CD and DVD reviews
Have you ever been anywhere in the south? Have you ever just been to a place where time seems to stop right as soon as you get there? During the peak of summer, most people get their bags packed and head to any portion of the Gulf Coast to experience summer food, fun, heat, magic,…
Music history is filled with colorful stories about famous brothers creating memorable music together (the Gallaghers in Oasis, Everly Brothers, to name a few), but the two siblings that comprise The Norm (Bryan Rucker and Ryan Bars) are also brothers – only they’re step-brothers. You might say, then, the brotherly duo The Norm is not…
The talented women of country music have always provided the crucial backbone for the genre since its very inception. Despite being heavily associated with masculine themes in western culture, the reality is that country music is one of the most gender diverse genres in pop, partly because of the fact the biggest thematic elements in…
Chris Pietrangelo may be a singer-songwriter from Memphis, TN, but his single “Hard to be Sad in Nashville” is, as its title spells out, all Nashville. In short, this is a regional-centric breakup song. Pietrangelo sure sounds the part of a brokenhearted country singer while singing “Hard to be Sad in Nashville,” but his career…
Have you ever been to a place where it brought you back there in your thoughts constantly? Or have you been to a moment in your mind where you just go back to that one particular day that made you smile the most? Most often people find that memory when traveling and a great suggestion…
Inspirational to its very core, Kaz Bielinski’s “Tell Me True” speaks tenderly about the importance of love in a life. Done with the utmost of care, the way Kaz Bielinski lets a gentle poetry take hold throughout the piece gives it a sense of majesty. Everything has a balanced approach to it: from the full-on…
So many music albums of so many artists have been released every year. But, do all of them show the light of success? Absolutely not. Many of them are disgusting to listen, some of them are just okay, and few of them are fair enough to listen. But, music albums like Joel Leffler’s newly released…
Johnny Douglas goes for a tremendous tenderness with the hushed awe of “Leave The Light On”. Emotive vocals flow throughout. Nicely serving as the backbone of the whole piece, the way everything else stems from these expressive lyrics feels masterful. Going for a rustic form of Americana, Inches From Sin’s symphonic “Laid My Heart Out”…
Queer country music. Let the barbecue sauce of that phrase marinate for a minute. Think about how it tastes, how it feels. Does it surprise you? Inspire you? Upset you, confuse you, excite you? After listening to “Glitter and Sawdust”, new album from queer country band Paisley Fields, I’ve got good news for you anxious…
The first impression made by Rachel Troublefield’s single “Put Me In” is it sure sounds like John Fogerty’s “Centerfield,” as reinterpreted by Cyndi Lauper. Although these two artists may seem to be polar-opposites stylistically, these songs have more similarities than you might expect. Lyrically, both songs spotlight an ‘athlete’ relegated to the bench. Yet, in…
As we come of age, society imposes the idea that we must have direction. But what if being lost is the greatest blessing of all? American folk duo Sweet Sweet have found bliss in a life of mystery with their feel-good new single “Roam”. Sweet Sweet is the hand-crafted creation of Jeremy Dunham and Kerrine…
The single “Summer Time” from European born Elvira kalnik’s album Magical Child is a potent track serving notice to the music listening world that she’s far more than merely a facile bidding pop diva. She’s more than just a singer; this young musical artist is a talented songwriter as well and her skills get an…
The cover of Firebug’s new album is a cool-blue image of a gnarled tree with the singer’s face hovering above. It made me want to compare it to U2’s Joshua Tree album cover, which led to the eventual amusing discovery that Firebug is currently based in Joshua Tree, CA. Though quite a ways away from…
For a lot of mainstream critics, the problem with folk music today is that most of the quirky, simple attributes that made up the foundation of the genre seem to have given way to digitalized vanity, feigned passion for social issues and conceited attitudes within the scenes that once championed a now-fading sense of artistic ethics. https://www.cathyhutch.com/bio/…
This German band first formed in 2017, but a connection had long been established between its two prime creative movers composer/producer Harry Starbuck and singer/songwriter Julee Bee. The two first met many years before when Bee, then a freelance music journalist working for a publication, interviewed Starbuck about one of his earlier projects. They discovered…
Angeles goes for a wild, careening classic rock style with the powerful rush of “Not Here to Play”. Deserving to be blasted at the highest possible volume, the song stuns with its rollicking rhythms. Featuring driving colossal grooves, the whole thing moves forward at a breakneck speed. Guitars scream up into the sky with a…
I always have to keep in mind not to judge a book by its cover because at first glance I’m seeing a boy in a strange mask pointing aimlessly at nothing. So, right away I’m not sure what to think but as I move past the imagery and into the music I’m suddenly revived. Considering…
“To Hell With You”, the bluntly titled new single from The Krew’s fourth album release Smoke Rising, kicks off what’s sure to be a rewarding time in the band’s history with every bit of the muscular, gritty rambunctiousness listeners should expect from this band. Dubbed by many as “the best Southern Rockers from the North”,…
Project Grand Slam goes for a wild stylish jazz-funk hybrid with the infinitely playful experimentation of “Trippin’”. A true blast, everything works wonders, from the fanfare to the limber guitar work. By far the true soul and fire comes from the incredible rhythm section, which helps to anchor the whole thing. Cleverly, Project Grand Slam…
It is not easy to create great pop music. One must have the potential to produce something between the fad and cool, unsettled and underground. Natalie Lucassian is one of the most talented singers, songwriter and rhythm guitarist, who has the ability to make such a music that can be infectious and irresistible at once,…
