CD and DVD reviews
Sung with true gentleness is Savannah Philyaw’s tender love ballad “Love Remains”. With a delicate arrangement, the way the song unfolds gives it an earnest, intimate spirit. By opting for such a soft-spoken approach the lyrics carry great power. The unifying moment of the track is Savannah Philyaw’s articulate storytelling, one which serves as the…
2016 has been an insanely productive year for musician, songwriter, and singer Chris Murphy. He released two full length studio albums between May and August and now follows those substantial efforts up with his third full length album in nine months. It is natural to assume that Murphy’s latest release might be the weakest of…
The recent release from Brad Absher & Swamp Royale, Lucky Dog, contains a dozen songs that bring listeners back to a style of music too many bands and performers treat with academic kid gloves. One of the keys to this music is that it plays and sounds lived in – if things are too studied…
The sophomore album New Orleans Bound from Minnesota born Americana singer/songwriter Little Diamonds is a twelve song collection highlighting the young performer’s facility with a variety of traditional forms and his capacity for lyrical invention. He wears his influences without any ambiguity, but Little Diamonds possesses enough artistic wherewithal that he’s able to filter those…
Detroit born and bred singer, songwriter, and guitarist Trey Connor began performing publicly at the age of thirteen and debuted with the band Bulletproof Snow in 2012. The outfit won numerous local competitions before Connor, in 2015, was among the one hundred or so singers chosen from over forty thousand auditions for the popular network…
Texans from the city known as Screwston best known as Houston, had 3 young brothers come together to create a project, that would develop and expand over the years. As those years progressed so did the project, ending up to being called by the likes of The Band of the Hawk, Noah Archangel, Grynd Seazon…
Delilah Latina Princess’s “Party Till We Drop” is the sound of a wild rambunctious celebration that never stops. The sound deserves to be blasted at the loudest possible volume to truly appreciate its physicality. Effortlessly merging together electro, pop, and house into a satisfying whole the song truly resembles a force of nature. By balancing…
The seventh album from Erica Sunshine Lee, Elixir, is another scintillating entry in the Georgia-born singer/songwriter’s growing catalog of Deep South musical achievements. The best thing about Lee as a performer and recording artist, oddly, isn’t her intense identification with her heritage and regionalism – instead, it’s that she can retain these important personal qualities…
Rev Peter Unger sings a song for the downtrodden on “You’re Not Alone”. With a light airy feel to the arrangement the honest heartfelt message rings true. Small snapshots of those less fortunate, the ones who require great help through their moments of difficultly, are presented throughout the piece. Over the course of the piece…
With a summery 80s vibe is the Mayve’s joyful and jubilant “Motion”. Choruses are positively infectious as the songs unfold revealing a true ear for melody. Songs nicely play off each other making the album work best as a whole. The sequencing feels particularly fine as the attention towards sleek, stylish sound creates luxuriant fields…
Inspirational to its very core is the sunny message of Ronnie Allman Jr’s “Rise Up”. Downright infectious the song a radiant joy. The warmth of the piece is undeniable just as its glistening melody unforgettable. By opting for such a rich, luxuriant sound Ronnie Allman Jr taps into a timeless sound. Quite beautiful the message…
Maudie Michelle and Jimmie Maneuva, otherwise known as StonerPop, are an electro pop duo hailing from the Deep South whose five song debut EP has its own unique take on electronica utterly distinct from similar works in this vein. The duo eschew any overt experimentation in favor of a musical approach that challenges tweaks listener’s…
The latest single from Jesse Eplan, “Dreams”, is the current culmination of a path the young artist has pursued since first discovering his talent and passion for music at the age of seven. The New York City native isn’t just a pretty face – he’s a multi-instrumentalist with the rare gift of perfect pitch and…
