Priestess - Prior to the Fire

While new metal bands like Mastodon and Revocation embrace the yell(growl)/riff-heavy/prog style (and have found success with the formula) some newer metal bands rely more on the old school stuff to make their name known. For instance, Canada's Priestess struck metal success in 2005 with their debut Hello Master not by creating something new but by immulating the harder bands of the late 70s and early 80s. This time around, Prior to the Fire offers more of the same: killer licks, nerdy lyrics (including an ode to Robocop with "Murphy's Law"), more riffs and more nerdy lyrics (can a metal album be released without referencing a journey of some kind or a mystical mountain?). The problem here though is things never hit a groove and stay in it. Tracks like "The Firebird" and "Trapped in Space and Time" are nostalgic in the manner and tenacity but some, like the 8 minute long snoozer "The Gem" just do not contain that pop/power combo that so many bands have relied on (including Priestess on their debut). While not a complete disappointment, it is kind of unsettling that this was the best they could come up with given the last five years time in which to work with.

3.3/5.0

Priestess - Prior to the Fire

Curren$y - Smokee Robinson

New Orleans native Curren$y had a busy 2009 and hasn't slowed down either in the new year. His first mixtape of oh-ten, Smokee Robinson, has Curren$y in his best form yet. Last year's collaborations with Wiz Khalifa (who appears here a few times) helped Curren$y to hone his flow and style that all culminates here with this release. But that is not all that this New Orleans rhymer has planned: his 2010 holds an official album (The Grand Scheme of Things) as well as time in the studio with his new supergroup Center Edge Territory (featuring the culturally significant but musically inept Mos Def as well as THE hot rapper right now and fellow New Orleans native Jay Electronica). Promising stuff from a rapper who has finally began to live up to his hype.

Curren$y - Smokee Robinson

Wale - "My Sweetie"

Here is yet another video for a Wale song yet this one was not on the official Attention Deficit release but rather one of the "bonus tracks" that online purchasers received. The track is not a weak one so why it didn't make the final cut, who knows, but it is vintage Wale: rapid, bouncy rhymes with the usual sports/cultural references (including a bridge that attempts to bring back "making it rain"). With Wale's third single "Pretty Girls" and its video finished and premiered on BET last nite (as per his Twitter page), this is a kind of buffer from the probable backlash that song will likely receive.

FKi - Blue Steel 2.0

"Who the fuck is FKi?" That questioned is proposed halfway through the Blue Steel 2.0 mixtape and apparently they are an Atlantan rap/production duo with some pretty cool friends. Slim Thug, Mickey Factz, Academy Award winner Juicy J, Wale, and XV (one of the best rappers out right now) all make appearances during the tape's running time. FKi make pretty simple, old school boombap style beats infused with uptempo dance tracks as well as some slower R & B songs for a fairly unique style (think Cool Kids). As for their rapping; pretty mediocre (there are multiple sex rap tracks) with only instances where their skills impress. As a whole though, FKi's Blue Steel 2.0 has its moments but the overall effect is an interesting slew of styles.

FKi - Blue Steel 2.0

The Soft Pack - "Answer to Yourself"

The recent release from The Soft Pack has immediately put their self-titled album up near the top of the early list of great 2010 releases. By simply writing catchy, back-to-basics style indie rock/pop songs these four Californians have crafted an excellent album (very reminiscent of early Strokes or Spoon). And one such standout is "Answer to Yourself." This poppy little song is a prime example of what The Soft Pack are all about.

The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack

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Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe 2

Although dubbed as a sequel to his 1998 solo debut, Rob Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is not quite in the same vein yet very Zombie. You get the slinky grooves, B-movie samples, goofy lyrics, and lots of "yeahs" and "baby"s. But that is not meant as a bad thing. The Zombie mix that has been so successful for him for years continues with this latest release. While the album's predecessor was more industrial in its metal, this effort tones down the robotic drumbeats and instead replaces them with just insanely hard hitting drums (including a 4 minute long solo during the 10 minute long closer "The Man Who Laughs"). This album is closer to White Zombie's La Sexorcisto more so than anything Zombie has done in his solo career. Hellbilly Deluxe 2 plays more like a heavy metal album than a noise rock or industrial metal release. Surprises are even thrown in such as the aforementioned drum solo (the track also possesses a great orchestral aspect thanks to Zombie film collaborator/composer Tyler Bates), southern rock guitar slides, acoustic intros, and nimble-fingered metal guitar solos. But does all this mean that Rob has fallen back on old tricks to drum up new success? Not at all. He's just an artist that is comfortable in taking risks when needed (come on, 4 minute long drum solo!) and sticking with what works (because the name wouldn't be as known today if it didn't work in the past, right?). And although, Deluxe 2 won't be Rob's most memorable feat, it is a great, groovy release from a true auteur.

