CD and DVD reviews
You don’t have to watch the news for too long before you start to say to yourself, ‘It’s raining nonsense!” The band Strangely Alright uses the word ‘reigning,’ rather than ‘raining,’ but the point is still the same. The group is from the Seattle, WA area, but their influences mostly come from across the pond.…
URL: http://www.relickings.ca/ With a passionate burst of energy, Relic Kings take a blistering guitar riff and push it into a galloping beat at the onset of “Blinded by the Sun,” the new single from their debut album, also titled Blinded by the Sun. There’s a sense of optimism in the ascending melody, but it’s flanked with…
Michael Whalen delivers a soulful emotive piece of pristine beauty with the lovely “Cupid Blindfolded”. With masterful playing, Michael Whalen attentive, patient style recalls the best of Keith Jarrett’s work. By keeping things to the pure essentials, the album, truly resonates in a deep, meaningful manner. The melodic richness of the work comes from the…
A confident strut of the percussion is all that it takes for the title track of 2.O.F.’s debut EP The Machine to get everyone in the room dancing like it’s their last night on earth, and while the beat is eroticized by the feverish rhythm of the bassline, it’s only made as potent as it is by…
“Tomorrow,” a single off Mark Schirmacher’s Losing Things album, begins with a chime-y acoustic guitar intro. When Schirmacher begins singing, he describes seeking someone out. “Tomorrow,” he announces, “I’m gonna go looking for you.” Just who this “you” is, however, is not entirely clear. The name of Schirmacher’s album, Losing Things, may give us a…
Optimism rests at the heart and soul of Dave Munsick’s unique Americana of “I Can Fly”. Full of such dazzling color the song opts for a spry tempo to lead it along. Arrangements have a great poignancy to them at times both drawing from a 70s singer-songwriter style as well as contemporaries like Lambchop. By…
Slowly but surely, a charming acoustic guitar comes slinking out of the shadows in “Eu Vim Da Bahia,” the brand new single from acclaimed Latin jazz newcomer Integriti Reeves. There’s nothing menacing about its euphoric melody, and yet its amiable disposition is rife with an underlying emotionality that will soon be further explained in a…
“Locations” opens up the collection with such swagger, with FSG Rell (feat. Nico DC) going for a party vibe. Done with a neon-hued style, their flows feel flawless while the energy feels infectious. All of it works from the crisp beats to the bouncy groove. Emily Cole opts for a luxurious expansive sound with “Dead…
Chad Rico is nothing, if not productive. His 12 Weeks of Summer series continues his consistent hip-hop output. For the most part, these four new songs find Rico relaxed and enjoying himself. In other words, he sounds just like summer. His ode to a great summer vacation spot, “Barbados,” features Rico enjoying the beach in…
On the pop music spectrum, Mark Schirmacher leans toward the gentler side. His album Losing Things includes plenty of pretty, fingerpicked acoustic guitar. Furthermore, Schirmacher is also a soft sort of vocalist. With that said, though, there are exceptions to this rule. One titled “Study of Love” revs up the groove to a train-like folk…
Caracol’s new single “Flooded Field” is one of the more engrossing singles I have heard so far in 2019. Taken from the Canadian based musical artist’s 2018 release Symbolism, Caracol created and filmed a music video for the track as well that complements it rather well. The confidence behind this package is apparent. Caracol entered the…
“Something Wrong with Me” is a single from Jacques Gaines’ full length album Volume Won and is an excellent example of singer/songwriter driven fare in the 21st century. The album is the end product of sixteen months worth of hard work and represents Gaines’ return to the popular music arena following ten plus years working in…
DJ FENIX – FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/djfenix/ Take one part treble, a touch of white noise and a whole lot of understated melodic grinding in the synths – throw them into a sonic mixing bowl and churn as hard as possible (with a ton of volume added in just for good measure), and you’ll get the “Dub…
