CD and DVD reviews
Brooke Barry creates a beautiful ballad with “Mirror”. Over the course of the song her voice soars majestically. The arrangement is pitch-passion and delivered with the utmost of passion. Sung with a hint of poetry the song’s colorful imagery works wonders in creating a dreamy sensibility. How the song builds up is quite elegant indeed…
Monsta Kodi’s “Wipe Your Tears” is a heartfelt, tender piece. With a truly positive, inspiring message Monsta Kodi explores exactly how breast cancer effects a person and those who love them. The lyrics are thoughtful as they examine what kind of choices a person must make, along with the level of support a person needs…
Sophisticated, tasteful, and with a true sense of style Lawrence Blatt’s “Longitudes & Latitudes” is an unbridled joy. Optimism fills each and every piece as they come together to create a rich tapestry of sound. The sunniness of the sound is undeniable as Lawrence Blatt effortlessly brings together of New Age, Smooth Jazz, Bossa Nova,…
The debut release from Juliet Huns, Behind the Scenes, is a three song EP introducing Huns’ talents to the music listening public in an ideal fashion. There’s a broad based approach characterizing these three songs that prevents labeling them as just one thing. This is pop music, but it’s a cut above the usual…
Troy Lindsey has a wandering soul and the journeys can be heard in the lyrics of his songs. He wears his life on his sleeves with his latest single, One Drop. He paints articulate pictures through the words of his songs. Hard times, long roads and living life to the fullest, shape each song, creating…
Lynne Taylor Donovan is a recognized Canadian country artist that has been working the scene for years building a following of dedicated listeners. Her soft, dreamy vocals are just the right amount of sweet for this latest single, Am I Dreaming. Donovan never disappoints. She has a gentle, caring tone that is warm and refreshing.…
Tim Toz and Joy Tolbert, long time music veterans, have learned how to adept to a world forever altered. Tolbert lodged time in the 1980’s as a member in an all-girl band named Starchild who turned up in all the major NYC clubs of the day. Multi-instrumentalist Tim Toz is also a songwriter, producer, and…
Full of searing guitar licks and lyrics that pierce the soul, One Way Ride’s “Put Me On” exemplifies rock n’ roll’s very best. Throughout their album they tap into a bluesy vein that too many bands have forgotten. Downright rollicking with its wonderful, carefully crafted rhythms, the songs sprawl out luxurious. Vocal harmonies rest at…
Float Like A Buffalo embraces a celebratory, carefree spirit on “Enjoy the Ride”. Lyrically they embrace a sense of optimism in the future, as their highly articulate storytelling gives small snapshots from a life lived most fully. How they are able to tie in small moments to a large scope on how life comes together…
Jokatech, a stage name for Jason K. Addae, is one of the transformational artists who come into a genre usually once or twice during a given decade. Sometimes these rare voices are able to translate their unique talents into lasting careers; other times, forces within and without conspire to cut those rising talents off mid-flight.…
Delivered with true spirit is the impassioned work of John Michael Hersey’s “You Got To Me”. John Michael Hersey’s vocals serve as the heart of the album as his expressive lyricism works wonders. Carefully crafting an intricate narrative over the course of the album John Michael Hersey explores the concept of relationships and the many…
Sarantos injects a sense of fun and cheer on the playful sound of “A Halloween Song”. Opting for a slightly retro style, the song has a jaunty, loose feel to it. The lyrics throughout reveal a sense of mischief, and Sarantos helps to embody this spirit. Hooks are aplenty throughout the song, either through the…
One Man Rock Band’s “Basket Of Deplorables” captures a raw visceral sense of power. Deserving to be blasted as loud as possible, the song’s defiance works wonders. By far the heart and soul of the track rests with the commanding, shouted lyrics that rise above the rollicking hard-hitting rhythms Throughout the track it is the…
