Happy New Music Friday! Two of today’s releases dropped last Friday, one this past Tuesday and two today. We think this is a very diverse and eclectic blend and hope you enjoy and check out these amazing artists.
Artist Name: YODOK III
Album Name: This Earth we Walk Upon
Label: Consouling Sounds
Genre: Avant Garde Rock
Track Listing: 1, This Earth we Walk Upon
Publicist: Viral Propaganda PR
Review: This is a one-song live album that lasts for 63 minutes. During that time, you will hear a myriad of musical styles, including jazz, post(rock) and classical, among others. You can feel the adrenaline that runs through the piece, much like listening to a highly emotional classical suite. All together, this magical tapestry takes your ears to places they’ve never been before, and keeps your senses enthralled with the changing aural landscape. Make sure you have plenty of time to grasp all the nuances of this music. This one make take several listens to grasp its totality.
Recommendation: If you love classical and rock music, you can now enjoy them in a combined format. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Artist Name: iridea
Album Name: agitationist
Label: A&R Records
Genre: Metal
Track Listing: 1. Centaurus; 2. Flint Slope; 3. Geometry; 4. Juxtapose; 5. Release
Publicist: The A&R Department
Review: iridea is an Australian band composed of brothers Matthew and Daniel Headland. They take their metal serious, and build these five songs as if they were prog rock. The music is intense and the screamo is mixed with spoken word to form an eerie and profound statement. Their sound is not for the faint of heart, as it will pound your head and electrify your ears.
Recommendation: If you love metal music, this is the album for you.
Artist Name: Jason Robert
Album Name: The Death of Stone Stanley
Label: Self-released
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. All I Need; 2. Good Vibes; 3. Hereafter; 4. John the Revelator; 5. Moonshiner; 6. Mr. Bell; 7. Never Gonna Die; 8. Sat Around; 9. Soul of a Man; 10. Woke up This Morning; 11. You Gotta Move
Publicist: Doug Deutsch Publicity Services
Review: Jason Robert was formerly the driving force behind Stone Stanley. On his debut solo album, he uses the inspiration of the Mojave High Desert to create Mudstomp Music, a fusion of 30’s Delta Blues and 90’s Grunge rock. We have already featured a pair of these songs, “Mr. Bell” (which earned an LA Music Critic Award nomination for Best Video (Male) for the second half of 2018) and “John the Revelator” (which was featured in our first Monday Mashup of 2019. This is an album with much to say and an incredible way to say it, and is definitely one of the finest albums released to date in 2019. If it took the death of Stone Stanley for the brilliance of Jason Robert to emerge, then may they rest in peace – the resulting art was worth it.
Recommendation: Run out and Get this one – it will appeal to all of your senses.
Artist Name: Bettman & Halpin
Album Name: 1000 Miles
Label: Fiddlin Lizard Records
Genre: Americana/Folk
Track Listing: 1. Take me Home Country Roads; 2. A Million Hearts; 3. Don’t let it get you Down; 4. Cherokee Rose; 5. In Pain; 6. Banjo Boogie Stomp Stomp; 7. Keep on Singing; 8. Mama Don’t you Cry; 9. Reflections; 10. Eastbound to Westville; 11. Go on High; 12. Spirits in the Shadows; 13. Diggin’ in the Dirt; 14. Stone County Breakdown
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Fiddler, songwriter and vocalist Stephanie Bettman and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Luke Halpin are two of the most dynamic singer-songwriters and musicians to ever create an album. We love this quote from their Facebook page: “Some have said Bettman & Halpin is what would happen if Joan Baez had a lovechild with Charlie Daniels. . . With roots in both bluegrass and classical music, Bettman & Halpin bring unforgettable soaring vocals and virtuosic instrumentation to their original Americana Folk Music.” Along the way, they have won a myriad of competitions, including the 2008 SoCal Music Live acoustic competition, the 2007 Topanga Banjo/Fiddle contest, and been selected one of Folk Works Top 10 LA-based female singer-songwriters as well as one of Music Connection Magazine‘s Top 25 New Music Critiques, both in 2008. Their latest project brings all of this out, and reveals a duo that prove that the finished product is so much more than the sum of its parts. We love every track on this album, especially the impressive cover of John Denver‘s “Take me Home Country Roads” and the amazing vocal harmonies on “Don’t let it get you Down.”
Recommendation: Drop everything and go Get this one. You won’t want to stop listening. This one is perfect for your next road trip.
Artist Name: Y La Bamba
Album Name: Mujeres
Label: Tender Loving Empire
Genre: Latin Psychedelic Rock
Track Listing: 1, My Death; 2. Real Talk; 3. Cuatro Crazy; 4. Conocidos; 5. Lightning Storms; 6. Dieciséis; 7. Boca Llena; 8. Perder; 9. Mujeres; 10. Una Letra; 11. Santa Sal; 12. Bruja de Brujas; 13. Follow Your Feet; 14. De Lejos (bonus track)
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: This project highlights the sound of this Portland-based band, and shows their firm grasp on their Mexican-American heritage, and the role of Mexican-American women like singer-songwriter Luz Elena Mendoza in today’s America. The title track, an anthem for female empowerment, was highlighted by NPR as “a battle cry against machismo.” It is one of a host of amazing tracks on this album which demand your attention. You cannot listen to this album and not be moved, as the music and the lyrics make a powerful political statement. Listen to this one over and over to capture all of its subtle nuances. You will come away a changed person.
Recommendation: This album demands your attention. Unless you intend to be Switzerland, take a stand and Get this one today.