How many members does a band need to create a good sound? Many may say maybe three or four, while those who are more aware of the music scene today could say that a duo is enough. But the fact is that even one single great musician can create what one group of six people are hardly able to do. However, few are those who can go beyond creating great music to creating something truly special.

Over the years we’ve seen rock, pop, and even hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish and highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” and I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock n’ Roll” into “Yoga, Vitamins and Nikelback” Of course millions of musical lemmings don’t know the difference and trust me when I say  not everyone is entertained. Talking to many music fans out there the response is overwhelming.

In this overly saturated genera/market with a plethora of artists coming out of the woodwork, armed with nothing more than a PC, Microphone, a guitar and a crappy sounding CD – it’s nice to know there are a few bands that can still rock out. These artists I speak of manage push their music out to the world and much of it do I dare say is substandard to say the least. So what do bands like Tool and Stone Temple Pilots and Korn got that 4 piece Alternative Rock band Inch of Dark don’t?

Sean Johnson is a singer/songwriter who hails from Kentucky. He has been making quite a name for himself regionally and nationally. He has received critical acclaim from many music critics thus far in his musical career and has developed a strong reputation for his impressive songwriting touch.“Fairy Tales for Fools” is his latest release and the result though far from a self-indulgent ego trip, rather a moving and elegiac artistic statement from start to finish.

If you are a sucker for rich vocals, clever lyrics that will make you think and encourage you to keep your life going in a positive direction AND love a great horn section; Charleston, South Carolina’s Sol Driven Train has all that handled.  They have been recognized by the Charleston City Paper as Rock Band of the Year for 2011 and Jam Band of the Year 2012.  It is simpler to peg them as a band that will make you happy after you give them a listen. Along with the vocals, lyrics and horns on Underdog, the band offers listeners a great

What’s better than being a rising star in a diverse genre that seems to know no boundaries? How about having a like-minded, equally talented brother to help mastermind the operation. Just ask The Floozies, the hottest new electronic duo hailing from Lawrence, Kansas. Producer/guitarist Matt Hill and his brother, drummer Mark Hill have been combining forces to create alien-funk beats since January of 2008 and have watched their career’s blossom with the up rise of electronic music.

Washington D.C. power trio, The Love Load, has released a four song e.p. entitled “Three On A Match” following their internationally acclaimed debut, “The Human Resourceful”. This second release sees the group both coalescing as a true band with Ted Watts handing over all the guitar reins to Blaine Misner ( who also produced, mixed, and recorded the record aided by assistant engineer William H.

I have to say I was extremely impressed with the opening 3 tracks "Bloody Good Time”, “What Would Iggy Do” and an impressive Cat Stevens remake “Wild World”. They made quite the first impression with me. Each one possessed my full unadulterated attention. To be honest: I expected cheesy Singer Songwriter Pop cut from the same cloth as say a Jason Mraz, Muse or Rob Thomas.

Australia may be best known (when it comes to music) for hard rock like AC/DC and Midnight Oil or rock based pop music like Men at Work, but a young lady named “Taylen” seems to be intent on changing that by putting modern pop on the Australian radar.

“Americana” is both a fitting title and one that doesn’t do this set justice. Clearly the music presented here is set in a style of music that is intrinsically and organically American music. There’s no sound here that’s something cut of out of a cloth that feels like it comes from anywhere other than America, and nothing here that feels unknown or exotic. However, with that title, there’s a wide range of sounds and Hurt pulls them all off with a sense of genuineness and clarity that’s incredible.