Happy Friday. As promised, we have our review of the brand new album from Reel Big Fish, who will perform here in Missoula, Montana next month, as well as four more great releases. Enjoy the last weekend before Christmas with these great tunes.
Artist Name: Reel Big Fish
Album Name: Life Sucks . . . Let’s Dance
Label: Rock Ridge Music
Genre: Ska Punk
Track Listing: 1. Life Sucks; Let’s Dance; 2. Pissed Off; 3. You Can’t Have all of Me; 4. In Love Again; 5. Tongue Tied and Tipsy Too; 6. Bleached Thang, Baby,7. Another Beer Song; 8. Bob Marley’s Toe; 9. Ska Show; 10. The Good Old Days; 11. G.D. Beautiful Day; 12. I Should Know by Now; 13. I’d Rather get it Wrong; 14. Walter’s Highlife
Publicist: Earshot Media
Review: Thank God for Reel Big Fish. These iconic guys prove that ska is still alive and doing well. The band has returned with a dynamic album, their first new music in six years (although they did release a Christmas album four years ago). They have a much happier sound to their music, and even make it sound ok to be “Pissed Off.” Their first single, “You Can’t Have all of Me,” is a masterpiece and a crowd favorite. (We’ll share their video of the song on Monday.) Their lyrics are very tongue in cheek, and the music is so upbeat and fun. They are the ska version of Flogging Molly, and actually sound like them on a couple of the tracks (“Tongue Tied and Tipsy Too” and “Another Beer Song”). We hope that we are able to see them perform live next month when they come to Montana. If you look up “ska” in the dictionary, you should find the band’s picture next to the definition. They obviously believe in having a good time, and we are so glad they are back with abandon. Every song will get you up and moving, and satisfy even the most die-hard fans, especially the high energy “Walter’s Highlife: that closes the album.
Recommendation: Don’t think about it – run out and Get this one like your life depends upon it!
Artist Name: McGuff and the Dumpster Fires (“MDF”)
Album Name: Trip Gone Wrong
Label: Self-released
Genre: Funk/Punk/Rock
Track Listing: 1. Too Pretty; 2. Bank Vault; 3. Brinkmanship; 4. Trip Gone Wrong; 5. Skywalker; 6. Yellow Brick Hole
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: With the amazing vocals of Emily McGuff (more powerful than Evanescence’s Amy Lee), and the funky help of her band, featuring Taylor McGuff on guitar, vocals and sax; Keith Klein on fretless bass; and Phil Doncaster on drums and backing vocals, MDF is a class act like no other, mixing funk, punk and rock into their own amazing sound. They have become a major hit in Europe, and after just one listen to them, it is obvious why they have become so popular. Every song delivers major entertainment value, ensuring that this band is on the way to the top. There is not a weak track on this splendid collection. They deserve serious industry attention. Get up and dance!
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one!
Artist Name: Be Softly and Zoë Blair-Schlagenhauf
Album Name: Unfinished Apology Letters
Label: Be Softly
Genre: Spoken Word Poetry
Track Listing: 1. Best Friend’s Vomit; 2. G.O.M.; 3. Falling; 4. Water Molecules
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: On this dynamic spoken word project, Be Softly shares with the world the amazing poems of Zoë Blair-Schlagenhauf, and we hope that she continues writing them. They are a heartfelt cry for help in the face of our world-wide opioid epidemic, and the music added by Be Softly perfectly frames them. Proceeds from the sale of the album are benefiting a pair of charities (Shatterproof in the US, Mind in the UK) that deal with opioid addiction. This project deserves national attention, as we are sure most of us know someone who suffers from this addiction.
Recommendation: Please support this artist and this cause by getting her album now.
Artist Name: EveningShade
Album Name: Impulses
Label: Self-released
Genre: Instrumental Electronica
Track Listing: 1, The Woods; 2. THERE SHE WAS; 3. Making Love to Sarah Connor; 4. Passing in the Dark
Publicist: Working Brilliantly PR
Review: James Pinkstone aka EveningShade is an electronic composer based in Atlanta. On his latest EP, he presents four tracks that bring to life the horror and sci-fi vibes of the 80s. It is part Mike Oldfield, part John Carpenter and all together a blast, especially if you love horror and sci-fi classics series like Halloween and Terminator. These songs truly complement what the original composers did for those movie franchises, and deserve serious consideration from music supervisors, as they would make great placements. This is music for your freaky Friday night.
Recommendation: Get this one, but don’t listen alone.
Artist Name: Ben’s Imaginary Band
Album Name: The Apartment
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Caffeine Fiend; 2. King’s Song; 3. The Apartment; 4. Machines Were Better; 5. Nightwalking; 6. Maiden; 7. The Lamb; 8. Frog’s Legs; 9. Spy (Enemy Combatant); 10. Celebrity
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Ben Romvari aka Ben’s Imaginary Band is a Canadian with a one-man band. The music is very retro, with some incredible overdubbing harmonies and organ work that give the songs breadth and depth. His vocals are not always on pitch, but the songwriting makes up for it, with its dynamic but simplistic accompaniment and quirky lyrics. These songs are tender and thought-provoking and overall relaxing. The groove reminds us of singer-songwriter night at the local coffeehouse. The horns on the title track are worth the price of admission.
Recommendation: Definitely worth checking out.