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

Get it or forget it – mmhmm, Russ Green, Sylvia, Jon Mullane, Catlow

Did you get your free slurpee yesterday for 7-11 Day?  Unfortunately, we don’t have any up here in Montana.  At any rate, here are five more reviews to cool you down on these hot summer days.

Artist Name:   mmhmm

Album Name:   mmhmm

Label:   Self-released

Genre:   Americana/Pop

Track Listing:   1.  Let’s get Together; 2.  Aw Hell; 3.  Number Song; 4.  Up in Smoke (Don’t it Have to Wait); 5.  Earn my Love; 6.  Mama’s Little Yella Pills; 7.  Lookin’ Like a Tranny Blues; 8.  Coy Boy; 9.  Good Love; 10.  Blue Eyes; 11.  Take it on the Run; 12.  3 am and sake; 13.  So Hard to say Goodbye

Publicist:   Independent Music Media

Review: Finally, a band name that truly describes the group.  Mmhmm is just that – tasty in every way – visually stunning with a musical sound that makes your ears and your feet happy as well.  Composed of Raelyn Nelson and Hannah Fairlight, this indie duo is taking Nashville by storm, bringing a pop sensibility to their Americana vibe.  If they look familiar to you, that’s because Fairlight is also an amazing actress, with roles on A&E’s Crazy Hearts:  Nashville and the movie Pitch Perfect 3, while Nelson is the granddaughter of legendary country artist Willie Nelson.  These ladies definitely live up to the hype and deserve all the accolades.  They could very well be the new face of Americana.  We strongly advise music supervisors, radio station managers and the industry in general to open their eyes – these ladies are true stars in the making.  The icing on the cake is their spirited cover of The Eagles’ “Take it on the Run,” complete with kazoos and lots of ‘tude.

Recommendation:   Don’t even think about it – Get this one TODAY!

Artist NameRuss Green

Album NameCity Soul

Label:  Cleopatra Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  First Thing Smokin; 2.  Believe in Love; 3.  The Edge; 4.  Goin Down South (ft Eric Bibb); 5.  Lover Man; 6.  Train of Pain; 7.  Up From the Bottom; 8.  Lint in my Pocket; 9.  Somethin New; 10.  Love to Give

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Russ Green epitomizes the term “Windy City Blues” with the 10 original tunes on his debut album.  He offers us everything we love about the blues – killer blues guitar, harmonica, great lyrics, an awesome voice and the feeling that only the blues provides.  Although the entire album is stellar, we really loved “Believe in Love,” “The Edge,” “Goin Down South” (with the amazing vocal addition of Eric Bibb), “Lover Man,” “Up From the Bottom,” “Lint in my Pocket” and “Somethin New.”

Recommendation:  This is a must-have for all lovers of the blues.  Get it now!

Artist NameSylvia

Album Name Second Bloom:  The Hits Re-Imagined

Label:  Red Pony Records

Genre:  Country/A-C

Track Listing:  1.  Drifter; 2.  Nobody; 3.  Tumbleweed; 4.  Fallin’ in Love; 5.  Cry Just a Little Bit; 6.  Sweet Yesterday; 7.  Like Nothing Ever Happened; 8.  Snapshot; 9.  I Love you by Heart; 10.  You Can’t go Back Home

Publicist:  So Much MOORE Media

Review:  Country music in the 1980s was constantly changing but one name was consistent – Sylvia.  She accumulated 12 Top Ten hits, including two that made it to #1, won BMI Song of The Year with “Nobody,” was nominated for a Grammy and won the ACM Female Vocalist of the Year.  Not surprisingly, five of those hits were all written by the team of Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan.  Oh yeah, and she sold over four million records.  Well, she’s back with new recordings of many of those huge hits, and we couldn’t be happier.  She wanted her songs to be more reflective of the A-C artist she is now, and we think she has hit the ball out of the park with these versions.  Put this one on and remember the good ole days.

Recommendation:  If you loved 1980s country, then you simply must have this one for a wonderful trip down memory lane.  Grab your copy soon.

Artist NameJon Mullane

Album NameSingles

Label:  Forward Motion Music Group

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Freaks me Out; 2.  Desert Moon; 3.  Make You Move; 4.  The One That Got Away; 5.  Born Beautiful; 6.  My new American Girl; 7.  Change Your Life; 8.  Any Other Way; 9.  Go the Distance; 10.  Got it Goin’ On; 11.  Body Rock; 12.  One More Chance; 13.  Eternal Life

Publicist:  ACR Management

Review:  Canadian Jon Mullane has been doing things a little different from most indie artists.  Instead of creating albums, he releases his music primarily as singles, while also getting multiple placements in commercials, television, film and sporting events.  It is indeed a rare pleasure for him to release an album of these “singles,” so that we can find some of his best material all in one place.  The collection, which kicks off with his latest single, “Freaks me Out,” also includes the LA Music Critic Award winning song, “Born Beautiful.”  You cannot go wrong with this collection  There is not a weak song in this incredible collection, many of which you have heard before and didn’t even know it.

