Opening with the impossible confidence of ‘Johnny Was’, Paris’ own Juliette Jules immediately shows off her abilities as a young singer-songwriter. Perfectly matching sparkling piano and shuffling drums with Jules’ spectacular voice, it’s clear that this is a musician deserving of great things. Sounding like Lana Del Rey with a sense of humour, she carries…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
Ray William Roldan, Mended Fences
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Ray William Roldan is back with his latest release, Mended Fences. He comes on the scene with the same tenacity he puts forth in everything that he does. He is edgy country and rockin’ the socks off his fans globally. He is enjoying radio play worldwide and after listening, I can certainly understand why. He…
The Pondhawks, The Pondhawks Have Landed
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One of Chicago’s top indie pop bands are The Pondhawks, who are making a spash not just locally but also abroad, with their brand of cheeky soft rock. The Beatles are the first thing that comes to mind, not necessarily the actual band, but the band members during their various solo adventures, Paul McCartney’s solo…
JP Stacka featuring Shemida, J-B Without U
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JP Stacka reigns out of Tampa, FL and is no stranger to the industry. He has been in the business for 14 years and the experience shows in his music. His latest single featuring the lovely Shemida J, B Without U, is a song you can’t live without. Listen: http://www.reverbnation.com/jpstacka/song/20032540-b-without-u This tune has all the…
Jiggley Jones, A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light (EP)
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From Coatsville, Pennsylvania comes Alternative Singer/Songwriter Jiggley Jones who just released his latest EP (A Mountain, A Struggle, A Tunnel, A Light) in 2014 (Lamon records). Many of you are already aware how fickle this industry is. Right from the start it might be easy to just categorize Jones as some straight ahead folk rocker,…
Stage Republic, Firstage
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Taking the elements of classic pop music, particularly pop music from the 80s, and reconfiguring them in a 21st century format, Stage Republic have created Firstage, a synth filled album with hooks around every corner. ‘The Last Side’ unpacks the synths and sets up the stall, presenting vocals that bear influences from Sting and Phil…
itsDICE, Philosophy
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itsDice is hitting the airwaves and coming to us from Los Angeles, CA. His latest release is, Philosophy and he is telling it like it is with conviction. He has a smooth sound with a lot to say, talking about growing up in a poor neighborhood and being exposed to the harsh realities of gang…
Chand K Nova, Solar Bliss EP
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Guitarist and songwriter Chand K Nova’s new e.p. Solar Bliss is an instrumental guitar record that’s an interesting mix of styles and sounds. Allowing the guitar to be front and center as the ‘voice’ of the music, Chand K Nova’s e.p. is full of passion and understated melodies. The e.p. begins with the title track…
Eluusif, Aliens Do it Better
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Eluusif is an electronic dance Dubstep artist out of London. The latest creation is, Aliens Do It Better. Eluusif is definitely doing it as good as they come and is dancing their way into your psyche and possessing your body into a musical frenzy. Allow me to paint the scene for you. The lights go…
The Fixers Red, Novellus
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The Fixers Red is a one man band from Seattle that writes, records and produces his own songs. “Novellus” is his latest offering, and man what an offering it is. 19 songs, ranging from jazz to progressive altrock, there’s alot of variety here, and the man behind The Fixers Red [Daniel Schauer] plays every instrument…
CD REVIEW: THE BLUES CAME CALLIN’, WALTER TROUT
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During the celebration of Walter’s 25 years of being a solo artist (and some 50 years in the business) he was struck with severe liver problems, and is awaiting a transplant. This release and an official biography will be available in June. With the exception of a John Mayall and J.B. Lenoir cover, the songs…
PRODUCT REVIEW: ROLLING STONES GEAR, ANDY BABIUK & GREG PREVOST
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Talk about an obsession, this is 672 pages of Rolling Stones gear, trivia, and history. The subtitle is “All The Stones’ Equipment From Stage To Studio”. This five or so pound coffee table version (large table) tells you just about everything you wanted to know, or want to debate. It begins covering the history of…
Bae Kuang, These Darling Wings
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With her latest release, These Darling Wings shows off Bae Kuang’s skills as a singer, lyricist, and composer. Opening with the EP’s title track, her skills are gifts are immediately clear, balancing the tones like that of Norah Jones, Nina Persson, and even Stevie Nicks with soft, laid back instrumentation that is minimal yet commanding.…
Monks of Mellonwah, Turn the People
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Monks of Mellonwah are an award winning 4 piece alternative rock band out of Sydney, Australia. They have actively toured in their own country as well as the United States promoting their debut release, Turn The People. Monks of Mellonwah have put their best foot forward and poured their hearts out in this CD. I…
Nick Deutsch, Crazy Ride
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As Nick Deutsch’s Crazy Ride EP opens with ‘Run’, it’s immediately clear that he’s a capable songwriter and musician. The track borrows a whole host of contemporary stylings that could easily be found in the music of James Blunt and Owl City. It’s on the chorus, however, that the song really shines; soaring high with…
