MUSIC ON SPEED by Dexter Reed | Age: 29 | Allston, MA

Pearl Jam Pearl Jam A comeback is what most have labeled this album to be, but this band never went anywhere for me. And I can’t say this is one of my favorites by them. The first single “World Wide Suicide” is their best lead off single in ten years, but the songwriting on this album doesn’t sound like they pushed themselves too hard on this one. What makes it stand out is the raw energy and sound throughout. Like you are at a live Pearl Jam show. Many of the tracks you feel were recorded live. Stand out tune: “Marker in the Sand"

Dan Coleron Par Avion There are enough singer-songwriters out there to feed the hungry. It is hard to imagine a world before MySpace allowed everybody’s brother’s dog’s babysitter to post their tunes. Too bad because guys like Dan slip through the cracks. In this beautiful album Dan lays it all out there. He is as chill as Jack Johnson and other popular performers but can be but more exciting at times. Honest, subtle and masterful, Coleron is the kind of performer where you can tell he has been doing it his whole life and will continue to do so whether you select him as a friend on MySpace or not. Just check out “A Lonely Heart” and you will hear what I mean.

Bruce Springsteen We Shall Overcome Mastery. I can’t say it was the Pete Seeger covers that drew me to this album. It was the Boss. And I can’t say I was excited for it but the huge band ensemble and heart behind this album keep it spinning for me all week. You feel like Bruce got 16 of his best friends together and had a party with the mics on.

Kristin Hoffman Real Kristin Hoffman comes across as another Sarah McLaughlin protégé at first. While many aspire to be such Hoffman actually does it. She has the pipes that could make her a national star or a coveted back-up singer for someone like Elton John. Her songs are romantic and heartbreaking. The only problem I had was that none of them stuck with me. I thought more of the voice afterwards than the songs. She gets the “watch out” label because if she finds the song that differentiates her from other female artists as Cat Power and Feist have then she will be dangerous.

Drive By Truckers A Blessing and a Curse Just came across this one. Heard a lot about them. Stones meets replacements and Dinosaur Jr. The guitar leads and tones on this album win it for me. The opening track, “Feb 14th” is a pop song with an inspiring outside of the box arrangement. There seems to be a song for every kind of rock and roll lover here. No giant single but great music and honesty in the lyrics that I know I will visit ten years from now.