Taking cues from Chrissie Hynde and Zero 7, Mini Diaz delivers eclectic pop filled with passion and heart. Let’s face it, if music doesn’t make you feel something then it rarely seems worth giving it the time. Thankfully, Mini Diaz creates exactly the kind of music that is impossible to listen to without being moved…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
Blue Light Bandits, The BLB Demo
by •
Classic bluesy soul. That’s the dish of the day from the Blue Light Bandits, with a generous side order of funk. Blue Light Bandit’s music is smooth and stylish, shown firstly with ‘Sarah’, a smoochy love number littered with all the funk-soul elements you would expect. As the track progresses, it becomes clear that there…
Rick Shaffer, Misadventure
by •
I had the pleasure of reviewing Rick Shaffer’s second solo album titled ‘Hidden Charms’ (http://skopemag.com/2011/05/25/rick-shaffer-hidden-charms) back in 2011 for Skope and I knew then that Rick had a special quality about him. His latest release and now 5th solo effort, ‘Misadventure’, proves that Shaffer’s ‘Hidden Charms’ are revealed once and for all by way of…
Xombie, Capital X
by •
With some brutal beats and out there vocal stylings, Xombie’s latest album Capital X will shake the dust from your weary bones. Stream the full album here: https://soundcloud.com/xombienyc/sets/capital-x/s-VNfUp Starting strong, ‘Velocarapper’ sets out Xombie’s stall with clarity and focus, laying down some aggressive hip hop vocals with some real nu metal leanings. The fusion of…
Matt Townsend And The Wonder Of The World
by •
Matt Townsend’s curious blend of folk rock leans in many ways towards Neutral Milk Hotel and Apples In Stereo, immediately made clear on opening track ‘Seventh Story’. Listen: http://matttownsendmusic.bandcamp.com/ The folksy americana makes good use of lap steel and emotive, wailing vocals and form an undulating rhythm. ‘Carry On’ continues in the same vein, with…
Sean Wagner And The Ne’er Do Wells EP
by •
Blasting into the soundscapes with trumpets blazing, Sean Wagner And The Ne’er Do Wells blend Irish folk, americana and marching band tunes to complete abandon. After seeing Monsters University it irritated me that the best tune on the entire soundtrack wasn’t featured on the main OST. It was ‘Gospel’ by the Marchforth Marching Band, and…
Tanya Marie Harris, Second Hand Dreams
by •
Citing inspiration from Patsy Cline to Carrie Underwood, Canadian and Nashville country pop rock singer Tanya Marie Harris is destined to inspire future generations of country music lovers with her new single “Second Hand Dreams”. Something that really stood out to me are the lyrics, her story is about her father that sacrificed his own…
D.Z tha DoK, A Souljah’s Ambition
by •
D.Z tha DoK’s latest mixtape lays down tight beats and confident rhymes, with a narrative approach and a sense of direction all the way. http://www.datpiff.com/DZ-tha-DoK-A-Souljahs-Ambition-mixtape.628239.html Opening with ‘Combative Soul’, the military imagery is immediately present, with a beat that creates the sense of marching onwards to fight a noble battle. Lyrically the track calls into…
Larusso, Life In Static
by •
Larusso aren’t afraid to hide their influences. Rather, they are the kind of band that shows through their music that they are proud to be a part of the rich legacy of modern hardcore. Larusso-pic-4-750x500Let’s get the comparisons out of the way; Anberlin, Brand New, Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday (spot the reference in the track…
Alex Cook, The Swing Set
by •
Who can forget the greatest party of all time? Fortunately I am old enough to remember some of it. Trust me when I say being in Las Vegas in the 60’s and late 70’s was the place to be as artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett dominated the strip and airwaves. So…
Xander Demos, Guitarcadia
by •
The opening track is titled “Right Angles.” You can tell right form jump not knowing anything about this act that it is definitely metal. This gives you an old school metal feel almost and that is a good thing to me. The third track, “Under A Darkened Sky,” jas some really strong and good sounding…
Amy Rose, Country Crazy
by •
The opening track ” Country Crazy” starts off with a great high energy. There are good instrumentals, Amy Rose’s voice adds to the song very nicely. I like the country/pop sound she has! At first I was really into track two, “I Just Want You To Know.” Then, as I listened more and more to…
Mike Barnett, Everyone Gets to Dream
by •
Midwest artist Mike Barnett, great hooks and melodies to get you thru your day. Old 97’s producer Salim Nourallah produced and played a great bass on the tracks. Dallas super players contributed. Do you miss George Harrison? Me too. One of the greatest things a music-lover can experiences is the discovery of a new artist…
Jerra Blues, “Soul Inspirer”
by •
