Category: Artists Worth Checking Out

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews

Get it or forget it – Earthquake Lights, Berlin Taxi, Conor Donohue, Safari Room, Jeffrey Halford and the Healers

Happy New Music Friday!  We hope you had a great week and are getting ready for the weekend.  Here are five albums that dropped today to get  you in the weekend mood.

Artist Name:  Earthquake Lights

Album Name:  Distress Signals

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazzy Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Moonlight; 2.  The Eight – One; 3.  May Day; 4.  Friends of Mine; 5.  We Will Never be the Same; 6.  Open Ocean; 7.  This is as Far as you Go; 8.  So Far no Luck; 9.  Transmission; 10.  Were you Listening

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Earthquake Lights have a brilliant indie rock sound that they blend with jazz and soul to create their own special blend.  The music goes down smooth and should be a multi-genre hit as it has the flexible to be heard on several different kinds of radio stations.  This is music to chill to, to get ready to and is perfect for daily living mediations and reflection.  This is music that can stay in the background 24-7 and you will never tire of it.  If this is the quality they put into their debut, we can only imagine how great the next one will be.

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one.

Artist Name:  Berlin Taxi

Album Name:  Contract

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Synth Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Everybody Changes; 2.  Middle Man; 3.  Backroads; 4.  Last Night; 5.  Level with Me

Publicist:  WolfieVibes Publicity

Review:  We introduced  you to Berlin Taxi back in February when we featured their video for “Last Night.”  They were back again in our Ten Great Singles of March with “Everybody Changes.”  Needless to say, we are happy for the chance to hear three more songs from this amazing band, who is taking synth pop to an entirely new level.  Hop on board this retro train, and let’ boogie, especially to those last two tracks.

Recommendation:  Go Get it.

Artist Name:  Conor Donohue

Album Name:  Let Love Contaminate

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Roots Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Let Love Contaminate; 2.  Getting Better; 3.  Conversations; 4.  The Garden; 5.  Lost Weekend; 6.  Hedonist Glow; 7.  Gasoline; 8.  White Noise; 9.  Milk, Blood & Traffic Signals; 10.  Terrified Moon

Publicist:  WolfieVibes Publicity

Review:  Conor Donohue may have been raised on Long Island, but his time in South Carolina and New Orleans has transformed this singer-songwriter into a troubadour of all things roots rock.  You can feel the South Carolina breeze that brought us such treasures as Shovels and Rope and Alabama, and the NOLA influence that sets that sound free.  This album hits the ground running on that title track and never lets us, delivering a album that is great from start to finish and worthy of repeated listens.  Yo can’t go wrong with this one.

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one!

Artist Name:  Safari Room

Album Name:  OOKO Session (Live)

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Glass Box; 2.  Vices; 3.  Around the Bend

Publicist:   Self-promoted

Review:  What sets this indie record apart from its peers is the simultaneous release of both audio and video versions of each song.   The band recorded these songs live to show their growth as artists, and to spotlight one song from each of their prior releases.  Recording live is a gutsy move because playing the songs acoustically often reveals flaws in the songs themselves.  Thank goodness there are no such flaws in these three gems, and this band shows that their live performance is just as good as what they do in the studio.  We think you’ll want to hear these three songs on repeat.  Our only critique is that the vocals need a little more punch so they stay on top of the instrumentals.  All in all, this is a worthy effort.

Recommendation:  Grab this one today.

Artist Name:  Jeffrey Halford & the Healers

Album Name:  West Towards South

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  West Toward South; 2.  Deeper Than Hell; 3.  Dead Man’s Hand; 4.  Willa Jean; 5.  Three-Quarter Moon; 6.  A Town Called Slow; 7.  Sea of Cortez; 8.  Gallows; 9.  Geronimo; 10.  Ballad of Ambrose and Cyrus

Publicist:  Miles High Productions

Review:  Jeffrey Halford & the Healers have long been a favorite of this blog, having earned two LA Music Critic Award nominations (Best CD Group and Best Roots/Americana Band) for the first half of 2017.  They’re back with their latest offering, West Towards South, and they just pick up where they left off.  The title track is done spoken word style, reminiscent of Shawn Mullins‘ “Lullaby.”  Halford returns to his singing on “Deeper Than Hell,” providing perfect rhymes that paint vivid word pictures over an electrifying musical soundscape.  If Americana music is your thing and you love an artist that can create memorable stories, then Jeffrey Halford & the Healers belong at the top of your list.

Recommendation:  This one is a must for your collection – run out and Get it.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Woman’s Hour, Nominjin, Bony Macaroni, Leslie Becker, Eden Espinosa

Happy Wednesday – it’s our longest day, and we’re thankful to have such delicious music to wile away the hours.  We hope you continue to enjoy our reviews, and we’ll keep bring them unless you tell us to stop.  Sit back and enjoy these next five artists.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Although started on Wednesday, this article is being completed on Thursday.

