CD and DVD reviews
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/appalachianroadshow/ An album can often be defined by the muscularity of its master mix, and in the case of Barry Abernathy and Darrell Webb present Appalachian Road Show, the duo (plus fiddler Jim VanCleve) pull out all the stops to present the music of the Appalachian countryside to us free of any artificially-generated frills. As we…
URL: http://www.thecoldstares.com/ With a bombastic crunch, “The Great Unknown” blasts open a portal to the blues rock gods in track one of The Cold Stares’ Mountain, which is out now everywhere indie music is sold and streamed. The introductory riff is as thick as molten lava, cooled only by the sensitively echoing drums. The mix is…
URL: http://www.stephenwinstonmusic.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/stephenwinstonmusic/ Stephen Winston’s fifth studio album Unresolved is the most personal effort yet from a musical artist who has thus far staked his career on a level of aching vulnerability we don’t often hear from any songwriter and musician. The sensitivity underlying this release is apparent from the first. “Sun on the…
Hailing from Sydney Australia with an alt-rock vibe reminiscent of Smash Mouth, Molly and The Krells’ new song Hate Yourself is a refreshing jab at how the singer already knew that someone may look great on the outside, but secretly hates themselves and thus drives away others over time because of it. The simplistic electric…
Curtis Newart has been a musical genius since the early part of his life with several music projects and other art projects. His first album titled “Exploits in A modern World” was released in July 2006 and was on the top charts for a while. He continues his music career with this new single “Superhuman”…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/capishmusic1/ Based out of the San Francisco, California area, Cap, a pseudonym for Michael Capshaw, has steadily carved out a niche for himself as one of hip hop’s most prodigious lyrical talents. The first of the two singles, “Worth It”, draws deeply from Cap’s personal experiences and emotions to draw listeners in and utilizes…
Kurt Reifler possesses a nimble, garage rock swagger on “Year Of”. Full of defiance with a strong sense of independence, the songs at times recall the stripped-down, intimate style of the White Stripes. Done with just the right attitude the whole of the collection works together as a unified, satisfying whole. Guitar riffs and rhythms…
URL: http://kazyak.com/release/reflection/ The quintet Kazyak offers listeners, with their third release Reflection, a musical kaleidoscope. Impressionistic songwriting and playing defines this eight song collection and its wide ranging influences shape the results in satisfying, familiar, yet somehow alien ways. It’s a collection of outtakes, b-sides, and demos amassed over the band’s brief history, but don’t mistake…
Steve Wheeler embraces a cinematic flourish on the gargantuan sound of “Stormseeker”. Epic in scope and absolutely soaring into the heavens, Steve Wheeler proves to have an uncanny hear for melody. The works work together in a grand tapestry of sound ensuring that not a moment is wasted. A wide plethora of genres comes into…
Curtis Newart sings with a voice like Conor Oberst. While Oberst’s music leans toward the Americana end of the musical spectrum, though, Newart is more comfortable with danceable rhythms. He may not always rock the jukebox, but he sure knows how to get chandeliers swaying. All these ten songs are originals, save for “Man on…
LoungeZotica 3000 goes for a timeless sort of cool with the sophisticated jazz-pop musings of “Martian 9”. Sly grooves reign supreme as the whole of the album has a swinging, retro vibe to it. The dry delivery works wonders for the collection, as they conjure up imagery of Dick Dale, Bossa Nova, and a bit…
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Due%C3%B1os-de-Aqu%C3%AD/dp/B07D69WFJ9 Labán, a rising star in the Mexican R&B scene, unleashes pure, relatable grooves in his new single “Dueños de Aquí,” but they aren’t steeped in the commercial gloss that has become all too common in modern Latin pop. Perhaps it’s his educational background in humanism that gives him a unique perspective on the…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/olivertwisted2018/ “Wrath of a Winner” will definitely surprise people. The self-billed hip hop performer Oliver Twisted mixes both rap and straight forward vocals during this song while relying on a fully realized arrangement far more dependent on traditional instrumentation – guitar, bass, drums – than a pre-programmed drum track and ornamental synthesizer lines. There…
