CD and DVD reviews
Cool Company’s “Summer Daze EP” taps into a summery form of nostalgia. With a distinct chillwave vibe reminiscent of Washed Out and Toro Y Moi, the songs effortlessly tie a multitude of styles into a satisfying whole. Elements of hip-hop, soul, and funk work in unison to explore lovely textures. Full of leisurely melodies, laid…
Some of popular music’s best sidemen languish in mainstream obscurity throughout their careers. They earn the respect of their peers, profit from their talents, and leave behind a body of work that often casts a significant musical influence over future generations. However, these sidemen are rarely emboldened or afforded the opportunity to occupy the spotlight…
De’Lise creates a beautiful song sung straight from the heart on the tender “Matters”. Everything is kept to the absolute essentials with the song delivered in an intimate hushed whisper. From the chorus to the light yet soulful piano work the entire song comes together ever so gradually. Hints of bass enter into the fray…
With drive and energy, Soles of Passion’s “Escape From Jurisdiction B” is a clever concise album. Intricate in detail the sound is a mixture of shoegaze, country, and progressive rock. By weaving together such a wide variety of sounds the songs teem with life. Vocals are the right level of sweetness, ruminating over the state…
3Bubble & J. Gray’s “Live From the Pentagon” nicely ties together elements of funk, jazz, hip hop and pop into a satisfying whole. Reminiscent of Outkast’s style the songs are colorful vibrant pieces feeling fully alive. Pop culture references flow out of the duo, showing off their impressive delivery. Intelligent, thoughtful lyrics are the true…
Opening up the collection with a fiery guitar lick is the satisfying blues of Jeanne Lozier’s “Beg and Plead”. Her voice simply soars deep, resonant, and full of passion. The song is intense, raw, and straight from the heart. Everything works from the steady rhythm to the wild guitar soloing. A nimble classic rock introduction…
Based out of Los Angeles, Lexxica is a singer/songwriter who believes the best music embodies personal experience rather than functioning as pure product. Her upcoming sophomore EP plans to put forth another solid blend of EDM styles like electro, dubstep, and house that relies on melody and hooks alike to leave an impression on the…
Ray Goren’s “Save My Soul” taps into the heart and soul of the blues. By tapping into rock’s origins Ray Goren creates the perfect kind of sound one that updates its beginnings in the best most respectful kind of way. His guitar chops are impressive as is his backing band that seems to fit his…
Played with passion, Michael Flanagan’ “Old Photo” is an unforgettable piece with fire in its belly. From the blistering guitar to the insistent rhythm the song refuses to let up. Throughout the piece Michael Flanagan appears to have the sound grow ever larger and more intricate. Layer upon layer of sound is woven together to…
With smooth silky vocals, Dingwall’s “Mad Ones EP” is a passionate polished piece of pop. Production values are astounding as Dingwall opts for nimble dub-influenced structures akin to that of Andy Stott. Brittle textures skitter across as the bass hits in just the right way. Melodies glisten throughout the collection as they further emphasize the…
Sarantos creates a lush piece of pop with “Tired of Being Scared”. With a wide variety of textures being brought to the fray Sarantos explores a soulful sound. The chorus hits all the right notes offering a luxurious approach. Infinitely catchy the song grows ever larger, with a particularly satisfying buildup. Rhythms are driving as…
Bryan Deister’s “Spines of the Heart” searches for the light in the darkness. These songs are brittle beautiful fragments sung straight from the heart. Haunting melodies dominate the album as they effortlessly mesh with the industrial washed grey rhythms. By implementing such a tremendous amount of power Bryan Deister’s voices feels akin to him singing…
Natalie Jean’s “Looking Back” is a stylish sophisticated piece of alternative pop. Turning the idea of the love song on its head the message is one of defiance. Lyrics explore the idea of a relationship and all the complications it necessitates. Anchored by a solid beat and a catchy hook, the piece comes together cautiously.…