3.9/5.0

Retribution Gospel Choir - 2

The sophomore release from the trio known as Retribution Gospel Choir is, in its entirety, a grab bag of various rock stylings with none particularly sticking out in any kind of memorable way. Tracks such as "Hide It Away" and "Workin' Hard" are straightforward pop-rock songs that rip out big chords and catchy choruses that would sound completely at home on any city's "power rock" station. However, there are times when their more obscure influences take hold and drift. For example, "Poor Man's Daughter" seems like a normal structured song until the track's final couple minutes which transports it to a psychedelic guitar soaked coda that is well, just long and drawn out. Also along the way is the eight-minute plus (one-fourth of the album's running time) snoozer "Electric Guitar" and the eerie string-infused closer "Bless Us All." With only a couple memorable tracks, 2 is an example of a band trying to find their sound with no real conclusion; perhaps 3 will yield better results.

3.0/5.0

Retribution Gospel Choir - 2

Joell Ortiz & Novel - Defying the Predictable

After last year's excellent supergroup release by Slaughterhouse, Joell Ortiz is now able to carry a little more weight (no joke meant there) because of that fairly high profile release. Although he shares the bill with Novel here, it is to Joell's advantage as his style and flow is best suited as a part to a whole and not the whole itself. And here, Novel makes a nice little counterpart to Joell although Ortiz does end up taking up the majority of the mixtape's second half. As a mixtape, there are the usual disposable tracks (such as the soooo 2008-esque "black president" track) and lame hooks but the verses aren't too shabby, however, too much Joell is not necessarily a good thing (but don't fear, the tape ends with a collaboration with his Slaughterhouse brothers).

Joell Ortiz & Novel - Defying the Predictable

Lil Wayne - Rebirth

Well, he did it. After months of delays, Lil Wayne's "rock" album has finally hit. And skeptics who thought that maybe he was using the term rock loosely are proven wrong within the album's first seconds as a distorted guitar chord is struck. And repeated over and over and over. The whole thing seemed a joke at first: Tha Carter III sold millions of copies and he was really going to follow it up with a rap-rock album? But now that it's here, it is all too scary. Apparently, Wayne associates rock with whiney angst. A majority of the songs here sound like songs rejected by unsuccessful 90s emo rockers (insert whoever here). Every now and then there is a bright spot (most notably Eminem's verse on "Drop the World" who continues to tear apart any track he's on during the past year) but overall Rebirth is a a half-cocked idea with even shabbier results. Funny how he went from his excellent mixtape at the end of last year (No Ceilings) to this. Proving that although he might like to think otherwise, Wayne does, in fact, have a ceiling and Rebirth proves how far his talents can reach.

2.1/5.0

Massive Attack - "Splitting the Atom"

"Splitting the Atom" is the first single from the upcoming fifth album from the highly influential trip-hop titans Massive Attack. Although the single was released last year, it was not until recently that a video was put together in an effort to further promote the song/album. Featuring a frozen moment in time during some war, the camera sweeps in, out, and thru various scenes, all the while looking very cold and cool. The song itself is just another piece of MA trip-hop that will please fans but not entice too many others. Regardless, enjoy.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Nitetime Rainbows

Last year's Ashes Grammar helped bring more attention to this Philly (and not Glasgow) based dream pop act as it was well received by critics and helped expand their fanbase. This EP (which takes it's name from a track off of Grammar) features seven tracks, however, four of them are the title song along with three remixes. Nitetime Rainbows offers more of the same in the realm of ambient-based dream pop which adds and removes layers constantly to create a kind of subdued cacophony (see closing moments of "So Bloody, So Tight"). Nothing truly special to be found on this release yet worth a listen, especially on a set of headphones as the songs have a tendency to evoke a disoriented feel thanks to the track's complexities.

2.7/5.0

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Nitetime Rainbows

B.o.B - May 25th

Atlanta's own has released this little reminder of "yes, I am still here" while also saying, "oh, by the way on May 25th be sure to cop my debut album." That's right. After keeping blogs heated about his talents (or lack thereof), Grand Hustle will drop an official debut for the masses. This mixtape varies a little from the Adventures of Bobby Ray tape of last year in that there is quite a bit less of Bobby Ray (his singer/songwriter alter-ego) and more of B.o.B (although there is a track here and there that features the more Ray-esque slant such as "Out of Time" and "The Rain"). Also along for the ride are Asher Roth (on the Kanye West produced "Fuck the Money"), J.Cole, and the always busy Charles Hamilton. Good stuff here that only adds to the B.o.B mystique. As well as the hype.

B.o.B - May 25th (Mixtape)