CD and DVD reviews
You wouldn’t think this is a cover of the legendary Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks duet from the opening alone and when the full band comes in and a piercing lead guitar flourish overwhelms the senses. It soon settles into some recognizable riffing, recast in metal guitar, and Aven’s vocal contributions lead the way. She has a…
Sam Levin delves into a beautiful tenderness with the powerful folk electronics of “Bookmark”. Highly ornate, the polished delivery recalls the carefully considered gestures of Four Tet’s earliest works. Keeping things bright and airy, the lightness of the track draws a bit from Bossa Nova, jazz, and the gentleness of thoughtful pop. By far the…
Shadowfields’ “Awake” begins with a gypsy-like fiddle part, played over an echoing drum fill, before Heather Humphrey’s angelic vocals kick in. Humphry sings the song’s first verse, while Tom McKeown – the second half of the Shadowfields duo – sings the second verse. What results from this combination is a narration of a nightmarish vision.…
Men stand half naked in a field, their pale white torsos superimposed within the frame of a camera lens. A robotic voiceover wants to know but one question; Do you want to go to the prom with me? Suddenly, we cut away to a luxurious scene – a Guru, being fed by said men and a handful…
BANDCAMP: https://boxofmoxie.bandcamp.com/ Box of Moxie’s sixth studio effort Submission Admission, written by chief songwriter and vocalist Stephen Jacques and produced by the incomparable multi-instrumentalist Alan Weatherhead, welcomes listeners into a surreal collection of emotive folk-rock that is as evocative as it is stylish. Opening with the plaintive star single “Irish Sea Lovers,” Jacques wastes no time…
URL: https://www.stephanierosemusic.com/ Critics and country fans alike can’t seem to stop talking about Stephanie Rose’s new record Sprout and it’s January single “Luxury,” which are both taking the world by storm this winter. Proving that country music is truly borderless in 2019, this plain-speaking Canadian is dishing out nothing but heartfelt anthems in her new EP, which…
Julia King sings with a swinging, soulful passion on the incredible “Lover’s Lament”. Proving to be a deft storyteller, the blues color the entirety of the piece. The arrangement has a classic quality to it which proves to be nearly timeless. Done with the greatest level of care, Julia King ensures that not a moment…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/patrickdovalmusic/ The material on Patrick Doval’s newest full length release Broken, spanning eleven songs, deals with weighty themes and concerns, but Doval never sounds broken. Instead, the collection is surprisingly exultant despite its rather complicated mosaic of moods and that redemptive feeling is present from the first song onward. “Rose” whips Broken up to a…
Nothing junky at all about this new song from Indian-American singer/songwriter, Shreya Preeti, but quite the opposite. “Junkyard” is a breakout single off of the recent EP titled ‘Encore’. This artist that’s based out of Minneapolis and Chicago has a sound all of her own that is both refreshing & infectious to say the least.…
“Photo” is the title track to the Chrissie Romano Band’s album, and it’s all about how sensory stimuli can sometimes drive us (seemingly) crazy. During the song’s second verse, Romano sings, “I was just walking down the street and I smelled your perfume.” She’s so overwhelmed, the lyric states, she spins around, gets dizzy and…
I know I’ve said this before in the past but it’s damn true that ‘If it’s Love’ doesn’t even remotely sound like a debut album for Kelly Hafner. This new release for the singer/songwriter from Austin, Texas comes across as a finely-tuned production from a seasoned professional in the studio. I am in Love with…
Roses & Cigarettes craft a rollicking good old rock n’roll spirit with the joyous “Echoes and Silence”. Effortlessly blending country, folk, and the singer-songwriter tradition into a cohesive whole, the album knows how to have fun. Volume deserves to be blasted for the arrangement pack quite a punch, with the guitars warm and inviting, the…
Every day, people go to California for various reasons. One might go for the thrill that the great state has to offer including various attractions like Disney World, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, or even because of the huge hub of actresses and actors…Quite possibly while there, a quick stroll to see the Hollywood Walk of…
