CD and DVD reviews
Whenever I see bands that are named after their lead singer I get nervous. It is too often seen that narcissistic singers who get off on their pretty face throw the rest of their band to the wayside. Was I ever glad when I was listening to Elliot Schneider’s album and checked his band’s biography.…
Who doesn’t like good thought provoking Ambient laced music? I’d bet not all the hands go up in the air right away. I mean, while Ambient might not be your first choice, most people can’t deny getting into many top shelf synthetic music and admit to really enjoying finely crafted music within the genre after…
Voice In The Attic’s “Over” speaks with wisdom. The chamber pop arrangements are pitch perfect, neatly weaving together elements of classical and folk. Forgoing any sort of electronic effects, Voice In The Attic has a timeless sound. By far the heart of the song is the powerful poetic vocals. Lyrically the piece feels rather mysterious,…
If you read into the backstory on lead-singer for The Unravelling – Steve Moore…it’s pretty inspiring stuff. Next-door neighbours to our province in B.C. – in Calgary, Alberta Steve had been battling cancer diagnosed officially in 2011 up until recently kicking its ass into remission and eventual recovery. And now he’s back to grip the…
America’s Got Talent Season Five winner Michael Grimm’s new release entitled Grimm is a twelve-song collection with strong musicianship and top-notch production values that empathizes his voice without obscuring the superb backing on each song. The Colorado native has an ever-growing reputation as an energetic and charismatic performer on both recordings and the stage. Grimm…
Optimus Rex’s “Embers” embodies the best of indie rock. Quite flexible their songs have an autumnal quality to them. Woven together the songs work best as a whole. Attention to detail means that Optimus Rex is able to move from folk to alternative rock to pop, all the while ensuring that the album’s tone is…
Joey Flip & Aurora’s “Release” is a silky smooth sound, one that effortlessly taps into the heart of the blues. Full of anguish the pieces nicely work off of each other, with the album overall coming together to create a truly fascinating narrative. Loss, longing, wistfulness, these work alongside the dreamy overall atmosphere that is…
Rap can be such an incredible genre of music. I’d never be the guy to say it’s all I listen to every day, but it’s certainly been a part of my life since about the age of seven years old. Combine an intense early love of hip-hop with a whole shitload of summer-school for creative…
“Deliverer” is a confident album full of hope. Hizreturn do a great job in including many different approaches from folk-tinged rock to indie rock and everywhere in between. Throughout it all they use their lyrical work to tie the pieces together. The songs are celebrations looking for the light of the world and living in…
Doug Cash’s “The Acoustic Rock Onslaught” is aptly named for Doug Cash manages to create a full-bodied frenzied physical sound. Whether he opts for the fast-paced blitz almost punk-like performance of “Midnight Baby 2” or the slow, low-slung funk of “Love Thicka Than Blood”, he shows an impressive range. Lyrically the songs have a sense…
Glamour Assassins remembers the sounds of the 80s and builds upon them on “Ain’t So Young”. Among their influences are the meticulous New Order and to David Bowie’s 80s glam rock era. This means that they write the kind of songs that stick in the mind long after they’ve ended. Melodies are sweet as sugar,…
Impressive songs from the song-writing duo of Eric And Aaron…I really felt like I didn’t know what I could or couldn’t expect in listening to their latest EP, To Keep From Losing Our Minds – and by the time it was over I found myself instantly reaching to repeat and hear more of their massive…
If Greenville native Vince Lindley’s debut single is autobiographical then that must be one hell of a boring party. Party Life is a trite, tired song about nothing in particular with as much hot air as it takes to blow up Lindley’s big head. There is literally nothing redeemable about this supposed “banger”. The beat…
Jelani Lateef’s “Cold Days and Dark Nights” is a warm, welcoming album full of carefully selected samples and impeccable delivery. With a keen ear for melody and a knack for carefully constructed stories, Jelani Lateef brings these songs feel alive. Inspiration and striving for the future help to weave the songs together giving them a…
