CD and DVD reviews
You can usually tell a lot about a band by their opening track on a record. Well, the three piece Detroit based rock outfit Jeremy Porter and the Tucos begin their sophomore album “Above the Sweet Tea Line” with a song about a cat named Josh. No, I didn’t make that up. This is a…
Midwestern born singer/songwriter Chris Sabatino traveled a circuitous route to get here. Following his college graduation, Sabatino initially pursued a career in media, but soon turned his attention to a musical career that, so far, has produced three EP’s. His third and most recent EP, Maybe Not This Time, is a five song collection that…
Wait a minute here…northern British Columbia? Like…as in our own backyard? NICE. It’s even better when you find a band from your area and they make absolutely stellar music – and that’s exactly what we have here with the indie/electro/folk band Violet Night. I’m not even sure I’ve been to Little Prairie, where they’re based…
Luke Underhill’s Atlas Unplugged is straight from the heart. From the careful arrangements to the resonant sound, everything simply works. Vocals are the highlight of the album. Raw and earnest the lyrics are clever narratives, dedications to cherished ones, love songs done right. Together the pieces work to create an album of great warmth. By…
“Surgery” paints the portrait of ultimate vulnerability. With a unique mixture of early 90s grunge paired with symphonic gestures the song’s sense of looming mortality is undeniable. Remarkably clever the song reflects upon the fleeting nature of life. Even within this dark subject matter Sarantos is able to find hope. Lyrically the song describes his…
Zach Linley and the Rebel Daredevils present us with a very impressive hard-driving country experience with their latest EP, “What It Takes.” The EP shows off Zach’s talent for writing a well crafted song. Zach’s gritty vocal style is ever present on the EP, which is laced with numerous sonic touches that leave the listener…
Frank Peters shows off his impressive flow on “50 Shades of Frank”. With a series of playful interludes the album has a thematic narrative. The songs take on an impressive array of styles from low slung cruising grooves to fast-paced rushes. Jazz flourishes appear throughout the album helping to tie the album together into a…
Ships Have Sailed master the balance between dance and rock on “Moodswings”. At times reminiscent of similarly structured Australian group Cut Copy Ships Have Sailed use an impressive palette of sound throughout the album. By having such a diverse set of elements they are able to convey a sense of play. Whether this is the…
It’s often when an artist takes unexpected detours that their voice truly emerges. Minnesota native Mary Bue has carved out a growing reputation as a piano balladeer and songwriter of unquestioned skill, but Bue’s sixth studio album sports a triumphant turn in artistic direction. Bue abandons the piano-driven sound of earlier efforts in favor of…
Pretty sure there’s not much else you could potentially do to raise expectations any higher; citing comparisons like Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, Beck and Radiohead on his social-media pages – Jonni Slater has set himself up to have to really deliver after such a comment. Question of course…is can he live up to the standards…
Whatever it is…whatever luck I’m experiencing lately in not only finding quality music within the independent scene, but also music that’s being made incredibly CLOSE to where our studio is based…I really don’t want it to stop! Recently finding excellence close by in acts like upcoming SBS Live This Week guests Lindstrom And The Limit…
So across my desk slides the new 5 track EP from Georgia based singer/songwriter Erica Sunshine Lee “Southern Amendment”. EP INFO: OSOUTHERN AMENDMENT contains raw stories about going to great lengths to protect what’s yours, whether it’s your lover, your home or yourself. This album has interwoven morals of redemption and forgiveness, and Erica Sunshine…
Alex Alexander’s “Monday Morning” embodies the party spirit of the weekend meets the crash of Monday Morning. Upon the beginning of the tyranny of weekdays one wonders where the weekend went. There were things that occurred far beyond recollection. Weekends were made for this kind of celebration. By putting “Monday Morning” to a delightful pop…
