CD and DVD reviews
Africali has released the song “Daughters of the Sun.” It appears on his album, “Taught of a Culture.” “Daughters of the Sun” is a multi-genre song that has an emphasis on reggae, pop, and hip-hop. Anyone who enjoys listening to those genres, as well as anyone who enjoys fun, catchy melodies, should give this song…
This single is accompanied by a Rumi quote. “To love is human. To Feel pain is human. Yet to still love despite the pain is pure angel.” You get the feeling from listening to this music that it’s mainly about loving through the pain. This piece of music features violinist Ali Tajvidi, and it is…
A chorus can make or break a lot of pop songs, but in the case of a multilayered composition like Mad River’s new single “Come As You Are,” the full-bodied music doesn’t rely as much on a signature hook when it comes to winning the hearts of listeners. Packing a highly melodic punch on both…
A far out sound defines the whole of Jude Gwynaire’s “Exotic Plants and Flowers”. The psychedelic spirit reigns supreme over these lush dreamy soundscapes. Rather playful, the references abound from Tangerine Dream’s 1970s work to a bit of Chrome’s wild, unhinged distortion. In between these two extremes elements of the UK’s Second Summer of Love…
Slowly but steadily clawing its way out of the silence, a shimmering piano melody greets us as we start our journey into the mad world of “No Be Mouth,” the new single from JTK. The instrumentation is dark but crystal-clear in tone; in other words, there’s no mistaking its unsettling harmonization with the beat that…
‘Strapped & Loaded’ is the perfect title for this new release by Men Without Armies, because it is pedal to the metal from beginning to end! There are no breaks and no slowing down for Men Without Armies as they invite you to be part of a high-octane, musical experience. ‘Strapped & Loaded will get…
Jude Gwynaire has released the song “Lockdown in Tinseltown.” The song is best suited for listening by fans of instrumental music, particularly those who appreciate electronic instrumentals. “Lockdown in Tinseltown” begins with a drum beat and bass, sounding like the beginning of a indie-pop/alternative song. From there, more sounds enter the mix. At some points,…
The Catalina will release the song “Love Somebody” as a single on July 3rd, 2020. It will also appear on their upcoming EP of the same name. The band is smart to name the EP after the song, which is a powerful soft rock anthem. When watching the music video, the first thing that will…
Madeline Rosene has released the song “Numb,” which appears on the album “Raised on Porn.” The indie-pop/rock song is suitable for those who enjoy listening to catchy vocal melodies combined with prominent instrumentation. The song is best experienced through watching the music video. The video opens with groups of people talking to one another at…
Without wasting a stitch of time, Cary Park’s “You Matter to Me” begins to unveil a harmony in its opening bars that will only grow stronger with every passing beat. It doesn’t take long for Park’s vocal to find its way into the middle of the mix, decadently upholding the strut of the instrumentation with…
Steve Baskin’s ‘Mind Your Step’ is his fourth solo album, and it features a wide variety of sounds. Yes, you can categorize Baskin’s music as singer/songwriter fare, but it’s so much more than that. The album opens, for example, with “Afraid Today,” which is a relatively noisy Bo Diddly -groove rocker. These ten tracks go…
“Crazy Days,” Forrest Hill’s single, features a propulsive groove that sounds a lot like Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield.” Forrest Hill is not a tough-talking female rocker (like Benatar), though, but a singer-songwriter of the much more sensitive variety. Yes, Hill is in a battlefield too, but not with the same military zeal as…
[English] – “Cangrejita”, Jonaz’s most recent single was released on April 30. This Mexican musician surprises his followers with a fresh and fun musical proposal. The single is a commercial song inspired by the sound of disco music from the 90s, and with a strong pop influence. In addition, Jonaz complements “Cangrejita” with some sounds…
Singer/songwriter Forrest Hill has a funk-rock history with the successful Boston band, Judy’s Tiny Head, but you won’t recognize much of that musical heritage with this solo album. Granted, opening track “Million Miles” features a soulful horn section. But this one is followed by “New Horizon,” a decidedly folkish work. Hill has lived quite the…
Darrell Kelley is a man of many hats serving as a: singer, composer, performer, social activist, spiritual leader, author and entrepreneur. This artist is coming out of the gates swingin’ with his latest single titled “Police Brutality”. Dedicated to the late George Floyd, his family & friends, this song touches on a very sensitive subject…
In these times of much negative news and global issues, it is always necessary to get hope wherever it is available. Music has always been a way to help people find sustenance and hope, a means of relieving pressure. Reverend Peter Unger has always been a musician as well as a pastor, and his songs…
‘Hard Jazz’ is the perfect title for this new album by Kenny Carr because the jazzy notes are in place but built around an edgier, Rock foundation. Kenny Carr is an accomplished musician/guitarist who had the pleasure of touring with the great Ray Charles for over 10 years. Since then, Carr has kept very busy…
Circo is a four-piece band from Puerto Rico, one which has been playing together since 2001. Its led by vocalist Jose Luis “Fofé” Abreu, who oftentimes hits some especially high notes during this, the act’s fourth album, Adiós Hola. The album’s ten songs are comprised of primarily pop music offerings, although “Si Tue Te Ves,”…
Matthew Austin Hunt opens his self-titled album with a kind of patriotic purpose song called “American Made.” With so many contemporary consumer products made in foreign lands, Hunt wants it to be known that he is decidedly a man made in America. Sonically speaking, Hunt’s music proves his origins too, as it’s a filled with…
Deva Premal explores a soothing sense of calm on the mystical “Seven Chakra Gayatri Mantra”. Gentle rhythms wash over the listener in a glorious haze. Instrumentally refined the whole of the piece has a simplistic beauty to it. “Vajra Sattva Mantra – Diamond Light Transmission” shows off Paul Temple’s RadianceMatrix incredible persistence. Patience proves to…