Fernando Perdomo’s “Voyeurs” is a deeply reassuring, kind album that recalls the best of 70s singer-songwriters. Downright beautiful his work recalls the 70s revivalist work of Tobias Jesso Jr. and Whitney. By far the highlight of the album are the dreamy gentle vocals of Fernando Perdomo whose lyrics emphasize togetherness, hope, and faith in others.…
Miss Eaves creates a physical, highly sensual experience with “Hump Day”. Her voice is by far the highlight of the song. Delivered with a sense of true passion the elastic, airy percussion skitters above her carefully crafted lyrics. Lyrically the song is one that focuses on the ultimate sense of pleasure that can drive a…
The TRUMPetts move forward with a great sense of power on the undeniably spirited “Trump Train”. Filled with a true sense of community the song captures the energy of a jubilant campaign stop. Infectious to its very core the song is gargantuan in scope as the melodies and stomping rhythms work wonders for the sound.…
On “The Heart and Soul – I’ll Never See You Again (EP)” INDOSURF effortlessly blend together punk, alternative rock, and reggae into a seamless whole. Featuring a summery vibe to the sound INDOSURF’s laid back approach works wonders for them. Every song has its own specific style to it as they let a narrative form…
Hannah Telle taps into the loveliness of late 60s and early 70s AM pop exuberance with “Hollow Glow”. With a laid temperament akin to a mix of Jessica Pratt and Mac DeMarco’s work, the songs unfurl with a sense of true style. Vocals are positioned front and center over the course of her mellowed sounds.…
Jack Mosbacher Band’s “Sunny Songs for Shady People” presents a joyful, exuberant take on the best of pop. With the songs presenting a celebration of sorts, the entire album feels akin to a mere snapshot of a moment in a person’s life. From the relationships, the ups, the downs, the way the Jack Mosbacher Band…
Rev Peter Unger delivers a beautiful rumination on how the problems of the world can drag a person down with “Fall Away”. Opting for a 70s singer-songwriter stripped down approach the piece is perfectly balanced. Production glistens as the inclusion of the electric guitar within the mix results in helping to further emphasize the tender…
Fire to the Stars delve into the deeply emotional with the moving “Stay Down”. A sense of melancholy defines the piece as it unfurls slowly but surely. Reminiscent of Low’s early works which focused on mood more than speed, this is a song that truly ensures that every aspect of the sound is perfected. Effortlessly…
Marrying elements of classical, raga, and the blues into a satisfying whole, “Falling Snowflakes” is a tender piece that shows off the undeniable skill of Paul Graves. Paul Graves uses a loose yet nimble approach to his guitar work, which at times recalls the American Primitive Guitar work of John Fahey. By opting for such…
Like any band who have been labelled pioneers of their genre, The Pop Group are an acquired taste to those outside their own fan base. Though they are largely responsible for transitioning punk to post-punk, the ironically named band struggle with their own defined persona. This is obvious on new album Honeymoon on Mars, Their…
Effortlessly blending elements of punk and folk into a satisfying whole, Young Beard’s “The Big September” is an absolute delight. Recalling Modest Mouse’s early work, the sound has a raw immediate impact to it. The way the pieces build up feels quite naturalistic. Lyrics have a poetic raw quality to them, as if Young Beard…
New Jersey based Water Street formed the way all great bands do – organically. The band’s story began in 2011 with vocalist/guitarist Dave Paulson performing solo. Claire McNulty soon joined him as a second vocalist, guitarist, and pianist. They soon adopted the rather natural moniker of “Dave & Claire” and giggled as much as possible.…
Sung with the utmost of passion is Kenny Fame’s “Oh What A Night”. With a mellow laid back groove Kenny Fame explores great truths in life. He frames the song as a snapshot of a singular pivotal moment in a life. By giving the listener the background as well as a glimpse into the future…
Factory of good sound by Astronauts of Antiquity! Lately we can hear many new bands – all hail the Internet for that lovely opportunity – but don’t many of them sound too similar? It became quite hard to find those special, unique and memorable bands. Yet, if you are persistent enough, you can still find…
