Submerged in Dirt

Here's the funny thing about death metal: at a certain speed and intensity, it turns into sonic abstraction and enters the world of post rock through the back door. That's certainly the case with Tulsa's Submerged in Dirt, whose flesh-eating intensity can't hide the fact that their sound is stealthily smart. read more »

Filed under:

Rock & Pop » Death Metal/Black Metal

Location:

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Dawn Smithson

If the debut solo LP from the former Jessamine bassist sounds as if it was recorded in your living room, there's a reason: the artist arranged her equipment to capture an added intimacy. But it's her songs that really draw us close, mixing sleepy-eyed murmurs with tender guitar. read more »

Filed under:

Rock & Pop » Singer/Songwriter

This Alltime Low

This Chester, UK group's list of bill-sharers reads like a Spinal Tap sketch: Planes Mistaken for Stars, Minus the Bear, Send More Paramedics. And certainly, TATL is another crew of cranky, existentialist Brits in love with the megarock riff. But when you want to hear a fretboard get shredded, who better to turn to than a disaffected Englishman? read more »

Filed under:

Rock & Pop » Punk Metal

Location:

Chester, United Kingdom

Rene Lopez

Mid-'90s-style mainstream alterna-pop is about the least hip brand of rock a modern New Yorker could hope to play. But there are advantages to that. First, there's no way to hide behind retro posturing. Second, that music was actually pretty solid. Lopez's new material brings back the angsty guitar melody like he's one of the Verve Pipe's freshmen, all grown up. read more »

Filed under:

Rock & Pop » Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Location:

New York, New York, United States

Randy & The Bloody Lovelies

Growing up in the Missouri heartland didn't prevent Randy Wooten from developing a love for the classic British-pop ditty. There's more than a little Burt Bacharach and Elton John on "Lift," his second LP with the Bloody Lovelies. Combine that piano balladry with a tight session cast and production by Mark Plati (Bowie, Talking Heads), and you've got a pristine, adult record. read more »

Filed under:

Rock & Pop » Rock 'n' Roll

Location:

Springfield, Missouri, United States