CD and DVD reviews
It feels like Rob Alexander is always the subject of some serious underground buzz from one year to the next, and while his last LP Dream out Loud already made plenty of waves in 2021, the new single from its tracklist – “Yesterday’s News” – is starting to feel like one of the key songs of the…
The Midwestern wilds of the Dayton, Ohio area aren’t renowned for producing memorable popular music acts but that changes when you take Ludlow Creek into account. The quintet once known as Southbound began playing together as a cover band. A few years passed before the band eliminated covers from their typical set list and, instead,…
Between the chiming strings of “Baby, You’re My Weakness” and the lusty harmonies that cling to a rock-inspired rhythm in “A Girl Like You,” Barry Muir is covering a lot of aesthetical ground in his latest album Gentle, much of which is summed up in the record’s lead single “She’s a Little Wildflower.” Artistically speaking, Gentle unites the…
‘Hillbilly Hippie Shreddin’ Folk Rock’. That’s how Blind Uncle Harry describes his music and it’s completely spot on. In fact, that can now be a genre in its own right as Blind Uncle Harry is back shreddin’ yet again with another folk-rock single ‘I Just Want You To Know’. What always amazes me when I…
Alias Wayne has shown he has a knack for creating captivating and creative songs time and time again. His whole discography is bursting with colour and creativity, as his unique blend of Americana, blues and Caledonian soul has, quite frankly, created a genre in itself. In his latest release ‘Chaperon’ he’s swayed into the sweet…
A rustic slice of Americana comes through with Southbound 75’s soulful odes. Done with a great amount of dignity he proves to be an exceptional storyteller. The worldview depicted amongst these pieces has a grandeur about it, one that feels doubly fresh. Guitar work features a greatness to it. Riffs have a beauty about it,…
Kristina Koller employs a noir jazz pop perfection with the sultry “Get Out of Town”. The arrangements have a sophisticated, timeless elegance to them. Done with such dignity, nods to Chet Baker’s output emerge throughout for it is that refined. Melodically rich these elements float on through the air in a gracious fashion. Interplay amongst…
Merit Maker embodies the ethos of skater punk on the undeniably catchy choruses of “Breaking Edge”. Volume is a given for they hold nothing back at all. Layer upon layer intermingles to create this colossal stunning sound. These songs teem with life for the interplay has a fantastically frantic quality. Nods to groups like Blink…
Gravelle & Perinbam taps into rock’s very soul with their urgent yet thoughtful takes on that classic sound. Percussion hits like a force of nature, and the guitars are stellar. The group truly listens to each other playing off each other’s strengths. Vocals are mixed prominently front and center of the entire rest of the…
“My Tears Fall” revels in the exquisite storytelling of Sarantos. With this piece, he gets personal with the Greek language adding to the intimacy of the work. A nice juxtaposition of the ancient and modern the song seemingly exists outside of time. Instruments here further add to this sense of otherworldliness. Quite catchy, the elements…
Pure club vibes race through “17 (houson boombox remix)” for Hannyta captures a psychedelic dance experience. Volume is a given for the whole of the journey has a bombastic feeling. Bass goes deep into the red for each hit of the drum has a heaviness to it. All of it seems to swing around with…
Ludlow Creek rolls on through with a country rock grace on “What About Love”. Beyond the clear references to country rock, bits of the blues, pop, and the fine singer-songwriter tradition. The colors that emerge out of the sound feels righteous, absolutely blissful to the very core of the situation. Within this sound there is…
What I love most about Kali Indiana’s recent single ‘Probably Not’ is the track’s ability to make you laugh, make you sigh and allow you to feel totally seen all at once. This single is a complete love letter to strong women… or, as Kali Indiana puts it, it’s a “manifesto for the ladies who…
Nied’s Hotel Band features a gorgeous, communal spirit on the updated big-band bombast of “We’re Just Fine”. Optimism shines through the entirety of the track. The lyrics help to fully convey this sense of contentment. Interplay amongst the group has a lot heart to it, for they truly listen to each other. A great amount…
Hard rock, the blues, with a blast of bombast make up “Stand Up – Two Cities,” showing off the exquisite skill of Christopher Meredith in sculpting a massive sound. Everything about this track feels gigantic – from the vocals to the riffs running through, all the way to the chorus. Inspired by Charles Dicken’s classic…
Playboi Brando aka Brandon James Thayer is a young, up-and-coming artist who is relentless on the microphone. With an aggressive approach, Playboi Brando is aiming high with his new release titled ‘The Commando Chronicles’. Playboi Brando is all set and bringing his A game, so ready…aim… FIRE! This new album is an interesting listening experience…
Whether it be waking the dead or a next door neighbor, “Illuminating Nightmares” is sure to rattle some bones and eardrums. This recent single by 3Mind Blight is a scary, good time and will have you on the edge of your seat all day and all night long. Nightmares might keep you up at night…
3Mind Blight is a one man show who is a former producer turned solo artist. 3Mind Blight is from Oklahoma and brings 15 years experience to the table as a music producer and as of 2018 is now embarking on an exciting solo career. 3Mind Blight is an international, award-winning artist, musician, producer and songwriter…
“We hope that people find this song to be true and relatable – love is definitely one of the most important themes in country music,” states brother-sister duo Juna N Joey as they describe the inspiration behind their most recent single ‘Til Your Heart Breaks.’ Hailing from Nashville, 16-year-old Juna and 19-year-old Joey narrate the…
Jarea Wilson’s voice rings fine and true on the confessional “Love Needs An Answer”. The minimalism of the sound gives it a dreamy-eyed presence. Firmly rooted in the R&B tradition, the song gets plenty of room to roam. A futuristic gloss adorns the entirety of the piece, for hers is a sound akin to newer…
