CD Review: Michael Jackson – “Thriller”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. Artist: Michael Jackson Album: Thriller (1982 Epic) Tracks: 9 Artist website: http://www.michaeljackson.com OVERVIEW Thriller is the break through album. The album that for many years was at the top. It was a bench mark that many dreamed of toppling. Every person has heard at least […]

CD Review: Michael Jackson – “Dangerous”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. Artist: Michael Jackson Album: Dangerous (1991 Epic) Tracks: 14 Artist website: http://www.michaeljackson.com OVERVIEW Dangerous was the second album I was excitedly waiting for. However, I ended up being disappointed by this album. There are a lot of good parts, but also a lot that I […]

CD Review: Michael Jackson – “Bad”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. Artist: Michael Jackson Album: Bad (1987 Epic) Tracks: 11 Artist website: http://www.michaeljackson.com OVERVIEW Bad is the first album I was excitedly waiting for. It was all the buckles. There was even a competition to count the buckles. I didn’t win, of course, but it […]

CD Review: Echo Us – “The Tide Decides”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Echo Us Album: The Tide Decides (2009 Musea) Tracks: 10 Artist website: http://www.echous.net OVERVIEW Echo Us is the brainchild of Ethan Matthews. When Ethan and I were at Berklee, I […]

CD Review: Mangoo – “Neolithic”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Mangoo Album: Neolithic (2009 – 7.45 Records) Tracks: 10 Artist website: http://www.mangooloid.com OVERVIEW I looked at the Neolithic album cover and shrugged. Didn’t know what to expect. Mangoo is a […]

CD Review: Lisa Ekdahl – “Give Me That Slow Knowing Smile”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Lisa Ekdahl Album: Give Me That Slow Knowing Smile (2009 RCA) Tracks: 9 Artist website: http://www.lisaekdahl.com OVERVIEW Lisa Ekdahl is a veteran Swedish singer-songwriter. This is her latest offering. The […]

CD Review: Scale The Summit – “Carving Desert Canyons”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Scale The Summit Album: Carving Desert Canyons (2009 Prosthetic) Tracks: 8 Artist website: http://www.scalethesummit.com OVERVIEW Technical music seldom yields something pleasing and accessible to people who are not musicians themselves. However, […]

CD Review: Hateform – “Dominance”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Hateform Album: Dominance (2008 – 7.45 Records) Tracks: 10 Artist website: http://www.hateform.net/ OVERVIEW Hateform are a metal band from Finland. Dominance is their full length debut. It’s kinda like a Lamb of […]

CD Review: Dream Theater – “Black Clouds and Silver Linings”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Dream Theater Album: Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009 RoadRunner Records) Tracks: 6 Artist website: http://www.dreamtheater.net OVERVIEW What have the gods of progmetal in store for us this time? Black Clouds […]

CD Review: Bigelf – “Cheat the Gallows”

CD Review This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010. These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins. Artist: Bigelf Album: Cheat The Gallows (2008 Custard Records) Tracks: 10 Artist website: http://www.bigelf.com OVERVIEW I hadn’t the slightest clue what I was going to be listening to when I began. “Oh […]