New album releases for 6/22/10: VersaEmerge's 'Fixed At Zero'

My latest article posted on examiner.com:



Ah, it’s Tuesday! And you know what that means, right? New music! But, with the multitude of new music being thrown your way, deciding what album to pick up becomes that much more difficult. To make your life easier, here’s a suggestion—go buy VersaEmerge’s new album, Fixed At Zero.

At first glance, the Florida-based female-fronted alt-rock trio is likely to elicit comparisons to their Twilight-bolstered labelmates Paramore. Admittedly, they do have a few things in common. Yes, they’re both on the infamous Fueled by Ramen label, have a petite leading lady with powerhouse vocals and cute, emo-looking boys as back-up. However, it ends right there.

Just one listen to their full-length debut, Fixed At Zero, will make you scoff at even the idea of comparing the two bands (no strike against Paramore, because I love them, too). With grand orchestration, experimental twists, and pristine production, Fixed at Zero takes a unique and engaging approach to the usual alternative & punk that you’re used to. Lead singer Sierra Kusterbeck’s vocals are outstanding, with a controlled range that is way beyond her years. Her sweet yet fierce voice is nicely complemented by Black Harnage’s intricate and driving guitar work. From the enigmatically peering kick-off “Figure It Out” right down to the haunting and intense closer “Lost Tree,” Fixed At Zero is a mysterious pop odyssey that will you have intrigued and keep you going back for more.

Stream Fixed At Zero in its entirety on the band’s Mypace page.

Click here to download the album on iTunes, or you could get off your behind and pick up a physical copy at either Target for $9.99 or Best Buy for $7.99.

Other albums to check out today:
The Roots – How I Got Over
Kele – The Boxer
Sia – We Are Born
Stars – The Five Ghosts
Uffie – Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans
Coliseum – House With a Curse
Health - ::DISCO2
Chemical Brothers – Further
The Constellations – Southern Gothic

The Perfect Summer 2010 Playlist

Here's the latest article I wrote for examiner.com:



The wait is over! Summer is finally here! Before you go out in the sun and have some fun, you’ll definitely want to stock up on the right music. Whether you’re chilling by the beach, throwing a killer party, or heading off to your next road trip, here are a few fresh jams to add into your iPod that’ll surely enhance your summer experience:

Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg) – “California Girls”
This one’s a no-brainer. Pop queen Katy Perry’s latest single just screams summer smash: you’ve got palm trees, bikinis, daisy dukes, and Snoop Dogg putting down a slick rhyme. What's not to love about this song?

Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill”
The Brooklyn boy/girl duo Sleigh Bells is generating some serious buzz with their debut, Treats, which combines sugary pop hooks and massively loud rhythms. Embedded within an album full of fierce sonic explosions, “Rill Rill” is like a refreshing breeze with its chill tempo, sweetly sedative vocals and soaring use of an old-school soul sample.

Surfer Blood – “Floating Vibes”
With a band name like Surfer Blood, one can only assume that surfer rock and beach music must be part of the equation. But, Surfer Blood’s Astro Coast is so much more than that. The album is packed with lots of punch, and “Floating Vibes” is just one of its many shimmering tracks.

She & Him – “In the Sun”
When Zooey Deschannel isn’t lighting up the silver screen, she’s impressing listeners everywhere with her wonderful and luminous indie pop tunes. Veiling hopeless longing with a sunny melody and aw-shucks attitude, “In the Sun” is likely to turn that frown upside down under any circumstances and will probably keep you smiling all summer long.

The Morning Benders – “Excuses”
Pitchfork shined the spotlight on this Berkeley quartet, giving them a glowing review for their sophomore album, Big Echo. In a perfect encapsulation: “…[Excuses] rubs the sleep out of its eyes with a single electric guitar surfing over a sea of hazy, twinkling piano keys, before an acoustic guitar figure bursts wide open like a summer sunrise.”

La Roux – “Bulletproof”
Who would’ve ever thought that a Ginger with a side faux hawk could create such a catchy song? As you much as you might want to escape it, this is one of those songs that’ll get stuck in your head for days on end.

Freelance Whales – “Kilojoules”
From the Brooklyn subway to South by Southwest, Freelance Whales are drawing crowds everywhere with their charmingly quirky sound and unique amalgam of instruments. As the title indicates, this gem of a track is about body heat, but it’s not exactly what you might think.

Janelle Monáe (feat. Big Boi) – “Tightrope”
Falling somewhere between a female version of Andre 3000 and James Brown, Janelle Monáe is making a name for herself with her electrifying stage presence and mad style. “Tightrope” is a funky soulful jam, with handclaps aplenty and colored by some smooth rapping from the other half of the eclectic duo of Outkast.

Travie McCoy (feat. Bruno Mars) – “Billionaire”
Enlisting the help of rising superstar songwriter/producer Bruno Mars, the Gym Class Hero gone solo must’ve known he had a summer hit on his hands way before it was even released. With its laid-back vibe and breezy, reggae-tinged hook, “Billionaire” is an essential sing-a-long made for the sunshine.

LCD Soundsystem – “Dance Yrself Clean”
Logging up close to about 9 minutes, “Dance Yrself Clean” is an epic emotional excursion of pure sonic bliss. It’ll have you laughing, crying, and dancing all at the same time.

