Category: REVIEWS

CD and DVD reviews

Susan Wendelken Releases ‘Alayne’s Echo’

Susan Wendelken is a force to be reckoned with in the music world and proves it with her latest release titled ‘Alayne’s Echo’. This singer/songwriter is originally from Long Island, NY and music has been a part of Susan’s life since she was a child. Wendelken learned to play piano at just three years old…

Noshows Drop New SIngle

I defy anyone to successfully pigeonhole the band Noshows. Max Satow initially began the band as an one man project but soon broadened his vision. The New York City based act is now a five-piece outfit featuring Satow on vocals/guitar, Dylan Satow on trumpet, and Amedeo Corey on keyboards and backing vocals. Bassist Zac Munowitz…

The Nocturnal Adoration Society Has ‘All The Time In The World’

The Nocturnal Adoration Society is the singing/songwriting/marital partnership of Alt-Country pioneer Jimmy Ryan (Blood Oranges, Wooden Leg, Hayride) on vocals, mandolin, mandocello and Donna Sartanowicz (The Very) on vocals and bass guitar, along with with Eric Royer (Royer’s One-Man Band, The Sacred Shakers) on pedal steel and Chris Anzalone (Juliana Hatfield, Dennis Brennan, and Roomful…

Taylor Jules Drops New Single ‘My Best Mistake’

You can tell just by the potency of her poetic emissions in the new single “My Best Mistake” that singer/songwriter Taylor Jules isn’t messing around in this latest release to bear her name in the byline. She’s assertive, venomous even, and every word she utters is meant to hit us like a ton of bricks,…

Steve Power Delivers ‘The Earl Sessions’

Steve Power is an Austin-based, award winning, singer-songwriter that has been performing for over five decades now. Power has played all over the US and afar, has released two EP’s and now his fifth album release is titled ‘The Earl Sessions’. With an array of elements from rock and roll, classic country and blues to…

Little Hurt Laments The Dark Side Of Romance With New ‘Lovely Hours’ LP

Little Hurt explores the ups and downs of love on the new album Lovely Hours. Darkly ruminative takes on failed relationships is a time-tested topic for popular music. Songwriters of various stripes have made it their bread and butter. Colin Dieden, however, proves himself capable of pouring old wine into new bottles. Lovely Hours’ ten songs do not…

Rob Alexander’s “Get Over Yourself”

I felt a little overwhelmed by Rob Alexander’s “Get Over Yourself” when I listened to it for the first time. It comes on like gangbusters with its hyperdrive electronic riffing and Alexander’s singing flirts with histrionics. He has a declamatory vocal style and its theatrical edge won’t appeal to everyone. Listeners who relish songwriting emotions…

THE SHEYANA BAND RELEASE NEW EP ‘RICOCHET’

The Sheyana Band is the vehicle for soulful singer Sheyana. The group is based in Australia and incorporates a wide variety of styles into its overall sound. There’s soul, yes, but also blues and a touch of country mixed in. The Ricochet EP took shape, like a lot of recent musical ventures did, during the…

Frank Jurgens’ “Recording Den Sessions”

Frank Jurgens’ Recording Den Sessions is one of the more notable EP releases I’ve heard in 2023. The New Jersey born singer/songwriter has successfully threaded several influences together into an unique musical voice that says as much about the man writing the tunes as it does the subject of each song. The three songs included on this EP…

“Run! Run! Run!” by Vineet

“Run! Run! Run!” is more than just Vineet Singh Hukmani’s new single. It heralds the arrival of his new project, the creation of a multiverse environment headed by the debut of his comic Run Storm & the Hope Star. He isn’t stopping there though. Hukmani will be releasing a 3D animated film based on his superhero character Run Storm…

‘Hold On’ by Leo Sawakin

Leo Sawikin, former front man of the New York indie rock band The Chordaes, released his new single ”Hold On” May 5. I think he makes it pretty obvious that he’s starting to outgrow the insularities of his indie scene. There’s a restlessness to his vocal in “Hold On” that is the opposite of off-putting;…

