CD and DVD reviews
URL: https://www.beckyblasband.com/ It says a lot about a composer when a song is as moving musically as it is lyrically, which is exactly the case with the majority of what Here, the new album by Rebecca Blasband, delivers unto those who pick it up. From the studded grooves of “Way of the World” to the simplistic,…
BANDCAMP: https://univore.bandcamp.com/album/conch Alternative rockers, Univore bend time and sound in the addictive 12-track album, Conch. Univore is Nicholas Flando and Sagan Jacobson. The two are joined with some guest players on various tracks, but it’s safe to say Flando and Bachmann create the core Univore sound. Pinning down that sound is a challenge – in…
Indie rockers The Campbell Apartment unleash an anthological swansong in the form of their new track “Burn Baby Burn,” which is essentially five different uniquely stylized songs mashed into a single all-encapsulating juggernaut. We start off with a blistering acoustic guitar salvo that is accompanied by punkish, feisty lyrics singing the praises of a girl…
Love Stallion throws us right back into the 70s and 80s with their rocking song called Slow Release off their latest album Unforgettable Ride. Sitting comfortably with his tenor voice, Aaron Hart really knows how to take inspiration from others and create his own unique sound. Pair this with the glam rock vibe, the whole…
Doug Ferony sings with a timeless, tasteful mixture of pop, jazz, swinging through on the lush sweeps of “Doug Ferony Sings Italian Favorites”. Absolutely beautiful, his inclusion of a wide variety of styles feels so soothing. Elements of Bossa Nova and lounge anchor the entirety of the gorgeous journey. With a sound reminiscent of Frank…
With a soft yet raspy voice reminiscent of a mash-up between Sarah Mclachlan, Faith Hill, and Martina McBride, Tia McGraff sings a wonderful tribute to all those who have had to fight in wars to maintain our freedoms and peace. The composition of her song One Tin Soldier is a masterpiece on its own, marching…
It isn’t always easy to remix a song that helped to define the persona of an artist and stay true to the spirit of the original, but in “Mr. Fix It (Rocky G Remix),” the framing of Brooke Josephson’s epic pop jam isn’t left in ruins as a result of the gilded renovations installed by…
Sarantos taps into the sound of the world with the majestic, sprawling scope of the brightly colored arrangements of “I’d Follow You Into Fire”. Deftly avoiding easy categorization, elements of the track draw from rock as well as world music in a way that gives it a great nimbleness. Full of optimism the joyfulness of…
Since its introduction to the world, the punk rock music has always been one for making political statements, going against the flow of life and sticking it to the man. The genre of punk rock is expressive of their frustrations with the injustices of the system through the production of their loud lyrics, harsh guitar…
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and pianist Chris Bennett recently released her twelfth album, Something Wonderful, and as trite as it may sound, the album certainly is something wonderful. Known for her disco days in the 70s for collaborating with other iconic names like Tina Turner, Donna Summer, and Giorgio Moroder, Bennett channels her jazz roots with…
URL: https://billabernathy.com/ Like a whistling wind cutting through long tall grass on a hot summer day, the gilded harmony that powers “Can’t Go Back” is soft and delicate on the surface but intimidatingly strong if observed from the right vantage point. The shrewd country-rock song acts as the leadoff track in Bill Abernathy’s new album Crossing…
The theatrical components of Davie Simmons’ “Angel Music Lover” are apparent from the first. It isn’t any surprise considering the song is included as one of the centerpieces for his musical screenplay Finding David, but it is wonderful to encounter a songwriting sensibility so keen, in concert with collaborators Andy Camp and Esa Lehti, to provoke our…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jademassentoff/ “Depression” by Jade Massentoff, aka Jade, the new single produced by Stephen Wrench and promoted by Musik And Film to worldwide radio, is a downright masterstroke of music which defies the static norm structures of Adult Contemporary songwriting standards. Jade is also a dancer, so her soulful R&B vocal approach goes above and…
A lush, shimmering sonic introduction leads us into the airy opening bars of Norm Adams and Julia Robertson’s “My Kinda Christmas,” when suddenly, out of nowhere, a furious drum kit comes alive and nudges us into a sultry vocal that is as fresh as a newly fallen snow. Robertson lays an opulent melody on us…
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/7JKXmUmyvfQg3OVj8QmOKA A beating kick drum pushes and shoves its way out of dim silence, resisting any attempts to smother its bold march as it grows larger than the scope of stereo audio can even capture. Voices rise from the ethers and seep through the echo of the percussion. Suddenly we collapse with the rhythm…
First thing that comes to mind when I see Zebulon Krol is that this artist has a very interstellar name & presence right off the bat. Well, beam me up Krol because your music has a sort of gravitational pull after listening to “Hate To Say”. I have to say that Zebulon is shooting for…
A well produced song and crispy clear country vocals, Ohio-based singer songwriter Richard Lynch’s latest song Pray on the Radio is commercially ready to go mainstream and appeal to a wider audience of all ages. He doesn’t shy away from talking about God and his relationship with Him through his music. The lyrics are precise…
Wayne Olivieri taps into a bluesy soulful sound with “Music Man”. By opting for a physicality of the sound via the bombastic beat and the way the song evolves gives it a unique edge. Easily the center comes from Wayne Olivieri’s fiery delivery. A great gentleness permeates the whole of ash.OK’s fragile “Holding Sand”. Incorporating…
