Newton Faulkner - Hit The Ground Running Newton Faulkner is one of those artists I would not have known about if not for having to review his latest release. At first I assumed he was in the Jack Johnson realm of things and that he would fit nicely with the Brushfire Records crew. And after listening to the record a few times I still feel that. This is a much more laid back record. One of those that you can put on while sitting on your porch with a glass of sweet tea taking in the day. It starts off very mellow with the track ‘Smoked Ice Cream’. This track is one that gives off that laid back feeling I was talking about. You also get a taste of his guitar skills, as it starts off with some picking. The title track, ‘Hit the Ground Running’ is easily one of the better tracks on the album. The aspect that sticks out most here are Newton’s vocals. At times he has a soul/r&b feel to him and it suits him very well. Another standout track is ‘Finger Tips’. On this one he showcases his soulful voice even more. I’m not sure if he has had training, but if he has, it comes through on this track. At times this track gives off a Justin Timberlake feeling. Those two would make an excellent tour by the way. In the middle of the album he has an instrumental track called, ‘Guitar-y Thing’. And yes it’s just that, it’s a quick little song about a minute long. It’s a nice little break. ‘So Long’ is a duet with an artist named Tessa Rose Jackson. The two of them complement each other very well. If you are going to have someone do a song with you, the voices need to complement each other or it just sounds like two people trying to out sing the other. That is not the case here. Honestly there is not a bad song on this album. It’s one of those you can listen to from start to finish without skipping a song. It’s a nice quick, smooth listen. RC
Marilyn Manson - Heaven Upside Down ‘Heaven Upside Down’ is Marilyn Manson’s tenth studio album and they show no signs of slowing down. This album is a banger for sure. It very well might be their best album in almost 15 years. The reason is simple, it’s a throwback album. It is everything that made them a huge band in the late 90s-early 2000s. If you were a fan as I was in the band’s early days then this album is for you. Manson himself even said this album would be similar to the band’s early work and they delivered on that 100%. Over the years this is a band I listened to less and less but no longer. This is the album that should have been made after ‘Antichrist Superstar’.
Right from the start it hits hard with ‘Revelation #12’. This track is very guitar heavy. Which is very nice to hear. If you didn’t know any better you would think this was an older song, that’s how much it sounds like the early works. One of the areas that really sticks out is the shock value. Which is what made them so popular in the first place. You really hear that in ‘Tattooed in Reverse’. The lyrics in this song are full of shock and also very Manson. The chorus goes, “I'm unstable, and I’m not a show horse. I can’t be bridled, of course. I’m outstanding, I’m unregretted. I got tattooed in reverse. Woah, in reverse”. Then there is the track, ‘SAY10’. This is one that truly showcases what this band is. Look no farther than the name of the song. That says it all. It also just happens to be an anti-trump song. Go figure. Another track that stands out is ‘JE$U$ CHI$I$’ The lyrical content is very Manson. It’s simple and straight to the point. It works for them. As I have said a few times this album is a return to the glory days of this band. If you were a fan in the past, I would recommend you give this record a listen. You will not be disappointed. RC