CD and DVD reviews
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…
In the opening track of Ted Hajnasiewicz’s new album This Is What I Do, “This Town is Not for Me,” a crude, deafening silence is shattered by the smoky vocal of Hajnasiewicz, which slowly but surely wraps around us like a warm blanket in the dead of winter. The pain in his voice is inescapable; the…
Atmosphere is a big reason why Dolla Bill is so successful. “Old Schoolin’” hits with listeners immediately because Dolla Bill knows how to weave a musical spell – we’re scarcely a few seconds in before it’s clear he’s laid down an indelible groove that listeners will follow from the first. He brings together a variety…
Listen and enjoy the album Bootleg (Batch 432) a wonderful creation by Russ Still &The Moonshiners. Catchy lyrics, fresh and collaborated instrumental arrangements, finely cooked music are the best recognizing elements of Russ Still and the Moonshines, Georgia Music Awards’ 2015 Country Band of the Year. Recently this band has released their latest music album,…
I have to say that this review is extra special and dear to me because for the first time ever I am able to cover a phenomenal performance/event at our local church! With the Christmas season upon us, Daniel Oberreuter came to town bearing gifts of spiritually uplifting music. On Sunday, December 2, 2018, Daniel…
This is the fourth review this year I’ve done for the tenacious Fabp aka Fabpz The Freelancer and he continues to churn up musical lyrics in the lab with his trusty pen and pad. It’s safe to say that Fabp is going out with a bang for 2018 with the new release titled ‘Classical Rap…
The Muddy Crows goes for classic sound with their powerful self-titled debut. Blending the old and the new in equal measure, their storytelling ability recalls Tom Waits, as do the raw intensity of the vocals. Everything has a welcoming, soothing quality to it. Volume deserves to be blasted for there is a rustic charm to…
This is instant enjoyment and music to my ears listening to David Graff’s new album titled ‘Supposed To Fly’. The overall artistry and musicianship on this record is magnificent and so finely-crafted. David Graff may have started his career as a drummer but there is no doubt that his songwriting skills are soaring high on…
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Dominican Republic, Pierre Carbuccia now resides in the Portland, Oregon area and has rechristened himself Juraćan for his fourth release Niño. Carbuccia adopted his new moniker as a way of reflecting abusive childhood experiences and the self-recrimination that followed – the word’s origins are in ancient Tainos…
URL: https://www.giliardlopes.com/ Giliard Lopes’ solo debut Caminhos (translated from Portuguese into English as Paths) is an inventive and durable rebuke to anyone foolish enough to believe jazz doesn’t retain continued vitality in our modern age and isn’t an infinitely malleable form. Lopes’ six song debut as a band leader mixes the Brazilian native’s core South…
All From Nothing sings with a fiery passion on “Eyes to the Stars”. Done with the utmost of perfection, these songs feel alive. Riffs have an infectious joyous quality to them while they rush through with the utmost of care. By opting for a free-loving, defiant take the pieces rush through in a glorious blur…
A tepid acoustic guitar slips through the silence and breaks the barrier that exists between an artist and their audience in the opening bars of “Not Like I Used To,” which acts as our foray into Pale Mara’s eponymous new album. Vocals echo against a patterned backdrop of tight drumming and simple piano, trying their…
A melancholic melody is translated into a breathtaking piece of cinema in Blue Wilson’s new music video for the song “Big Rock.” Unlike similarly stylized singles released this year, the insular tonality of the original mix is preserved exquisitely in the video for “Big Rock” and matches the surreal imagery that it’s accompanied by exceptionally…
URL: http://thetravoltasmusic.com/ Crashing guitars, cascading melodies that run head-first into percussive buzz-saws and lyrical imagery that captures the essence of yearning and humility are all mere ingredients in the sweet smorgasbord of rich tonality that The Travoltas’ self-titled LP brings to the table this December 7th. Boasting fourteen original songs that push the limits of…
Dwayne “Muffla” Simon’s expertise in the music industry stems back to the Golden Age of hip-hop when rap music was on fire and had real substance. Dwayne looks to bring back that old-school flavor and quality that’s been sorely missed and lacking in Today’s version of hip-pop/rap. It is said that “Suspicious Packages 2” could…
Live albums at their very best are the ultimate way for listeners to connect with a band or artist on the most organic level without anything external getting in the way. In this sense, Project Grand Slam’s Greetings from Serbia is everything that most of us desire in a live record; it presents us with Robert Miller’s…
As Ashley Delima’s career develops, you see the clear markers of a talent with the durability to last decades as a force on the music scene. Her latest single “Cigarette”, a stunning successor to the earlier “Stay in America”, brings this into sharp relief. It amply shows why she has scored a coveted recording deal,…
Heavy AmericA’s “Easy Killer” is a unique track. The song’s electric guitar intro suggests some variety of heavy metal. It’s a bellowing, rumbling, thundering chordal groove. The drums vary wildly, sort of like Keith Moon at his unrestrained best. There’s also, though, sounds on it that give it a new wave vibe. The guitar part…
A delicate bass is just itching to pummel us as we enter “Try for a While,” the smoking first track of Spud Cannon’s sophomore album Squeeze. Slowly the song blossoms into an inspiring, patient exercise in minimalism and melody, swinging in cadence with vocalist Meg Matthews’ slick poetry. We descend into the new wave thunder of…
Dave Vargo sings straight from the heart on the soulful “Battle Burns EP”. Neatly drawing together folk, country, and indie rock into a singular whole the collection feels imbued with a sense of life. Quite graciously the two pieces unfold revealing a true knack for storytelling. Over the course of the two tracks a thoughtfulness…
Ray Greene’s ‘Tell Me The Story Of Christmas’ is loaded with sweet, yet sophisticated jazz/gospel versions of holiday standards, and three original compositions. This is the quintessential soundtrack for the Christmas/Holiday season and is sure to put you in a festive mood. Ray Greene and Dow Brain provide an array of Christmas classics as well…
It’s Christmas time everyone! There’s Christmas trees going up and tons of kids getting ready to end the first half of the school year on a bang! Everywhere you look, the lights are twinkling and people are beginning to get into the Christmas spirit one by one…During the season of Christmas, many people showcase what…
So what do you do when you can’t sleep? Do you count sheep, toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, or crack open that bottle of pills? Or do you sing yourself through it? Do you dare to… samba? Weba Garretson of the fearless singing duo Garretson & Gorodetsky has always had trouble getting to…
Alisa Chirco’s lusty “Give Me More” is not a song where its singer is gently minding her manners. Not by any stretch of the imagination. When she sings how she’s “addicted to attention,” it should set off warning bells for any available (or unavailable, for that matter) man within earshot. She sings it like an…
