Today I listened to the 7 Track CD by Marysville, WA musical duo Beth Whitney Bradford Loomis entitled The Banner Days. These 2 are one up and coming artistic duos that cannot and should not be underscored. All music, lyrics, and fretwork invites the listener to sift through a multitude of folk-pop-rock sounds, all of…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
JD Hardy, Ride On Single
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About the Artist: Today I’m checking out the latest single “Ride On” from California Cowboy JD Hardy. Another track featured is “Country Saved Me.” RIDE ON is dedicated to Hardy’s Bull Rid’n Heroes! Gary Leffew, Lane Frost, Ty Murray and many many more of you tough of ole cowboys who’s ridn’n your way to the…
Pipe Dream, The Oak
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Cleveland based Pipe Dream haven’t had their head in the clouds putting this well executed EP together. http://pipedreamofficial.bandcamp.com/album/the-oak The OakOpening with title track ‘The Oak’, Pipe Dream’s sound comes off as fresh, airy, and soothing. That hipster indie sound is there -à la Mumfords, Bon Iver – but it’s wistfully done, an optimistic and hopeful…
Eric Kamen, Serenades
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Having cut his teeth with multiple of stepping stone musical experiences guitarist/producer/songwriter Eric Kamen is turning people’s heads, and ears with his latest 15 track collection entitled “Serenades.” Quite simply Kamen set his sights on creating a new style of music: a radical collection of Spanish Style Flamenco guitar and Hip Hop. This latest CD…
Big Tribe, From the Fringes
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With some help from us (Bonnie, Dave, Joe, Liz, Michael, Peter) are The Fabulous Neptones, the core of Big Tribe – Panyon crafts a sweet non-glossy LP that reminded me of a low-fi Traveling Wilburys at times. “From the Fringes” sets the stage with his quirky vocal delivery and Harrison-like guitar. Most songwriters discover songs…
Sleeping Babys, Idolize
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Sleeping Babys keep things simple on “Idolize”. With a distinctly 60s retro flair to their sound they are reminiscent of other 60s pop revivalists like Stereolab and their ilk. “Idolize” is a great take on what pop music often forgets: simplicity. By stripping the sound down to the basic drum, bass, guitar, vocals they are…
Jenny Jarnagin, Bullseye
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Jenny Jarnagin’s “Bullseye” is a celebratory pop perfection. With a large sound and great energy Jenny Jarnagin defines her sound with a phenomenal amount of instruments. From piano to banjo and many more, Jenny Jarnagin’s voice confidently soars above it all. At times cinematic in tone Jenny Jarnagin’s songs are well-crafted pieces of art. The…
Danny John Trio, Mr Twister
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It’s fusion, Jim, but not as we know it. Mind altering jazz-metal for the thinking music aficionado. https://soundcloud.com/dannyjohntrio/sets/mr-twister Opening with the spiky ‘Drift’, it’s immediately clear that this is a band that ventures into the unusual, the experimental, and on occasion the downright bonkers. The track’s frenetic and splintered riffing skitters madly throughout its nine…
Emma Constance, Hot Stuff
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Don’t panic! If you’re looking for a sassy reworking of the Donna Summer classic ‘Hot Stuff’, Emma Constance has got it covered. Buy – https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hot-stuff-single/id906163832 Listen – https://coast2coastmixtapes.com/audiodetail.aspx?audioid=375008 It’s always a little concerning when approaching a cover version of a song that is so embedded in classic pop culture, not least when it’s the kind…
Django Mack, Sweet Life
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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 San Francisco based Django Mack’s latest musical offering “Sweet Life” it’s clear to me he has surpassed what…
Royal Holland, Volume One – The Maze
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Running the gamut from folk to dance Royal Holland’s “Volume One – The Maze” is a lot of fun. The combination of the radically different styles brings to mind Beck’s early experiments with folk and found sounds. Lyrically the collection ranges from the celebratory into sadder territory. With such a collection Royal Holland is able…
Curious Quail, After The Lights Failed
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“After The Lights Failed” is an album about togetherness. Curious Quail creates a rich warm sound with satisfying buildups. Chamber pop rarely sounds this good. Thanks in part to the immaculate taste of Curious Quail the rock and classical elements play off of each other. Strings sound positively divine as they give the songs their…