There are a couple of clear break points in Giadora’s first single “Twisted” and it helps frame this dramatic release for listeners. I admire the obvious design of the song; the airy ethereal introduction strikes an effective opening note before the song’s pulsing beat begins and Giadora launches us towards the first verse. The Los…
ReLove’s “Fly Away (Anything Is Possible)” begins with the sound of a ticking clock, which then gives way to a thumping groove colored by soulful organ. “I don’t care about time” they sing later, as though there’s no clock anywhere within earshot. “Should I get up or stay in bed/I can’t find the answer in…
As stylish as they are sleek, the beats that guide the tempo in Satellītes’ new single and music video, “Love & Disaster,” are an embodiment of cool jazz textures and sensuous R&B swing, but they’re only one of many brilliant elements to behold in the latest cut from Jasmine Bleile’s solo project. “Love & Disaster,”…
URL: http://www.shanesmithmusic.com/ Searing sounds of amplified destruction make their way into the atmosphere at the command of Shane Smith & the Saints in “Heaven Knows,” the first track in their new album, Hail Mary. “We set our sails for deeper seas, heaven knows what we will find,” croons the always-amazing Smith in the chorus of…
Andrew Neil has been described as an outsider musical artist and compared to Daniel Johnston. Words like “raw” and “unpolished” are used to help draw word pictures for his unique sound. “Hope” is an example of Neil’s special contribution to the music world. Neil has an eventful biography — to say the least. He was…
I remember interviewing Paul Graves back in 2016 and was just so enthralled with his mountainous music and wildlife lifestyle, (https://skopemag.com/2016/10/07/jimmy-rae-goin-squatchin-with-mountain-man-paul-graves). They say home is where the heart is but in Paul’s case, home is where the heartfelt music stems from. Surrounded by spectacular views and pure nature at its finest, Wenatchee, Washington is where…
The single “Open My Mind” begins with the repeated line, “I want to get away.” It’s not that Southwest Airlines commercial advertising slogan, however. Instead, it’s a lyric sung urgently over a driving, Ramones-esque guitar riff. Tough On Fridays is an unusual female duo from Georgetown, Texas. Female duos aren’t especially unique, as Indigo Girls…
Cincinnati, Ohio’s Living Darian stays true to his moniker with the impressive 18-track album Live For Love. Out now via New King Records, Living Darian emphasizes his passion for living and seizing each moment in each of the distinctly different 18 songs. With plenty of inspirational lyrics, cascading piano beds and a vast array of…
“Down Down,” which comes from Bonne Finken’s Gauntlet album, is a survival song. It begins with a spooky, spacey intro, and then transitions into a thumping percussion part. Finken sings about survival, and how she made it without the help from the subject in this song. It’s as though she’s saying to this person, ‘Look,…
A silky-smooth style flow throughout Arthur Jae’s “God Will Make It Better”. Such a resonant approach works wonders as Arthur Jae brings together contemporary gospel, R&B, and a bit of pop into the proceedings. Full of a sunny optimism his lyricism lifts the listener up. Carefully selected word choice further adds to the overall power…
Matt The Fucking Rapper’s flow has a fantastical unhinged quality on “Wake Up Do Better”. His lyrics feel on point while they opt for a pitch perfect storytelling alongside a surprisingly wide amount of references that filter into the mix. From Drake disses to reflection on a life lived to the fullest, Matt The Fucking…
“Hey mom and dad/I want a puppy,” The Jolly Pops announce from the outset of their single “I Want a Puppy.” Although this lyrical statement expresses a familiar child sentiment, it comes off closer to a demand than a request. Furthermore, this pet request is placed within a heavy metal musical landscape. The sonic has…
The TeleDynes deliver a swinging, rockabilly sound with the colossal tidal wave of their self-titled effort. Done with the greatest level of care, they tap into Dick Dale’s incredible riffing style with a fast-paced rush through such a wide variety of genres ranging from classic rock to the blues to jazz. Over the course of…