Big rock sounds echoing out of Toronto, Canada, coming from the amplifiers of Return For Refund – a three-piece rock’n’roll crew built on frantically-intense, straight-to-your-face music. Incorporating skilled musicianship, complex timing signatures and blazing-hot performances, Return For Refund is making sure you get every pennies-worth on their self-titled EP. Stream the full EP at Bandcamp:…
The new album from this Minneapolis-based six piece, Giants of America, shimmers with crisp musical textures and an airy, inviting sound full of intimacy that never overwhelms listeners. The production perfectly frames the band’s eight songs spanning across every imaginable genre line. These are deceptively modest compositions that conceal enormous ambitions behind an astonishingly unpretentious…
It’s been a strange morning here at sleepingbagstudios… I could have sworn things were going to be record setting type-awesome today as I awoke to the sunshine streaming through the windows. Shortly after, I’m back here to my online world and in massive discussions with managers and band-promoters…if it wasn’t for coffee, the amount of…
New York City based singer/songwriter Dan Coyle and his Wonder Thrills project delivers listeners a vibrant and literate six song collection with their Perfect Word Perfect Beat ep. Coyle’s songwriting isn’t content with staking out long explored territory and, instead, plays uneasily at the seldom traveled border between the traditional and subversive. His subversion isn’t…
Dylan McDonald and The Avians’ latest release “Fueled by Dreams of the Future” is an diverse rock album with a sound that is all their own. This band is reminiscent of rock legends from the 60’s and 70’s, but they bring their own fresh take. With great rhythms, unique melodies and distinctive vocals, this album…
‘Beautiful and Strong’ is a single by the Kenyan singer-songwriter, Salome Pacific, who has so far, delivered songs that are full of warm susceptibility and a gripping emotional connection, attached with the beautifully penned lyrics. She managed to conquer hearts wherever she went, with her beautiful vocals, powered by extraordinary lyrics. She has travelled several…
Lawson Garrett’s work explores the roots of American rock. Vocals are honest, pure, and representative of years of hard work. The arrangements are downright meticulous and the lyrics show off a level of craftsmanship that is hard to do right. Yet Lawson Garrett does it all right. “Social Distortion (Facebook Parody Song)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcmCGazOe8Y “Language Of…
The veteran guitar slinger best known from his lengthy work with Journey, has also been involved in numerous side projects including a recent one working with Carlos Santana. This instrumental release with Neal on guitar and bass also features Jan Hammer and Igor Len on keyboards, and Steve Smith on percussion. Being a double-album, Neal…
Ajay Mathur’s “9 to 3” follows the tradition of classic rock while incorporating elements of modern life. This includes anxiety, the interesting left turns (a surf rock track called “Surfing Girl” that explores surfing the internet instead of actual surfing), and even a few delightfully smooth jazz-rock hybrids that recall Steely Dan at the height…
The veteran blues slide-player started out playing trumpet, and being influenced by the jazz greats. Sonny has played and collaborated with many of the blues heavy hitters like John Mayall and John Hiatt. He also toured with Jimmy Buffet Coral Reefer Band as well as being a regular at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festivals. Sonny likes…
Jasmine Poole sings songs that celebrate togetherness. On “Stuff We Leave Behind” Jasmine Poole’s songs express optimism as they observe the large and small events of live, from love to a party to moving forward. Throughout the album Jasmine Poole effortlessly combines elements of pop, country, folk, and even a little acappella. By exploring such…
We’re beginning to develop a semi-regular cast of characters here at the pages of sleepingbagstudios…anyone else noticing that? Mercury & The Architects first appeared on our pages with the lead single from their soon-to-be-released self-titled EP called “Philosophy Of Hope” which appears in the middle of their full set of five. With confident & solid…
