platinum debut that was first released in 2000 on the tiny Enjoy label (now Everloving). Produced by JP Plunier (Ben Harper); includes "Flake" and "Bubble Toes."
CD price: $13.99
JUDE: Sarah
"CDBaby's crowning achievement. Saving Jude from the record companies."
CD price: $12.00 / MP3 price: $9.99
TRIBE OF HEAVEN: Imagine We Were
Available for the first time, Mark Roebuck, teaming up with then-fellow-bartender Dave Matthews in 1990 to write and record a rich, folk-accoustic CD, woven with dark, sometimes melancholy themes.
CD price: $14.97
DEVIL DOLL: Queen of Pain
sex and sorrow. 40's style torch jazz meets punk rock. angry and sexy.
CD price: $14.00 / MP3 price: $9.99
MELISSA FERRICK: Skinnier & Faster - LIVE
Live performance of a sold out show. Double CD with 21 songs, LIVE, from her five critically acclaimed albums. Unique, fiery, compelling, bold and captivating.
CD price: $20.00 / MP3 price: $20.00

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Rock music you will love

Rock

style / mood

Editor's Picks (see more)

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