CD and DVD reviews
After keeping everyone waiting for the past three years, finally Seconds Before Landing makes a compelling comeback with their third album, “Now That I Have Your Attention”. Pittsburgh based John Crispino, the talented composer and vocalist have recreated the magic similar to what their first critically acclaimed album, “The Great Deception”, has retained all these…
Sweden based singer/songwriter Deborah Henriksson is coming out with her new album, Near and Far, on the 25th of August. Henriksson’s music is a mix of Celtic, folk, and country. You can even hear some pop influences if you pay attention. With a rich and distinct sound, Henriksson stays true to her roots in her…
It’s been a little over seven years since I last worked with Steven Bryan and reviewed his album ‘One Way’ back in 2009, – https://skopemag.com/2010/06/22/steven-bryan-one-way. I said then that “You haven’t seen nothing yet from the man they call Steven Bryan; just get ready and prepare yourself because it’s gonna be HUGE!” And man does…
Californian Nicc Angeles is a musician like many other artists within the music scene, making something of themselves in the ways of the art that is music. But of course Nicc’s music is an accessible language of its very own. It is comprised of the elements that go of bring out the true and unapologetic…
Have you come to notice that whatever your age, class, the profession is, there is always a song that appeals to you? No matter how stressed you are or how busy you are or occupied you might be; whenever that tone of music comes to your hearing you enjoy every line of the song. For…
“Stolen Moments” is the eighth solo album for Rick Shaffer, as it would have it, he was inspired by the concept that there is no guarantee’s or promise’s in life, and every minute he has spent writing and recording is his precious time. That said, this album takes 10-tracks of pure rock n’ roll mixed…
Crossing the lines between adult contemporary and indie, all while adding a comedic twist. That’s what Charles Boyd has been doing for over two decades now. A finalist in CBC Radio Canada’s “Young Composer of the Year” in 1992, he showed major promise early on in his career. Due to a mental health condition, he’s…
Sung with heart and passion, Rev Peter Unger creates a true classic with the delicate “Sounds of Christmas”. The way the song builds up feels warm and familiar, akin to spending time with loved ones during that blessed time of year. Rev Peter Unger crafts a fascinating story, one of faith and togetherness that drives…
Music is powerful, everyone knows that. It can make you feel more than you thought capable, it can take you to faraway lands or to distant memories. It can put you in the shoes of a stranger, and it can make you understand parts of yourself you never really considered before. When musicians put their…
During law school, the music of Skipper M. Drost became more than a hobby playing in various drinking establishments in and around New Orleans, La. earning enough to pay for law books. After graduating from Loyola Law School, his passion for music continued, playing once again with his family band in and around his hometown,…
To start with, Elyza is a solo female artist from the Charleston SC area who began her songwriting and singing career in 2013. Her songs, about love and relationships, have a flavoring which she feels is unique to her personality. Currently, her songs are being played in over 131 countries and in all US states,…
Nashville-based indie artist Josh Birdsong is coming out with a new EP on August 28th called Where The Light Bends, and one of the songs on it is called “Complex Context.” Birdsong has a unique sound and it reminds me heavily of atmospheric rock, with all of the elements. It feels more like it’s an…
In the inaugurations of Carter, Jamie Gazelle opened on the eclipse that day in Washington DC as he was then living in Maryland with new wife Roxi. About 50,000 people were on the lawns that day and the song “Open Window” shook the whole place, and a few girls were coming up afterwards who that…
A Registered nurse, passionate poetic and lyric writer. Writes to give voice to those impacted by social issues. A parent of both chosen and birth children, Ruth Garnes is an advocate of children affected by abandonment and abuse. Born in Belize, she migrated to New York at age eighteen. After studying nursing, worked as an…
ZupaNova are a trio consisting of Kimala, who expresses true beauty naturally with her loving character, but ultimately, through her passion for singing, songwriting, fashion modeling and consistently evolving swagger. Davy Brown, who is a multi-genre music producer, recording artist, songwriter, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, graphic designer, film editor, and…
R.G.F. is an Alternative rock band they have been writing songs and playing music all over the Midwest for over twenty years and it really shows through in their talent. They have several talented guitarists. Scott on bass, Adam metal string acoustic guitar, and Barry on Metal guitar. Definitely a stellar drummer named Mark and…
For an artist or band to be around for a short amount of time, but already have quite the following is saying something. Guest Actors may have been around for a mere 2 years, but it is only within that time frame that they have done so much. “By Demand”, just happens to be their…
Souleye’s “Hip Hop Medicine”, was quite the summer time hit, when released this past June. Now that the summer is drawing to a close, with fall right around the corner, what better way to beat the heat, then with a new track like “Wildman”. The track has already gotten such a buzz with reactions ranging…
Alex Otey wears many hats. He is a songwriter, a singer, a pianist and a producer all rolled into one. Talk about being talented! After having participated in one Grammy winning and two Grammy nominated projects, Otey has set his sights on leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape with his new album, ‘Love…
I won’t lie, when I see political bands, I feel a little nervous. I am definitely on the left, and usually the issue is that there’s something missing, or the band doesn’t think an issue even counts. I was glad to see that this isn’t the case with Chicago-based band Voice of Addiction. Their new…
