CD and DVD reviews
Sarantos taps into a childlike sense of wonder on the nostalgia-hued “Bubbles”. Nicely anchored by a rather jubilant groove the song indie rock’s leanings make it a true gem. Attention to detail is stunning: from the lovely guitar riffs to the rollicking rhythm, everything simply works. Beyond this level is the joyful usage of the…
Sung with the utmost passion, Rebecca Lappa’s “Reckless Heart” effortlessly creates a lovely, fully realized kind of folk. Over the course of the album she runs the gamut from the absolute bombastic to the restrained refined sort of sound. By letting such a wide variety of styles permeate the pieces from folk, country, rock, psychedelic,…
A Bad Think’s “Win or Lose” effortlessly blends alternative rock and chamber pop into a lovely whole. Intricate arrangements dominate the piece. The attention to detail is impeccable with every flourish adding to the overall emotional impact. Nicely balanced no singular element of the song takes over but rather each instrument plays off of the…
Glenn Meling’s “Minnesota” offers up an eclectic take on the best of pop. Alternative rock, country, funk, and hints of dub come together to create a vibrant sound that teems with life. Vocals serve front and center, showing off Glenn Meling’s poetic take on storytelling. Elements come together, at times feeling reminiscent of David Bowie’s…
On “Angelina” White Horses offers a rollicking take on the traditional love ballad. Full of life this tenderness is a celebratory kind of love. Rather gorgeous in execution White Horses goes for a large, cinematic at times kind of sound. Throughout the track the attention to detail is profound from the western twang of the…
Delivered with fire and passion is Analog Heart “Sun Here I Come”. By far the heart of the album are the powerful vocals that lead the songs forward. Nicely accompanying these carefully crafted narratives is an incredible band whose style taps into the best of classic rock. Over the course of the album Analog Heart…
With an incredible knack for storytelling, Tim Houlihan’s “Another Orion” is sung straight from the heart. Arrangements are impeccable with a full-on bluesy folk sound defining the album. Every song feels akin to a glimpse at the dreams and longing that can define a life. By far the highlight is the strong reassuring vocals courtesy…
Beautifully delivered, Michéal Castaldo’s “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” nicely delves into the powerful regal quality of Gregorian chant. Throughout the piece his approach harks back to an earlier time, one with a hushed reverence towards the world. Over the course of the song he reveals a truly ear for style as the classical arrangement…
Karen Willough’s “You Know I Have Angels” is a warm energetic song filled with good cheer. From the fast-paced paced to the dexterous guitar work, the way the song simply swoops down feels rather beautiful. Tying this whole sound together is the rather gentle yet powerful vocals which serve as the highlight of the piece.…
Sean V Syndicate delivers a truly stunning ode to classic rock on “Higher Calling”. Over the course of the album Sean V Syndicate shows off an uncanny knack to develop satisfying guitar riffs that are infinitely catchy. Nicely accompanying this is the undeniably strong rhythm section which makes sure to truly drive the songs forward.…
If the mainstream music scene, particularly its American exponents, has grown increasingly one dimensional and staid over the past quarter century, continental Europe is still a hub for risk taking and talent. Project-TO is an artistic collective based out of Italy who bring a multimedia approach to their debut project. The concept behind The White…
“World Gone Mad” represents the best of punk rock’s spirit as Suicidal Tendencies songs are delivered with the utmost of urgency. Absolute full-on blasts of sound define the pieces which refuse to let up. Rhythms are breakneck as everything is pummeled with the ferocity of the drums. Nicely accompanying these maddening multi-layered tempos is the…
Jon Worthy’s “May You Live Happily Ever After” is an inviting celebration of the best of rock. The sound deserves to be blasted as loud as possible for the freewheeling, classic-rock indebted spirit is perfect. With a retro style to his approach, the album’s sense of play is palpable. Rhythms come out swinging, the guitar…
