Happy Thursday! Hope your week has been great. We had such a great time yesterday bringing you this column, and we’re excited to see what today holds, including the latest from another amazing female blues vocalist. Check these great artists out.
Artist Name: Lay Low Moon
Album Name: On This Day Last Year
Label: Battlement Records
Genre: Indie Folk
Track Listing: 1. Late July; 2. All Affirming; 3. Second Floor Apartment; 4. Knew; 5. On This Day Last Year; 6. Merideth; 7. Much Obliged; 8. Shadow on my Ceiling; 9. Without You; 10. The Bottle; 11. Simple Man; 12. Thru & Thru
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Lay Low Moon brings us a beautiful concept album about a love story with the release of On This Day Last Year. The sound is reminiscent of Plain White T’s and is perfect for radio, especially college radio. These songs should find a receptive audience as they are universal truths about meeting that special someone and the joy and heartbreak that often comes from a love affair. It’s not always happily ever after, and the band captures those emotions and shares them in a way that lets the listener know that they are not alone in their feelings. We are thrilled with their interpretation and presentation of these truths.
Recommendation: If you love indie music, then this is one of the better bands we have reviewed. We think this one will capture your heart and is worthy of multiple plays. Go out and Get it.
Artist Name: Lawrence Lebo
Album Name: Old School Girl
Label: On the Air Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. You’ve Got a Secret; 2. Old School Girl; 3. Stormy Monday; 4. Stop Shouting Your Business (explicit remix); 5. Give me a Try; 6. Bad to the Core; 7. Happy Anniversary, Baby (remix); 8. Stop Shouting Your Business (clean remix)
Publicist: Blind Raccoon
Review: Lawrence Lebo is one of the hidden treasures of the blues scene, and is bringing us her sixth album of original songs, six of which were written by Lebo. The other is a cover of T Bone Burnett‘s “Stormy Monday.” She has received critical acclaim for her vocals, and this new album will only strengthen her reputation while showcasing her Stax Records influences. She has also assembled some of the best musicians to aid her in this journey, including Larry David on organ, piano and harmonica and Tony Mandacchia on guitar and banjo, as well as Denny Croy on bass and Steve Mugalian on drums. Special guests include Phil Parlapiano (“Old School Girl”) and Sasha Smith (“Give me a Try” and “Bad to the Core”) on Hammond B-3, Carl Byron on accordion and Ed Eblen (“Old School Girl”) on drums. You can’t go wrong with any of the songs on this album, and will probably just put it on repeat so you can hear them again and again.
Recommendation: If you love the blues, then this is a must-have album. Get it now.
Artist Name: Dave Wells
Album Name: Dave Wells
Label: Self-released
Genre: Alt Rock
Track Listing: 1. Run Free; 2. Picasso’s Cloud; 3. Aching Hearts; 4. Cold Rusty Cage; 5. Cruel Little World; 6. Falling out of Love; 7. The Curse; 8. Monsters; 9. Dancing with Mirrors; 10. Not Tonight
Publicist: Heapsaflash
Review: On his debut album, Dave Wells delivers a strong, radio friendly collection of songs led by the dynamic “Run Free” and “Picasso’s Cloud.” Leading offing the album with these two amazing tracks makes the listener want to continue to hear the rest of the album, which is just as good as those first two all important tracks. This is an album worthy of multiple listens, and the perfect soundtrack for your next party. There is not a weak track on the album, and the music is moving, uplifting and just plain good. It is definitely time for this Australian artist to share his music with the world, and to make the trek to America, where we are sure he will find success.
Recommendation: You simply must Get this one – it’s that damn good.
Artist Name: A Very Special Episode
Album Name: Cut for Time
Label: Knuckle Down Records
Genre: Post punk/Shoe-gaze
Track Listing: 1. Gravity; 2. Still Here; 3. Crazy; 4. Invitation to Delete; 5. On our own Again
Publicist: Behind the Curtains Media
Review: Kasey Heisler, lead vocalist of A Very Special Episode, brings power and warmth to the musical sound of the band, and hits the ground running with “Gravity.” She definitely has one of the stronger voices in this genre, and is worth the price of admission just to hear her. This is an album that is prime for cross-over and radio airplay, especially on the burgeoning college radio scene. The energy and chemistry in their music should also play well in a live performance, and we would love the opportunity to see them in concert.
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one!
Artist Name: Lost Chocolate Lab
Album Name: Lost Landscapes
Label: Self-released
Genre: Ambient
Track Listing: 1. Contents/Weightless; 2. Alien Lands; 3. Squall; 4. Everything is Heavy; 5. Foldspace; 6. Nighttime Drive; 7. Horseback Headspin; 8. Shall we Start Over; 9. Dancing Towards Infinity; 10. This Could be the End
Publicist: Shameless Promotion
Review: Damian Hastbauer aka Lost Chocolate Lab is a virtuoso guitarist who knows how to blend the amazing sound of his guitar with ambient noise, creating the perfect recipe for meditation and relaxation. This album has great commercial use and is a must have for background music in spas, massage parlors and doctor’s offices in general. We could also see it used in commercials or as background for your favorite photos.
Recommendation: If you love relaxing to ambient music, you can’t do better than this. We highly recommend you Get it.