First, I want to nominate Fishhawk, and specifically track number three from this album, Blackout Reign, to be the next Bond movie theme song. From there you can sorta of see where this album and Fishhawk are coming from.  Fishhawk and more specifically Spacehawk literally has it all….funk, grime, prophecy, groove, love, and of course…space.  The album immediately kicks off with a robotic voice no doubt telling us of some great event or happening to come. From there the listener is hit with First Transmission, a Radiohead-esque meditational song that I'm sure came from another planet all together. The lyrics are a saga of metaphorical ecstasy followed with acoustic guitar and a real spaced out melody. 
 

Blackout Reign is the next track and by far my favorite…it reminds me of a Bond movie intro in that it has an epic feel with this sort of noir feeling to it. It definitely belongs on a soundtrack to an epic crime drama. Minutes Against Time deviates from the mystifying feeling of the first two tracks and adds a more disco dance feel. The vocal styling remains in the same arena but he speeds it up to match the meteoric beat. Prying into the Sun's Life is another one of my favorites. It's an introspective song that plays on emotions and fears of the subject...."Prying into the sun's life, prying into the sun…its hotter than hell, hotter than hell. Its hotter than hell." 

Spacehawk is truly a journey into the futuristic mindsets of three amazingly talented musicians. The album could be considered conceptual as each track carries the feeling to the next. This album would make a great companion to any dark dance floor, strobe lights flashing, sweat beads flying. I also found it to be quite good driving music. 

Fishhawk is Nick Nickerson-Vocals, Andy Slagle-Production/Instruments, Matt Williams-Production/Instruments

Fishhawk on MySpAcE

Buy Spacehawk on Itunes

    Damon Moon’s new album 'the Holy Noise' is a clever, grunge and folk rock combo sure to put you into a trance with it’s droning tones and mellow drums. It’s a well put together 6 song EP, with a theme of melancholy that lingers on from track to track. This is Damon’s third release, and probably his most fresh and comfortable one to date. The songwriting is true and obviously heartfelt, bluesy and hopeless at times, yet a note of hope finds its way through the poignant lyrics.

    The whole album feels like some sort of withdrawal from alcohol or heroin, there is a lot of tranced out stuff, like floating through a dream. And yet the author is always there to make sure that the journey is on track. Damon Moon has a fantastic voice. You can tell that these songs are the culmination of a lifetime of work, although it would seem that this EP is a precursor to something bigger. One can only hope.

    The drummer is also very interesting. For those of you into avant garde styles of drumming, this album is a great one. Damon’s work has paid off in providing the right environment for the certain kind of drumming that can only be characterized as ‘story-telling’. There are an array of instruments on the record, but typically they come through as tones, which is a departure from the radio standard guitar sound, keyboard sound. This is definitely a great EP for just that reason. Damon Moon has opened the door up brazenly for a new generation of singer songwriters that wanted to do something different than the norm. And when it comes back to that ‘standard’ song style, it almost sounds even better. This album definitely deserves multiple listens, for just a peek into the world of Damon Moon and the Whispering Drifters.

    In summary, Damon Moon pulls this EP off like a pro. It has all the elements of a good album, good songs, deep fathoming into the human psyche, surprises, great sounds and a great mentality about the whole things. I highly encourage fans to find the album at Find more out about Damon Moon on his website at http://twentyechoes.blogspot.com/ or myspace at http://www.myspace.com/dmatwd.

The right amount of boastfulness; the right amount of weed smoke; the right amount of ATL & Decatur, the right amount of humor…and yes Tom P, not that you need us to confirm…but the right amount of swagger.  I fucking dig Tom P...he fits my style and he'll probably fit yours too. I think a good rapper is a master of language and words; a master of vocabulary, both intellectual and street. I think an even better rapper is a master not only of words and language, but of syllables and alliteration.  Tom P has all of those things. His flow is hard to match and unique, switching between really fast, syllable focused alliteration and an old school flow with a concentration on rhyming words. His demeanor is flawless. In the tradition of Bone Thugs he spits rapid rhymes but always manages to bring it back to what only he can describe best..."old school, new school cross-pollination..."