Artist Name:  Woman’s Hour

Album Name:  Ephyra

Label:  Practise Music

Genre:  Indie

Track Listing:  1.  Don’t Speak; 2.  From Eden to Exile Then Into Dust; 3.  I Can’t Take you Seriously; 4.  Luke; 5.  Mirrorball; 6.  Heathen; 7.  It’s a Blast; 8.  Removal of Hope

Publicist:  Practise Music

Review:  We introduced them to you back in February when we featured their single “Luke.”  This amazing London-based trio is a band in flux, having already broken up once, and their future remains in doubt.  What’s not in doubt is the legacy they have left with their amazing music, a dreamy and delicious mix of pop, ambient, electronic and other elements of indie music.  You will not soon forget their sound, regardless of whether or not this is their swan song.  Listen to every track a few times and you will discover exquisite nuances each time.  This one is truly special.

Recommendation:  Definitely add this one to your collection.

Artist Name:  Nominjin

Album Name:  Free Soul

Label:  Radonai Records

Genre:  R&B

Track Listing:  1.  Kiss me at Midnight; 2.  Eternal Romance; 3.  If They Knew You; 4.  Woman Like Me

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  We introduced this Mongolian princess to you back in January when we featured “Kiss me at Midnight” in our Ten Great Singles from December, which went on to become a smash hit for her in Europe.  We are so happy to be able to bring you three more great songs from her.  The EP kicks off with “Kiss Me,” which will compel you to hit the dance floor, with the sound that combines the best of Bollywood and American disco.  The mood changes on “Eternal Romance,” which is a slow and sexy R&B song that will leave you in heat.  “If They Knew You” is likewise a smooth jam that is more on the jazzy side of the house, but no less incredible.  The EP closes with the upbeat “Woman Like Me,” and leaves us with hope that this phenomenon will continue.

Recommendation:  Go Get it.

Artist Name:  Bony Macaroni

Album Name:  Bony Macaroni

Label:  BERT Music

Genre:  Punk

Track Listing:  1.  Piece of Shit; 2.  Doom; 3.  Bony the Philosopher; 4.  France; 5.  Stranger Feeling

Publicist:  TCBYML

Review:  As soon as the first song started playing, I had to look again because it almost sounded like Flogging Molly, with a touch of Fun. thrown in for good measure. The Dutch punk band Bony Macaroni has obviously been heavily influenced by those bands, and it permeates every song on this amazing EP, which breathes new life into the punk genre, allowing it to cross genres and become more appealing to a larger cross-section of the music-loving public.  They totally shift gears on the third and fourth tracks, and sound closer to the Plain White Ts and/or Snow Patrol.  Other than the occasional explicit language, this one would be a fun additional at work.

Recommendation:  This one is worthy of your collection.

Artist Name:  Leslie Becker

Album Name:  Taboo

Label:  AP Music Group

Genre:  AAA/Adult Contemporary

Track Listing:  1.  Taboo; 2.  Slow Burn; 3.  Confidential; 4.  I Don’t See You; 5.  More Than All You Got

Publicist:  Crawford Promo

Review:  Leslie Becker is what they call a Triple Threat – she can act, sing and dance, and has done so on and off stage.  Her first single, “Slow Burn,” made it to #4 on the Billboard Hot AC Charts, and just a casual listen will have you hooked.  The songs are short and sweet but pack plenty of punch, especially “Confidential.”  “I Don’t See You” is an anthemic ballad that would be a great fit as a placement in film or television.  She saves the best for last, and her final track is radio friendly and commercially viable.  What a rocking way to end the EP.  Can’t wait for the next one.

Recommendation:  Definitely worthy of your attention.

Artist Name:  Eden Espinosa

Album Name:  Revelation

Label:  Borderlight Entertainment, Inc.

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Deadly Sin; 2.  Easy; 3.  Master of my Life; 4.  Bed for 2; 5.  Superman; 6.  The Answer; 7.  Ready; 8.  Keep On; 9.  The Night; 10.  Fireworks & Stars

Publicist:  Crawford Promo

Review:  While you may not recognize the name, you have definitely heard Eden Espinosa, who played the green-skinned witch Elphaba in the Broadway show, Wicked, taking over for Idina Menzel for the Los Angeles and San Francisco runs.  Her vocals are incredible and her musical style is radio-friendly pop.  In addition to her multitude of amazing roles on Broadway, she could be a huge pop star as well.  At any rate, this collection also shows her creative side, as she wrote eight of the ten songs on this, her sophomore album.  We simply can’t get enough of her voice and her musical style, and will be  playing Revelation on repeat for the next few days.

Recommendation:  Drop everything and go Get this one – it just might help you when you try “Defying Gravity.”

