CD and DVD reviews
Geoffrey James leads the Manchester-based act Third Development, and “Auras” is the follow-up single to the act’s 2022 debut album The Thought of Tomorrow. It is one exotic, atmospheric track. The three-and-a-half-minute slice of sound is noteworthy for its lead vocal, which is handled by Kintsuku. Kintsuku is a singer/songwriter also based in Manchester, England.…
Brisbane, Australia’s Hannah debuted in January 2022 with her single “Unlikely Two” and impressed many with its maturity and relatability. It isn’t surprising. Hannah discovered music at an early age, a common story, but it clearly helped her turn into the impressive talent we hear today. She began her musical studies in earnest at seven…
Bacon might seem like an odd subject to rap about until you realise Lewis Carpenter is talking about metaphorical Bacon. Moolah, Benjamins, greenbacks, bread. Money. It’s a theme that runs through his music, but at least he is honest about making money for a creative form that he loves, so why not make that the…
Although there’s a lot more we can learn about an individual artist from a straight-up album than we ever can a split, there’s just as much to be said about a record that brings together creative minds that might not have had the charisma they do in the same room separately. Case in point, the…
CUSPS’ Out For Blood is a collaboration between J. Sehorn and Daniel Twombly. Based in Kansas City, this duo grew out of two coworkers that worked together at an audio-video company. At first, these two just engaged in casual jamming together, which eventually evolved into more serious songwriting. The act’s noisy, dark music has been…
Just based on the name of this band and the song, I know I am in for one wild ride! My notion is correct because Vertacyn Arc Materializer brings something completely different to the table with “Nicotine Chewing Gum”. This new single by VAM is off of the group’s album titled ‘Phlodd’ and will make…
Reviewed by: Lee Callaghan Evolution Music Press November 24, 2022 Following the acclaimed success of her single Crush On You, Jen Ash is back with her latest offering No Lover Lover. A track dedicated to rebuilding herself in what she calls the breakdown of a “cathartic” relationship. Doomed to fail, this relationship shaped the premise…
Reviewed by: Lee Callaghan Evolution Music Press November 24, 2022 The ever-witty Pamela Hopkins is back with another thought-provoking introspective piece; Squirrel Train. A song that celebrates, pokes fun of, and mocks her scatterbrained mind easily distracted with ADHD. A Country track written in a blues format with the familiar train chugging rhythms to help…
Reviewed by: Lee Callaghan Evolution Music Press November 24, 2022 Set to release their debut EP in early December, Studio D’Lux teases the power and theatrics with their debut single Light Still Shines. The brainchild of Doug Kistner, this collaborative work features some of the biggest names from the most prominent mainstay acts of yesteryear.…
If you’re a fan of the long-running band Poco and love memorable, country rock ballads then you will love this new release by Tom Hampton. ‘Out To Pasture’ is an impeccable tribute album and also serves as a quintessential Americana record for today. Tom Hampton is offering listeners a glimpse into his vast musical history…
Nature has always been used in song to help describe romance. Certainly, no man would never compare his lover to another woman. Thus, humans need to reach beyond humanity to help approximate the grandeur of their nearly indescribable love interest. For his single, Richy Snyder has recorded Irving Berlin’s oceanic “How Deep Is the Ocean?”…
There is nothing subdued or faint about this new single titled “Whisper in the Dark” as Sophie and Alex Dorsten solidify their status as bona fide artists in this music industry. The secret is out and that is that “Whisper in the Dark” is no joke and will make true believers out of you and…
If you’re ready for an otherworldly experience that is mind-bending, then look no further! VIVIAN has got you covered with the intergalactic release titled ‘Pressure Makes Diamonds’. Prepare to be WOWed by VIVIAN as this group brings an incredibly unique style and approach to the table. VIVIAN is taking Electro Pop and Indie music to…
At times suffocating and uncompromisingly groove-focused, there’s no getting around the riffing in Of Limbo’s new single “Let’s Go,” their latest potent dispatch from the recording studio currently out everywhere alternative rock is sold this November. You can’t have solid rock of any sort without some righteous riffage serving as a foundation to every sublime…
Rob Eberle offers a hushed, reflective stance on “reckless (feat. April rose gabrielli)”. Storytelling is of the essence on here. The song feels fully lived in, completely real. Elements of folk, chamber pop, and classical enter the mix adding to its sheer immersive quality. A swirling around spirit feels doubly refreshing with each element feeling…
Elektrgaaz releases the sixth and final installment of its Synaesthetic Picture Show. If you like your music to have a bit of mystery, then the oddly named Elektrgaaz will tick a lot of boxes for you. A band of mysterious music-making recluses who seem to wander between real and fictional worlds, led by the enigmatic…
Volume is a given, for they demand the listener’s attention. A heaviness exists within his distinct aural universe. It beats work on an emotional level. Rap, hip-hop, trap, these all enter into the equation. Word choice matters, for there is a wildness to how evolution occurs. Layer upon layer adds to the sheer density of…
This new release is literally a global production with Waves_On_Waves collaborating with musicians, songwriters, producers and music industry professionals from all over the globe. Waves_On_Waves worked with: People Theatre (France), Mondmann (Germany), Vortex85 (Italy), STREETEMPTY (Portugal), SHIKIMO (US), Neutron Dreams (US), Katrine Stenbekk (Norway), Let Em Riot (US), Natsukime (France), Crimewave (UK), Pastel Arcade (US),…
They say that first impressions are everything, and when I first came across the alternative pop duo known as Sisters J, I couldn’t help but be curiously intrigued by the regal nature of their moniker. I know that it’s silly to judge a book by its cover, but in a day and age where artists…
Just based on the title of this new album and the artist’s name, I can almost bet I will be hearing something fresh & original. If I was a betting man, this is one bet I would definitely win because ‘hddn Snd’ by c h i is beyond ordinary and more along the lines of…