Other songs to include:
Tokyo Police Club – “Bambi”
Minus the Bear – “Summer Angel”
B.o.B. (feat. Lupe Fiasco) – “Past My Shades”
Rogue Wave – “Good Morning (The Future)”
Broken Bells – “The Ghost Inside”
Band of Horses – “Laredo”
Jónsi – “Go Do”
Neon Trees – “Animal”
Gorillaz – “Stylo”
Drake – “Find Your Love”

New album releases for 6/8/2010

Here's an article I wrote for Examiner.com today about some new album releases:

With every Tuesday comes a flurry of new album releases. There are many great albums being released today. Here are a few top recommendations:



Against Me! - White Crosses
Punk rockers Against Me! put themselves on the map with their last release, New Wave, which landed on a number of “best album” lists when it was released in 2007. Once again, the band reunited with renowned producer Butch Vig, who has worked with the likes of Green Day, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins. Fans remain divided about Against Me!’s musical direction, but the Florida-based quartet continue to push on, with new member George Rebelo in tow.

Tokyo Police Club - Champ
Tokyo Police Club made a splash in the indie rock scene with their 16-minute EP, A Lesson in Crime, and subsequent debut Elephant Shell. A couple of years after their emergence, this Canadian foursome set to triumph over the sophomore curse with their latest effort, Champ.

Travie McCoy - Lazarus
Gym Class Hero frontman Travie McCoy makes his solo debut on his new album, Lazarus. His lead single, which features the hot talent of Bruno Mars, is already rising up the charts, peaking at #11 on the Billboard’s Hot 100. With all the buzz generated from his recent hit, it looks like Lazarus will take McCoy one step closer to realizing his dreams of fame and fortune.

“The Twlight Saga: Eclipse” Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the much beloved vampire romance boasts yet another all-star line-up, basically showcasing the who’s who of the indie/alternative scene. Muse, The Bravery, Vampire Weekend, and Beck are just a few of the notable names gathered for this impressive compilation.

Christina Aguilera – Bionic
She’s back! Pop/R&B diva Christina Aguilera clearly wanted to make a statement with her fourth studio album, Bionic. Enlisting the help of M.I.A., Sia, Santigold, Ladytron, and many others, Aguilera takes her music to new heights, and that very tendency towards experimentation and diversity demonstrates just why she’s on top of the music game.

Other recommended releases:
AM Taxi - We Don’t Stand a Chance
The Cure - Disintegration
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Destroyers of the Void - Blitzen Trapper
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Hanson - Shout it Out
Hot Hot Heat - Future Breeds
Here We Go Magic – Pigeons
Nada Surf - If I Had A Hi-Fi
Ratatat - LP4
Rookie of the Year - The Most Beautiful
Rooney - Eureka
The Roots - How I Got Over
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows
Trash Talk - Eyes & Nines
The Young Veins - Take Vacation

What CDs are you picking up today?

My New Gig- Bay Area Music Examiner

Hello Everyone!

So I started writing for the Examiner.com as an official 'Bay Area Music Examiner.' You can keep track of my articles here. Feel free to comment on and subscribe to my Examiner.com page. The more readership I get the better! And the more I could provide you guys with better coverage and content.

But, don't worry! I'll be sure to keep you updated on this blog as well, in addition to giving you guys special exclusives (some stuff that I might not include for my examiner.com articles). So be sure to still keep an eye out on this blog. :D

So Long CW...

Hello Everyone!

Sorry for my absence these last few weeks. In the midst of school, work, and my internship, I was a very very busy girl. And oh yeah! Not to mention the little fact that I just graduated from college. It was an interesting run to say the least. Now that I've closed that chapter in my life, time to start a new one.

I think the saddest part of it all is that since I'm no longer a student, I had to say goodbye as an intern for the CW. I've had some of the best moments of my life through that internship. Of course, my favorite thing about the internship was doing the band interviews.

I've already posted up a few from the past, but here are the rest of them:


We did this interview with The Dodos during the NoisePop Festival in February, just before they took the stage with The Magik Magik* Orchestra. Even though I already had a few interviews under my belt up to this point, I was especially nervous during this one because well...I kind of have like this huge crush on Meric Long. Not gonna lie...the man is hott. Lol. The guys were some really nice dudes, though. I was super stoked that I got Meric to sing the Pito Land song. I had seen him do it in some past obscure interview, and I wasn't too sure if he was willing to do it again since it's so silly. But, Logan and Meric were such good sports.


Here's another one that we did during the NoisePop Festival with Pat from Rogue Wave. This interview was pretty last minute. I had just been informed of it only a couple of days ahead, so I crammed in the research and churned out the questions. I was worried going into it, since I didn't have as much time to prepare. Luckily, it turned out great and Pat was super friendly and enthusiastic. Oh and during the interview with Pat, John Vanderslice just happened to be there watching and hanging out (to be honest, I didn't know who he was at the time lol).


Here's an interview we did with the up-and-coming local trio Geographer. At this point, I think they were kind of new to the whole interviewing process (in front of the camera), but the guys did really well. Also, this interview was kind of hectic because we were in a bit of a time bind. We had to finish this interview before one of the other bands took to the stage for their soundcheck, so we only had like 20 minutes. Luckily, everything turned out alright and we finished just in time. It also helped that they answered the questions concisely. I also loved how Mike answered the T-Pain question. Lol. After the interview, Mike said he was glad that I asked him that.


Here's the last interview I conducted with Ryan Star. Knowing that he came from the show Rockstar: Supernova, I was apprehensive that he would have one of those rockstar, holier-than-thou complexes. But no, he turned out to be totally cool. He kind of was a little contrived with some of his answers, but his charisma definitely overshadowed the fact. I was especially excited to ask him about the Backstreet Boys question. I had only found about it like the day of, as I was checking out his twitter earlier on in the day. So, I just tagged it along with all my already-prepared questions. It just shows that up-to-the-minute research always pays off.

Well thanks for bearing with me as I was took that stroll down CW memory lane. Interviewing bands was a totally surreal experience. It was like I was William from Almost Famous. I never really ever got used to the whole experience. My nerves would always be there, but I always got through it, at the same time. This internship gave me a taste of what could be. I'm still determined to incorporate music into my career...no matter what...