CD and DVD reviews
Thomas Abban proves to be a singer-songwriter of the highest caliber on the bluesy rock of “A Sheik’s Legacy”. Quite versatile, Thomas Abban creates an entire journey over the course of the album, allowing things to get real wild. Nimble and quick on his feet, Thomas Abban ensures that things veer through with an unquenchable…
Employing almost fifty musicians to help realize his musical aims, singer/songwriter Cameron Blake’s second release Fear Not aspires to the same level of achievement as his previous album 2015’s Alone on the World Stage and surpasses it in many respects. No one can sanely accuse Blake of keeping his goals modest. The dozen songs included…
We should, in these increasingly homogenized times, appreciate unique musical acts when they come along. Most are genre hybrids and Toronto’s FXRRVST (pronounced as forest) is no exception. The duo of Matthew Fuentes and Holly Forrest are close onstage and off and demonstrate a remarkably sympathetic musical point of view for a musical act that…
It’s refreshing to hear traditional sounds finding new expression in 2017 and showing continued relevancy. You have to measure relevancy by more than just sales and commercial standing. Relevancy means that this song, cloaked in a combination of guitar, steady percussion, and organ, speaks as directly to listeners as the combination did when it first…
Sung with such tenderness, Ron Hamrick’s “I Saw the Sign” has a perfect autumnal quality to it. The intimate approach works well as Ron Hamrick keeps things to the absolute essentials. With only a synthesizer, piano, and guitar leading the way, the arrangement has a warmth to it. By far the true highlight comes from…
Sung with great soul, Larry Kolker offers a refreshing additional to the great singer-songwriter tradition with the powerful “Dog Year”. With a great ear for melody the arrangements feel positively energetic. Attention to detail means that these narratives feel akin to seeing a glimpse of a life being lived to the absolute fullest. Instrumentally rich…
Hunter deBlanc’s “Back 4 More” offers a triumphant optimism, one that revels in its pop perfection, with hooks aplenty and a fiery spirit. With a strong adherence to a neon-hued electro approach, the way the song builds up feels majestic. Layer upon layer comes into the mix giving the entire track a kaleidoscopic vibe. Easily…
Ravenscroft nicely embody all the best of hard rock. Volume deserves to be blasted to the absolute maximum for they opt for a physical kind of sound. The riffs are heavy, the rhythms rush through, and the vocals rise above the maddening din. While hard rock nicely anchors their style they also veer into elements…
Rev Peter Unger’s reassuring “Requiem for a Weary Soul” offers a kind of graceful salvation. Exploring the concept of faith, Rev Peter Unger incorporates a fine knack for storytelling with these miniature vignettes. Throughout the piece the way everything twists and turns gives it a timeless, classic quality. Guitar work features a perfect mixture of…
Sarah Ragdale offers a timeless narrative of the ups and downs of relationships with the spirited swing of “Whimsical Romance”. Neatly drawing from ragtime, jazz pop, and the big band era everything feels perfectly balanced. Impassioned vocals tie all of this together, with Sarah Ragdale’s fiery delivery working wonders. Arrangements possess an incredible level of…
I’m no stranger to Les Fradkin as I have been lucky enough to work with this extraordinarily talented singer/songwriter/composer/producer on numerous occasions. Not to mention, Les is a masterful guitarist and MIDI guitar innovator taking the instruments and technology to a whole new stratosphere. So, it’s safe to say I am a certified Les Fradkin…
Sarantos sings straight from the heart on the passionate love ballad “You Should Be With Me (Not Him)”. With a stripped-down, intimate approach Sarantos at times feels akin to be right there, watching his loved one from far away. The tenderness of his vocals depicts a mournful yearning, for a serious relationship with a special…
After the immense popularity from her previous two albums, critically acclaimed singer and songwriter, Sarah Morris have again returned back with her third album, ‘Hearts In Need Of Repair’, which is scheduled to be released on the seventeenth of November 2017. Born and brought up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sarah has been singing and creating music…