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Aqualung, Marlene Oak, Tony Monaco, Saneit, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

It’s been a very strange day here in Montana.  We’ve gone from rain to snow and back to rain again, as winter continues its relentless quest for domination  At least it will never overcome the power of music, and we have five very different artists for your review today.

Artist Name:   Aqualung

Album Name:   Additional Futures

Label:  AllPoints

Genre:  Indie

Track Listing:  1,  All she Wore, she Was; 2.  Complicated; 3.  Fingermouse; 4.  Use Me; 5.  Blues

Publicist:   Practise Music

Review:  Until last month, we hadn’t heard from Matt Hales aka Aqualung since we last saw him perform at the RockDrive 2010 fundraiser at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.  We got the chance to hear him again when we featured his song “Complicated” in one of our February Monday Mashups.  As we mentioned then, “Complicated” is an amazing song and a true indication of the greatness that is Aqualung and what you will find in the five songs of Additional Futures, the EP sequel to his 2015 album 10 Futures.  Every one of them is amazing, and this EP definitely deserves to be played on repeat.  So glad to have Aqualung back 🙂

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one!

Artist Name:  Marlene Oak

Album Name:  Silver Moon

Label:  Amuse

Genre:  Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Silver Moon; 2.  How can I Move On; 3.  In the Evening; 4.  Everyone; 5.  Come Home

Publicist:  Effective Immediately PR

Review:  We introduced you to Sweden’s own Marlene Oak back in early December when we featured her single, “In the Evening.”  We also featured the live video of that single in our final Monday Mashup of 2018.  To say we love that song would be an understatement, and our affection bubbles over to the other four songs on this EP.  We really love the horns on the title track and “Come Home.”  Oak is a treasure to her native Sweden, and we would like to share in her amazing talent here in the States.  Listen to this one a few times, and we think you’ll wholeheartedly agree with our assessment.

Recommendation:  Run and Get it.

Artist Name:  Tony Monaco

Album Name:  The Definition of Insanity

Label:  Chicken Coup/Summit Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Cars Trucks Buses; 2.  Ceora; 3.  Root Down; 4.  Never Let me Go; 5.  Quando Quando Quando; 6.  Non Ti Scordar Di Me; 7.  Awa Athar; 8.  Last Date; 9.  Truckin’; 10.  Triste; 11.  A Son for You

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review:  There is nothing like the sound of progressive jazz, especially when the sound includes the Hammond B3.  Tony Monaco has developed a reputation as a Master of the B3, and he pulls out all the stops on this album, an eclectic mix of songs written by others.  Amazingly, all of this great music comes from only a trio of musicians, albeit they are three of the best in the world, including guitarist Derek Dicenzo and drummer Tony McClung.  Monaco’s wife Asako, a gifted pianist in her own right, also contributes her talents to “Never Let me Go” while Monaco contributes his vocals.  This is truly a class act.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one if you love jazz.

Artist Name:  Saneit

Album Name:  Crush

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  R&B

Track Listing:  1.  Sprung; 2.  One Desire; 3.  I’m Your Baby Tonight (remix); 4.  Candy Store; 5.  I Said So; 6.  Sprung Remix

Publicist:  Shannon Brown

Review:  Saneit is one of Chicago’s most promising artist, a rising R&B star that shines brightly with her soaring vocals and her perfect understanding and mastery of this genre.  She is a voice that sounds fresh yet familiar, and you are probably thinking she definitely belongs on the radio.  We couldn’t agree more.  Enjoy these tunes and hopefully she’ll be back soon with more candy.  So glad that she has a Crush on us.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re into urban/R&B.

Artist Name:  My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

Album Name:  In the House of Strange Affairs

Label:  SleazeBox Records

Genre:  Industrial/Electronic Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Gold to Grey; 2.  Forbidden Saints; 3.  Treat Street; 4.  The Chains of Fame; 5.  Strange Affairs; 6.  It’s me Holly; 7.  Studio 21; 8.  Year of the Klown; 9.  Royal Skull; 10.  Hanging Hearts; 11.  Under a Crown; 12.  Am I Dead

Publicist:  TAG Publicity

Review:  My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult (TKK) sprang from Chicago’s Wax Trax! Records and helped spawn the industrial music scene, along with label mates Front 242, Ministry and KMFDM.  We had the wonderful opportunity to learn all about them at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival screening of Industrial Accident:  The Story of Wax Trax! Records.  The music of TKK has continued to evolve, and today they are more closely attuned to electronic rock, a genre heavily influenced by disco and funk which includes spoken word samples from a variety of B movies.   Their music has been praised and used in countless movies due to the amazing cinematic style.  Trust us when we tell you that this is one of the most unique bands you will ever hear.   They could easily become a guilty pleasure.  We look forward to see how far these songs reach.

Recommendation:  If you love the dramatic in your music, then TKK is the band for you.  Run out and Get this one.