Though subtle in its first appearance in the song, the vocal harmony in AV Super Sunshine’s “Scarecrow (Rock Mix)” is at the backbone of every provocative beat in this latest single from the underground-stationed songwriter, and while I wouldn’t say it’s the only element here that qualifies as spellbinding in tone and design, it’s one…
Fred Argir brings over 30 years of recording and performing experience to the table with his latest album titled ‘Despair & Ecstasy’. ‘Despair & Ecstasy’ is the perfect title for this new release because the record covers a wide spectrum of emotions that bounces from one extreme to the next. Never a dull moment when…
Norwegian Pop Rockers, Bobby And The Crew have released their latest single. “Prince Of Charm” is a 3 minute, mid to up tempo, dance-flavored track. 3 guys and a gal, Bobby And The Crew boast a traditional line up. The band plays originals, but has the chops and the range of a cover band. Their…
If the name Sick Puppies looks familiar to you, you’re either part of their massive international fanbase or a recovering emo kid who came to know them from their breakout 2007 hit “All the Same.” It was a track that dug deep into that generation with its powerful lyrics and presence, and people began to really take notice…
Swinging with a casual beat that evolves into something capable of relaxing even the tensest of moods, The Real J Israel’s “I Am Me” – one of two songs you’ll find on his new EP Glass Half Full – is a song defined as much by its tonality as it is its tenacious sway. Singer/songwriters have been…
Otherish embrace the strange on “Their Mistake”. A wild mixture of jazz, pop, and psychedelic rock the playfulness has no limits. Interplay amongst the band adds to the flexibility of the rhythm. Things start and stop on a dime, without any further need for clarity. Lyrics embrace this jagged, giddy path as well, with the…
The future of modern hard rock is in good hands with bands such as Messer. The young outfit’s new single “Unbreakable (Unfvckwitable)” surges with youthful yet polished power. You get the feeling when you hear the urgency in its vocal and the everyday truth of its words that the song’s message is derived from experience…
’Tis the season to get spooky, and Milwaukee’s favorite rock group The Keystones are happily rising to the occasion with their new single “Chameleons,” hitting streaming services just in time for Halloween. It’s a rip-roaring rock track that feels indebted to modern rock acts like Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, and even The Black Keys —…
The expression to hell and back can relate to singer/songwriter, Chris Beland in many ways, shapes and forms. From being homeless and addicted to drugs to locating his real father at age 32, Chris Beland has had his fair share of trials and tribulations in this thing called life but I say what doesn’t kill…
He gives you faith that real rock and roll, not slam banging raise hell runes thought-provoking rock with muscle, still happens. I need that. A lot of people do. The band’s new singles “Last Prayer” and “One Out of Many, One” aren’t necessarily. They do, if nothing else, illustrate a point. Age matters too much…
From its first moments, Eduardo’s latest single “Time Machine” more than lives up to its name. The throwback rock ’n’ roll riff from the guitar feels like something straight out of a Beatles or Beach Boys track, and the lightweight chorus interwoven with lyrics that pack a punch are like something that feels as if…
“Hand In Glove” shows off the incredible chops of the Matt O’Ree Band in creating a wild, animalistic fury of classic rock n’roll. Stylistically they bring together gospel, soul, southern rock, and the blues into a cacophonous whole. Guitar work proves to be exceptional for they touch upon the unruly spirit of AC/DC at their…
This new album is certainly bittersweet for Sugar Lime Blue because this record has been in the works for quite some time. During the making of ‘The Blackbird Sessions’, Sugar Lime Blue lost its founding member and bassist, Russ Dean back in 2020. Through perseverance and sheer will power, members Ashley & Dave Beth remained…
I don’t know how good your current company is, but this Present Company has an inviting sound and is very approachable. Come on in because Present Company welcomes everyone to this fun ‘n’ friendly show. Present Company is a Minneapolis-based group with a lot to say and you have a one-way ticket to the new…
Ashante P.T. Stokes, otherwise known as PTtheGospelSpitter, first forged his musical path as a hip-hop and R&B vocalist. The Atlanta, Georgia born singer/songwriter first experienced singing as a youth chanter in church and touring with his mother, a singer as well, as she toured the US and abroad with a gospel choir. PT, however, lived…
Sugar Lime Blue is an energetic band that crosses genres and is not afraid to do so. The nucleus of Sugar Lime Blue are Ashley and Dave Beth and unfortunately they lost the founding member and bassist, Russ Dean, back in 2020. With a tough loss, Sugar Lime Blue is moving forward and staying strong…
Moody Bank$ is a Texas-based R&B artist hailing from the state of California. Her unique artistic approach has driven thousands of fans her way in a few years. As an indie musician, she’s been able to create smoky R&B pop music for many fans and work with many other talented musicians. However, none of her…
Adding to his already quite impressive catalog of albums and singles, Gungor has released the highly anticipated single I Forgive You. A collaborative effort featuring the elegant and sophisticated soprano vocals of Isa Ma. I Forgive You is a sleek offering as the softness and delicacy of the call and response style verses calmly and…
Piercing but hardly colorless, the immeasurable strength with which the opening squeal of the guitar in “Kaleidoscope” starts up is intimidating and tone-setting, but it’s representative of a small dose of what Young Lions came to do in 2022. With rock n’ roll’s reputation in total and complete shambles, the legacy of its gods has…
You could make a good argument for music being taken too seriously. Or at least have forgotten where it came from. With all the attention to detail, polished finished product, overheated to the point of sterile, commercially driven, focus group influenced music today, it is easy to forget its simple pleasures. Perhaps music is at…
