CD and DVD reviews
Soulful Femme with Joanna Connor explores intense emotions on the sweeping gestures of “40 Under”. From the soaring guitar work to the heaviness of the percussion, it all works to underpin the strength of their delivery. The song itself, heavily rooted in hard rock, has elements of psychedelic rock, metal, and even elements of classical.…
Without sacrificing a shred of ominousness in her vocal, Morgan King delivers a rather vulnerable performance in her debut single “Mirror Mirror” this summer that has critics around the country abuzz. With a spike in bubbly pop songwriting on the mainstream front, it was only a matter of time before a talented act came around…
Scott Zosel is known for his wondrous weaving of rock, pop, country and Americana. The up and coming artist’s discography is defiantly diverse and won’t be pinned down to one specific style. This is what makes him such a captivating artist piloting our playlists right now. His upcoming single ‘Flow’ is a sensational sway into…
Stephen Jacques is a force to be reckoned with. His sound may be reminiscent of rugged rock and roll stars before him, yet his sound is no pastiche of timeless traditions. Stephen Jacques sound swells with authenticity; Stephen is no one but himself and we love it. His upcoming single ‘James River Swim’ being released…
There’s something soothingly satisfying about the sound of a flute. Perhaps it’s the tender tone, airy texture of the notes or the memories of the high school band. Whatever it is, Dr. Got2Play encapsulates all that is magical about the wind instrument in each refrain of his latest album ‘Different Worlds’. Having worked with the…
The newest single by Miami based alt group, Mold!, is entitled, “I Can See The Ghost.” The song is from their upcoming and debut LP, No Silence. Mold! is careful to acknowledge their Peruvian roots as key to their artistic identity. It was the culture shock that accompanied their migration, that has been a major…
With energy akin to the wall-shattering overtones of John Carpenter’s “They Live”, Aisles has struck gold with their latest single “Disobedience”. Serving as an appetizer of sorts leading into their hotly anticipated fifth album, the group finds themselves honed and more focused than ever before. Shockingly for a group of veterans at this point, this…
Where’s My Mind? is a five track EP release from sixteen year old Robert Eberle and it possesses a level of self-assurance uncommon even in releases from veteran and much older performers. His near-prodigy talents allow him extraordinary latitude to ransack modern music in route to writing and recording his own compositions. Yes, I agree with…
Robert Eberle opens his Where’s My Mind? EP with the dental-esque “Novocaine,” on which the singer/songwriter compares a lover’s love to a numbing painkiller. His arrangement of the track is stripped down. There’s plenty of piano and some guitar, but very little bass/bottom. The track sounds to feature multitracked Eberle vocals. It concludes with the…
Long gone are the days when children’s music was more one-dimensional and simple. Say hello to invigorating material that will enrich young minds while also providing high-quality productions. Bongo Boy Records is proud to announce the release of ‘Kidz and Katz Volume 1’ by Various Artists that came out June 04, 2021. This is a…
Heavy Shoes is a compelling statement of freedom and defeating the struggles of darkness during these post pandemic times. Yet currently the pandemic rages on, and perhaps this fantastic duet of Chris Tapp and Brian Mullins are content on giving us something to celebrate. Certainly, Cold Stares succeeds in delivering a crafty and defining blues…
Soul is so much more than a genre, or even a sound. It’s an identity that takes many working parts to completely develop and connect with, and in his new single “It’s a Feeling,” RockLee personifies it better than most any non-singing musician I’ve heard this year has. He isn’t completely without a voice in…
“I was stoked to realize that whatever I was saying, I was incredibly comfortable and had a surge of adrenaline come from within while performing.” These are the words of the immensely impressive artist making waves in the scene right now – Don Esco. You can feel this in his music. He records as if…
I’m not sure how many people, at this point, are aware of Bruce T. Carroll’s songwriting abilities, but after hearing “Nobody Knows”, I am certain that many more people will know just who Bruce T. Carroll is. Bruce actually wrote this new song while driving around the country, so literally many miles put in toward…
It takes considerable daring to include an outright progressive track near ten minutes in length, a doo wop song colliding with some classical, and a heartland rocker on a single album. Joe Piket doesn’t care. He goes a step further with the eight track release entitled Everything is Different. The album opener “Now I Have Everything”…
“Time goes by so fast when you’re having fun” may be a cliche, yet we all know it to be true. New York-based singer-songwriter Kenny Fame has released a summer-fuelled single with this heartfelt message at its core. It’s safe to say that this statement can be proven when listening through his diverse discography; time…
Brad Byrd is known for his heartfelt lyrics and mesmerising melodies. His sound swirls with an effortless, acoustic air and makes even the greyest of days seem wistful. His self-professed soulful cinematic sound has reached new heights in his latest EP ‘Where Were You When The World Stopped’ This EP is an incredible manifestation of…
“Redbud Road” by Dan Ashley has the potential of being one of the defining songs in his entire discography. It perfectly captures what the artist represents. He’s a man made of stories and wanting to spread positivity wherever he can. It’s not an easy feat in a world that becomes as increasingly jaded but in…
C Rod is the rapper rising the ranks pretty quickly right now, and with a repertoire of hip-hop tracks packing in some real truths, you can see why. His intricate flow and innate ability to sit slickly on the beat emphasises the realities that resonate throughout his lyrics. Just look at the power that propels…
This new, 2 CD set features extremely talented artists from all across the globe sharing their gifts of music. ‘Homestead Volume Five’ is Bongo Boy Records’ 5th Anniversary album celebrating the best that the Country & Americana worlds have to offer. This record features 20 tracks from an eclectic group of award-winning Indie artists and…
