Wayne Hsu A Boy Named Hsu EP www.waynehsu.com Picture this: you’re wearing off-white linen clothes, barefoot on a pristine private beach. It’s partly cloudy outside with a light breeze while you sip your mimosa; the gentle waves of the ocean lick the legs of the chaise lounge chair you’re sitting on as the lime green VW bug drives by with…

Straitlaced Straitlaced EP Abington, PA www.straitlacedrocks.com Power pop, screamo, punk… however you describe the band Straitlaced, they can be compared to [insert name of any Warped Tour band here]. That is in no way a low blow to their originality; it shows that they are worthy of being thrown on tour with dozens of other bands in the same genre,…

Stillframe Appetizer Philadelphia, PA www.stillframemusic.com I’ve always had a soft spot for Stillframe, since becoming acquainted with their music late 2004, due to a combination of an uncommon vocal sound, first-rate songwriting, and the band’s intense level of professionalism. Appetizer is no exception, improving upon past pieces, adding levels that further display their emotional connection with, passion for, and musical…

The Scott Harris Project The Sixteenth Minute Long Island, NY www.ScottHarrisMusic.net Mix John Mayer with some actual oomph, and you’ll have Long Island’s Scott Harris. The Sixteenth Minute isn’t necessarily anything you haven’t heard before, but rather a quality contribution to the commercial acoustic trend we’ve witnessed over the last several years. What sets Harris apart is that he’s able…

Roselind Roselind Philadelphia, PA www.Roselind.com One thing that Roselind likes to do is harmonize. There must be a harmony of some form or another in every track off their self-titled EP. And they don’t just do it, but they perform it well. Especially on the radio friendly “Never Be The Same”, not only are there vocal harmonies but they have…

OK Go Oh No Capitol Records www.Okgo.net What do you expect as a follow up to a band’s debut album that had loveable lyrics and heart-winning hooks? Something exactly like this. If their first record didn’t convince you that they had what it takes to swoon indie kids to enjoy poppy music, then Oh No, sure will. Thirteen explosive tracks…

Maggie, Pierce and E.J. The Silver Album Philadelphia, PA www.mpeband.com This band fooled me! I thought I was reviewing a record for MPE Band… not Maggie Pierce and EJ!! I didn’t even know they had such a compilation out. I remember buying their first record when they played at my day camp, and I’m really not that old. Anyway, it’s…

What thrills me about this album is the versatility and the mixing of all cultures. Where else do you hear the twangs of electric violin, reminiscent of a country hoedown accompanying the one, two, cha cha cha of the drums and guitar?  Look no further than Stone Gato, an eclectic foursome taking full range of percussion and strings to bring…

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…