Tag: Birds and Arrows

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2020 (vol 6)

Here we go again.  No sooner did I publish what was supposed to happen with my work hours than they changed it up again.  This time they upped the timeline when they were supposed to close a store and gave us only two days notice that we would be taking over their territory – more than doubling our workload.  I worked nearly 70 hours last week, most of it on the night shift.  Can hardly wait to see what this week brings.  In the meantime, we have five new singles and music videos to get your week off to a great start.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week reminds us that there are “Better Days” ahead.  Thanks to Joe Dáccache for reminding us that we will get past these days of COVID-19 and social distancing.  Make this one the first song you listen to each day.

Next up is “Porcelain,” a personal and poignant song about mental illness.  Check out this heartfelt cry from Talitha Ferri.

Single number three is a sometimes discordant but deeply emotional song about doing what hurts you in order to make someone else happy.  Check out “Stable and Steady (to be Happy) from Anima & Ennui.

Our next single has an airy 90s electronic feel that we simply love.  Check out “She Keeps me in her Locket” by Venture Boi.  We think you’ll want to hear a lot more from them.

Our final single this week is “Shelter,” a compelling ballad from Nia Ekanem.  Let this one keep your spirits up as you stay at home.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week comes from an old friend who we have known and loved since we lived in San Diego (oh so many years ago.)  Like us, she left the West Coast and moved east in pursuit of her dreams, settling in Nashville where she is at the top of her game.  Please give it up for the one and only “lady in blue,” Alyssa Jacey, and her latest, “Why I Left.”

Next up is “Blisters” from the rocking indie band big loser.  We love their energy and wish we could see them perform live.  (They were supposed to perform here in Oklahoma this week.)

Our third video is from LA Music Critic Award winner Lauren Jaimes, who reminds us that “Home is Where you Are.”  We totally agree with the sentiments of this video.

Next up is the latest from the brilliant minds of Birds and Arrows.  Check out the harmonies and visuals for their song “Truth or Consequences.”

We close out this week with a truly amazing video from one of our favorite bands, We Three.  Here’s their latest, “I Wanna Love Somebody.”  This one will have you singing along with tongue firmly in cheek.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Best of 2018 Women in Entertainment

Forty best albums of 2018

What a year for indie music.  We received a boatload of review requests from around the world, and published reviews of nearly 1,000 CDs and EPs.  We culled through those we reviewed first to pick our nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards, and now to compile our list of the 40 Best CDs of 2018.

Due to the sheer volume, we only considered full-length projects for this list, but that doesn’t mean that quite a few of the EPs we reviewed weren’t also worthy of distinction.  We may yet put together another list of just EPs.

In the meantime, while we wait for the winners of the second half of 2018 for the LA Music Critic Awards to be announced tomorrow, here are our favorite CDs of 2018.  You can find their individual reviews by searching for them on our blog.

40.  Kate Reid – The Heart Already Knows

39.  Deb Ryder – Enjoy the Ride

38.  Jeffrey Foucault – War on the Radio

37.  Katie Herzig – Moment of Bliss

36.  Eric Tingstad – Electric Spirit

35.  Fanny Walked the Earth – self-titled

34.  Wily Bo Walker – Almost Transparent Blues

33.  Buddy Guy – The Blues is Alive and Well

32.  Walt Weiskopf – European Quartet

31.  Mindi Abair & the Boneshakers – All I Got for Christmas is the Blues

30.  YYNOT – self-titled

29.  Peter V Blues Band – Shaken but not Deterred

28.  Delta Moon – Babylon is Falling

27.  The Textones – Old Stone Gang

26.  Ronny Morris – Sweet Silence

25.  Sydney Wright – Seiche

24.  Gleeson – The Years Have It

23.  Colin Devlin – High Point

22.  Everlast – Don’t Complain

21.  Zsuzsika – Start Again

20.  Michael Peterson – From Here to Eternity

19.  K. Michelle Dubois – Autumn

18.    Broken Bellows – I, Kaleidoscope

17.  Rachel Sage – Myopia

16.  Janiva Magness – Love is an Army

15.  John Flanagan Trio – Honest Man

14.  Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm – Shoot me Down

13.  Floods – Bad Times

12.  Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, vols 1 and 2)

11.  Keith Harkin – In the Round

10.  Southern Halo – Just Like in the Movies

9.  Cindy Alexander – Nowhere to Hide

8.  Kari Kimmel – Gold & Glitter

7.  Hymn for Her – Pop-n-Downers

6.  Jordan Siwek – Sun Inside You

5.  Slim Gambill – Fake Jazz

4.  Gina Sicilia – Heard the Lie

3.  Birds and Arrows – Arbitrary Magic

2.  Brigitte Rios Purdy – Still I Rise

and the Best Album of 2018 goes to

Norway Reloaded – My Longest Mile

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Keith Stone with Red Gravy, Shoshy, Birds and Arrows, The Persian Leaps, Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm

Happy Halloween – no tricks for you today, just five new treats.  We hope you enjoy this diverse group of artists.

