CD and DVD reviews
Kathryn Shipley sings with a tremendous bluesy spirit on the soulful “Take My Hand (Lead Me Through This Life)”. Lyrics come to define the entirety of the piece. With a strong emphasis on the power of faith Kathryn Shipley sings from a lifetime of experience. Further emphasizing this strength and power comes from the gorgeous…
Brandon White sings with tenderness and passion on the lovely “Houston”. Kept to the absolute essentials, Brandon White goes for an intimate quality. Full of a true sense of devotion, the lyrics rest front and center of it all. With such a poetic take on a narrative the entire thing shimmers with a tremendous joy…
David K. Mathews goes for a timeless elegance on the lush jazz atmospheres of “The Fantasy Vocal Sessions Vol. 1”. With a classic sort of touch, the way that David K. Mathews lets these tracks evolves shows off a real ear for melody. Gentle percussion, stylish piano, and best of all, a wide array of…
Ezla releases her new single skeleton which is already ruling the internet with its provoking lyrics and gripping visuals. Listen and Enjoy! The world of pop music has gained momentum with the rise of many talented artists in recent times. Ezla is the new phenomena in this world who has firmly established her place in…
Kim DiVine, along with talented producer Klvr Grl, come together on “Broken Bird (Klvr Grl Remix).” This comes after a series of highs and lows that forced her to take a hiatus from music, but not before releasing her latest EP – This Time Around, from which “Broken Bird” is originally featured. Kim DiVine has…
Logan employs a flawless flow on the nimble beats of “Lil Shooter”. Rather powerful, the narrative unfolds with such care. The lyrics have a tremendous thoughtfulness to them neatly possessing a great deal of detail. Nicely accompanying Logan’s lyrics are powerful, bass-rumbling grooves. With this the song gains a particularly potency, one that drives it…
Ronnue is an American singer, director and music producer. He started out producing music for local Seattle and Atlanta artists. Frustrated with the current state of music, he decided to come from behind the scenes and record and produce his debut album “Introduction to Retro -Funk.” His style is influenced from music from the 70’s,…
Frank Piombo embarks on a gorgeous journey with the stellar “Keep It Movin’”. Little details make a big difference, from the leisurely bass lines to the playful flute that weaves its way into the mix. Disco, funk, with a distinctly 70s pop style, the eclectic approach works wonders. A clear-eyed determination rests at the heart…
With true grace and style, the Paula Boggs Band goes for a 70s-classic cool with “Benediction”. Nicely balancing pop, blues, and jazz into a satisfying whole, her voice carries the song with incredible ease. Outright infectious the riffs feel downright satisfying as they burst with tremendous energy. A little bit of country comes into the…
Pale Monsters go for a wild, unpredictable and colorful psychedelic sound on “All This Time We Wait”. Vocals have a sound reminiscent of Television’s highly stylized delivery, as they possess a truly commanding presence. Elements of electro, post-punk, and indie rock come into a satisfying stream of consciousness whole. Absolutely teeming with life, the song…
The Good Morning Nags releases their debut EP which hits the chartbusters within a very short span of time. Listen and Enjoy! The Good Morning Nags is a New York based musicians band who crafts innovative musical style by blending the notes of country-folk and raucous. This group of proficient singers merges the old melodies…
Jon Worthy embraces a bright sunny indie rock sound with “Only a Dream”. Full of fire and passion the songs possess a summery disposition to them. Optimistic to its very core, at times Jon Worthy’s casual cool and glimmering grooves recall the work of Spoon. Lyrics have a mellowed poetic quality to them, for his…
No Alarms creates an instant classic with the driving rhythm of “Right is What’s Left”. Full of heart and soul the song opts for a rich luxurious sound. Synthesizers are granted a stately presence, with the guitar gestures further adding to the grandeur of the piece. Knowing how to keep balance, nothing ever feels overdone.…
Marc White’s story is proof positive it pays to hold onto your dreams. Life has tossed a number of obstacles in his way towards pursuing a musical career, even as a sideline, but his passion for singing has remained with him deep into life and hasn’t dimmed a fraction. His journey to his debut single,…
Jarel Portman’s latest album, Supersonic, makes a massive hit on the chartbusters with its single released track, Runaway Blues. Influenced by different cultures and sounds from his prolonged coastal lifestyle, Jarel Portman has firmly utilized his experience and artistic traits into his new self-released track, ‘Runaway Blues’ from his latest album, Supersonic. Jarel Portman is…
Wild and carefree, A&L tap into an infectious pop confection with the joyous “Tell Me When It’s Over”. Full of energy the song virtually bursts at the seams. Riffs jangle with a strong sense of determination. Youthful to its very core the piece rushes by in a glorious blur of sound. Quite colorful, A&L refuse…
Ashley J is an up and coming artist with voluptuous looks and music which is full of great fluctuations of sound which keeps listeners interested. Her voice is high, clear and distinctive. The photo for the single is almost angelic looking with her bright white clothing and her blonde hair. The white background also adds…
Kenny Fame connects his music instantly with any music lover. That said, he has gone on to write and record a release he made into a single titled “Louise”. Does this titled relate to someone’s namesake, or just a name because that is all it is just a name. In any case though, the track…
A virtual Renaissance lady of enormous talents, Kristy Love Brooks is more than merely a singer, songwriter, and musician. The Detroit native has proven herself as a talented educator, director, playwright, dancer, and actress and the all-encompassing nature of her skills informs every aspect of her presentation. This is illustrated by the origin of her…
Lights and Bridges recalls a long-lost rustic folk vision with the blissful “Tears Of Gold”. Intimate to its very core the arrangement has a bright, airy quality to it. Over the course of the track a journey unfolds, one that feels akin to pure poetry. An evolution of the sound occurs with such ease, letting…