Recommendation:  If you only buy one CD this month, make it count and Get this one.

Artist NameCatlow

Album NameMain of Nowhere

Label:  File Under:  Music Records

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Scrapes; 2.  A Moment Passes By; 3.  My Sun (ft. David Beckingham); 4.  Settle Up; 5.  Main of Nowhere; 6.  Forget the Rest

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  Upbeat, great vocals and incredible musicianship are the words that best describe the latest offering from Vancouver-based band Catlow.  This is the perfect remedy for a hot summer day, and should be listened to on a daily basis.  This Canadian band has everything it needs to take on the American radio market, especially College Radio.  Their harmonies are sick, while the guitar and drum driven melodies make for an amazing aural adventure.  You will love all six tracks, and we are sure that you will play them over and over again.

Recommendation:  If you love music, then you must add this one to your library and put it on repeat!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Jon Mullane’s new album simply shines

Last week we told you about Jon Mullane and the release show for his new album and the documentary about his life.  Today we will be reviewing that album, and sharing our interview with this amazing indie artist.

Shine kicks off with an old-fashioned 90’s rocker “My New American Girl,” which immediately lets the listener know that Mullane has come to play.  It is catchy, up beat, and totally radio friendly.  That trend continues with the second track, “Shine on Tonight,” and the third track, “Way Up,” which could be the new anthem for positivity. 

Honestly, there isn’t a weak track on this album.  The hits just keep coming in track four “In Your Life” and track five “Don’t Let Go,” before Mullane changes gears with a power ballad at track six, “Any Other Way.”  Track seven brings us the amazing hit “Born Beautiful” before giving way to the rocking “Take me Away” at track eight.  The album closes with two more amazing tracks, “So Into U” and “Body Rock” before providing a bonus track remix of “Any Other Way” with just piano and voice.  “Body Rock” is perfect rocker that puts an exclamation point on the statement that is Shine.

All in all, this album has set the bar for indie pop/rock and made Mullane the frontrunner for an LA Music Critic Award for the second half of 2016.

Now that you’ve read the review, sit back and learn things about this amazing indie artist. 

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

JM:  Since I was 15, in high school.

 IVB:  Who do you consider to be your influences?

JM:  U2, Bowie, any song with a great melody!

 IVB:  What makes your new release so special?

JM:  Every song on this album creates a sense of enthusiasm in the listener, and I have been told by many that the songs bring them both comfort and optimism.

We’ve released three singles and music videos before releasing the album, one of which, ‘My New American Girl’ broke Top 40 on the Hot AC Billboard Radio chart.
The music video for ‘Any Other Way’ won an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for Best Music Video.

The song, “Born Beautiful,” encourages all of us to embrace the beauty we can find within ourselves, and through this song and its video, in which a young woman rejects suicide, I have formed partnerships with mental health organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA.org), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org – US), and the Campaign to Change Direction (changedirection.org – US), to help raise awareness and change the culture of mental health.

Essentially, I’ve developed a musical story leading up to the release of the full album.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

JM:  The album release last Thursday was coordinated with the release of a documentary about my life and music career, Jon Mullane – Shine On.  

My current single from the album, “Born Beautiful,” has been released as well as a video for the song, which has been nominated for a 2016 IMEA (International Music & Entertainment Award) for Best Music Video. I have also been nominated for Best Pop Artist this year.

After the release party, I will be going out on tour across the US, Canada, and Europe. Tour planning is underway.

 IVB:  Do you have any stories you want to share about your band – touring, recording, or fan interaction.

JM:  There is nothing more fulfilling than hearing from a fan that has been touched by my music.  I received this e-mail from a fan in Austria:

“Hi my friend Jon,

I pray, that all is well with you and your dear ones my friend?

Really always newly thanks for your amazing music, to me, you are one of the greatest composers and musicians of all time and I always hope, that you and your mates will make in the near future another record. I will forever support you and still love all your albums so very much.

Sadly, my beloved dad Peter is very weak and down, the side effects of the chemotherapy are horrible.

But especially I never give up to trust in God and music always is medicine to me too.

Take care my friend, know, I always appreciate you Jon and keep you and all the ones in your life in my prayers and thoughts too.

Sending you all my best wishes and kindest regards from very hot Austria,

yours forever friend and fan”

Mullane is a wonderful addition to any listener’s “must-have” indie music catalog.  To find out more about him, check out his website and Facebook pages and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.