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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it LA Music Critic Awards Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – The Daybreaks, Wendy Sweetlove, The Raft, Paradise Kings

We are so humbled by the response to our announcement of the nominations for the first half of 2017 for the LA Music Critic Awards.  You guys are the reason we recognize and share the incredible talent in the indie music scene.  Thanks for your support.  Here are four more great acts, one of which has already been nominated for three LA Music Critic Awards.  Please let us know what you think about them.

Artist NameThe Daybreaks

Album NameMeet me at the End of the World

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  The Machine; 2.  Do Whatever Gets you High; 3.  Stranger; 4.  Cruel Summer; 5.  Panic; 6.  Hypnotized; 7.  Hold on to Me 

Publicist:  Think Press

Review:  It was just supposed to be a collaboration to write songs for placement in television and media, but the undeniable chemistry between Heather Bonds and Kaleb Jones led to the formation of The Daybreaks, one of the hottest groups in Nashville.  The release of their debut EP will only add to that exposure, as these guys are phenomenal.  They have already garnered one LA Music Critic Award for their stellar cover of “Cruel Summer,” and we believe they will get a few more during their career.  Kicking off with their single, “The Machine,” they hit the ground running and deliver a stunning debut that deserves world-wide attention.   There is not a weak song on this debut, and the EP should be placed on repeat.

Recommendation:  If you love well written songs, amazing harmonies and a musical background that heightens your senses and perks you up, then you should immediately Get this EP.

Artist Name Wendy Sweetlove

Album NameDirty Sunday

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Modern Soul/Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Babysitter; 2.  Delilah; 3.  Come to Momma; 4.  Dirty Sunday; 5.  Shadow Son; 6.  Sharp Dressed Man; 7.  Burn it Down; 8.  I Bring the Word; 9.  Come Inside; 10.  Left of You; 11.  Sucker Punch; 12.  El Cubano 

Publicist:  None

Review:   From the first notes of “Babysitter,” it will quickly become evident that Wendy Sweetlove is a powerful performer who will quickly become a household name.  Sweetlove calls her music “Modern Soul,” but we simply call it magnificent.  It deserves to be played on every radio station and will surely continue to gain her new fans.  On top of that, she knows how to put on a great live show, and if you were lucky enough to be at the LA Music Critic Awards Winners Showcase last month in Los Angeles, you know what we’re talking about.  She is currently nominated for three awards, and we believe that she will receive many more during her career.  We are really impressed with her cover of ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man,” which she has turned into a funky jazz standard.  Favorite tracks include “Babysitter,” “Delilah,” “Come to Momma,” “Dirty Sunday,” “Come Inside,” and “Sucker Punch.”

Recommendation:  If you like your music down and dirty, then this is the perfect album for you.  Although it is not yet available, you can stream three cuts on Sweetlove’s website.  The minute it comes out, we strongly urge you to Get it.

Artist NameThe Raft

Album NameComing up for Air

Label:  SoLar Records

Genre:  Indie Pop/Dream Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Glad I Don’t Know; 2.  Coming up for Air; 3.  Anarchy in our Guitars; 4.  Regrets 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Phil Wilson, aka the Raft, is a UK artist whose music should do well here in the States.  His sound is smooth, with his sweet voice and musical backing that would be the perfect fit for radio airplay.  His four-song EP delivers the perfect taste that begs for more.  From his first song to the last one, we simply love this EP especially “Glad I Don’t Know.”  Give him a listen and we think you’ll agree.

Recommendation:  Definitely head over to the Bandcamp website and Get your copy now.

Artist NameParadise Kings

Album Name:  Controlled Burn

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rockabilly

Track Listing:  1.  ’69 Chevy; 2.  I’d Sing the Blues if I had Em; 3.  Three Strikes; 4.  Slow Down; 5.  Butter me Up; 6.  Patience; 7.  Poor me, Poor me, Pour me Another Drink; 8.  Money Ain’t my Friend (live) 

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  The album starts out with a rocking instrumental intro before launching into an incredible vocal that gets your toes to tapping before an uncontrollable urge to dance takes control of  your body.  You can fill the heavy influence of greats like Chuck Berry and BB King in the sound of Paradise Kings, and we think that this band has the potential to take the blues genre by storm.  Best tracks include “’69 Chevy,” “I’d Sing the Blues if I had Em,” “Slow Down” and “Butter me Up.”