The intense desire to communicate their passion with a wide range of audience has brought many gifted musicians into the spotlight. Creating fusion music for some time now, the ‘O.D.D.’ group of musicians has further accomplished their proficiency in creative music with the release of their second EP, ‘The Disorder’. Based in Atlanta, GA, ‘O.D.D.’…
Sheba’s ‘A Real Good Woman’ offers a modern take on the classic blues sound. Over the course of the album the way Sheba delves into a gritty take on relationships feels particularly profound. Layer upon layer works in unison as Sheba displays a true knack for storytelling. Thoughtful narratives permeate every single piece, ones that…
Whenever you undergo a strenuous workout in the gym, you are continuously challenging your muscles to surplus their limits. Due to this, the fibers of this vital tissue start to disintegrate on the impact of such damage. Medical practitioners and fitness experts say the process that your muscles fibers go through to repair and rebuilt…
The Outcome offer glimpses of dreamy glowing world with the laid-back summery vibes of “I’ll Take It EP”. Impeccably crafted, the songs embrace mellowed grooves with a slight nod towards psychedelic rock. Layer upon layer of sound comes together in a most extraordinary way, for the many tracks work in unison to delve into surreal…
Nails Hide Metal’s “Breach” goes for a gritty, early 90s indie rock spirit to it. Full of love and passion the way the songs unfold reveals their true beating heart. The fuzzed-out guitar work, the powerful percussion, and those joyous vocals all work in unison to deliver something so positively tender at times. Infinitely catchy…
Rudda’s take on Radiohead’s “Reckoner” keeps the ethereal quality of the original while transforming it into something even more ambitious in scope. Vocals swim through with a dreamy, otherworldly quality. By giving the vocals an ambient, borderline shoegaze, approach the track delves into entire new universes. The nimble rhythmic structure of the piece helps to…
Kara Stevens is appropriately called “The New Metal Queen” but it’s a distinction apart from her music, so whatever it means, it reflects little to none on – Passion, her new release with the twice Grammy- nominated veteran pianist and composer, Mark Little, to classify it as a duet album under the KARA name which…
Beth Noble’s EP – The Story Of Her Life, features her debut singles “All I Need” and “Stupid Girl.” Beth began her career singing gospel hymns and dancing at her family’s catfish restaurant in Quitman, Texas. Her affinity for music is deep-rooted and began with her great-grandfather, a renowned fiddler who played with legends such…
Austin, TX based legendary playwright made singer songwriter, Randall Wheatley, releases his debut full length album entitled – Everything Matters. Wheatley’s previous success and reputation as ‘‘the rock star of the playwright world’’ is carrying over into his newest role as a singer songwriter. Each track on the album provides pure entertainment no matter your…
Randy Steele’s “Songs from The Suck” represents the best of Americana. Folk, country, bluegrass, all of it comes together into a heartfelt whole. Everything works wonders from the passionate fiddle work to the nimble guitar strums that gently glide the songs along. The album runs the emotional gamut from the purely celebratory to more reflective,…
YYY’s “A Tribute To The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds” opts for an origami-style approach to the work, one that embraces the sunny disposition of the originals. Everything works, from the glo-fi aesthetic that appears throughout the album to the passionate vocals that rise above it all. Rhythms go for a loose approach ensuring that the…
Technically gifted singers aren’t always emotionally affecting. It isn’t enough to possess outstanding vocal range – the truly time tested singers exert their hold over listener’s imagination because they are behind every word with the sort of phrasing that makes a song’s experiences come to life for its audience. Brian Huston’s professional training as a…
Madhouse hits the perfect sound & message with their newly released album ‘The Apocalypse’. Listen and Enjoy! With the increasing growth in progressive music, Hip Hop has developed a long way into the limelight. With explicit rapping and quality musical delight, many talented musicians are evolving in this genre of musical melodies. ‘Madhouse’ is one…
