CD and DVD reviews
There’s a lot of tension in the air as we start in on the song “Locker,” one of the eleven included tracks in the new record Cantref from Heddlu, but it’s justifiably present. From the moment we press the play button on any of the songs in Cantref, it’s obvious that giving us as full-bodied…
Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road is the rare confluence of different bluegrass generations coming together without ego and recording classic material. Jordan, a seminal figure in the genre’s late 20th-early 21st century history, has picked a first-class collection of instrumental partners to help deliver her vision. Allen Dyer, Randy Graham, Ben Greene, and Matt Hooper boast…
Like a Ennio Morricone soundtrack gone electronic, Elektragaaz engages in a wonderfully wild style with “Armadas of the Milky Way”. The classical bent and cinematic flourishes work to further enhance this sense of purpose. By making sure every single possible twist is given plenty of time to roam the song becomes quite easy to get…
When an artist gets retrospective in their debut album, too often is it that critics relegate their sound – or even their efforts – to the countless throwback records that make their way onto the charts every few years. The very notion of a player looking anywhere but forward with their lyrics is frequently considered…
Rev Peter Unger presents a sweeping, soothing sound with “Sweet Child of Mine”. The placid mood that takes form features a kindness. Lyrics here are drawn from a full life. Verses cascade one after the other incorporating ever more detail into the mix. Inclusion of a chorus for the song presents something new for Unger’s…
Driven rock can be quite melodic in the right circumstances, and in the case of Dark Below’s new single and music video “Tense,” the band is led by the right frontman to bring harmony back into the crunch of true rock n’ roll thunder. There are elements of “Tense” that recall the heavier side of…
I am flabbergasted to discover that this is a debut album by a young, up-and-coming artist that goes by the name of Nolen Sellwood. The new record is titled ‘Otherwise’ and you would think Nolen has been in the music game for awhile due to the professional recording quality and top-tier songwriting. Believe it or…
PG Naylor is a talented artist who has an ear for good, old-fashioned music. With a real classic touch, PG Naylor exhibits a blast-from-the-past sound but done in a fresh, innovative way. Naylor’s latest singles titled “Better Left Unsaid” and “Sensible” are full of joy and excitement! http://www.pgnaylor.com/ PG Naylor has been playing in rock…
I simply love when musicians are not afraid to test the musical waters and not stick to conventional standards. The group known as Hemisphere fits that description to a T on their latest release titled ‘Unity’. With elements of: jazz, pop, rock, fusion and everything else under the sun, Hemisphere brings a strong, unified project…
The bluegrass four-piece Route 3 is essentially an all-star band for the genre. The stylistic pedigree each of the four musicians brings to the table isn’t merely gloss on an otherwise unsatisfying musical adventure. Their knowledge and experience inform the songwriting and playing every step of the way. Gaylon Harper, Roy Bond, Jason Jordan, and…
Matthias Williams & Sheeran infuses “Back To You (feat. Sheeran Brizan)” with a sense of longing. The romanticism of the verses & Mathias’ saxophone prowess proves irresistible, as does the constantly growing ebb of energy. Pop, industrial, dance, all of this filters into the sound adding to its sense of urgency. Beats hit with a…
Melbourne, Australia is not what comes to mind when I think “country music duo”, but The Long & Short Of It have confounded expectations since their first meeting in 2007. They have built an impressive discography over the past fifteen-plus years including six album releases and two EPs without showing any signs of flagging creative…
It’s hard to believe that ‘Nowhere Town’ is only the second, full-length studio album release from singer/songwriter IZ.M.B because she writes like a seasoned pro. This record showcases IZ.M.B as a true artist giving the audience an inside look into ‘Nowhere Town’ where all sorts of feelings and emotions join forces. This is a very…
When an artist gets retrospective in their debut album, too often is it that critics relegate their sound – or even their efforts – to the countless throwback records that make their way onto the charts every few years. The very notion of a player looking anywhere but forward with their lyrics is frequently considered…
Mike Montrey began the journey with the band bearing his name with 2011’s debut Weaving the Basket. It was apparent from the first that Montrey possessed a rare synthesis of musical influences throughout his songwriting and that further collections would find him further refining his music and expanding on his already considerable talents. Little fine-tuning…
I want to say Stromer Hills sounds like someone. It makes it easy to draw a quick comparison for readers that might illustrate his music. I can’t though. His single “if u like the way i walk” is, however, filled with echoes. The core DNA of the song belongs to R&B and soul but anyone…
Christian Parker is an accomplished songwriter, recording artist and guitarist with a long history in the music world. Releasing his first album at the young age of 17, Christian has not looked back! Parker’s latest release is titled ‘Best Kept Secret’, so cat’s out of the bag with nothing left to hide. ‘Best Kept Secret’…
Cary Shields is a creative artist who knows how pen a quality tune. Cary’s latest single is titled “In The Morning” and this song is sure to please. Cary Shields has a knack for songwriting as he’s able to create a mindful and thoughtful story that will engage the audience. “In The Morning” has all…
When done right, Americana is one of the most purest forms of music with its freeing spirit and I have to say Steve McCormick nailed it with his new release ‘Louisa’. This multi-talented singer/songwriter proves to be a dominant force within the Americana genre and also proves to be a dynamite storyteller and musician. With…
Randy Casey is an accomplished musician with over 30 years in the music business. Besides being a talented session player, singer/songwriter and recording engineer, Randy has also composed tracks for big companies such as: Target, H&R Block, Levi’s, Mattel, Pep Boys, Vidal Sassoon and other famous brands. Randy Casey has also written scores for film…
