CD and DVD reviews
Recorded last year in Brooklyn, New York City, Dan Costa’s new album “Beams” brings together some of the greatest names in jazz, a spectacular feat for a relatively young musician who has already collaborated with artists such as singer-songwriter Ivan Lins, bossa nova legend Roberto Menescal or trumpeter Randy Brecker, who wrote the liner notes…
The heart of The Wandering Off is the husband-wife duo of Kyle and Emily Corner. Their decision to embark on a creative as well as matrimonial union had its genesis in the COVID pandemic. Fate dealt them some cruel blows during that time period, mainly in the form of Emily dealing with two different bouts…
Kris Degaust is the man behind the alt rock project known as Future Crisis Klub. This self-titled EP includes five, standout tracks and each number has its own, distinct features. Time to rock on and rock the day away with Future Crisis Klub. Kris formerly fronted Canadian alt rock/post grunge acts Good Nite Irene and…
Prepare for an otherworldly listening experience where the physical body clashes with the spiritual realm on ‘Music In The Afterlife’. Gareth Koch is a Viennese-trained classical musician and Martin Kennedy is an ambient music specialist. This new album is a debut collaboration for the duo with ‘Music In The Afterlife’ being their fruitful introduction to…
Some of the most incredible music ever made has been offered to us without a lot of contextual cues, and I’m not just talking about press releases from major labels. To make something that can speak to someone’s soul without the inclusion of traditional linguistics or lyricism of any kind is hard by itself, but…
Pop/rock typically experiences waves of respect from independent artists around the world, and more often than not, from some pretty surprising places in the indie music lexicon indeed. Take Johnnie Mikel for instance; Mikel is everything that an alternative pop/rock singer and songwriter should be in 2023. He has the guitar sizzle flanked with the…
When two, award-winning recording artists get together to record an album, special things can happen and magic can sometimes be in the air. That is exactly the case for singer/songwriters, Doug Cox and Linda McRae where everything was clicking on ‘Beyond The Great Pause’. To my surprise, this album was recorded over just 3 nights…
I may not know Mike Berman or where he has lived, but I certainly get a better sense of where Mike Berman is coming from after listening to his new album. ‘Where I’m From’ paints a vivid landscape of Mike Berman’s world through the lens of a skilled artist. Mike Berman is a true singer/songwriter…
If you’ve ever wondered if pop harmonies could be both powerfully crushing and fragile at the same time, then there’s a good chance that DEVORA’s new release God is Dead is going to be one of the more compelling works you stumble across this January. From the self-aware “Pornstar” to the subtle commentary of “Bonesaw,”…
Swagger makes a lot of pop music work, and in the case of the new single “Rock Bottom” by Sheer Haimov, it’s at the heart of every harmony the song contains. Haimov has a voice that shows star-quality potential when it’s balanced with minimalistic instrumentation, and while this track brings in a little more gusto…
With a lot of gusto coming from his backing band the Farm Hands, Tim Graves tells us a story through the majesty of melody in the song “Apple Tree,” one of the more compelling issues from their new album Bluegrass DNA. There’s a lot of deep introspection in Bluegrass DNA, and though it’s often presented to the…
There’s a rusticity to the tone of the strings in Andrew Crawford and Brandi Colt’s “Gambler and Gypsies” that I’m entirely hesitant to deem old school for one big reason; the melody they create is forward-thinking and progressively stylized. This sort of duality can be found in almost every aspect of Crawford’s artistry in this…
Lenny Williams has soul in his bones and is no stranger to the music game with a career that spans decades. Lenny is regarded as one of R&B’s most influential soul acts and he has been involved with very successful recordings over the years such as: mega-hit, “Cause I Love You” (recorded on his solo…
Achilles Tenderloin aka Joe Augustin is a hyper original songwriter and guitarist who has come up with ‘Tincture for Trouble’. Blending slide blues and folk-americana, Achilles has created a sound that is unique to the core. ‘Tincture for Trouble’ is everything you haven’t heard yet and then some! Produced by Patrick Himes at Reel Love…
A big blast of beats and confident lyricism defines P. Bailey’s powerful “My Black is Beautiful (Bomb Mix)”. Layer upon layer enters into the mix making sure they hold nothing back. His voice features a distinctive strength to it. Volume is a given for this is the sort of song that absolutely commands the listener’s…
With a menacing strut as indebted to working-class garage rock as it is a heavier strand of modern alternative hip-hop as it’s known through an afrobeat lens, Tundra Music Collective’s “Modified” gets off the ground with a feverish presence that only swells as the song presses on. In this track, as well as the five…
A real country rock resonates throughout Pamela Hopkins’ potent “I Love You Most”. From the righteous guitar riffs that roll on through to the strong rhythm section, everything here works. By far the true highlight of it all comes from the sheer gusto she brings into the recording. Vocals are mixed front and center. She…
Flippin’ Gothic Fabp offers the sound of the streets on the visceral, grimy-laden “Side B-2 Type Artist”. Keeping things distinctly lo-fi, there is a rawness to the album, one that feels rather intense to behold. His lyricism continues to be the main attraction for the journey draws from his own life lived to the absolute…
A dark brooding atmosphere reigns supreme over Georgia Jones’ “Crash”. Her voice serves as the very focal point of the whole work. There is an expressiveness to the way that it all comes together, adding to its exquisite beauty. Much of it has this instrumental variety to it. Mixing the acoustic and the electronic together…
Stacy Gabel is a multi-talented artist who has a knack for making upbeat songs that will brighten your day. Stacy Gabel has an exciting, new release titled ‘Straight To Voicemail’ that will certainly get people talking. This 5-track EP is full of sunshine as Stacy Gabel dials up all the right numbers on ‘Straight To…
