CD and DVD reviews
Slick…that’s the one word I could use to describe Jacob Needham and The Blue Trees’s Procrastinated Memoirs album, released in April of this year. Actually, make that two words: slick and clever…this album is slick and clever. At least, that’s what Jacob Needham and The Blue Trees made it out to be, especially with their…
Have you ever been to Australia, Tasmania, or The United Kingdom? One thing is certain, the recent death of world-renowned Chef, Storyteller, and Traveler Anthony Bourdain has rocked the entire world as it relates to cultures being understood, new faces being met, and new places being seen. Many times, Australia, Tasmania, and The United Kingdom…
Look over your shoulder and be aware because the wildly zany bunch known as The New Occupants are urging people to “Be Careful What You Listen To”. I have heard all kinds of acts from all over the world but I can honestly say I’ve never heard anything quite like this group. Right away, I…
It’s almost impossible to examine modern hip-hop without seeing the obvious operatic qualities that have the genre for more progressive in 2018 than it was during its humble, stripped down beginnings in the 1980s. Audiences have gradually desired more and more of the epic, anthological rap tracks ala the experimental efforts of the Fugees, and…
Mark Schirmacher’s single “Are You Okay?” is a stark, honest question set to music. Shirmacher’s sincere singing voice is set against a folky electric guitar accompaniment and a politely quiet rhythm section. A Neil Young-ish harmonica solo is smartly placed within the track, as well. It’s both quiet and sweet. This song/question suggests all is…
Eye’z sings with fire and passion on the soulful “Still A Rainbow”. Her voice has a commanding presence to it rising above the rest of the arrangement. Done with the utmost of care, her voice possesses a soulfulness, one that incorporates elements of pop, R&B, and the blues into a satisfying whole. The arrangement has…
T C Crosser delves into an ornate modern chamber music with the thoughtful narrative of “Book Of Arius”. Reminiscent of Rachel’s fondness for delicate, carefully considered arrangements, the entire album feels alive. Listening to the album as a whole gives it a sort of soothing, inspirational quality to it. Gestures go for dramatic flourishes at…
Astronomique is a new band based out of Minneapolis that we’ve been keeping an eye on for a while now. They are about to release a new LP called Sharp Divide and have released another single called “Losing our Control” from the upcoming LP. This band sticks to their recognised genre of indie rock which…
Every day in the world, people are seeking new ways to do business. People are seeking no ways to create medication to cure various diseases, while people are trying to invent new technology to make the world a better place to live in…According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a ‘Paradigm Shift,’ is considered to be…
Yam Haus is a synthesizer-anchored rock fourpiece from Hudson, WI. The single “West Coast” is taken from the group’s full-length Stargazer. The song’s sound is bright and hopeful. The lyric is not quite so confident, though. These words focus on a relationship that isn’t quite working out. Its title comes from how the protagonist is…
Intense wild energy runs through D.L. Byron’s passionate “Satori”. Featuring a gigantic, anthemic approach everything about the EP deserves to be blasted at the highest possible volume. A theatrical quality rests right at the very center of it all which runs through the entirety of the EP. Lyrics go for a carefree attitude while everything…
Can music have the potential to make the mind float in the stars? Can music alone provoke a mind to experience a long odyssey between sound, resonance, and sonic waves, to find the true elements of a fine melody? Well, if you listen to Astronomique’s latest music album, “Sharp Divide”, you will definitely lose your…
Mark Rogers delivers a heartfelt slice of Americana with “Qualifiers”. Done with the utmost of care, Mark Rogers proves to be an exceptional storyteller. Fitting into the singer-songwriter tradition with such ease, the whole of the collection has a laid-back, mellowed atmosphere. Jazz, folk, country, rock, all with a unique western twang merge together into…
Romy Conzen’s “V for Victory” goes for a swaggering classic rock style. Featuring a shapr edge to the guitar riffs, the whole thing is propelled forward with an incredible intensity. By far the highlight comes from Romy Conzen’s incredible vocals that are delivered with a fiery passion. “Eat It Too (Cake)” shows off Rossemberg Maza’s…
Welsh Avenue delves into a fun, playful dance-rock with the blissful “Disco Moon”. Lush synthesizers perfectly intermingle to create a surreal, joyful realm. A great deal of color comes into the mix lending it a living, breathing sort of approach. The beats have a giddy quality to them as they set the groove up into…
When it comes to presenting music in hip-hop, the crew of The Band Of TheHawk knows the best. By the ending of 2017, the Houston-based talented Hip Hop band released their debut music album #BOHUP (Band of the Hawk Underground Pyramid Crew). And within this short time period, they have released another remarkable music collection,…
It’s time for a summer road trip. Roll down the windows, let the wind blow through your hair and cruise to the song that may very well become your warm weather anthem. “Be On Time” is an easy flowing tune cut from the album “Open Jam” by Minneapolis rock band, Brother Jon Band. The opening…
I’m getting punched with such pristine grace as Annie Fitzgerald belts out the song “Black and Blue”. This track is off of Annie’s second album titled You & Me & the Sun which just came out on June 1, 2018 with a CD release party at The Hook & Ladder Theatre & Lounge in Minneapolis,…
Top shelf pop like this is more and more difficult to find. Fate Under Fire are definitely filling a glaring gap in the modern music scene, but their talents are such that they’d likely continue standing out from the pack even if it the field were far more crowded. “La La Love” is the latest…
If you’ve been following jazz’s indie scene lately, then you’ve probably familiarized yourself with the expressively cleansing style of Daisy Hicks, an Australian singer/songwriter whose third extended play “Upside” is sending a shock wave through American and European audiences and getting the attention of critics across the board. A follow up to her slow jamming…