Right Here With You by Madelyn Victoria is a for all the ages, gorgeously written and simplistically styled upbeat country tune. With a guitar reminding me of the paradise vibes of Alan Jackson’s and Jimmy Buffett’s It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere with soothing vocals like Amy Winehouse singing with a country twang, the song’s entire composition…
If Phil Collins ever made the jump into a mash of country, blues, and Americana vibes, he would sound just like James Lee Baker and his song Cowtown Blues. His vocals are strong, clear, and persistent. The lyrics keep up the playful mood of the melody. The harmonica is like Baker’s own back-up singer: You…
There is total magic in the ocean…Blissful peace, moody movement, and waves of fun…Some of the best oceanfront properties lie alone Atlantic City, New Jersey, one of the wonders of the great United States of America. Walking up the boardwalk in Atlantic City, the lights, the hustle and bustle, and the sound of laughter fill…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/skyfactor/ Through harmonic smoke rings and tender percussive clapping arises “A Thousand Sounds,” the title track and first song on Skyfactor’s latest album which serves as a foray into their blistering mixture of bucolic acoustic swing and rock viciousness. A dialogue from within the mind of our lead vocalist sends chills through our body…
With her pixie twang vocals, Heather Whitney is a breath of fresh air in her grooving country song, What Part of Life. Storytelling lyrics are a big deal in country and Whitney nails it as she sings about how life is hard but just don’t ever lose who you are no matter what part of…
Frank Migliorelli & The Dirt Nappers crafts a soothing, reassuring soulful sound with “She Moves Like A Mystery”. Akin to a long-lost classic, there is a bluesy style that at times recalls Jon Brion’s revivalist tendencies. Keyboards positively glisten as they glide by with the greatest of ease. Rhythms take their time never feeling particularly…
Bringing the magnificence of the 80s era and the chill party vibes of the 60s into the current contemporary pop scene is Fitzsimon and Brogan and their song Girl in a Gilded Cage. The plunky, upbeat electric guitar splashes me right into vivid memories of Footloose and Beach Blanket Bingo. The whole song is a…
David Alpha goes for a fevered garage rock attitude on the defiant “Rockin’ Roulette”. A sense of true passion burns through these tracks as David Alpha’s fiery vocal delivery takes front and center stage. Piercing lyricism helps to tie the whole of the collection together, featuring just the right level of wordplay, storytelling, and humor.…
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…
Once Too Many, Twice Not Enough by Cory M. Coons is captivating and entertaining. Sitting effortlessly between traditional country with cross-over potential into Americana, the entire song is soothing yet fun in nature. The leading guitar is reminiscent of an 80’s era electric; the reverb suits the song well. The percussive drum line is simplistic…
The PondHawks take a trip down memory lane with their beautiful nostalgia-soaked journey of “River Grove”. Keeping things to the essentials the song positively teems with life. Everything comes together in a lush, soothing fashion. Instrumentally rich the arrangement seems to unfurl at its own unique pace. By far though the true heart and soul…
Blair B, who has the day job of fronting Absinthe Junk, has released a quieter alternative to her regular gig as Luxury Eviction. Master of None, although quite modern sounding, was tracked on some vintage Abbey Road and Capitol Records gear. The result is a seven-song collection of extremely vulnerable music. Master of None can…
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Darebone/ Hospitals are home to plenty of life’s most pivotal moments, but rarely are they the birthplace of songcraft. For the aptly named Fever Breakers though, any other venue simply wouldn’t have fostered their creative ethos. Comprised of Harvard-based orthopedic surgeon Gleeson Rebello and Berklee-grad John Ventura, The Fever Breakers take the concept of…
Rev Peter Unger sings a tale that feels timely on “Peddlers of Fear”. Capturing the zeitgeist, Rev Peter Unger’s lyricism cuts to the absolute truth of the world. With this message Rev Peter Unger’s voice helps to soften the journey to a large degree, through his reassuring delivery style. The arrangement further adds to the…
Clayton Morgan’s up and coming song (out November 12th), The Beat Is Calling Me, successfully fuses a Duke Dumont, eighties house vibe with off kilter melodies reminiscent of Milky Chance. Driving the momentum forward, the spacey synth lays perfectly with little overlaying pops of modulation. The build up to the drop is consistent and expected;…
A brash and bold style takes hold over the course of Straight Six’s wild journey of “Full Circle”. Harking back to early rock n’ roll when the volume was turned up all the way to 11 and the rhythms never stopped, there is a great joyous intensity within the sound. Virtually grabbing the listener by…
Julia King goes for a tender, full-hearted take on the singer-songwriter tradition with the gentle “Cannonball”. Things unfurl at their own unique pace for the piece has an introspective side to it. By far the core comes from Julia King’s bluesy vocals that rest at the very center of it all helping to tie everything…
Toronto based band Across The Board (also known as ATB) blends adult contemporary and classic rock with a subtle hint of country with their song It Shouldn’t Be This Hard. The lead singer and songwriter of this song, Jacqueline Auguste’s voice is a surprisingly unique twist. With her soothing, softer vocals and her clear tonation,…
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…
