CD and DVD reviews
Its gilded climb into impenetrable melodic catharsis is undeniably a short and sweet one, but make no mistake about it; “My Sweetheart” is not a post-pop track sporting some added lyrical depth. On the contrary, much like its four counterparts in Dorsten’s new EP To the River, this is a work of duality, blending the best elements…
The death of punk rock, like rock in general, has long been predicted to be imminent. It’s only a matter of time, they’ve told us for a long, long time, when punk will breathe its final breath. That spikey hairdo will lose its spikiness and fall at the sides of the head. Thus when Spike…
A playful take on pop’s 70s Golden Era, Eric Frazier proves an exceptional storyteller on the glimmering gleeful “That Place.” The songs feel highly sophisticated, with a hint of Steely Dan’s jazz-rock fusion alongside a sly sense of humor. Within the sound, a wide swath of instrumentation filters into the fray, from a myriad number…
Chilled-out jazz noir licks roll through Shawn Maxwell’s spaced-out psychedelic chords of “J Town Suite.” With nods towards the jazz-rock fusion of Miles Davis’s “Bitches Brew.” The band’s interplay ties the experience together, as various instruments bounce off each other, resulting in a rich dialogue. A textural approach to the rhythm and melody results in…
SCHOENBERG: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11” has been described as a set of compositions for solo piano, written by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg way back in 1909. Aaron Wyanski’s take on Schoenberg’s music, however, is far different from their original piano-only presentations. Wyanski’s interpretations reflect some of the sounds of early stereo music creators, like Martin…
The title of Eric Ezra’s album is Amphibian. One can’t be sure why he called it that. When we think of amphibians, we most likely picture frogs and such. Of these ten tracks, not one is about any of those hoppers. In fact, only one song is about a creature, which is a “Mosquito.” There…
Derwin Daniels embraces a funky jazz sound in the joyful “Brighter Than This.” A powerful, muscular take on the classic saxophone-led sound helps to give the piece a strong sense of purpose. His ability to play the sax feels liberating. There is a lyrical quality to the way he approaches the sound. Without needing to…
Canadian country singer, Lynne Taylor Donovan, has just released a new album titled Movin’ On. And no, this 10-song set does not contain that old Hank Snow country hit of the same name. It does include a set of strong country tracks, though. Some of these songs lean closer to pop-country. Not so with “The…
Jazz at the Ballroom reimagines the classics gracefully with “Flying High.” The songs sway back and forth. The interplay among the band adds to the communal quality the songs possess. Vocals feel gracious. She has a stately presence with the tenderness of her lyrics feeling joyous. Layers are woven together, creating a vast tapestry. Colors…
Chilled-out jazzy licks adorn Russ Spiegel’s spry, mid-century-leaning sounds of “Caribbean Blue.” Bossa Nova, Hard Bop, and everything in between they go for this gorgeous setting. The grooves are immaculate. Lyrical instrumentation adds to the lush, serene environment of the work. Never rushing themselves, the songs have this superb, languid pacing. Atmosphere matters as it…
Wabi Sabi is an inventive collection of musicians. Its album, The Love Insane, brings together eleven memorable rock/pop songs. The album’s title track is a slow-tempo-d song that sounds like a love song from the early days of rock and roll. It prominently features steel guitar, but it’s not a country tune. Instead, this instrumentation…
An elegant, sophisticated sensibility radiates throughout the colorful chords of Martin Graff’s “Trips for Piano.” The emotional outpouring he demonstrates feels riveting. Impressionistic at certain moments, the defiant nature of the compositions feels akin to the grandeur of Chopin’s output, with the melodic shifts adding to this undeniable beauty. He keeps an impressive range going…
A classic piece of burnt acid-fried psychedelic “Star-Spangled Alice” reveals Jude Gwynaire’s sheer freewheeling sensibilities. The volume deserves its highest possible setting, for this is a physical experience. Purely instrumental, there is no need for words. Within the many different layers, a narrative emerges. Nods to groups like Jefferson Airplane and the United States of…
