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

Get it or forget it – The Fleeting Ends, Computer Magic, Violetta Zironi, Red Lama, Everett Bird

February has sure flown by.  Hard to believe tomorrow is March already, and within another week, we’ll be rolling the clocks forward an hour to start Daylight Savings Time.  Good thing there are so many great new indie releases to share.  Here are another five for your review.

Artist NameThe Fleeting Ends

Album Name I Know you Lie ‘Coz so do I

Label:  MilkBoy Recording

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  20 Something; 2.  2die4; 3.  How Much Longer; 4.  Waiting for the Drop; 5.  Prove It; 6.  Life’s a Shortcut; 7.  Ache; 8.  Juniper

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Straight forward indie rock with pop hooks describes the music of The Fleeting Ends on their latest effort.  The songs are radio friendly, with a catchy melody and lyrics.  They have a style similar to groups like Maroon 5 and One Direction.   Their songs would also be appealing to music supervisors, especially “2die4,” “How Much Longer,” “Prove It” and “Juniper.”   We believe these Philly boys are in this business for the long haul, and we expect great things from them in the future.  Best cuts include “2die4,” “How Much Longer,”  “Waiting for the Drop,” “Prove It” (with its amazing acoustic guitar), “Ache” and “Juniper” (which has the same amazing acoustic guitar as “Prove it.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get it.

Artist NameComputer Magic

Album NameDANZ

Label:  Channel 9 Records

Genre:  Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  Amnesia; 2.  Nebraskaland; 3.  Ordinary Life (Message from an A.I. Girlfriend); 4.  Delirium (Don’t Follow the Sheep); 5.  Teegra; 6.  Perfect Game; 7.  Data; 8.  Space and Time/ Pale Blue Dot; 9.  Drift Away; 10.  Clouds

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Although not a huge fan of electronic music, Computer Magic aka Danielle Johnson does have a unique approach in using synthesized computer sound to provide the musical backdrop to her singer-songwriter lyrics.  This is why she has achieve success in such countries as Japan and had her songs placed in commercials for Panasonic and QP Half.  She is a true DIY professional, recording all her music in her own studio for her own label.  She also does all the design work for her nine previous EPs and four albums, as well as her merchandise.  Her music does have an 80’s vibe, as best demonstrated on “Ordinary Life (Message from an A.I. Girlfriend).”

Recommendation:  Give this one a try, purely because of its uniqueness.

Artist NameVioletta Zironi

Album NameHalf Moon Lane

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Folk Rock/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Toast; 2.  Muddy Fields; 3.  Half Moon Lane; 4.  Song with Felix; 5.  Don’t Make me a Fool; 6.  Let’s get Lost

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Italian songstress Violetta Zironi, though only 22 years old, has an old soul that understands the Americana music scene.  Her songs are well constructed and fit perfectly into this decidely American musical genre.  Her sweet, lilting voice floats on top of the musical accompaniment, soothing the listener.  Both of her previously released singles, “Toast” and “Don’t Make me a Fool” are incredible songs perfect for radio airplay, as well as potential placement in television and film.  She landed a label deal, but realized that her songs were not her own, and did not speak what was in her heart, and decided to do it independently.  We wholeheartedly support this decision, and believe that this young lady will have a very promising and successful career in the States.  We can’t wait to hear what’s coming next.  We also love the flute work in the title cut, as well as the simplicity of the closing tune, “Let’s Get Lost.”

Recommendation:  You simply must Get this one.

Artist Name Red Lama

Album NameMotions

Label:  All Good Clean Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:    1.  Perfect Strangers; 2.  Awakening (ft. Bjonko); 3.  Post Optimism; 4.  Have a Great Today; 5.  Come What May; 6.  Fular; 7.  Wave; 8.  Elements I; 9.  Elements II

Publicist:  Viral Propaganda PR

Review:  The international music scene continues to impress us, and this band from Denmark is a prime example.  They have a rocking sound that is fresh and perfect for American radio.  The production is pristine, allowing every nuance of the music to come through crystal clear.  The songs are well-crafted masterpieces, cemented by the soaring vocals.  This one hits the ground running and never lets up.  In many ways they remind us of U2 at their prime during the Joshua Tree period,  Our favorite cuts include “Perfect Strangers,” the amazing instrumentation of “Awakening,” “Have a Great Today,” “Come What May,” “Fular,” and “Elements II.”

Recommendation:  Definitely worth checking out.