The title track to the Chrissie Romano Band album Photo speaks to how a picture can quickly bring back a flood of memories. Romano’s band is a small one, a trio in fact, and the music they create together is tight, folk-ish pop. Romano sings these nine songs with a pure, expressive voice. She also…
Erica Lee is back to spread more, must-needed Sunshine in the music world. Dubbed as “The Hardest Working Woman in Country Music”, Lee proves this by indulging fans from all walks of life with her tenacious spirit/attitude. Erica Sunshine Lee is a real firecracker and one of Georgia’s finest proving that the peach isn’t the…
Giddy synthesizer magic lets Sharon Lia Band’s “Fairytales (Now I Know)” bounce with tremendous energy. Embracing a pop house aesthetic, the song builds. Vocals have a great chillness to them as they unfurl pitch-perfectly. Korvez brings industrial, ambience, and EDM together into a soothing whole on “Gravity Defied feat. JR Hilcher”. Stripping things down to…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/terryohmsandthem/ Rigidly arranged drums color the opening bars of the song “Mind Blow” as we enter the hollow, chilling grounds that Terryfirma, the new album by Terry Ohms, makes it home upon. It doesn’t take much time before Ohms slides into focus, penetrating the robotic beat of the drums with his signature vocal stylings and…
A galloping beat stutter-steps as it comes into the spotlight, hesitant of its place in the forefront of the dynamic mix that brings RV Farms’ new single “Too Much” out of the silence and into the full-bodied warmth of our stereo speakers. A synthesized melody ominously skirts the line between dissonance and sheer unadulterated ambience,…
This isn’t your “Get Down On It” or “Shake Your Groove Thing”-type song but is centered around a first dance of sorts. Solo 7 is one man on a mission to tackle the theme of mustering up enough courage to ask that girl/first crush for a dance. Solo 7 is lovin’ life and hopes to…
This new release has old friend Gary running through virtually every phase of blues/rock with assistance from Eric Gales, Ian Hoey, Josh Smith, and Lance Lopez. It’s always nice to listen to a release that changes pace and sounds throughout. Whether it’s straight up blues, rock, or just instrumental, GH attacks it with a vengeance.…
Kicking off the New Year with not one but two independent mixes of his new single “Something About U,” Seattle-based R&B crooner Ronnue comforts the weary soul of funk fans everywhere with this new track that is steeped in a familiar sound re-stylized for a complex and cultured generation of listeners. “Something About U (The…
It’s hard to believe that this is a debut considering Tom Flynn has been playing live music since 1989. Back in high school, Flynn teamed up with his friend Tom Brislin, who has worked with YES, Meatloaf, Debbie Harry among others, and formed a band called Tachyon. Since then, Tom Flynn went on to play…
Iron Core delves into a hard-rock, freewheeling sound on the aptly named “LOUDER”. Volume is a must for the song is meant to be played as loudly as possible. With lyrics emphasizing a fast-living wild and chaotic life the piece simply stuns. By tapping into rock n’roll’s unruly spirit Iron Core shows what rock really…
URL: http://www.merrymakersmusic.com/ In a cloud of smoke and with a bluesy strut that is straight out of the 60’s, The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina slide into focus with “Hey Everybody,” the first track of their new albumLittle King and the Salamander (demos). Designed to draw listeners in through a gorgeous explosion of colors, textures and sonic grooves…
Mark Ambuter goes for a soothing, universalist style on the passionate rhythms of “Love Is Everywhere”. Done with the utmost of ease, everything about the track radiates a sense of contentment. The happiness of the lyricism adds to this overall sense of pure togetherness. Possessing a keen ear for melody, Mark lets the entire piece…
Synthesized melodies, sizzling vocals and plastic-faceted basslines forge a batch of surprisingly authentic grooves in Sex People’s Cal-Island: Season 1, out everywhere this January. The debut EP from the much-buzzed Californian duo comes jam-packed with boisterous beats and cratering emotionality delivered through provocative lyrics and highbrow arrangements that defy mainstream pop’s stylistic limitations. Anchored by the…