Lynne Taylor Donovan Presents New Album ‘Full Circle’

Country music has always been big in Canada, whether the average beer-guzzling, beer-belied American realizes this or cares to admit it or not. However, with all its wide-open country and rural regions, it only makes sense that country music would thrive in this nation. One artist that has been making great country music since she…

‘Three Arrows’ by Daniel Grindstaff

Meshing the best elements of both bluegrass and country music together isn’t a new concept by any means, but in the new single “Three Arrows” by Daniel Grindstaff, the acclaimed instrumentalist, songwriter, and all-around darling of the critics brings together the aesthetics of these two genres in a way perhaps perfect for a new generation…

‘Mama’s Cross’ by Lorraine Jordan feat. Carolian Road

Country balladry is one of the most overthought elements of America’s favorite genre, but Lorraine Jordan isn’t about to complicate her sound with a lot of overly elaborate beats in the new single “Mama’s Cross.” Much as she makes clear to us in the lyrics of this song, her interests lie far more in taking…

@skopemag Review – Libera new album ‘Forever’ out June 7

Imagine if you took the idea of a boy band and applied it to the traditional sound of choir performance. Imagine if you took ordinary boys from South London schools, boys that just happened to like singing, and allowed them to develop a repertoire that ranged from the traditional and devotional to the pop and…

John McDonough Releases ‘We’ll Answer the Call’

John McDonough’s latest single, “We’ll Answer the Call,” is a wonderful addition to the country music genre. The song starts out slow and calm, before building up to an upbeat and fun climax, and ending smoothly. McDonough’s impressive vocals, combined with the track’s excellent production values, make for a memorable listening experience. The song’s opening…

Dan Krochmal ON FIRE with “FOMO”

Dan Krochmal is an Australian-born singer/songwriter now residing in NY and is exploding on the music scene!  His most recent release is titled “FOMO” and is the second single being featured off of the upcoming album, ‘Home & Holding’.  As soon as I hit play, I knew I was hearing something special from Dan Krochmal…

Jasper “The Jazzmaster” Myers New Album ‘CHUUCH’

Jasper “The Jazzmaster” Myers goes for a powerful piece of soul with the gospel-tinged experience of “CHUUCH.” Vocals serve as the focal point from which all else flows. The lo-fi aesthetic and near-broken beats add to the sense of triumph the tracks explore. Genre-wise, it is cleverly couched in jazz, with dance, pop, gospel, and…

P Bailey New Single ‘More Than Just Friends’

Big, bombastic beats reverberate throughout the entirety of P Bailey’s “More than just friends.” Meant to be played loud, very loud, and the whole song works into a frenzy. The looping hypnotic quality of the sound feels intense. In certain moments it is like a single phrase being repeated endlessly in my mind, a mantra…

Jude Gwynaire New Single ‘Night Drive Through My City Notorious’

With its driving rhythm and nocturnal saxophone, Jude Gwynaire’s “Night Drive Through My City Notorious” does sound like a nighttime ride. It’s an instrumental that simply shouts forward motion after sundown. One immediately wonders what is meant by the description, “City Notorious.” Notoriety suggests something distinctly pejorative. A notorious city sounds like one known for…

‘Something’s Gotta Give’ by Kinga

Kinga isn’t afraid to tackle the big beats in an aggressive yet radio-friendly style that has become his trademark over the years, and his new single “Something’s Gotta Give” might be the best demonstration of his talents yet. Though we don’t necessarily learn anything new about this artist’s depth in “Something’s Gotta Give,” what Kinga…

Matt Thompson Presents New Album ‘Accelerate’

Accelerate, the Matt Thompson album, suggests momentum and picking up speed. The project’s song of the same name has one of the album’s poppiest arrangements. It bubbles and buzzes all the way through. Thompson has one of these vocal tones, though, that always seems to suggest that all’s not well – even when singing over…

