Alkaline Trio - This Addiction

"This Addiction" could quite literally be an addiction. The lead track is the title track for the album and offers a great intro to the album. You are immediately hooked when you hear the song. Influences that could be heard are more recent bands such as The Killers, Kings of Leon, Gaslight Anthem, and anything coming off the California Coastline. The album is a good start but the names of some songs don’t match up with the sound. The sound can be a good, up flow, rhythm but then feature a title and lyrics that are very strange to the sound and appear to be a bit dark for my taste. Eating Me Alive, although falls into this type, is still a great great song with amazing vocals. Offers a killers synth sound that carries through with amazing guitar. The album finishes with a true gem called Fine. And it is fine. It is mellow and sweet and easy listening. This band has potential with sound but need a new lyricist. The album has minimal inspiration but still has a clear sound. Overall, a C+.

-Clay Chapman

The Fletchers - Lights Out Sound

The Fletchers might be the truest Alternative band I have heard in a very long time. You can definitely tell where there roots come from. The guitar and drums mesh together so well and a bass that lays great background. The lead singer could be a combination of Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Dicky Barrett of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. R.E.M. is obviously a huge influence on the band along with Coldplay, The Clash and The Kinks, and some of the nineties alternative rock bands such as the Counting Crows or Goo Goo Dolls. The pounding drums bring a sound such as offered in the Gaslight Anthem. The lead track entitled Beaches is a great start to the album. And is a highly recommended track to listen to. Begin Again has two distinct vocal lines going the whole time and amazing drums. Wasted, track nine also, Drums, and a great guitar intro that builds the whole song. This album is a very summertime song that you can imagine taking on a road trip. In the future though, I could see the band in the market for a new lead singer. Overall grade of album, B+

-Clay Chapman