After knowing some of the band members from Key To The Midway for several years, we have gotten to know how goofy, as well as how talented they are. Starting from the ground up, these five guys from Kalamazoo, MI went ahead and named their band after carny carnival folk slang for something that is considered a “fools errand” and enlisted the duties of producer Rob Freeman (Cobra Starship, Hit the Lights) for their first effort. The result being the bands new EP “Keep It To Yourself” which was released during the perfect time for light-hearted pop rock, the middle of summer.

Keeping consistent with much of the pop rock up-and-comers, KTTM follows a path set forth by recent bands that have found infamy in the mainstream. So if you are a fan of bands like The Maine, Forever The Sickest Kids, and Sing It Loud, you will instantly find a home in their 5 track EP. What separates them from the rest of the pack however, is their intuitive use of pedals, acoustics and tempo (which is instantly noticeable on the EP’s opener “Scenery”) to creatively layer riffs and bridges with more depth than the average chorus-centric radio rock band. Much of this can be attributed to the combination of quality production and the matching chemistry of Drew English (guitars) and Corey Yoder (guitar). I guess it also doesn’t hurt when you’re pumping out some of the more addictive, up-start, pop-rock around, as you will agree with me when you hear the innocent, yet moving track, “Just Me And You.”

Vocally the band has a three front offense, helmed by lead singer Jesse Barnes, who’s assisted by a harmony of both Drew and bassist Shane Barnes. Jesse does fairly well, matching vocals swagger with singers like John O. (The Maine), but he uses a shorter range, choosing to stay with both guitarists voices rather than becoming a crooning spectacle all his own. In the end it enhances the final product, along with the down-to-earth lyrics that don’t seek to confuse and instead pull at heart-strings we can all relate to.

I real only issue with “Keep It To Yourself” is how quickly it ends. These five catchy tracks leave me aching for a full-length, which will be on its way soon after the country gets a listen to this memorable EP. Who ever said “too much of a good thing is bad,” obviously hadn’t listened to Key To The Midway. So if infectious pop-rock about love, hope, and life’s tribulations is something you can stand by, and you don’t mind a feeling of genre deja-vu, KTTM is ready to hijack your playlist for a month (at least). ~Staff

Score: 4/5

Track Listing:
1. Scenery
2. Farewell
3. Drifting
4. Just Me And You
5. You’ve Got Me

[Buy It]

The Murderdolls have been dormant over the past few years but the just like the walking dead the angry horror show rises from the dead once again, with their latest effort entitled Women and Children Last out now on Roadrunner Records. The new album contains fourteen new tracks of sex, blood, and all things postmortem for a little over forty-four minutes. While the original effort made a lot of noise, partially off of Joey Jordinson’s fame within Slipknot; will the new effort prove the band still has the same relevance?

Diving in, I don’t know if it is just me but the teen angst fuck everyone attitude gets old to me after track three. Now looking purely at the music there are great catchy punk and metal riffs that carry the listening experience until you get to track five. “Nowhere,” is somewhere between Motley Crue and the Misfits and in my eyes the best song on the album with just an overall great sound, and nice 80’s style solo. The majority of the album continues with the similar vibe and it is catchy and a great listen.

But, the lyrical content becomes a snooze for me, it feels like a hot topic “nobody gets me” pity party which distracts me from the great overall rock sound that is underneath Wednesday 13’s homogenous lyrical message. Don’t get me wrong I can stand the same message within songs in albums that are telling a story but simply hooks like “hooray for homicide,” I don’t know about but I would rather have a more serious death metal view than “hooray for homicide.”

Women and Children Last is going to appeal to fans of prior Murderdolls efforts that enjoy the same old same lyrical approach and to those Joey Jordinson and Wednesday 13 super fanatics; I know you are out there. As for others it’s a blend of 80’s metal and punk riffs that is just as catchy as bands of that era but the lyrics will be hit or miss. –James Terry

Score: 3/5

Track Listing:
1. The World According To Revenge
2. Chapel Of Blood
3. Bored ‘Til Death
4. Drug Me To Hell
5. Nowhere Listen
6. Summertime Suicide
7. Death Valley Superstars
8. My Dark Place Alone
9. Blood Stained Valentine
10. Pieces Of You
11. Homicide Drive
12. Rock N Roll Is All I Got
13. Nothing’s Gonna Be Alright
14. Whatever You Got, I’m Against It
15. Hello, Goodbye, Die