New Music Reviews - Home of DJ Willis

“For his second solo outing, Mojave 3/Slowdive principal Halstead relocated from 4AD to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records. Which seems a good fit, as the warm, reflective nature of Halstead’s music is in step with Johnson’s laid-back vibe, minus any surfer-boy groove. Essentially, “Engine” is Mojave 3 lite. The album is dominated by soft acoustic numbers [...]

Not your typical Rick Ross song, a little slow due to Trey Songz being on it. Decent song, however I don’t see this doing much. 6/10

“The centerpiece of Gordon’s second solo album (and first since his old band Phish split in 2004) is undoubtedly “Andelman’s Yard,” a wondrous, well-constructed romp on which he handles all the instruments, including banjo, bass, keys and acoustic guitar. Showing the influence of sometime-collaborator Leo Kottke in its delicate, searching lines, Gordon’s dream-inflected mini-epic exudes [...]

The Top 20 has been updated finally.  I’m sorry the site hasn’t seen a lot of updates and new songs over the last month, but I’ve been on a lot of summer vacations, and as a matter of fact, I am currently out of town again.  I will be returning on Sunday and hope to [...]

“This Ohio-based emo-rock outfit has spent the time since 2006’s “If Only You Were Lonely” dealing with drama considerably heavier than what most emo bands sing about. Hawthorne Heights sued (and was subsequently countersued by) its label, Victory, for breach of contract (since resolved); then, late last year, guitarist Casey Calvert died from an accidental [...]

Randomly stumbled upon this video, but I expect it to start getting play. Grab this track now and be ahead of everyone. 8/10

At first I found it strange to see Jennifer Hudson partner up with Rick Ross, and while they don’t really mesh, it’s still slightly better than the original.

It’s nice to see Whitney and her amazing voice back. I think she did the right thing it partnering up with a current music powerhouse. This song should do well once stations start playing them. 8/10

“System of a Down guitarist/chief creative force Daron Malakian sets the tone for his new project early on when he sings, “Ain’t nobody searching for a second chance/I’m just looking for a new romance.” He could, of course, be talking about a real relationship, or perhaps SOAD’s long-lasting hiatus. But in any event, Malakian and [...]

“”Revelation” should appeal to Third Day’s core Christian music audience while expanding its fan base in the mainstream rock arena. Possessing just the right amount of gritty intensity combined with sweet Southern charm, frontman Mac Powell is equally effective on tender ballads like “Let Me Love You” and such hard-charging rockers as “This Is Who [...]

“Since he first appeared on the national stage with 2003’s “Mississippi: The Album,” Banner has used his platform as an opportunity to showcase the best and worst qualities of Southern hip-hop. The contrast reaches a head-scratching apogee on “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” where Banner alternates furiously soulful tracks about inner-city violence (”So Long”) with [...]

“Sugarland’s third album, finely crafted with producer Byron Gallimore, is proof positive that singer/songwriters Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are on the cusp of superstardom. Hooky and infectious first single “All I Want to Do,” currently No. 3 on Hot Country Songs, is a tantalizing tease of the album’s breadth. Steamy “What I’d Give” finds [...]

“Steely Dan’s Walter Becker hasn’t exactly made a habit of solo albums, and considering the muted reaction to his last one 14 years ago, you can’t say demand has overwhelmed supply. But “Circus Money” is an easy pleasure, 12 non-whack tracks largely co-written by Becker and producer Larry Klein, energized by a reggae rhythm base. [...]

“Because his records so rarely sound like anyone’s but his own, it’s easy to forget how much Beck thrives on collaborating with name-brand producers like Nigel Godrich and the Dust Brothers. For the follow-up to 2006’s “The Information” he teamed with Danger Mouse, and though the result is unmistakably the work of our favorite midnite [...]

“Neil Diamond was an international superstar by 1976, but nothing prepared him quite for the reception he met when he arrived for concerts in Australia and New Zealand. There are crowds as far as the eye can see during this Sydney show, originally broadcast on nationwide TV, and they eat up Diamond’s time-tested schtick from [...]