Skymonk’s “Carapace” represents rock with true grit and soul. Energy pours out of every piece. The attention to stylistic flourishes gives the entire collection such a gorgeous, luxurious feeling to it. Over the course of the journey Skymonk incorporates elements of punk, indie rock, hard rock, even a little bit of jazz inflected moments. By…
Sung straight from the heart, Saycille offers a poignant take on the importance of relationships with the powerful “Wish”. Throughout “Wish” Saycille taps into a classic pop sound, featuring irresistible hooks and an infectious rhythm that help carry the track along. By far though the true soul of the piece rests with the incredible vocals…
By just previewing the bands website, you can tell that they are unique. Their website is covered by bright colors and a black accent color. There is a drawn photo of the four band member’s front and center of their website. The band members are all wearing a goofy look except for the drummer. She…
Annabelle sings straight from the heart on the propulsive pop of “Magnetic”. The sound literally pops courtesy of the powerful percussion whose physicality feels outright inviting. Right at the center of the track is Annabelle’s strong, confident voice. Her lyricism focuses upon finding one’s peace and happiness. Layers merge forming a glorious whole as the…
Ida Elena revels in the natural beauty of the world with the intimate “Native Spirit”. Her voice serves as the focal point of the piece with all else stemming from it. A tribal rhythm allows her to explore such lush terrain. Layer upon layer of sound interact in a glorious way, the way that the…
Timi Alexander proves to be an adept storyteller on his powerful self-titled debut. With clear nods to the gloriousness of 90s alternative rock and hip hop the songs possess such color. Incredible energy flows through the pieces while they reflect upon relationships, the divisiveness of the current international political climate, and the overall unease that…
The musical project known as C.E.O. (Conquering Every Opportunity) Business is a one man band, essentially, featuring the talents of creative mastermind Mike Davis Jr. and the Arkansas native makes a spectacular impression with his single “Livin’ Life”. Davis’ early influences like Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, and P. Diddy, among others, stoked an early desire…
“On the Run” presents a track that feels truly lived in, tender in tone and revealing the Royal Turns to be true masters of a dreamy world. With a sound that feels reminiscent of a reflective moonlit night there is something quite graceful about the way they let the song unfold. Everything simply works, from…
After breaking up in 2014, South Carolina pop band Eleventyseven is back with their new album, Rad Science, that’s coming out on November 7th. Their single from the album, “Holding Out,” is a deeply relatable millenial anthem. Eleventyseven is a fun band that delivers great pop tunes with electronic undertones- classified as neon punk, they…
The two latest singles from New York City based trio Phil Varca and the SlamJammers, “Cash” and “Don’t Push Me”, are the best recordings yet capturing the gloriously raw live sound and energy this blues inspired three piece are capable of generating for a crowd. Replicating a band’s live sound and performance velocity in studio…
Mike Derek went from being raised on a farm in Ontario, Canada singing in church choirs, to a singing competition in Nashville and was selected as one of two people who auditioned to record with famed Producer Richard Donahue. Richard set up a 3-song demo at Landshark Studios in Nashville and the rest is history.…
Jupiter In Velvet runs the gamut with an explosion of sound that is like no other. This one-man, wrecking crew & chameleon of sorts brings a wide array of musical elements, styles and tastes to his new album titled ‘In2 the Arms of Love’. I’m no stranger to Jupiter In Velvet and his eclectic act…
Walter has staged a remarkable comeback from some serious health issues, and is sounding and playing as good (if not better) as ever. This guy could play air guitar riffs in his sleep and wake people up. He’s enlisted a lot of blues/rock talent to complete this latest offering. He has an influential guest appear…
Sung with true heart and grit, Divining Rod’s “Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling” represents folk’s glorious future. The energy that drives these two piece alongside is truly spellbinding, with the impressive guitar work giving it a sense of life. By far the true soul of the sound comes from the reassuring, warm vocals that tie the…
