CD and DVD reviews
Sung straight from the heart, Tod Hughes recalls past singer songwriter storytellers like Bob Dylan and Neil Young with “Time Slow Down”. His attention to detail is exquisite in terms of the impeccable arrangements and the poetic lyricism. Throughout it all Tod Hughes sensitive voice and keen observation helps to give these songs great power.…
Based out of the Washington D.C. area, Broke Royals is a two piece band formed in 2014 by multi-instrumentalists Phillip Basnight and Colin Cross. The band’s music defies neat categorization. There’s an underlying rock aesthetic to the band’s work that has allowed them to share bills with a classic rock institution like Lynyrd Skynyrd, but…
Immaculately produced by Keith Hines, Tammi T’s “Dance with a Stranger” is an incredible ode to the power of house music. Tammi T’s voice rises above tying everything together with fiery passion. Attention to detail is absolutely stunning from the physicality of the bass to the crisp handclaps. What truly serves as the heart and…
Bruce Mountain Band’s “Another Day Lost” offers a modern update of classic psychedelic rock. Their adherence to the sound is admirable: from the fuzzed out guitars to the endless heavy grooves, they keep on driving forward. Akin to similarly structured latter-day driving psychedelic rockers like Wooden Shjips, Bruce Mountain Band is a force of nature.…
Franco/American duo Secret Season, featuring multi-instrumentalist Mark Moogalian and vocalist/keyboardist/flutist Isabelle Risacher, have released four albums since their 2011 debut with On Our Own. Their latest release Love is the Only Game in Town carries on the band’s tradition of writing intelligent alternative music drawing from an array of influences. The album’s twelve tracks are…
Delicate and refined, Midwest Rhythm Exchange create a warm intimate sound on “Take Me Home”. With lilting lovely melodies the songs shine through full of confidence. The intermingling of a wide variety of styles from jazz to country to folk and everything in between. Such an approach, especially when coupled with their thoughtful lyricism, is…
Originally from Northern California, Cavier (pronounced “cav-AIR”) has been based in Phoenix, AZ for several years and up until recently was performing as Alan Clark in atmospheric pop duo EyeTalk. Over the course of ten years and five albums, this venture saw Cavier’s music reach audiences as far-flung as Italy, the UK, and Australia. After…
Cheerful to its very core, “Happiness, Laughter & Joy” shows Uncle Tadashi & Da Boyz tapping into a sense of optimism that comes only after such a long journey. The sense of purpose that home can bring is one that cannot be replicated easily. By growing up one gains perspective on what truly made their…
JackPot Luck is the solo side-project of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Gary Bonanni. Bonnani and his wife, LiLach, have worked the previous ten years together in their band Just Married, releasing three albums and touring the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. Gary, who is a seasoned musician, has been working on this solo outing of…
Stylish to its very core, the AfterAffects create a compelling piece of work with the kaleidoscopic color of the “Rush Hour EP”. The range of sounds varies coming from found sounds to jazz to house, with electro tying all of it together. Everything feels positively lush in nature from the hard-hitting percussion to the the…
Version 5 has set the rock music scene ablaze with their new EP “Take You There”. Brothers Spencer and Andy Olson have a musical bond that is stronger than blood. Their synergy is apparent in this EP with its sparse lyrics and larger than life guitar riffs. Version 5 brings a twist to traditional rock,…
Hailing from North Carolina, Swift Creek makes a splash on the country music scene with their new album “Magnolia”. Swift Creek is a five-part group, featuring Kevin Brown, Dennis Hoyle, Casey Elder, Stephen Fraleigh, and Ann Searcy. In addition to their riveting vocals, they also play a wide range of instruments including a banjo, mandolin,…
Bitter’s Kiss “Love Won’t Make You Cry” is angelic in tone. Execution throughout the collection is flawless as the pieces hit a perfect indie-pop balance. Delicate in nature everything simply works well from the carefully considered lyrics to the passionate vocal delivery. Throughout the collection Bitter’s Kiss lets the songs interact creating a beautiful sea…
Sunny and satisfying is the spirited work of Athena’s “Ready For The Sun (Part 1)”. Vocals serve as the heart and center of the collection. Athena pays close attention to her lyrics letting them focus on the philosophical thoughts that so often define a life. The sound itself is steeped in country rock in the…
Music is a labor of love for Troy Lindsey. His talent is displayed and celebrated in this lovely duet with Eden Moody called, Runners. It is a sentimental ditty about love lost. It tugs at your heart strings and puts you right in the moment of each singer as they spill their turmoil out on…
After a four-year hiatus, Barton returns to the music scene with the release of his second solo project “Simple Songs”. Barton is an original member of the 1990’s bands Petal and Suntribe, who he played with for several years. Afterwards, he took a break to focus on his solo projects. Barton, a Portland, Oregon native,…
Fire In The Field’s “Look So Strange” reveals its heart and soul as blues mixed with rock n’ roll. With a classic rock sound accompanied by a slow burning fiery passion these songs recall a sweeter more stylish time in pop. Everything works from the incredible emotional vocal delivery to the rollicking rhythms right down…
Dan Isbell’s “Father Day” is a tender country ode to the power of fathers. Sung straight from the heart the song unfurls slowly. A narrative forms from the careful details of a life lived fully. Vocals are delivered with the utmost of familial affection, deep, resonant and crystal clear. By keeping the song to the…
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…