Artist Name:  Keith Stone with Red Gravy

Album Name:  Keith Stone with Red Gravy

Label:  Self-release

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:   1.  Ain’t That the Blues; 2.  Love Done put me Down; 3.  You Ain’t got Nothing; 4.  Red Gravy; 5.  Crazy in Love With You; 6.  Don’t Count me Out; 7.  Blue Eyed Angel; 8.  Time to Move On; 9.  Hard to Have the Blues; 10.  Something in the Water

Publicist:  Frank Roszak Promotions

Review:  The music of New Orleans is world famous for its intensity, drive, and style.  Add  the blues into that mix and you have Keith Stone with Red Gravy, a local band that is starting to take the world by storm.  This is blues you start to feel deep down in your soul until it takes over your whole body and leaves you with no choice but to get up and dance.  This music is tailor-made for placement on such shows as NCIS: New Orleans, among others.  This band deserves industry attention and a bigger stage.  Jump on the train before it leaves the station.

Recommendation:  If you love the blues and the music of New Orleans, then you simply MUST add this one.  Go Get it today!

Artist Name:  Shoshy

Album Name:  GAMERGIRL

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Intro; 2.  Pansy Dreams Parts 1&2; 3.  What’s the News; 4.  ULTRA MINI // Life me Up; 5.  Clouds; 6.  In Bloom; 7.  Love Crimes; 8.  Melting; 9.  Floating; 10.  The End; 11.  Spirited Away // It wouldn’t have made any difference; 12.  If it’s not the End

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Inspired by the myriad of games on Nintendo, England based singer-songwriter Shoshy Boo delivers an interesting collection of indie/alt pop songs.  With her sweet voice, Shoshy brings the listener into her world of fantasy, creating mental images that peacefully co-exist with the music and images that Nintendo created for these games.  In fact, some of these songs would make great radio tunes, especially “Pansy Dreams.”  For the most part, the songs are short and sweet.  We also love her mashup within her cover of Todd Rundgren‘s “It Wouldn’t Have Made any Difference.”  She reminds us of indie artist Lenka, and we think she has the potential to do well on the indie music scene.

Recommendation:  Definitely worthy of your time – check it out today on BandCamp.

Artist Name:  Birds and Arrows

Album Name:  Arbitrary Magic

Label:  Baby Gas Mask Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Overloaded; 2.  No Hand me Downs; 3.  Adrift; 4.  Stay Down; 5.  All Souls Sell Out; 6.  The Distance that we Drive; 7.  San Jacinto; 8.  Animatronic Heart

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We have loved this group since we first heard of them, and are so happy that they have finally released an album.  They were nominated last year for an LA Music Critic Award for their single, “Stay Down,” and the album includes a ton of new songs that are every bit as worthy of critical acclaim as that single.  In addition, the album is a political statement of our current government, giving lead vocalist Andrea Connolly and her partner, Pete Connolly, a wealth of material on which to write some amazing songs, including what could become the anthem for the mid-term election cycle, “Overloaded.”  There isn’t a weak track on this album.  All hail the new face of rock and roll.

Recommendation:  Run, don’t walk, and Get this one Today!

Artist Name:  The Persian Leaps

Album Name:  Pop That Goes Crunch

Label:    Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  See me Unaware; 2.  The Weather; 3.  Firestarter; 4.  Dottie, Queen of the West; 5.  Picture my Reaction; 6.  Pretty Boy; 7.  Under the Lilacs; 8.  Silent Treatment; 9.  Entropy; 10.  Hard Feelings; 11.  About the Lions; 12.  Anthem; 13.  Terribly Happy; 14.  Not That Brave; 15.  Truth = Consequences; 16.  Even Less; 17.  Time Slips; 18.  Sleepless

Publicist:  Behind the Curtains Media

Review:  This album is a remixed/remastered anthology of the band’s five previous EPs and one new single, “Time Slips.”  We previously reviewed the band’s Bicycle Face EP last year.  We must admit that this time around the band has seriously improved on their sound, and are ready to take their next step towards becoming a well-known band.  These songs are definitely radio worthy, and would do well on the college radio circuit.  Best tracks include “Dottie, Queen of the West,” “Picture my Reaction,” “Under the Lilacs,” “Entropy,” “Anthem,” “Not That Brave,” and the new single, “Time Slips.”

Recommendation:  This anthology is worthy of your collection.  Grab it.