It takes a lot of effort to make rock music sound compelling in 2022, given how exploited the genre has become through the years, but somehow Starfire manages to find a way in their new record Dreaming of Destiny, and it’s getting the attention of critics and fans alike this month. Dreaming of Destiny doesn’t…
Willie J “The Philosopher” brings good vibrations with “Let’s Save The World” and “Be a Father to Your Child”. For both of these tracks lyrics prove to be of the essence. Lyrics are chosen with care with each verse carefully balanced on top of the last. Melodies, rhythms, these are all secondary to the sheer…
Octavate delivers hardcore rock with heart on the fire and fury of “My Wasteland”. Baring their very soul, the raw grit and soul of the sound rests with those anguished vocals. The riffs race on through with pure precision effortlessly locking step with the righteous hit of the drums. Everything here deserves to be absolutely…
I’ve had the pleasure to work with Sophie Dorsten many times now and I can honestly say that she continues to impress me more and more each time. Once Sophie starts singing, you listen and get hooked in with her powerful voice & range. Sophie’s voice is one amazing instrument in itself and seems to…
Wave 21 give off pretty cerebral folk-rock vibes throughout their last record Brace Yourself, but if you think this is just another pastoral indie record in a sea of similar selections to debut in the past couple of years, you don’t know much about this talented band at all. In Brace Yourself’s lead single, “Way…
If there’s one thing that stands out to me when delving into the magical musical world of Ryan Dart, it’s the authenticity that oozes from each track. As a self-professed “grandson of the dustbowl and a steward of the land,” Ryan Dart’s music encapsulates the down to earth, gentle and connected way of life that…
Revolution Engine may have written the songs for their album ‘Fist & Flame’ a couple of years ago, but there’s not been a moment that we need these tracks like right now. Listening to this album is a completely immersive, arresting experience. They speak some serious truth. Truths have long been known, but perhaps only…
Brooke Surgener has clearly been on a roll the past few years and she shows no signs of pumping the breaks any time soon as she gears up to release her latest single ‘Gimme Gimme’. Whilst making her fame through captivatingly quirky cosplay music videos, this multi-instrumentalist boasts a beautiful array of singles. Her latest…
Kenton Place demands the listener play “Roses On The Wall” loud because theirs is a true wall of sound. There is a catchy melody and insightful lyrics, from the stunning guitar work to the vocals that rise above the rest of the mix. The atmosphere features an intensity to it, one that never gives up.…
Daxton conjures up imagery of the ancient and modern takes of folk with the soulful “Otherside”. A rather intimate setting the sound features a raw grit to it. His voice goes for a pure honesty one that holds nothing back. Lyricism flows out like pure poetry, every verse fully lived in. Best of all there…
It’s been a while since I’ve heard a single like this. I confess knowing zero about Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers before hearing their new release “Pass Along the Good”, but I’m well aware of Jim Lauderdale’s talents and lengthy history. The iconic Americana artist and Brewer first struck up their creative collaboration at…
Electro-pop to its very essence, everything about the performance radiates a degree of passion. Vocals rest in the center of it all, for there is a giddiness to it. An ebb and flow to the music work wonders, imbuing the whole thing with so much life. Neon fluorescent haze adds to the intrepid swirl of…
The beautiful balladry of the work adds to the sense of lusciousness the track radiates. Everything about it features a lushness. Production values maintain a high quality, ensuring that it all comes together in an elegantly crafted tapestry. Stylistically Angel brings elements of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and more into a singular sliding spirit. Grooves run…
Mark Winters presents a perfect classic rock cadence with “Boundary Layer”. Riffs here stun kept simple yet effective. Absolutely stuffed with so much emotion he makes sure to balance it all in a way that feels timeless. The way that the layers intermingle gives it a degree of warmth. By embracing this earnestness, the song’s…
Staying on-trend for the global fascination with the 80s, Stacey Jackson shows everyone how it’s done with her single ‘Flipside.’ This playful, empowering track is more than a party bop. ‘Flipside’ hits the spot with lyrics about taking risks and being true to yourself. Stacey Jackson is known to speak from experience, and with her…
Matty Marz’ bio says, ‘pop’s new innovator’. That’s a pretty bold statement, but after checking out his latest single ‘Watcha Lookin At’, I wouldn’t argue with it. In fact, everything about the New York native’s discography screams new, fresh and innovative. His unique brand of futuristic pop has attracted over three hundred thousand streams on…
Status Foe has perhaps the most unique sound you will come across in a while. As they blur together branches from hard rock, grunge, prog and southern rock, they sculpt a sound specific to them. The mixing of vocalist Colby Homes, drummer Chad Prifogle, guitarist Larry Anderson and bassist Warren Kost must be one in…
Psyclo pours her heart and soul into the confessional style of “I’m Not Lovesick”. Everything here features its own sense of peace behind it. The production value adds to the work’s intimacy seems to radiate from every possible angle. Firmly rooted in hip-hop, elements of pop, alternative rock, the blues, and soul further flesh out…
If you’ve been in need of smooth listening, you can’t miss Little Muddy’s latest album Chain Link. The sixth album from the San Francisco based instrumental group effortlessly shows off the groups talents. Headed by master guitarist Rich Goldstein, Little Muddy takes new form on Chain Link. In the process of seeing where he could…
Big guitars, bigger harmonies, the constant sense of urgency coming off of The Sonic Memes’ collective wallop; in the new single “Back Home in Ontario” by SONIK, there isn’t as much focus on contemporary trends as there is the foundational elements that made rock music so exciting in the first place, and for purists like…