Danise Esswein’s fiery spirit ties together the passionately felt “Love Is Here”. Effortlessly combining elements of country, pop, rock with thoughtful Christian undertones the EP simply stuns. Guitar work goes for an intricate take, both going soft and hard, proving Danise Esswein to have quite eclectic taste. Arrangements build off each other, with each piece…
Rick Shaffer most certainly is a Creature of Habit, in a good way, because he sticks with a formula that works—KICK THE DOOR DOWN music. Shaffer continues to offer that distinct garage band effect that works so well and adds a classic touch to the overall sound. I had the chance to review Rick Shaffer’s…
AV Super Sunshine creates a sugary rush of pixelated happiness with “Candyland Remixes Volume 1”. Utilizing the template of EDM and completely turning it on its head, the songs are filled with a childlike sense of joy. The playfulness of the pieces comes with how the rhythm and riffs come to become one. By lending…
Glorybots opts for a beautiful, soaring sound with the haunting “Nomad”. Done with the greatest of care, Glorybots mixes indie rock with an industrial edge helping to give the song such potency. Rhythm have a driving force to them as they power through never too intrusive. By far though the true heart and soul comes…
Sarantos offers a feel-good sound for the holidays on the highly optimistic “Happy New Year” a piece whose message lingers in the mind long after it is over. Quite joyous the song is a pure celebration. Nicely embodying the hope that comes with a new year, the melody is irresistibly catchy. By far the highlight…
Zurich’s Freunde channel the gods of American country music in their new songs “My Heart is a House” and “Probably Maybe,” but make no mistake about it – their sound is anything but a throwback. Fusing together influences that span both the western and eastern folk lexicon whilst compressing big melodies into sly, unpredictably brooding…
LA-based Dizzy Box Nine return after 2017’s – Electric Illusion, with the full-length release – Pop Fantasy. This is an indie-pop outfit by all means, but they do make efforts to be accessible with short and precise pop tunes that rock without hesitation. They provide a well-balanced mix of catchy jingles, along with a couple…
It’s likely Gary Gibson’s Yahboy! Is an album of steel drum music like you’ve never heard it before. Be honest: When you think about steel drums, you picture a group of lively players wearing colorful clothing and performing on a scenic beach, right? Now — in the most Rod Serling voice possible — picture if…
I got my first taste of Tough on Fridays back in August 2018 when I reviewed their single “The Waywards”, (https://skopemag.com/2018/08/02/tough-on-fridays-the-waywards). What I heard then was one uninhibited sound by two strong females living up to Cyndi Lauper’s famous song “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”. Tough On Fridays were having fun for sure sure…
Tweets by ShaQMuzik On an ethereal wave of glowing guitars and decadent synthesizers, ShaQ:Muzik comes careening through the stereo and into our hearts with the all-new single “Let Me Be the One,” a soulful, dreamy love song that captures the warm, comforting feeling that arises only through finding the love of another. ShaQ:Muzik doesn’t waste…
DAY WIND: https://daywind.com/music/gonna-sing-gonna-shout/ In the most trying of times, music can be a beacon of hope, something to cling to when the rain doesn’t seem to ever want to stop. Gonna Sing, Gonna Shout is a compilation of various bluegrass artists including Claire Lynch, Jerry Salley (who also produced the record), The Cox Family, Marty Raybon, The…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/iamhaleybrooke/ Weaving a smooth sonic tapestry with her confident and commanding voice, Haley Brooke shines like the star she is in “One of These Days” her new single and follow-up to 2017’s “Where You Are.” Built on the foundation of a gentle rhythm that slowly blossoms into a somewhat orchestral arrangement of cascading instrumentation and…
The first thing that immediately draws my attention in is the cover art where I’m seeing a long pathway heading straight into the light in the sky with thick, fluffy clouds hovering above. This definitely comes across as heavenly at first glance just by the mere presence & vivid imagery on the front cover. ‘Narrow…
Whoa Baby, buckle up and get ready to navigate through ‘The Mothership Chronicles’ as Whoa Vada & The Band of the Hawk breeze on through to the funky side. The new album contains 9 blazin’ tracks and is produced by Noah Archangel. I had the pleasure of reviewing a project by Noah Archangel & Band…
