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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music New Music Friday Reviews

Get it or forget it – New Music Friday vol. 2

We made it through another week, and have some great rewards for you, including the latest by a recent Grammy-nominated artist who is covering the library of a Grammy legend.  Let’s get this weekend started.

Artist NameSarah Lightman

Album NameInterlude

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Interlude; 2.  Let Your Light In; 3.  Graduating 4.  Alright; 5.  Until I see you Again; 6.  Shell; 7.  I Can’t Be; 8.  So Good; 9.  Home; 10.  We are the Same; 11.  Letter to my Father

Publicist:  Elisa Tapia

Review:  Sarah Lightman came to Los Angeles to be an actress but gave it up to become a singer-songwriter.  If her debut album, Interlude, is any indicate, she made the right choice.  Her songs offer hope and are sung with such a sweet voice that the listener can’t help but be drawn up.  Her music deserves heavy rotation on radio stations nationwide, and her songs should be highly considered for placement in television and film.  We especially love “Graduating,” “Until I See You Again” (with its jazzy undertones and amazing co-vocals from WOLVES), “I Can’t Be,” and “So Good.”  She may have made her start performing on the streets of City Walk, but she’s ready for a larger audience.  Don’t miss this train as it leaves the station for super stardom.

Recommendation:  Definitely RUN out and get this one.

Artist NameJimbo Pap

Album Name It can Always get Worse

Label:  Fiesta Red Records

Genre:  California Country/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Submission (Nice Pants); 2.  On my way to the show 3.  Long Kiss Goodbye; 4.  Nothing’s Quite the Same; 5.  Queen of my Lonely Little World; 6.  String of Pearls; 7.  Yard Sale; 8.  Long Time Movin’; 9.  Another Ticket on the Windshield; 10.  It can Always get Worse; 11.  Someone’s Gonna Love me Again

Publicist:  Devious Planet

Review: A recent edition to the Los Angeles Americana scene, Jimbo Pap provides the perfect tongue-in-cheek approach to incorporating their unique blend of country with a folk-style message about current events.  Their voices create incredible harmonies that deliver their message without offending the listener.  You will quickly find yourself tapping along to the beat while you process the words, and will leave with a better understanding of what you can do to improve the world around you.  Don’t forget to grab a beer and tool around the dance floor as well.

Recommendation: A brilliant release that deserves a place in your library – go get it!

Artist NameSarah Rogo

Album NameSmoke and Water

Label:  Funzalo Records

Genre:  Blues/Roots

Track Listing:  1.  Pieces; 2.  Here Goes Nothing; 3.  Smoke and Water; 4.  Will you Still Love me Tomorrow 5.  Run; 6.  Jolene; 7.  Love and be Loved; 8.  Take me to the Water 9.  Which Wolf; 10.  Voodoo Child

Publicist:  Independent Music Media

Review: Hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since we reviewed an album from Sarah Rogo (Live at Lestats West), which was her first album published by Funzalo Records.  She was signed after meeting them at the Durango Songwriters Expo, one of several up and coming superstars that emerged from the annual affair in Denver, Colorado.  From the first notes of “Pieces,” you can quickly hear her maturity and growth as an artist.  She is the voice of a new generation of blues and roots singers, and we believe she is heading for tremendous success.  Her songs cut to the heart and deliver a touching message, accompanying by Rogo’s mad resonator guitar skills.  This one deserves to be on repeat, especially her beautiful interpretations of the classics “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “Jolene.”

Recommendation:  One of the best we’ve heard from any Durango alum – run out and don’t stop until you get this one.

Artist NameJaniva Magness

Album NameChange in the Weather:  Janiva Magness Sings John Fogerty

Label:  Blue Élan Records

Genre:  Blues Covers

Track Listing:  1.  Change in the Weather; 2.  Lodi (ft Sam Morrow); 3.  Someday Never Comes; 4.  Wrote a Song for Everyone; 5.  Don’t you Wish it Were True (ft Taj Mahal); 6.  Have you Ever Seen the Rain 7.  Bad Moon Rising; 8.  Blueboy; 9.  Fortunate Son; 10.  Deja Vu (All Over Again); 11.  A Hundred and Ten in the Shade; 12.  Lookin’ out my Backdoor

Publicist:  MAD Ink PR

Review:  As someone who grew up on the music of John Fogerty and Credence Clearwater Revival, it was quite an honor to be asked to review these amazing covers of those songs we grew to love.  Janiva Magness takes her stellar blues skills to turn these songs into instant blues classics, and we are sure that Fogerty would be totally ok with that.  Our favorites include “Lodi,” “Have you Ever Seen the Rain,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” and “Lookin’ out my Backdoor.”

Recommendation:  If you love Fogerty and the blues, you will simply adore these interpretations.  Run out and get it today!

 

 

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

Get it or forget it – Jay Asher, John Fogerty, Jules Shear, Strange Boy, Jacquie Lee

TGIF!  Are you ready for some great tunes to prepare you for the first weekend of 2018?  We have five more reviews for you today, so here we go!

Artist NameJay Asher

Album Name Honestly

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Playing Detective; 2.  I’ve got the Question Right; 3.  Hurt me Twice; 4.  Show me how you Really Feel; 5.  Norman the Doorman; 6.  Texas Dreaming; 7.  When I was Young; 8.  How Blind can I Be?; 9.  Only Everyday; 10.  Someone Will be Watching

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Jay Asher brings a refreshing breath of fresh air to 70’s pop/rock style music, very reminiscent of early Elton John.  He hits the ground running with “Playing Detective,” before slowing it down to a sweet ballad with “I’ve Got the Question Right.”  He adds a little soul and dance vibe to “Hurt me Twice” and then back to the ballads with “Show me How you Really Feel.”  “Norman the Doorman” is a fun, upbeat pop ditty that would have played well on 70’s radio.  In fact, these songs are perfect for a music supervisor looking for retro-style songs for placement in period television and film.  Our favorite tracks are “Playing Detective,” “Hurt me Twice,” “Norman the Doorman,” “When I Was Young,” and “How Blind can I Be?”

