Review: Jonny Craig - Find What You Love and Let it Kill You

Jonny Craig’s rapidly changing career only continues to surprise listeners with his newest solo release “Find What You Love and Let it Kill You”.

Fans have heard Craig from a range of many different genres and styles so this album will not be a hard adjustment to make although it strays from anything heavy. This is not a con, but just a warning of the changes. This album is very much an electronic pop album similar to something out of Justin Timberlake’s repertoire. This style perfectly fits with Craig’s voice, as demonstrated with the artist’s previous work. Catchy high-pitched melodies and even some rapping, these songs will most certainly refresh any listener looking for a new sound to catch on to.

On the surface, this album can be calming and relieving when listened to casually. Songs like “Diamond” and “I Still Feel Her Pt. 5 (feat. Kyle Lucas)” support this relaxing atmosphere heard throughout most of the album. Craig’s voice will immediately pull you in and keep you interested in the start of the album. The electronics in the background create a great foundation for Craig to get his lyrical messages across. Ranging from life struggles to unrequited love, Jonny Craig represents the essence of the disappointment and frustration we have all felt during hard times. The melody lines and instrumentation create an impressive musical environment to match the lyrical content. With a solo album such as this one, this aspect of the writing strategy is immensely important. Everyone knows Jonny Craig can sing, but can his songs get the listener interested and more importantly, keep the listener entertained from start to finish. Well that seems to be just the problem with this album.

The first couple songs of this album will pull you in and keep you enticed for the first few tracks,but after that the album becomes very monotonous in its overall atmosphere. Craig’s pure vocal skill can only hold out for so long before the creativity of the album is questioned. In the end, the album doesn’t quite hold up to the inevitable questioning. Some of the songs like “The Open Letter” and “Jesus Died For You…Not Me” seem to drag on and on without any particular direction. Although this is a solo album, Craig’s vocal skill and techniques seem to lose their initial excitement halfway through the album. The songs start to meld together and the fluidity of the album is lost before it’s over.

Overall, the feel of this album is something that can be very refreshing at first listen. As a whole, the album lacks a driving structure. Songs repeat vocal phrases without structure and the direction of the songs and album are lost after the first 10-15mins. I’m not sure it’s right to expect a masterpiece from a solo vocalist, but this album lost its touch before it was over. I highly recommend checking out some of the songs as they are very unique for the genre or R&B style singing. But as an album, “Find What You Love and Let it Kill You” just falls short.

Rating: 6.5/10

-Nic Cheatle

Toronto Canada's own Wildheart releases debut single "Gone"

Toronto Canada’s own Wildheart releases debut single “Gone”

https://soundcloud.com/wildheart-5/gone

After drawing much heat and anger from the UK group “The Wildhearts”, for the similarity in name, the Canadian born “Wildheart” continues to use the moniker unaffected… and apparently confidant that geography, musical style and common sense could not allow any real fan confusion or provide legal grounds for a trademark or copyright issue.

 That being said we shall now see if these Canuks can walk the walk as well as they talk the talk.

Wildheart have just released their first single “Gone” (strictly as a digital streaming soundcloud file) The recording is a pre album demo… and despite its self-produced/engenered status it hits quite hard. The track manages to squeeze a wide range of diversity and sonic dynamics into it’s modest three and a half minute run time. Stylistically managing to sound like a hybrid of “Voodoo medicine man” era Aerosmith and Steppenwolf’s “Magic carpet ride”. The vocals, both sharp and mean, cut through this thick track like a switchblade through flesh in a street fight

The bass pounds on your chest like two stone fists and the guitar tone is so jangly and funky it could very well have been hand crafted by the Stone’s Keef himself. Percussively and rhythmically this song goes from punchy rock to funk to a tribal breakdown back to a soaring, soulful, skanky second half. Concluding, if not prematurely at least abruptly, leaving the listener wanting to hear more from this fresh young band.

Wildheart are currently working on an their first record…and yes I do mean record. From the available press it would seem as if the band plan on releasing a full length vinyl in the year to come. I am sure they will make an EP or at least a couple more singles available in the meantime. For a band living and working in the gritty downtown core of Toronto Ontario Canada they sure are pushing out quite the bang for the available buck. Let it be known that this is a working class band doing what they love and doing it damn well.

Keep an eye on these ones.

Glass Cloud Announce New EP

Glass Cloud announced they’ll be releasing a new EP titled Perfect War Forever on October 22nd. The band also premiered a new track called “Trapped Like Rats.” The five-song EP features the band’s first-ever recorded 9-string material and is available to pre-order.

