CD and DVD reviews
Play Pretend represent the best of lo-fi garage rock on the underdog anthem “Summer Heat”. Over the course of the track Play Pretend go for the jugular as everything positively roars, from the ramshackle rhythms to the raw unhinged bluesy riffs. Downright infectious with melodies that linger in the mind long after they are over,…
Just gimme a second…I’m almost ready to start this review. I’m just doing some quick math here and I’ll be ready to let these words rip… …alright…yep…I’ve double-checked all these calculations I’ve done…everything seems to add up to success when it comes to the music of Conceptz presented by Bongo Boy Records in NYC. Timeline-wise,…
Bree Taylor’s musical voyage began in the delivery room as she arrived into the world with music piped through the speakers and continued at age six when she began singing in a choir. Self-expression soon became one of her life’s dominant motifs. The Canadian born singer/songwriter released her first single “Broken Dreams” in September, 2016…
Joel James Live opts for a spellbinding theatrical performance on the powerful “Hey Little Lady”. Featuring a symphonic scope the songs have a strong resonant emotional core. Vocals rise above the swirling luscious strings, as they have a poetic take on storytelling. Sweeping gestures grace the entirety of the collection for Joel James Live lets…
When I see the words Black Bluebirds and “Love Kills Slowly”, I’m thinking this may be of a very dark nature and possibly in the realm of Goth Rock but I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat off-base. This Minneapolis, Minnesota-based band and their song “Love Kills Slowly” encompass a wide array of styles & elements…
Full of power and fury Fortune’s Folly taps into rock’s unruly spirit with “Peaceful Battle Cry”. An infectious rhythm rushes through, with guitar gestures further adding to the classic psychedelic rock sheen. By far the true heart and soul comes from the passionate vocals that rise above it all. Her voice simply shines through it…
Right away when I hear the name of this band, I’m thinking Johnny Rotten-esque, anti-establishment rebel-rousers who don’t give a damn about the status quo or PC crap. My hunch is correct because come to find out Rejectionist Front is exactly that as they seek to create positive change through socially-charged songs. Rejectionist Front should…
Chapell explores a kaleidoscopic sound with the ornate world of “Soul Man”. Stylistically Chapell draws from a plethora of styles ranging from the blues to chamber pop to indie rock. Rather playful Chapell focuses heavily on letting every song tell its own story. Every track adds to the overall narrative that forms for the entire…
Susan SurfTone’s “Out Of My Dreams” delves into a glorious retro sound. Nicely bring together classic surf rock, garage rock with a hint of twee pop, the entire piece has a dreamy quality to it. Vocals have an ethereal quality to it as they rise above the gentle rhythms. With a hushed reverence, Deborah Henriksson’s…
Starting off the collection with a regal form of majesty is Wayne Olivieri’s “I’m Glad It’s Christmas Time Again”. Wayne Olivieri sings with reverence as the song unfurls in such a cinematic way. Everything works from the way the bells echo out into the air to the magnificent strings. Jody Quine & the Big Mr.…
Many budding new artists have recently gained the limelight with their unique style of musical creations in the vast world of music which has also evolved into a new trend with the new creative music. Elliot Jones is one of those many talented musicians who has received instant fame among his vast fan following for…
With the ongoing trend of creative music, many talented artists are efficiently accomplishing their position in the world of music. ‘Alpha Mule’ is a band formed as an amalgamation of the expertise from two proficient musical artists, Joe Forkan and Eric Stoner. The musical duo has recently released their debut album, ‘Peripheral Vision’ which is…
Frank Shiner’s – Lonely Town, Lonely Street album, is a covers album with his own magnificently soulful approach to some old favorites, and he also has a Christmas cover out now, of the Charles Brown written “Please Come Home For Christmas” being played this holiday season in Macy’s, Bloomindales and Kohls stores. The album has…
