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Category: CD Reviews

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MUSIC REVIEW: HOUSE PARTIES – Side Effects [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: HOUSE PARTIES – Side Effects [EP]

| 1 February 2024 | Reply

Label: Equal Vision Records Release Date: January 19, 2024 Rating: 91% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur The day in the office always dictates the music I play.  Meetings and deadlines call for upbeat energetic tunes and the latest from House Parties fits perfectly.  The short EP is packed with a power pop punk hybrid sound that […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: EMIL BULLS – Love Will Fix It

MUSIC REVIEW: EMIL BULLS – Love Will Fix It

| 9 January 2024 | Reply

Label: Arising Empire Release Date: January 12, 2024 Rating: 96% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur It has been just shy of 8 years since I last reviewed anything from Emil Bulls.  The XX album struck me and the latest release has done that in spades.  From the first note until the last, this disc is full […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: BUFFALO CROWS – BLOOD

MUSIC REVIEW: BUFFALO CROWS – BLOOD

| 4 January 2024 | 1 Reply

MUSIC REVIEW: BUFFALO CROWS – BLOOD Independent November 2023 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 94% On a dark desert highway, far from the reach or interest of commercial radio, live the outcasts. The bands too heavy, too bludgeoning, too individual, too goddamn REAL for any but the true believers. Buffalo Crows are one such band, a […]

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TODDSTAR’s 2023 BEST OF…

TODDSTAR’s 2023 BEST OF…

| 3 January 2024 | Reply

Once again, it is that time of the year where I attempt to rank all of the great releases (both full length and EP) as well as live shows of the year… and not just the rock ones (as my palate is all over the place sonically) that I had the time to check out.  […]

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SHANE PINNEGAR’s BEST MUSIC OF 2023

SHANE PINNEGAR’s BEST MUSIC OF 2023

| 1 January 2024 | Reply

SHANE PINNEGAR’s BEST MUSIC OF 2023 1. Extreme – Six Nobody expected an album this good, of this searing intensity, from a band who hadn’t been a full time thing (let alone bothering the charts) for almost thirty years – but here we are, and their recent Australian live shows were nothing short of incendiary. […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: THE TRUDY – Outside Time

MUSIC REVIEW: THE TRUDY – Outside Time

| 22 December 2023 | Reply

Label: Miron Music Release Date: December 8, 2023 Rating: 88% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur The Trudy has been around in one incarnation or another since 1979.  How have I missed them so far?  Disc opener “Dawn” is a short instrumental that leads us into a handful of songs that are as immersive as they are ethereal.  […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: WORLD’S FIRST CINEMA – Palm Reader [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: WORLD’S FIRST CINEMA – Palm Reader [EP]

| 22 December 2023 | 1 Reply

Label: Fearless Records Release Date: October 6, 2023 Rating: 90% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur World’s First Cinema wasn’t on my radar until their latest EP was brought to my attention.  The sweeping sound of the songs that leaned into and blurred the lines between pop, punk, rock, and EDM struck a chord in me as […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: TAYLOR ACORN – Certified Depressant [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: TAYLOR ACORN – Certified Depressant [EP]

| 22 December 2023 | Reply

Label: Independent Release Date: September 22, 2023 Rating: 100% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Going through the list of releases that struck a chord with me through the year, but hit when my professional time was at a minimum, so trying to get to them before year end.  One at the top of the list is […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: DOGMA – Dogma

MUSIC REVIEW: DOGMA – Dogma

| 25 November 2023 | 1 Reply

Label: MNRK Heavy Release Date: November 17, 2023 Rating: 100% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur I love it when an amazing debut album hits my email but hate when it is so late in the year.  Why you ask?  I didn’t get to listen to it more.  The debut from Dogma is one such release.  This […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: BROADSIDE – Hotel Bleu

MUSIC REVIEW: BROADSIDE – Hotel Bleu

| 9 November 2023 | Reply

Label: Sharptone Records Release Date: November 10, 2023 Rating: 89% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur One cannot live on hard rock and metal alone.  At least I can’t.  I dig a lot of different music mixed into my day and shuffle that constantly runs in the background of my daily life.  The latest from Broadside is […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: FOGHAT – Sonic Mojo