Heistheartist is Back With New Music

Heistheartist began life as LeeMann Bassey and chasing dreams of success as a neo-soul singer. When Bassey heard an online sermon from evangelist TD Jakes, however, the transformative effect of its message steered him in a new direction. Heistheheart embraced a different nom de plume and a direction in life that upended everything he knew.…

New Release By Gary Palmer “I Get Lonely”

A classic excellence rolls through Gary Palmer’s suave “I Get Lonely.” Production excels here. Smooth jazz, R&B, pop, and a sense of play rolled into one. Vocals rest right in the center of the sound. Chords show genuine creativity, with the melodies glistening in the late-night noir spirit. Rhythms go for nimbleness thanks to their…

Energy Releases “Rock Party” LP

Swarthy distorted strings come sweeping through our speakers with an illustrious agility. Drums collide with the riffs they form and create a beat that is riddled with machismo. The bassline swings into the mix and gives a little bit of a cushion for the vocals to jettison into. This is “Fight for Your Freedom,” and…

Patrick & Daniels New Album ‘Good Vibes’

Just exactly what good vibes are, nobody can accurately define. No scientist. No sociologist. No doctor. Nevertheless, we know them right at the moment we feel them. One imagines scientists would call these serotonin, dopamine, or endorphins – chemicals that give us good feelings. Granted, your cannabis shop in town (if you live in a…

One Adam One New Album ‘Where Do I Begin’

One Adam One is a vehicle for Adam Reichmann’s singing and songwriting. Where Do I Begin is an EP of five mostly sad sounding songs. Reichmann just has a way of capturing and holding your attention with his music. These songs likely best fall under the category of Americana music. There is a folksy, singer-songwriter…

Sean Walshe In the Name of ‘American Son’

This is one album that stands out to me because it offers hope, faith and truth wrapped up in one, nicely-tuned package. ‘American Son’ by Sean Walshe is a riveting release and one that is desperately needed for the current times. ‘American Son’ will move people with relevant material and pristine musicianship. Sean Walshe hopes…

Kingsley Durant Cruising By with ‘Convertible’

Kingsley Durant is an accomplished musician as music is in his blood literally by way of his musical upbringing. Kingsley grew up playing piano, french horn and guitar and would quickly fall in love with the instrument known as the guitar. Now considered to be a guitar virtuoso, Kingsley Durant has released his exciting, new…

Brian Charles Tischleder Releases “Paul and Babe”

Brian Charles Tischleder is a talented singer/songwriter who mixes rock ‘n’ roll, folk and Americana in stellar fashion. Tischleder has been writing, recording and performing his own material for his entire adult life. Over the last 25 years, Brian has toured extensively in the Midwest and he has also compiled a solid fan base overseas.…

‘Anything Could Happen’ from Go Time!

Straying away from the silence with a lot of energy, we find the strands of a glistening harmony untouched by artificiality altogether in “Long Term Effect,” but as striking a sound as this is to find, it’s not isolated to this lone track in the new album Anything Could Happen from Go Time!. “Long Term Effect” is…

Heistheartist is Back With New Music

Heistheartist began life as LeeMann Bassey and chasing dreams of success as a neo-soul singer. When Bassey heard an online sermon from evangelist TD Jakes, however, the transformative effect of its message steered him in a new direction. Heistheheart embraced a different nom de plume and a direction in life that upended everything he knew.…

Indecent Proposal is “Feeling Good”

If you’re looking for a song that will lift your spirits, then look no further! “Feeling Good” by Indecent Proposal has just the right medicine to help put you in a great mood. The title of the song basically sums up the theme and that is to have you “Feeling Good” by the time the…

Singer/Songwriter Barry Muir Releases New Single

Not everyone agrees on what good pop music is, but I think we can all agree that the genre could sure use a lot more optimism in its general narrative right now. With things as crazy around the globe as they’ve ever been before, audiences are particularly dependent on musicians for a little shelter amid…