From Cleveland, Ohio comes rockers The Midnight Slander who just released their latest CD entitled “Long Way Home” in 2014 (Spectra Records). TMS are Dave Conner (Guitar/Vocals), Mike Gray (Bass/Piano/Organ), Al Rodriguez (Bass/Drums). Right from the start of Track 1 “Shattered” it might be easy to just categorize these 3 as a straight ahead “dime…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
Able Danger, Escape
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Dayton, Ohio can claim a new force to hit the music scene and its name is Able Danger. Able Danger is a new progressive rock band that had its first gig back in November of 2013. Less than a year in existence, Able Danger is already makin’ a lot of noise. The group has already…
Darren Lawrence, Need To Change
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As the former lead singer for Ruby Tigers who had a decent run followed by some commercial success, Darren Lawrence now steps into the spotlight as a solo artist. Darren’s latest single, “Need To Change”, is off of his debut solo EP titled ‘Enemies & Autumn Leaves’. I don’t know Darren personally, so not sure…
Northern National, Young & In Love
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Northern National’s “Young & In Love” defines the phrase “the importance of being earnest”. Such energetic fully felt songs adorn the collection. The songs work together to create a tapestry of sounds. Each one evolves in its own peculiar way. With a full-fledged committed band working together the group manages to show a lot of…
Ian & The Dream, California Cauliflower
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Ian & The Dream’s “California Cauliflower” sounds like summertime. Remarkably sunny the songs are full of optimism. The poppy nature of the songs is undeniable as they are full of wonderful hooks. Lyrically the songs have plenty of hope in them as they sync up perfect with lush instrumentation. With a true sense of playfulness…
Kristopher James, Movement 1
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Kristopher James conjures up wintery landscapes for “Movement 1”. There is warmth within these tracks of a house waiting to let someone in from the cold. His voice confirms this as the rest of the world appears to be kept at bay with a few basic instruments intended to bring great comfort. Outside of the…
Perfect Mark, Flesh & Voice
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Perfect Mark’s blend of pop rock balances smooth vocals with a good helping of grit. Listen: http://perfectmark.bandcamp.com ‘Footprints’ kicks things off sounding like classic R.E.M. with its jangling guitars and thundering bass, it’s a confident opener and a strong piece of rock that sets out Perfect Mark’s stall in a way that shows what to…
Dalal, Suddenly
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Dalal’s “Suddenly” starts off in full force. The sound is lush, lean and pristine. Every aspect of it is pure perfection from the beat to the hypnotic repetition that reveals greater nuance with more listens. Her voice is the beating heart of the piece. For all the production (which is incredibly enjoyable) it is her…
Creation Mind, The Crimson Sun
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Creation Mind’s “The Crimson Sun” is a fine homage to classic rock. With such big dreams Creation Mind covers all with its ceaseless sunlight. The music covers all classic rock variations: from the brilliantly brash album opener and title track “The Crimson Sun” to the quiet “My Lover and My Dream”. Even the track titles…
Bonnie Finken, Fairy Tales/Love Affairs
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A native of the Iowa Singer Bonne Finken just released a ground breaking 14 song CD entitled “Fairy Tales/Love Affairs” in 2014. On the heels of a new single and music video for the robust pop anthem “Step Back Baby,” audiences are getting a sense of the new direction for Finken’s third studio album, Fairytales/LoveAffairs,…
Skymonk, Skymonk
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From the opening bars of Skymonk’s self titled EP, a confident wash of smoky blues tinged indie rock launches itself forward, paving the way for ten minutes of solid tunes. Listen – http://skymonk.bandcamp.com Opener ‘Stop Looking At Me’ manages to set the bar high, with a sultry, hazy rock riff that perfectly underpins the track’s…
Heylel, Nebulae
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Heylel’s “Nebulae” shows the evolution of progressive rock. With a well-placed King Crimson cover thrown into the mix (I Talk to the Wind) Heylel displays progressive rock influences and progressive rock’s future. Ana Batista’s vocals appear to be the unifying force throughout the collection. Such a strong distinctive voice helps to bond the many different…
Jelani Lateef, Manhood Talk
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Jelani Lateef’s “Manhood Talk” is aural optimism. The rhythm of the piece feels incredibly colorful. Samples are carefully selected and lightly manipulated to fit with the overall positivity that emanates from the sound. Over the course of the piece Jelani Lateef manages to convey the image of someone who is slowly realizing their purpose and…
Amen Alibi, Addicted