Matt Townsend and the Wonder of the World, Self Titled
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Taking the classic sounds of Bob Dylan and wrapping them up in a country/americana shell, Matt Townsend’s latest release is overflowing with summery vibes, good feelings, and great tunes. If the lap steel and hammond organ on ‘Carry On’ don’t grab you, then there’s little hope for you. If, however, you find that this is…
Sullivan Brill, Flashes of Light
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Sullivan Brill [The Singing Postman] single “Flashes Of Light” is an cool synthpop/new wave mix of hiphop beats, synthpop keyboards and robotic harmonic voices. He introduces the song by stating “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is an emergency… this is what it’s not” and followed by random light driven rescue vehicles “fire engine… police car” with…
Christina Rubino, Alive From The Scraphead
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How would I describe Christina Rubino? She writes songs about the people, places and things that he loves, with a healthy combination of humor, skepticism, and honesty. He admits to what he doesn’t understand, questions what he already knows, and asks his listeners to join him in viewing life from a different angle. Some tales…
Godhead, The Shadow Realigned
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Godhead’s latest release, The Shadow Realigned is a compilation of songs each produced by a different person creating a unique sound. This Goth band is some heavy hitters that have been on the scene for quite some time. They have built upon their momentum and have perfected their skills. Through their artistic richness they have…
Piqued Jacks, Upturned Perspectives
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Funked-up and with their phasers set to stun, Piqued Jacks burst onto the scene with their latest EP Upturned Perspectives. The title track strikes a balance between funk, indie-rock, and a sprinkling of country vibes running through the mix. Once the chorus kicks in, it’s clearly a blazing piece which a strong hook that’s immediately…
Fox Band – Fox (EP)
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Kalamazoo, Michigan power trio, Fox has released a new 4 song EP entitled “Fox EP” and is available for a sample listen via the below BANDCAMP Link. As a music fans aficionado who’s strictly a voyeur, and /or a writer who’s never played a lick or tried to fit different musical components together into a…
The Cosmonauts, Take Me To Your Leader
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The Cosmonauts, in case you weren’t aware, are a new wave funk band with their tongues firmly wedged in their cheeks. Their songs are filled with Soviet references and jokey faux-communist phrasings, with ‘Space Debris’ name checking Boris Yeltsin, Gorbachev and Vladimir Putin. While the new wave aesthetic runs throughout the album, there are a…
Conrad Clifton, Picture in Picture
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Experienced as an actor and model, current Brooklyner Conrad Clifton is also a composer – one with a résumé that sports such partnering credits as Missy Elliot, Rick Ross, and Asher ‘i love college’ Roth. Having deejayed at numerous events, ranging from nightclubs to corporate shindigs, Mr. Clifton cultivated a talent on how to “read…
Impuritan, Make It Look Like Nothing Happened
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Opening with a massive, doomy soundscape, Impuritan nail their colours to the mast with ‘Monster Acolyte’, a sprawling psych-rock prog start to their latest release, Make It Look Like Nothing Happened. Influences appear to be many and varied – The Mars Volta, Opeth, Pelican, even Sunn O))) on the album’s darker moments. It’s an album…
Goodnight Tonight, Watch the Rain
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Goodnight Tonight are: Emily Gambone leads on the vocals and guitar, Holly Camp is on the bass and Logan McNeal on drums and vocals. Goodnight Tonight are a3 piece pop-rock band from Kent, Ohio. I’ve never been to Ohio but hey the Rock n Roll Hall of fame is there? This might just be the…
Jason Mark Yates, A Piece of Me
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Jason Mark Yates is an award winning singer/songwriter out of the UK. His latest release, A Piece of Me, is being celebrated worldwide. Yates eats, sleeps, walks and talks creativity; from a very young age he sought solace and found comfort through music. A Piece of Me, is a literal translation of Yates’ world. I…
The Devine Xperience, Self-Titled
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“My mind is in a dream” declares the chopped vocal on the opening track of The Devine Xperience’s self-titled album, threaded through the track as a mantra that over time becomes increasingly unsettling, like the dream-within-a-dream concept of the Christopher Nolan film, Inception. In the band’s own words, the album “contains messages in the songs…
Dark Model
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Dark Model is not at first glance what it might seem. Opening with traditional classical strings on ‘Dance Of Wrath’, things quickly take a different direction, exploding with electronics and dubstep throbs. It’s certainly an ambitious concept, and fusion music very often either favours one genre at the cost of others. Dark Model, however,…
Sub Militia Artist Preview
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Who are the Sub Militia? SUB MILITIA are HACKR (Kalani Hackintosh), FUTR3 (Aaron Shier) & BR8KR (Travis Weathers). Formed in 2012 this band of musician’s / Producer DJ’s is based jointly out of Las Vegas, NV and Los Angeles, CA. So as luck would have it I spontaneously jumped over to their Soundcloud page (above…
Steve Ryan, Love Poems: Are You The One?