Brooklyn’s own JaredSB along with CBZ Nay are coming correct on the new track titled “Bed Stuy”. This song comes complete with that New York flavor and city vibe. JaredSB aka Jared Shemar Bradford has music running through his blood as he’s been musically-inclined since he was a child. Together, with his rap compadre, CBZ…
Uncle Tadashi & Da Boyz’s “Better Days” is a combination track, alternating between throwback, old school soul, and contemporary rap. It also throws a jazzy saxophone solo into the mix. In other words, this track has much going for it. It touches on the groups outlook on the global Covid situation and how they see…
Saturated in overdrive and hitting us with retro rock energy right off the bat, Brett Copeland is riding big riffs hard in his new single “Don’t Fight It” this summer. Though coupling the old school dynamics of classic rock with the new school nimbleness of contemporary pop isn’t a new element of Copeland’s sound, this…
Many younger artists have a limited frame of musical reference. This isn’t a criticism. It’s an observation. Writing and recording music capable of reaching a wide audience doesn’t require that an artist draw from a range of influences. Settling on a familiar formula and executing it with competence is often more than enough for a…
This last year has halted even the best-laid plans of musicians all over the globe. Yet, this didn’t stop the newly formed rock outfit ‘Thirty Three Degrees’. Meeting over Facebook (like all good pandemic ventures) Shane Romeyn and Chris Roberts formed the band just last year, yet from the sound of their self-titled debut, you…
Adrian John Szozda is expanding his discography this year with a captivating concept album. His debut may have only been this year, yet this up and coming artist has another story to tell through the folk-infused album ‘The Life Of Someone I Once Knew’. The Ohio-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist plays on themes of love,…
We need more bands like Hawaii’s Executive Order. The Honolulu based power trio’s new single “A to Z” is everything a modern rock single should be – aurally imposing, melodic, and riffs recalling the past while piercing listener’s consciousness with an individual bite. It’s music firmly of the moment, alive, and doesn’t look to the…
Singer/songwriters of all styles and backgrounds are coming out of the woodwork and taking over the narrative of pop music in 2021, and on the country/folk end of the spectrum, indie players like Chris St. John are trying to redefine what it means to be a purist in the genre. St. John is a singer/songwriter…
Cover songs are strange musical animals. They not only provide a commentary on the talent of the interpreter but the song itself and its enduring value. It serves us well to remember popular music, by nature, is disposable. Listeners and devotees of the form have been fortunate, however. Several transformative figures emerged over the course…
Matthew Austin Hunt is on a mission to make country cool again and with his upcoming album ‘Two’ I must say he’s succeeding. Matthew burst onto the scene with his self-titled album last year and from the slick production, vibrant vocal ability and captivating penmanship it’s hard to believe it was a debut. Building on…
Brooke Josephson is the formidable force making waves in the pop music scene right now. From her expressive lyricism to her captivating videos, Brooke is setting out to prove just why she deserves a place on our playlists. Her 2018 debut album ‘Sexy N’ Domesticated’ burst onto the scene with captivating confidence and a real…
What a well-organized record here where it seemed like every single song was perfectly placed throughout the 13-track album. ‘Influence’ is comprised of 13 original compositions by guitarist, Bob Sabellico. This is Bob’s first full-length album in eight years and he plays all guitar and bass parts along with most keyboard sections. ‘Influence’ also features:…
The Synaesthetic Picture Show Now Play, Pt 2 by electronic group Elektragaaz is probably going to be the best electronica release you hear this year. If you don’t believe or agree with that, I can guarantee it’ll land amongst the most interesting and memorable. Elektragaaz is headed by Frisian composer Redband and features a revolving…
Gar Francis has quite the musical background that dates back to the 60s. Gar has played with many bands throughout the years and still does to this day. These bands include: Rockids, Ricochet, Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs, The Satisfactors, New Bardots and The DOUGHBOYS. And fittingly enough, Gar even played as Keith Richards in…
Rolled out like a stadium rock anthem in the style of classic Van Halen but quickly shaped into something too grungy and disobedient to live by the disciplined rules of metal, it’s obvious from the first couple of seconds we hear in Greye’s “Over My Head” forward that we’re in for something particularly loud in…
A fantastically smooth saxophonist, Brittany Atterberry embraces a chilled-out atmosphere on the splendid style of “Summer Vibez”. The tremendous amount of color she brings into the mix is outright gorgeous. She really makes the thing sing too for her approach revels in a certain degree of affection for there is a kindness to the entirety…
The San Francisco music scene survived the pandemic someway, somehow, and out of the ashes of a global pandemic is now emerging what could be the most excitingly post-bohemian era the city’s underground has ever known. The fine lines separating synthpop from hip-hop, ambient from rock, and electronica from pastoral folk have never been as…
The complicated history of Black America has been scrutinized like never before this past year. One of the events that has been brought up and discussed a lot is the terrible fate that befell the Black citizens of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1920s. Darrell Kelley, a singer/songwriter and R&B artist, honors…
We’re high in the skies as we enter the music video for Wingman’s new single “Crash Land,” our pilot and featured poet commanding the stick of a superlight aircraft made for a perfect summer day. Everything is going smoothly, and the soundtrack in the background seems to have been tailored to the level flight path…
Space Engineer — Terry Lyndon’s alter ego — is a Sydney, Australia-based dream pop project. It’s has nothing to do with do with space — or engineering, for that matter. However, opening track (“How Everything Works”) at least sounds like a phrase any self-respecting engineer might well consider. Most importantly, these ten songs are all…