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Amen Alibi could well be time travellers, bringing their instruments with them from forty years ago to make use of the modern recording technology that is now so readily available. Their latest release, Addicted, brings together a whole host of influences and ideas from the classic prog/psych rock era, and delivers it with a sense…
Clouds and Clocks, Aliantha
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Clouds and Clocks creates a truly surprisingly piece with “Aliantha”. With many different twists and turns the piece manages to be full of life and full of influences. Many of the sounds are those that otherwise would never meet. The juxtaposition of the varying styles works surprisingly well. Few groups have ever tried merging these…
Benn Bacot, 4Love of Abbey! (VOLUME I)
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This CD 4Love of Abbey! (VOLUME I) is the latest release from San Francisco based Jazz Vocalist Benn Bacot. A CD of standards, some classics, of the American Songbook. Old blues from 1895 to 60’s vocalese this CD showcases the many layers of a voice not often heard in today’s music. No tenor or baritone…
Eric Frisch, “Mary Ann”
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Country is as country does right here with Eric Frisch’s ‘Mary Ann’. Stream the single: https://soundcloud.com/ericfrisch/mary-ann Cracking out some classic blues riffs and laying down some serious square dance fodder, this is one of those tracks that ain’t going to be for everyone. Writing as a Brit, it’s not one of those genres that gets…
Azwel, From Now On
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Azwel’s “From Now On” is studious, well-crafted pop made perfect. “From Now On” sounds remarkably similar to Jon Brion’s soundtrack work. Azwel’s casual songwriting approach and vocal style make it surprisingly tender with a warm, well lived-in sound. Much of the album has a cinematic feel to it that allows the songs to gain an…
Devyn Rose, Falling 4 U
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“As if Rihanna and Labyrinth decided to turn to diamond theft, only to give up halfway through the heist and head to a club instead without bothering to change out of their cat burglar outfits.” Loaded with emotion, yearning, and the ache of new love, Devyn Rose’s ‘Falling 4 U’ is a rich and soulful…
Mesa Jane, Level
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The new “Level” CD from Pennsylvania based Mesa Jane is an exceptional 10 Track release and is very multi-dimensional to say the least. It also however possesses an undeniable Alternative Rock-Pop core sound accessible by all listeners – even old school Singer/Songwriter, 80’s, 90’s Pop fans. Does all of this sound a bit over the…
Jambalaya Brass Band, On the funky Side (2012)
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On the funky Side (2012) is the latest album available by New York based Jambalaya Brass Band and their red hot Creole Soul sound. First a bit about the band: The Jambalaya Brass Band is a group of seasoned musical pros from a variety of impressive previous musical settings as diverse as the Duke Ellington…
A Light Within, Preface (EP)
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Patient, refined, with enough space for the ultimate crescendo, the three pieces on “Preface (EP)” build off of each other. Together they work to create a series of fascinating dark territories. Outside of the obvious debt to Post-Rock they have a number of particularly well selected moments. From their focus on constant change the songs…
BEEMA, Scuse Me
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Ft. Pierce, Florida is the home to BEEMA, a female rap artist who knows how to work her hooks and flows into epic tunes at every turn. Citing T.I, Lauren Hill, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Lil “Queen Bee” Kim, and Nas as her influences, BEEMA is known as THE BOSS OF THE SOUTH.…
Jacob Acosta, For the People by the People
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One of the greatest things a music-lover can experiences is the discovery of a new artist so exciting, so invigorating it makes the listener want to “really” write about it. Though I don’t write reviews under false pretenses I will admit many times I find myself writing reviews based on music that is to say…
Gone By Sunrise, Gone By Sunrise
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Gone By Sunrise makes the perfect weekend soundtrack. These are casual songs in the best way possible creating a relaxed atmosphere. Utilizing a myriad of stylistic choices from straight-up rockers to acoustic-centered pieces, they manage to nestle themselves into the mind. Everything comes together nicely. Perfectly balanced they are full-bodied, fully formed pieces with plenty…
Hellgate EP
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This is such a sizzling EP what else can I say in the end? This stacked 8 track EP by three piece Hellgate is more than explosive, amazing and dramatic, it’s also extremely suspenseful and delivers a classic old school alt-rock style. HELLGATE are: Joel Floyd West (Guitar, Vocals), Scott Daniels (Bass), Jordan Sean (Drums).…
The Disc Rays, “Love Ain’t Easy”
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The Disc Rays is a musical project from Owen Martin, he is a songwriter and guitar player out of Ireland. This is a total jam band, he’s having fun and pulling out the big guns with some influential presence from the Velvet Underground and Jesus and Mary Chain. The recording and production have an old…