Recommendation:  If you love great blues music, then you simply MUST Get this album.  It will be a valued addition to your musical library.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it LA Music Critic Awards Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Floco Torres, Ben Bostick, Rosi Golan

So, the nominations for the first half of 2017 of the LA Music Critic Awards have now been announced, so it’s time to start working on the second half.  We have three great artists to review today, and hope that you will check them out.

Artist NameFloco Torres

Album Nameagain

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Hip-hop

Track Listing:  1.  Floco’s Joint; 2.  You!; 3.  Voltron (ft Goodie Supreme & Billie Slum); 4.  Nobody Knows; 5.  Age of Comfort; 6.  Elevator (ft Kimie Yates); 7.  Thoughts; 8.  Charles’ Joint (ft Charles Davis) 

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  His voice is not pretty, but his beats are sick, and you can feel that his heart is in his music.  “You got to hold on to what you believe in,” he sings on the first track, and you just know he means what he says.   This is hip-hop that doesn’t tear down, but builds up with positive lyrics.  Best tracks include “You!”, “Nobody Knows,” and “Charle’s Joint.”

Recommendation:  If you are a hip-hop lover, then this is the perfect vehicle for you.  If not, you should still give this one a listen.

Artist NameBrian Bostick

Album Name:  Self-titled

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Country/Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Independence Day Eve; 2.  Coast of Mexico; 3.  Paid my Dues; 4.  After the Rain; 5.  Paper Football; 6.  The Juggler; 7.  Sweet Thursday; 8.  Supposed To; 9.  I Should Have Been her Man; 10.  Erin is Blue 

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  Being raised in the south, country and folk music have always held a high place in my life.  With the latest from Ben Bostick, the genre has a new face, and it is one we believe will be around for quite a while.  From the first note of “Independence Day Eve,” it becomes quickly evident that this indie musician has set his sights on taking on the established market with some amazingly produced and perfectly written country music.  His voice is pure classic country, soothing and inspiring, with the perfect mixture of classic instrumentation, including acoustic guitar, harmonica, lap steel, accordion, upright bass and fiddle (with some horns, drums and electric guitar and bass thrown in for good measure).  “Paid my Dues” sounds like a mixture of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, when original rock and roll was heavily influenced by country music.  The rest of the album is just as good, and worthy of repeated listens.

Recommendation:  Watch for this artist – he is heading for the big time.  We highly recommend this album, and urge you to get out and Get it Now!

Artist NameRosi Golan

Album NameCollecting Bullets

Label:  Gypsy Betch (digital only)

Genre:  Pop/electro-pop

Track Listing:  1.  Underneath; 2.  OMG (ft. Madi Diaz); 3.  Collecting Bullets; 4.  Cold Blush; 5.  Don’t You Dare; 6.  Let Go 

Publicist:  Red Boot PR

Review:  Rosi Golan took a one-year creative break before recording her latest Collecting Bullets, and it has paid off in spades.  This is truly one of the best indie pop albums we have heard in 2017, with a dynamic sound that reminds us of Mandi Perkins and Of Verona.   We really love both of her singles, “Underneath” and “OMG,” and truly expect to hear these tunes on the radio in the not too distant future.   The harmonies between Golan and Madi Diaz on “OMG” are heavenly, and deserve repeated listens.  If her live performance is even half as good as these recorded tracks, then we highly suggest you get out and see her perform if she comes to your area.

Recommendation:  Truly spectacular, Rosi Golan deserves your attention.  If you want to be one of the cool kids, then we highly recommend you pre-order this EP, which will be released on July 14, and then put it on repeat.  It will make your day.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards LA Music Critic Awards Women in Entertainment

LA Music Critic Award nominations for first half of 2017

We are so proud to finally be able to present our nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2017.  This year we wrote reviews on every CD/EP submitted for consideration, and we had nearly 100 submissions.  You can find those reviews on this blog under the tag “Get it or Forget it.”  We look forward to your comments on our nominations.

Here are the rules.  The public may only vote for the Fan Favorite award, and must do so by commenting on this article only – comments on social media posts will not count.  Any indie artist may be nominated (with the exception of past winners Papermoon Gypsys, Diane Rein, Zach Linley and Annette Conlon) and the winner will be the artist with the most votes.

The voting period will expire on July 25, with the winners in all categories announced on July 27.

We also encourage readers to comment on the other nominations, which will be considered by the awards panel members.  However, only the votes of the panel will determine who wins the award in all categories except Fan Favorite.

