CD and DVD reviews
California native Corinne Cook is set to bring her music to the world in a bigger manner than ever before with the release of her latest album Yes I Can. The eight song collection, brief by modern standards, demonstrates an across the board command of music and songwriting fundamentals while casting its net across multiple…
After experimenting heavily with classical influences in their last two albums, Vinyl Floor is getting back to their roots in their brand new album Apogee, which sees the band stripping away all of the frills and focusing on the core sonic intensity that inspired them in the beginning. I’m a big believer that even when…
Have you ever been to Wisconsin? Known for many great features including the cheese capital of the world of the beloved Green Bay Packers, there is so much wonderful magic happening in this part of the United States of America. More importantly, there is something that is brewing, not of yeast or fermented grapes, but…
Jay Croft’s journey through the professional music world began in the 1990’s when he helped co-found Detroit’s indie power pop outfit Bedford Drive and played drums for them from 1998 through 2004 when he opted to leave the band and focus on other pursuits. He learned guitar during that tenure with an eye towards increasing…
This song captured my heart with a single listen. Further airings only solidified my view as I developed even more and more appreciation for the sure-handed way Spring City builds “Back on Our Streets” without ever lapsing into hamfisted theatrics. It is clear from the first that Spring City’s original songwriting and exceptional musicianship are…
The Owl Eyes first came to life in 2013 as a solo vehicle for multi-instrumentalist Ethan Teel and resulted in two EP releases preceding the band’s forthcoming full length debut entitled Hallelujah Hysteria. The Minnesota native sings, plays guitar, bass, drums, and serves as The Owl-Eyes main lyricist, but the first single from Hallelujah Hysteria,…
With a name like Cosmos Sunshine, I knew automatically that I was in store for something special that is far from derivative. That is exactly what I got when I listened to this new album titled ‘Comes With The Fall’. Perfect timing with the Autumn season right around the corner as Mr. Sunshine lights the…
Featuring a mixture of cutting country anthems and poetic pastoral ballads, Wave 21 deliver an absolute masterpiece with their new self-titled record, and critics like myself haven’t been shy about saying so. Over forty minutes or so, we’re treated to one epic track after another in immediate succession of each other, and if you’re not…
This artist is a real firecracker with sparks flying everywhere on her latest release titled ‘My Queen’. Diana Anaid and her new album are nothing shorty of musical royalty with an overall luxurious sound that dominates the entire record. Diana is no stranger to the music scene as she experienced some success in the late…
Have you ever traveled out West in the United States of America? There are so many states clustered together that are known for so much, quite impressively, A LOT! And that is stating a lot as Omaha, Nebraska is the showcase city-state where there are so many great things going on out there and it…
Last month I was first introduced to the man who calls himself Fabp aka Fabpz the Freelancer when I reviewed his album, ‘Underground Styling Breeze’, (https://skopemag.com/2018/07/25/fabp-aka-fabpz-the-freelancer-underground-styling-breeze). I found out that this rapper was a fan of old-school hip-hop and classic beatboxing as Fabp attempted to bring back the golden age of rap. Staying in the…
Notes tumble out of the stereo speaker like cascading teardrops on a clear piece of glass. The reverberation is so hollow, and the music is trying to fill up the empty spaces one ominous chord at a time. Kindergarten Prayers is surreal, but that’s something that anyone who knows Streaking in Tongues has come to expect in…
If you’ve been following pop music lately, then you’re more than likely familiar with what has become the biggest and surprisingly the most successful trend of the late 2010s; new wave electronica. No, I’m not talking about some fusion of 80’s synth heavy punk rock and the rave-inspired club music of the 90s. I’m talking…
It’s easy to warm up to Norm Brunet’s conversational singing style throughout It Don’t Get Much Better Than This. Although the Jimmy Buffett-ready “Good Times and Tan Lines” supports this album title, “Pour Me Another One” is a wonderful – but also sad – drinking song. When drinking away one’s sorrows, well, life can’t get…
If you’ve been following country music’s vibrant underground lately, then it’s quite possible that you’ve come into contact with the massive hype surrounding the release of Teddy Russell’s upcoming rookie LP Texas Soul, which has quickly become one of the most anticipated albums of 2018. I myself have never been much for buying into hype,…
Have you ever been to Arkansas before? If the answer to the question is a simple “No,” then some kind of way, it would be a true adventure to witness some amazing views in the Midwest portion of the United States. A state where the 42nd President of United States of America hails from, Arkansas…
Sarantos explores the ups and downs of relationships on the soulful “Your Empty Chair”. Going for a soothing, cyclical rhythm the song offers a meditation on the aftermath of a breakup. Loss comes up from the simplest things, all the way to the smallest details, of where they used to be. An indie rock approach…
There’s a familiarity to certain sounds and musical notes no matter when or in what context we hear them. That’s the craziest thing about audiological psychology; music literally has the power to influence and even transform your surroundings into an alternate state, much like a powerful psychiatric drug or hypnosis induced trance. Sometimes it is…
As soon as I hit Play, I knew right away I was in store for something wildly unique and out of this world and boy was I right! In the intro, I pick up on a “Twilight Zone”- like vibe that made me think where the hell am I and what dimension is this! This…
Anyone who has been following underground hip-hop lately is familiar with the crater that Willie J has been imprinting on indie music with his enigmatic, charmingly original flows and brilliant prose. Whether you’ve been listening since the beginning or are just getting into his sound today, “Sunshine with the Rain,” is an excellent demonstration of…
