Instrumentals worth a listen

Brad Curtis and The SOME x 6 Band
The Devil's In My Pocket
Bandcamp
6.5-out-of-10

For the most part, there are very few genres of music that I don't like. Most music has a place on your stereo, it just depends what kind of mood you are in at a given moment in time. Having said this, the one genre I really haven't gotten into is Blues music. Having recently listened to Brad Curtis and The SOME x 6 Band newest album "The Devil's In My Pocket" I realize I have been missing out. Brad Curtis and The SOME x 6 Band comes out of Vancouver. "The Devil's In My Pocket" is the bands second album.

I know enough about Blues music to know "The Devil's In My Pocket" isn't classic Blues. After listening to the album a few times I'd classify it more blues rock, as it borders both genres. Although "The Devil's in My Pocket" is only seven songs, most of the songs are above four minutes long. So you get a solid half hour of listening experience.

The strongest aspect of this album for me are the instrumentals, they are very well done. If there had been no vocals on the entire album, just listening to the instrumentals would be good enough. Brad Curtis who does the vocals enhances the album nicely. The best track on the album for me is 'Never Land'. It is a solid track and stands above the rest of the album.

-ADAM DANIELS

Black Stone
Black Stone
Independent
8.5-out-of-10

There is nothing I like more than a good rock 'n' roll album. That is just what I found from Black Stone with their self-titled first album. They have a classic sound, listening do their album you get the feel that they were inspired by the classic Canadian sound from the 80's.

Black Stone is made up of three members from Cochrane, Ontario. They bring a classic rock sound to their album. There isn't anything on this album that I don't like, it is solid throughout. It is hard to find weak link, all 10 songs are solid offerings. It is hard to pinpoint which song would be considered the best one on the album. The guitar solo on 'Feelin' Good' is worthy of strumming along on your air guitar. 'Sweet Tooth' is a solid song that caught my attention just on the intro lyrics and didn't disappoint throughout the song. If I had to pick which song would be my favorite it would 'Together We Stand', it is a slower song, but it is very well done.

This album reminds of me going into my dad's collection of CD's. When I was discovering what rock music was and pulling one off the shelf and listening to it. I may not have a CD collection, but this album will definitely find a place on my IPod. Black Stone isn't metal or hard rock, they are just straight rock 'n' roll, and they do it very well. So if you are the person that says rock 'n' roll has died in the last 20 or so than this album is for you, or even if you are not that person you should still check Black Stone out.

-ADAM DANIELS