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I’ve had the chance to hear Steve Ryan’s musical side but now I get a glimpse into the poetic world of Mr. Steve Ryan. As an accomplished singer/songwriter, musician, actor & author, Steve has tackled the field of rhyme & reason with his new book titled “Love Poems: Are You The One”. Exploring the vast…
Tommy Tietjen, The Wild Years
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Tommy Tietjen was born and raised in Long Island, NY and is now showing them how to rock in Nashville, TN with his debut CD, The Wild Years. If you are looking for a never ending party, then look no further and be prepared to be blown off your feet. Tietjen can easily be compared…
ToxSyn
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Toxic sludge flowing through the airwaves does sound quite disgusting but ToxSyn is hoping to reach the masses with its infectious sound. Oozing with fist-pumping originality, ToxSyn is ready to make a move & make a statement. Dubbed as an Industrial Goth Rock band, ToxSyn also displays elements of metal & hard rock. One will…
Secret Season, The Answer
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This CD is the third release from Secret Season a 2 person musical project from France of all places. Any band 3 albums into it a musical career are clearly focused and dedicated to their craft. Secret Season is no exception. This release includes a nice variety of songs and sounds. Recorded on the Seine…
Plastic Yellow Band, Breathe Air
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Plastic Yellow Band is celebrating their debut CD, Breathe Air. This Rock Band out of South Carolina is coming to you with conviction and grace. They want to turn you into a believer and I say, they are making a good start. Opening the CD with the song, Lonely Place sets the mood right away.…
Ready Never – Eleutherophobia
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Packed with pop tunes, Ready Never’s album Eleutherophobia is here. Kicking off with ‘Take That Pill’, the europop influences are immediately clear – with vocals smothered in auto tune, it’s the kind of dance banger that everyone gets excited about through the summer season. At points there are close connections with Gangnam Style and the…
Odd Hours – Khaleesi
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In a little over three minutes, Odd Hours thump out a tightly executed post-punk track masquerading as pop, in the shape of single ‘Khaleesi’. The vocals are snide and snarky, sounding not unlike EMA or, at times, Courtney Love. The guitars sound fantastic, by the way, with the kind of tone found on mid to…
3D Friends, Summer Break EP
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With warm summery vibes, it’s hard not to notice similarities between 3D Friends and bands such as Summer Camp and Attic Lights. ‘All Right’ is a breezy three minute pop song filled with uplifting vocals and scattered with electronic elements that furnish the neat indie songwriting. ‘Just Wanna Hold You’ is a sweet ditty, with…
Tijuana Bullfight, Southern California
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Let’s be honest for just a second shall we. I get a lot of albums sent my way for review and I mean a lot. Most of them don’t do anything for me. They don’t always get happily placed in the CD player, but the ones that do usually get a three song stay of…
Chris Campbell, Things You Already Know
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With an opening track that channels from earlier work by Sigur Ros, Chris Campbell’s Things You Already Know brings contemporary classical music to the foreground, with ambience and emotion. Launching from there headlong into ‘Lord Byron’ things crank up by several gears, incorporating some incredible sounds from homemade instruments. There are steely clanks, electronic…
FUTR3
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Musical energy and the exchange between audience and a song or band can be such a crucial lifeblood for a composer gathered in the name of fulfilling exhilarating music for music fans. Some of this applies to Electronic based. It may not be for everyone but no one can deny it has a very dedicated…
