Happy Hump Day! Really looking forward to the next three days of great music. In the meantime, here are four more reviews to get you closer to the weekend.
Artist Name: Dead Rock West
Album Name: More Love
Label: Omnivore Records
Genre: Alt-Country/Rock
Track Listing: 1. More Love; 2. Boundless Fearless Love; 3. Stereo; 4. Radio Silence; 5. Nail Gun; 6. All This Time; 7. Singing on the Telephone; 8. Waiting Patiently; 9. Darkness Never Tells; 10. Bleeding Blue; 11. Tell me Goodbye; 12. Bring it on Home to Me
Publicist: MSO PR
Review: Dead Rock West is a dynamic duo composed of Cindy Wasserman and Frank Lee Drennen whose vocal harmonies and musicianship are raising the bar for Americana music. On More Love, they have combined with producer John Doe of X, as well as having D.J. Bonebrake of X, lead guitarist Elliot Easton of The Cars and pedal steel maestro Greg Leisz in their studio band. The result is a well-crafted Americana masterpiece that will surely become the standard by which future Americana albums will be judged. The album includes 11 originals with the central theme of love, plus an impressive cover of the Sam Cooke classic song “Bring it on Home to Me.” The overall sound is reminiscent of 70’s country and 80’s soul, with most of the album radio ready, including their first single, “Boundless Fearless Love.” We also really love the title track, “Stereo,” “All This Time,” “Waiting Patiently,” “Bleeding Blue” (with its obvious Doors influence), and their Sam Cooke cover.
Recommendation:
Artist Name: Jefferson Ross
Album Name: Live at Hillbilly Haiku
Label: Deep Fried Discs
Genre: Americana
Track Listing: 1. Intro/Two Horses; 2. Arvin; 3. Slap it On; 4. Soul is Made of Broken Things; 5. Dunwoody Train; 6. Trying not to Lose my Mind; 7. House of the Lord; 8. Family Drama; 9. Isle of Hope; 10. 77 Lime Green Cadillac Hearse; 11. Confederate Jasmine; 12. Yesterday’s Paper; 13. Stories; 14. Encore/Not the Thunder
Publicist: Broken Jukebox Media
Review: Jefferson Ross has a true musical legacy that began as a guitarist for Jimmy Swaggart, included stints as a staff songwriter for Curb Records and a studio musician and band member for Terri Clark until culminating in a proud indie artist that has found his own voice. This live album features songs pulled from his four previous albums, and gives the listener a taste of the awesomeness that is part of Ross’ concert performance. His songs are full of descriptive lyrics that tell stories in the style of Randy Travis. But it is the rich baritone voice of Ross that truly sets his songs apart from his peers. Every song on this album is simply amazing and gives concrete proof of why he is such a great artist. After listening to his live album, we can only hope that we get to experience a Ross concert. Until that happens, this album will have to tide us over.
Recommendation: For those of you who love the concert experience, but don’t live close enough to get there, this album is a worthy substitute. We highly recommend you go Get it.
Artist Name: Fernando Perdomo
Album Name: The Golden Hour
Label: Forward Motion Records
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Track Listing: 1. Sunset (intro); 2. Sleep; 3. Spotlight Smile; 4. Look at the Moon; 5. The Light; 6. Here With Me; 7. Sunset; 8. Love Loss Repeat; 9. I Feel (Therefore I Am); 10. When You’re Next to Me; 11. The Golden Hour; 12. Fine; 13. Gold
Publicist: Forward Motion Music Group
Review: If you ever needed to musically describe that magical period when the sun is setting for the day, then Fernando Perdomo’s The Golden Hour would be the perfect vehicle. Already one of the best musicians in Los Angeles, and an artist that has played for a plethora of the greats, Perdomo can now add his spotless songwriting and musicianship as a solo artist. He wrote 12 of the album’s 13 tracks by himself, and co-wrote the 13th song (“Look at the Moon”) with Jordan Zevon, son of the late great Warren Zevon. The album captures the spirit of 1970’s California, and is worthy of industry attention and radio airplay. Put this one on repeat and you can’t go wrong.
Recommendation: Fernando Perdomo should be on everyone’s desert island list of albums. We highly suggest you Get it as soon as it is available on August 17 at his album release show at the Hotel Cafe.
Artist Name: SouthScope
Album Name: The Hindsight
Label: A&R Records
Genre: Alternative Rock
Track Listing: 1. Lockdown; 2. Hindsight; 3. Selfless; 4. Burden
Publicist: The A&R Department
Review: Australian siblings Leon, Tyrone and Ruby Stevens created something intensely amazing when they decided to join their collective talents and form SouthScope in 2016. The three share in the vocal duties on songs lovingly written by Leon, while Tyrone and Ruby compose the rhythm section on drums and bass, respectively. All four songs on this EP are very worthy of industry attention, and belong on American radio now. The band’s sound is full of life and energy, especially the band’s first single, “Selfless.” We think these guys will become a force in the alternative rock community in no time at all, and can hardly wait for their full length album.
Recommendation: If you like the sound of sibling harmonies, coupled with energetic musicianship, then you need to Get this EP.