Happy New Music Friday. So good to be back with another edition as we kick off the month of March with five amazing releases that dropped today. Let’s get going.
Artist Name: Maria Somerville
Album Name: All my People
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk/Pop
Track Listing: 1. Eyes Don’t Say It; 2. This Way; 3. Undoing; 4. Dreaming; 5. All my People; 6. All too Much; 7. Brighter Days
Publicist: Promo Jukebox/Worldwide Friendly Society
Review: Maria Somerville transforms the listener into her ethereal soundscape with a sound that is part Celtic, part folk, part pop and post-punk, and altogether unique. The haunting melodies speak of her Irish background and provide an intriguing backdrop for these modern-day folk songs. These songs provide a fitting background for your periods of meditation and winding down from a long work day.
Recommendation: Definitely worth checking out.
Artist Name: Derek Schmidt
Album Name: Major Arcana
Label: Self-released
Genre: Electronic folk
Track Listing: 1. The Fool; 2. The Magician; 3. High Priestess; 4. The Empress; 5. The Emperor; 6. The Hierophant; 7. The Lovers; 8. The Chariot; 9. Adjustment; 10. The Hermit; 11. Fortune; 12. Lust; 13. The Hanged Man; 14. Death; 15. Art; 16. The Devil; 17. The Tower; 18. The Star; 19. The Moon; 20. The Sun; 21. The Aeon; 22. The Universe
Publicist: EMPKT PR
Review: Derek Schmidt is a composer and singer-songwriter who has created an intriguing album based on the Major Arcana of the Tarot, which are the 22 primary cards in the deck. Each song is inspired by his interpretation of the message of that card. He uses electronic samples and vocals to convey his feelings on each card. This album is unlike anything else you have heard before in the indie music scene, and for that alone, he is to be commended. This is definitely a niche record. We’re just not sure exactly where it belongs.
Recommendation: Check it out, if you dare.
Artist Name: JD Simo
Album Name: Off at 11
Label: Crows Feet Music Group
Genre: Psychedelic Blues/Rock/Soul/Jam
Track Listing: 1. Boom Boom, Out go the Lights; 2. Off at 11; 3. You Need Love; 4. I Got Love if you Want It; 5. Temptation; 6. Mind Trouble; 7. Sweet Little Angel; 8. Accept
Publicist: Effective Immediately PR
Review: We featured “You Need Love” in our first Monday Mashup of February, which gave us just a taste of the greatness of this incredible artist. This album marks his debut as a solo artist and showcases the virtuosity of this guitarist at his most electric. The eight tracks are a journey through the ghosts of the blues masters, the psychedelic arrangements of the 60s, the guitar gods of the 70s and beyond. Acid rock, traditional blues, folk, soul, and free form jazz are all brought to new life with this amazing kaleidoscope of sound. You can’t go wrong with this one. We really love the intense title track, which is one of the best instrumentals we have heard this year, but every track is worthy of attention.
Recommendation: Definitely go Get it.
Artist Name: Kerchief
Album Name: Fluke
Label: Mint 400 Records
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Evil Parts; 2. States; 3. Tiny Bomb; 4. Erase Me; 5. Bad Math; 6. Til the End; 7. Growing Teeth; 8. In Between
Publicist: Noisy Ghost PR
Review: Tennessee based Kerchief is fronted by the brilliant singer-songwriter Britt Hill and backed up by Tommy (bass) and Trevor (drums) Nicholson. Their indie rock sound is perfect for college radio and placement opportunities. The sound is smooth while the lyrics are well-written and perfect sung by Hill. This is a band on the rise, and we expect nothing but super stardom for this trio. You can’t go wrong with any of the tracks on this one, especially “Evil Parts,” “States,” and “Til the End.”
Recommendation: Run out and Get this one!
Artist Name: Powder for Pigeons
Album Name: Over & Out
Label: Tunecore
Genre: Alt-Rock
Track Listing: 1. Catapult; 2. Personality; 3. Lay it On; 4. Shitstorm City; 5. Expectation; 6. Better Days; 7. Over and Out
Publicist: Dr. Music Promotion
Review: This amazing Australian couple bring straight ahead alt-rock with a touch of punk energy and guitar heavy metal to their latest album, which is intended to share the Australian Outback with the rest of the world. This one will get your heart racing and compel you to get up, jump around and enjoy life. You won’t be able to sit still while listening to this groove, so just give in and get on the dance floor, especially their first single, “Personality.”
Recommendation: Give this one a spin.