Roxanna, Exotica
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Having cut her teeth with multiple of stepping stone life experiences Roxanna has been turning people’s heads and ears. Ultimately, it was the relative of a hospital patient who asked why she wasn’t pursuing entertainment professionally—and offered the missing ingredient: financial backing. Roxanna then contacted producer Portmann and sang Aguilera’s “Lift Me Up.” In a…
Charlee Remitz, These Veins (EP)
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Who is Charliee Remitz anyway? Listening to her music I get a sense of urgency. It’s a need to capture the moments before they are gone and you forget. Sometimes, it’s about the dust left behind by what just got burned off, and the sense of loss that comes with that. Sometimes it’s about the…
Sarantos, I Love To Love You Too
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Europop drenched in auto-tune right here. Sarantos’ ‘I Love To Love You Too’ is enigmatic and curious. On first listen, it comes across as naive, but as things unfold, the track reveals itself to be more overly earnest in its efforts. On the face of it, ‘I Love To Love You Too’ is a straightforward…
Atom Strange, The Lost Cosmonaut
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ATOM STRANGE formed in 2006 with musicians Alex Rude and Rick Dunn. They shared a vision of forming a rock band that was inspired by science fiction, true life, and the absurd, and intentionally tries to avoid the clichés normally heard in the hard rock genre. The band now has several albums to their credit…
Save the Radio, Calculating the Sum of Your Life
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“Save The Radio, a Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida based modern rock band has been drawing industry comparisons to such iconic adult contemporary acts as Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty. It’s rather odd that I like this as much as I do. I mean, it’s very mainstream and even feels a bit like two bands I…
Esthema, Long Goodbye
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Esthema’s Long Goodbye is a rich progressive rock record that harnesses classic and modern sounds. With its short opening track ‘Three Sides To Every Story Part 1′, it’s clear from the start that Esthema have worked hard to bring together a range of instruments to create some provocative prog. As the three part opening section…
Billy Ray Deiz, “Rather Have Sooner”
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Laced with woozy tremolo and everything you would expect from smooth country tinged soul, Billy Ray Deiz’s ‘Rather Have Sooner’ lets loose the big guns. It’s all here; swaggering saxophones, snappy funk guitars, and vocals that balance melancholy with a cheeriness that makes the track sunny and uplifting. With funk like this, it’s impossible not…
Xavier Toscano, Feel So Good
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Taking cues from Bruno Mars and throwing in a huge sprinkling of electro pop, Xavier Toscano’s new album Feel So Good is a party album full of bright lights and vibrant colours. Opening with ‘Never Wanna Leave’, Toscano’s style is shown to be upbeat and playful from the start, leading into ‘The Remedy (Feel Alright)’…
Winchester Revival, Eyes in the Canopy
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Eyes in the Canopy is the latest four track EP from East Bay, California based band Winchester Revival. Winchester Revival is a difficult band to categorize, with a refreshing and unique sound that carries throughout Eyes in the Canopy. The EP opens with “Chemical Yellow,” an alternative trip-rock tune that proudly displays the musical prowess…
AntoineRNB
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Antoine is hitting the scene and is building his career one song at a time. His soulful melodies come across smooth and vibrant, unleashing true raw emotions in every beat. Straight from Poughkeepsie, New York he is ready to take on the world. Each track is defined by catchy hooky lyrics and foot tapping rhythms…
Sex With Strangers, You Know Something We Don’t (CD)
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Vancouver rockers “Sex With Strangers” seem to making all the right moves. Working hard, releasing music, hitting the pavement. Make no mistake about it these 5 from Canada appear to be surging and are quickly becoming a household name – North and South of the border. For a 5 piece band like Sex With Strangers…
Farewell, Manchester, ‘Found’
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Perfect pop in the style of Owl City and the Killers right here from Farewell, Manchester. Opening with title track ‘Found’, the sound of Farewell, Manchester might not be the most original but it is delivered in a way that comes across as caring about the place it comes from. Making use of the aforementioned…
Stone Diamond, We Stole the Stars from the Black Night
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The clarity of this Stone Diamond is spot on with one jamtastic, brilliant cut! Stone Diamond is a rock band that has a lot of history together. Starting as a garage band some many years ago plus dealing with a breakup at some point in the past, Stone Diamond is moving forward with no regrets. …