 

 

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

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 14

What a crazy conclusion to this year’s March Madness – I never would have picked Virginia and Texas Tech as the two best in the country who will fight tonight for the National Championship.  At least baseball is more predictable, and my Brewers continue to dominate the division before heading out to the west coast to play the Angels and Dodgers.

Speaking of the west coast, we are making our final preparations for our trip to California at the end of April for the 10th annual Hollywood Fringe Festival.  We have an AirBnB in central Hollywood near Theatre Row, and can hardly wait to begin rehearsals for my solo show, Livin’ the Dream (a journalistic journey), which opens with a preview show on June 7 at studio/stage in Hollywood.  We have launched a GoFundMe page, and have begun to receive donations and could really use your help.  Please give if you can or at least share our need with your friends and family.

We are also making final preparations for the third annual LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase on June 18 at the Mint LA, which will honor Women in Entertainment.  Our lineup for the night includes Emily Zuzik, Dree Mon, Constanza Herrero, Amilia K. Spicer, The HawtThorns, Brigitte Rios Purdy, Fanny Walked the Earth, Manda Mosher, The Spider Accomplice and Lawrence Lebo, with a very special appearance by Jordan Siwek.  Tickets are $10 in advance through PayPal and $13 at the door if there is space available.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  Please buy your tickets now and help us support women and Sweet Relief.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes from Ugandan Suzan Mutesi, and we love the rhythm  and vibe of this cool song, and definitely agree, “This Feeling is Mutual.”

Our world-wide tour next takes us to Greece for the sweet and soulful sound of Eleni Drake and her song, “4.”  We think it’s definitely a “10.”

We return to Dallas, Texas for the debut single of the amazing Sydney Cope, who has a sound somewhere between Justin Timberlake and Ariana Grande.  We think she hits the nail on the head with this one, appropriately titled “Watch Out for Me.”

From the USA to the UK we travel for our fourth single from a singer-songwriter who mixes folk, pop, reggae and more into her amazing style.  Lucy Gallant has it all in her song “Not Normal,” and we simply love her style.

We close out our Women in Entertainment themed New Singles section with another debut single, this time from Cincinatti-based singer songwriter Shannon Garcia, who teams up with Josiah Wolf of Why? for “Spooky Action at a Distance.”  We would rather keep this one close to our heart.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video continues our world-wide tour as it was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa.  Check out this beautiful lyric video by Saul City for their song “Let Go.”

Next up is a band that reminds us of the sweet Americana sound of Suzanne Santo and honeyhoney.  We are pleased to introduce you to Boston-based Honeysuckle and their song, “Old Firestarter,” with its simple videography that so beautiful tells the story of the song.

Huge props to our next artist, Savannah Pope, for her ingenious portrayal of her song, “Rock n’ Roll No More.”  She truly brings the rock on this one, so we have to respectfully disagree that “nobody loves rock n’ roll no more.”  She definitely takes us to church on this one.

We introduced you to the song “Closer” by DAYLA in our Ten Great Singles of March article.  We are so glad to now share the stunning video of the same song, and think that you will fall in love with this amazing artist, just like we have.

We close out this week’s Monday Mashup with Dutch pop star Maya Lavelle‘s intriguing video for her song, “Dancing with a Bottle.”  We introduced her to you back in February.  She uses text messages to convey the lyrics for the video, which was shot in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and makes us want to hang out with her.  Let us know what you think.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews

Get it or forget it – RJ Chesney, Luke Sital-Singh, The Suitcase Junket, Chris Koza, Ecce Shnak

Welcome back to New Music Friday.   We are pleased to present this five new albums dropping today, and love sharing brand new music with you.  This week the artists are primarily domestic, but no less entertaining, and we hope you enjoy broadening your horizons.

Artist Name:  RJ Chesney

Album Name:  Amateur Revolution

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Country/Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Splendors of This Earth; 2.  Pull Down the Moon; 3.  A Place Just for Me; 4.  Amateur Revolution; 5.  Do you Remember Me?; 6.  Proud of you Child; 7.  No Reason Left to Stay; 8.  Da Mayor is on the Scene; 9.  Death, an old Widows Peek; 10.  Baby You’re not Dead; 11.  Never Give up on Love; 12.  Rise up and Sing

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  RJ Chesney grew up in the deep South and has kept those roots in his music.  He hooked up with Norway’s HP Gundersen in 2015, and the two became friends, leading to this album.  Gundersen not only co-wrote all but one of the songs on the album, but he also produced it and contributed electric and acoustic guitar to the mix.  Chesney does not have a good voice, but it fits for this type of music, which is very rootsy, twangy and folky.  If you love to hear old stories set to music, then this is the album for you.

Recommendation:  Worthy of your consideration.