If you’re a fan of pristine storytelling, then you will love ‘Outpourings’ by Craig Bickhardt. Craig brings each song to life through a creative thought process that includes rich lyrics and well-versed compositions. ‘Outpourings’ is a musical delight as Craig Bickhardt proves to be a stellar singer/songwriter with valuable material. The new record also features…
“Slowly Now” is the latest release from alternative rock musician Michael Fordays. The Los Angeles native has refined his craft for years in a variety of projects ranging from experimental outfit Mind Over Four touring guitarist and co-writer with Joan Jones. He stays busy. He’s released a growing body of solo work with the common…
I confess ignorance regarding Louis Siciliano’s music before hearing his new release Ancient Cosmic Truth for the first time. Jazz, even in the fusion style, has never been my thing, Having heard the four tracks on his new effort, however, gives me pause. I’ve missed out on a lot. Those four tracks are a vibrant and lively…
Staunch Moderates are set to return to the studio this year to follow up on their brilliant Mission Peace album, which hit the Grammy first ballot in three different categories including Album Of The Year. The band discuss several meaningful social topics on their recordings, as well as paying tribute to key thought leaders in…
Prepare to embrace this new release from J. D Malone and The Experts because ‘Even Sunbeams’ will light up your ears. There are seven, standout songs on this new record that will excite your senses. J.D Malone and The Experts are stealing the show with ‘Even Sunbeams’. We have J.D Malone on vocals & acoustic…
Russ Hewitt embarks on a journey dripping with romance and outright love on “Chasing Horizons”. Without needing to say a single word, the expressiveness of his acoustic guitar says it all. The classic element of the arrangements feels profound. He goes for the timelessness of the sound and is richly rewarded. Everything on here has…
Hello London pours his heart out on the art pop passion of “Past Futures”. Beyond the art pop roots, elements of indie rock, lo-fi, post-punk, and more enter into the equation. The vocals on here tie it altogether for there is a pleading urgency that is so life-affirming. Riffs here have this infectious quality, pulling…
Are you ready for a listening experience you won’t soon forget? If you answered yes, then prepare your ears for a wild ride with Vertacyn Arc Materializer’s latest release titled ‘Phlodd’. This San Francisco-based band will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about music after taking in ‘Phlodd’. I can almost bet that…
Scott & Sabrina let their righteous romantic relationship take center-stage on the fire and passion of “Blessed”. Full of such good energy the songs have a soul to them. Lyricism reigns supreme for each song tells its own story. When taken in as a singular whole they sing the tale of a life lived to…
In her new song “Dandelion,” singer Justine Sletten isn’t pulling any punches in the lyrical attack she employs – if anything, she’s going out of her way to show us just how assertive and open she can be with her audience, even in a more intimate composition. Sletten is reaching out to us in “Dandelion,”…
California ™ – feat. Les Fradkin radiates a pure, unabashed joy for the world on the celebratory “California Loves You”. The instrumentation bursts at the seams. So much energy pours out of the piece resulting in this sense of pure contentment. By far the highlight comes from Les Fradkin on the guitar with the riffs…
Gnarled twisted paths define nasmore’s burning vision on the darkly titled “Welcome to the Hell (feat. Neil Taylor & La Strange)”. Industrial, noise, pop, all of these get filtered through their distinct worldview. Best of all there is a sheer intensity to this, one that confronts the listener so completely. Everything about it has a…
Joseph James is delivering an early Valentine’s Day present to the entire, listening audience with his latest release titled “Valentine”. This is a debut single for Joseph James and he is hoping to pick up major traction and steam heading into the next occasion that is filled with hearts & such. Why go with the…
American indie kingpin and melodic champ Ronnue has conquered the Washington scene with his mighty voice that some critics have compared to legends, and his new single “You Got Me Open” is almost guaranteed to get listeners across the world addicted to his sound all over again this January. A once-unknown who quickly found some…
Just as Monty Python brought you “And Now For Something Completely Different”, Blind Uncle Harry stays in that same lane with his latest release titled ‘Visualize Industrial Collapse’. Blind Uncle Harry brings a unique approach to music making that will make your ears spin on his most recent album. Blind Uncle Harry says the heck…
I recently had the pleasure of listening to the amazing Thoughts & Scares, the new full-length album from guitar guru Darren Michael Boyd, before its upcoming release date this January, and while unsure of what to expect – as instrumental records are often more unpredictable than your garden variety rock albums are – I came with…
Matty Marz’s single, “My First Tattoo,” brings ‘80s music right back, front and center, with his intentionally stuttered opening vocal line. He sings it over an upfront keyboard part that has all the feel of an MTV video. Shortly in, Marz points out, “You sure left your mark.” Yes, like a tattoo – even that…
Conner Cherland is a talented singer/songwriter from Southern California that makes ‘Call Waiting’ sound like the best thing since sliced bread! ‘Call Waiting’ is a new EP by Conner Cherland that features 6, well-constructed songs. Based on themes of love, loss and emotional maturity, ‘Call Waiting’ offers the listener a full bowl of audible goodness.…
The press and other talking heads may write that country rock is dead. Sarah Diamond and the Soul Miners, however, prove there’s plenty of life in the genre if you know where to listen. Diamond and the band are based out of Florida where they first emerged with the single “I Got Away”. This chronicle…
When you think of music coming out of the state of Georgia, your mind might gravitate towards the booming hip-hop and rap scene from Atlanta, giving the masses such artists as OutKast and Migos, as well as classic acts such as TLC, REM, and the B-52s. One outlier of a band, however, hails from Athens,…
