CD and DVD reviews
Mesa Jane’s single begins simply with just piano and vocal. It soon goes into a fairly standard snap track rhythm, underpinning Jane’s acoustic piano. Jane has a pretty voice, although her under-enunciation can sometimes make it difficult to make out exactly what she’s singing here. With that said, though, this is still a pretty tune.…
K-Brown begins his single, “The One,” with the paraphrase of a cliché. “Time only flies,” he reminds us, “when we’re having fun. It’s a simple introduction to a relatively simple song. Simple is not always a bad thing, however. Don’t forget that the Ramones basically played the same simple song over and over throughout their…
The Pierce Project, three brothers making harmonious music together, have released “Time is Absurd (Favorite Song),” a single from the group’s album Last Days of Summer. The song begins with a summer-y keyboard part, before the lead vocal begins. It’s not long after that where a few more voice join in the mix. The song’s…
‘Incendiary Heart’ is the right title for this new album from Andy Michaels because it is exploding with love & compassion. This record is jam-packed with feeling as Andy Michaels covers the entire scale of emotions from A-Z. Immediately, one will be immersed in the richness of the recordings allowing for the listener to be…
Macaco, a band from Barcelona, Spain, has released the video for its single “Blue (Diminuto Planeta Azul).” It’s a fascinating visual, which begins with a look at a beautiful, pregnant woman, as well as a zoom in from outer space — right down to planet Earth. The chorus, to this song (mostly) sung in Spanish,…
Radio Drive’s In The Light hearkens back, in many respects, to early work from The Cars. The songs are endearingly concise, much like The Cars’ debut album. At its best, as on “Moving On,” Radio Drive featuring Kevin Gullickson even sounds like vintage, mid-Sixties Beatles – especially this track’s earworm electric guitar riff. Where In…
Out of the darkness and into the light, the Toronto Tabla Ensemble begin their new single “Dream Symposium” in a haze of disharmonic percussion, a synchronized melody beckoning us into the mudslide of beats without warning us of what might lay on the other side of its thick wall of sound. The drums run head-first…
A stunner of an opening strum officially welcomes us into Yours Truly, Me…’s first song, “Woe Is Me,” and singer/guitar-slinger Alex Lopez will use the next four and a half minutes that follow to show us how powerful a blues melody he can pump out when he gets into a sexy groove with the bass. This…
Ian Bouras has been a fixture on the New York City music scene for almost two decades now and, despite medical problems, shows no signs of slowing down or allowing his creativity to be stifled in any respect. His latest release A Chipmunk’s Interpretation of Space is another instrumental release using guitar looping as the basis for…
The sounds of Canada’s best indie artists have been shaking up the States quite a bit lately, and after listening to the new single from Jeremy Rice, it isn’t difficult for me to understand why at all. Rice has been described by some as one of the premier melodic pop singers in his scene, and…
There are moments during Fred Argir’s No Pushover album where he sounds a bit like the Sam Kinison of rock & roll. You remember comedian Sam Kinison, right? He was funny, just like all great comedians, but he was also one loud screamer. Kinison was the antithesis of Steven Wright, the quiet, monotone Bostonian best…
Fred Argir’s “Beggar’s Anthem,” is a hard charging rock & roll song. It’s slightly harder than the Goo Goo Dolls, and very much Tim era Replacements. If that’s not a fully, hearty recommendation, you probably didn’t grow up listening to 80s alternative rock. If so, pity on you. If you sadly missed the golden era…
If you’re looking for a fun, happy-go-lucky and upbeat album then this won’t be your cup of tea. But, if you’re looking for a raw & somber record that cuts right through then ‘Champagne and Childhood Hunger’ is your ticket. Eric Terino has delivered a haunting performance that will stir up many emotions on the…
Canada’s own Linda McRae releases a new album called ‘Going to the Well’ that is just drenched with heart & soul. This record is soaked with raw emotion as Linda McRae proves she is one dominant singer/songwriter. ‘Going to the Well’ is one you will want to drink in fully because it just offers the…
The husband and wife duo of Brianna and Kurt center their material around their in synch vocals. The instrumental background is used sparingly which is a good thing. Guitar, sax, bass etc. are used more as accents. Willie Dixon’s If The Sea Was Whiskey has vocal arrangements that remind me of some of Three Dog…
The Oklahoma City based quintet One Two Ten draw from acts like Kings of Leon, The Killers, and Walk the Moon to forge their pop rock sound, but their new single “Heathers” proves they are capable of synthesizing those elements into a style, in the end, all their own. The new single, in particular, pulls…
What would happen if you took an iconic country song and turned it into a swinging little Americana number? Well, wonder no more because Alias Wayne has beaten you to the punch with its version of “Ring of Fire.” Taken from the act’s SNAFU album, it is built on many of the elements oftentimes found…
On its Facebook page, The Issue lists “propane and propane accessories” as personal interests. This reference to the animated TV show King of the Hill reveals a sense of humor. However, there isn’t any humor in this Minneapolis, MN band’s single “Moving On.” It’s a hard rock exercise in the letting go of a relationship.…
URL: https://www.sharonliaband.com/news/ Hailing from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, the Sharon Lia Band first coalesced in 2013 anchored by founding member Sharon Lia. The band has enjoyed a sharp uptick in the trajectory of their ascent through the music world in recent years landing a plum supporting slot for indie rock band Lydia, sharing the bill…
“Roses” is taken from Sophie Dorsten’s EP, which is also titled Roses. Dorsten is a sixteen-year-old singer (that’s right; just sixteen), and “Roses” is a moody, acoustic guitar-driven ballad. Dorsten sells it with a precociously lovely voice. Dorsten is a self-described indie/folk singer that calls the Phoenix, AZ area home. If you think sixteen is…