Phil Gammage’s album, Redeemed, is comprised of simple folk songs. Gammage sings these ten songs over mostly acoustic instrumentation, including saloon piano and lonesome harmonica. It’s a gentle, but honest, selection of songs. One called “Right On” has a title that reads like something out of the ‘70s. That was a phrase often uttered in…
The ‘She’ that’s so excitable in the act She’s Excited is Anne Wichmann. She says she’s influenced by artists like Grace Jones, David Bowie and Laurie Anderson. Although only time will tell if Wichmann has the influence of these iconic artists, she’s certainly created a strong album with Moments of Sonder. Wichmann has described this…
Theda Phoenix has described this album as “her debut as a songwriter, featuring intimate love songs and messages for a sustainable, peaceful, transformed world.” That’s quite ambitious for just one album, but if you’re going to aim, you might as well aim high. The album opens with some truly meditative music. “Calm Inception,” with its…
K4LT is from Berlin, and has called its music “a gloomy, multi layered melodical mix of avant-garde, alternative, post-punk and dark wave.” Its single, “This Room (Reprise)” gives the listener exactly what’s advertised. The track begins with moody keyboard textures, before insistent drum percussion enters in. This percussion element is mixed with semi-psychedelic keyboard parts.…
“It Was Always You” is the new single from White Plains, NY’s Sabrina Monique, and will likely stand as one of the defining tracks for this portion of her career. It’s as assertive and impassioned of a statement regarding self-worth as you’re likely to hear from 2024’s pop music releases. Monique has a powerhouse voice…
Gianfranco Pescetti creates (mostly) instrumental music now, but you may not realize he has also studied ballet and danced professionally during the time that led up to his musical career. Dance still plays into the music he creates, although you likely cannot imagine ballet dancers moving to the sounds compiled for his album Daystar Nocturnal.…
Millenium Resorts’ album title, In the Key of David, may make you think of Stevie Wonder’s famous Songs in the Key of Life. The biggest difference being that Wonder was/is overwhelmingly positive, whereas Millenium Resorts (despite its vacation-y moniker) leans more towards a glass half empty vibe. Wonder was also just one man (and a…
A husband-and-wife duet about genuine love, Gabriele Guma has released his highly anticipated single “Day One” featuring his wife Tiffany Tesfa Guma. Gabriele Guma is a Philly-based artist who is also a dancer, musician, educator, and songwriter. He prides himself that guitar for him is more of a second language than an instrument, and he…
We hear a lot about musical journeys running through the course of a song, both in terms of the development of the music itself and the narrative the lyrics lay out before us. Well, Half of You, Rob Eberle’s latest release, seems to effortlessly tick boxes relating to both those ideas. Lyrically, he takes us…
When singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Erik Kjelland sings, “You don’t have to be out there on your own,” it highlights how the pandemic had a lasting impact on this Texas quintet. Every Sign of Life is an epic-length 15-track album that clocks in at just over an hour. It’s a rock album filled with passionate, and also…
While sometimes incorporating the melodic riff to Seals & Crofts’ “Summer Breeze,” Nana Bangz has created a soulful rap with “Alive.” However, the sample worked into this track is most likely the 1974 cover version by the Isley Brothers. It’s certainly one lively track. Described as a cross between Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim, Nana…
Tim James calls his group Special Guests because its lineup can change from project to project. However, no matter who might be around him, James consistently sings heartfelt songs, like the eleven found on the appropriately titled, The Special Guests. James many times sounds heartbroken while singing this set of songs. Perhaps no more so…
Call me a believer. I haven’t heard of Xolex until now, and I’m convinced she’ll be a part of country music’s future for many years. Her new single “Sure Know How to Pick ‘Em” is an instant earworm that stakes its territory with listeners less than a minute in and builds on that with effortless…
