Monday, March 14, 2011

Jeff's Trippin' Out


        Since 2005, a two-man group from Providence called Jeffs Trippin Out claims to be “Independently Rockin Rhode Island.” The band consists of Jeff, the band’s front man, and Jim who plays guitar and occasionally sings back up vocals. Recently, a new member has joined the band, Youssef, who also plays guitar. The band frequents Providence venues like Jerky's Bar and AS220. They also played at Boston’s own Hempfest in 2010. Catering to the Psychedelic Rock genre, with Ska and Blues influences, the group focuses on a freestyle approach and has a habit of changing their pace mid-song, along with the general tone of the lyrics. 

Friday, March 4, 2011

Space Versus Speed - Space Versus Speed


On his fourth album in the three years since leaving Rustic Overtones, legendary Portland, Maine keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist and As Fast As founding member Spencer Albee continues to switch things up and cover new ground with his newest solo effort, “Space Versus Speed.” After 2008′s grandiose genre-defying “Destroy the Plastique Man,” early 2009′s alt-pop return-to-roots “AFA For Effort,” and late 2009′s stripped-down acoustic masterpiece “Candy Cake and Ice Cream,” Albee greets the new decade by fully embracing the electro-pop sound and aesthetic that has dominated the airwaves over the past few years. Certain As Fast As songs such as “Homewrecker” in 2008 and “Crazy 4 You” in 2009 might have hinted at this sound, but the difference between the sound and scope of this album and School Spirit Mafia’s “Candy Cake and Ice Cream” is nearly as vast as that between the latter album and the material he released with As Fast As.