Heather Powell displays an impressive mastery of tender touching pop on “A Haze of Grays and Blue”. Influences abound but 70s soft rock a la Carole King appear to be the most prominent. The songs fit together perfectly as Heather Powell’s voice serves as the focal point. Elements of jazz can be find in the…
Reality Suite’s “SKINN” is a lean mean rock n’ roll machine. Stripped down to the absolute essentials their songs hit hard. Arrangements are muscular with a propulsive rhythm section. Guitars have just the right about of bite and their dynamics are undoubtedly impressive, possessing a raw power. What brings all of these strengths together is…
The Nervous Germans… now that’s an interesting band name! Even neater is the fact that this band has existed for over thirty years, and I don’t know one person that’s heard a lick of their music. John Peel has and he’s allowed some of the best in the business to record at his studio sessions,…
The Doughboys “She Comes In Colors” recalls the best of 60s jangling psychedelic pop. From the angular guitar work to the taut rhythms the song is absolutely infectious. With sharp concise lyrics the song is pitch perfect. “CameRA” from Veronika has a clear dystopian aesthetic. From the surveillance cameras to the jagged base lines, it…
I’ve had some extraordinary luck and amazing finds within the independent rap-scene. Seems to be there’s something about the competitiveness that inherently resides within that genre that really allows it all to consistently raise its game up to the next level with the next emcee to grip the mic. Here today, with Dave Childz, that…
Where are my audiophiles at? You’re going to love this new single from Sekten7 every bit as much as I do. If you’ve got a penchant for music with atmosphere so rich & thick that you can reach out and touch it – this electro/sample infused beast of a rock-song is probably unlike anything else…
The artist I recently checked out the latest EP from composer/songwriter Nashaat Salman –Universal Melodies released in 2015. Salman hails from Meilen, Switzerland The band: The compositions of Salman are pretty solid across the board. I would say he possess above average writing skills. Timing seems to be spot on within each sonic movement. Salman…
Emily Gold’s Recluse could easily end up album of the year with the proper promotion. The strong material waves a proud middle-finger at genre stereotypes and current musical clichés. At its core, Recluse is an album that’s like a soundtrack to a shaky, introspective state of mind or a surrealistic art-film full of visceral imagery.…
“Unique & Original” shows off Elena Qarooni at her most fiery. With a ferocious guitar riff her vocal delivery is impeccable. The song is muscular with absolutely no letup. A certain funky sensibility defines the song. Her lyrics are imbued with a sense of defiance. References abound throughout the song mocking the ideas of materialism…
“Emotion Sickness” strikes the perfect balance between quiet reflection and outright elegance. Michael Resin’s careful pacing throughout “Emotion Sickness” helps it to achieve a deep emotional impact. Staying front and center is his thoughtful lyricism which help to tie the album together. With a strong emphasize on love and relationships these pieces veer from infinite…
Stephen Inglis’s “Learning You By Heart” is a languid lovely journey through a life. Poignant observations abound from the existential concerns about relationships to the hypersensitivity of social media. Possessing musical accompaniment that is airy and warm, these are the kinds of songs that make up the best variety of a reflective weekend. He employs…
Lee Williams’ “The Frankenstein Monster” has an up-tempo classic rock style instrumental. It has a great guitar melody with an old school, blues style vibe. “The Frankenstein Monster” has strong musical break downs and a great finish/closing. Very nice guitar solo. Lee Williams is an extremely talented, gifted musician, creating a feel good classic. Audio:…
With “Starseed” Hybrid the Rapper proves he is a rapper without peer. Throughout the album “Starseed” focuses on both the difficultly of the current reality while possessing hope for the future. By keeping the balance between these two diametrically opposed worlds, “Starseed” offers the promise of a better tomorrow. Hybrid the Rapper uses this conflict…
I’m man enough to admit that when an album starts out with a ‘Danny-Boy’-esque opening that I’m instantly scared…at least usually. As “Prelude” starts out…it seems to include or incorporate the old classic song somewhat into the melody…the intro itself is less than thirty seconds long, and with its beautiful violin/string sounds it slowly morphs…