The personality and winning charisma emerging from Trevor Drury’s new single “Snowy Nights” illustrates yet again, for any remaining doubters, Drury is far more than just a fresh pretty face on the pop music scene. His preceding single releases “I Know You From the 70’s” and “Trip to the Water” each marked a significant leap…
Now based out of the Los Angeles area, Amilia K. Spicer’s career trajectory and path through life inform each other in ever important ways. Her voyage began in the pastoral surroundings of rural Pennsylvania before carrying her to the hill country of eastern Texas and even excursions to the Far East. The experiences she’s picked…
Shauna Burns, since her 2005 debut, has distinguished herself as a truly unique figure working with traditional folk material. The bulk of her efforts are best characterized as being in a Celtic vein, but she balances her original compositions and covers alike with a studied consideration of stylistic demands coupled with a willingness to blaze…
With a rich timeless air, Marek Dusil Blend embarks on a psychedelic folk journey on the spirited “Raw”. Aptly named, Marek Dusil Blend sculpt an intimate world. Over the course of the album Marek Dusil Blend tells the tale of living to the absolute fullest. Reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s soulful stream of consciousness take at…
Darren Marc sings with a light and graceful spirit on the reassuring “Let It Shine”. Throughout the entire Darren Marc explores the importance of faith and how it can change a life. Effortlessly blending folk, country, with a timeless tasteful approach to storytelling the album is imbued with a strong sense of optimism. By far…
Mark Baxter taps into an eternal optimism on the gorgeous “Human Revival”. With an interesting nod to classic rock, the sound feels positively timeless. Vocals rest front and center, touching upon a joyous communal spirit. Expansive in scope, Zombie Garden Club’s “Animals” exists in a fantastic haze. Guitars soar off into the sky. Akin to…
The new Kristy Love Brooks CD – Love For The Holidays, comes just in time to recap a long year with a collection of half originals of her own and half traditional holiday classics. Kristy is a singer-songwriter and executive producer who teamed up with multi-platinum producer-arranger, Felton Pilate, for a jubilant release. The CD…
Fovea – Pencil Me In, is an extraordinary collection of songs featuring Steve Shaw on bass, guitar and vocals, along with Max Weigel on guitar and vocals, keys and electronics. And Jake DeNicola on drums, vids and foley, and singer Halley Furlong-Mitchell on vocals, keys and violin. To describe what fovea means, it’s a cone-laden…
When I hit play, right away I was thinking this is one dynamo and a real firecracker with a distinct spark and flare about her. The singer/songwriter from Chicago brings you “Docs” that has got style, charm and hard-core meaning all wrapped up into one power-packed song. Leah Capelle hits you with an edgy &…
This Pale Fire – Alchemy, is the debut full-length LP by aka Corban Koschak, with producer Levi Patel working at the helm. It’s an album not easy to define, with the New Zealand artist describing his voice as “closest maybe to Dan Smith with some of Thom York’s falsetto brilliance brushed on.” But, This Pale…
Surreal Nation delves into a masterful blend of indie rock and dream pop on the shimmering “I Know Better EP”. Vocals rest at the heart of the everything, radiating with a great warmth. Layer upon layer of sound intermingle in a perfect way. At times the lovely storytelling lyricism feels reminiscent of Beat Happening’s charming…
Guitarist and producer Ian C. Bouras, based out of the New York City area, has achieved the bulk of his acclaim thanks to his songwriting and guitar work with the New York City reggae/rock band AñaVañA. Their 2004 self-titled debut led Billboard Magazine to label him among the top songwriters in that year and 2005.…
Who says Halloween is strictly about trick-or-treating, ghoulish costumes and horror movies? How about a show centered around some of the greatest American, popular music ever created thrown into the bag as well? If you said yes, then Motown The Musical is the perfect candy that will satisfy your sweet, musical tooth. Opening night for…
Rebecca Lappa’s voice sings with fiery passion on the elegant “Spirit EP”. Lyrics focus upon the great moments in life, the ones that come to truly define a person. Vocals possess a great range, going from soaring into the heavens to more hushed, intimate moments. Throughout it all her uncanny ear for melody allows the…