MUSIC REVIEW: FOGHAT – Sonic Mojo

| 8 November 2023 | Reply

Label: Foghat Records Release Date: November 10, 2023 Rating: 90% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Some legends never seem to die and Foghat is one such legend.  Doing what they do best – playing and recording some of the best blues out there today – founder Roger Earl and crew have crafted a disc full of […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: LUNA AURA – The Fiction [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: LUNA AURA – The Fiction [EP]

| 28 October 2023 | Reply

Label: 3Cheers (Independent) Release Date: September 14, 2023 Rating: 86% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Luna Aura dropped a cool EP mid September and these five tracks give us a cool glimpse into her artistry as well as her influences.  Disc opener “Money Bag” has a sweet garage band sound wrapped around her fuzzed guitar sound […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: SOEN – Memorial

MUSIC REVIEW: SOEN – Memorial

| 27 October 2023 | 1 Reply

Label: Silver Lining Music Release Date: September 1, 2023 Rating: 100% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur I love it when I listen to a band new to me and it strikes a chord.  The latest offering from Soen did exactly that.  This 10-track collection of tracks are powerful rockers that run the gamut of sounds and […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: SEVENTH CRYSTAL – Infinity [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: SEVENTH CRYSTAL – Infinity [EP]

| 26 October 2023 | Reply

Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l. Release Date: November 3, 2023 Rating: 85% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Melodic rock is always a sweet spot for me, and the latest from Seventh Crystal is no different.  This EP gives us enough ear candy to keep us happy until the next EP or album of material.  Title track and […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: TAKING BACK SUNDAY – 152

MUSIC REVIEW: TAKING BACK SUNDAY – 152

| 25 October 2023 | Reply

Label: Fantasy Records Release Date: October 27, 2023 Rating: 90% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Isn’t Taking Back Sunday one of those bands my son listened to in the early 2000’s?  I seem to recall buying him CDs and even taking him to a concert or two.  So why am I reviewing them now?  Because they […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: SURVIVAL GUIDE – deathdreams

MUSIC REVIEW: SURVIVAL GUIDE – deathdreams

| 20 October 2023 | Reply

Label: Double Helix Records Release Date: October 19, 2023 Rating: 88% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur I have to be 100% honest… Survival Guide is nothing that has ever hit my radar, but I will say I am glad I took this disc for a few spins, as it’s ethereal rock vibe wrapped in a poppish […]

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SINGLE REVIEW: ROSE CARLEO BAND – LINE ‘EM UP

SINGLE REVIEW: ROSE CARLEO BAND – LINE ‘EM UP

| 19 October 2023 | Reply

SINGLE REVIEW: ROSE CARLEO BAND – LINE ‘EM UP Independent October 2023 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 95% It’s actually harder to review a new release when you know the artist, and are an acknowledged fan thereof, so in the interests of full disclosure, let’s get this out of the way: I’m an unabashed fan of […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: LAYE – Losers [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: LAYE – Losers [EP]

| 29 September 2023 | 1 Reply

Label: Sony Music Canada Release Date: September 22, 2023 Rating: 95% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur There seems to be a lot of really good pop rock crossing my inbox lately and when it comes to the latest EP from Laye, I was happily surprised after listening through.  Disc opener “I saw god” is a cool piece […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: NIKKI STRINGFIELD – Apocrypha

MUSIC REVIEW: NIKKI STRINGFIELD – Apocrypha

| 29 September 2023 | 1 Reply

Label: Independent Release Date: September 29, 2023 Rating: 90% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur Nikki Stringfield has unleashed a solo record unlike most from other six-string slingers… she takes the lead behind the guitar and the mic.  Disc opener “No Surrender” is a cool launch pad for the disc that features solos, pings, squeals, some chugging […]

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MUSIC REVIEW: VERA BLOOM – It’s Me [EP]

MUSIC REVIEW: VERA BLOOM – It’s Me [EP]

| 26 September 2023 | Reply

Label: Independent Release Date: September 29, 2023 Rating: 90% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur The latest EP from Vera Bloom is a great cross section of different rock textures and she pulls off each of them through these six tracks.  Disc opener “Eyes On You” is a bottom heavy bass driven rocker that features cool riffs […]

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