Artist Name:  Luke Sital-Singh

Album Name:  A Golden State

Label:  Raygun Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Lover; 2.  Raise Well; 3.  Los Angeles; 4.  The Last Day; 5.  I Do; 6.  Silhouette; 7.  Almost Gone; 8.  Souvenir; 9.  Love is Hard Enough Without the Winter; 10.  Hearts Attach

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  We introduced you to this artist back in January when we featured the video for his amazing song, “Los Angeles.”  He is a pop singer-songwriter in the style of such Hotel Cafe’ stalwarts as Andy Grammar, Keaton Simons and Tony Lucca, and should do well in the LA indie music scene.  He voice is crisp and clear, and floats on the atmosphere created with his beautiful arrangements.  He has great potential, and his songs are extremely radio friendly, as well as great candidates for placement opportunities in film and television.  Watch this one!

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one today!

Artist Name:  The Suitcase Junket

Album Name:  Mean Dog, Trampoline

Label:  Signature Sounds

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  High Beams; 2.  Heart of a Dog; 3.  Everything I Like; 4.  Stay too Long; 5.  Gods of Sleep; 6.  Dreamless Life; 7.  Son of Steven; 8.  Dandelion Crown; 9.  Scattered Notes from a First Time Homebuyers Workshop; 10.  New York City; 11.  What Happened; 12.  Old Machine

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Lorenz aka The Suitcase Junket is simply amazing.  He has a great voice, writes impeccable songs, and knows how to tell a convincing story that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish.  It is by far one of the best albums to come out of 2019, and we believe there is a very successful future ahead for this artist.  This one is going on repeat while we listen for every nuance we can find.

Recommendation:  You simply MUST go Get this one!

Artist Name:  Chris Koza

Album Name:  Sleepwalkers Part 1

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Sleepwalkers; 2.  Anagram; 3.  White Lions; 4.  Music to Me; 5.  Hush; 6.  Red Cassette; 7.  Station Wagon Blues; 8.  Man of Stone; 9.  Hollywood Theatre; 10.  Where we Go

Publicist:  Youa Vang

Review:  Chris Koza is the consummate musician, crafting masterful songs from a myriad of sources.  On Sleepwalkers Part 1, he reinvents Americana music and shifts its focus from its rural beginnings to a more urban setting, keeping the vibe but making it more pop.  These are songs that would fit perfectly on Top 40 and college radio, as well as a plethora of placement opportunities.  This is an artist you will always remember, and enjoy the ride his songs take you on.  Put it on repeat and drink in the new Americana sound.  If you’re lucky enough to be in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, he will celebrate the release with a show on April 26 at the Parkway Theater.

Recommendation:  Drop everything and go Get this one!

Artist Name:  Ecce Shnak

Album Name:  Joke Oso

Label:  Records, Man Records

Genre:  Chamber Punk

Track Listing:  1.  Larry, Sleepover Friend; 2.  Spooky, Ruudplaad Homegirl; 3.  Xtina, a Foolish Prayer for the Broken Hearted, the Over-Pious and Queer Kids Worldwide; 4.  Drake’s Pictorial Aid; 5.  Harassment V:  18 Second Song; 6.  Harassment VI: Punctual Bir[d]thday Card; 7.  Harassment VII: One on Slav:  Party at Patrick Ewing’s Place; 8.  Harassment VIII: Finale:  Late Birthday Card; 9.  Dingleberry III:  One on Tito:  Trite Song; 10.  Dingleberry IV:  Finale:  Katy’s Wart

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Ecce Shnak is a seven piece art-rock collective based in New York City.  According to Billboard, their music incorporates “punk, ska, twee indie rock a la Belle & Sebastian, rubbery goofball funk in the tradition of Frank Zappa and crunching, Meshuggah-esque math metal — all liberally sprinkled with humor.”  Believe us when we tell you you have never experienced anything like them before.  The lyrics contain arcane references and inside jokes, with incredible musicianship in the arrangements.  You may scratch your head at their meaning, but you will listen to them over and over again because they are just that good.

Recommendation:  Go Get it!

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Short Shadows, Zephyranthes, Signals, Assassins, Susan Santos

We’re glad you all seemed to enjoy our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos lists we published yesterday.  Thanks for your visits to our blog and keep sharing.  We’re back today with another round of Get it or Forget it reviews, and hope you enjoy these diverse artists.

Artist Name:  Short Shadows

Album Name:  War Anecdotes from the Northern Suburbs

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  City Loop; 2.  Nothing Good Comes out of Preston; 3.  A Thornbury Story; 4.  That’s no Moon; 5.  Pentridge Blvd; 6.  Jackknife Casino; 7.  Autumn Haze; 8.  It’s Raining in the City; 9.  The Battle for Northcote; 10.  Don’t Stay Away too Long; 11.  Customer Service; 12.  Heartbreak Hockey Jerseys; 13.  Southside Girl; 14.  Sometime I Forget; 15.  The Novelty Wears Off

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  We introduced you to the incredible sound of Aussie Short Shadows when we featured his song “Nothing Good Comes out of Preston.”  The full album, which was recently released, continues the greatness of that song, adding more treasure to the trove, revealing this easily relatable artist is an excellent vocalist and songwriter.  Honestly, you can listen from start to finish and not get bored.  The stories keep you interested, and the horns truly raise the songs to a new level.  Please come and tour the U.S.