This was a fantastic listen because the recordings are stripped completely down and the project wasn’t some over-the-top, over-produced production full of bells & whistles. Sylvius just lets the piano do all the talking on his new EP titled ‘Here With Me’. The result is refreshing to say the least and the effect it will…
Taken from the album Cranial Matter, this version of the single “Turn It Up” is a Dave Lombardo mix of the Primitive Race’s track. The album Cranial Matter, in fact, is an album comprised of all remixes. The recording begins with moody keyboard sounds, over tribal drumming. The vocal jumps in, low in the mix,…
Vicki F has a long musical history dating back to the 70s and early 80s, but she took a break from the music scene for years. Her new EP titled, ‘Definite Yes!’, is making a loud statement that Vicki F is back and better than ever. This new release proves that Vicki F has not…
2019 has produced a lot of really surreal videos across the pop spectrum, but country pairing The Promised offer music enthusiasts something totally straightforward in the video for their new single “We Could Be In Love” that stands as a breath of fresh air amidst the flow of mostly predictable fodder we’ve seen this season.…
Right away, I am instantly gravitated toward Scheckler Brothers and their recent video/single, “Love You So” because the siblings have a way of pulling you in. “Love You So” is not just a cool music video but also a featured single on the new album titled ‘Magic’. I am lovin’ everything about this song/video from…
Calling an album Keepin’ It Country, Vol. One, makes a statement from the get-go. With only a few words, this title separates its contents from a lot of other country music, which is not ‘keepin’ it country.’ Therefore, this album is introduced as not just another album featuring more of the same non-country. Instead, it…
Desolo is an army vet born in Venezuela and he now resides in Olympia, Washington. I wasn’t able to decipher the lyrics due to the words not being in English, BUT that didn’t even phase me! Reason being is because Desolo has a way of universally connecting with listeners through the music itself. “Te Extrano”…
A light acoustic groove is waiting to greet all who press play on the first track of Leo Harmonay’s new album Naked Rivers, “Patterns,” and while this opening salvo hypnotizes us with its charming melodies and homespun harmonies, they’re just a taste of what’s to come in the next nine tracks on this stately sequel to…
Get ready to hail this “Taxi” because Caldonia is giving the listener one hell of a ride! Whatever your destination in life is, Caldonia has you covered with one steady route. Caldonia is a six piece band from Alabama and “Taxi” is the exciting, new single/video that is sure to get you where you need…
Matty Marz creates funky, sometimes explicitly sexy, music. This EP’s title track is a confession of sorts. It’s built upon an elastic bass part and a slightly throwback dance music groove. He sings on the chorus, “la la la love fool.” This track is only 2.58 in length. He also sings, “My heart won’t always…
This duo’s explosive sound blew me away on their brand new album titled ‘Pretty Little Secrets’. Grifters & Shills is made up of: John and Rebecca Stoll and together their chemistry on and off stage is impeccable. The two Texans met back in 2008 while playing in a classic rock/blues jam band and the rest…
Rev Peter Unger Feat. Grace crafts a caring compassionate world with “There’s a Spirit II”. Done with the utmost of care the whole of the piece is soaked in optimistic light. A polished, professional sheen radiates from the whole of the work, ensuring that its meditative reflective quality becomes readily apparent. Over the course of…
Laura Baron’s single, “Refugee,” opens with a table rhythm, which gives the song an exotic, foreign vibe. It’s what she’s going for because refugees are foreigners escaping hardships in their homelands. The song is timely, too, as the United States has put immigration at the top of is political discussion topic list. The sound of…
They say timing is everything and Lisa Rich feels it’s the absolute perfect time to release her third album, ‘Highwire’. Lisa Rich actually recorded this album back in 1987, but it was never released until NOW! I’m so glad this material is seeing the light of day 32 years later because the record is just…
“Every time we fight you say you need some space, baby / Why’d you keep on walking every time I’m screaming stay?” begs Sherman de Vries in one of the more emotive stanzas in his latest single, the epic “Pretty Cry,” a track that has unsurprisingly been taking the underground by storm this August on…
A true exercise in sonic brutality, Rav Medic goes for the jugular on the intense “The Sisters With Blood in Their Mouths”. Making things as uncomfortable as possible the whole of the track opts for a foreboding, bleak atmosphere. Such a crazed, manic energy runs through the entirety of the work. Vocals have a feral…
Sean Shiff’s “Medicine Lake” begins, simply, with acoustic guitar, bass and drums. It starts with Shiff singing about morning view of this lake, which is set in a small town. It’s mostly a scenic route sort of song; that is, of course, till it takes a philosophical turn at the end. “If all of the…
The single “Gemini” is taken from Pistol for Ringo’s release, Kings of Bad Behavior. This song and band are most notable for its lead vocal. It’s the sort of voice that doesn’t really fit with, say, opera, but sure sounds fantastic in rock & roll, and it comes out especially good here. It seems to…
Greg Smith calls his single “Waiting for the Truth.” It’s a folk-ish tune, built upon acoustic guitar and colored with harmonica. Smith sings over this instrumental bed with a gentle voice, which is not unlike Al Stewart’s in the 70s. The song includes a few unusual lyrical lines within this largely philosophical song. For instance,…
Crobot is a P.A. metal band consisting of Brandon Yeagley on vocals, Chris Bishop on guitar and Dan Ryan on drums, and they add either James Lascu or Eddie Collins on bass for touring. They have toured and played at venues with numerous big name metal bands, gaining a following. Motherbrain is their fourth release.…