Matthew Carroll sings with a fiery passion on the lovely lyricism of “Left To Burn”. Narratives, vignettes of relationships, all of these come into view throughout the album. Attention to detail means these sounds radiate with a tremendous amount of life. By opting for such an all-encompassing style, it is easy to get lost in…
Craymo delves into an epic journey on the ornate “December Rain (Carol of Love)”. Lyrics employ a poetic sensibility while a story comes into focus. A sense of the theatrical permeates the entirety of the track for everything further heightens the dramatic tension. Patience becomes an important virtue for the whole piece unfurls with a…
Rev Peter Unger places his faith in a higher power with the tender spirituality of “Lord Guide Me Home”. Arrangements perfectly match Rev Peter Unger’s gentle vocals. The pastoral quality of the track works wonders as it draws from a wide variety of styles, going from a bluesy tenor to a little bit of folk…
Asha Pieper sings with a sense of passion and urgency on the timeless “Voices”. Sounding akin to an instant classic, Asha Pieper draws from a wide swath of artists. Chamber pop serves as the framing device from which all else flows, nicely tying together the many multifaceted elements. The references stream into the proceedings with…
The Australian sensation is back with a music video that is out of this world! Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is her bread & butta as eM has been mixing it up for years on the music circuit. eM is an established & accomplished artist/producer/vocalist who I’ve known for a long time and have had the…
Greg Harrison Band chooses a confident take on classic rock with the playful “As Long As We’re Dancin’”. With an impressive display of songwriting chops and ear for melody, the Greg Harrison Band creates a warm welcoming world. Rich and luxurious the sound is easy to get lost in, from the soaring organ swells to…
“Forget About Yesterday” comes from the album “Little Boat”, by Ajay Mathur. An up and upcoming indie Americana go getter whose style is truly funky yet very appealing and upbeat. The way he crafts together the lyrics with the music upon “Forget About Yesterday”, is just mind bending. The clear state of Americana is visible…
Texas born and raised, musician Ranzel X Kendrick has incorporated his rich roots into his new album, Texas Sagebrush, the second of the 3-part Texas Series. From it is the single, “What A Pretty Day,” is a charming track that was a welcome introduction to Kendrick’s music. Singing with him is Rebecca White, who has…
Alpha Mule represent the best of bluegrass with the warm inviting presence of “Peripheral Vision”. Every song feels akin to a grand journey, an exploration of relationships and of the world at large. Never overdoing things, Alpha Mule makes sure to keep everything balanced with gorgeous slide guitar adding to its dreamy aura. By opting…
On “Main & Lincoln” stop.drop.rewind tap into the best of pop punk. With infectious riffs and an unstoppable energy, the song perfectly embodies the optimism of youth. Lyrically precise, a story unfolds of a shaggy dog quality. By letting the whole thing rush by in a gorgeous blur everything simply stuns, from the ringing of…
It’s not often these days that you come across someone whose sound is just as genuine and sweet as the person inside. But that is Katie Garibaldi to the core as she sings from deep within and has a BIG heart to boot. For example, when I received the album from Katie it was signed…
Right Said Fred are probably one of the hardest acts to forget of the last two decades, with multiple hits to back them, including the 1991 smash “I’m Too Sexy” and the 1992 hit “Deeply Dippy,” to name among their well-known catalog. Coming from the UK they have that British factor of which they make…
Jennifer Hope is out with a new acoustic EP called SINspirations, a dark and whimsical collection of songs featuring three covers and one original song, “#1 Deadly Sin.” Hope is based out of California and is known for her enchanting and otherworldly sound. It’s an EP with a unique and haunting charm that will send…
The Band of the Hawk offers a thoughtful take on the contentious political climate of the United States with “Dunno Wut To Believe In”. Flows intermingle with incredible ease as the song unfurls with a naturalistic quality. Small gestures mean a great deal as the Band of the Hawk ensures that patience becomes an important…
Sarantos goes for an expansive anthem with the potent “Rock The Vibe”. Pop anchors the entire piece while Sarantos incorporates dub, EDM, and even a hint of electro into the proceedings. A playful quality infuses itself into the entirety of the track, thanks to the powerful lyricism of Sarantos. Over the course of the track…
Uncle Tadashi & the Boyz goes for a leisurely, pastoral quality with the soothing “Stay For Awhile”. Vocals display a great deal of tenderness. Opting for a timeless quality the light and airy arrangements work wonders. Recalling a 70s-soft rock sort of style, the lyrics focus on a life lived to the absolute fullest. Quite…
Conceptz employs a playful retro-referencing sound with “Break It Down”. Reminiscent of Jurassic 5’s highly articulate carefully considered flows, the song rushes by in a fantastic blur. Quite thoughtful Conceptz create a myriad number of stories to explore in exquisite detail, proving to be deft storytellers. “Nothing’s Rights” shows off the sweet sounds of Kristy…
Dr. C & The Gris Gris nicely blend together the blues, garage rock, and country into a satisfying whole on “Graveyard Dog”. With a literal shaggy dog approach the song’s hazy dazed atmosphere works wonders. Lyrics have a playful quality to them. Proving to be more than qualified storytellers everything comes together creating a compelling…
Theo Czuk has sported a number of identities during his life but artist remains among the most abiding. Czuk pursues self-expression through time-tested forms such as poetry, fiction, and songwriting, but even a cursory examination of his biography and the experiences he delineates through his work reveals a exploratory soul whose life likely stands as…
Rausch embraces an all-consuming, expansive scope on the theatrical fury of “Book II”. Effortlessly blending together metal, folk, classical, and electronica into a satisfying whole, the songs burst forth with tremendous energy. Lyrics rest at the heart of it all with Rausch proving to be deft storytellers. Over the course of the album they craft…