Speaking of the awards panel, thank you so much for all of your suggestions and help in compiling the nominations for this cycle.  The members are Jennifer Lyneis (Ue3 Promotions), Laura Goldfarb (Red Boot PR), Jennifer Allison (Jennifer Allison Publicity), Melissa Dragich-Cordero (MAD Ink PR), Doug Deutsch (Doug Deutsch Publicity Services), Michelle King (Noisy Ghost PR), Steve Belkin (Open All Nite Entertainment), Michelle Crispin (Music Supervisor), Kim Grant (KG Music Press), Patrick O’hefffernan (Musica LA), Heather Jacks (Author) and Rosine Avedissian Correa.

And here are the nominations:

BEST EP (Male) – Joe Goodkin (Record of Loss); Ed Prosek (Flesh and Blood Part 1); Ian Mahan (Rockford); Ray Goren (Free)

BEST EP (Female) – Meresha (Enter the Dreamland); Carrie Lane (California Freaks); Kris Angeles (Heartbreak is Contagious)

BEST EP (Group) – Gold Casio (Fever Dreams); Stereo Off (EP III); Echo Underground (Vows); Rococode (Young Ones); The Wild Now (Afterglow)

BEST CD (Male) – Chris Shifflett (West Coast Tour); Rod Melancon (Southern Gothic); David Ryan Harrris (Songs for Other People); AJ Hobbs (Too Much is Never Enough); Jared Tyler (Dirt on Your Hands)

BEST CD (Female) – Janey Street (In my Own Skin); Wendy Sweetlove (Dirty Sunday); Sara Petite (The Road Less Traveled); Jennifer Vazquez (Rediscovering Me); Amilia K. Spicer (Wow and Flutter)

BEST CD (Group) – The American West (The Soot Will Bring us Back Again); Jeffrey Halford and the Healers (Lo-fi Dreams); King Washington (Potential); The Dream Eaters (We are a Curse); The Show Ponies (How it all Goes Down); Breaking Grass (Warning Signs)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Male) – Curtis Peoples (“Damage Control”); Dario (“Good Morning World”); Jared Tyler (“Dirt on Your Hands”); Rod Melancon (“Different Man”); Chris Shiflett (“Sticks and Stones”); Michael Hornbuckle (“Angel”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Female) – MILCK (“Quiet”); Alice Wallace (“The Same Old Song”); Shannon Hurley (“Someday”); See (“Green Line Killer”); Marina V (“Born to the Stars”); Cindy Alexander (“Deep Waters”)

BEST VIDEO (OFFICIAL) (Group) – Backbone (“Supa Waz Guy”); The Wild Now (“Run for Your Life”); The Show Ponies (“Kalamazoo”); Halo Circus (“Band Aid”); King Washington (“My Reflection”)

BEST VIDEO (LIVE) – Jerad Finck (“Pieces of April”); The Spider Accomplice (“User”); Chelsea Williams (“Boomerang”); Gabe Dixon (Balcony TV) (“Holding Her Freedom”); Lucy and La Mer (Balcony TV) (“Honey, Put Your Weapons Down”)

BEST VIDEO (LYRIC) – The Spider Accomplice (“Atmosphere”); Gerry Beckley (“Serious”); Jennifer Vazquez (“Rocked”); Jennifer Vazquez (“Worst Enemy”); Gigi Rich (“All in my Head”)

BEST VIDEO (COVER) – Alexis Keegan (“When Doves Cry”/”Purple Rain”); The Daybreaks (“Nothing Compares 2 U”); Dave Yaden (“Humble”); Frank Shiner (“Rainy Night in Georgia”)

BEST VIDEO (COMEDY) – Scout Durwood (“All the Pretty Bottles”); Scout Durwood (“Take One Thing Off”); Un5Gettable (“Honest Singing Telegrams – part 2”)

BEST VIDEO (COLLABORATION) – Curtis Peoples & Marie Digby (“Not Enough Drugs”); Frank and Lindsay Shiner (“When Something is Wrong With my Baby”); DJ Polique (ft. Snoop Dog, Follow Your Instinct and Jacob Luttrell) (“Dimes Only”)

BEST SINGLE (Male) – Curtis Peoples (“Damage Control”); Frank Shiner (“Rainy Night in Georgia”), Jerad Finck (“New Kids”)

BEST SINGLE (Female) – Susan Calloway (“No Time for This”); Marina V (“Born to the Stars”), Kanisha K (“Bet on Me”); DANI Le Rose (“I’ve Told Lies”); Wendy Sweetlove (“Delilah”)

