Album Review: Damiera, "Quiet Mouth Loud Hands" (Equal Vision)

Change, in every sense of the word, is the theme of progressive rock act Damiera [ tickets ]'s sophomore release, "Quiet Mouth Loud Hands." Experimental sounds, ranging from melodic rock to synth-pop, drastically vary from track to track. Aside from musical shifts, the band's line-up is also completely different, with guitarist/vocalist Dave Reymond being the sole member who has remained with the band since its 2005 debut "M(US)IC."The sonic deviations within "Quiet Mouth Loud Hands" make it nearly impossible to anticipate what's coming next. The first two tracks are nu-rock aggressive, anxiety-packed epic anthems with easy-flowing choruses and rap-rock breakdowns. By the fourth track, the band does a 180, showing a more radio-ready side. "Image and Able" incorporates Hoobastank-style vocals with a fury of driving pop-rock power. Immediately following that is "Teacher, Preacher," a catchy, Maroon 5-like synth-pop and funk dance tune that could easily be mistaken for a boy-band hit. Shrill waves of reverb and glam rock energy define "Weights For the Waiting." Further into the album, the instrumental "Woodbox" reveals a jam-band percussion and acoustic-noodling side of the ensemble. Call it a hybrid of music, or an identity crisis--but genre-jumping alterations are prevalent throughout these 12 tracks. The biggest downfall with creating such a diverse album is that, while it may attract an array of music fans, it is also certain to deter a segment of the group's hardcore prog-rock audience, who may cringe at the smoother tunes. It also doesn't give the band a chance to really expand upon any particular sound, making this album feel more like an audition for a part rather than a full-on character commitment. The band self-produced "Quiet Mouth Loud Hands," with the goal of making it less moody than their first release and more focused on positive attitudes and good songwriting. Bassist Jayson DeZuzio played a major role in the group's musical direction. DeZuzio has previously worked with such bands as Coheed and Cambria and My Chemical Romance. Although all the songs are quite different from one another, they do share a unified dedication to large-minded, intricate techniques and addictive melodies--making it a fun ride even when the direction isn't always clear.

Jaws star Roy Scheider dies, aged 75

Roy Scheider, the actor best known for his role as the beleaguered police chief Martin Brody in 'Jaws', has died. He was 75.
The two-time Oscar nominee died of complications from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood cells, at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Hospital spokesperson Leslie Taylor said the actor had been treated there for the disease at different times over the past two years.
New Jersey-born Scheider earned his first Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actor) in 1971 for 'The French Connection'.
Eight years later he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in 'All That Jazz'.
Among his other credits were 'Klute', 'Marathon Man', 'Still of the Night' and the TV adventure series 'SeaQuest DSV'.

Svensk Jazzhistoria

   
Artist: Svensk Jazzhistoria

   Genre(s): 
Jazz
   

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Discography:


   
 Svensk Jazzhistoria Vol.9: Brand New! CD3

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 16


   
 Svensk Jazzhistoria Vol.9: Brand New! CD2

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 17


   
 Svensk Jazzhistoria Vol.9: Brand New! CD1

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 18


   
 Svensk Jazzhistoria Vol.9: Brand New! (cd4)

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 16

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Blade Runner star enters rehab

Actress Sean Young has entered rehab for alcohol abuse following an outburst in which she was heckling from the audience at the Directors Guild of America awards.
The 48-year-old actress was escorted from the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Los Angeles after heckling director Julian Schnabel, who was nominated for his film 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'.
A statement from Insignia PR said that the actress "voluntarily admitted herself...for treatment related to alcoholism".
The statement added: "It is understood that Young has struggled against the disease for many years."
Young rose to fame following her performance in Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner' and a couple of years later she played Michael Douglas' wife in 'Wall Street'.
She'll return to the big screen opposite Billy Zane in the drama 'The Man Who Came Back' and alongside Juliet Landau in the thriller 'Darkness Visible'.