If you've ever spent a night out in the desert (I know you have you tequila-loving cactus hugger!) you've probably heard the lonesome cry of the mourning dove and the equally forlorn yelping of a coyote or two. Nice for ambiance, but probably not exactly the soundtrack you had in mind for your outdoor adventure. Fortunately the desert makes a lot of other noises too; here's a little info on some of the sounds wafting out of the hot sandy expanse that calls itself Arizona.OPIATE FOR THE MASSES
Manifesto
Century Media
They've relocated to Los Angeles but many will always think of Opiate for the Masses as a Phoenix band. This is a group that has not stood still; every album finds the band progressing musically and every tour brings them boatloads of new fans and Manifesto is likely the release that'll push these guys to the top of the industrial heap. Drummer Seven Antonopoulos, formerly of the Revolting Cocks, is now on board as is his wife, bassist Anna K. Anna also spent time with Revco as well as Hanzel und Gretyl and the experience that she and Seven bring to the band is very noticeable in many of the arrangements, especially on the pounding rock of album opener "21st Century Time Bomb." You can still hear snippets of Nine Inch Nails and Ministry in what OFTM is doing but founding members Ron Underwood and Jim Kaufman make sure the band steers clear of assembly line work; the sounds and moods here are quite varied. The band may even surprise a few people with "The Habit;" the song departs from the usual thrum to allow Underwood to make his point with aching, breathy vocals. A cover of Portishead's "Wandering Star" is included and the single "Burn You Down" is currently burning up the Active Rock Chart.
GREELEY ESTATES
Go West Young Man, Let the Evil Go East
Science
This Phoenix-based post-hardcore band managed to avoid the sophomore jinx and here they are sounding strong and full of energy on this third release. As a matter of fact they sound really strong as singer (or should I say "screamer") Ryan Zimmerman bursts forth with forceful vocals to rattle your windows and maybe even get you to thinking with songs like "There's Something Wrong with the World Today." But other songs with silly titles ("Desperate Times Call for Desperate Housewives," "If I Could be Frank, You're Ugly") indicate that these guys aren't interested in too much political commentary. Greeley Estates bang hard but a discerning ear sorts out that these guys owe as much to Van Halen as they do to Megadeth and Metallica.
VAYDEN
Children of Our Mistakes
Silent Majority Group
This is the first time out for Vayden and they've come up with a pretty impressive debut. The songs here are heavy but melodic and they're ready for rock radio too; throw these guys into rotation right between Disturbed and Hinder and they'll do just fine. That of course is a fast track to success and it sounds like that particular group of radio listeners is exactly what singer Curtis Casey and his band are aiming for. There are occasional nods to the grunge or Seattle sound; "Fallen" sounds very Alice in Chains-y and "Welcome" wouldn't be out of place on a Pearl Jam album. The album wraps up with the obligatory showing of the band's softer side as acoustic guitar and strings prop up a tender vocal on the spiritually uplifting "Zoe's Song." The band is based in Phoenix.
THE MAINE
Can't Stop Won't Stop
Fearless
This Tempe quintet sold about 30,000 copies of their debut E.P. and in the process garnered rave reviews in publications like Alternative Press. This first full-length will undoubtedly rack up massive sales as the band spends the summer on the Warped and the Soundtrack of Your Summer tours. Truthfully there's nothing especially unique about the Maine stylistically but they have excellent musical chops and a talented singer in John O'Callaghan. The band dials in on young iPod toters with songs about things like having a high-maintenance girlfriend, ("Everything I Ask For") the inequality of the sexes ("Girls Do What They Want") and even facing up to aging and the eventuality of death ("We All Roll Along.") Most everything here walks the line between emo and power-pop but the last two songs on the album find the band tinkering with their sound a bit; "You Left Me" is a clubby number with synthesizer and "We'll All Be…" takes on extra flavor with dollops of steel guitar and harmonica.
THE HOUNDS
She Got Stars
FYI
Our lone representation from down Tucson way this time out, the Hounds check in with a two-song single to tease us until their album comes out. With only two tunes to deal with it's hard to figure exactly what these guys will be up to on their full-length but it sounds like it'll be fun. "She Got Stars" is a funky, relaxed number that bounces along to a prominent bass riff while "The Backroom" is a plea for a booty call rendezvous in the storage closet. Mash-up Jack Johnson and Beck and you have the beginning of a description for the Hounds.
DIMONET
(Self-released)
Dimonet is one of the most interesting bands to hit the Hot in the City column in a long time. Their album starts off with "Mud Puddle," a tune that is completely the opposite of what the title implies. The song is a carefully layered slice of soaring prog rock that would have found a permanent home on the playlist of any '70s freeform or underground radio station (remember Bill Compton at KDKB anybody?) The Phoenix-based four piece favors that sound throughout but they're careful not to overindulge; the solos are kept tight and concise. Dimonet doesn't sound much like R.E.M. but singer/keyboardist Mitch Bogner seems to be a fan, often phrasing in a manner that recalls Michael Stipe. Bogner has probably heard a jazz record or two in his day and that influence is reflected in the way he plays piano. Not to short-change the rest of Dimonet, they're fine musicians, but this is clearly Bogner's show and this album is a good place to start figuring out what makes him tick. Whatever it is, if we're lucky there'll be a lot more of it to come.
And finally a big shout-out to 8 DAYS A WEEK, a Scottsdale duo consisting of producer/singer John Keenan and singer Tifin Hazen. Keenan has a background that includes producing Kenny Loggins, Loggins & Messina, Brant Miller, Baldread and the Ragamuffin Crew and many others and he's usually camped out at his studio The Stealth Barn. Lead singer Hazen has a sweet voice that is especially suited to the clubby electro that the pair favors and you can hear her at work on a half dozen tunes including a cover of Billy Squier's "The Stroke" at the 8 Days a Week MySpace page.