Artist Name:  Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm

Album Name:  Bankruptcy

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Bankruptcy; 2.  Lady Loretta (radio edit); 3.  Crosshairs; 4.  Earth Mother

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  This new four-song EP comes about six months after their previous release Shoot me Down, which we reviewed back in May.  Lee Ainley proves once again that she is one of the hottest blues/rock singers in Europe and probably the world with her soulful tunes that will appeal to most lovers of rock, soul and the blues.  She gives to the blues what Janis Joplin gave to rock – a true front-woman who knows how to deliver great jams.  You can’t go wrong with any of these four songs, and we bet they will become some of your favorites.

Recommendation:  Don’t waste any more time – go Get this one!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 37

What a great victory for our Dolphins yesterday, who came from behind to tie and then win the game in overtime over the Bears.  It was a great start to this week that would only get better if the Brewers can clinch a World Series Berth with a sweep of the Dodgers in LA.  In the meantime, check out these new singles and music videos and have a wonderful week.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is all about overcoming the pain of leaving people and things behind to pursue success.  We can totally identify with this track, and think it just might be the inspiration you need for this new week.  Check out “All Alone” by Jess McAvoy (ft Alicia Madison).

Our next single is from the dynamic duo that call themselves The Darcys.  We love the upbeat sound of “Chasing the Fall,” and think it will appeal to you as well.

Ari Herstad is well-known in the indie music community, and his column Ari’s Take is one of the better read publications, with news that indie artists can truly use.  He has joined up with the one and only Nina Storey to form Brassroots District, and they have released their first single, which we truly love.  Check out “Repetition.”

Our fourth single comes from the newly married Nashville fixture Alyssa Jacey.  It is her first single since “I Want it to Rain,” and it is a beautiful ballad that is truly inspirational.  Here’s “Beautiful Night.”  Welcome back AJ!

Our final single is from an icon of the pop scene who has returned to performing on his new label, Blue Élan Records.  On this amazing remake of his band’s monster hit, “Crazy Love,” Rusty Young is joined by labelmates Cindy Alexander, Chelsea Williams, Lisa Lambe, Gina Sicilia, Scout Durwood and Brie Darling of Fanny Walked the Earth.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video is from an LA band that we are loving more and more with each release.  Check out the amazing rocking tune “No Hand me Downs” from Birds and Arrows.  This one will put some life in your Monday morning and every day thereafter.

Up next is the latest from surf guitarist JP Soars and his band, The Red Hots.  They blow us away with their tune, “Southbound I-95,” and its hot cars and hotter cinematography.  Turn this one up loud and enjoy.

Our third video is an amazing Latin Pop tune from the incredible Chesca, who is Gloria Estefan and Christina Aguilera all rolled up into one.  Check out “Azúcar” and get your fix of her sweet sound.

Next up is some alt rock to keep you going, as trio Noble Bodies bring us “Take me Down.”  Rock on.

We close out this edition of Monday Mashup with the latest lyric video from 12-time LA Music Critic Award winning band The Spider Accomplice.  Check out this timely and visually stunning video for their song “Epilogue.”  If you’re in LA, don’t miss the chance to catch them live at The Viper Room on October 18.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Reviews Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 25

Are you ready for another week to celebrate the awesomeness that is indie music?  The nominations for the first half of 2017 for the LA Music Critic Awards will be announced on Tuesday, and we can hardly wait to share them with you.  It’s been a super busy time for indie artists, and we combed through a lot of submissions, even writing reviews on every one of them.  Do a google search for “Get it or Forget it” and check out our reviews.

In the meantime, let’s check out some great tunes and music videos that have recently been released.  Have a great week!

NEW MUSIC

Here’s a couple of new artists we recently discovered courtesy of the A&R Department, and we really like their first singles:  Oddie Room Project‘s “Do You Know” and Tom Walters’ “Marlborough.” Check them out and let us know what you think.

Like many of you, we are also big fans of British bands, and we have recently discovered a new amazing band out of Leeds.  Give a listen to “Saint,” the first single by Peakes, and let us know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/peakesmusic/saint

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Groovetonics music is music that makes you move, and Ellee Ven is the mistress and creator of this genre.  Check out her latest video “Sun Up,” featuring rapper Prodéje.  This should help you get over the Monday blues.

Here’s another discovery that comes courtesy of multiple LA Music Critic award winners Lovers & Poets.  Birds and Arrows are friends of theirs who have recently moved to the west coast, and we are sure glad they did.  Get your Monday rocking with this groove.

Speaking of Lovers & Poets, we’ll close out this edition with the latest from lead singer Shannon Hurley, off her recently released album New Day.  Check out her video for “Number One” – if this one doesn’t put you in a good mood, nothing will.