Chand K Nova shows off his considerable chops on the all-encompassing work of “The Wrath of Chand”. Without saying a word Chand K Nova’s album is able to embody all that is good about rock. Rhythms are kept slow and steady displaying a great deal of power. “N.V” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qOL1ItYGKI Audio: https://soundcloud.com/chand-k-nova/sets/the-wrath-of-chand Absolutely no time is…
So across my desk slides the new 6 track EP from Los Angeles based vocalist Jillian Speer entitled “Daggers & Suede”. During my initial research of Speer there were a few lines from his bio that I really liked: Originally hailing from north of Seattle, the singer-songwriter Jillian Speer grew up with music as an…
On “Love” Peter Kater displays his impressive talent proving why he is one of the best pianists around today. With a multitude of accolades already to his name, “Love” proves that they are well-deserved. Elegant and stylish Peter Kater has a voice that is uniquely his own. The piano here is mined for an emotional…
RC has always had his place with the other esteemed guitar whizzes in the blues/rock genre. Whether I’ve seen him solo or playing with others, he’s always given an emotional performance. This compilation will be released in various versions, 2 LP’s with a digital download card, 2 CD’s with a DVD, 2 CD’s and Blu-Ray,…
Gumshen’s DigiBites is downright infectious. With slinky electro grooves and effortlessly cool vocals, Gumshen shows that electro is far from over. Full of optimism the well-executed works are full of color. Pieces recall many of the staples of DFA’s roster, most particularly Holy Ghost! By letting their sound evolve gradually they are able to cover…
Lovely and full of joy is “Completely”. Samie Bisaso’s soothing voice is tuned just right to the song’s sunlight. Opting for a graceful tasteful touch the production is incredibly smooth. Pop sensibilities permeate the entirety of the piece from the bubbly synthesizers to the gentle rhythm. Everything feels remarkably fragile in the song which neatly…
With “Smokin’ Voyages” Space Apaches return to the mystical psychedelic 60s armed with a keen ear and sense of joy. The songs pass by in a comforting haze. Space Apaches have a cosmic sound to them as their songs appear to float every upwards. Optimism flows out of these songs. Vocals help to further reinforce…
Intimate Dream is a musical collective of sorts centered on singer/songwriter Hugh Faulds. The lineup is augmented with an assorted cast of sidemen aiding Faulds in realizing a familiar musical vision. While certainly no one will accuse Faulds or Intimate Dream of attempting to reinvent the wheel, such aspirations never matter when the songwriting consistently…
There is something oddly charming about this wild sexual escapade described in Tamara Bubble’s latest single “Towel Boy.” I’m not even quite sure I know what it is…there’s an incredible amount of smooth, sexy flow delivered with a ton of style. Not even remotely kidding here; Tamara is by far one of the most convincing…
Fiona Joy taps into an infinite calm on the reassuring “Signature – Solo”. With crystal clear tones Fiona Joy’s work feels akin to watching a gently flowing river. Pieces work together to create an overall compelling portrait. The delicate pieces reveal great depth without having to say a single word. Pacing is perfect as Fiona…
With “Surreal Dreams” Astral Darkness creates a tasteful, restrained, and oftentimes haunting album. The songs work together, playing off of each other revealing a wide yet carefully chosen palette of color. “Surreal Dreams” opts for a light industrial sound warmer instrumental and deeply compelling. For without saying a word the songs explore vast terrain. It…
Bongo Boy Records celebrates the current solid state of indie rock with its Volume Six Compilation. For this particular collection it carefully selects a plethora of bands giving it a wide selection from full-on physical sound of Jon Mullane to the gentle work of Hizreturn. Carefully paced Volume Six shows that Bongo Boy Records can…
Mixing the primal with the electronic, Ordinary People’s “Hero of the Doom” is an intense ritualistic recording. At times the pieces feel incredibly raw with simplistic hypnotic rhythms anchoring the otherwise menacing chaotic aural landscapes. Length serves an important purpose throughout the album: by letting the songs unfurl ever so gradually their cyclical nature gives…
