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Artists Worth Checking Out Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Jeremy Romeo, Marty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra, The Crowleys, Earwig, Kyler England

We made it to Friday and the weekend.  It’s gonna be a busy one for us with opening night of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival tonight.  The opening night movie is Dark Money, the story of how Montana stopped the influx of corporate money in state and local political campaigns.  Governor Bullock will be among the dignitaries attending tonight’s screening, so it should be an interesting evening.  In the meantime, we have five more artists to review, including a couple of our favorites.  Let’s get started.

Artist NameJeremy Romeo

Album NameAll You’re Meant to Be

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock/Country

Track Listing:  1.  This is Home; 2.  Lights of Boston; 3.  Here With You; 4.  Said and Done; 5.  All You’re Meant to Be; 6.  See you Soon

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  Aussie Jeremy Romeo is a rising star in his own country and ready to expand his musical reach to America.  He has a sound similar to Keith Urban meets the Plain White T’s, a mixture of pop, rock and country.  His songs are well crafted and his unique soaring voice is perfectly suited to this type of music.  All six songs are great and deserve attention for American radio station managers.  Don’t be surprised to see Romeo become the latest Aussie musician to make it in America.

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you check out this rising star before he becomes too big and  Get his EP.

Artist NameMarty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra

Album NameStereoscope

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Roots

Track Listing:  1.  Firmament; 2.  Southern Road; 3.  Ghost; 4.  Fish in a Rut; 5.  Come and go Heartbeat; 6.  Hard Time Killing Floor Blues; 7.  Stereoscope; 8.  Off and on Again; 9.  Let the Wind In; 10.  Battlefields; 11.  Spacehorse

Publicist:  Big Picture Media

Review:  Just when you think you’ve heard everything possible within the roots/Americana genre, a group like Marty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra reinvent the genre.  Mixing elements of blues, swing, country and traditional Americana into their own unique style is what makes this group a driving force in the Americana community, and this album a preview of what is yet to come to one of the most interesting and diverse genres in American music.  With raspy vocals, often discordant strings, a driving rhythm section, songs that tell a story and the accompanying soundtrack to vividly paint the picture, we are impressed with the quality and foresight of this album.  We love this album, but our favorites are “Southern Road,” “Ghost,” “Fish in a Rut,” “Off and on Again,” “Battlefields,” and “Spacehorse.”

Recommendation:  This album is great for those music lovers that like to be on the cutting edge.  We recommend you Get this one.

Artist NameThe Crowleys

Album NameColours Change Their Tones

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Pink Rainbows; 2.  Midnight Blue; 3.  Stargazer; 4.  Girl What; 5.  L.A. Sunset; 6.  Pansy Party Extravaganza

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:   The Crowleys bring us cosmic electronic pop, with airy sounds that soar above the music, creating an audio and visual picture that is all too vivid.  We only wish there were more than six songs to enjoy.  These songs would be excellent placement material for television and movies, and music supervisors would be wise to check out their entire catalog of musical treasures.  For music lovers, the uniqueness of their sound will make a welcome addition to your personal music library.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.  It will grow on you.

Artist NameEarwig

Album NameGibson Under Mountain

Label:  Lizard Family Music

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Trees; 2.  Star Cross’d; 3.  Not About You; 4.  Her Heart; 5.  Lovesong Cockroach; 6.  Sleepyhead; 7.  Next Christmas; 8.  Glorious & Gloom; 9.  Wicked; 10.  Shiny Morning; 11.  Rumplestiltskin

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This album was originally released back in 2011, but the band has decided to remix it and release it again this month, in anticipation of a brand new album to be released later this year.  It was originally mixed and produced by Mike Landolt, who has also done great work with Maroon 5 and the Spin Doctors, and contains several tracks that are radio-ready, reminiscent of the Gin Blossoms and the Spin Doctors.  Earwig has always been an underground favorite, and maybe the attention that is sure to come will help elevate them to a more recognizable and household band.  The band’s high intensity rock is evident from the beginning of the first track, “Trees,” and continues throughout this album.  Our favorites include “Star Cross’d,” “Not About You,” “Sleepyhead,” “Next Christmas,” “Wicked,” and “Shiny Morning.”

Recommendation:  This is the indie rock band of the future, available now.  Don’t miss this opportunity to Get one of their best offerings.

Artist NameKyler England

Album NameThe Wilderness

Label:  Gypsy Rock Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Best is yet to Come; 2.  Little Light; 3.  Holding up the Sky; 4.  Never Gonna get Over You; 5.  Give up the Ghost

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Kyler England has been a successful singer-songwriter in Los Angeles long  before she joined up with two of her friends, Gabriel Mann and Adrienne Gonzales to form The Rescues.  The release of this new EP about heartbreak and healing comes on the one year anniversary of finding out she was going to have a baby.  She transparently discusses her infertility and pregnancy loss on the way to having her son.   All five songs are incredible, as we have come to expect from England.  The songs would also easily translate into the three-part harmonies of The Rescues.  As England so aptly says in the first track, “The Best is Yet to Come.”  We can hardly wait for her next inspired tracks.

