Gary Huber

Liars Academy (Equal Vision) – Demons

7.6 out of 10.0

In another time, Liars Academy might not be relegated to forever fly below the radar of corporate devotion and mainstream destruction. It’s kind of nice knowing that this band will not be on the radio, only because I own the first release No News is Good News, their EP Trading My Life, and now Demons, all of which are valid reasons to make me feel a personal connection with Liars Academy. Have you ever liked a band that never took off, that barely anybody else has heard of, that of which surprises you? For me, this is just one of the many bands that fit that category.

But I digress – Demons is chock-full of melodic vocals and hooks, things that certainly do not stand out anymore, yet manages to stay in my head the good way. To be honest, half the songs are not that strong, but the others strike me as personable in a small-town kind of way. For every aggressive rock song, there is one slow, mellow one, making Demons extremely varied in its tempo, something that allows for repeated listening. I’m kind of reminded of Everclear, Counting Crows, and even Limbeck. Liars Academy has been compared to Pete Yorn of the Lemonheads, and I think it shows, especially with lead singer Ryan Shelkett, whose unique voice compliments the songwriting.

The lyrics are hit and miss. I’m a fan of “Ghosts of Baltimore” purely because he sings “I am gonna change… tomorrow.” However, “The Accountant” sounds like a bad rendition of what The Killers recouped from the ‘80s. The middle track, “Breathing,” is sad, despondent, and lovely – a ballad so moving it offers goose bumps. Maybe I like it because it’s a simple ballad; maybe I like it because Shelkett’s vocals are deep and honest; maybe I can hear it on a soundtrack, I don’t know. “People Are Games” seems like a good idea, but lyrically comes off trite and cute. Don’t be cute. It’s not you.

I’ve followed this band since 2001, and it’s nice to see a group mature while at the same time remember their roots. Unfortunately I missed Liars Academy’s appearance at the Icon in December, so here’s hoping that the Baltimore, Maryland rock quartet comes back to Buffalo soon to share their musings.

Lara Nardone

The Australian Voice

CD Review: Missy Higgins The Sound of White (8/10)

True talent is not so easy to come by these days. There are so many monotonous, effortless sounds in the music industry that talent gets easily confused. Except for one thing: when you hear genuine talent, you usually know it right off the bat. Brave new artist Missy Higgins has proven to us that remarkably original music still exists, with the arrival of her album The Sound of White in 2004.

This passionate, musical genius of a woman came all the way from Australia with her talent. Since she was 13 years old, she was an independent, driven person with a gift. Besides having seven years of piano lessons prior to attending her boarding school an hour from Melbourne (where her parents lived), at an early age she began constructing her own methods to playing the piano. She did her own thing, and apparently it worked very well for this determined soul. Missy Higgins created her very first hit, “All For Believing,” while she was still in high school. Upon giving her first performance of it in her music class there was no mistaking that she had a power inside her.

After winning the Triple J “Unearthed” Demo competition in Australia, Missy began receiving record contract deals. And not only is her music amazing but her personality seems to be the same. She proved herself an honest, spirited musician by, instead of rushing to complete an album and trying to gain instant fame, taking time to herself to go backpacking through Europe and experience new things to help her grow as a person. While on this trip she wrote poetry and songs and enjoyed being outside of Australia, since she had never once been away before.

Missy Higgins has something enchanting about her music. Her song “Scar” is more than just a catchy tune, it has elements in it that pull you in, a power that engrosses your mind with every listen. Her other songs, such as “Ten Days” and “Any Day Now” are just as strong. There’s something calming and therapeutic about her voice that seems to reach out to people and relay a soothing, beautiful message.

For those who are looking for a harmonious, unique, and beautiful style of music, Missy Higgins is definitely worth checking out. Her album can be played loop after loop without giving a feeling of repetition.

Missy Higgins’s desires to become more than a “one hit wonder” have come true with the release of The Sound of White. And if this sparkling, rising star continues to write her own music and retain her own musical style, the world is in for wonderful surprises in the future.

Diana Chen

“A Few More Miles” Needed

CD Review: McShame Canandaigua 6/10

The world has plenty of amateur basement bands to contribute to the accumulating noise pollution that some of us already suffer from, but once in a while, one of those bands can actually reach out to someone in dying need of musical comfort, and make a difference. Scott McShame could be one of those artists someday. McShame's CD may not be the best underground album ever created but it does bring out the essence of small town mellow rock, with a spark of folk. Unlike other garage bands that have not a clue as to what they are singing about, it is apparent that McShame's songs are pure and down to earth, which is what separates him from other artists out there.

On McShame's CD, Canandaigua (named after his hometown), a sense of genuineness is expressed through his humble lyrics and smooth tunes delegated through a guitar, nothing too extravagant or fancy, but just enough for what he wants to present to his audience. McShame does a good job avoiding conformity. Judging from just the intro to every song, you might be quick to assume that McShame is just another happy go lucky indie type, but once his voice is introduced, it marks the deception point. Unlike ordinary bands, his voice does not flow with the music smoothly. His voice emits a sense of foreignness; it seems awkwardly unfitting to the music and even sounds monotone at times.

However, although the combination of his soft, catchy melodies and his rough, murky, voice is not pleasant sounding at first, you become accustomed to it. By the end of Canandaigua, comfort is found in the idiosyncratic blend of the two contrasting components. McShame also makes up for it by featuring a female vocalist who not only collaborates with him on some songs but even taking on the lead vocals for three tracks – something most artists are not willing to experiment with. The female vocalist gives us a fresh atmosphere that relieves us from his consistent tone of voice, hardly fluctuating more than a few notes throughout the entire CD. In fact, some of the album’s best songs are worthy because of the heartfelt input of the female participation.

Despite his awkward voice, McShame does provide for us a superficial-free album. The music is appealing, some songs more than others, but his lyrics are what make him stand out. His songs are not your typical love songs, as you might give in to believing from his guitar work, but instead he tries to stray away from the routine lyrics about heartbreaks and anger. As an alternative he takes a different path and emphasizes the more trivial things of life, like his close friends or even just alcohol. And for that, his songs produce a more personal feel, which in turn receives a thumbs up for being modest and unpretentious.

The best song on the CD is track five, title track “Canandaigua.” It’s filled with fun melodic rhythms and enjoyable lyrics, and does a good job of capturing the personality of the album. However, an equally worthy candidate would be “United We Stood” sung entirely by the female vocalist, which depicts the deeper side of McShame. With lyrics like “We’ve got shadows of our past creeping up quickly now/Once we stood united now we barely stand at all,” this track takes the album to a level above the surface. Also, “Con Lib Bum” and “A Few More Miles” deserve honorable mentions for original lyrics and relaxing tunes. Unfortunately, songs like “The Other News” and “Tonight Today,” suggest that the artist may not be ready yet, for the songs are too simple and do not prove that there has been much effort put into them.

Although it may not be their cup of tea for some people, it still deserves a sip. All in all, the album has some good tracks on it that are worth listening to. McShame is a self-sufficient one-man army; composing, producing, and performing his songs by himself with the occasional help of the female vocalist is something to be admired. Scott McShame does a great job representing Canandaigua through his musical skills and should continue to explore different tactics that can contribute to crafting his melodies and lyrics. Surely he has room to grow, but with the talent that McShame already has, it would not be surprising to see him break through even more conventional standards in the future.