Monique Angele is a unique emerging singer-songwriter from Toronto, Canada. Her self-titled debut EP is a combined style of classical and pop, officially naming it “divine pop.” Her versatile style portrays pianistic finesse and soaring vocals. Today I am listening to her debut self-titled EP released in 2014. This is such a complex, amazing and…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
Rainstick Cowbell, Hand over the Heart
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Rainstick Cowbell (Scott Arbogast) in an interesting Slop Folk artist based out of Portland, OR. As I gave this, his fourth release to date a right and proper listen I have to agree with the slop folk comments – but it also has remnants of classic Psychedelic Rock. I’m a huge fan of Psychedelic rock.…
Rachel Lynn Sebastian, Raven Heart
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After six arduous weeks of recording, the collaborators were met with a major setback: All twelve “Raven Heart” songs needed to be remixed and re-mastered. The problem was that Rachel Lynn had already scheduled a six-month U.S. tour to promote the album that would not be rescheduled. The decision was made: Cori Jacobs (Master Fader…
RxGF, Any Other Way
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RxGF’s third full length release is action packed and positively brimming with indie cool. “How To Make It”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQR6urI2z4M#t=48 Listen to the full album Streaming links: BandCamp: https://rxgf.bandcamp.com/album/any-other-way SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/rxgf/sets/any-other-way-2014 Any Other WayOpening with title track ‘Any Other Way’, things sound painfully hip from the start, with its sprawling echoes and glacial tone that perfectly…
Love Jupiter, 1967
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Over the years we’ve seen rock, pop, and even hard rock slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish and highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” and I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs…
Wolfgang Douglas, Wonderful Life
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Wolfgang Douglas’s “Wonderful Life” lets loose. Everything within the two songs emphasizes this carefree attitude. Sonically the songs resemble The Strokes’ second album hopped up on unreasonable amounts of caffeine. This means the hooks are strong. Rhythms are out of control moving as fast as possible. Lyrically the two songs reflect this overall gleeful abandon.…
Hunter & The Dirty Jacks, Single Barrel
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Here’s to pouring old wine into new bottles. Hunter & The Dirty Jacks, a Los Angeles based blues-rock outfit, have self-released their full-length debut, Single Barrel, without even a blink of irony. While younger, retro-themed bands in other subgenres are increasingly steering towards sharper moments of outright parody, a unit like this never falls completely…
Sam Northwood, “Want To Be Home”
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Sam Northwood is a pop singer out of London, England. His current single is dedicated to raising awareness of being homeless and the trials that go along with the misfortune. This is a cause that I believe is often marred by judgment and ridicule and I am very pleased with his efforts. We can never…
Leonino, Naked Tunes
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Leonino makes perfect pop music, pop music with true soul. “Naked Tunes” are light lovely pieces stripped of unnecessary excess to get to the heart of the matter. Lyrics reveal a keen awareness of storytelling as each song unfurls to reveal adept skill at observation. Alongside the detailed narratives are catchy warm melodies that adorn…
Ken Dahl, “Casper”
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Ken Dahl’s “Casper” has a brilliant concept with pitch-perfect execution. With a focus on the nastiness of anonymous online bloggers the track moves forward thanks to the help of an incredibly infectious beat. Everything about the track indicates a keen sense of awareness about the double-standards that anonymity brings online. For anonymity allows people to…
Alice Sungurov, Broke My Heart
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“Broke My Heart” is a lush piece of pop. Alice Sungurov’s voice serves as the focal point for the entire track. With a relaxed easy groove the song reflects upon the oftentimes confusing aspects of being in a relationship and the heartbreak that comes with the end of a relationship. No breakup is easy. Here…
Random Dander, Second Cuming EP
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Random Dander sound truly completely out of their minds on the “Second Cuming EP” and this is a very good thing indeed. Throughout the collection they appear to be possessed by a boundless energy. Hence the songs have a strong physical quality to them as every song appears to be dripping with sweat. Incredibly catchy…
Tyler Gilbert, Okay Murphy
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Tyler Gilbert’s “Okay Murphy” is a well-balanced blend of electric and acoustic rock. His distinctive voice and vision help bring together a diverse range of approaches, from the celebratory to the tragic. “Okay Murphy” takes its many elements to create a beautiful, oftentimes tragic sound. Tyler Gilbert ” Ok, Murphy” EP https://soundcloud.com/tyler-4-2 Kicking off with…