Cover Art by Ivan Arenas Hello Fiasco pours its heart and soul into the careening scope of “Find The Shoreline”. Right in the center of the whole thing is a communal experience of vocals for they rise up into the sky. The rhythms have a propulsive energy to them. With elements of classic rock, glam…
Despite being now based out of Chicago, The Unswept’s story didn’t begin in the Windy City. Their journey instead began for the O’Brien cousins in a Sheffield, England council housing project. Guitarist, vocalist, and keyboardist Charlie, pianist, violinist, singer, and bass player Liz along with drummer, guitarist, and singer Ryan logged time in several bands…
If you’re in the mood for something entirely unique, then look no further! Speakeazie is the charismatic artist and ‘Bootleggers Blood’ is the exciting, new release that is sure to rock your senses. Speakeazie is an Indie Pop musician with an artsy, alternative edge and she also adds in a dose of gothic elements to…
A true sense of soul radiates from every part of Collaborations’ “Running Out Of Tomorrows”. From the honeyed vocals to the smooth melodies the song truly inspires. The lyrics are chosen with the utmost of care for they tell an entire story and do it well. With a sound that came out of the 70s…
It’s an understatement to say that the last couple of years has been trying for everyone. Getting out of bed and going to work is hard enough as it is, but for the creatives of the world, there’s been an even harder fire lit beneath their soles. Some took the quarantine as a chance to…
“Why Do You Lie” is the unstoppable new release from Quebec’s Jeremy Rice. Tame enough to be in the pop rock world, but rowdy enough to feel like even the chiseled, callous classic blues rockers might strut a few moves listening to it, “Why Do You Lie” unleashes an irresistible sonic escape. Rice, who’s previous…
Nick Phoenix has released a cinematic video for the song ‘Andromeda’ from his ‘Wide World’ album. The video was shot in Pasadena, CA on the historic campus of the California Institute of Technology and various locations in the Mohave Desert. Explaining about ‘Andromeda’, Phoenix says “The song is about an astronomer who dreams of visiting the Andromeda Galaxy and he designs…
Austin, TX based Cody Jasper is a chameleon of Rock N’ Roll – releasing music that is themed around the way he lives and shared life experiences with his fans. His bold choices show a daring to mix in different genres along with straight ahead Rock N’ Roll, including Blues and Outlaw Country. With the release of new…
George Mallas’ 2015 debut Small Reminders didn’t represent a beginning for the North Salem, NY-based songwriter but, instead, a culmination. He’s written songs since his teenage years and emerging, at long last, with a full-length album was the realization of a lifelong dream. It has unleashed further creativity. He followed Small Reminders with 2018’s unscathed, a collaboration with lyricist Melanie Berti,…
I can tell when I hear a genuine singer/songwriter and Tyler Edwards fits the bill to a T! ‘A Falling Sky’ is the new, upcoming album from Tyler Edwards and expect high quality material and professional recordings. Tyler Edwards digs deep on the new record and pours his heart & soul into every single song.…
Christopher the Grey presents a flow that is pure fire, “Oh My Damn!” Hard to deny the absolute infectiousness of the rhythm, he’s able to ride the beat with ease. The layers that he sculpts have gorgeousness. Beats hit hard, punctuating the power of his words. Word choice matters because he observes his environment in…
Levi Zadoff and Dead Hendrix offer up a true hybrid of styles on the faded vibes of “Dead Summer.” With a slew of genres running the gamut from pop-punk to hip-hop to dance, the work has a kaleidoscopic quality. By far, the highlight comes from the insistent lyrics that rise above the rest of the…
When I think of “Strangers in the Night”, my mind shifts immediately to the timeless number performed by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. The song was originally composed by Bert Kaempfert and a fun fact here is that the English lyrics were provided by Richy Snyder’s father Eddie Snyder. The 1966 classic made famous…
As soon as you hit Play, an extraordinary blend of music will hit your eardrums and will have you hooked in from the start. Working Class Hussys is fronted by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Ian Patrick Gentles and the band is based in Central New Jersey. Jersey never sounded quite like this as Working Class Hussys…
With his 2021 album King of One, and his latest ‘Wide World’ from April 2022, Nick Phoenix set the stage for what listeners could anticipate out of his future work, and with the arrival of his new single and music video “Andromeda,” he proves that conceptualizing typical pop themes is something is quite adept at to…
When Laura Sumner recorded her debut release, she wasn’t swinging from the fences creatively just yet. As a rookie recording artist, she wanted to establish some sense of self before delving into the vast experiments one must undertake when trying to unearth the best parts of their sound from the ethers, and although she’s still…
Post Dystopian Love Songs is quite the loaded album title. A dystopia is the opposite of a utopia, so it’s the after-effects of a complete breakdown of civility. Or so the movies tell us. Thus, one wonders just what kind of love songs would be left after living through a dystopia. Whatever the case, it’s…
Modern original bluegrass is more than safe in the hands of Circus No. 9. The Tennessee-based four-piece’s new self-titled release continues building on the foundation of traditional bluegrass coupled with current sensibilities that’d defined the band for the entirety of its existence. Ben Garnett, Thomas Cassell, Matthew Davis, and Vince Ilagan have appeared on the…
It’s safe to say that Joshua Ketchmark poured his ‘Blood’, sweat and tears into this new record where Joshua Ketchmark can be heard laying it all on the table. ‘Blood’ is Joshua’s 10th studio album and the singer/songwriter states that this project is all about his past. Joshua provides an all-access pass and inside look…
Chris St. John delves into a blissful ode to love with “I Just Knew (with Leah Haley)”. Tender tones radiate throughout. The mixture of country and folk helps to lend the song an intimacy. Vocals intertwine to create this joyful story. Guitar work keeps things simple and effective. Every gesture is carefully considered. By far…