Atlanta, Georgia has produced many famous bands in history and Russ Still & The Moonshiners are well on their way to becoming the next generation of musical goodness from the state. The band is an authentic country rock band that is fast gathering serious followers for their old school sound delivered in a vibrant and…
There are some artists that are just made for music and Alisa Chirco is one of them. Born and raised in Detroit, she is a real motor girl that has always loved music from childhood. She grew up with some experience in musical theater and this further helped her to build her vocal range and…
Every once in a while, there are times where people should just go do something…Anything…Go run…Go walk…Go on a vacation…Just GO. Wherever your mind takes you, just go and make sure that you do one thing: write your journey every step of the way. When your words are written down, see what you see…If anything…
Have you ever wanted to create a time machine and travel back to a time where things just seemed to make a lot of sense? The roaring 1930s were a time of great movement, change, and events that constructed the entire world. From automobiles booming to the times of which technology started to take off,…
“I really appreciated watching R. W. Roldan’s music video and listening to his profound and great lyrics! Such a timely statement on such a contemporary issue.” – Maddie Sitting comfortably between Americana rooted melodies and traditional country storytelling lyrics, The Color Of, written and sung by R. W. Roldan is a wonderfully direct response to…
Girl In The Garden goes for a hard, plastic pop elasticity with “Casual Glances”. Vocals stun featuring an intense commanding delivery. By keeping things to the absolute essentials, the song’s hard grooves possess an incredible physicality. The minimalism employed throughout means that the few effects feel particularly affecting. Melodies merge with rhythm in a way…
Phantom Phunk is one of our new favorite bands and have released a new, incredible single titled “Every Where You Go” which is from their latest EP “Struggle With Me.” The band is originally from Tampa, FL and have been very active in that scene. They are also well known for being environmentally conscious, with…
Szandra Mayer is a gifted young singer, model, and actress with a new single, “Paradise” which is her second release to date. Mayer is no ordinary talent, she is only 11 years old and her music is very mature for her age, so it fits into contemporary pop without any question. Born in Los Angeles…
URL: http://donbabylon.com/ Virginia based trio Don Babylon, following the release and subsequent touring on the back of their previous release Babe, decamped to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, in hopes of producing something a cut above their previous work. Foul! \is a collection more than adequate to the task thanks to the obvious quantum leap forward in…
URL: https://oppositeday.com/ From the moment that the airy minor key dirge of Sam Arnold’s guitar seeps its way through our stereo speakers into our consciousness on “Day of the Triffids,” there’s no disputing that Opposite Day’s new EP Divide By Nothing has more fire and fury in store for us than a typical modern rock extended play…
So, it turns out that Georgia is not just about peaches and Bulldogs, but also caters to kick-ass rock and roll bands like Last Chance Riders. This five-piece band is comprised of the following members: Jessie Albright on vocals, Shane Denmark on drums, DeWitt Thompson on guitar, John Woods on guitar and Jim Martin on…
I had the pleasure of reviewing Victoria Celestine’s single, “Good Heart to Hide”, last month and knew she wasn’t your ordinary, average Pop Princess of Today, (https://skopemag.com/2018/09/11/victoria-celestine-releases-good-heart-to-hide). This still stands true as Victoria releases another featured track titled “Alive” from her EP, ‘Wasted Tears’. The name of the song fits because the overall sound is…
It’s that time of year again: Fall! Where the leaves start changing to various oranges, yellows, or where the temperatures start getting low enough where getting out of bed is more a habit than a dream—It’s still THAT time of year! Fall is the particular time where stores start getting us ready for Halloween, then…