Recommendation:  Go Get this one!

Artist Name:  Zephyranthes

Album Name:  iii

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Psychedelic/Progressive Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Foam Sacrament; 2.  Fortune Teller; 3.  Alone in Stead; 4.  Telecommoner; 5.  Atomic en Masse

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This truly unique band comes out of Raleigh, NC, and uses the sounds of psychedelica and progressive rock to create its own brand of music that is totally different from its peers.  There are moments of greatness in their songs, but they do not have the continuity and impact of other indie rock bands.  While we cannot give them an unsensored thumbs up, we do think they are worthy of checking out and keeping track of.  They just might surprise us.

Recommendation:  Potential but not there yet.

Artist Name:  Signals

Album Name:  Signals

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  In the Middle of the Night; 2.  Move It; 3.  Take Care; 4.  Say You’ll be with me Tonight

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Signals could easily become a guilty pleasure.  Their music is fun and retro and full of blistering synth pop vibes, great vocals and a beat that compels you to dance.  The first single, “In the Middle of the Night,” deserves more radio airplay, and “Move It,” “Take Care” and “Say You’ll be with me Tonight” are equally enjoyable and worthy of industry attention.  This is a band on the cusp of greatness and we would love to see them go mainstream.  You can’t go wrong with this tasty appetizer.  We can hardly wait for a full-length to arrive.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one!

Artist Name:  Assassins

Album Name:  Confidence

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Time Away; 2.  Shout About It; 3.  Over my Head; 4.  Heartbeat

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:   Assassins was previously active from 1981-89 in the Melbourne pub scene before going dark.  The members hooked up again in 2015 and released their debut album in 2017.  They are back with their sophomore album, and the title tells it all.  This band oozes confidence, both in their incredible musicianship and their fresh take on the punk vibe.  These songs will hit home with their listeners as the band continues to find its way in the indie music scene.  We think they have the potential to make it, and look forward to hearing what comes next.

Recommendation:  Go get this one, especially if you love great rock.

Artist Name:  Susan Santos

Album Name:  No U Turn

Label:  TWH

Genre:  Blues Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Blind Woman; 2.  Slow Down; 3.  Fool Me; 4.  Shakin’ all Over; 5.  Freedom; 6.  Heaven or Hell; 7.  Dry River; 8.  Feeling Good; 9.  Green; 10.  In Trouble

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review: Susan Santos (not to be confused with Suzanne Santos of HoneyHoney) is an electrifying blues guitarist with an incredible and crystal clear voice that brings new life to blues rock.  Her music will thrill you like no other, and we can only imagine how magnificent she must be in concert – good enough that it earned her a European Blues Award for Best Musical Performance in 2018.  Every element of her sound is at the top of the food chain, and she deserves serious industry attention.  Her songs are perfect for multiple genres of radio airplay, and would make great placements in television and film.  Santos has a voice you won’t soon forget, and we bet you will be putting this one on repeat.

Recommendation:  Drop what you’re doing, run out to your favorite record store, and Get this one Today!

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Ten Amazing Videos Women in Entertainment

Ten amazing videos released in March 2019

March continued to show an influx in the release of music videos, and we received more than 200 requests. After posting 20 of them in our four Monday Mashup articles, we have combed through the rest of the submissions to pick the best 10, and present them to you now to close the book on March.

We kick it off with the rocking sound of Echo 2 Locate and their single “High.”  This one has everything you love in good rock videos – lights, action and an amazing female lead.  Enjoy.

Next up is Dutch band Eckhardt and the House, who invite extraterrestrials to visit in their song, “Humans,” a catchy pop song derived from an old Peruvian folk tune.

Our third video is an amazing cover of the classic Amy Winehouse tune, “Back to Black.”  The Electric Radio Kings have totally made it their own with their signature rock vibe, and we think this version is even better than the original.  What do you think?

With a mixture of jazz, trip-hop and neo-soul, Sariyah Idan creates music that chills and entertains.  She has just released a lyric video for her song, “You Got to Go,” and we love it, especially the amazing cinematography, which was mostly shot in Berlin as she was writing the song.  Enjoy this sweet treat.

Video number five is from Long Beach, California rock collective WARGIRL, and we love the retro feel of the song and the psychedelic vibe.  Check out “Mess Around.”

