www.lizphair.com AN OPEN LETTER FROM IRIS: As one of indie rock’s most celebrated icons, Liz Phair has created a standard for herself that I’m sure she is struggling to live up to with her second pop album release.  But I don’t want this to be like every other review.  I know her fans, both old and new, are going to…

http://www.myspace.com/lindimusic Proving that Canada has yet to produce an artist that isn’t solid, Lindi Ortega emerges without disappointment.  This is flat out chick music, so if you’re not a fan in general, it might be kind of difficult to get into the groove.  Having been around for a while, Lindi recently had 2002 works released on a CD entitled The…

www.lexingtondown.com New Jersey rock outfit Lexington Down have this going for them: they write and sing that coveted stereotypical Mid-Atlantic rock that is usually found in the far-off land of Baltimore but instead in Jersey, so it makes them unique, right?   They have a self-released EP with a full length in the works and hopefully the tracks that are blueprinted…

Last Week Thoughts to Keep You Company Lawrence, NY www.lastweekrock.com One of the more “softer” rock bands that you might have caught at the Warped Tour, Last Week has written their songs, not to quote “Bubble Tape”: for you, not them. Alternative radio friendly, Thoughts to Keep You Company is a record that you might find in the Dickies’ messenger…

Kisha Griffin San Francisco, CA Chit Chat’N www.kisshermusic.com I’m not going to peg Kisha Griffin in the straight R&B/Soul category. After listening to her album, I have decided there is so much of everything thrown in that it’s above and beyond the simple slot of R&B. Kisha Griffin uses her wide vocal range and use of the mixing board to…

JSD Rezmade http://www.geocities.com/rezmade2004 With the likes of Everlast, JSD (or Joe San Diego) puts it down without the sugar coating in his album titled “Rezmade.” No frills, no grand sampling; just the words and the experience behind it. Hailing from Ukiah, California, JSD comes out talking about everything he knows. With a little fun and a little filth talking about…

Johnny Ford Self-Titled EP Rock Out Records www.johnnyford.com Hello gritty southern rock and roll! If you love that raw, acoustic, soulful sound, then look no further. Johnny Ford is all of that kissed with southern roots. His 5-song self-titled EP, out on Rock Out Records, leans more towards the acoustic side and doesn’t really express the rock that is heard…

Isle of View Gentle Firefly Radio Baltimore, Maryland www.undecidedrecords.com/index.php?id=releases&rid=43 If you are not singing along with these incredibly catchy lyrics after your first listen-through, you will be after the second. Every song on this record is a hit, and each song outdoes the next. Hailing from Baltimore, they carry the stereotypical “Mid Atlantic Punk Rock” feel, however, Isle Of View…

How I Became a Pirate If My Body Stops Running, My Mouth Never Will Bronx, NY www.hibap.com Have you ever gone to a show and the band starts you out with something with a solid beat to get your toes tapping, gradually build up and bring all the band members into the song… kind of, break the ice between you…

Hotspur Hotspur EP Rockville, Maryland www.hotspurmusic.com If you love the 80s, Hotspur will tickle your taste buds in the retro fashion that they sound like they’re known best for. Their music is undeniably 80s synth Pop; hopefully their fans are a little more modern. Their self-titled EP is a beautifully crafted blast from the past that is clean, fun, poppy…