Phantom Phunk started off in 2014 when old time friends who also liked to write songs came together to brainstorm about ideas that they had for songs. When they began recording in band member Hector Fontanet’s house studio, Sasha Cheine reached out to other musicians to play their songs and also record. Another old friend,…
STUDEO’s “These Are Our Days” radiates warmth and tenderness. Nicely bringing together neon-hued soulful balladry along with a soft rock emphasis, the whole of the album resembles a grand journey. Cinematic flourishes add such an epic scope to the mix. By far the highlight of the album comes from the intensely felt vocals. Lyricism has…
WHOAA embraces a cool 80s pop funk style with the gorgeous “Candy Love”. Aptly named, the sweetness of the sound works wonders. By incorporating a great deal of playfulness, the track becomes all-encompassing. Over the course of the piece WHOAA’s style and delivery recall Neon Indian’s later work yet remains distinctly its own thing. Layer…
The Circle is Sammy’s new circle of friends. Sammy naturally handles the lead vocals and shares rhythm and lead guitar. He’s joined by Van Halen/Chickenfoot bandmate Michael Anthony on bass, Jason Bonham (needs no introduction) on drums, and Vic Johnson (BusBoys & Waboritas) on guitar. The keyboards were as expected, programmed, ala Van Halen. It’s…
The Swedish Sensations known as Gibrish are back with two, fresh new cuts that are simply appetizing to the musical palette. I was first introduced to Gibrish back in 2014 and my last article on the band was in 2016, (https://skopemag.com/2016/08/25/gibrish-gangster-tango). The group has evolved and grown tremendously since then and adds even more depth…
Have you ever taken a good old fashioned ride down South in one of America’s greatest Southern beloved cities, Atlanta, Georgia? Where the Peach is known to be sweet and the southern hospitality is even greater, there is a place just for you somewhere tucked away in that great spot. Where the Atlanta Falcons ride…
Angeles goes for a wild, rambunctious rock n’roll spirit with “Time of Truth”. Tapping into the colossal riffs of Van Halen and AC/DC, the songs rush forward in brilliant bursts of color. Rhythms have a force of nature quality to them, while they ensure that the whole of the album burns through without delay. By…
Taking its name from a Ray LaMontagne song, this duo comprised of Jenny Pagliaro and Angela Petrilli has created a compelling six-song EP titled Acoustic Sessions. An act that comes to mind when listening to Roses and Cigarettes is Heart, which is also a duo (only in their case, siblings), Ann and Nancy Wilson. Like…
URL: http://www.dayeaterband.com/ Dayeater’s self-titled album arrives like the sheriff/savior riding into to town, bringing justice to the land and joy to the townspeople. Okay, maybe that description pours on the hyperbole a little thick. However, if you’ve been listening to a little too much repetitive trap music, without even the hint of an electric guitar…
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/patmband Autumn is upon us, and with the change in seasons comes a whole new batch of music to suit the bright colors and shortened daylight that it brings. Warming us up just in time for the cool drop in temperature is Patiently Awaiting the Meteorite, whose new album Canyon Diablo is being heralded as a…
Today, Dahlia Sleeps release their new single ‘Settle Down’ – the second cut to be lifted from new EP ‘Love, Lost’ – set for release at the end of the year. Recorded and produced in the band’s own basement studio in South London, the track follows the release of previous EP single, ‘Storm’. Written by…
Uncle Tadashi & Da Boyz offer the sweet summery sounds of optimism with the joyful “The Tribute Song”. Highly playful, the arrangement has a breezy air to it while everything rushes forward with a peppy rhythm. Vocals rest at the heart of it all giving the song a great deal of soulfulness. Lyricism opts for…
Sarantos sings the blues with heart and soul on the powerful “Who Am I To Fight The Universe”. An epic, sprawling ode that taps into the zeitgeist, the lyricism focuses upon the journey of life. Done with the utmost of taste and care, the song’s message feels quite universal. Layer upon layer of sound comes…
Matt Massey’s “Built” is a blast of punk rock energy. Its chorus states, “I’m built with broken pieces,” which is a unique manner of describing damaged goods. “Just like brand new,” Massey then concludes. Massey sings the song with a gruff, rocker voice. He also sounds to have a bit of a chip on his…
