Tag: Scarlett Taylor

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

Get it or forget it – Head Honchos, Ben Rice, Americana Kitchen, Scarlett Taylor, SKAND

Wow, the race for the LA Music Critic Award 2018-2 Fan Favorite has come to a close, and the final results may surprise you when they are revealed next Friday, along with the rest of the winners for the second half of 2018.  Next week we will also reveal our favorite albums of 2018 and our final Monday Mashup, as well as our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos released in December.  It’s going to start the new year off with an indie bang, so make sure you catch every article by subscribing to our blog.  In the meantime, here are our final reviews for 2018.

Artist Name:  Head Honchos

Album Name:  Bring it on Home

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Not for Me; 2.  Old and Tired; 3.  Work; 4.  Come Strong; 5.  Next to You; 6.  Mean old World; 7.  Fire on the Bayou; 8.  Lucky’s Train’ 9.  Whiskey Devil; 10.  That Driving Beat; 11.  99 1-2 Won’t Do; 12.  Going Down; 13.  Soul Free

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  The blues are a dynamic art form, and when they are rocking they are even better.  Head Honchos truly deliver on both accounts in their latest release, Bring it on Home, with 13 outstanding blues rock tracks.  Every one is worthy of attention, making these songs perfect for radio airplay and placement consideration for television and film.  The blues guitar will grab your attention while the smoky vocals will keep your toes tapping and your ears on full alert.  This one belongs on repeat.  Even though it was released back in July, we think it will become a timeless part of your collection.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one if you love a rocking blues beat.

Artist Name:  Ben Rice

Album Name:  Wish the World Away

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Roots/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Dirt Road Home; 2.  Peace will Overcome; 3.  Retreat; 4.  Mojo Hand; 5.  Wish the World Away; 6.  The One That Got Away; 7.  Hard Times; 8.  If you Ever Change Your Mind; 9.  Higher Ground; 10.  Run Around; 11.  Oh Lord; 12.  Get There; 13.  Don’t Worry Mama

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  Although this album was likewise released back in July, it is still on the major roots charts, and was #9 on the Roots Music Report released on December 22.   This album is down home roots, from the resonator guitar to the foot tambourine to the soulful vocals and folky lyrics.  He has strong lyrical content, with such on point songs as “Peace will Overcome.”  Other songs we loved include the soulful country pop tune “Retreat,” the delta blues sound of “Mojo Hand,” the amazing duet “Wish the World Away,” the bluesy “Hard Times,” the remarkable reworked cover of Stevie Wonder‘s hit “Higher Ground,” the harmonica laced “Run Around,” and the driving “Get There.”

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one!  It is becoming a classic!

Artist Name:  Americana Kitchen

Album Name:  Come and Get it

Label:  Junk Records

Genre:  Music Compilation (various genres)

Track Listing:  Side 1:  1.  Hard Love (ver 1); 2.  New World; 3.  You Better Think Twice (ver 1); 4.  Blood of the Blues (ver 1); 5.  Run Little Red; 6.  In Real Life; 7.  Living Out Loud (ver 1); 8.  The Christmas Song (ver 1); 9.  Catch That Train (ver 2); 10.  Blood of the Blues (ver 3); Side 2:  1.   All Dressed Up; 2.  Hard Love (ver 2); 3.  Living Out Loud (ver 2); 4.  Just Fine for Now; 5.  The Christmas Song (ver 2); 6.  So Tired of Running; 7.  You Better Think Twice (ver 2); 8.  Jesus, I’ve Got a Friend in You; 9.  Catch That Train (ver 1); 10.  Blood of the Blues (ver 2)

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  Danny Johnson wrote all of the songs on this amazing compilation that features “the best local musicians in San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles,” according to the album’s cover.  Johnson brought these musicians together to explore different sounds for his songs, two of which we previously shared with you in last week’s Monday Mashup.  “Hard Love,” “Better Think Twice,” “Living out Loud,” “The Christmas Song,” and “Catch That Train” are featured twice while “Blood of the Blues” has three different versions.  The remaining seven songs are each featured once.  There are a myriad of musical styles represented, ranging from Pop Rock, Cabaret Jazz, Funk and R&B to  to Modern Jazz, Broadway, Blues, Bluegrass and Rock ‘n Roll.    These resulting 20 songs show that Johnson is a prolific writer who sounds great in any genre.  Our favorites include “Blood of the Blues” (ver 1), “In Real Life,” “Living out Loud” (ver 1), “Catch That Train (both versions), “All Dressed Up,”  “Hard Love” (ver 2), and “So Tired of Running.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.  It has something for everyone.

