Salim Nourallah - Granada Theater, 12/20/07
Once again, Salim Nourallah proved his meddle as lead singer/guitarist at this concert. Everyone sang along with hit song “1978,” a real crowd favorite. Lead guitarist Chris Holt delivered blazing solos, proving why he’s won the Dallas Observer award as Best Musician of the Year for three years running. Eric Neal’s fingers flew on the bass, and Daniel Hopkins (drummer) is the finishing touch.
The members are, without a doubt, some of the most talented musicians in Dallas today. These pioneers stay true to their musical vision and the songs in their hearts.
After the show, Salim and Chris talked to fans, signed autographs and posed for pictures. Though they have a large fan base worldwide, they’re down to earth about their success. See Salim Nourallah at Club Dada in March. You’ll love their show. (Scotty Mankoff)

Ingrid Michaelson - Boys and Girls, Cabin 24 Records
This collection’s most notable track is the iPod-o-riffic hit, “The Way I Am,” which is chalked full of lyrical whim and wit. Michaelson exhibits a remarkable ability to cook up more hits than a speed dealer in an Oklahoma trailer park. Other songs such as “Die Alone,” Masochist” and “Corner of Your Heart” are excellent examples of her well-established artisanship. If you’re in the market for some soothing folk-pop music this winter, Boys and Girls will work nicely, amigo.
(Shane Epting)

Three -The End is Begun, Metal Blade Records
This album is the Lay’s potato chip CD - “Betcha can’t listen just once.” The End is Begun is Three’s fourth record, and it deserves top shelf priority.
Much of the band’s musical style incorporates polyrhythmic beats filtered with ominous/spooky tones that provide a medieval feel. Opener, “The Word is Born of Flame,” exercises great flamenco style acoustic guitars. Walking bass lines, double vision drumbeats, a climatic keyboard and haunting metal guitar signatures back Joey Eppard’s vocals. Eppard has a versatile voice varying from a depressing Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate) tone to a higher pitched Geddy Lee of Rush.
An interesting collaboration between these musicians has formed an opposition against the “made” bands of the modern age. This is not an act to be taken lightly.
(Misty Johnson)

Hermano - Into the Exam Room, Regain Records
Hermano harmoniously spews out an interesting sound that’s strikingly familiar on one hand - but somewhat distant on the other. Overall, their sound resembles a hodge-podge of influences - either a good or a bad thing, depending on how you feel about it. Tunefully, Into the Exam Room runs the rock-and-roll gamut. Songs such as “Dark Horse II,” have a “deep-south” blues quality, while numbers such as “Don’t Call Your Mama,” are heavier. Hermano doesn’t crank out any remarkably spectacular songs, but they don’t suck.
(Shane Epting)

Karmic Whiplash - The Nervous System, City Duck Records
This two-man band composed of Travis Lund and Brendan Themes are not doing anything outstandingly original but what they do, they do rather well. The excellently-crafted lyrics surprise the listener like an unplanned pregnancy. From the first song to the last, they keep the content interesting and engaging. Despite lacking a significant drumming force (and no bass), these guys work well. Mr. Themes’ voice isn’t exactly flawless, and he almost sucks as a singer, but ironically, it is part of this duo’s charm. Their talent is unquestionable, but there is one (for sure) thing this album needed for it to rock properly - money.
(Shane Epting)

Alex Winston - By the Roots, Pratdral Records
First track ”Misunderestimate” sets the tone for this up-beat EP - it’s cheery, poppy and overly predictable. Despite her hometown of Ann Arbor, MI, Alex does not swim in the collective pool of artists from there who rock. Otherwise, the musicianship is executed fantastically with splendor. Maybe if the right guy (or girl) breaks her heart or, if she eats a heroic and heaping handful of magic mushrooms, she will have material worthy of writing and recording.
(Shane Epting)

Young Modern - Silverchair, Eleven: A Music Company
Except for the name on the cover, it’s nearly impossible to recognize Young Modern as being Silverchair. The band’s last couple of albums have slowly moved away from the classic grunge of Frogstomp, but never as dramatically as this. Fans lost in the nineties may have trouble accepting the wildly different disc, but everyone else will be delighted.
The old Silverchair is dead. In its place is a scattershot collection of styles, while the band tries to find itself. They trek through every influence - from The Beatles, Queen, Tears For Fears and even Extreme. This is not a bad thing, since singer Daniel Johns’ striking vocals hold the tracks together. His voice is truly amazing and much better suited to singing sweeping melodies than the raspy yelling found on past records.
“Straight Lines” is a true classic. Besides being a gem of a tune, it feels very retro-cool. Others like “Mind Reader” are fun, but seem more like copies of other retro bands (Louis XIV, The Killers). None of the tracks are duds, and all are worth repeat spins (even if they sound NOTHING like the old Silverchair).
(Jason Janik)