The sixth release from Chicago’s Go Time! is their first release following the January 2015 unleashing of Ratsel. Many bands opting to unveil two massive collections of material in one year would likely experience some drop off in overall quality, but not this three piece. Led by singer/songwriter and lead guitarist Scott Niekelski, Go Time!…
JahkR’s “Catharsis” is EDM at its absolute best. With a cinematic scope the beats positively slam. Everything feels large scale from the epic grandeur of the grooves to the giddy melodies that adorn each piece. The amount of energy that the album provides is downright delectable. By opting for such an approach JahkR provides a…
Sounding akin to a modern take on Nico’s regal performance, turn turnQuoise’s “StormBrides” is an elegant timeless collection. Over the course of the album turn turQuoise brings together elements of folk, classical, and pop together anchored by a loose jazzy structure. The beating heart of the album are the passionate vocals of VEra Joppig. Nearly…
Starting things off on a high-energy note is Esquille’s infectious dance anthem “Sweet Harmony Feat. Keisha Renee”. Esquille’s song deserves to be pumped up as loud as possible. A sense of pure celebratory spirit radiates from the piece. Tenderness defines the soulful work of Colette Kavanagh’s “Last Kiss”. Delivered with a passion the song unfolds…
“On Hollywood Boulevard” is a glamorous, gorgeous mixture of jazz and funk displaying Billie Davies’s deft skill. Luxurious textures dominate the collection as Billie Davies draws from a wide variety of sources. Everything simply glistens as the attention to tone and texture are of the utmost importance. Bass works wonders alongside the rather loose, careful…
In the larger scheme of things, the Washington D.C./Baltimore based Big Tribe is every bit as much of a musical collective as their name implies. The core of the group, however, is a three piece unit consisting of Bonnie Eyler, Joe Heutte, and primary songwriter Peter Panyon. They’ve enlisted the aid of thirty-two different guest…
The burgeoning lovechild of pop, mainstream rock, and traditional county, lately dubbed Nashville Rock, has produced popular success the likes of which Music City hasn’t experienced in many years. Many of the acts have a decidedly commercial edge and look to do little more than entertain their target audience while others have coupled these commercial…
OMUMO Records Sampler’s lovely collection has a twee pop sensibility that is dazzling behold. Full of infectious energy the way the songs unfold is quite gorgeous. Throughout the collection the many differing pieces are unified by a collective gentle spirit. Stylistically OMUMO Records Sampler explores a wide swath of genres, from rap to indie to…
Downright decadent with its luxurious arrangements, Suzanne Grzanna’s “Daybreak” is a true delight. With a late-night vibe to it, the way that the sultry vocals sing out is simply stunning. Everything works from the careful saxophone work to the nimble groove that adorn the pieces. The balance that the band strikes is wonderful as they…
Annie Savage’s band The Savage Hearts has a broadly defined mission. The five piece based out of Colorado plays traditional acoustic music in a bluegrass or honkytonk vein, but their musical purpose extends beyond merely gigs, songwriting, and recordings. Instead, Savage and her musical collaborators have an educational bent to their work. Savage is a…
Defiant and self-assured, Sira Mayo’s “Rebellious” is an anthem for the outcast. With bouncy beats dominating the proceedings, the album comes together as a coherent well-thought out whole. Melodies sparkle as they convey a sense of optimism. By far the highlight of the album are Sira Mayo’s powerful, passionate vocals. Lyrics emphasize the desire and…
If James Burton showed up, it should be all the convincing you need. The inclusion of a number of former Presley sidemen clearly shows the respect they accord Holly Norman’s creative new release Taking Care of Bluegrass – A Tribute to Elvis. James Burton’s legendary guitar skills and the vocal style of The Imperials are…
Michael and Jennifer McLain bonded, in a significant way, because of music. The husband and wife team have played music together since their first date and both hail from musical families who toured as performers across North America. The McLains are highly skilled banjo players and their debut full length studio recording, Hit the Road…