This 4 member rock band Magnificent Birds of Prey recently released their latest 11 song CD entitled Kaleidoscope in 2015. From the first notes of “Sticks and Stones” trough to the final winding twists and turns of “lullaby” this release fires on all cylinders. In contrast a band like Magnificent Birds of Prey deliver an…
Ken Francis Wenzel, a singer/songwriter/saxophonist, based out of Washington, DC, has a brand new album for release, which is titled, ‘…Beneath Potomac Skies.’ Ken, who happens to hail from Champaign, Illinois, is an expert saxophone player, which he studied at the University of Illinois before graduating from UNLV in Las Vegas, NV with a degree…
Tim Houlihan sings like someone who has seen things. Often on hearing young singer-songwriters in their late teens or early twenties, critics might praise them for the imagery of their lyrics or the gritty delivery of their vocals. Houlihan skips over grittiness in favour of a pure, smooth voice. He skips over detailed imagery in…
You can tell a lot about a band by taking a look at the way they craft their sound. Autopilot, a Canadian indie rock group, has some intriguing methods that hooked me immediately. Laying of guitar effects, dynamic drum beats, and bow-played guitar are all present on their new record, ‘Desert Dreams.’ I’m compelled, because…
Can’t help but catch the vibe on the latest song from Jared Deck. The new single, “17 Miles” is a great blend of classic-rock, Americana and a slight country-twinge all coming together perfectly for good times and much volume. In short, the song rocks…but I do kinda feel like writing more than that… In a…
Duncan Foley’s “On Your Own” is a comfortable reassuring album. Lyrically the songs focuses on the idea of evolution, of trying to constantly better oneself. The pieces heavily reference 70s rock, Cat Stevens’ work in particular. For like Cat Stevens, Duncan Foley lets his lyrics serve as the guide for the rest of the song.…
Performing throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, Jodi Krangle has lent her talents on several albums including: six albums from Chris Conway, who is also featured on this debut album, three albums with Urban Tapestry, and a live album with Play it with Moxie. Jodi’s influences are classic jazz era artists such as Sarah…
Definitely a tough one to review…I gotta give Luca Bash some real credit for challenging my ears and brain for true acceptance with this new EP. On the one hand, there’s a beautifully gifted songwriter and musician…on the other is one struggling to find the perfect tones of voice to match the music. Listening to…
Ticket To Heaven recalls the halcyon days of trance pop. With neat little flourishes, SEIDS celebrates this nearly forgotten sound. Light on its feet the song has an optimism that is undeniable. Build-ups are quite satisfying as SEIDS includes small elements of funk and rock into the mix. Rather full these elements revolve around her…
I’m always a sucker for a crisp, crystal clear sound. If the production is there, then you’ve got my attention tenfold. Not Another Playne Jayne, hereafter NAPJ, is a CO-based Auroran rock band. Their specialty is “a somewhat dark, yet redemptive sound.” The music of NAPJ is a concatenation of a “variety of complimentary styles…
Lou Reed never believed rock music, the great populist art form of our age, condemned to disposability. He devoted significant time in the second half of his career to writing works of extraordinary depth like New York, Magic and Loss, and Songs for Drella with the hopes these albums combined the thematic weight of a…
Five Hundredth Year goes forth with great fury on “A Rose from Ashes EP”. Confrontational, volume-centric, and passionate, Five Hundredth Year explores darker impulses. The songs highlight the contrast between the absolute cacophonous and the quieter introspective impulses. Possessing great chops, the band is completely on point knowing when to go fully into the aural…
“Til The Wheels Fall Off” is full of heart and soul. Shane Martin’s voice leads the way with confidence and power. With each additional song comes yet another well-crafted narrative. As much a songwriter as a storyteller, his songs work together to travel across a lifetime. Best taken in as a whole, the songs work…
With a frantic energy London has Fallen explores the dramatic on “Into the Night”. Electronic effects are used to great purpose, nicely complementing the vocals that serve as the heart and soul of the songs. Volume is a must for these are songs that work best when blasted. They let the lyrics help form an…