Soles Of Passion is a political country/rock band based out of Los Angeles, California. Their primary mission is to help victims of foreclosure, and to reinstate the real American Dream. The duo, comprised of Steven Wolfe and Myla Snow, have a unique sound and a specific goal, one that gives them the title of being…
Rick Shaffer has been going at it since the 70’s, with no signs of stopping. He’s out with his newest album, Stolen Moments, which focuses on the preciousness of time. Shaffer stays true to his sound and himself in this album. There’s a melancholy edge to some of the tracks and a fitting reminder that…
West Virginia natives Bobaflex are the hard rock band of your dreams. They’re out with their new album, Eloquent Demons, on August 25th. This is the perfect time to get familiar with them. The band is made up of Shaun and Martin McCoy (guitar and vocals), Dave Tipple (guitar and vocals), Tommy Johnson (drums), and…
Paige Keiner is a rising star, and one to look out for. The Orlando born singer has been capturing hearts since 2011, and she is gradually becoming a musical sensation. Paige is a dynamic singer and songwriter as she’s always seen experimenting with various genres; Indie, pop, and country, being her favorites. The vocalist’s vast…
New Jersey based rock band, Dust of Days, is out with a new album called Analog Mind Bender- and from that album is the track “Heavy.” The band is the result of drummer and songwriter Frank Lettieri Jr.’s musical therapy that has been producing great music since 2009. Guitarists Jim McGee and Mike Virok make…
This is a distinctly different twist on what Jonathan Cavier has offered listeners in recent years. “Blue Room”, the title track from his latest studio release, eschews the pop leanings of Cavier’s earlier efforts in favor of a straight forward rock music attack that, nevertheless, retains immense accessibility. It has been a number of years…
This is one of the most oddly endearing and affectionate songs I’ve ever heard. Some might find it initially off-putting that someone has devoted this much time to penning, recording, and releasing an ode to some distantly iconic pop singer like Taylor Swift. Ossy O’Neal, however, has responded to Swift’s public and performing persona in…
Nick Black’s joy to the girl is an appeasing track with soulful music and excellent usage of vocal and rhythms. Nick Black surely deserves a standing ovation and a great round of applause for the latest track “Joy To The Girl”. Where else can you expect such a perfect culmination of modern soul with R7B…
2016 was a rough year for the entertainment industry, with the loss of so many incredible people. A number of musicians that made huge impacts to modern music passed away, as well. Singer Gregg Stewart recently came out with a cover album called Twenty Sixteen, a tribute to all of the wonderful talent we lost.…
Sarantos sculpts a spellbinding story with the joyful “Tonight”. Over the course of the song Sarantos weaves in elements of classic rock, pop, with a hint of hard rock thrown in for good measure. From this unique hybrid of genres Sarantos creates a song that possesses great heart. By opting for such an approach the…
New TV episode Bongo Boy TV Season 6 – Episode 8 – Bongo Boy Rock n Roll TV Show in heavy National Television rotation on 66+ TV channels this week till 8.15.17. The Corridors combine indie rock and classic rock into a powerful whole on the cinematic scope of “End Of The Times”. Guitars and…
Luchi Luminachi’s namesake has an interesting take to it. Luchi Luminachi refers to rays of light. “Luchi” is the Russian wording for “rays” or “beams” that refers to light. While “Luminachi” is another word a fanchiful word that also refers to the word light. So in short Luchi Luminachi means light whichever way you look…
C.K. Flach delivers heartfelt singer-songwriter stories on the highly thoughtful “Empty Mansions”. Rather blissful, the folk-rock style adds to the emotional heft of the narratives C.K. Flach weaves over the course of the album. Guitars possess an intimate, tender quality to them. Percussion opts for just the right balance between driving the songs forwards while…
Tony Curtis said it best, “I guess some like it hot” from the iconic film “Some Like It Hot” with him portraying his character Joe/”Josephine”/”Shell Oil Junior”, a saxophone player no doubt. What does this flick, actor, and character trait have to do with Sergej Avanesov? Well music of course, not only was Tony Curtis’…
“Somebody That I’m Not” is the newest and latest addition to the catalog of releases for up and comer Ellen Thweatt. She originates from California then set her sights on heading out East making Tennessee her home base. Since her move she has gone on to educate herself, studying to pursue her love for music.…
This is showstopper album featuring seventeen cuts represents the final product of two year’s worth of studio work pairing primary stars Elderkin and Danielle Howie with a cadre of crack musicians from the North Carolina indie scene. The Rise and Fall of John Elderkin and ¡Moonbeams qualifies much more as an extended musical narrative than…
Amilia K. Spicer’s album Wow and Flutter has received widespread acclaim as one of the most important studio releases in recent memory and the latest single from that effort, “Lightning”, presents listeners with a distinctly different side of her musical personality than what her longtime or new admirers heard with her earlier single “Fill Me…
Stereoviolet are powered by the commanding yet melodic vocals of frontwoman Bianca B. Black. THE RISE AND FALL OF O’REN BLACK, the debut album from the Chicago-based indie-rock band, is an unapologetic admission of life and the forces that drive us. It’s not a collection of love songs. They’re songs of lust and life, and…
Experimental rock artist Herman Martinez released the much-anticipated follow-up to 2015’s Solopsi Radio, this summer’s Secret Doors Hidden Stairs. Working with Ahmed Mahmoud and Hank Yaghooti, all three of these men are seasoned vets who’ve played their fair share of shows in the New York City/New Jersey rock scene from the infamous CBGB’s to The…
From Novosibirsk, Russia. Believing in the melodic and instrumental power of music, Cobat has been making electronically infused progressive rock since the late ‘90s but really got into the swing of things when the internet started to become more of an asset for musicians around the world to get their sounds heard. Years later he…