Ibiza Opening Party 2018, the new release from Dan McKie’s 1980 Recordings label, is a collective anthology of summer beats and party anthems to usher in a hot new season in European house music that is certain to please fans of the genre across the globe. Featuring Alex Franchini (who also mixed the record alongside…
The single “Catch” from Irish pop rockers The Elation is definitely the catch of 2018. This infectious ditty hits all of its needed marks and then some as it balances great guitar ideally against strong vocals. Judiciously placed harmonies complete the package without ever seeming strained for effect. The Elation do something few pop rock…
STEEL goes for a mellowed atmosphere with the luscious “Tranquilo”. Aptly named, STEEL explores the nuance of Vaporwave in such a careful, considered way. Melodically dense everything shifts with such deliberate care. Going for a playful disposition is Mike Surratt’s joyful “Aquarium Screensaver”. A wide variety of styles come into the mix, from folk to…
City of the Weak crafts alternative rock with edge on the passionate “Pulling Teeth”. An awesome, truly electrifying experience, the songs possess a feral unhinged spirit to them. Her vocals rest front and center of it all, while she conveys a sense of true defiance. Lyrics further emphasize this sense of independence away from it…
All up and down the west coast, there are some wonderful sights to see. From Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California, and many others, there are just so many wonderful cities, attractions, and places that warm hearts up! And with a truly hot spring already making its presence known, it wouldn’t…
Ann Paul taps into the joy of the singer-songwriter tradition with the 70s-influenced style of “Stay”. Wild and wonderful, the way she lets her arrangements unfold gives them a sense of poetry. From the glistening keyboards to the thoughtful acoustic guitars, everything has a unique careful balance to it. By far the true soulfulness comes…
At first listen to Annie Fitzgerald’s You & Me & the Sun, the first question that comes to mind is,’10,000 Maniacs, where have you been all these years?’ This is because Fitzgerald has a bit of Natalie Merchant in the way she sings these ten songs. Or maybe it’s because album opener, “Be Like a…
Have you ever been anywhere in the south? Have you ever just been to a place where time seems to stop right as soon as you get there? During the peak of summer, most people get their bags packed and head to any portion of the Gulf Coast to experience summer food, fun, heat, magic,…
Music history is filled with colorful stories about famous brothers creating memorable music together (the Gallaghers in Oasis, Everly Brothers, to name a few), but the two siblings that comprise The Norm (Bryan Rucker and Ryan Bars) are also brothers – only they’re step-brothers. You might say, then, the brotherly duo The Norm is not…
The talented women of country music have always provided the crucial backbone for the genre since its very inception. Despite being heavily associated with masculine themes in western culture, the reality is that country music is one of the most gender diverse genres in pop, partly because of the fact the biggest thematic elements in…
Chris Pietrangelo may be a singer-songwriter from Memphis, TN, but his single “Hard to be Sad in Nashville” is, as its title spells out, all Nashville. In short, this is a regional-centric breakup song. Pietrangelo sure sounds the part of a brokenhearted country singer while singing “Hard to be Sad in Nashville,” but his career…
Have you ever been to a place where it brought you back there in your thoughts constantly? Or have you been to a moment in your mind where you just go back to that one particular day that made you smile the most? Most often people find that memory when traveling and a great suggestion…
Inspirational to its very core, Kaz Bielinski’s “Tell Me True” speaks tenderly about the importance of love in a life. Done with the utmost of care, the way Kaz Bielinski lets a gentle poetry take hold throughout the piece gives it a sense of majesty. Everything has a balanced approach to it: from the full-on…
So many music albums of so many artists have been released every year. But, do all of them show the light of success? Absolutely not. Many of them are disgusting to listen, some of them are just okay, and few of them are fair enough to listen. But, music albums like Joel Leffler’s newly released…
Johnny Douglas goes for a tremendous tenderness with the hushed awe of “Leave The Light On”. Emotive vocals flow throughout. Nicely serving as the backbone of the whole piece, the way everything else stems from these expressive lyrics feels masterful. Going for a rustic form of Americana, Inches From Sin’s symphonic “Laid My Heart Out”…
Queer country music. Let the barbecue sauce of that phrase marinate for a minute. Think about how it tastes, how it feels. Does it surprise you? Inspire you? Upset you, confuse you, excite you? After listening to “Glitter and Sawdust”, new album from queer country band Paisley Fields, I’ve got good news for you anxious…
The first impression made by Rachel Troublefield’s single “Put Me In” is it sure sounds like John Fogerty’s “Centerfield,” as reinterpreted by Cyndi Lauper. Although these two artists may seem to be polar-opposites stylistically, these songs have more similarities than you might expect. Lyrically, both songs spotlight an ‘athlete’ relegated to the bench. Yet, in…
As we come of age, society imposes the idea that we must have direction. But what if being lost is the greatest blessing of all? American folk duo Sweet Sweet have found bliss in a life of mystery with their feel-good new single “Roam”. Sweet Sweet is the hand-crafted creation of Jeremy Dunham and Kerrine…
The single “Summer Time” from European born Elvira kalnik’s album Magical Child is a potent track serving notice to the music listening world that she’s far more than merely a facile bidding pop diva. She’s more than just a singer; this young musical artist is a talented songwriter as well and her skills get an…
The cover of Firebug’s new album is a cool-blue image of a gnarled tree with the singer’s face hovering above. It made me want to compare it to U2’s Joshua Tree album cover, which led to the eventual amusing discovery that Firebug is currently based in Joshua Tree, CA. Though quite a ways away from…