Charley Young sings with a soulful swagger on the trance pop perfection of “Hold The Moon”. Electro impulses glimmer beneath the sleek polished surface. With a giddy quality Charley Young refuses to let things stay put for long. The energy that runs through the whole of the track feels outright incredible. By refusing to ever…
T.J. Doyle explores a mellowed-out long back on a life passed with “Lullaby”. With a low-key energy the song unfurls at its own gentle pace. Over the course of the track T.J. Doyle brings in acid fried country, an indie rock sensibility, with a psychedelic twang all into a vivid worldview. Full of life T.J.…
“Cloud 9” is a single taken from The Violet Nines’ EP, which is also titled Cloud 9. The group also recently covered “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” Simple Minds’ huge hit from that John Hughes teen dramady The Breakfast Club, which may tell you even more about the band than this particular song does. Know…
In his latest single and music video, the fuzz-frenzied “Are You Happy (Radio Mix),” Av Super Sunshine belts out the lyrics with an illustrious croon that has become a sort of calling card in his music, but there’s a stronger depth of emotion present in his vocal here than there is in anything else on…
Led by a fuzzy guitar and a gentle drumbeat, Mariela’s Darkness in the Garden doesn’t waste any time in getting everyone within earshot of the mammoth melodies in “Shatter the Glass” on their feet and swinging in synchronicity with the rhythm. A classy croon inserts itself at the epicenter of all the action, and before…
FACEBOOK: https://www.hughiemac.com/ The latest single from singer/balladeer Hughie Mac, “Let’s Get Away”, picks up the torch Frank Sinatra sat down many years ago and carries this classic track into the modern era with flair and panache that Ol’ Blue Eyes would have likely appreciated. The single is culled from his most recent full length release Hughie…
Bonnie Finken has titled her album Gauntlet. The term gauntlet dates to the medieval practice where a knight throwns down his gauntlet, or metal glove, as a challenge to combat. And make no mistake about it, Finken is all about being combative, both musically and lyrically. Gauntlet opens with “Down Down,” an electronic pop song…
A new fixture of the Austin, Texas music scene, Ela uprooted herself from San Francisco and moved south with skills and songwriting ambitions in tow. Despite her young age, Ela’s mix of pop and country sounds has garnered her a measure of commercial success and the adult complexities she incorporates will impress all but their…
The sway of the lightly overdriven guitars is almost paralyzing, but just as it seems we’re about to be overtaken by the powerfully melodic opening bars of “You Are There,” Matthew John comes sliding into focus with his soft voice and tender lyricism. This track comes to us on the appropriately titled The Best of…
Lonny Ziblat sculpts a timeless classic with the lush throwback sound of “Dream Hunting”. Recalling a late 60s early 70s singer-songwriter tradition, his lyricism has a profound thoughtful quality to it. With nods to everyone from the cool collected atmosphere of Paul Simon to the reflective communal spirit of James Taylor, it all comes together…
Billy Hartong’s imaginative children’s songs are expressed by his group called The Jolly Pops. Bad Bad Dinosaur opens with the album’s title track, which sounds a lot like typical kid’s music, including kid backing vocals. What separates many of the other songs on this 12-song project is the way many of these tunes adhere to…
“Made Alive” is both the single and the name of a duo featuring Brian & Katie Payton. In fact, it’s taken from the act’s EP of the same name. Based in Minnesota, these two first at during a Christmas program at Brian’s church in 2016. So, the best present they received that year was each…
The band is on the road with their Now’s The Time tour celebrating their 25th Anniversary while promoting their new release Blood. Frontman and keyboards/guitarist Ed Roland is joined by brother Dean on guitars, bassist Will Turpin, lead guitarist Jesse Triplett, and drummer Johnny Rabb. The album cover depicts what I determine to be referring…
A springy string melody ignites a blaze of musicality that will soon overtake anyone within earshot of the title track in LaTresa & the Signal’s The Blood and the River, a ‘grassed up gospel LP that is garnering a lot of attention this season, to put it mildly. We begin in this tizzy of easygoing…