Disconnected Genius taps into an early 90s shaggy dog indie rock with the insightful “Nirvikalpa Meow”. Sung with such tenderness, the lyrics have a sharp wit about them while they offer reflections on the current state of affairs. These stories range from the personal to more wide-scope thoughts. Arrangements go for an intimacy of sorts,…
Chris Murphy is a renowned multi-talented violinist, singer, and writer who have been enlightening the music world with his engaging performances and brilliant song recordings for the past twenty-five years. He has used his expert skills to bring back the magic of age-old musical styles but with an innovative fusion of his own modern and…
Amilia K Spicer is a renowned American singer and songwriter from the early nineties, who has enchanted her audience with her amazing writing and singing skills. A native of Pennsylvania, Spicer is a well-trained pianist who had moved away from home to Los Angeles CA to seek her dream of becoming a film director. Later…
Originally hailing from Northern California, Jonathan Cavier is a renowned singer and song composer who has been producing creative pop music for quite a long time now. Cavier merges the various styles of pop and rock music to create a unique quality melody of his own. His new album ‘Blue Room’ released in 2017 brings…
Sarah Morris sings with true heart and soul on the gentle folk journey of “Hearts In Need Of Repair”. The loveliness of the entire album cannot be overstated – Sarah Morris knows exactly the right level of accompaniment her voice requires. Never overdone, she keeps the arrangements thoughtful, stylish, and with a true sense of…
The latest single from Nashville based singer/songwriter Kelly McGrath, “O Holy Night”, takes some of its inspiration from Jeff Buckley’s famous rendition of “Hallelujah”. Instead of subjecting listeners to the customary approach to Christmas themed music, bloated arrangements replete with strings and whole host of other clichéd elements, McGrath strips this spiritually minded tune down…
Sammi Rae Murciano sings with passion on the sophisticated pop perfection of “Reflection”. Keeping things to the absolute essentials works quite well, for Sammi Rae Murciano’s voice radiates with a great feeling of yearning. With this caring, almost caressing delivery, Sammi Rae Murciano allows the track to possess a meditative quality. Throughout the entirety of…
Nothing But You, Nicky sings with fire and passionate on the sweeping beauty of “On My Own”. With powerful vocals leading the way, Nothing But You, Nicky serves as the very heart of the track as her voices rises up towards the heavens. Poetic lyricism defines the entirety of the piece while it unfurls in…
Ryan Zimmerman sings with soul on the down-to-earth style of “Ephemeral as a Kiss”. A loose, laid-back vibe informs the entirety of the collection. The way the entire collection comes in and out of focus lends it a dreamy aura. Lyrics further emphasize this spacey quality, as the vocals have an intimacy to them. Easily…
Ali B offers a fresh bold take on the ballad with the neon-hued “Strangers In Love”. With a neat mixture of dub, electro, house and pop the song offers an infectious energy. The optimistic quality of the track feels undeniable while Ali B’s lyricism describes the lust that allows relationships to truly blossom. Her voice…
Thoughtful and delicate, Asha Pieper crafts a mysterious, mystical world on the gracious style of “History”. Chamber pop anchors the piece while Asha Pieper draws from jazz and folk to deliver a fully-formed whole. Framing the entire piece in a slightly theatrical context, Asha Pieper lets the piece evolve with such deliberate pacing. How Asha…
Chris Sullivan sings about a little slice of Americana with the joyous celebration of “By The Light Of The Radio”. By letting country, the blues, and classic rock come together the track has a communal, all-consuming spirit to it. What truly ties the song together is the passion and fire of the vocals which gives…
In a generation of evolving talents, many new artists are gradually hitting the limelight with their innovative thoughts and ideas. ‘Band of the Hawk’ is a group of some of the best-talented souls that have evolved with time with their innovative style of Hip Hop music creations. They have recently released their first single, ‘Black…