Artist Name:  Scarlett Taylor

Album Name:  Crystal Poles

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Crystal Poles; 2.  Lakehouse; 3.  July 2nd; 4.  Independent; 5.  Left him at the Party

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We discovered this amazing artist back in 2016 when we reviewed her second album Churches.  We reviewed her again in 2017 when she released her EP III, and featured her music video for “I Can Fly” (from III) in our third Monday Mashup of this year.  Hard to believe she’s only 21 and already has recorded two albums and three EPs since turning 18.  She continues to blossom with each subsequent project, and still has not reached her potential.  As we previously pointed out, her music is dark but still pop, and worthy of consideration for placements in television and movies, although her lyrics this time around are more explicit than they have been in the past.  We still love them, as they are the perfect complement to our current collection.

Recommendation:  This artist continues to mature and deliver powerful songs.  We highly recommend adding her to your collection.

Artist Name:  SKAND

Album Name:  DIVE

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Stuck on the Floor; 2.  Shake me Up; 3.  Peaceful Love; 4.  Cycle Cycle; 5.  Down to my River; 6.  Have you Play with Me (live)

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This dynamic duo has amazing harmonies that lift these well-crafted songs into the pop stratosphere.  The songs have a classic rock sound underlying the soaring vocals, with lyrics that tell a story about the various cycles of our lives.  The songs stand on their own but taken as a concept, they each tell a portion of the story, enticing the listener to pay attention to each individual track.  This one is going to take numerous listens to capture all the nuances of their lyrics and their spectacular vocals.

Recommendation:  Don’t miss this one – this duo is definitely going places!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018 – vol. 3

Welcome to the third week of 2018.  We have enjoyed so much music already this year, and look forward to what is still to come.  We’ve got some news for you today, as well as three new singles and three new music videos for you to check out.  Here we go!

BANDSINTOWN ANNOUNCES “BIG BREAK” EMERGING ARTIST PROGRAM

The concert discovery app Bandsintown has announced a new data-driven program called “Big Break.”  The first bands selected are Foxtrax from Los Angeles, Minke from London, Peach Pit from Vancouver and Sisters from Seattle.

Artists selected will receive promotion across Bandsintown’s digital newtwork, as well as customized editorial, in-app features, brand partnerships tour and special showcase opportunities, and social media promotion.  The program will spotlight 50 artists during the coming year.

Artists will be selected from those using the Bandsintown app, so create your account today if you want to be considered.

DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR COMPETITION

The Unsignedonly.com competition, open to any indie artist not signed to a major label, is drawing to a close.  The deadline for entry is this Wednesday, January 24, 2018.   Prizes include a Grand Prize of $20,000, plus mentoring by record label executives, top industry managers, major booking agencies and more.

Categories include AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Americana, Christian, Country, EDM, Folk/Singer- Songwriter, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop/Top 40, Screen Shot (songs suitable for placement in film/TV/advertising/gaming), Teen (artists 18 years old or younger) and Vocal Performance.

You can enter by clicking here.

NEW SINGLES

First up today is “Warning Signs,” a single set to be released this Friday by Italian songwriter An Early Bird.  Let us know what you think.

Our second single is actually a double release, “For You”/”Por Ti” and comes courtesy of Nina Diaz, the lead singer of punk rock trio Girl in a Coma.  The first song is English and the second is the Spanish adaptation.  We think you’ll like this one.

Our last new single for you today is from Santa Cruz based punk rock band Craig’s Brother, and is their first new song in seven years.  Check out “Meilynn’s Song,” from their new IVM compilation Family & Friends Sampler.

https://soundcloud.com/indievisionmusic/craigs-brother-meilynns-song/s-rdbQ9

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Moving on to some new videos, check out this amazing one from Scarlett Taylor for her song “I Can Fly.”  It’s a dark tune with an impressive musical soundtrack.  Let us know what you think.

Our second video is a lot more upbeat and features some stirring cinematography of the Calgary skyline.  Check out “Follow Me” from The Raven and the Fox.

Our final video today is from the new Accomplice One album by Tommy Emmanuel, which we will be reviewing shortly.  Here’s he joined by Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo on the song, “Djangology,” which was recorded at the Abdala Studio in Havana, Cuba.  Have a great week!

 

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

Get it or forget it: Maita, Scarlett Taylor, Garrison Starr, Vacant Home

Now that the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2017 have been put to bed, we can begin looking at submissions for the second half.  With the exception of Maita’s Waterbearer, these albums will be considered for the second half awards, even though they were technically released in June 2017.  They were unfortunately overlooked in the nearly 100 submissions for the first half, so we are giving them a fresh look now.

