Categories
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 ReidThe Heart Already Knows

39.  Deb RyderEnjoy the Ride

38.  Jeffrey FoucaultWar on the Radio

37.  Katie HerzigMoment of Bliss

36.  Eric Tingstad – Electric Spirit

35.  Fanny Walked the Earth – self-titled

34.  Wily Bo WalkerAlmost Transparent Blues

33.  Buddy GuyThe Blues is Alive and Well

32.  Walt WeiskopfEuropean Quartet

31.  Mindi Abair & the BoneshakersAll I Got for Christmas is the Blues

30.  YYNOT – self-titled

29.  Peter V Blues Band Shaken but not Deterred

28.  Delta MoonBabylon is Falling

27.  The TextonesOld Stone Gang

26.  Ronny MorrisSweet Silence

25.  Sydney WrightSeiche

24.  GleesonThe Years Have It

23.  Colin DevlinHigh Point

22.  EverlastDon’t Complain

21.  ZsuzsikaStart Again

20.  Michael PetersonFrom Here to Eternity

19.  K. Michelle DuboisAutumn

18.    Broken BellowsI, Kaleidoscope

17.  Rachel SageMyopia

16.  Janiva MagnessLove is an Army

15.  John Flanagan TrioHonest Man

14.  Lee Ainley’s Blues StormShoot me Down

13.  FloodsBad Times

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

11.  Keith HarkinIn the Round

10.  Southern HaloJust Like in the Movies

9.  Cindy Alexander – Nowhere to Hide

8.  Kari KimmelGold & Glitter

7.  Hymn for HerPop-n-Downers

6.  Jordan Siwek Sun Inside You

5.  Slim GambillFake Jazz

4.  Gina SiciliaHeard the Lie

3.  Birds and ArrowsArbitrary Magic

2.  Brigitte Rios PurdyStill I Rise

and the Best Album of 2018 goes to

Norway Reloaded – My Longest Mile

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Ghost Ability, JP Soars, Post Season, Well Well Well, Broken Bellows

Happy Friday.  With this batch of reviews, we are almost halfway through the June and July releases, and we will keep pounding them out until we catch up.  If you submitted a request and your album was slated for release in either June or July, please be patient with us.  We are getting them completed as soon as we can.  We have an extra review today because Well Well Well is simultaneously releasing two EPs.

Artist NameGhost Ability

Album NameVelcro Dreams

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Electronic Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  Velcro Dreams; 2.  Cool as we Wanna Be; 3.  Late Night Drama; 4.  Start it Up

Publicist:  Self-promoted

ReviewShannon Hurley and Ben Eisen, aka Lovers & Poets, have been creating some of the best DIY music for years.  They recently wrote some songs, however, that didn’t quite fit either the solo Shannon Hurley or Lovers & Poets brand.  As a result, a brand new project was created – Ghost Ability.  These songs are instrumental, so they should work well as placements for commercials, film or television, and we highly recommend that smart music supervisors snatch up the rights.  We look forward to see what else this dynamic duo can come up with.  They would also work well for any DJs looking to make their mix tapes even hotter.  Love all the ambient sounds in “Start it up.”

Recommendation:  Tasty and sweet, these tracks are short and fun.  Give them a listen and support indie music.

Artist NameJP Soars

Album NameSouthbound I-95

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Ain’t no Dania Beach; 2.  Sure as Hell Ain’t Foolin’ Me; 3.  Southbound I-95; 4.  Shining Through the Dark; 5.  The Grass Ain’t Always Greener; 6.  Arkansas Porch Party; 7.  Satisfy my Soul; 8.  Born in California; 9.  When You Walk out That Door; 10.  Deep Down in Florida; 11.  Across the Desert; 12.  Dog Catcher; 13.  Troubled Waters; 14.  Go with the Flow; 15.  Sure as Hell Ain’t Foolin’ Me (radio edit)

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  JP Soars does blues differently, mixing in a healthy dose of soul, R&B, surf, reggae, roots and country music into his blues, creating a creative brand of the blues that is pure Southern hospitality.  Soars is also the leader of The Red Hots, and along with his band, continues to rack up awards and critical acclaim.  This album will definitely add fuel to the fire, and it won’t be long before the name “JP Soars” is synonymous with driving southern blues.  There is so much great material on this CD, but we really love the title track, “Shining Through the Dark,” “Satisfy my Soul,” “Born in California,” “When you Walk out That Door,” and “Troubled Waters,” and the instrumentals “Arkansas Porch Party,” “Across the Desert” and “Go with the Flow.”

Recommendation:  This one is sure to become a classic.  Get it while it’s hot!

