Get it or forget it – Andrew Sheppard, Blind Lemon Pledge, James Scott Bullard, Cousin Earth, ANML

We’re back with our first Get it or Forget it article for the month of May.  The deadline for review requests to be considered for an LA Music Critic Award for the first half of 2018 is May 31, so we will be working hard to get everything reviewed by then, since we will need to concentrate on the Awards and the Hollywood Fringe Festival during the month of June.

PUBLICISTS:  Because of the recent influx of review requests sent after the release date, we have instituted some new procedures.  Our goal is to always publish a review during the week that it is being released.  If we get the request at least two weeks in advance, it helps a lot.  However, if we receive a request after the release date, that request will be slotted into our schedule as time permits.  We think this is the only fair way to timely complete our review requests.  Please drop us a line at lamusiccritic@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Artist Name:  Andrew Sheppard

Album Name:  Steady Your Aim

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Country

Track Listing:  1.  Take a Walk With Me; 2.  Steady Your Aim; 3.  Red Wine & White Roses; 4.  Here at the Bottom; 5.  Travel Light and Carry On; 6.  Standin’ Tall; 7.  Not my Kind; 8.  Lies as Cheap as Whiskey; 9.  Holy Water; 10.  Further Away

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  The sound is rich and full and the vibe is classic country.  The vocals are smooth and pure, and full of emotion.  The songs are well crafted, with the perfect instrumentation.  This sophomore album is an instant classic, with songs that are ripe for radio and placement opportunities.  We really love this Idaho country singer-songwriter, and hope that he sticks around for quite a while.  Our favorite cuts are “Take a Walk With Me,” “Red Wine & White Roses,” “Not my Kind,” “Lies as Cheap as Whiskey,” “Holy Water,” and “Further Away.”

Recommendation:  This is a definite addition for any true classic country lovers.  Get this one.

Artist Name:  Blind Lemon Pledge

Album Name:  Evangeline

Label:  Ofeh Records

Genre:  Acoustic Blues/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Buley’s Farm; 2.  Jennie Bell; 3.  Brimstone Joe; 4.  Midnight Assignation; 5.  Go Jump the Willie; 6.  The Language of Love; 7.  Ham and Eggs; 8.  How can I Still Love You; 9.  You had me at Goodbye; 10.  Evangeline

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  He’s back.  We were truly impressed with his last release, and super excited to check out his latest.  Like his previous release, Evangeline is chock full of acoustical greatness, with some new twists.  “Buley’s Farm” is an acoustic field holler aka “chain gang song,” using a cigar box guitar, and is as down home as you can get.  The second track, “Jennie Bell,” is a folk ballad, smooth, sweet and soulful.  He then shifts gears with “Brimstone Joe,” a funky New Orleans-style blues tune, which transitions perfectly into “Midnight Assignation,” a rocking slide guitar similar to the Allman Brothers Band.  “Go Jump the Willie” is a jumping jive tune that will definitely get you on your feet, while “Language of Love” has a tasty salsa vibe.  This musical journey continues throughout the remainder of the album, from a Cole Porterish show tune to jazz to folk before returning to his roots origin on the title cut.

Recommendation:  Your library is not complete without the latest from Blind Lemon Pledge.  We highly recommend you Get this one and every other way he’s done.

Artist Name:  James Scott Bullard

Album Name:  Full Tilt Boogie

Label:  Big Mavis Music

Genre:  Country/Americana

Track Listing:   1,  Lord Have Mercy; 2.  Wicked Ways; 3.  All to Pieces; 4.  Hey, Hey Mama; 5.  Warpath; 6.  Jesus, Jail, or Texas; 7.  Evil Lovin’; 8.  Leavin’ on my Mind; 9.  The Next Year; 10.  Back to You

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  This is upbeat Americana/Country music with a Southern Rock edge, perfect for summer parties.  It is guaranteed to get you on the dance floor, especially “Wicked Ways” and “All to Pieces.”    The good times keep coming with “Hey, Hey Mama” (with its funky organ), “Jesus, Jail, or Texas,” “Evil Lovin” (with its amazing blues vibe), “Leavin’ on my Mind” (a driving two-step), ” The Next Year” (a fun two-step in the style of Clint Black’s “Nothing but the Taillights”), and “Back to You” (with its Allman Brothers band feel.  This album is great from start to finish and this artist belongs on country radio.

Recommendation:  Don’t think twice.  Get this one now.

Artist Name:  Cousin Earth

Album Name:  Human Music

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Peculiar Patterns; 2.  I Got This; 3.  Train Luck; 4.  Super Fun Laser Beams; 5.  Daily Wet Rock; 6.  Puerto Rican Pancakes; 7.  Alive; 8.  When the Dinosaurs Come Back From Outer Space; 9.  Keep On (Show me the Numbers Ian); 10.  Capricorn on the Cob

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  They bill themselves as a progressive ukulele rock band, and you have to hear it to believe it.  The vocal harmonies are to die for, and the interesting sound of the ukulele, bass and drums provides a moving, upbeat vibe that makes it impossible to sit still, especially for “Peculiar Patterns” and “I Got This.”  After stumbling with “Train Luck,” they return strong on “Super Fun Laser Beams” with an amazing shredding ukulele riff that rivals anything you’ve heard on electric guitar before shifting gears with “Daily Wet Rock” and “Puerto Rican Pancakes” (which has a cool Latin/Ska feel that will truly move your feet).  They come back with a funky sound on “Alive” before blowing your mind with their final three tracks.

Recommendation:  This one is different enough that it deserves a place in your musical library.  We recommend you Get it.

Artist Name:  ANML

Album Name:  RELEASE!

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Singer-songwriter Pop

Track Listing:  1.  IT’S OVER; 2.  Chemicals; 3.  Face to the Pavement; 4.  I Meant Well; 5.  Stronger Now; 6.  IT’S NOT OVER . . .  YET

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  ANML is pissed at the inequalities of the current landscape and the abuses of power, and has decided to be the voice for the voiceless, becoming a modern day protester in song, much like MILCK but with a harder edge.  You definitely need to listen to this EP with an open mind, because she will challenge your beliefs and encourage you to rise up and help those that truly need help.  The central and strongest of these songs is “Face to the Pavement,” which cries out about police brutality.  These songs are not for the faint of heart, but those with the desire to help right the wrongs and make our society better.  We hope that her songs reach their audience, because they needed to be written.

Recommendation:  Get this one and hearken to the message.