Greg Clifford’s “You Won’t Tear Me Apart” has a summery, late 60s psychedelic feel to it. By opting for such an approach the song has a defiant tone to it. This rebellious spirit is due in part to Greg Clifford’s tenderly delivered vocals to the spacious arrangements. Everything comes together to create a vibrant pop-centric…
Human Darts tap into a playful free-spirited rock reminiscent of the Pixies at the height of their powers. Their unique approach bares great fruit as their lyrical content shows off their peculiar yet endearing sense of humor. Rushing through with out-of-control tempos the songs are infinitely catchy, lingering in the mind long after they are…
Al Conti’s “Ritual” has a cinematic, tribal sound to it. Without saying a word, a journey emerges out of the combination of nimble percussion mixed with sweeping classically inclined ambience. By taking such a delicate approach to the piece Al Conti crafts a vast, all-encompassing sonic universe. The attention to detail is profound as everything…
3ipleA’s “Water Diamonds” offers up a luxurious, smooth flow. Lyrics focus on what it means to feel fully accomplished. Attention to detail means that the song is able to encompass dubstep, hip-hop, and pop in a marvelous swirl of sound. By stripping the sound down to the essentials every single flourish is amplified in full.…
Robyn Cage’s “Born In The Desert” sounds like the narration to a gentle dream. With a perfect chamber pop arrangement, the song has an expansive, expressive feel to it. Layer upon layer of sound come together ever so effortlessly. Stylistically Robyn Cage incorporates elements of classical, folk, and psychedelic all brought together under a loose…
Micki Free’s “Lavender Kiss” is a mystical journey through space and sound. With crystal clarity the piece tells an unspoken narrative through a vast variety of terrain. Effortlessly merging together elements of classical, folk, with a psychedelic sheen the entire thing radiates with hope and optimism. Over the course of the piece Micki Free shows…
Delicate and tender in tone, Abigail Winzer’s “Rejoice” is a warm inviting album. Over the course of the album her attention to detail results in lovely melodies that shimmer like stars in the night sky. Her voice has an angelic quality to it as it embodies a sense of true calm and contemplation. Best taken…
The Bongo Boy Rock N’ Roll TV Show is proud to present the latest episode in their Rock N’ Roll TV Show series, “Howling Halloween” featuring 6 Halloween Music production by talented independent international recording artists in 1 special ½ hour TV show. This Bongo Boy TV produced episode airs on all 60+ channels in…
“Needle In A Haystack” presents Jordan Green’s clever knack for storytelling. Snapshots from a life, these are songs that explore ambition, disappointment, optimism, and relationships. Full of catchy hooks, these are songs that combine elements of country, folk and pop into a satisfying whole. Jordan Green’s strong confident vocals lead the way as the rest…
Based out of Santa Ana, California, Saint Blasphemer is a four piece hard rock band whose debut EP Simon Templar includes five very physical songs that also cover a remarkable amount of ground lyrically. The band’s sound is a classic hard rock template that avoids the stylistic histrionics of Nu-Metal and any overtly imitative nods…
Kansas City based vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Sterling Witt’s fifth full length release, Satyagraha, debuts his latest configuration, a power trio with Witt on six string and vocals, Jesse Gilpin on drums, and Davy Langerak playing bass and tambourine. The album title references a term Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi used in the early 20th century…
When The Clock Strikes creates a high energy, high speed rush of sound on “The Better Friends EP”. Downright infectious and full of catchy hooks throughout the songs are delivered with a true sense of urgency. Rhythms are chaotic, nearly out of control, as they effortlessly tap into the spirit of the best of EMO…
Pat G’s “The In Between EP” shows off a forceful flow and luxurious usage of stylish samples. Beats hit hard and the bass is downright perfect in its delivery. Lyrics are highly articulate in nature as they reveal a poetic sensibility. Grooves are infectious as Pat G reveals great taste and attention in how he…
Jared Mancuso’s “Superdope” taps into a playful, freewheeling kind of indie rock. Over the course of the album Jared Mancuso incorporates elements of classic, alternative, and indie rock into a satisfying whole. Reminiscent of Weezer’s early 90s work the pieces linger in the mind long after they are over. The true highlight of the album…
