Circus Circus’ Brooklyn Nightlife

Music-Reviewer.com

November 2008 Music-Reviewer.com

Circus Circus’ Brooklyn Nightlife

By Heather Gioia
Intern

Artist Circus Circus

Title Brooklyn Nightlife

Label CI Records

Rating 9 out of 10
Think only the Amish, horse drawn buggies, and glass blowing factories come from Lancaster, Pa.? Wrong. Finally, out of Lancaster, Pa. has come something the kids can enjoy.

Circus Circus was formed in 2006 then hit the scene in 2007 with their first album, Hut Hut Hike, making clear their talent. They quickly became one of the most popular underground bands finding themselves ranked amongst Chiodos, Every Time I Die, The Devil Wears Prada, Fall of Troy, and August Burns Red.

Maintaining their place in the ranks, Circus Circus’ Brooklyn Nightlife is a solid album that represents all these young talented musicians have to offer and plan to dish out.

It’s difficult to put a finger on the exact sound of Circus Circus, Brooklyn Nightlife is another complement of Mike Williams’ off the wall lyrics and vocal style; a mixture of screams, clear blunt lines, and softer melodies. These are the sounds of guitarists Jason Terry and Justin Smith, bassist Matt Glassmyer, and drummer Evan Dyer.

Amputee Ball grabs your attention from the start, allowing your ears to tune in for an exciting ride. Dyer’s opening drum beats accompanied by Terry, Smith, and Glassmyer provides the perfect backdrop for Williams’ exclamations. With word combinations that leave you feeling empowered, Amputee Ball contains lines such as, “I challenge you to a resurrection of our common colds with uncommon tension.”

Did you ever have friends who suddenly just got the idea they were better than you? Maybe you go to school with or did go to school with the kids who’s Moms and Dads got them their every wish. Did you ever wish you could just scream into their face that that isn’t all there is to life? Now you can. Fact Monster allows you to let all of that out. Talking about how we are “fucked into our mothers,” exemplifying that we all come from the same actions and end up with the same fate, “high class now but your just dust when you die.”

Containing an internal rhyme, William’s vocabulary and sentence structure capture your mind, while the rhythmic sounds of Circus Circus assault your ears and make you want to get up and dance. Neighbors living below or next door may not appreciate the rush that Brooklyn Nightlife leaves you with, but Circus Circus has created an album that draws you to your feet. Prepare to jump, head bang, and go all out.

With an indescribable sound that can maybe be compared to that of Fall of Troy or Every Time I Die, Circus Circus’ sound is best described by Metal Underground.com as, “A sound that is too metal to be punk, but too punk to be metal.” Circus Circus’ Brooklyn Nightlife is a guaranteed good time.

East of the Wall’s Farmers Almanac

Music-Reviewer.com

November 2008 Music-Reviewer.com

East of the Wall’s Farmers Almanac

By Heather Gioia
Intern

Artist East of the Wall

Title Farmers Almanac

Label Forgotten Empire

Rating 7 out of 10
Artists tell their stories, life’s hardships and uprisings, through their music. They share their stories with the world through a clever mixture of musical rhythm and lyrics that not only are on repeat in your head all day, but also have meaning to you. East Of The Wall took a step off the normal path and made their album, Farmer’s Almanac, about YOU. Farmer’s Almanac is eight songs and a little over 40 minutes of music for you to put your story to.

Recorded in New York, Farmer’s Almanac is East Of The Wall’s first release, attempting to defy boundaries that have been set by rock bands before them. Not only providing the relaxing sounds of experimental rock without the vocals, but also taking the length of each song to a new level.

Winter Breath is a 7 minute story, with an embracive beginning and core beats that capture and draw the listener in early on. A mixture of unusual bass rhythms, provided by Brett Bamberger, and a new guitar style from Matt Lupo and Kevin Conway, combine with Mike Somers’ drum beats pose as a musical story of everyday life’s ups and downs.

Farmer’s Almanac is 40+ minutes of experimental rock melodies that can provide anyone with their own personal sound track. Many say that every event in life requires its own soundtrack; Farmer’s Almanac allows you put your story to the musical rhythmic genies East Of The Wall has created… or simply ignore the story and go about your life with unique melodies playing in the background instead of the usual QVC or afternoon news.