BEST SINGLE (Group) – Brit Royal (“Change”); Basement Revolver (“Tree Trunks”); FlecHaus (“What We’ve Got”), Breaking Grass (“Annie”), Birds and Arrows (“Stay Down”)

BEST COUNTRY ARTIST – Alice Wallace, Jennifer Vazquez, Rod Melancon, AJ Hobbs, Warren Sellers, Tara Dente

BEST COUNTRY BAND – Calico the Band, Honey County

BEST BLUES ARTIST – Janiva Magness, Gina Sicilia

BEST BLUES BAND – Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method, Papermoon Gypsys

BEST FUSION ARTIST/BAND – Mitre, Nancy Sanchez, San Miguel

BEST POP ARTIST – Shannon Hurley, David Ryan Harris, Wendy Sweetlove, Meresha, Ian Mahan

BEST POP BAND – Lovers and Poets, The Dream Eaters, The Wild Now, Rococode, Single by Sunday

BEST ROCK ARTIST – Janey Street, Lizard McGee, Jack Spann

BEST ROCK BAND – The Spider Accomplice, Desert Culture, Husky, Hayride Casualties, Banditos

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST – Ray Goren, Derek Davis

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA ARTIST – Amilia K. Spicer, Sara Petite, Chris Shiflett, Jared Tyler, Pi Jacobs

BEST ROOTS/AMERICANA BAND – The Show Ponies, The American West, Imaginary Friends, Jeffrey Halford and the Healers

BEST BLUEGRASS BAND – Breaking Grass

BEST JAZZ ARTIST – Dave Yaden, Irene Diaz

BEST REGGAE BAND – Roots of Creation, 9 Mile Roots

BEST COMEDY – Scout Durwood, Jeff Simmermon, Un5Gettable

RISING STAR – Meresha, Jamey Geston, Bess, Kaylee Keller, Ray Goren

FAN FAVORITE – open for nominations

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Artists Worth Checking Out LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Reviews Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 25

Are you ready for another week to celebrate the awesomeness that is indie music?  The nominations for the first half of 2017 for the LA Music Critic Awards will be announced on Tuesday, and we can hardly wait to share them with you.  It’s been a super busy time for indie artists, and we combed through a lot of submissions, even writing reviews on every one of them.  Do a google search for “Get it or Forget it” and check out our reviews.

In the meantime, let’s check out some great tunes and music videos that have recently been released.  Have a great week!

NEW MUSIC

Here’s a couple of new artists we recently discovered courtesy of the A&R Department, and we really like their first singles:  Oddie Room Project‘s “Do You Know” and Tom Walters’ “Marlborough.” Check them out and let us know what you think.

Like many of you, we are also big fans of British bands, and we have recently discovered a new amazing band out of Leeds.  Give a listen to “Saint,” the first single by Peakes, and let us know what you think.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Groovetonics music is music that makes you move, and Ellee Ven is the mistress and creator of this genre.  Check out her latest video “Sun Up,” featuring rapper Prodéje.  This should help you get over the Monday blues.

Here’s another discovery that comes courtesy of multiple LA Music Critic award winners Lovers & Poets.  Birds and Arrows are friends of theirs who have recently moved to the west coast, and we are sure glad they did.  Get your Monday rocking with this groove.

Speaking of Lovers & Poets, we’ll close out this edition with the latest from lead singer Shannon Hurley, off her recently released album New Day.  Check out her video for “Number One” – if this one doesn’t put you in a good mood, nothing will.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it LA Music Critic Awards Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Carrie Lane, Echo Underground, Breaking Grass

We discovered a few more June releases that were submitted recently, so we thought we’d get them reviewed before we announced the LA Music Critic Award nominations for the first half of 2017 on Tuesday.  We think you’ll like this eclectic group of indie musicians.

Artist NameCarrie Lane

Album NameCalifornia Freaks

Label:  FACTION Entertainment

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Florida Keys; 2.  Drowning; 3.  If I Can’t be with You; 4.  Think About It 

Publicist:  Total Assault

Review:  We discovered Carrie Lane when she was featured by Balcony TV, and we instantly took a liking to this young indie artist.  Now that her latest EP has been released, we have even more to love.  She has a sweet sound and a voice that rises above the music to connect with our auditory senses.  The four-song EP is simply too short, and we can’t wait until she releases a full length album.  This is the kind of music that deserves to be on the radio instead of the usual drivel.  Her songs are thoughtful while at the same time fun to listen and dance to.  We think that she’s gonna be on the music scene for quite a while.  Our favorite track is the one we heard on Balcony TV, “If I Can’t be with You.”

