CD and DVD reviews
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…
Formed in 2012, this South Florida act originally began artistic life as a partnership between vocalist/bassist Luis Bonilla and guitarist Marek Schneider. The band quickly became a trio and their debut album Ei8ht is an eight song collection packed with authoritative rock, strong lyrical messages, and self-empowerment in equal measure. The band has a surprisingly…
Mixing r&b with the Avalanche’s sampledelic tendencies, FLAUNT’s “This Is What Happens When You Let Me Down” is an explosion of magnificent color. Playful with their arrangements what serves as the song’s true joy is its unexpected swerves from glossy jazz samples to nimble dance pop. By showing off such an impressive range within a…
EK’s “I Got You” is an absolutely immersive experience. Production opts for an immersive emotive dub-like melody with languid dreamy pacing. Textural elements are incredible and EK’s attention to detail is quite impressive. Mitymaose’s vocals are remarkably smooth reminiscent of Frank Ocean’s similar luxurious voice. Lyrically the song has a clear narrative, one familiar to…
Based in Los Angeles, RJ Comer has released his new EP called Nightly Suicide in March 2016. It is an absorbing and thought provoking album of six perfectly produced songs, which impress you to the marrow of your bones and leave you replaying them and reflecting, while the music has stopped long ago. RJ Comer…
Mikhail Zagot’s “Piano in the Bushes” is playful to its core. Full of color these pieces positively teem with life. Stylistically varied Mikhail Zagot’s music runs the gamut from the theatrical opener to the folk influenced closer. Tying together these many approaches is Mikhail Zagot’s strong vocals which show off quite a wide range. His…
Biting and beautiful, Mimi LaRue’s “Country Star” takes on the country music industry with absolute style. A brilliant parody the song at first adheres to the concepts of country: the guitar twang, the swinging rhythms, all show the hallmarks of country rock done right. Upon further exploration there are the clever lyrics. Her voice, sweet…
Fred Colombo’s “The Road” is an EP that explores the darkness. With careful arrangements Fred Colombo’s glossy full sound is incredible. Production values are absolutely astounding. Much of the sound is positively lush with a richness that displays a great understanding of the importance of the slow build. A clear debt is paid to similarly…
Bongo Boy Records Compilations Volume Eight is a digital release out of the series of open genre music releases on Bongo Boy Records USA. This release include 10 international recording artists and the genre various from Pop, Dance EDM, Folk and Hop Hip. Steve Ryan’s “Movin On (Electro Soul Mix)” opens the compilation up with…
Brooke Moriber, native New York, is no stranger to spotlights. Since her entertainment career began in earnest at age fifteen, Moriber has enjoyed considerable success as an actress. She has appeared in seven Broadway productions, numerous commercials, and landed guest spots on a handful of high profile television productions. Her stage career has called upon…
Dressed Up For Goodbye, released in 2015, is Corinne Cook’s new album. It has got a dozen tracks which are full of spunk, crackle and pop. The album starts off with “Little Miss Understanding” which has all the warmth and energy that one is looking for from a Corinne Cook record. The chord progressions go…
Warm and tender, Ronjo V’s “Ronjoism” shows an impressive mastery of pop music. Throughout the collection Ronjo V taps into a classic rock sound akin to similar efforts by Tobias Jesso Jr. Inviting melodies serve as the heart and center of these pieces as they come into full bloom quite satisfyingly. Songs are woven together…
Sung with true passion, Rayne Michael’s “Someone Please” effortlessly combines elements of R&B and industrial into a satisfying whole. A catchy melody leads the way. This, coupled with a strong and steady rhythm, gives it strength. Rayne Michael works at letting the flourishes of sound, the subtle yet powerful cascading keyboards, perform their vital task…
Playful with a nostalgic hue, Tehnoloogiline Päike’s “Technological Sun” offers an ever-shifting array of colors and textures. Melodically sound the songs reference the early origins of electronic music as each one possesses a compelling poppy spirit that guides their sound forward. Throughout the album the songs shimmer with optimism as the analog sounds work wonders…
Stewart Francke’s self-titled effort is played with a tremendous amount of heart and soul. These songs feel timeless in nature. Like a collection of long-lost classics there is something so intimate, so familiar throughout the album. His voice serves to center the album showing off a wide range from the celebratory to the sweet with…
Wiseproof’s “More More More More” effortlessly combines big beats and big ideas into a satisfying whole. His flow is absolutely incredible able to keep pace with the at times chaotic rhythms. Akin to glitch at times the relentless experimentation never gets in the way of the song’s irresistible catchiness. Carefully adding layer upon layer of…
New releases are rarely as high concept as the Menimals debut. The four piece is self-described as “kraut rock with strong ambient influences”, but theatrical principles hold considerable sway. The band’s membership is American Doctor Forge on vocals joined by The Rat on drums, The Chimera on bass, and The Gryphon on guitar. Each of…
Emerging out of a dreamy haze, The Dearly Bereft’s “Funeral Music” is surreal shoegaze. The Dearly Bereft focus on the spacious as their songs are atmospheric, almost airy with their crystal clarity. Complete balance is of the utmost importance as the band pays close attention to the smallest of details. Slow tempos certainly help this…
“Angels Wear the Strangest Faces” shows off Peter Unger’s celebration of the everyday heroes. His lyrics focus on those who make the world a better place in ways that people often take for granted. Peter Unger describes a wide plethora of individuals from caregivers to teachers, those who change lives in small yet ultimately significant…
The Refusers tap into the rebellious spirit of rock n’ roll on “Born To Rock”. Chaotic and compelling the Refusers know how to create thoughtful highly intelligent pieces of infectious pop. Lyrically the songs focus on the disenfranchised. By opting for this style they balance elements of rock alongside economic equality. Employing a classic sound…
Full of passion Alexandra’s “Criminal” is an infectious engaging piece of pop. Everything simply works from her undeniably strong vocals to the thoughtful lyricism. Nicely accompanying her voice are the impeccable arrangements which seem to nicely match her own chaotic and highly charged delivery. Perfectly balanced the song is a compassionate piece one that truly…
Wisconsin native Vicky Emerson’s third full-length album, Wake Me When the Wind Dies Down, is an exceptional entry very much in the same tradition as Lucinda Williams, but also lead by more contemporary influences. The ten song collection is produced by Emerson’s longtime collaborator Matt Patrick and the production does well presenting these tracks in…
Oleg Frish was born and grew up in the USSR, but it couldn’t put a crimp into his love for American retro music. He would grab any chance to touch that culture, which was a forbidden fruit in the country ruled by the Soviet system back then. By his teens he had learned by heart…
