“Tonight and the Rest of My Life” Nina Gordon It was only three years ago that Nina Gordon was headlining a small club show in Des Moines with her band Veruca Salt. The band was riding the wave created by the searing girl-power strut of “Volcano Girls.” But a lot can happen in three years. That night, Gordon took the stage after an encore to croon an a capella ballad for the crowd. Two minutes into the song, the rest of the band lumbered on stage led by Gordon’s lifetime siamese rock twin, Louise Post. Gordon shot her a dagger-filled glare as Post strummed a few loud notes on her guitar, trying to get the show going again. This was only a glimpse of what was to come – the break up of the band. Gordon fled to Hawaii to clear her rock-wearied head, and begin her solo career. The end result was the intensely emotional “Tonight and the Rest of My Life.” The album seeps with tales of newfound relationships and love gone sour. Yet it’s no surprise that spending time in paradise would produce the sweetly penned title track from the album, a track filled with weighty lyrics like “Everything is waves and stars/ The universe is resting in my arms.” Sonically, the album is filled to the brim. From sweeping guitar licks, to mellotron melodies, and even a cardboard box, this album shows off Gordon’s musical prowess. With songs like “Horses in the City” and “The End of the World,” Gordon has proven she can do more than screech out a song with her metal-tinged voice. She can also summon the power of a richly intimate tongue that pours forth in a manner unmatched since her work with James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. When Gordon does get rocking on this album, she does so in old school Veruca Salt style with the song “Bad Way,” a possible leftover from Veruca Salt’s past. A great number of the songs on this album lyrically hint to Gordon and Post’s musical and personal relationship. Lyrics like “I remember you in Polaroid/ the glitter and the glue and all that noise,” or “I played the game, I dropped the ball/ I lost a friend, I gained a future” leave one to ponder how much of this album really is fictional, and how much is a personal account. One thing is certain. Gordon has said good-bye to the rock of her youth, moving on to a more mature sound. In fact, she has embraced her solo career with ease, and wouldn’t have needed the reputation that preceded her. Read other reviews of Nina Gordon’s album “Tonight and the Rest of My Life:”

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– Kevin Hosbond “East Autumn Grip” Matthew Ryan “I used to think/ That nothing lasts/ But I was wrong/ Cause some things last,” emits a raspy, Springsteen-style voice. Fortunately, it’s not the lyrics that carry the message in Matthew Ryan’s new album “East Autumn Grin.” Hushed acoustic guitars are laced with strings and keyboards to give Ryan his background for the stories told on his second full-length. Musically, Ryan sets the mood very well. All of Ryan’s songs require an atmosphere that will help the listener sympathize with the lyrics. He does a good job of setting that tone with an array of instruments. Ryan’s voice is not flattering by any means, but it somehow works with his music. Since Ryan’s subject matter dives into the more negative feelings he faces, you can almost hear the pain he’s going through. “The World is on Fire” is the best track on the record. It sets the tone for the entire album and gives listeners Ryan’s view of the world. “A gin pushed a low-light/ To turn on his good wife/ When he stuck a knife in her throat/ And coke loves the ratings/ Cause you love the horror/ As long as it didn’t come home.” “Sadlylove” gives off a shimmer of happiness with its cheery piano line, but it quickly gets contrasted with dark strings in the background and Ryan’s usual pessimistic lyrics. However, this may be the song you hear on the next “Dawson’s Creek” episode. “East Autumn Grip” is not an album that can brighten up a rainy day, but Ryan does have a lot to say for those willing to give him a listen. Learn more about Matthew Ryan on his website:

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– Dewayne Hankins “Stereodreamscene” Deckard Deckard was the name of the replicant-hunting cop in “Bladerunner” and any band that takes its name or borrows themes from that science fiction classic automatically gets one star for free. “Stereodreamscene” is Deckard’s first full-length release in the United States and the band offers a refreshing change from the angrier-than-hell hardcore and cold thumping electronica one usually finds trolling through the new releases aisle. Deckard’s most radio-friendly tune is called “What Reason” and made it’s first appearance on the last “Friends” soundtrack. The track is a powerhouse ditty designed to work its way into the heart and mind using a deadly combination of power chords, an emotionally-intense melody and a lyrical refrain that is as full of meaning as it is fun and easy to sing along to. It made a great summer theme song for the not-too-hip and is one of the best songs on the album. “Remain This Way” just sounds like Oasis, only good. In fact, most of the album is a little too heavy on the Brit pop, Oasis bandwagon. The only thing that keeps it from going over the edge is the sweet, occasional hint of good old American bad ass. In fact, the thing that saves Deckard from plastic hell is that they do a good job of imitating Bush on “Christine,” “Still” and “Christine II.” Deckard is a not a complete waste of time and they are worth following for injecting guitars back into a subcategory of pop that has gotten away from it. – Greg Jerrett “Sunshine” Liquid Gang Liquid Gang is a hard rock band. At least that’s what they appear to be at first glance. Donning the angry, misunderstood rocker demeanor, Liquid Gang have toured with such bands as Korn, Rob Zombie, Staind and the new improved and tattooed Vanilla Ice. Does the fact that they’ve recently toured with Vanilla Ice say anything about Liquid Gang’s sincerity to this style of music? While some songs such as “Breakdown” and “Show Me” do have a certain level of intensity mostly due to the driving bass lines and agonizing vocals, the rest of “Sunshine” feels like a mainstream, studio-produced, radio-friendly sham. Virtually all of the tracks are glossed over in this way. “A Better View” and “I Applaud You” are a cross between an ’80s rock ballad and something one would expect to find on a Creed or Bush album, not from a group positioning itself as an in-your-face hard rock. This often makes the screaming vocals seem out of place. The songs are produced in such a way not to be “offensive” to the ears, allowing them to be accepted into the mainstream, while at the same time keeping a certain edge that permits them to be classified as hard rock. But this is a betrayal of the hard rock genre. Essentially, Liquid Gang is following in the footsteps of Korn and Limp Bizkit, except Liquid Gang has sold out from the start. In the end, “Sunshine” simply lacks any real intensity, making the effort frivolous. Where one might think that this could be a CD that would explode upon the slightest touch, be prepared for the disappointment to come as it only fizzles. Want to hear the lastest from the Liquid Gang?

Check out their website.

– Joel Federer