Farmer’s Almanac is a mixture of, as East Of The Wall refers to it, “a linear listening experience, where monstrous riffs dissolve into beautiful melodies.” So whether you are looking for ambient sound to add to your day, or new “rock legends” to fallow, East Of The Wall’s sound may fit the bill. No matter what “rock type” you consider yourself to be, Farmer’s Almanac has a little bit of something for YOU.

Rocking out from Amish country

The Commonwealth Times

November 17, 2008 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA

Rocking out from Amish country

By Heather Gioia
Contributing Writer

Think only Amish, hourse-drawn buggies and glass-blowing factories come from Lancaster, Pa.? Well, here’s something the kids can enjoy.

The band Circus Circus was formed in 2006 and then hit the scene in 2007 with its first album, “Hut Hut Hike,” showcasing the band’s talent. Circus Circus quickly became one of the most popular underground bands, finding itself ranked amongst Chiodos, Every Time I Die, The Devil Wears Prada, Fall of Troy and August Burns Red.

Maintaining its place in the ranks, Circus Circus’ “Brooklyn Nightlife” is a solid album that represents all that these young, talented musicians have to offer.

While it’s difficult to place a finger on the exact sound of Circus Circus, “Brooklyn Nightlife” is another compliment of Mike Williams; off-the-wall lyrics and vocal style; it’s a mixture of screams, succinct lines and softer melodies thanks to guitarist Jason Terry and Justin Smith, bassist Matt Glassmyer and drummer Evan Dyer.

The song “Amputee Ball” grabs listeners’ attention from the start, allowing their ears to tune in for an exciting ride. Dyer’s opening drum beats provide the perfect backdrop for Williams’ exclamations. The song shows the lyrical empowerment with which the band leaves the listener. “I challenge you to a resurrection of our common colds with uncommon tension.”

“Fact Monster” talks about how we are “(expletive) into our mothers,” exemplifying that we all come from the same actions and end up with the same fate, “High class now but you’re just dust when you die.”

Containing an internal rhyme, Williams’ vocabulary and sentance structure captures the mind, while the rhythmic sounds of Circus Circus grace the ears and make listeners want to get up and dance.

Neighbors living below or next door might not appreciate the rush that “Brooklyn Nightlife” leaves you with, but Circus Circus has created an album that draws listeners to their feet. Prepare to jump, head-bang and go all out–Lancaster style.

If they had stereos, the Amish would be proud.

Grade: A-

Download (don’t steal): “Amputee Ball” by Circus Circus

‘Farmer’s Almanac’ Rock for the masses

The Commonwealth Times

November, 17 2008 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA

‘Farmer’s Almanac’ Rock for the masses

By Heather Gioia
Contributing Writer

Artist tell their stories, hardships and triumphs through their music. They share their stories with the world through a clever mixture of musical rhythm and lyrics that are not only catchy, but also have special meaning to the listener.

New Jersey’s East Of The Wall took a step off the beaten path with its album “Farmer’s Almanac.”

Recorded in New York, “Farmer’s Almanac” is East Of The Wall’s first release, attempting to defy boundaries that have been set by rock bands long before it with its instrumental and experimental rock.

“Winter Breath” is a seven-minute story, with an embracive beginning and core beats that capture listeners early on. A mixture of unusual bass rhythms, provided by Brett Bamberger, and inventive guitar styles from Matt Lupo and Kevin Conway, combine with Mike Somers’ drum beats to tell a musical story of lifes ups and downs.

“Farmer’s Almanac” is 40-plus minutes of experimental rock melodies and can give listeners their own personal soundtrack. “Farmer’s Almanac” allows listeners to put their story to the musical rhythmic genies East Of The Wall has created.

Whether listeners are looking for ambient sound to add to their day, or new rock legends to fallow, East Of The Wall’s sound is capable of embracing all. Even for the “non-rock types,” Farmer’s Almanac has a little bit of something for everyone.

Grade: C

Download (don’t steal): “Winter Breath” by East Of The Wall