Tom P. is clever enough to have his self promotion take a back, but just prominent enough seat to his particular take on rhyming. That's something that I can respect and get behind.  He stays true to his roots throughout the album and never strays far from his message of self introspection and promotion of his good times, bad times lifestyle, filled with all the rapper glory of drinking, smoking and fucking a lot...and all the rapper adversities of paranoia, danger and regret.  Don't let that take away from his originality, however. He has a clever take on rap and I think Tom P is headed places. His subjects are sharp and full of wit as he touches on topics such as lost love, picking friends before girlfriends and my favorite....the complexity and dual identity of being in pursuit of a dream (in his case, being a famous rapper) and having to get there by waiting tables or working the dreaded "day job."

Don't miss the awesome guest spots by Aleon Craft.

1. Intro
2. Root For The Underdog
3. Time Flies ft. Playboy Tre and Aleon Craft
4. Last Call
5.  Wake Up ft. Julie Grass
6. Gone
7. Ain t Have None (Uh Huh)
8. Play The Game ft. Gripplyaz and Aleon Craft
9. Friends
Bonus Tracks
***10. Spotlight
***11. Life Of The Party
***12. Impossible
***13. Wicked

BUY the album at ATLTomP.com

This Piano Plays Itself's sophomore release, As the House..., is a well written, well thought out composition two years in the making. It shows ambition, progression, improvement and potential. Each track truly is a melded odyssey of instrumental story telling and vocals that flow softly and melodically together. They form songs in segments, each telling a story in spaced out layers, airy vocals and psychedelic harmonies. The album is conceptual and quite spiritual in nature, with song titles such as ..It Fills with Light,  Who we Were, What Happened and Why We Stayed; each filled with dense melodies, a wide array of effects and epic instrumentals. I used to say these guys needed more power behind the vocals, but As the House... cements the back seat, ventilated style of singing that TPPI portrays over their wall of sound approach. The vocals are a key instrument in the overall sound and I think Eric on lead and Jayson as a harmonizer makes for a nice, sharp sound. 

Check out track number three, Where we Lived for the epic instrumentals I speak of. The song adds an eerie feeling to the story behind it and the long, instrumental introduction is nothing short of amazing.  Track #4 is What Happened and greets listeners with a some dance filled, really spacey melodies.  Track #5 How We Left starts out with what could be a salute to the old country with a highlander, Irish old country feel. It features some great harmonies involving the entire band and creates a real sense of brotherhood between the group. Each song features its own unique elements that make it great but also contributes to the end goal...that of dazzling dance beats and blockbuster instrumentals on top of a well orchestrated, complex framework.

This Piano Plays Itself on MySpacE

This is a fantastic live album so get out to a TPPI show as soon as you can.  Whether you want some instrumental introspection or you want to take part in some legendary dancing, go ahead and get the new TPPI album. 

This Piano Plays Itself is Eric - Vox, Guitar; Aaron - Bass;; Jayson - Guitar, Brass, Keys, Vox; Justin - Drums, Beats, Bells; and Doug - Guitar, Keys, Brass

Buy As the House... here

What can I say about Jungol's new album Over the Sun and Under the Radar?  The name itself speaks volumes of where Jungol is and where they are headed. They have indeed remained under the radar if the radar is the commercial success that they are surely destined for...and their music is far over the sun in that it raises the bar of what it takes to be a band that gains popularity in Atlanta. Jungol has raised the bar another notch with this new album.  Over the Sun and Under the Radar is a magnificent piece of artistry that continues to push the limits that Jungol has no doubt never set for themselves. Meaning that the sky, is in fact, the limit for Jungol.

Over the Sun and Under the Radar continues the theme on which a Jungol album thrives. Delicate vocals croon over waves and layers of electronic sound. Tribal beats and manic changes carry any lucky listener on a roller coaster of a journey through emotions and thoughts.  The album's opener Another Life is an electronic soul filled entity mixing hi hat and cymbal filled drums with swaying and vast, carried out guitar riffs.  At times, songs such as L.A. Possum give hints of inspiration of 80s afro pop and power anthems. At other times, there is a sense of seduction found in the album that is profound. Songs like Before the Night offer a poignant and sultry experience with drawn out vocals conveying a deepness that you feel throughout the entire world that is Jungol.