Maggie Anderson, Acoustic EP
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Maggie Anderson’s “Acoustic EP” is soulful. Quite the accomplished singer-songwriter she keeps things remarkably simple. With a stripped-down raw feel to the work her music comes directly from the heart. Exploring different playing styles throughout the three songs she is able to display the subtleties inherent in her voice and in her guitar. The songs…
Perry Bonck, Heart of a Cowboy
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Perry Bonck is celebrating his latest release, Heart of a Cowboy. This Louisiana native shows his true colors throughout this entire CD. He boasts with pride about his home town in several tracks and paints melodic pictures of his life and upbringing. Bonck has a vocal styling that is reminiscent of Dwight Yoakum and is…
Christina Gaudet, Wild Things
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Christina Gaudet s a hot running artist/band from the New York area. Her latest CD released in 2014 is entitled “Wild Things”. Nowadays making music is so accessible to anyone and being that we have the do it yourself attitude, it just makes sense. Most bands don’t want to sit around just waiting for someone…
Stellar, Fight For Love
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Positive, upbeat, and filled with sounds that will cheer you up this summer, Stellar’s latest track, ‘Fight For Love’ is one of the happiest electronic pop song’s you’ll hear today. https://soundcloud.com/stellar4u/fight-for-love-singlefree-download It’s easy to be immediately reminded of Cheryl Cole’s similarly titled ‘Fight For This Love’. That song was altogether darker in tone – Stellar’s…
Ari and the Alibis, Self titled EP
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Ari and the Alibis are a band out of Sarasota, FL and is making waves in a short period of time. Building quite the following with their worldly sounds fused with jazz, blues and a powerhouse vocal that exudes confidence and is winning their audience over. Listen – https://soundcloud.com/ari-and-the-alibis/sets/ari-and-the-alibis-ep There is a nice Latin flair…
Big Apple Blues, Energy
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On “Energy” Big Apple Blues narrates a day in the life of an average New York. Full of kinetic energy the songs refuse to slow down. Rather they move at full speed for there is no slowing down. The band clearly listens and works off each other creating a well-oil machine that effortlessly creates fully…
Tommy West, Frequencies of the Sun
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Tommy West’s “Frequencies of the Sun” is a real trip. Over the course of eleven songs Tommy West displays his considerable chops. “Frequencies of the Sun” is a remarkable album with the uncanny ability to show off talent while remaining well attuned to the necessity of melodic progression. His penchant for 70s rock is particularly…
THE EMPTY HEARTS, THE EMPTY HEARTS
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The Empty Hearts are another super group of sorts, where successful members of past bands (The Cars, Blondie, The Romantics and The Chesterfield Kings) get together to collaborate. This group is made up of Elliot Easton (Cars) on lead guitar, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Clem Burke (Blondie) on drums, Wally Palmar (Romantics)…
VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS
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This Dutch group is made up of former Whitesnake guitarist and songwriter Adrian Vandenberg, Jan Hoving on vocals, Sem Christoffel on bass, and Mart Nijen Es on drums. Jan has a Robert Plant quality with the range and delivery that fits the songs here. The vocal duties would have also been right in Sammy Hagar’s…
Phillip Brandon, Debut EP
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Phillip Brandon’s homespun blend of roots rock, Americana, and Soul is captured in his new EP/album which goes by the same name. With just the right mix of sweetness and grit, the music is packed with the lowdown, roots soul that will make you groove and smile. Straight away I discovered Brandon to have a…
Rick Parma, Piece of Heaven
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This CD “Piece of Heaven” by Southern California’s own Rick Parma is probably destined to be remembered as one of the classic good timing Smooth-Jazz CD’s of recent time. I’m an experienced listener of the Jazz standard – and always skeptical as my standards set relatively high. This is not really Jazz mind you but…
The Midnight Slander, Long Way Home
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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…
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…