Artist Name Everett Bird

Album NamePeople Person

Label:  Royal Mountain Records

Genre:  Indie Rock/Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  A Blessing in da Sky; 2.  Lizard; 3.  Bucket of Dark Meat; 4.  Paranoid; 5.  My Town; 6.  Shred City Nights; 7.  Plug; 8.  2Mac; 9.  Slitherin’

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  If all we had to go by was the first track, then we would have immediately given this a “Forget it” rating.  Thank goodness it gets better after that horrible first song.  The band settles into a strong indie rock groove on “Lizard,” which continues with their single “Bucket of Dark Meat” (which we featured in our Monday Mashup column),   The best songs are “Paranoid,” “Plug,” “2Mac” and “Slitherin’.”    If you love high energy, in your face rock, you will probably like “My Town” and “Shred City Nights.”

Recommendation:  Overall, the album is worthy of your consideration, however, be prepared to skip a few songs, depending on whether you like the softer reflective or harder rock style of music.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Hollywood Fringe Festival LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 7

Mother Nature has made it clear these past few days that she’s not ready for spring yet here in Montana, as we have been bombarded with snow, high winds and sub-zero temperatures.  Regardless of the weather, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival kicked off last Friday night with a sold-out screening of the film Dark Money, attended by our very own Governor.  Attendance at other screenings on Saturday, Sunday and today have been high, including quite a few sell-outs, including Forever B, the one I attended tonight about kidnap victim Jan Broberg, a child kidnap victim and author of Loss of Innocence.

We have a bit of news for you today, as well as four new singles and three new music videos, so let’s get to it.

DIANA REIN LAUNCHES CROWD-FUNDING CAMPAIGN

Referred to as the “The Six-String Siren,” LA Music Critic Award winner Diana Rein has announced the launch of a crowd-funding campaign for her upcoming album, Queen Of My Castle. The follow-up to her critically-lauded 2016 release Long Road, Queen Of My Castle is being co-produced by Michael Leasure (drummer extraordinaire with the Walter Trout Band).

“The new album is a collection of 15 songs, with one of those songs being a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan,” says Rein, just back from representing Guitar Girl Magazine at the 2018 NAMM Conference.  Rein is the featured artist for the month of April in their 2018 Calendar.  “There’s a lot of traditional blues, as well as high energy, upbeat, and blues-rock songs that I know you guys will love. This album will be lucky #3 for me and my first full-band album.  I loved making my last record on my own, but I am really looking forward to challenging myself this time around and collaborating with the pros.”

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL NEWS

The Hollywood Fringe Festival is getting ready for their ninth run June 7-24, and is looking for interns and volunteers, specifically in the areas of Fringe Central Set Design, Events, Volunteer Coordinator and Cabaret.  Interning with the Fringe is the best way to get hands on experience behind the scenes of the largest performing arts festival in the west.  Interns work directly with Fringe staff to help run various aspects of the festival.  Click the link for position details.  If you are interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to internships@hollywoodfringe.org.  Please specify which position you are interested in.  The deadline to apply is April 1.

NEW SINGLES

Here’s the first single from the forthcoming album People Person by Everett Bird.  The single is entitled “Bucket of Dark Meat,” and we think you’ll like it.  It is different from many of the songs featured here, so get ready to try something new.

https://soundcloud.com/royalmountain/03-bucket-of-dark-meat/s-5vsqk?in=royalmountain/sets/everett-bird-people-person/s-TOwD8

Next up is “The Monster” from LA based garage rock band Bird Concerns.  This one truly rocks.

Our third single today is from folk singer songwriter Brown Kid.  It is definitely a step down energy wise from the previous song, but it is different enough to pass on to you.  The song is entiled “Sunrise” and we want to hear your feedback.

https://soundcloud.com/brown_kid_music/sunrise-single

Our final single today is from another LA Music Critic Award winner, Sleep Machine.  They are releasing their newest album one song at a time.  Here is “Mother.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our favorite Italian rock band is back with another hot video.  Check out “Never Obey” from Black Mamba.  We guarantee this one will rock your sock.

Our next video is the latest from Allison Iraheta and Mathew Hager, aka Halo Circus.  It is a video for their single “Narcissist,” which we debuted two weeks ago.  Please let us know what you think.

Blue Élan Records continues to bring back classic bands, and the latest to return is Fanny Walked the Earth.  Here is the video for “Lured Away,” their first single in 34 years.