Jungol's movement continues to gain momentum and they have done nothing but accelerate that momentum with Over the Sun and Under the Radar.  The album stays true to Jungol's indefinable experimental path...thriving tribal beats, soaring guitar riffs, electro pop power and skyrocketing and passionate vocals that will no doubt carry Jungol and Over the Sun and Under the Radar to the glory that they both undoubtedly deserve.

Read more about and see live videos of Jungol right here on beatlanta.com

    Attention System is an electro-rock band from the heart of Atlanta. They have an incredible live show and their new CD, ‘Wait for my Signal’ is a great listen. The band is comprised of 5 members, Brian Fisher on vocals and keys, Joshua Broughton on guitar and vocals, Jonathan Davis on guitar, Chris Edmonds on bass guitar and Jason Curtis on drums.

    The album draws on many external influences such as club dance, hard rock, disco to the big booming sound of newer metal bands. The singer even tends to have a country, Chris Isaak feel to his crooning, making all the ladies in the club feel slightly weak at the knees. The lyrics are genuine as is the music as a whole. The theme throughout the album is like the compromise between machine and soul, breaking down boundaries and introducing new ideas. Titles such as BOT killer and Resistant Transistor exhibit some of the mechanical tendencies and songs such as Siren’s City and Radio Silence show some of the more humanistic side of the CD. You can almost picture the band’s collective vision of a neo-future city reminiscent of the film Blade Runner.

    Although the band did not record with electronic drums as other bands of this vein have, and the bass is typically not simulated, it still has a clean and tight sound to it. The electronic sound is not separate from the live sound and is one of the best recordings mixing the two sounds since the Flaming Lips ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots’ release. The singing is distinctive and adds more flavor to the sound, and the guitar wails on and on to the rhythm of the simulated city. Users will enjoy rocking out to this CD, although not a lot could overcome the spectacle of Attention System’s live show. This is a well produced album with a ton of soul. Track 5, Drastic Measures, is one of my favorites because of the dissonance and originality of the breaks in it. All of the songs are very listenable, especially for those of you who like to actively listen to a CD. It shows a lot of intelligence in song writing and it is obvious that this CD was made by a very dedicated band. I can only see good things happening for this band. They are hard working, fluid and in general awesome musicians and they rock so well that a name is already made for them. This release speaks of familiar things in an unfamiliar world, and speaks of paranoia but also of bravery and resistance to this new change.

    Overall, this is the perfect album for Attention System at this point in their musical career, and is definitely worth the buy. All the tracks lead to the same point and it is just plain great to listen to however you feel like partying, by yourself like a personal pan pizza or with others like 10 pizzas delivered straight to your door. So go out and get a slice! The CD is available at such locations as the official website at www.AttentionSystem.com or Amazon.com. Also check out the band’s myspace here to listen to songs from the CD and upcoming show dates.

The Constellations Southern Gothic is an electronic funk machine boasting hip-hop grooves and ultra pop dance flavor. Put the album in your player and you're immediately greeted with sound waves that force your entire body into motion.  Each track is a well thought out explosion of musical elements forming threads of sound that take on life like strands of DNA; a group of 8 mixing multiple guitars, keys, drums, percussion and 2 background singers...The Constellations.

The opening track Setback greets you with studio effects and distorted keys until a bubbly pop, keyboard driven tune leads you into front man Elijah Jones' rap inspired vocal storming. Songs like the next track Perfect Day, Weighing Me Down and What I see give you a preview of singer Jones' sometimes smooth, boogieman like approach to his vocals; creeping up on you like a shadow in an alley, seducing you into a dark circus of imaginative narratives. Overall, however, the album is filled with funky, dance infused grooves that are sure to get any dance floor hopping. The song Step Right up ends in an awesome electronic disco breakdown after Jones leads you on a journey through Atlanta, citing many of the city's famous nightlife happenings, including The Clermont Lounge and the Drunken Unicorn. He even name drops some door guys and The Clermont's famous can crushing Blondie. Be sure to check out guest singer Cee-Lo on the track Love is a Murder as well as the always fantastic radio hit Felicia, a song about a girl who gives great head.

