Finally got a little sleep after spending nearly 30 hours working the Leon Bridges and Luke Bryan concerts back-to-back. What a wonderful season at Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheatre. Special thanks to all the folks at Knitting Factory Presents for booking the shows. Reviews will be coming soon. In the meantime, here are five more artists for you to check out.
Artist Name: Royal Hunt
Album Name: Land of Broken Hearts: Special Edition 2018
Label: Marquee Avalon, Frontiers Records
Genre: Classic Rock
Track Listing: 1. Running Wild; 2. Easy Rider; 3. Flight; 4. Age Gone Wild; 5. Martial Arts (instrumental); 6. One by One; 7. Heart of the City; 8. Land of Broken Hearts; 9. Freeway Jam (instrumental); 10. Kingdom Dark; 11. Stranded; 12. Day in Day Out; 13. Land of Broken Hearts (acoustic); 14. Age Gone Wild (acoustic); 15. Bad Luck; 16. What Goes Around Comes Around
Publicist: Northpoint Productions
Review: They have been called “Denmark’s greatest secret,” but we just call them amazing Classic Rock. Royal Hunt has created 14 albums to date, and this release of one of their bests is a special treat. It brings back memories of those wonderful hair bands of the 80s, while still retaining the freshness of new music, with screaming guitar riffs, perfect rock vocals, and lyrics that actually mean something. This one hits the ground running with “Running Wild,” and never stops, packing in 16 amazing songs that are sure to be a hit with every rock music lover. These songs would make a great soundtrack for your next party, and should be a part of every music supervisor’s catalog, as they are perfect for placement in commercials, television and film.
Recommendation: Don’t let me stop you – Get this one now!
Artist Name: Amy Stroup
Album Name: Helen of Memphis
Label: Milkglass
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Track Listing: 1. Far Side of the Sea; 2. Magic; 3. Made; 4. Stare; 5. Wild Nights; 6. Lost Ones; 7. Hero; 8. Go That Far; 9. Thrill of it; 10. Fearless; 11. Magic (Verlou remix); 12. Stare (Verlou remix)
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: We featured her single “Wild Nights” in our Monday Mashup column, and are so happy to be able to review the rest of her album Helen of Memphis. Amy Stroup has a sweet indie pop/rock sound with elements of folk and a voice that is reminiscent of Kim Carnes. Her music is definitely radio friendly, and we think she would be an excellent choice for heavy rotation on AAA radio. Besides her amazing single “Wild Nights,” we also love “Far Side of the Sea,” “Magic” (both versions), “Stare” (both versions), “Lost Ones,” “Go That Far,” and “Fearless.”
Recommendation: You simply must Get this one – it is amazing!
Artist Name: The Spanish Flies
Album Name: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Label: Self-released
Genre: Psychedelic Power Pop
Track Listing: 1. Get Going; 2. Psycho Trip; 3. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Originally from Peru, The Spanish Flies now call Edmonton, Canada home, and bring this diverse culture to their music. Their accents almost have a reggae vibe, adding a special feel to the 60s style “Austin Powers” sound. Our only regret is that there are only three songs to enjoy on this power-packed EP, and they’re all great.
Recommendation: Definitely give this one a spin.
Artist Name: Dennis Herrera
Album Name: You Stole my Heart
Label: Self-released
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. You Stole my Heart; 2. Takes Money; 3. Fore; 4. With no Refrain; 5. Lock Out; 6. Recovery; 7. You can Name It; 8. Backed Up; 9. My Past Time; 10. Run with the Losers; 11. Bittersweet
Publicist: Frank Roszak Promotions
Review: With a delicious mix of Chicago and Texas blues, Dennis Herrera brings us one of the best blues albums since The Blues Brothers first hit the scene. You can feel the Texas swing in the guitar and the Chicago horns made these cuts so tasty, especially on the title track. This one will take you on a wonderful blues journey that will leave you wanting more. There is not a weak track on the album, so enjoy it on repeat.
Recommendation: If you love the blues, then you simply must add this one to your collection. Get it today!
Artist Name: Locult
Album Name: Late Night Pharmacies
Label: Pretty Young Thing/Pocket Records
Genre: Alt Rock Instrumental
Track Listing: 1. Reisefeber; 2. Medicine; 3. Warszawa; 4. Reykjavik (ft Karoline Sleide Petersen); 5. Sky Diver; 6. Kablys Nights; 7. Night Time; 8. I Have Tried; 9. The Cold Water
Publicist: PrettyYoungThing
Review: Locult comes to us from Norway, delivering amazingly mellow instrumental music with a distinctly Nordic sound. There is a stand-out vocal on the track “Reykjavik” that features the stunning voice of Karoline Sleide Petersen. Other than that, this dynamic duo has created the music supervisor’s dream soundtrack – tunes that can be used for so many placement opportunities for commercials, television and film. In addition, some tracks would work great for relaxation and chill times, while others will get you pumped up. This one is a great soundtrack for daily living.
Recommendation: This is a no-brainer. Get this one for your collection and chill.