Artist Name Post Season

Album NamePost Season

Label:  Know Hope Records

Genre:  Pop Punk

Track Listing:  1.  Long Shot Lost Cause; 2.  Numb to This; 3.  Tell Tale; 4.  A Stone’s Throw; 5.  Backroads; 6.  Another Song About the Sea; 7.  Picture Frame Eyes; 8.  Another Day, Another Schrute Buck; 9.  Never Tell me the Odds; 10.  Fracture

Publicist:  Earshot Media

Review:  They may consider themselves a pop-punk band, but we think they are a straight indie rock band, and we totally dig it.  From the first notes of “Long Shot Lost Cause,” we hear a band whose songs are radio ready and looking to become a household name.  This is music perfectly suited for placement opportunities and radio airplay, especially on the College Radio scene.  They could easily compete with most of the so-called Top 40 bands currently getting airplay.  They truly shine on this sophomore record, and have raised the bar considerably.  Our favorite tracks include “Long Shot Lost Cause,” “Numb to This,” “A Stone’s Throw,” “Another Song About the Sea,” “Another Day, Another Shrute Buck,” and “Never Tell me the Odds.”

Recommendation:  By any means necessary, Get this one!

Artist Name Well Well Well

Album Name:  Poptimism

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Sleeping Away; 2.  Me; 3.  Buzz off; 4.  Poptimism

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  This San Diego band has a very retro sound that incorporates the Southern California lifestyle into tunes that could easily have been done by The Beach Boys.  The feeling is light and fun, and will get you into that relaxing summer frame of mind, especially the first track, “Sleeping Away.”  They follow that 60s vibe with “Me,” an 80s influenced tune filled with amazing saxophone.  They close out the EP with “Buzz Off” and the title track, both new wave influenced tunes that will have you up and dancing in no time flat.

Recommendation:  Add this one to your short list.

Artist NameWell Well Well

Album Name:  Ships

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Dream Pop/Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Day After Day; 2.  On Your way Home; 3.  Ships; 4.  New Friend; 5.  Without Him; 6.  MTL (Keith Sweaty remix)

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  This second EP by Well Well Well shows a completely different side to the band.  This one is more indie rock/dream pop as opposed to the retro sound of Poptimism.  It shows that there is a lot of creativeness contained in the band, and we can hardly wait to see what comes next.  These songs are definitely radio friendly, and should do well on college radio.

Recommendation:  For a fun time, buy both and compare for yourselves.

Artist NameBroken Bellows

Album NameI, Kaleidoscope

Label:  Fervor Records

Genre:  Alt Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Somebody New; 2.  Dangerous Game; 3.  Heartstrings; 4.  Lemonade; 5.  Gravity; 6.  Sunrise; 7.  Animals; 8.  Ghost Town; 9.  Leave in the Summer; 10.  Let Yourself Go; 11.  Sixteen Candles

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Last year we reviewed their EP The Card Table, which also received an Honorable Mention in our list of the best EPs of 2017.  We are now pleased to review their debut full length album, and it is a huge step up from the EP.  This one has song after song that have radio potential, and we believe every station manager (especially college radio) and music supervisor should put this band on your radar.  Their debut single, “Dangerous Game,” is better than ANYTHING on Top 40 radio, and should establish Broken Bellows as the go-to band for 2018.  Other great tracks include “Somebody New,” “Lemonade,” “Gravity,” the pure bliss of “Sunrise,” “the Spandau Ballet-like “Ghost Town” and “Let Yourself Go” and the closing track, “Sixteen Candles.”

Recommendation:  You need to get up and Get this one ASAP!

 

 

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

Get it or forget it – Broken Bellows, Chelsea Williams, Kim DiVine, The Band of Heathens

With today’s four reviews, we have finally caught up on our submissions for albums released through August 31, 2017.  We have a special feature coming up tomorrow before getting back to some live performance reviews.  Enjoy today’s offerings.

Artist Name:  Broken Bellows

Album Name:  The Card Table 

Label:  Fervor Records

Genre:  Alt-pop

Track Listing:  1.  Magic in a Gaze; 2.  Misery; 3.  In the Deep; 4.  Waiting; 5.  Steady Steps

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Broken Bellows bring us dreamy pop with incredible harmonies on their debut EP, The Card Table.  Their sound is truly smooth and their lyrics are thought-provoking and relatable, especially “Misery.”  This band has the goods to make a serious impact on today’s pop music scene, and deserve radio airplay.  “In the Deep” has a great upbeat feel that house DJs could play with to make a great dance track.  All in all, a very worthy first effort with five great songs.  Can’t wait to see what else they have in store for their fans, which we’re sure will be many.