Country legend John Berry has just released a lyric video for “The Richest Man,” which he dedicates to his father.  It is so nice to have the honey-voiced Berry back, as his songs were at the top of the charts in the late 90s/early 00s.  We think this one will make you think of those you love who have passed away, and we likewise dedicate it to the memory of our Dad, who passed away in November 2017.

Our seventh video is hauntingly sweet and visually stunning, with amazing cinematography and the voice that reminds us of Marilyn Monroe.  Check out Luvia and her song, “Hunted.”  We previously shared the single version with you.

Next up is the absolutely beautiful voice of the amazing indie artist known as Callaghan Belle.  Check out the awesomeness of her song, “Dear Detroit.”  We think it will give a lift to your week.

We love our ninth video, which was shot on location at Sun Studios and other iconic locations in Memphis.  We love the growth in the band since we last reviewed them last September, and think you will love the sound of Lucky 757, featuring Matt Jordan on the piano.  Check out “Memphis Sun,” the video for the first single from their forthcoming album.

We close out the month with the video for “Umbrella Lovers,” which we featured as a single in mid-March.  Marty Brown is another country legend, and we are pleased to be able to support his music.  This is how country music is made.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Ten Great Singles Women in Entertainment

Ten great singles released in March 2019

March continued to show an influx in the release of singles, and we received more than 300 requests.  After posting 20 of them in our four Monday Mashup articles, we have combed through the rest of the submissions to pick the best 10, and present them to you now to close the book on March.

Our first single is the latest from Americana stalwarts Jangling Sparrows.  This Asheville, NC based band has consistently given us great music, and their latest single, “Estuaries,” is one of their best, with its strong roots rock feel.  Let us know what you think.

Next up is a young singer-songwriter from NYC with a golden voice and the amazing ability to melt your heart with his lyrics.  Check out Dante Palminteri and his latest single, “Miles Away.”

For single number three we travel to New Orleans for the Euro-based synthpop sound of Berlin Taxi.  This one will bring back a ton of memories because it sounds so familiar yet fresh.  Check out “Everybody Changes.”

Our fourth single is sweetness in song from the one and only Kensington Moore.  She melts our heart with her story of love lost, a topic we can all relate to, and does it with some of the hottest pop beats we have heard.  Don’t worry Kensington – you’ll never hear us say “I Don’t Like you Anymore.”

Next up is an up and coming songwriter from Hong Kong who has a distinctive rock and R&B sound and a keen approach to songwriting.  We love the chill feel of her single “The Ride,” and think that DBE definitely has a future in this business.

We kick off the second five with a dreamy pop song from London’s DAYLA.  We love the way this one makes us feel, and think you will love it as well.  Here’s “Closer,” her debut single.

Next up is an iconic duo from Torrance, California who possess that rare gift – familial harmonies.  Sisters Aly and AJ Michalka will steal your heart and take you to “Church” on their latest.  Don’t miss the chance to catch them on tour this summer.

Single number eight is a folk-pop song that belongs on the radio.  The vocals drip honey and the musical accompaniment will have you relaxed in no time at all.  Here’s Aussie Josh Alexander and his latest single, “Closing.”

Is it the 80s again?  No, but that decade definitely influenced the sound of Sweden’s Cat Princess, and you can hear it on their latest single, “Silver Socks.”

We close out this edition with the rocking roots sound of Conor Donohue and his single, “Getting Better,” off his forthcoming album Let Love Contaminate, which we will be reviewing later this month.

We’ll be back shortly with our Ten Amazing Videos list.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Black Cat Biscuit, Isa Bell, Paria, Charlie Dennard, Sonic Rade

We’re back with our first Get it or Forget it for the month of April, and have five interesting artists for you to check out.  Later this week watch for our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos articles, as well as our #NewMusicFriday edition of Get it or Forget it.  Let’s get going.

Artist Name:  Black Cat Biscuit

Album Name:  That’s How the Cookie Crumbles

Label:  Naked

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Train 66; 2.  Haunting Me; 3.  Sons of a Vampire; 4.  Parrot Woman; 5.  Ain’t got Nobody to Come Home; 6.  What I Really Need is You; 7.  He’s a Fool; 8.  Bad James; 9.  Hey Little Kiddy; 10.  I Don’t Know; 11.  So sad and Lonely; 12.  Goin’ Home

Publicist:  The Bluesbones

Review: This band may be from Belgium, but the have captured the American art forms of the blues to create a debut album that sets the bar high for subsequent projects.  Mixing rockabilly with the blues sound of Chicago and New Orleans, every blues lover will find a lot to love about this album.  The songs are fun and upbeat, even if they are the blues.  We think this band could easily compete in the US with their dynamic style, and hope that they will come to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge.

Recommendation:  Go Get this one.