Optimistic to its very core, Nicole Michelle’s “Listen” is a truly lovely piece of pop. Lyrics offer a glimpse in how a relationship can develop and change a life. Anchored by an infectious groove the song lingers in the mind long after it is over. Conveying a sense of purpose the song has a truly…
Defiant and inspirational, KP Wolfe’s “Exodus” is pop at its most passionate. Arrangements reveal a true knack for form. Beats hit so hard as they propel the songs forward with a strong sense of purpose. Volume rules over these songs as they deserve to be felt as much as heard. By opting for such an…
Coral Creek’s self-titled debut is a triumphant take on the warm inviting spirit of bluegrass music. Nicely utilizing a loose, easy-going jazz informed rhythm over the course of the album there is something so inviting about the sound. Vocals are sung with the utmost earnestness. With a gorgeous snapshot of a life fully lived, Coral…
Scott Smith’s “Down To Memphis” embodies the best of the country spirit. With a wild carefree spirit Scott Smith’s delivery has a raw heartfelt quality to it. Front and center to the sound is Scott Smith’s knack for storytelling as his songs focus on snapshots on a life lived most fully. By keeping the arrangements…
With a rollicking, rambunctious spirit, Joey Stuckey’s “Six String Soldier” is a true stunner. Over the course of the album Joey Stuckey displays his impeccable chops that define the album. Blues help to anchor the album as all else revolves around them. A communal spirit dominates the album, whether it is the grandeur, stately rhythms…
Tender and lovely, Brother Spellbinder’s “When The Earth Was Still Flat” is chamber pop at its most perfect. Possessing great warmth these songs feel timeless with their gentle spirits. Quite eclectic in their arrangements moving from nimble guitar work to jazz flute, everything simply comes together in the most perfect of ways. By far the…
Susan Aquila’s “No Where” is a delightful romp through glam and hair rock. Downright infectious in nature this song deserves to be blasted at the highest possible volume. A sense of determination dominates the piece. Rhythms are kicked out with fury, the riffs righteous, but these merely highlight the true heart of the piece: the…
On Madelyn Victoria’s debut EP she sings country with true grit. From the slide guitar to the tender fiddle work, everything comes together in such a satisfying way. Throughout it all it is her lovely inviting voice that truly serves as the EP’s heart and soul. Catchy hooks and unforgettable melodies permeate each of the…
With a blistering performance, Lucid Dream’s “The Stonehunter” is epic in scope. Guitar work soars into the sky, showing off their undeniable chops with satisfying soloing throughout. Anchoring this crazed, at times chaotic, album is the driving pulse of the rhythm section. Over the course of the album Lucid Dream crafts potent poetic lyrics that…
A much praised semi-finalist in one of the recent seasons of American Idol, Brielle Von Hugel’s single “Naked” solidifies the praise for her vocal talents and the promise she’s displayed since her first public exposure. This first taste from her forthcoming second EP builds on her aforementioned national television appearances, popular YouTube covers, and live…
The future is past and the past is our future. Our musical world might have progressed from acoustic instruments into electric guitars and multi-piece combos, punk, rap, and many others, but the traditional music preceding the modern music industry as we know it, “folk”, retains a subtle, but nonetheless deep, hold on the human subconscious…
The Gothard Sisters are truly a beautiful anomaly in our modern musical world. This Celtic music themed three piece have produced five albums of covers and original material since 2010 and their latest, Falling Snow, is one of the finest examples of well-crafted Christmas album in recent memory. The sisters are top flight musicians who…
Atlanta based singer/songwriter and performer James Patrick Morgan’s single “Expected” from the forthcoming EP Art + Work = Love reminds us all that pop music can still enliven and excite. Lodging with listeners at a little under three minutes, the song hits all of the notes that we anticipate from good pop music without ever…
The first single from the Uncle Frank Band’s album Love Lion finds Frank, one third of the popular band the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, taking his Leicester, England based five piece to new heights with a song that invokes all the best of eighties pop with some meaningful songwriter that never panders to listeners. The band…