Transformed from a b-girl to an MC on one of the modest hip-hop labels in Russia in 2004, recording a handful of singles as both a rapper and singer, and also winning a few festival contests. “Hip-hop quickly became my religion and the love of my life” Jerrra. Some of my biggest musicial inspirations are…
Jude Gwynaire, Singing Rock Lake
by •
Opening with ‘Ocean City Groove’, Singing Rock Lake establishes itself as an album filled with a range of influences. We could reel off names like Boards Of Canada, Death In Vegas, Royksopp, and the more obscure sounds of Finland’s Paavoharju. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/judegwynaire54 ‘Girls Of Malibu Canyon’ has a dark, energetic and at times pummeling groove that…
A Hundred Years, Cosmic Imbalance
by •
A Hundred Years is a trio of avowed “creepy dirtbags” from Edmonton. Purveying a genre known as “psychedelic badlands rock,” this group of malnourished, long-haired misfits has – since its inception in early 2012 – acquired a reputation for maniacally intense live shows, be they underground or otherwise. As front man Jeremiah Simmons remarks, “We…
Deborah Henriksson, Traces
by •
Deborah Henriksson’s voice perfectly suits her celtic, ethereal music. Written with her longtime producer Mats Nyman, Traces is a delightful collection of classic, yet modern celtic folk. On ‘Fly’ things sound almost like the symphonic rock of Within Temptation, with slightly gothic hints, but the strongly celtic tones are what carry the song along, with…
Marshall Dane, One of These Days
by •
How would one describe Marshall Dane? Dane’s voice cuts to the heart of any story, taking you down back roads, through broken lonely hearts, and into hopeful, open skies. Launched in May 2013, in time for last year’s CMAO Awards – for which he was nominated in several categories including Male Artist and Album Of…
Stevie Bucks, “Soul Projects” Mixtape
by •
With a distinctive style that sits somewhere between Kanye and a kind of caribbean influenced dub, Stevie Bucks shows of his skills as an emcee with his latest mixtape, Soul Projects. Stream the mixtape at Datpiff: http://www.datpiff.com/Stevie-Bucks-Soul-Projects-mixtape.501518.html From its opening track, the flow is relentless like a steady stream of bullets, and blending with…
Kenny Fame, Another Man’s Woman
by •
“A hoe down between Woody from Toy Story and Teenage Fanclub, while they dance around a purple campfire.” Audio – http://www.reverbnation.com/KennyFameMusic/song/21104574-another-mans-woman The archetypical renaissance man, Kenny Fame returns with another track that takes his sound into a totally new direction. This time, Kenny Fame has put his hand to country and blues. Tonally rich, saturated…
The Lost Poets, Insubordia
by •
The five tracks that make up The Lost Poets’ Insubordia form a dark, brooding record that draws on a wide range of influences. The EP can be streamed in full at Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lostpoets/sets/the-lost-poets-insubordia Opening with ‘Ode To K’, there are hints of Alter Bridge and even Slipknot, with rich vocals that sustain and break at…
Chris Andres, Authentic Outlaw Country
by •
Americana artists often offer listeners something that is very genuine and can be awe-inspiring. British Columbia based singer / songwriter Chris Andres fits well into this category with his latest release entitled fittingly enough Authentic Outlaw Country. In his own words: The term “Outlaw” gets thrown around a lot in the music biz, but if…
Mangoseed, Basquiat
by •
Mangoseed’s debut album is a funk infused slice of quirky rock. Opening with ‘Lioness’, an energetic track which nods to Rage Against The Machine in terms of funk/rock fusion, while ‘Careful’ lays on the 2-step pretty thick at points, with a cracking snare that you’ll just have to hear yourself to believe it. Vocally,…
Red Undead
by •
Red Undead is an Alternative Rock band from Mission Viejo, CA. . Influences: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, Pixies. The band enjoys pizza, Kirin Ichiban, and pirate tales. Mary Yanashima – vocals, Daniel Jun – drums, Thomas Monroe – guitar, Blake Martin -bass. An original blender of sound mixing bands like White Stripes,…
Lovesick Saints, Dia De Los Muertos
by •
Blasting out ballsy punk rock tinged with hints of dirty southern blues, Lovesick Saints’ Dia De Los Muertos EP is a hook-laden set of punchy tunes. Opening with ‘One Foot In The Grave’, Lovesick Saint’ style is immediately made clear, with their growling guitars and Green Day style vocals. The guitar work even has hints…
Shudder, Inside My Head
by •
Hailing from the city of Detroit in the US, the rock world brings you “shudder”. Formed in 2003, this 5 piece has had quite an adventure from their early roots to present. However today they are here to show the world they mean business! Combining the sounds of rock and modern melodic metal, you get…
John Lynam, WAR
by •
Gritty, emotive on-the-road country is the dish of the day with John Lynam’s EP WAR. Opening with ‘Daisey’, we’re immediately met with a driving, rolling piece of rock and roll. The guitars are crunchy, the organs swirl in and out, and the lyrics are romantic. Add to that the uplifting chords of the chorus, it’s…
