We are firmly ensconced in May, and the amazing indie music just keeps coming. This year’s LA Music Critic Awards are gonna be tough because there is so much talent out there. We are happy to present another three album reviews for you as we help you sort through the myriad of offerings available in indie music land.
Artist Name: Halo Circus
Album Name: The East Lansing Sessions
Label: Halo Circus Propaganda
Genre: Alternative Rock
Track Listing: 1. Nothing at All; 2. All I Have; 3. Band-Aid; 4. Stand Up; 5. The Needle and the Damage Done
Publicist: Platform Media Group
Review: Allison Iraheta burst onto the music scene as a teenager when she appeared on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. She has since married and started a band with Matthew Hager and is on course to totally redefine indie rock and how indie music is made in today’s music business. The band launched the first fully crowd funded headlining tour last year, which proved to be a very successful venture. While on the tour, Halo Circus recorded this EP, which will be released on May 5. It is an amazing work of art. All five songs are incredible and worthy of radio air play, but we are especially impressed by the amazing “Band-Aid,” which features music by Halo Circus and lyrics by the one and only Paul Williams. We shared their music video of this song earlier this week in our Monday Mashup article, and are proud of the work the band has done on this EP, which has definitely whetted our appetite for more. We also love the simple undertones of the final track, “The Needle and the Damage Done,” which shows how diverse this band’s music can be. We can’t wait for more.
Recommendation: There is no doubt about this one – The East Lansing Sessions is a definite Get It and easily one of the best EPs of 2017. We strongly recommend you visit their website and pre-order the EP, which comes in a myriad of packages including t-shirts, autographs and all manner of other swag. This is how the music business should be done.
Artist Name: Brody Buster’s One Man Band
Album Name: Self-titled
Label: Little Class Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. Get out of my Life; 2. New Speedway Boogie; 3. I’m on Fire; 4. 2029; 5. Into the Wind; 6. Get Back; 7. Nothing Compares 2 U
Publicist: Doug Deutsch Publicity Services
Review: Brody Buster’s music is nostalgic, transporting the listener back to a simpler time when Vaudeville ruled the entertainment land. His “One Man Band” gives us a taste of his awesomeness, displaying his multi-instrumentality and his diverse talents. He has that scruffy voice you expect in blues music, and that driving blues riff on his guitar. But what truly sets Buster apart is his harmonica, which rises above everything else and gives his music a lift. Blues music is traditionally dark and brooding, but the harmonica makes the statement that ‘this darkness has got to give.” With a combination of original tunes and some amazing covers, including The Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie,” Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire,” the Beatles’ “Get Back,” and Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Brody redefines blues music and shows us the true essence of indie music – no boundaries. Of his originals, we really love “2029,” with its driving beat and prophetic words of impending doom on September 23, 2029.
Recommendation: Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this amazing album. Even if you don’t like the blues, you will love Brody Buster’s One Man Band. We are proud to recommend this album and encourage you to Get it.
Artist Name: Laura Tate
Album Name: Let’s Just be Real
Label: 811 Gold Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. Nobody Gets Hurt; 2. If That Ain’t Love; 3. Hitting on Nothing; 4. Can’t say No; 5. Boys are Back in Town; 6. Still got the Blues; 7. I’ll Find Someone who Will; 8. Let’s Just be Real; 9. I Know you Lie; 10. I Need a Man; 11. Big top Hat; 12. Wildest Dreams
Publicist: Frank Roszak Promotions
Review: While the blues are usually a dark form of music, Laura Tate’s music is anything but. While the undertone is definitely the blues, it is married with an upbeat jazz tone and soaring vocals, accompanied by brilliantly hopeful lyrics about love, and guitar riffs that chase away the shadows, ushering in a new day. The horns also complement that process, creating a new form of the blues that encourage hope and lift the listener’s spirits. Every song has that special dynamic, making this an album that you will want to listen to from start to finish, over and over again. Favorite cuts include “If That Ain’t Love,” “Can’t say No,” “Still got the Blues,” “I’ll Find Someone who Will,” “I Know you Lied,” and the nostalgic “Big top Hat.” We also love her truly original cover of Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys are Back in Town.” The final track, “Wildest Dreams,” provides the perfect cherry on top of a treat of an album.
Recommendation: Let’s Just be Real is scheduled for release on May 16, and we strongly encourage you to Get it. It believe it will be one of the best releases of this year, and a worthy addition to your musical collection.