Elijah Jones vocal stylings are filled with soulful vibrations that mix hip-hop influences with an unrestrained rock spirit. His lyrics are ripe with sharp metaphors and philosophical wonderings all while creatively managing to inject his home town of Atlanta into his songwriting and lyrical process. He is the perfect lead to such a talented, diverse and divergent super group of 8. Us ATLers should feel a noteworthy connection to what the Constellations bring to our city. They are cleverly and rapidly taking a lead as one of Atlanta's premier breakout bands and Southern Gothic is sure to catapult them even further.

    The Fabric’s new album, ‘We Operate Machinery’ opens with a synth drop and then it stops.

    When it comes back in, the singers iron laden voice directs all listener’s attention inwards as the drums pick up a beat and noises in the background tense and release. Singer Joe Sikes continues to sing of the tragedy of love in the new world and the confusion and angst behind the relations of the modern century. ‘Release me’ he pleads over rhythmic synth bars. The music all comes together to create the kind of industrial works that the great electro artists of the eighties invoked so well.

    The second track ’Tragedy’, only overcomes the first with a drum track that almost has a dub feel to it with a simple, sinister yet powerful bass line. The lyrics are intelligent but secure, speaking of a girl who is so used to giving in to tragedy that the singer feels compelled to break her out of the cycle of her bondage to her guilt and misery. The story goes deeper as the song goes on, unveiling a deeper bond between the two….but to tell more would ruin the story..

   And that’s just track two. Lol. Throughout the album, the feeling of sadness and a sense of despair solidify and the mood is set for the night. The album is 15 songs, but is easy to listen through all the way because of the arrangement of the tracks. Even just listening to the music is relaxing. The drums have a thick sounding snare and the bass tracks have a pulsating, rhythmic sound to them. It’s astonishing the textures that the group manages to create. Often, the band seems to take the music they have created and rather than expand them, they patch pieces of music together like a puzzle held together by verse and drums. Being the group’s third album together, this is the most synergistic piece of work they have done which is obvious upon listen, because the tracks all have the same style and all sound unique but within it’s own vein, which is the mark of a band that has hit it’s stride. Each song has a distinct and signature riff or hook, and the drums are always very tight. This album is so great because each song sounds like a hit, but the group is so comfortable that they complete the cycles of music with ease.

    This collection of songs also reminds me of a time period when club music was popular, infused with a rock sensibility. ‘We Operate Machinery’ is the perfect album for sitting on your couch by yourself, or for driving through a lonely district in the evening. It reminds me of the beauty of being alone, the peace of loneliness. It can also be a good one to share a listen with. For those looking for an album that provides you with a stable selection of tracks, beautiful and lush synth music, tight drum tracks and a passionate singer, this is a good one for you. May it find it’s place in your CD collection.

    The album is available through iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby, but also check the Fabric out live, because they are a great force to witness in person as well. Find the Fabric out at http://www.myspace.com/fabricmvp or http://thefabric.fm/.

The latest album from ATL indie superstars The Selmanaires titled Tempo Temporal, is quite a step in a different direction from their debut full length release The Air Salesmen in 2008. While the talent and efficiency is not absent from Tempo Temporal, it doesn't come across as wholly powerful as The Air Salesmen. You can do nothing but admire a band willing to change it up so much from album to album, however; and I am not meaning in any way to take away from the grandeur that is Tempo Temporal. The album I believe is psychedelic at root, paying much more attention to electronic details then The Air Salesmen. The Selmanaires have taken out much of the funk feel to their music and added in a ton of experimentation and  psychedelia and really show that their sound is multifaceted and not afraid to cross genre lines.


White Chyrsanthemum, the album's opening track,  is an eerie jungle mist approaching from a cold, shadowy distance. Resonance Alright adds a lighter feel than the opener and reminds me of the soundtrack to an epic role playing game, or the background music in a jazz bar where everyone's on extacy and the music makes the role.  Dials is a light, jazz inspired song that stays spacey and airy throughout. It could easily be the soundtrack to a french noir film and makes you want to dim the lights and light a cigar, among other things. The album then moves to Spun From Witch's Daughter, fusing the funk I love about The Selmanaires with their new found love of the surreal. The final tracks Deep Sleep and Vacant Land stand to the true insouciant nature of Tempo Temporal. The songs are dark, free flowing and sharp and The Selmanaires prove that their talent and scope is impressionable and malleable.

Resonance Alright played live at the Earl...