Todd Patnaude has released the song “One and Only,” which appears on his album titled “Lifesongs.” The song is a great listen for anyone who enjoys classic or modern rock music. Lyrically, “One and Only” begins and ends in the same way: with the chorus. This suggests the message stays the same throughout the song,…
Chasing happiness. That’s the feeling the listener gets while listening to the thrilling track “Lights On”. The man behind the mic is Tony Chevy, a smooth operator who knows his way around the mixing board and fresh beats. Also known for the hit “I Love The Way”, Chevy previously went by the name Gabriel Antonio.…
Eugene Cole has released the song “Tonight.” His label is Eugenious Music, and the song was produced by Cole/Babbs. The listener is first introduced to the beat, allowing them to recognize this as a song with R&B roots where the beat will be an essential part to complementing the vocals. When the vocals arrive, it…
The country music underground is getting eclipsed in 2020 by what was once one of its closest allies – the bluegrass community – and it should come as no surprise to diehard followers why. If you’re the type to keep on top of the American underground, you already know that indie bluegrass acts around the…
The Side Deal has released the music video for “I Can See Clearly Now,” a cover of the famous Johnny Nash song. It is a powerful video that is highly recommended to everyone who has been in quarantine. The video is a montage of things people would do before COVID-19 forced everyone into quarantine. It…
Gary Palmer has released the song “LISA.” He is an artist signed to Next Move Entertainment-Canada. “LISA” is suitable to fans of instrumental music, as well as listeners who simply enjoy hearing a saxophone. The beginning of the song features female backing vocal sounds that are absent of lyrics. Without being priority acquainted to Palmer’s…
Brooklyn, N.Y., experimental rock group, Reliant Tom, pummels the listener with blistering sound waves, cutting guitar arrangements and despondent lyrics in the album Play & Rewind via Diversion Records. The duo, comprised of lead singer Claire Cluny and composer Monty Weber, created these songs from after the death of Cluny’s father in 2018. What never…
If you’re into Canadian singer/songwriters, Francine Honey is an artist that needs to be on your radar. For the past few years, Honey’s music has been becoming increasingly difficult to avoid if you keep up with the pastoral beats of the Great White North, and looking at the pair of new videos made for her…
Stylized like a dreamy synth pop ballad but boasting an ethereal, almost atmospheric selection of strings that are firmly in rock n’ roll territory, Gianni Bodo’s “Hurricanes and Butterflies (Flowers Don’t Die)” is a song audiences need to hear this May. Providing us with a great mixture of pop aesthetics and singer/songwriter-style emotionality as always,…
[English] – As The Tristones announced in previous years, the band has released their most recent production Camaro during the first part of this year. This product had the collaboration of excellent specialists such as bassist and producer Stu Mahon, and engineer Jon Roods. Among the most relevant songs on the phonogram is “Camaro”. This…
Jessie-May Kitchen has released her first EP. It is titled “Zone Out”, and it features the songs “Blue Skies”, “Calm In The Eye Of The Storm”, “Shootin Daisies”, “Nightmares”, and “Head In The Clouds”. Fans of indie, folk, and pop music should give this album a listen. A music video for “Blue Skies” is to…
The Tristones have released the album “Camaro”. The album features the songs their debut single “Love Avenue”, as well as “First World Problems”, “Camaro”, “Break Her Down”, “Permutation”, “Trump”, “Everybody’s Got Their Two Cents”, “Sick Man”, and “Tamarindo”. Fans of rock and alternative music and observational lyrics will likely enjoy this album. Listeners will hear…
32 Below has released the song “Such A Waste”. Fans of pop, rock, and alternative music should give this song a listen. The song begins with a catchy acoustic guitar and drum mix. Soon after, electric guitar joins in the background. Then, the lyrics begin with “I see you around her chocking on the smoke”.…
Pete Bernhard is a stand-out singer/songwriter who finally gets to tackle the wonderful world of folk music on his third solo release titled ‘Harmony Ascension Division’. On recording this new album, Pete Bernhard stated that this “folk album gave me a chance to worship some of my heroes”. One folk hero that comes to mind…
Vivian has released the song “The Warped Glimmer” from the album of the same title. The only genre that could possibly describe it is experimental. There are elements of pop, rock, hip hop, and dance, but it can not be fully described as any one of those genres. It is truly something unlike what listeners…
Experimental pop artist Lailien, the moniker of classically-trained pianist and poet, Brad Shubat, thrusts the listener into a dreamlike state in the track “Fly With You” from his record TA-DA! A glitter bomb of epic sonic proportions, “Fly With You” is an otherworldly cover of the original Gigi D’Agostino tune. This summer splash of a…
Looking for a bit of tango in your life? A simmering synergy between a female vocalist and a brassy saxophone? A little sunshine will help. “Sunshine” the latest release from indie songstress and genre-defying artist Beatrice Betley. Even her name sounds like a dance – and “Sunshine” is a sultry of a good time. Betley…
Rambunctiously bustling out of the speakers like few other bluegrass songs you’ll hear this year will, “Down In The Wildwood” introduces Steve Thomas & The Time Machine to the world with a melodic wallop as crisp as it is colorful. The magic is just getting started as the band digs into this aural festival of…
Paul Haas has released the song “She Told Me”. It is a country song that will likely be enjoyed by people who enjoy listening to that genre of music. It is apparent from the beginning that “She Told Me” is a country song through the country-style guitar strums. Additionally, it can be concluded this is…
2020 has been producing a lot of intriguing content among independent players, and so far, to say the year’s output has been superior to what 2019 had to offer would be too great an understatement to make. Artists like Whitebeard, aka Alan Curtis, who found some success with the record Plaid Is the New Black in 2019,…