Many renowned and talented musicians are out there, but only a few can deliver a powerful and meaningful message and resonate an immense energizing mood across their music. RGF stands among this type of musicians who pours some kind of message into their passionate and exuberant music, leaving for the audience to unfold. Their newly…
A truly lovely undertaking, Belle of the Fall’s expressive impressionist “Rise Up” feels truly inspiring. Done with such care, Belle of the Fall draws from dream pop, twee pop, and folk, among others. Myriad genres are brought together throughout the entirety of the album adding to its all-consuming spirit. By far the true heart and…
Are you interested in listening some thought-provoking music that will jerk your soul? Then make your first encounter with Tony Tedesco & Full Fathom 5’s newly released debut, “Full Fathom 5”. And there lies the song, titled, “Shoes”, that alone can make you amazed, leaving your jaws opened. This song features the auxiliary flair of…
The latest release from New York City based The Merrymaker’s Orchestrina, Act 3, showcases vocalist/songwriter and guitarist Ryan Shivdasani’s talents in a gripping way. The trio now includes the aforementioned Shivdasani, bassist Daryl Chen, and drummer Sal A. Mander, though the album’s personnel differ save Shivdasani’s constant presence. The two new members will likely bring…
Who is Michael Peterson, and why haven’t I ever heard of him? Okay, I can’t say that I am the greatest aficionado of country music, but I know the big names, the old standards and a few slightly off the wall artists that might make some people cringe. But, when I had the chance to…
How time flies, is an expression of saying, that is used quite often if not always by many. This goes for The Norm, an alternative rock hip hop act whose time at last has come for them. This being that those days and nights of the past, that were spent in their parent’s garages, so many years prior where hours…
“Shades of Gray” is the latest single from North Florida’s Aunt Stella’s Ashes, the latest project in front man Tim Schichtel’s long history with bands in the North Florida rock scene. This project has the potential to be the most successful yet for Schichtel thanks, in no small part, to his continuing collaboration with band…
“Bout Dat Action” shows off the impressive confidence of Frank Stylez Ft. Logan. With a passionate flow, the way the song builds up reveals a real talent for crafting infectious hooks. Everything works wonders: from the crisp beats to the lush production. Multiple layers come together to create a virtual kaleidoscopic swirl. By far the…
ESP Evolution goes for a great, lush style with the inspirational “Wishing on a Falling Star”. Optimism rests within the song’s very soul as it drives forward with a tremendous power. Grooves have a physicality to them that results in something that feels so inviting. Layer upon layer of sound is brought into the mix…
Summertime…Summer heat…Summer fun…Summer love…It’s that time of year again where the most enjoyable moments are just a phone call away; a moment in the year where the kids get out of school, parents get that opportunity to plan the summer travel, the barbeques begin, and then festival season hits! All along the way, the summer…
Gentlemen and Scholars are another bright star, shining the sky of rock and roll genre of music. After the enormous success of ” The Record, The Keepsake, And The Thief”, ”The Fault”, ”Bad Apples”, in 2017, they have launched another rich music album, ”Revelry”. ”Revelry” starts out with the electrifying Blues riff, but one single…
With summer waiting just around the corner, beat master Calazzus is dropping a sick new collection of jams on us in his latest extended play, The Calazzus Project II. If you’re not already aware, Calazzus (pronounced Colossus) is a Maryland-based composer who has primarily worked in hip-hop, R&B and soundtracking up until this point in his…
Sung straight from the heart and from personal experience, Cat Dail proves to be a deft storyteller with the insightful “Fight for Love EP”. Blues, soul, with a little bit of funk, the way the songs evolve gives them a gorgeous temperament. Perfectly balanced, the whole collection has a classic cool to it. By far…
Jeffrey Dallet goes for a rustic sort of timeless folk with the passionate “Abnormal Oddities EP”. Tenderness flows through these songs recalling Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s earnest vocal delivery. Done with the utmost of care these tracks are imbued with such life and vigor. Stylistically Jeffrey Dallet incorporates a wide variety of approaches into the mix,…
You And I is a playlist about love. It is filled soft and sweet tones. Jon seems to understand these emotions which he is singing about well. He may understand emotions well; this may be because Jon has been an actor for twenty five years. For five years he’s been writing music influenced by The…
Les Fradkin’s spirited “Escape From Earth” offers a beautiful marriage of electronica and classical in a swirling, spellbinding mix. A fully immersive experience, at times the album recalls some of Wendy Carlos’s best-known pieces. Highly visceral, the way the many layers intermingle results in a true exploration of sound. Stylistically, Les Fradkin draws from a…
The magnificent indie artist, Tom Esch, has just released his latest single, “I Just Can’t Believe It’s True”, from his debut, “Modern Devices EP”. This song is a token of appreciation to the classic rock from the artist that he has wrapped with a vibrant alternative fringe. In this song, Tom Esch pours all the…
Finally, we have an up-and-coming artist of Today that truly wants to bring back studio magic! When I think of masterful sessions and legendary studios, I first think of the original Sun Records recordings with Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and many others who helped shape & define the…
Exploring the ultimate concepts of building a true real relationship, Sarantos offers a thoughtful take on importance of cherishing love with “No One’s Perfect Until”. Lyrics describe how true, compassionate partners will always make the time for those who mean everything, making sure that they give attention when it is ultimately needed. By opting for…
On “Me and Leslie” Karen Mansfield crafts a nostalgic, otherworldly sound with the utmost of ease. By taking on such a gorgeous approach, Karen Mansfield delves into a rich past as she explores a relationship with a dear old friend. Done with the utmost of care, the rollicking rhythms go for a fantastic, driving style.…