With a sultry seductive spirit is MAAD’s “Black Ice”. A slinky groove nicely meshes elements of dance and electro pop into a fully fleshed out sound. The song unfurls with a true sense of elegance. Blue Helix’s “Aliens” has a tender, cinematic quality to it. Tender articulate lyrics serve as the beating heart of the…
After two decades of writing songs, Jeff Road’s debut full length Come Ride with Me is the satisfying result of years spent honing his craft and sharpening his skills. It is firmly in a traditional country singer/songwriter vein and eschews the relatively facile pop country style that’s dominated country radio and charts for a number…
Possessing a great sense of optimism is the perfect jazz-rock fusion of “Stronger Than Before”. Tying the entire piece together is the undeniably strong vocals of Toni Redd. With such attention to detail the piece possesses a late night mood, as the song positively glows. Everything comes together ever so effortlessly from the steady rhythm…
The second single from Astronauts of Antiquity’s forthcoming EP Beyond the Maze, “Future Back”, builds on the impressive success of the EP’s first single “Paradise”. The same distinctive elements are still in place – Astronauts of Antiquity write fantastic arrangements for their material that explore many textures, produce irresistible tempos, and engage listeners with serious…
Alex Mery & The Townsmen presents a highly spirited narrative with the carefully crafted folk leanings of “Safely On Your Way”. Lyrics are front and center of the album as they articulate an entire life. The highs and the lows of a life lived most fully are explored in impressive detail. Instruments shine through with…
Knoxville raised Zoe Nutt is a guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and storyteller. Her debut album Like You bears full evidence of the fruits harvested from her life experience and her tenure as a student in the renowned songwriting program offered by Nashville’s Belmont University. The album’s eleven tracks are a rich compendium of country, pop, and…
Soles of Passion deliver “Bump Me Up” with a strong sense of optimism in the future. Emphasizing a sense of freedom, the song shine with crystal clarify. Vocals serve as the heart and soul of the album as they reveal a sense of play, purpose, and desire. Further giving their sound greater power is the…
Sung with the utmost of hope is WORLD5’s “Heartbeat Of The World”. Possessing an inviting thoughtful pop sensibility reminiscent of Genesis, the songs are filled with bright shining textures. Lyrically articulate these are pieces that sing out for the best in the world. By letting them interact ever so gracefully what results is a fully…
Robert Miller’s Project Grand Slam, The Queen’s Carnival after much anticipation has been released and melting faces in its path. Ably backed by Marcello Casagrandi, Mario Castro, Yasser Tejeda, Joel E. Mateo, Fabio Rojas, Willy Rodriguez, Meritxell Neddermann and Nathan Cepelinski. This jazz compilation is a mix of instrumentals and a nice cover of You…
The Front End sings the song of the downtrodden with their “Growing Pains EP”. Offering a series of portraits from varying degrees of disappointment, the pieces feel pitch perfect in how they capture some of the frustrations that can disrupt a life, from photos from a picture perfect vacation while they linger around alone, to…
The front woman for Heart, Ann Wilson went out on a solo adventure with her new EP The Ann Wilson Thing on Rounder Records. When I was presented with this review, I was elated and cannot believe my good fortune to be able to celebrate this dynamic, power house vocalist. Ann Wilson has a 4…
P Bailey’s “Story” effortlessly merges funk and dance into a celebratory whole. By far the heart of the collection are the strong thoughtful lyrics that drive the songs forward. Carefully constructed these incorporate elements of house, acid techno, funk, and hip-hop into something truly unique. Quite nimble in terms of how carefully it all comes…
It’s easy to forget how good this sort of music can be. We’ve lost the spirit in the marketplace that bands like Cranky George conjure – now it’s just pretty faces with a diminished appreciation for melodic variety and substantive statement. The teaming of former Pogues accordionist James Fearnley with the Mulroney Brothers, Kieran and…