RxGF, Any Other Way
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RxGF’s “Any Other Way” is what dark wave should be. The edge in the arrangements is nicely complemented by Angeline Schaaf’s powerful emotive voice. Alongside this the music itself benefits from the extensive subtle use of samples which give the overall sound a greyish foreboding atmosphere. For the more decipherable samples the overall effect is…
Deborah Henriksson, Traces
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Traces is an eclectic yet unique musical offering from Swedish vocalist Deborah Henriksson. Henriksson has released 4 albums thus far and clearly an established and experienced vocalist. I’ve been to Europe, and for someone like me no doubt inspiration comes from daily emotive impressions including a bumper-sticker, scribbles on a wall, signs of various purpose…
Mark Claytor, Uprising
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Ok, all you shredders out there this new CD by Mark Claytor is custom made specifically for you. Claytor is from Kansas and is ripping it up on his latest release, Uprising and showing the world how it is done. Listen – http://markclaytor.bandcamp.com/ It is a full instrumental from beginning to end and each song…
Imani Hutton, Go The Right Way
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Imani Hutton’s “Go The Right Way” is a soulful album. The songs are lush with a wide spectrum of smooth sounds. As the album progresses it becomes gradually more ambitious. With the first half of the album the songs retain a pop structure format. Later on the pieces become much more ambitious as proven by…
Dwayna Litz, “I’m the Girl I Used to Know Again”
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New York based singer/songwriter Dwayna Litz just released her latest work entitled “I;m the Girl I Used to Know Again”. This latest CD from Dwayna Litz “I’m the Girl I Used to Know Again” is refreshing. It has original songs reminiscent of the country/rock/bluegrass LA-Sound-of-the-70s with songs written similar to the style of early Linda…
ERLAND, On Our Side
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ERLAND takes the best of folk and makes it better. On Our Side is an easy-to-love warm collection. Respectful of the past while trying something new the songs are positively lush. At times reminiscent of the meticulous work of Fleet Foxes the songs shine. Lyrically the songs focus on relationships, how difficult they can sometimes…
The Tiger Club, Mephisto Island
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The Tiger Club’s “Mephisto Island” is incredibly cool, Bossa Nova 60s revival cool. Listening to it is an absolute joy. With a joyful take on lounge the songs have perfect arrangements, the kinds of things that Joao Gilberto would have been proud to call his own. By updating the sounds it is a modern take…
Matt Hannah, Let the Lonely Fade (Gammie Records)
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While it is true many feel the music industry is in disarray, it’s always a breath of fresh air to hear a new band or artist that’s not afraid to take chances with their musical expression. With Minneapolis based Matt Hannah’s latest musical offering “Let the Lonely Fade” it’s clear to me he has surpassed…
2Four & DJ Majestic, Intergalactic
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2Four & DJ Majestic offer up a bombastic collection on “Intergalactic”. Incredibly loud it is pure party music. The music virtually demands to be put on full blast. Adhering to a strong pop template the songs clock in around the three minute mark. Vocals are shouted. Extremely energetic the songs virtually burst at the seams,…
Owen Duggan, 11 Song Sampler (2 Albums) Puppy Dog Jig, An Elephant Never Forgets
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Owen Duggan’s music is inspired by the folk music of the US, Canada and the British Isles as well as jazz, classical and world music. Applauded for its positive message and wide appeal, Owen’s CD for children, An Elephant Never Forgets, has won numerous awards including those from National Parenting Publications (2006), Parents’ Choice Foundation…
Rhett May, Insatiable (EP)
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Who doesn’t like Singer-Songwriter music? However I’d bet not all hands go up in the air. I mean, while Singer-Songwriter, which by the way kind of emerges in the late 60’s and 70’s with the arrival of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Elton John and Billy Joel, represented a close and personal artistic snapshot from the…
Carmen Lundy, Soul to Soul
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(WOODLAND HILLS, CA) California based singer/songwriter/musician Carmen Lundy just released her new CD entitled appropriately enough “Soul to Soul” in 2014 Carmen Lundy began her professional career in Miami, FL as a jazz vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon. Over four decades later, Ms.…
Phil Varca and The Slamjammers
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(Long Island) New York based blues band Phil Varca and The Slamjammers are no stranger to musical movement. The band is composed of three veteran rockers: Phil Varca (guitar. vocals), Tom Porter (Bass) and Russell Stone (Drums.) Having cut their teeth with multiple albums and 35 years of experience they have also has enjoyed a…
Origami Horses, Trashola!