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you grab this one while you still can.  Stream it on Spotify and then purchase it from iTunes.

Artist NameEcho Underground

Album NameVows

Label:  Self released

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Have a Little Faith in Love; 2.  Let it Linger; 3.  Fell for You; 4.  Vows; 5.  Find you Again 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Echo Underground is a side project of one of LA’s best rock bands, Sleep Machine.  Composed of vocalist Alisha Zalkin and guitarist/bassist Dan Kalisher, the project is named after Kalisher’s recording studio.  The EP is an acoustic throwback to the music that brought them together, and led to their recent marriage.  It is smartly written, with amazing guitar riffs and perfect harmonies between Zalkin and Kalisher.  It is the ultimate tribute to the power of love, and we adore them for sharing it with us.  Zalkin shines on the first track, while Kalisher shows his stuff on the third track.  It is a wonderful EP to listen to on repeat.

Recommendation: Get it now!  This one is a true keeper and will become one of your most treasured musical memories.

Artist NameBreaking Grass

Album NameWarning Signs

Label:  Mountain Fever Records

Genre:  Bluegrass

Track Listing:  1.  Cold Rain; 2.  Stay; 3.  Nobody Knows; 4.  Sweet Ava; 5.  Warning Signs; 6.  House of Cards; 7.  The One She Adored; 8.  Short Shorts; 9.  Annie; 10.  Taking and Giving; 11.  Waking up with You; 12.  Faith Moved a Mountain 

Publicist:  East Public Relations

Review:  Not since Nickel Creek have we been this excited about a harmony singing bluegrass band.  The young men who make up Breaking Grass include Cody Farrar on guitar and vocals; Britt Sheffield on bass and vocals; Jody Elmore on banjo and vocals; Zach Wooten on mandolin and Tyler White on fiddle.  They are making bluegrass music cool again.  I grew up in Southern Virginia, where I was surrounded by some of the bluegrass greats like Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, The Osborne Brothers and Roy Clark, and Breaking Grass belongs in the same class as these legends.  Their music is an homage to the grand history of bluegrass with a modern twist, and deserve all the accolades that will surely be given their music and talents.  The harmonies are pitch perfect, and the soothing sounds of the fiddle, banjo and mandolin create the perfect musical background for life.  Favorite tracks include “Nobody Knows,” “Sweet Ava,” the title track, “House of Cards,” “The One She Adored,” and “Annie.”

Recommendation:  If you love great music, then this is a no brainer – Definitely Get It!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Hollywood Fringe Festival LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 24

Spent the last few days recuperating from our whirlwind trip to California for the Hollywood Fringe Festival, as well as our first winners showcase for the LA Music Critic Awards.  So happy to be back in Montana and ready to let you know about some of the great things happening in indie music.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL COMPLETES BANNER RUN

This year’s Festival, their eighth and biggest one to date, ran June 8 through June 25.  The event, which included 375 shows and more than 2,000 performances, culminating in a magnificent awards show that final night at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre which was attended by more than 800 people.  We gave out our first Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence.  Thanks to Fringe TV, here’s a compilation video of highlights from the awards show.

KELLY McGRATH RELEASES NEW SINGLE

Former Los Angeles and now Nashville based singer-songwriter Kelly McGrath just released her latest single on iTunes on June 30.  Through the first 24 hours, this new song was her most downloaded single on iTunes – way to go indie music!  If you want to grab a copy for yourself, here’s the link.

NEW MUSIC

Megan Flechaus is an amazing artist who is primed to burst onto the indie music scene.  She is currently working on her next album project, and recently released her new single, “What We’ve Got” under the band name FlecHaus.  Let us know what you think.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Kris Angelis recently broke into the Top 10 on iTunes when she released her latest EP Heartbreak is Contagious.  This is her new single from that EP, and we think it rocks.  Let us know what you think.

The Spider Accomplice has made a lot of noise in the past couple of years, garnering six LA Music Critic Awards.  They are well on their way to more kudos with this lyric video for their tune “Atmosphere.”  Forget your Monday blues and get your rock on!

Last but not least this week, check out this video from DJ Polique, which features Jacob Luttrell (indie musician and hit songwriter for Enrique Iglesias, Flo Rida, Sia, Pitbull), as well as Snoop Dog and Follow Your Instinct.  We think it may be the biggest hit of the summer.