It’s a little tough to reconcile Randy Forte’s Americana sounds with his influences, which include a whole lot of progressive acts (including David Bowie, Talking Heads and Brian Eno). From the sound of Chas Randall, one might have expected to read a whole lot of country dudes at the top of his list. Furthermore, this…
Miles Maxwell is a band without anybody named Miles Maxwell in it. Instead, it’s led by singer/guitarist Miles Baltrusaitis (there’s your ‘Miles’), and its album Red Ghost is a collection of quality Americana rock. The four-piece band sings about everyday life, with a straightforward, simple style. For instance, “Something New” speaks about technology; not the…
Luke Spehar’s “The Farmer” is a pretty, soft, finger-picked tune. It comes from the album The Pilgrim. This single plays out like the soundtrack to the story of a farmer. It’s also written like a prayer. The character in the song simply wants to farm his land successfully. He asks not for riches and fame,…
Roseanna Vitro’s “Tell Me The Truth” delves into an urbane, lush jazz arrangement. Vocals have a thoughtful quality, polished to absolute perfection. Lyrics go for a unique kind of poetry, one that reflects upon the contemporary moment. Politics, the current mood, all of these filters into the carefully selected narrative. Over the course of the…
Every now and then, it is wonderful to just relax, sit back, get a book, and possibly listen to a new sound. Wherever a moment is possible to do it, a suggestion of a beautiful place is somewhere out in the Northwest…A suggestion could even be the beautiful scenery within Wyoming, Montana, or even in…
Esteban Alvarez continues to shine the brightest light he can muster on Latin crossover pop with his latest single, “Has Amado Una Mujer de Veras” (“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman,” a cover of the Bryan Adams song from the motion picture Don Juan DeMarco). In what is unquestionably one of the most excitingly colorful…
Tim Hindmon’s “A Musician” burns with steady emotive heat from the first and entertains listeners with a melodic, yet lyrically meaningful, tune. Chicago based singer/songwriter Hindmon definitely has pop songwriting talent, this review will later discuss his obvious talent for writing a chorus, but this single is laced throughout with undoubtedly exquisitely personal imagery for…
Rev Peter Unger delves into a sound reminiscent of James Taylor’s patient soothing 70s work with the quietly joyful “An Instrument of His Love”. Arrangements are kept to the absolute essentials with a mere acoustic guitar, bass, and the flourishes of the electric guitar adding color to the sound. Quite blissful, Rev Peter Unger’s voice…
Morrison-Kincannon is the duo of Norman Morrison and Terry Kincannon. Upon first listen, these songs sound like loving throwbacks to folkish California rock of the 60s and 70s. Upon further investigation, though, this music turns out to not be a throwback at all, but actual vintage music from that era. Spacetalk Records began by re-issuing…
This one I was particularly happy to review and hear because finally we have a young artist who is embracing the classic, Rockabilly sound and breathing new life into the music! With bland and broken records dominating the major airwaves Today, Josh Christina and his lively tune, “Friend Zone”, is a HUGE breath of fresh…
Pulsing beats introduces the giddy energy of Anthems For Autumn’s “Feel Me”. Sultry vocals come into the mix further adding to the joyous attitude. The buildup of the track opts for a wild and unhinged sort of style. Gar Francis comes through swinging on the soulful take of “Turn This World Around”. Done with such…
Have you ever travelled to the Northeast portions of the United States of America and realized that some 400 years earlier, those parts were the very first portions that were inhibited in the then colonies? In particular, when visiting the nation’s capital, known as the “DMV,” the clusters of the areas make up some of…
Audrey Borzykin and Alexandra “Sasha” Razumova were lifelong fans of Linkin Park, which is why they recorded a cover of that band’s “Leave Out All the Rest.” It’s dedicated to that group’s singer, Chester Bennington, who recently took his own life. These Major Moment band members aren’t alone in their appreciation for Bennington and Linkin…
Jeremy Parsons has steadily built a reputation over the last decade as one of Texas’ finest musical exports with a blend of heart-felt artistry and good natured humor in Parsons’ songwriting. Though he brings every bit of the same commitment level to the material on his most recent album release Things I Need to Say,…
Born of blue collar roots in the Steel City and raised with a love for music that drives him to this day, Matt Westin unleashes pure country gold in his debut album Legacy, out everywhere great music is sold this summer. Legacy is a sprawling, ambitiously designed record for an artist making his foray into the industry, and…
“Maybe I’m Weirdo” kicks off Trio Volume 1 with a distinctive flair you won’t hear from many bands, iconic or otherwise. There’s likewise a plethora of unexpected touches in the composition – multiple guitar textures, piano, and backing vocals support the song and John Crispino’s lead vocal. His dramatic reading of the song’s lyric does…
It’s a sad state of affairs, but the reality is that the bulk of musicians that control the realm of pop music frequently don’t show a lot of care or appreciation for the actual instrumentation of the music that they record, produce and subsequently make a lifestyle on. Izzy Escobar proves that she’s not going…
Brooklyn’s own Ben Rice is no stranger to the music industry. For a long time now, he’s been cultivating his skillset behind the soundboard and developing his own artistic craftsmanship behind the scenes, working towards the day when unleashing his sound unto the world could no longer be delayed. That day has arrived, and it…
A soothing wash of sound defines Erik Scott’s lovely ambient bliss of “A Trick of the Wind”. Done with such deft skill, Erik Scott effortlessly brings together the worlds of classical, rock, jazz, all within a droning ambience. By opting for such a style, the pieces truly seem to exist in a gorgeous haze. Things…
The oOhz delves into a raw psychedelic sound with the spirited “Truck Stop”. Featuring ramshackle rhythms and existing purely in a haze, there is a classic quality to their breezy style. Lyrics have an acid western temperament to them while they waft through. Stripped down to the essentials Annemarie Picerno’s “Closer” feels so soothing, so…