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“Trashola!” runs the gamut from the Velvet Underground’s party rock to Slint’s Post-Rock. Styles range from noisy abrasive lo-fi garage rock jams to droning Zen-like repetitive pieces. While they extensively reference the past they add their own peculiar take. Unique vocals, the soothing calm of the bass, and the large dollops of distortion that pepper…
Steven Norman Long, Message for the Masses
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Steven Norman Long is one of those singular composers out of San Francisco armed with an acoustic guitar and a whole lot of wisdom. He just released his latest CD entitled Message for the Masses in 2014. Long presents an original blender of sound mixing classic artists like Teddy Pendergrass, Sam Cooke, Arthur Cooley and…
Damon & Matthews, Bayside Boats
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Damon & Matthews deliver their latest album, Bayside Boats, a collection of easy listening so laid back it’s virtually floating on the gentle waves. Listen – http://damonandmatthews.bandcamp.com Opening with the album’s title track, ‘Bayside Boats’ comes across as a kind of poor man’s ‘Dock Of The Bay’. With that Otis Redding classic casting such a…
Billy Roberts And The Rough Riders, The Last of the Originals
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Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders is a celebration of Americana. “The Last of the Originals” does country music just right. Everything fits together perfectly from the western twang of the guitar to the bluesy feel of the band. With great attention to detail the songs feature fiddle, harmonica, helping to give color. Lyrically the…
Jupiter in Velvet, Glitter on the Sun
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Enter London based Jupiter in Velvet a singular band in the studio but different live. On his latest release entitled “Glitter on the Sun” you can expect a semi-experienced rock musician who champions a highly melodic sound against a passionate backdrop of vocals and lush guitar and keyboard combo, With his latest 13 song CD…
Doug Cash, Secrets
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Doug Cash is a jack of all trades, singer/songwriter, musician and producer out of Sacramento, CA. His current EP, Secrets is a wide variety of surprises in a short span of time. He has clever ditties that pleases the ears and wakes up your senses. Cash has smooth, soothing vocals that lay out his message…
Elad Zabinski, Moving to Wonderland
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Who doesn’t like Singer-Songwriter music? However I’d bet not all hands go up in the air. I mean, while Singer-Songwriter, which by the way kind of emerges in the late 60’s and 70’s with the arrival of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Elton John and Billy Joel, represented a close and personal artistic snapshot from the…
Ghostrain, Eulogy For The Living
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Opening track ‘Let’s Rock And Roll’ is unabashedly euphoric in its use of classic rock tropes, with the swirling organ and fizzing guitar solo. Eulogy for the Living CoverThe track gets the album off to a roaring start, before moving into ‘City of the sun’, a more smouldering track with gritty vocals and a low…
Matthew Neves, Diligence
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Matthew Neves released his third studio recording, Diligence in September of 2014 and is celebrating its success. He is from New Bedford, MA and has been playing since childhood. He has had success in TV when he wrote the soundtrack for a mini-series called, Angles and his success keeps on coming. Matthew Neves – Butterflies…
Cole Washburn, Traveler’s Moon
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Heartwarming folksy americana is what to expect when putting Cole Washburn’s EP Traveler’s Moon on for a spin. Audio: https://soundcloud.com/cole-washburn Opening with ‘Anastasia’, Cole Washburn’s signature sound is firmly established with its warm tones and gentle rhythm. As an opening track, it’s the perfect introduction to Washburn’s style, with the lap steel notes that ebb…
Mayhem Deranged, 50 Megaton Love
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Mayhem Deranged know how to have fun. 50 Megaton Love hits fast and hits hard. Everything comes together perfectly: from the driving tempo to the forceful vocals. With a clear nod to Billy Idol’s work in the 80s, the song is an absolute joy. Though 80s nostalgia is in full swing few others really seem…
Füneral Käb, Füneral Käb EP
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Possessing a thoroughly deranged intense energy, Füneral Käb’s debut EP shows off their destroy everything mentality. Literally a rush with absolutely no stopping whatsoever the EP burns through twelve minutes like it was nothing. How they manage to maintain this level of madness throughout the five songs is doubly impressive. This is what punk rock…
Sarantos, Not Where I Want To Be
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“Not Where I Want To Be” is a diverse eclectic album. Displaying a fondness for a vast variety of genres all of them viewed through a distinctly 80s filter. The earnestness of the album shines throughout its duration. From acoustic to the more dance-orientated work the pieces tend to work together to create a coherent…
Mike Vinson, Remembering Who I Am
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Mike Vinson is a musician that plays for the love of the music. He always tackles a project with the intention of what is best for the song. He has built a career playing in several bands for others and decided to put his own stuff out in the world with his latest project, Remembering…
