CD and DVD reviews
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…
Flippin’ Gothic Fabp formally known as Fabp aka Fabpz the Freelancer is back at it again! To me, Flippin’ Gothic Fabp is one of the hardest working musicians in the hip-hop game with over 2 K songs to his name. There are no brakes for this rapper from Jamaica Queens, NY as he speeds ahead…
“Give Me Your Heart,” Blind Uncle Harry’s most recent single, is about as straight ahead a love song as they come. It’s built upon a slightly jangling electric guitar part, accompanied by accordion. The track also features a female backing vocalist. It simply expresses a desire to partner up with another person. https://blinduncleharry.bandcamp.com/track/give-me-your-heart Blind Uncle…
The video for Alice the G00n’s “CYA” finds the talented singer and multidisciplinary artist reaching a new high point in her brief career. She spared no effort in piecing together this intensely physical and visually compelling clip. The fight scenes and stunt work are alone worth seeking out. However, the accompanying visuals further round out…
Queen Esther selects a swinging, jazzy style for the spry arrangements in “Things Are Looking Up.” With a clear reference point of Billie Holiday, the sound feels alive. Instrumentation goes for this classic kick, as a great deal of flexibility is felt within each piece. She lets the atmosphere expand around her, for this dialogue…
Pure passion burns brightly with “8 Concepts of Tango,” with Håkon Skogstad displaying a real knack for storytelling without saying a single word. The melodies present a sense of yearning, of lust, with the rhythms highlighting the sheer intensity of the experience. Songs do their best to come together, playing off each other, resulting in…
“With the Rhythm of a Catfight” begins quietly with a chiming electric guitar part over a snare drum. Tim Hort sings these words lightly, even though they carry a whole lot of weight. When he sings “I do love you” at one point, it makes this into a love song of sorts – even though…
Jack Wood displays a timeless elegance in the laid-back rhythms and wistful lyricism of “The Gal That Got Away.” A large slew of styles enters the fray. Nods to jazz fusion, lounge, pop, and more come together in this bright stream of colors. Word choice tells a story, that of unrequited love. The album displays…
Bob Anderson employs a jaunty take in the sly midcentury jazz swing style of “Bob Anderson LIVE!” Instrumentation plays it tried and true, going for this celebratory spirit. Fanfare, excellent piano work, and, of course, that voice help guide the entire journey. Such a careful balance comes into the fray, allowing the work to feel…
Christoher Sluka goes by the simplified moniker of Sluka, and “Saving It All,” his latest single, is a big, rock ballad. It’s also a memorable, emotional piece of music. The track moves to a relatively slow, measured rhythm. It finds Sluka thinking and singing thoughtfully. His voice moves easily between a low and higher register.…
Christian Fabian Trio emerges with a chilled-out blend of jazz and funk on the luxurious “Hip to the Skip.” With a crystal-clear sound that would make Steely Dan proud, the fidelity here feels immaculate. The rock elements of the atmosphere add to the inherent playfulness of the pieces, for they effortlessly blend into this singular…
A taut funk frames the playful and physicality of Stix Bones’ “Olimpik Soul.” The commanding quality of the sound comes through in every possible way. Melodies feature an inherent richness with a rhythm section that feels just as expressive. An entire universe comes into view quickly. Instrumentally varied, they take on many different genres within…
