Welcome back for another week of Get it or Forget it. Crunch time is here and we still have more than 50 reviews to complete before the end of the month so we can create our nominations list for the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2018. Nominations will be announced on June 8. Here we go with our next five artists.
Artist Name: Thanks Light
Album Name: Terrifire
Label: Enjoy Ears Records
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Alligator Tears; 2. Healer; 3. I’ve Seen Hell; 4. Your Policeman; 5. ON TAPE; 6. Croquet Mallet; 7. The Gulf is Calling (Redux)
Publicist: Enjoy Ears Records
Review: Thanks Light hits the ground running with their latest release, Terrifire, bring a new intensity to indie rock. The tunes are radio friendly, with potential for placement opportunities in television and film. They have a distinctive sound that seems to be heavily influenced by the Beatles, especially The White Album. We love the entire album, but really dig “Healer,” “ON TAPE” and “Croquet Mallett”
Recommendation: Definitely worth a listen. Check them out today.
Artist Name: 1099
Album Name: Blindpassasjer
Label: All Good Clean Records
Genre: Instrumental Prog Rock
Track Listing: 1. Silverdal; 2. Tundra; 3. Osiris; 4. Under Isen; 5. Blindpassasjer; 6. For Seg Selv; 7. En Druknet Verden; 8. Tel Jorden; 9. Det Britiske Imperiet; 10. Kontinental; 11. Lausanne; 12. Vintersøvn
Publicist: Viral Propaganda PR
Review: Prog Rock has a new standard bearer, and it comes from Norway. This is an album you put on and listen from start to finish, and it will provide the perfect musical backdrop to any summer events. It is energetic but still relaxing, helping to set the mood while you chill. Every song is worthy of a complete listen, and the album contains over an hour of fresh music. It will appeal to all lovers of rock, from the soft to the heavy, there is something for everyone. We really love the title track.
Recommendation: Get this one and enjoy.
Artist Name: Em Joy
Album Name: The Wanderings
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk/Pop Singer-Songwriter
Track Listing: 1. Caramel; 2. Shalala; 3. The Feast; 4. Sleepy Head; 5. Treehouse; 6. Beautiful; 7. Hilltops; 8. Daily Bread
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Born in Zimbabwe, Em Joy has lived in Australia and is currently based in Europe. Were she in the States, she would be the perfect complement to The Hotel Cafe’ sound of artists like Ingrid Michaelson, Lenka and Sara Bareilles. Her voice is sweet like cream, and her songs beg for radio airplay, as well as placements in television and film. From the first notes of “Caramel,” it is obvious that she could be very successful here in America. There isn’t a weak song on the album, and we really love “Caramel,” “The Feast,” “Treehouse, “Beautiful,” and “Hilltops.”
Recommendation: Don’t even think about this one, just Get it and prepare to be wowed.
Artist Name: The Spider Accomplice
Album Name: Los Angeles: The Dichotomy
Label: Self-released
Genre: Alt Rock
Track Listing: 1. The Fall of the Copper Queen; 2. Shadowstars; 3. Swallow; 4. End my Life; 5. Epilogue
Publicist: Manager Mary E. Zimmer
Review: The Spider Accomplice is the best band in America that you may not have heard about. Their latest is the third part of a trilogy of EPs that have garnered critical praise and won the band a mind-boggling nine LA Music Critic Awards. Los Angeles: The Dichotomy will surely add to that total. As with their second EP, Los Angeles: The Abduction, the first song provides the perfect segue between the two EPs, and once again cements VK Lynne as The Voice of the alternative rock world. The band is not afraid of controversial topics, but embraces them and spreads their message of hope to everyone searching for victory in a world gone mad. The EP is meant to be listened to as a cohesive unit, and we strongly encourage you to listen to all three back to back. That being said, “Swallow,” is an amazing song that can stand on its own merits. We can’t wait to see what they have planned for their next project.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see them perform whenever you can. We had hoped to have them at the LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase at The Mint on June 19, but the timing was off. In the meantime, check out their music video for their lead single, “Swallow,” which was released last Christmas and which was featured in our first Monday Mashup of 2018.
Recommendation: What are you waiting for? Get this one NOW!
Artist Name: Gerry Spehar
Album Name: Anger Management
Label: Self-released
Genre: Country/Folk
Track Listing: 1. Thank you Donald; 2. Son of an Immigrant; 3. Anger Management; 4. A Soldier’s Spiritual; 5. Pearl Harbor; 6. Carnival; 7. Bitch Heaven; 8. Except for the Bomb; 9. Barrier Reef; 10. Greed; 11. Freedom to Grab; 12. What Would Jesus Do?
Publicist: KG Music Press
Review: We had the pleasure of reviewing Gerry Spehar’s debut album last August, and have been eagerly anticipating his sophomore effort. Spehar did not disappoint. His down-home country sound and his superb writing skills are clearly evident, regardless of how you feel about his politics, as evidenced by the tongue-in-cheek tune, “Thank you Donald.” His folky style continues to remind us of Woody Guthrie (check out “Bitch Heaven”), and he obviously knows the importance of words in any battle of beliefs. He is also adept at creating the perfect musical soundtrack to complement his lyrics, such as he did on “Carnival.” We believe that just about every music lover will find something to like on this project. Give it a listen!
Recommendation: Once again, Spehar delivers a jewel of folk music with a country flair. We recommend you Get this one.
