We’re back with this week’s releases for our Friday Get it or Forget it reviews. Check out these amazing projects.
Artist Name: Paul Givant
Album Name: Fashion District Adjacent
Label: RPS Records
Genre: Indie Folk
Track Listing: 1. Fashion District Adjacent; 2. Stuck on This Page; 3. Little Star; 4. Send in the Cavalry; 5. It’s a Crazy Life; 6. Sunset Over the Bosphorus; 7. Sweet Angie; 8. Solitary Dawn; 9. Goldmine; 10. Some Dark Passenger; 11. Anastasia; 12. Safe Journeys
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Paul Givant, the front man for the band Rose’s Pawn Shop, has released his debut solo album, and it is one of the best we have heard this year. Mixing elements of Americana, folk, and country, he forges a dynamic new mix that is worlds apart from the music created by his band. The lyrical imagery is simply amazing, and his choices of instrumentation and genre are out of this world. Every song on this album is worthy of repeated plays, especially the incredible title track, “Stuck on This Page,” “Little Star,” the tender ballads “Send in the Cavalry,” “Sunset Over the Bosphorus,” “Sweet Angie,” and “Anastasia,” “Goldmine,” and “Safe Journeys.”
Recommendation: Don’t even think about it – you simply must have this one, so Get it today!
Artist Name: Disconnected Genius
Album Name: Nirvikalpa Meow
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. About Nothing; 2. It’s a Curse I’m a Saint; 3. Vertruvian Men; 4. Just Say Don’t Go; 5. We’re all Watching Everything; 6. Kings and Queens; 7. One Fine Day; 8. Quietly Into the Night; 9. The Little Don; 10. The Diamonds in the Poor; 11. Arkane Bliss
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Disconnected Genius comes to us from Melbourne, Australia, and is a three-man, four-chord rock band with a definite mastery of those four chords. They are a little weak in the vocal department, with an almost monotone delivery from front man Jamie O’Keefe at the beginning of the first two tracks. Oddly enough, though, the musical accompaniment more than makes up for these shortcomings, and we think the band might find an easy cross-over between Australian and American audiences. We think they would be good candidates for college radio airplay as well as possible placement opportunities.
Recommendation: They are definitely worth checking out.
Artist Name: Travis Bowlin
Album Name: Secundus
Label: Moonbeam Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. Strange Vibes; 2. In the Worst Way; 3. Dancin’ with the Devil; 4. All Over Again; 5. Don’t Lead me On; 6. Vicksburg Blues; 7. Go to Girl; 8. You Know you Are; 9. Casaurina Sand; 10. I can let Go; 11. Record Shop; 12. Slow Cooker Man
Publicist: Blind Raccoon
Review: Travis Bowlin adds the perfect soul and rock vibe to his amazing blues, creating a distinct sound that is very reminiscent of Wilson Pickett on “Strange Vibes” and of early Led Zeppelin on “Dancin’ with the Devil,” “Don’t Lead me On” and “Record Shop.” Then he blows our mind with the jazzy blues sound of “All Over Again” and “Go to Girl” and the traditional harmonica and blues guitar driven sound of “Vicksburg Blues” and “Slow Cooker Man.” Just when you think you’ve figured out his sound, out he comes with the modern blues sound of “Casaurina Sand.” All of his songs definitely deserve serious radio airplay, and conjure up images of an impressive live show. You can’t go wrong with this album, which you think you will immediately put on repeat, because it’s amazing from start to finish.
Recommendation: This one is a definite must-have. Get it!
Artist Name: Static and Surrender
Album Name: Static and Surrender
Label: Funzalo Records
Genre: Alt Rock
Track Listing: 1. If Only we Could Sleep; 2. You Won’t Remember Me; 3. Just Because; 4. Fall on the Blade; 5. Mary Shelley; 6. Slow Crash; 7. The Very Long Night; 8. Killing the Vibe; 9. Not Another Dime
Publicist: Independent Music Media
Review: The combination of award-winning songwriter Jeff Campbell on lead vocals and guitar, Adam Schuman on guitar and backing vocals, his brother John on drums and Chili Corder on bass has created one of the most exciting indie rock bands we have heard this year. If you want intelligent lyrics and a musical style that leaves bands like Train and Maroon 5 in the dust, then Static and Surrender is sure to be your new favorite band. All nine tracks are killer and potential hits, especially “You Won’t Remember Me,” “Just Because,” their first single “Fall on the Blade,” “Slow Crash,” “The Very Long Night” and “Not Another Dime.”
Recommendation: Don’t waste any more time – rush out and Get this one today!
Artist Name: Clare Means
Album Name: Sidewalk Astromony
Label: Self-released
Genre: Singer-songwriter Pop/Rock
Track Listing: 1. Bobby; 2. Danger; 3. Fiery One; 4. Master Manipulator Magnet; 5. Sidewalk Astronomy; 6. Guts; 7. Sheepocrisy; 8. Circles; 9. Hollywood Zoo; 10. Buried in Your Dreams; 11. Always with Me
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Clare Means has been busking on the streets and piers of her native Los Angeles for quite a few years. She has become somewhat of a DIY legend, especially with the advent of Periscope, where her live performances consistently draw 50,000 to 100,000 viewers. Her latest offering, Sidewalk Astronomy, debuted today at #1 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter charts, and that’s no fluke. She even did the painting that forms the cover of the album. It is impossible to truly put her sound into a box, as Clare Means is her own genre, truly unique from the myriad of singer-songwriters who have come through the City of Angels. Her songs ring of the old adage “Three Chords and the Truth.” We really love the strings on “Bobby,” “Fiery One,” “Guts,” and “Buried in Your Dreams,” and the amazing horns and truly unique sound of “Sheepocrisy.” We are also in love with the radio ready tracks “Danger” and “Hollywood Zoo.”
Recommendation: You should definitely jump on this bandwagon and support one of the best indie musicians in Los Angeles.