Recommendation:  Definitely get this one.  For those of us who lived through the 70’s, it is a wonderful trip down memory lane.  For the rest, it is just plain good music.

Artist NameJohn Fogerty

Album NameBlue Moon Swamp (20th anniversary vinyl release)

Label:  BMG

Genre:  Classic Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Southern Streamline; 2.  Hot Rod Heart; 3.  Blueboy; 4.  A Hundred and ten in the Shade; 5.  Rattlesnake Highway; 6.  Bring it Down to Jelly Roll; 7.  Walking in a Hurricane; 8.  Swamp River Days; 9.  Rambunctious Boy; 10.  Joy of my Life; 11.  Blue Moon Nights; 12.  Bad bad Boy; 13.  Just Pickin’; 14.  Endless Sleep

Publicist:  MAD Ink PR

Review:  Originally released on May 20, 1997, Blue Moon Swamp won the Grammy for best rock album, despite the fact that it peaked at #37 on the Billboard charts.  In addition, the backing vocals for “Southern Streamline” and “Rambunctious Boy” were supplied by the amazing Lonesome River Band.  The album was remastered and reissued in 2004, and tracks 13 and 14 were added as a bonus.  The 2017 vinyl release uses the concert backdrop from the supporting tour, and retains all the incredibleness of the original release.  For those of us boomers who grew up on the music of Credence Clearwater Revival and the original American Son, John Fogerty, this vinyl release could not have come at a better time.   Memories flood back one by one as the intensely CCR-influenced sound comes across the record player speakers.  This one is a masterpiece, and we are so proud to have been chosen to review this impeccable album.  If you live in or near Las Vegas, or plan to be there January 10-20, we highly recommend you check out Fogerty in concert at Wynn’s  Encore Theatre.

Recommendation:  If you are a true audiophile, and love vinyl, then you simply must Get this one.  Now!

Artist NameJules Shear

Album Name One More Crooked Dance

Label:  Funzalo Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Rules of the Game; 2.  Painkiller; 3.  Be with You; 4.  Don’t Remember; 5.  Guessing; 6.  Looking for Me; 7.  The Hunter and the Hunted; 8.  A Color that Barely Exists; 9.  Oh Marlena; 10.  This Flame; 11.  Half Hearted Head; 12.  When It’s Right; 13.  Wrong Again

Publicist:  Independent Music Media

Review:  If you are a fan of 80’s music, then the name Jules Shear is probably familiar to you, as he wrote Cyndi Lauper’s hit “All Through the Night,” as well as the Bangles’ “If She Knew What She Wants.”  He also hosted and co-created the MTV Unplugged series.  He recently signed with Funzalo Records and released his firm album of new music in many years.  His new music has a very soothing sound, with well-crafted lyrics and simply elegant and jazzy piano accompaniment, with some harmonica thrown in for good measure.  Our favorite tracks are “Don’t Remember,” “Guessing,” “A Color That Barely Exists,” “Oh Marlena,” and “Half Hearted Head.”

Recommendation:  This one is great for all true music lovers.  Check it out and let us know what you think.

Artist NameStrange Boy

Album NameAnnuniciation

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Electronic Ambient

Track Listing:  1.  Annunciation; 2.  Love the Night; 3.  I Won’t say Those Things; 4.  Corbusier

Publicist:  Practise Music

Review:  The vocals stand out as they soar above the simple accompaniment on the first track, “Annunciation,” leaving the listener with a feeling of airiness like a good yoga stretch.  The songs are so complexly constructed but fit together so nicely that it is easy to just sit back, relax and let the music take you on an amazing auditory journey.  It is hard to believe that this is a debut EP because the sound is that of truly accomplished musicians.  It is a bit unusual but no less enjoyable, although it may not have a lot of commercial appeal.  Nevertheless, it is a worthy effort.

Recommendation:  Give these lads a chance.  They deserve it.

Artist NameJacquie

Album NameThe Only One

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop/Soul/R&B

Track Listing:  1.  Am I the Only One; 2.  California Dreaming; 3.  Manipulation; 4.  The Old Me; 5.  For You; 6.  What’s a Girl to Do

Publicist:  SG PR

Review:  You may well remember Jacquie from her appearance on The Voice at the age of 15 where she was mentored by Christina Aguilera.  Immediately signed to a major label after the show, she was not ready for the onslaught of the music business.  Now 20, she is making a comeback as an indie artist with the release of her new EP.   We have featured the music videos for the first two tracks in our Monday Mashup column and are proud to be able to finally review her EP.  Needless to say, we were not disappointed.  This young artist is one of the rising stars in pop music, and should go far with her soul-tinged pop music. “Am I the Only One” is a powerful pop empowerment song with a stunning music video, as is “California Dreaming” (and no, it’s not a cover).  We love how she has taken the painful lessons of the past five years and used them to become stronger and more powerful than she was when she shone on Season 5 of The Voice.  Every song is strong, and we expect any one of them would shine on pop radio.  This

Recommendation:  Don’t think twice.  Grab this one now.  It’s one of the best of 2017.