Scottish-born singer/songwriter Kathy Muir’s third album, Second Life, likely represents her peak to this point. Each successive release since her debut has built off its predecessor’s advances and this eleven song collection stands as the fullest realization of her songwriting vision yet. Each of the songs has an identifiable signature – the curiosity with shifting…
The latest release from Angie and the Deserters, a six song EP entitled You, continues to build on her rapidly blossoming reputation as one of the best vocals working today within the Americana genre. Her voice has remarkable versatility – she is as adept at gentle balladry as she is bucket of blood blues, ala…
Airdrop’s “Serotonin Sunrise” taps into the spirited vibes of garage rock done. With a playful, loose style they come out truly swinging. Similar to the incredible band Harlem, Airdrop feels like that band cleaned their act up a little bit. Indeed, these arrangements are delivered with a bit of polish. The attention to detail is…
Southern Florida power trio The Von have returned with the follow-up to 2015’s debut album, Ei8gt, a three song EP entitled 3nity. The interval between the releases saw the three piece score a double showcase at the South by Southwest Festival and a national summer tour. Their music licensing has been an important component in…
Nicely tapping into the theatrical essence of glam rock, Von Konow’s “Cosmic” is a pure delight. Arrangements are pitch perfect as Von Konow creates a constantly shifting sea of sound, one that incorporates elements of classical, ambient, and rock into such a satisfying swirl of sound. By far the highlight of the song is Von…
On “Professor Works Laboratory Vol. 2” Chucky Workclothes offers snapshots of a life lived most fully, with perfect articulate flows and entire stories emerging out of these lush, exuberant arrangements. Attention to detail is profound, as samples are chosen with the utmost of care. Throughout the album Chucky Workclothes lets these songs interact with each…
The third album from Stefanie Keys and her San Francisco based five piece, Open Road, continues adding to Keys’ unusual and individualistic blend of soul, rock, and Americana in one package. The ten song collection, produced by Dave Shul and Peter Keys, frames her compositions beautifully and professionally while never draining them of the air…
Graduate of the prestigious Belmont University songwriting course and an award winner, Josh Birdsong has debuted with the memorable five song EP Simple Geometry. Birdsong’s work mixes a strong singer/songwriter aesthetic with studied, quite evocative production. The production touches are never arbitrary additions – every decision made on Simple Geometry serves a larger purpose and…
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood has announced the November 4 release of ‘If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now,’ a companion EP arriving just three months after their critically acclaimed studio album, ‘Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel.’ The five track collection, includes “New Cannonball Rag,” “Shadow Cosmos” and “Roan County…
The first full length studio release from New Orleans based The Good for Nothin’ Band, Maniac World, is a ten song collection introducing the five piece to the world at large with flair and chops for days. New Orleans native and chief songwriter Jon Roniger leads the band through a musical vision fueled from two…
The debut solo effort from Fort Lauderdale based singer/songwriter Alex Di Leo, So We Go, marks his first work since the 2014 dissolution of the band Wyld Fly. He maintains a solid configuration for this EP, two guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards, and it is an ideal musical fit for the collection’s six songs. The…
Brooke Barry creates a beautiful ballad with “Mirror”. Over the course of the song her voice soars majestically. The arrangement is pitch-passion and delivered with the utmost of passion. Sung with a hint of poetry the song’s colorful imagery works wonders in creating a dreamy sensibility. How the song builds up is quite elegant indeed…
Monsta Kodi’s “Wipe Your Tears” is a heartfelt, tender piece. With a truly positive, inspiring message Monsta Kodi explores exactly how breast cancer effects a person and those who love them. The lyrics are thoughtful as they examine what kind of choices a person must make, along with the level of support a person needs…