Recommendation:  This is a great release for lovers of pop music.  Just released on August 25, we recommend listeners not waste any more time, but just Get it.

Artist Name:  Chelsea Williams

Album Name:  Boomerang

Label:  Blue Élan Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock/Alt-Country

Track Listing:  1.  Angeles Crest; 2.  Lonely Girl; 3.  Fool’s Gold; 4.  Anything Worth Saving; 5.  Rush; 6.  Six Bottles of Wine; 7.  Little Halo; 8.  Out of Sight, Out of Mind; 9.  Toyota Song; 10.  Don’t Want to die Alone; 11.  Dreamcatcher; 12.  Boomerang; 13.  Angeles Crest Postlude

Publicist:  None

Review:  Chelsea Williams has created quite the legacy in her career.  After seven years of playing the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, she was signed to Interscope Records.  Five years later, she is now with Blue Élan Records, and is releasing her first album on that label.  Although previously known for her simple guitar and vocals, she branches out on this album to include hints of country, blues and Americana in her sound, with an emphasis on smartly written lyrics and impressive musical accompaniment.  Her first single, “Lonely Girl,” is sheer perfection, with screaming guitar riffs and a simple drum beat.  “Anything Worth Saving” has that lilting pop feel of Lenka, while “Rush” reminds us of the incredible Katie Costello. We  really love the swing feel of “Six Bottles of Wine” and the bluesy “Out of Sight, Out of Mind.”  All in all, this is an album full of great songs from start to finish, and worthy of repeated listens.

Recommendation: As with most of the Blue Élan catalog, this one is a keeper.  We strongly encourage you to Get it now.  If you’re lucky enough to be in the Los Angeles area, you can grab one at her CD Release show August 29 at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena.

Artist Name:  Kim DiVine

Album Name:  This Time Around

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Maybe Tomorrow; 2.  This Time Around; 3.  Broken Bird; 4. By Your Side; 5.  Stay; 6.  Fancy Things; 7.  Where I am you Are; 8.  Broken Bird Remix

Publicist:  None

Review:   Kim DiVine is a fiery ball of energy masquerading as a singer-songwriter.  Her songs reflect her beliefs, and are uplifting, thoughtful and introspective.  She keeps her music simple so that the message does not get lost in the melody.  That doesn’t mean her songs don’t have depth, because she is not afraid to use layers when necessary.  It just means that she prefers to let her lyrical content be the focus of her songs by using just the right amount of musical background.  Check out the title track of her latest album, which is further proof that DiVine is one of the best singer-songwriters in the indie community today.   Further evidence is in the form of “Broken Bird,” a soulful song about relationships and knowing when it is time to move on.  We also love the upbeat “By Your Side.”  The rest of the album is just as good, so we’re putting this one on repeat.

Recommendation:  If you like music that inspires you, then This Time Around is one of the best.  Run, don’t walk to your nearest outlet and Get this one now!  If you’re in Los Angeles, she’s having a CD Release show at The Hotel Cafe on August 30.

Artist Name:  The Band of Heathens

Album Name:  Duende

Label:  BOH Records

Genre:  Alt-Country/Roots Rock

Track Listing:  1.  All I’m Asking; 2.  Sugar Queen; 3.  Last Minute Man; 4.  Deep is Love; 5.  Keys to the Kingdom; 6.  Trouble Came Early; 7.  Daddy Longlegs; 8.  Cracking the Code; 9.  Road Dust Wheels; 10.  Green Grass of California; Bonus Track 1.  Out on Each Other; Bonus Track 2.  DC9; Bonus Track 3.  Carry Your Love; Bonus Track 4.  Bessie Smith

Publicist:  Missing Piece Group

Review:  We had heard of this group peripherally, but it wasn’t until we saw them at the River City Roots Festival that we knew we had to review their album.  We secured it on vinyl, which has the same 10 songs that are on the CD, plus four additional tracks.  The release of Duende marks the 10th anniversary of the band, and their fifth studio album.  The word “duende” is defined as a quality of inspiration and passion, and definitely sums up this band, both in their recorded music and their live performance.  They combine elements of Americana, bluegrass, country and rock to create an impressive sound, with well-crafted lyrics that keep the listener engaged.  Their sound is worthy of serious radio air play, as well as placement in television and film.  In other words, this band has it all, and we listeners are the beneficiary of that greatness.  Take our advice, put this one on repeat and dance, dance, dance!

Recommendation:  You must Get this one.  We recommend you go with the vinyl edition so you get 40% more of The Band of Heathens’ greatness.