30 Second Reviews from 7/29

Bad Veins
Bad Veins
SOUNDS LIKE: Cincinatti duo’s debut LP is carefully crafted indie rock flavored with the Killers and the Walkmen.
FREE ASSOCIATION: How many times can you shun the phrase “buzz band” in a bio?
FOR FANS OF: Skinny white-boy rock

The Duke & The King
Nothing Gold Can Stay
SOUNDS LIKE: Slow, sad-bastard folk from a Felice Brother and drummer “Chicken” Burke that feels homey, warm and sunny.
FREE ASSOCIATION: Like Iron & Wine the way you want it, with percussion and not so whispery.
FOR FANS OF: Ray LaMontagne, Van Morrison

Maia Sharp
Echo
SOUNDS LIKE: Seasoned songwriter (Lisa Loeb, Cher, Dixie Chicks) works on her own stuff after touring and recording with Bonnie Raitt.
FREE ASSOCIATION: Lady music cocktail of Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow and Mrs. Etheridge.
FOR FANS OF: Lilith Fair

Sam & Ruby
The Here and the Now
SOUNDS LIKE: Wisconsin boy sounds like John Mayer/Mraz + Ghana-born girl who sounds like Norah Jones x Nashville = cheese.
FREE ASSOCIATION: Songs about love and relationships make it worse.
FOR FANS OF: Cheddar, Muenster, Gouda

Owl City
Ocean Eyes
SOUNDS LIKE: Minnesotan with a synth, worn-out Postal Service record, “Aw shucks” shyness and bad taste.
FREE ASSOCIATION: You should’ve tried harder to not sound like Give Up remixes.
FOR FANS OF: Ben Gibbard

Twista
Category F5
SOUNDS LIKE: The Chi-town speed-rapper drops his seventh LP with a dozen guest spots, slow jams and unintelligible lyrics.
FREE ASSOCIATION: Despite guest spots (Busta, Kells), it still ain’t bangin’.
FOR FANS OF: Do or Die, bling, bravado

Daughtry
Leave This Town
SOUNDS LIKE: The Idol loser’s sophomore effort with a carefully selected band to back his tired modern rock shtick.
FREE ASSOCIATION: 4.5 million Americans bought his debut. Welcome to the apocalypse.
FOR FANS OF: Fuel, Live, Puddle of Mudd

Rob Thomas
Cradlesong
SOUNDS LIKE: The Matchbox Twenty tool infuses world beats, corny ’80s and ’90s pop cliches and seriousness to head further downhill.
FREE ASSOCIATION: Nothing here as good as the terrible “Lonely No More.”
FOR FANS OF: Robert Palmer, Sting at his most annoying