Artist Name:  Isa Bell

Album Name:  Lightin’ Up Your Day

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Reggae/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Hypnotise the Time; 2.  All United; 3.  Don’t Say It …; 4.  Let it Go; 5.  Lightin’ up Your Day

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Isa Bell is a work of art – a beautiful woman with a golden voice and the ability to merge a jazz standards style with the chill factor of reggae.  Her voice is so classy you’d expect it to be singing by a piano in a smoky bar.  Once the reggae beat kicks in, your image changes and you expect her to be singing on an island somewhere.  We really love the ska feel of “Don’t Say It.”  She is one of the best discoveries we have made this year, and we think she has the goods to conquer the world.  We can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Recommendation:  This one is a priority – go Get it!

Artist Name:  Paria

Album Name:  Popsicle

Label:  Bøl Records

Genre:  R&B./Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Disappear; 2.  Summer Blind; 3.  Tragic; 4.  Casual

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  Paria has one of those voices that few pop singers have ever possessed – one that soars and climbs ever higher – like those of Minnie Ripperton and Mariah Carey.  You can feel the soul and R&B of these tracks, and they soothe your mind as they caress your ears and quickly get you in the mood.  We introduced you to her last September when we featured “Casual” in our Monday Mashup, and are glad that she’s come back with more.  We just want a full length album.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth your time – Get this one and chill.

Artist Name:  Charlie Dennard

Album Name:  Deep Blue

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  St. Charles Strut; 2.  Mojave; 3.  Wanderlust; 4.  Deep Blue; 5.  Trois Fois; 6.  Joe’s Crusade; 7.  Father

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review: Charlie Dennard is an amazing composer and pianist who is also the music director for the Cirque du Soleil show “Totem,” currently touring the European continent.  He has adopted New Orleans as his home, and his music reflects the musical heritage of that special city.  This is jazz music for jazz nerds.  It’s non-pretentious, primarily piano and jazz snare, and thoroughly chill.  Just add a glass of wine or your favorite mixed drink, sit back and relax, and take it all in – you will instantly feel the tension leave your body.

Recommendation:  This one is a must-have for all serious jazz lovers.

Artist Name:  Sonic Rade

Album Name:  Sonic Rade

Label:  VDM Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Lost Identity; 2.  Let’s Dream Tonight; 3.  Black Cloud; 4.  Queen of Hearts; 5.  Ink in the Water; 6.  Back to the Moon; 7.  In the Deep; 8.  American Eyes; 9.  All That we Breathe; 10.  Cloverfields; 11.  Believers; 12.  Indian Calling; 13.  Hollywood

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Sonic Rade is a Swiss indie pop/rock trio.  Their previous album garnered enough critical support to receive a first-round nomination for the 2016 Grammys, and their new one is no less worthy.  Their sound will bring back memories of bands like Depeche Mode and Duran Duran, and the band deserves serious industry attention, especially from college radio.  The album is deep with appropriate cuts, especially their first single, “Let’s Dream Tonight.”

Recommendation:  Grab it while it’s hot.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 13

It may be April Fool’s Day, but the quality of the music coming out of the indie community is no joke.  This month has five Mondays, so we have an extra opportunity to highlight outstanding singles and music videos.  Let’s get it going.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is a blast from the past.  Many of you fell in love with the sound of The Rembrandts, especially if you were fans of the television show, Friends.  Well the lads are making a comeback, courtesy of the fine folks at Blue Élan Records, and have released their first single, “How Far Would you Go?”

For our second single, allow us to introduce you to pronoun, an amazing one-woman band with an incredible pop sound.  Here’s the title track from her forthcoming album temporary insanity, which will be released in May.

If you like television theme music, then you will love our third single from Run Coyote.  We love the retro feel of 60s television on “The Chase.

Just when you think you’ve heard all the possible mash-up combinations along comes a band that mixes disco with metal.  They are actually quite good and go by the name Makes my Blood Dance.  Here is their first single, “Beaming Right Up.”  See you on the dance floor.

Our final single this week is from Jenny Tolman, an upcoming country songstress who was recently named as the Facebook Artist of the Day.  She shows why she was chosen on her latest single, “High Class White Trash.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Are you one of the countless fans that made Glee such a cultural phenomenon?  If you are, then our first video will definitely appeal to you.  It comes from Kevin McHale, who portrayed the affable wheelchair-bound character Artie Abrams.  On his first ever solo project, he has written an incredibly danceable song, “Help me Now,” and has created a lyric video for the tune.

Next up is a chill video from Erin K.  We love her sound and think you will dig it as well.  Here’s “Frame to Freeze.”

Our next band, The Happys, comes from the San Francisco area and bring back fun surf music with a hint of punk on their single “Cut the Rope.”

Our fourth video comes from goth rockers Skiver.  These guys will blow you away with a sound like an entire band of Adam Lamberts.  Here is their song “No Goodbyes.”  Rock on!

Our final video is a soothing tune from Elisa Kate which we think is the perfect segue to the week.  Enjoy the beauty of “Now or Never.”  See you soon.