Aluatta, Foolish Game (2014)
by •
This CD “Foolish Game” by Italy’s own Aluatta is sure to one day be remembered as one of the classic good timing Americana-Alt Rock CD’s of recent time – and they’re not even from the states. It’s pure rocking Americana magic the way it used to be, full of cautionary tales, and a passion…
Canary Burton, Jazz Bird
by •
Canary Burton brings us a jazz compilation called, Jazz Bird. She is a lover of music and is a composer that writes for no other reason except for the love of the game. Some people exude their talents and Burton is one of those who creates pure heart felt music from the deepest depths of…
The 12:45 Music Project – (Volume I)
by •
In our modern age of Rap synths and autotune it can be difficult to find the top seeds among the harvest. What makes masters like Snoop Dog, Nelly, Eminem so sought after? Sure they sound good, they look good, the feel good. But above that they got something else. They got what many in the…
Jared Wesley, The Reinvention of ‘The Cool’ 2
by •
With its tongue-in-cheek reference to Miles Davis’ seminal Birth Of The Cool, Jared Wesley’s mixtape The Reinvention Of ‘The Cool’ stands in an entirely arena with his old school hiphop. With the intro out of the way, ‘Happy Belated’ immediately establishes Jared Wesley’s style as vintage sounding, with a loose flow and relentless rhymes. Repetition…
Sulu Babylon, Colour
by •
British indie rockers Sulu Babylon are here with their EP Colour. It’s tinged with all the british indie rock tones we’ve come to expect, and yet touched with a distinctly American influence. Soundcloud EP streaming: https://soundcloud.com/sulu-babylon/sets/sulu-babylon-colour-ep Opening with ‘See It In Colour’, there’s an immediately fascinating blend of emo and britpop, the vocals shifting between…
Frankly Speaking EP
by •
Frankly Speaking is the brainchild of Jordon Schneider, a Cincinnati native who, upon taking a music degree, headed to Los Angeles, where he: recorded two albums, appeared on CD compilations with such acts as Lifehouse, and earned a nomination at the 2007 L.A. Music Awards. Having since returned to his hometown, he has performed on…
Liz Kennedy hits a “Speed Bump”
by •
The Review: Speed Bump by Liz Kennedy was released 2013. A highly anticipated release from a singer songwriter who hails from the Bay area featuring all original heartfelt songs on acoustic guitar and piano, accompanied by amazing musicians on electric and acoustic guitar, piano, organ and back-up vocals. I call this style of music “Mood…
When Summer’s Gone, Knockout Mechanism
by •
Exploding with the feisty punk rock of ‘After All’, When Summer’s Gone’s Knockout Mechanism immediately establishes itself as big, bold, and full on rockin’. Stream the full album at Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/when-summers-gone/sets/knockout-mechanism As an album opener, it’s a good way of getting your sound across effectively, with hints of Nirvana on the vocal and touches of…
EarthandtheNextSociety, On the path to the 100th Monkey
by •
In anticipation of their upcoming release, The 100th Monkey, Earth And The Next Society reveal four tracks to give a taste of what is coming up. Soaked in classic rock swagger, these tracks hark back to a time when prog rock reigned, while also acknowledging the clean aesthetics of modern music. https://soundcloud.com/earthandthenextsociety/sets/on-the-path-to-the-100th ‘Cheap Hustle’ bears…
Frostbite, Everything I Crave
by •
Frostbite is a one man rock band and constantly evolving portfolio of an emerging Atlanta based producer, experienced performer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter named Chris Compton. Chris Compton writes, performs, produces and releases all Frostbite material under his own dark moniker. Drawing influences by suspected artists such as Carnivore, A Pale Horse Named Death, Seventh Void…
Peter Kelly, Fear Of Landing
by •
Starting off sounding like Peter Kelly has something of a kinship with Jack Johnson, as ‘Fear Of Landing’ progresses it becomes clear that there is more going on here than might at first seem apparent. The verse is pretty laid back, with an engaging melody and some touching falsetto, but once the chorus kicks in,…
Kenny Fame, I Need U
by •
With the pop punch of a male Katy Perry and a side helping of skitteringly eccentric electronica, Kenny Fame’s ‘I Need U’ is incredibly fun, frenetic, and fanciful. I Need U (Lyric Video) http://youtu.be/fLpsKlY_Q-k Completely nuts, laced with 8-bit bleeps, soulful vocals, and airy atmospheric synths, this is music that takes not taking itself seriously…
36?, Where Do We Go From Here?
by •
From its opening bars, Where Do We Go From Here? establishes itself as a diverse and inventive record from 36? (The question mark is on purpose, and possibly even intended to be pronounced.) Drawing on sounds and influences from Arcade Fire, The Polyphonic Spree, and even the Mars Volta at times, Where Do We Go…