If there’s a soulful twist to your verses and a humble tone in your voice at all times, who says you need more than a well-plucked six-string to make a hit rockabilly single? In his new release “Constellation High,” Canadian singer/songwriter Vili V goes out of his way to remind audiences that keeping it simple…
If you especially enjoy melodic rock, the Easy Bee’s self-titled album was made with you in mind. These Bees are a trio that met in 2004 at New England College and formed a band in Henniker, NH. This album is an easygoing 12-song release. Interestingly, one titled “I’ve Got Soul” doesn’t come off especially soulful.…
What could Ranzel X Kendrick mean by Hill Country Hip? Is hipness in the hill country a relative term? Does it take some time for hip things to make it up to the hill country, or is Kendrick a hip guy that just happens to call the hills his home? Whatever the definition, this album…
bd Gottfried has a lot on his mind in his single “Live, Fight & Die,” and although he’s an unknown among modern music circles, the narrative of his song translates as well as an epic ballad from a rock n’ roll legend would. He wastes no time attacking the verses with a candid, homespun lyrical…
A classic 70s cool adorns Nero Simon and the Sunsetters’ “Waveland.” With an evident fondness for the Beach Boys, the songs feature honeyed choruses and beautiful melodies. The songs work together to create this cohesive whole. Songs last as long as needed, as relaxing as a summer breeze. Plenty of colors enter the arrangements, and…
Them Dirty Roses is an Alabama-raised band, featuring two brothers, James and Frank Ford. Although sometimes described as Southern rock, the single “Candle In The Dark” sounds more like hard rock from the South, rather than decidedly Southern rock. Nevertheless this ballad-y rocker is certainly built upon a memorable electric guitar riff. The song begins…
Southbound 75 captures a slice of contemporary Americana in the soulful “Runnin’ On Empty.” Lyrics matter. They use a concise word choice to describe people’s struggles– putting their whole lives into work without having time for anything else. Arrangement-wise, they kick up a storm, with the driving rhythm as a perfect counterpart to the vocal…
Brendan McNamara, the singer and songwriter for Extra Time, describes the album Songs with Long Titles as a “Steely Dan meets Supertramp” stylistic effort. There is a whole lot of sonic territory between those two band references, however. Steely Dan famously incorporated legitimate jazz sounds into smart and oftentimes snarky lyrical songs, which made it…
An old-school hard rock style rages forth on Stays In Vegas’ stark vision of “Nevermore.” With a slight nod towards more gothic elements, they build the sound up into a wall of fury. The volume is a must because the song feels physical. Rhythms, while slow, have a determined stance, working themselves into a frenzy…
Ellie Lee sculpts a captivatingly engrossing realm on the urbane jazz noir of “Escape.” The album feels lyrical, all without needing to say a single word. Relatively subdued, the song unspools graciously, striking a delicate balance. Grooves have a tactile quality, allowing for each chord and every sway of the upright bass, along with the…
Mercer Hassy Orchestra updates the classic jazz swagger on the celebratory of “Duke’s Place.” Amongst the pieces are some tried and true classics, deeper cuts, originals, and everything else. They create this immersive atmosphere with songs that stay just as long as they need, incorporating elements of pop, funk, rock, and more into their jazz…
Ronny Smith embraces a chilled-out, nu-jazz style with the glamourous style of “Struttin.” The arrangements have an inherent coolness, for the instrumentation incorporates many styles outside the usual jazz. Elements of funk, rock, and pop, led by impeccable guitar work, help the sound glide. He focuses on the instrumentation and tells an entire story, as…
Powerful vocals alongside a playful disposition define Julia Vari’s feat. Negroni’s Trio’s “Somos.” An intricate dance of colors and gestures, the song wraps itself around the listener. The fully immersive experience shows off the group’s interplay and how easily they sync with Julia Vari’s vocals. Word choice matters because she sculpts each verse carefully, getting…
If judged by the title of his album, Kurt Hagardorn may sometimes feel like an out-of-time, technologically challenged individual. However, when in comes to creating enjoyably memorable rock & roll, the man consistently hits that rock & roll sweet spot again and again with his winning release, An Analog Man In A Digital World. The…