Emerging country artist Cody Webb recently released a new single from his upcoming six-track self-titled summer EP. Cody, who hails from South Carolina started taking guitar lessons at just eight years of age. He became as passionate about singing and songwriting as he did about playing the guitar. Cody Webb now resides in Nashville, Tennessee,…
Sometimes Julie’s “Bright Side of the Line” is sung with fire and passion. Arrangements are impeccable as Sometimes Julie incorporates elements of jazz, rock, country, and a little bit of blues. Through this careful balance Sometimes Julie creates an album that is constantly twisting and turning to create new perspectives. By far the highlight of…
Exploring the darker impulses is the elegant smooth work of Yury’s “entropy.”. Atmospheric in nature these are songs that explore the emotional. Spacious sounds permeate each and every piece. Rhythms are kept low key letting the songs simply seep into the mind. Yury’s flow in particularly impressive letting his lyricism neatly match each one of…
I woke up to Corvaa’s new track Zipper this morning, and it set my mood for the whole day: optimistic, cheerful, vivacious and passionate. Honestly, I didn’t expect to like something like this, but I did. Eventually, there is a particular kind of music for each and every situation and frame of mind. For example,…
Bobgoblin began their journey back in 1992, when Hop Litzwire (vocalist/keybordist) met Rob Avsharian (drummer) at the University of North Texas, and they combined their efforts in the uphill struggle of carrying their ideas into masses. Later, in 1994, guitarist/bassist Tony Jannota joined them, and since then their main line-up has remained the same throughout…
Full of twisted fury, The Lost Poets create a dazzling dark world on “Insubordia Pt. II”. A sense of rebelliousness permeates the album courtesy of David Rosengren’s powerful vocals and the commanding physicality of Petter Ossian Strömberg’s bass lines. By structuring the album as a journey the songs gain greater meaning. The blues are carefully…
The Bongo Boy Rock N’ Roll TV Show is proud to present the latest episode in their Rock N’ Roll TV Show series, “Notorious Anytime” featuring 7 talented independent international recording artists in 1 special ½ hour TV show. This latest Bongo Boy TV produced episode premiered mid April with rotation for 2 weeks till…
Effortlessly tying together elements of hard rock, math rock, and grunge into a satisfying whole, Linchette Marcel’s self-titled debut is a pure joy. Volume is a must for Linchette Marcel explore every possible angle, as their riffs and guitar solos are simply astounding. With so many layers it is easy to get lost in their…
“Two Modes of Transport” shows Jetpacks at their absolute best, with a tender darkwave sound leading the way. Much of the song opts for a slightly dreamy sound going from dubstep to chillwave to shoegaze so naturally. Carefully crafted the song is the right kind of nimble with little elements of nostalgia presenting themselves throughout…
Lush and luxurious, Wiseproof’s “Scuse Me” offers up a downright decadent sound. The mysterious nature of the track means it is impossible to fully pin down. A sleek bass line drives the song forward, serving as the song’s backbone, ensuring that the rhythm is absolutely dominating. Vocals are the heart of the track as they…
Languid and lovely in tone is Rev Peter Unger’s “At Heaven’s Door”. Kept to the absolute essentials Rev Peter Unger opts for an airy feel to the arrangements. Absolutely crisp the production values are incredible. By far the highlight of the song are the tender lyrics delivered with reassurance by Rev Peter Unger. As the…
Port of Est. taps into a late 80s darkwave sound on the impeccable “Onyx Moon”. Absolutely infectious in nature these are songs that linger in the mind long after they are over. The attention to detail is admirable as Port of Est. present a mixture of brooding and beauty. By maintaining this balance they create…
Oscar Vega’s “Back” has a psychedelic sheen to it. With an effortless languid groove serving as the song’s anchor, the piece moves with such grace. This is courtesy of Mantra’s impressive production skills, as every sound shimmers in the crystal calm. Melodies shine through as it grows ever larger in size, incorporating ever greater amounts…
Philadelphia based Justin DiFebbo’s debut album Turn Out the Light, Turn On the Stereo earned him effusive praise from various quarters and its follow-up, DiFebbo’s new full length album Skin and Bones, will likely endear him to many more. Many might listen to this ten song collection and peg DiFebbo as a staunch retro revivalist…
