Torch Review 10.19.11

=Seth MacFarlane–
“Music is better than words”

Seth MacFarlane takes a break from voicing characters on Family guy and records an album of songs taken from the classic days of big band and swing music. MacFarlane showcases why he oozes more faculty than any one man should with great renditions of “The Sadder But Wiser Girl” and “The Night They Invented Champagne.” My only complaint was that the female accompanists who performed duets lacked the same luster that MacFarlane plainly had, and consequently brought down some of the album.

Blink 182 –“Neighborhoods”

They’re back in full force. That’s all I can feel about this album. Being a fan of Blink 182 since their first album “Cheshire Cat “in 1994, “Neighborhoods” stays true to more of their reformed sound that we saw in “Enema of the State.” Good mixes, great intonation, and that classic pop-punk sound that Blink has been giving people for the past 17 years. I couldn’t be happier to sit and listen to this album, but it’s absolutely perfect for a long car ride on a fall color tour. I’ll be hitting repeat on this one several times.