4Play: Kris Allen, The Almost, Howie Day, Cartel

Kris Allen - Kris Allen - Jive
Small-town Season 8 American Idol winner Allen’s lead single from his
debut album, “Live Like We’re Dying,” may have a great message, but
doesn’t showcase the best Allen has to offer. While some of the tunes
here occasionally stray into sterile Idol-songwriter territory, others
are standouts that indicate the potential of Allen’s talent (not
unlike the vocal stylings of one Jack Johnson), such as the jovial and
well-crafted “Alright With Me” (co-penned with The Fray), the
emotional “Bring It Back,” and “Heartless,” on which he improves on
the Kanye West original.


The Almost - Monster Monster - V Records
Underoath’s Aaron Gillespie brought in several pals - Jay Vilardi and
Dusty Redmon on guitars, Alex Aponte on bass, and Joe Musten on drums
- to execute this band project, of which the songs for this particular
album plus EP were formed over two years of touring. The songs here
follow a standard but effective pattern of well-constructed verses
leading up to super-catchy choruses, so if more fans than usual are
seen singing along at their shows to songs like “Lonely Wheel,” the
steel-guitar festooned “Hand Grenade,” and “No I Don’t,” it’ll be no
surprise at all.


Howie Day - Sound the Alarm - Sony
Day’s latest album, released late last year, has finally slow-burned
its way to getting a little attention, as Day filters through his
experiences of the past couple of years (including a plethora of
one-man live shows, radio success, and a weary stint in rehab) and
reprocesses those experiences into affecting songs. Day, who says he’s
“starting a new era” with this set, brings synths into the mix on “So
Strung,” keeps things solidly based on piano on “Sound the Alarm,”
returns to the acoustic guitar on “40 Hours,” and first single “Be
There.”



Cartel - Cycles - Wind-Up
Atlanta pop-punkers Cartel showcase a heavy strength on their latest,
where songs like the fast and furious “Let Go” kicks things off with
its gigantic refrain and great vocals from singer Will Pugh. Fellow
standout tune “The Perfect Mistake” continues along this same
guitar-based, propellent vein, as do tracks “See Me Now” and
“Typical,” while “Only You” deposits balladry and an unexpected string
section. Closing the album is the vaguely experimental “Retrograde,”
which adds a nice hint of growth for the band that will hopefully
resurface on their next set.

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