Recommendation:  Don’t think twice.  Get this one now!

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Get it or forget it: Ray & Remora, Riddle & the Stars, Earwig

Happy Monday – it was a very busy weekend between my full-time job, ushering at the Griz game (which we won), and auditions for A Christmas Story, the Musical at MCT.  But we’re back with another edition of Get it or Forget it, and we think you will love these artists as much as we do.  Grab your coffee and let’s dig in.

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Artist NameRay & Remora

Album NameStartle it Up

Label:  Aeronaut Records

Genre:  Indie Pop, Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  The Happening; 2.  Hearts do Change; 3.  It’s Just; 4.  Startle it Up; 5.  Soft Brown Heart; 6.  Don’t Shoot me Down; 7.  Histories; 8.  Honey Beware; 9.  Creep Up; 10.  Skinned Knees; 11.  Baby Please 

Publicist:  Redeye Worldwide

Review:  It is a rare feat for a band to have a killer debut album, but Ray & Remora have achieved that difficult task.  Composed of Dan Crane (Ray) and Amanda Walker (Remora), along with new additions Jeff Liffmann and Damon Kellard, Ray & Remora have created a sound that is the perfect soundtrack for your day.   Remora’s vocals are the treat of this duo, spread across the delightful package of the band’s extreme musicianship.  This CD will have you doing the happy dance, as every song is wonderfully produced by Jon Joseph (BØrns) and mixed by Bryan Cook.  Best tracks include “The Happening,” the title track, “Don’t Shoot me Down,” “Histories,” and “Honey Beware.”

Recommendation:  By any means necessary, you must obtain this CD for your collection.  Indie Voice Blog is proud to give Ray & Remora’s debut album a very strong Get It rating.

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Artist NameRiddle & the Stars

Album Name New Coastline

Label:  Songs & Whispers

Genre:  Alt-Country Rock Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Running Back to You; 2.  I may Never Know; 3.  Long way Down; 4.  Apples & Knives; 5.  New Coastline; 6.  Mexican Home; 7.  Valentines Day; 8.  Tracks; 9.  When we Ride; 10.  When the Weight is Gone 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Orange County, California based duo The Fallen Stars met Australian singer-songwriter Ben Riddle last year when they were both touring in Europe, and the result was the creation of a new and dynamic band which is currently touring Germany.  Their latest release New Coastline has been garnering critical praise, and this reviewer agrees with the hype – Riddle & The Stars is an amazing band.   Riddle’s smooth voice is the perfect addition to the rocking musicianship of Bobbo and Tracy Byrnes, and creates music that spans the genres of alt country, indie rock, country rock and Americana.   All three share the lead vocal duties, resulting in an album that never gets boring.  Best tracks include “Running Back to You,” “I May Never Know,” “Apples & Knives,” the title track, and “Valentine’s Day.”

Recommendation:   German label Songs & Whispers recognized the greatness of this band, and signed them to their label.  America needs to wake up to this international American-Australian treasure, and cherish their music as well.  We are proud to give this album a rating of “Get your ass out and get it now.”

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Artist NameEarwig

Album NamePause for the Jets

Label:  Anyway Records/LFM Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Wisdom Teeth; 2.  Lover’s Chords; 3.  I Don’t Want to Go; 4.  Bring Yrself 2 Me; 5.  Silverheels; 6.  Medusa Head; 7.  High Wasps; 8.  Holy Ghost Letter; 9.  Wasted on you (ft. Lydia Loveless); 10.  All my Sins are Blotted Out; 11.  Shine; 12.  Badr Moon 

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  This latest album from Columbus, Ohio based indie rock band Earwig won’t be released until October 14, although you can get a sample of what’s in store with their latest music video for “Wasted on You.”  The band has joined with Americana darling Lydia Loveless (currently on tour with Drive By Truckers) to create a fun and exciting single that gives just a taste of the awesomeness contained in the full album.

Led by the amazing guitar and vocals of Lizard McGee, Earwig is one of the best indie rock bands you need to know and follow.  Add to that the incredible bass lines from Constantine Hondroulis and the percussive base of drummer Nick Nocera, and you have a sound that is truly worthy of major attention.  Best tracks include “Lover’s Chords,” “I Don’t Want to Go,” “Wasted on You,” “Shine” and “Badr Moon.”

Recommendation:  What starts out as a solid indie rock album morphs into something strangely different in the middle before returning to its indie rock roots at the end.  Despite this shortcoming, there is enough juicy material to make it worthwhile, and to earn Pause for the Jets a rating of Get it.