Nirvana "Create Your Own Poster" App

In celebration of the newly released In Utero 20th Anniversary re-issue, fans will have the opportunity to create their own poster for a chance to win a reproduction of Kurt Cobain’s Fender Mustang. The contest will be open to fans across the globe, with one U.S. first prize winner and one international first prize winner. Three second prize winners will receive a limited edition In Utero litho & uncut proof sheet, and ten runners-up will receive one of the new In Utero 20th Anniversary t-shirts. Fans can launch the new app here: http://apps.facebook.com/nirvana-in-utero

The In Utero 20th Anniversary Re-Issue is re-mastered and now available on CD, 2CD Deluxe, 3CD + DVD, Super Deluxe Box Set, and 3LP Vinyl Edition. For more information on Nirvana, the new “Create Your Own Poster” app, and In Utero 20th Anniversary package options, visit www.nirvana.com.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Announce FREE Show

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are playing a FREE show in November to celebrate the new Microsoft Store opening in Jacksonville, Florida. Info here: http://msft.it/STJevent
Thursday, November 21, 2013
10:00 p.m.
Start lining up for your chance to attend the exclusive Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performance on Saturday.
Location: Outdoors behind Oakley, near Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Friday, November 22, 2013
10:30 a.m.
Grand opening ceremonies begin.

11:00 a.m.
Microsoft retail store opens (free tickets for the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performance distributed*)

Saturday, November 23, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Start lining up to get into the performance area at St. Johns Town Center.

12:00 p.m.
Gates open for exclusive Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performance.

2:00 p.m.
Concert scheduled to start.

* Free tickets will be distributed to the first 1,500 customers inside the Microsoft retail store on November 22, 2013. Each person will receive two premier viewing tickets to see the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performance on Saturday, November 23, 2013 (one ticket for you and one ticket for a friend). Come early for your best chance to get hooked up with tickets.

Andrew W.K. to Release "The Party Bible"

“The Party Bible will take readers on an unforgettable voyage in search of truth, wisdom and party bliss,” said Michael Szczerban, the editor who acquired the book. “In it, every feeling will be permitted, every thought will become prophecy and humanity’s surging life force will be harnessed and ridden into the abyss.”

Picking up where the Book of Revelation ends, The Party Bible will provide insight into mankind’s purpose on earth and the inspiration to celebrate all of existence. Readers will come to fathom the complete spectrum of feeling in every moment, embrace the taboo and the transcendent, and experience ecstatic pleasure in an explosion of nonstop party power. The Party Bible will be the partying manifesto for generations to come.

“This book is the culmination of my entire career as a professional partier. In fact, this book is the culmination of my entire life,“ W.K. said. “Everything that has ever and never happened has led to me being in the perfect position to receive the contents of The Party Bible and write it down, once and for all. This is a powerful and dangerous feeling, but it is definitely meant to happen. I’m grateful to all my party friends for requesting this book. This is our book.”

Andrew W.K.’s book will pick up where the Book of Revelation ends. What do you want it to include? Tell @AndrewWK with the hashtag #ThePartyBible.

Introducing Hemp FORCE Vanill-Acai

When Onnit (one of our podcast sponsors) created Hemp FORCE Choco-Maca they set a new industry standard for a simple high-performance plant protein with a shockingly delicious flavor. Creating the sequel proved to be no easy task. After over a year in R&D and more than a dozen combinations that didn’t match up, they finally identified the ingredient combination that would be the basis of our new formula.

Unwilling to compromise with our commitment to finding the most nutrient dense natural ingredients available, the key was in a combination of mesquite powder and freeze dried acai berry, a blend of both tart and molasses notes delivered by 100% earth grown ingredients. Adding Chia and Flax seed to the protein and omega rich hemp seed simply enhanced the nutrient potential of this powerful protein superfood.

In addition to this launch, they’re offering 16% off all Onnit Foods through 9/30/13. No coupon required.

Affiance Launches IndieGoGo Campaign

Affiance has launched an IndieGoGo campaign. You view a message and video from the band below

Hey everyone! AFFIANCE here and we’re calling to our warriors for some help. We have recently run into some transportation troubles over the summer on our tour with Killswitch Engage and got taught some valuable lessons on how to tour smart! Due to breaking down multiple times, leaving the van behind to finish the tour, having horrible luck with our beat up trailer and growing so fast; we absolutely need a new Affiance-mobile to keep us on the road and safe. Please watch the video above and help out however you can, whether it’s donating or spreading the word about our campaign. We are hitting the road this fall with Protest The Hero, Architects, and The Kindred and we want to make sure we make it to every show safe. Make sure to check out the cool perks because we wanted to make every dime donated worthwhile.

Join Us On Other Networks

Just a friendly reminder to make sure you check us out on other social networks. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, iTunes, Audible and Tumblr. The owner/editor (Jordan) can also be found elsewhere online.

Impending Doom Announce New LP

Southern California Gorship outfit IMPENDING DOOM have announced an all new LP called “Death Will Reign" due out November 5, 2013 via eOne Music. Recorded, Produced and Mixed by Will Putney at the Machine Shop, this is the band’s most ferocious material to date.  "Impending Doom have never sounded uglier and more desperate than on ‘Death Will Reign,’ says Alternative Press.