Thomas Nordlund’s time accompanying respected performers like Sarah Morris and the Jana Nyberg Group and his extensive musical education has prepared him for this moment. The release of his debut solo album, Divide Avenue, amply demonstrates his sharp musical decision making and command of the instrument. Each of the album’s eight songs is an evocative…
Hot Rumour’s “MMXVI” sounds like a party and the afterparty put into a delectable whole. This is the kind of music that deserves to be played as loud as possible in front of as many people as possible. Absolute bliss the songs are hyperactive, giddy in nature, and incredibly catchy. Bringing it together is a…
Kenny Fame is back with his latest release Who Am I. That is an interesting question to ask, especially if you are Kenny Fame as he is reinventing himself continuously. As an audience member it is a pleasure watching him go through this journey and following him every step of the way. Website: https://kennyfame.bandcamp.com/album/who-am-i This…
Rev Peter Unger’s “Heaven Only Knows” meditates on the meaning of life. The piece shines courtesy of Rev Peter Unger’s lyrically articulate narrative. Looking for hope during the darkest of times can be particularly trying. As the song unfolds Rev Peter Unger searches for a happiness of sort. By looking for strength Rev Peter Unger…
After selling several thousand albums and cultivating a supportive fan base, what’s next? Bobby Jo Valentine’s third album Fox Eyes, Whale Heart consolidates the reputation earned from the two superb albums preceding it and shoots even higher than before. The twelve song collection is chiefly distinguished by his writing skills. Valentine is a shrewd observer…
Nashville isn’t just cowboy hats and Fender Telecasters. Music City U.S.A. is an increasingly diverse community incorporating a wide variety of voices and an assortment of seemingly disparate characters untethered to the city’s regional past. A recent transplant to the city, Texas native Rebecca Moreland is fully cognizant of the city’s past, but like many…
Destiny’s “Oblivion” is luxurious lush sound immaculately produced and passionately sung. Lyrically concise Destiny shows off a wide range, going from nimble quick-fire delivery to letting her voice soar towards the sky. Her lyrics revolve around the complicated dynamics of relationships. Wonderfully accompanied by an epic sweep of synthesizers and carefully crafted grooves. Brought together…
The dynamite new partnership on the Americana scene today, Kerry and Donna Herrick, follow up their critically acclaimed debut New Dance with this ten song set. It isn’t entirely fair or accurate to pigeonhole what it is that Herrick does. The partners have outstanding collaborators with Jefferson Rogers playing a triple threat of guitar, lap…
Tucker is a multi-instrumentalist and a prolific songwriter who’s played and toured with Eric Durrance on the Jason Aldean (2008 CMT Tour), Jimmy Wayne, James Otto, Ashley Cleveland, Guy Penrod, Rick Derringer, Michael Peterson and more. When he’s not indulging his love of music, Tucker indulges his passion for cars; American “muscle cars,” street rods…
Strong and full of confidence, Sarantos taps into the best of early 90s indie rock with “Dreamer”. Downright incredible Sarantos shows off his impressive vocal and lyrical might throughout the song. Tender in nature Sarantos expresses the utmost of compassion for others, while he expresses an unbridled sense of optimism about the world. Maintaining such…
Brian Pharaoh’s latest single, “Sorry”, is poised to be one of those glorious shots into the dark that makes a career, but Pharaoh isn’t exactly a new commodity on the scene. His 2003 debut Gettin’ My Feet Wet garnered well deserved attention, but his burgeoning music career hit a snag when Pharaoh, a reserve soldier,…
Dark and elegant, Ramsey’s “Pay” is a perfectly paced piece of introspective pop. Led by Ramsey’s undeniably strong voice the song lumbers forward with great power. Stylistically the song incorporates elements of dubstep and classical into a satisfying whole. The clever concise arrangement takes its time in unfurling slowly revealing a great deal of intricate…
Jimmy actually started drums at an early age and discovered the Beatles and other bands of that era. Soon after, he started playing guitar which opened a new musical world. Cream, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, the Blues Breakers became the musical foundation for him as he started his first band, “The Silence” and then his…
