Pageant's

Album: Vices and Virtues
Artist: Panic! At the Disco
Label: Fueled by Ramen
Released: March, 2011
Produced by: John Feldman & Butch Walker
Reviewer: Kialynne Wood

Sites:
www.panicatthedisco.com
www.facebook.com/panicatthedisco
http://twitter.com/#!/panicatthedisco
www.youtube.com/panicatthedisco
http://www.myspace.com/panicatthedisco

Track Listing

1. The Ballad of Mona Lisa
2. Let’s Kill Tonight
3. Hurricane
4. Memories
5. Trade Mistakes
6. Ready to Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind)
7. Always
8. The Caledar
9. Sarah Smiles
10. Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met…)

Vices and Virtues is the latest release by alternative pop band Panic! At the Disco. The return of their infamous exclamation mark is paired with a return to their electronic roots, after the folksy deviation of their second album (Pretty Odd). The album features upbeat hits such as their first single “Mona Lisa” and the second, the sweet “Ready to Go”, along with some rebellious tracks, and a love song for singer Brendon Urie’s girlfriend.

The band’s line up changed with the departure of bassist Jon Walker and lyricist/guitarist Ryan Ross last year and with them goes any Beatles knock offs, and some of the catchier lyrics, but the departure has allowed for more reflection from the two remaining members.

An added treat for any avid Fall Out Boy fans, and also a spunky pop song for any newcomers, is the final track on the album, Nearly Witches. This is a remix of a demo released in 2008 for Fall Out Boy’s Welcome to the New Administration mixtape, as part of a viral campaign for their fans. Panic! released the steampunk-inspired track as an unfinished, catchy hit and it has now been recreated into a pop piece which includes brighter lyrics, and a feature for the Los Angeles Childrens’ Choir.

While a tad disjointed, the album is a fun affair from start to finish. It doesn’t seem possible to listen to Vices and Virtues without ending up with at least one of the tracks swimming around in your head.

by Kellie Behrendorff.

The River People exist in Madina Lake…

Bassist and founding member of Chicago band, Madina Lake, Matthew Leone left his brother Nathan’s appartment earlier last week to meet a friend for a drink only a block away. On the short walk over, Matthew became witness to a man beating his wife on the street.

Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone, Warped Tour 2009. Photo by M. Lynn Malpass.

Anyone who has been in some sort of contact with the band, whether it be a minute or an hour, knows that Matthew is one of the most down to Earth human beings. No one could ever say a bad thing about him. He’s a smart man, a kind soul and now, in the eyes of many more, a hero.  Instead of watching from afar or walking away like many others would have done, Matthew stepped in and tried to help the woman, whom he had never met before. This gave some time for police to be called, but unfortunately Matthew’s heroic efforts came with a price and a very sad outcome.

Days later, Nathan Leone, Matthew’s twin, best friend and singer for the band, posted an announcement on his blog with small detail of what had happened to his brother. Matthew was severely beaten and left unconscious in the street by both the man and woman. As a result, a third of his skull was removed by surgeons to relieve swelling to his brain. The injuries Matthew suffered were horrific. A fractured skull, broken nose and his jaw broken in two places. How a person can do this to another human being is sickening.

With fans being kept updated via Nathan’s blog, it’s safe to say Matthew has everyone’s support and best wishes. With the news of the Leone’s not having health insurance, fans, friends and family have set up charities to help the brothers out. But not only that, they’ve set up charities and awareness campaigns against domestic violence, and other worthy, humanitarian causes in Matthew’s name, too. Just when you think you’ve lost faith in humanity, something like this happens; it’s been overwhelming for all who are a part of Matthew’s battle.

Chicago police arrested Justin Pivic, who was charged with the beating of his wife, and of Matthew. No more information about the arrest has yet been released.

After spending nearly a week in the hospital, Matthew was recently released, though he is scheduled for another surgery to have his skull re-attached on the 16th of July. Injuries to his brain will remain unknown until the swelling has subsided and his skull has been re-attached.

“He’s an angel, he’s a hero.” – Nathan Leone.

And don’t we all agree?

You can help Matthew by sending your donations in by visiting www.giveforward.org/matthewleone or pay a visit to Matthew’s donation page at Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund, a relief fund for career musicians. Plus, you can always support them by checking out Madina Lake at www.myspace.com/madinalake and picking up some of their music. Also, you can read about the “Matthew Leone Project”, a fan video project to support the brothers if you are a fan, or just want to send some words of encouragement.

The most recent video, and another Bartholomew Cubbins production, from a band that continues to amaze and captivate with their artistic originality, their vision, and talent. This is War, Mars’ third album, is due out December 8th and if this is what we have to look forward to, no wonder, all the excitement that’s been building in anticipation of the release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A

Album: Bright Nights Dark Days
Band: Cavo
Label: Reprise Records, 2009
Reviewer: Shauna Brock

Track Listing:
01 Champagne
02 Crash
03 Let It Go
04 Cry Wolf
05 Ghost
06 Blame
07 My Little Secret
08 Beautiful
09 We All Fall Down
10 Over Again
11 Useless

If Matchbox Twenty and Rev Theory had a baby, they would name it Cavo. It would be a baby with a “Been there, done that, rebelled in high school” edge to its clear tenor voice, a strong (if slightly predictable) rhythm section, and original spins on guitar licks we’ve all heard a million times since Jimmy Page changed the face of music.

I wish I could say something bad about Bright Nights Dark Days, Cavo’s major-label debut album. I want to say something terrible. I can’t. I want to comment on how on first listen it feels interchangeable with the countless other bands that are taking over radio at the moment. I want to mention that it suffers from the same over-processed track layering that affects all radio-ready bands. I should point out that Cavo will be just as comfortable on alternative stations as they will rock and even mainstream stations, but all of that comes back to why I can’t say anything bad about this album. Why? Because there is something about how Cavo delivers the goods that makes the whole package work.

The truth? Bright Nights Dark Days is the very definition of mainstream rock. There is nothing overly poetic about any of the lyrics, and the musicianship is solid, but average. But that’s okay. Cavo is not trying to be anything they aren’t. They are not seeking to take over the world with blow-your-mind lyrics or crazy instrumentals. They are four dudes who clearly love to get together and play and what comes out of their work together is good and comfortable.

From the opening song, “Champagne”, through to the end of the CD, there isn’t any song that isn’t worth at least a repeat listen. Lead singer Casey Walker brings a tainted innocence to each song, so much so that his voice alone makes them an interesting listen. In addition, I think it helps that it is clear that Cavo is not a group of eighteen year old kids who managed to land a good break. In the liner notes, they are thankful of their wives, their kids, and the path that brought them to their place in the world.

Not all songs on the album are written by Cavo and the ones that aren’t are the weaker songs. Again, proof that musicians do best when they are able to explore their own style and not be forced into a mold meant for others. Standouts on the album are the first single, “Champagne,” along with the touching “Let it Go,” and the haunting “Cry Wolf.” But even though those songs come early on the album, the closers Over Again and Useless are as strong as the rest of the collection.

So it is worth it? Every last penny. If this is the first step Cavo is showing the world, then the rest of the journey is going to be a lot of fun. Personally, I am looking forward to it.