Artist Name:  Maita

Album Name:  Waterbearer

Label:  Maita Music

Genre:  Folk/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Kinder Than Most; 2.  Geography; 3.  Too Tired to Love You; 4.  Burned Out Has Been; 5.  Waterbearer

 Publicist:  None

Review:  Maria Maita-Keppeler is one half of the Americana duo The American West, but also is the lead singer of her own band, Maita.  Her short five-song EP is a breath of fresh air in the female singer-songwriter genre, and bodes well for this budding artist.  Her voice is haunting like Gillian Welch and Shannon Hurley, and is perfectly suited to the lyrics she has skillfully written.  All five songs are perfect for a chill afternoon or night, enjoyed with a beer or wine, while the listener contemplates the meaning of life.  Give her a listen and let us know what you think.

Recommendation:  We definitely think this one is a keeper and recommend you Get it for your collection.

Artist Name:  Scarlett Taylor

Album Name:  III

Label:  Borderline Musick

Genre:  Alternate Pop

Track Listing:  1.  I can Fly; 2.  Children of the Sun; 3.  Concrete Angels; 4.  Orphan; 5.  Unborn 

Publicist:  None

Review:  We reviewed her second album, Churches, last November.  What we said then still goes, but Taylor continues to work on her style, and the lyrical content has gotten better.  She is still not a radio friendly artist, but her music makes you stop and think about the issues she is addressing, and her unique musical background provides the perfect foundation for her truth.  This album is dedicated to those who suffer from addiction, and the toll it takes on them and those who love them.  She also continues to make interesting music videos that bring out the darkness in her music, and we think that she still has a lot to say.  Our favorite cuts are “Children of the Sun” and “Concrete Angels,” and the music video for the latter is definitely worth checking out.

Recommendation:  If you like your music dark, disturbing but relevant, than you should Get this album.

Photo by Shervin Lainez

Artist Name:  Garrison Starr

Album Name:  What if There is no Destination

Label:   Self-released

Genre:  Folk/Singer-Songwriter

Track Listing:  1.  Put Your Weapon Down; 2.  Hollow; 3.  Easy Mark; 4.  All About You; 5.  The Lucky One; 6.  Tough Girl

Publicist:  Red Boot PR

Review:  From the opening notes of the powerful protest song, “Put Your Weapon Down,” it becomes quickly apparent that this is no ordinary indie artist.  Starr is a woman on a mission, with a dynamic story to tell and a lesson to teach.  Her voice is throaty and unique, carrying the truth of her words deep into your consciousness.  Her musical background is simple but provides the necessary foundation for these liberating words.  Starr is an indie artist who has come full circle, and is content in her DIY “indieness.”  But that doesn’t mean the world is not taking notice of her music and her message, as indicated by her recent participation as part of Amy Pohler’s Smart Girls.  We love everything on this EP, but especially “Put Your Weapon Down,” which was Starr’s response to the Pulse tragedy in Orlando last June.  Stop and smell the roses while you listen to the wisdom of these songs.

Recommendation:  This one is a total no-brainer.  You NEED to Get it, now!

Photo courtesy of Split Task Media

Artist Name:  Vacant Home

Album Name:  Reflect, Respond

Label:  Mutant League Records

Genre:  Post Hardcore Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Lament; 2.  Bliss; 3.  Inner Peace; 4.  Shiver; 5.  Back Bay; 6.  Reflect Respond; 7.  Heirloom 

Publicist:  Earshot Media

Review:  Vacant Home comes to us from Perth, Australia.  Their music starts out as great indie rock, with stirring guitar riffs and pounding drums, providing a nice musical interlude.  But then the Screamo vocals come in and the serene mood is lost.  This is definitely an album for hard rock lovers.  There are moments when the lyrics are sung, but they are lost amidst the angst and the screams.  It is apparent that this bad is pissed off and wants the world to know it.  Were it not for the screaming of the lyrics, we might actually be able to understand their message.  Nevertheless, their instrumentation is strong, and make it worthy of a closer listen.

Recommendation:  This is another artist that is not radio friendly.  However, if you can understand the screaming, and like that kind of music, then this is a strong effort.  For the rest of us, just Forget it.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or Forget it: Scarlett Taylor, McDougall, Michael Hornbuckle

Hard to believe but this is our 17th article in this review series – that’s 51 CD reviews since our first one back on September 7.  Indie artists have truly been hard at work in 2016.  I can hardly wait to see what 2017 holds.

scarlett-taylor

Artist Name:  Scarlett Taylor

Album Name:  Churches

Label:  Borderline Musick

Genre:  Alternative pop/dream pop

Track Listing: 1.  Fucked up; 2.  Crazy; 3.  Imprisoned; 4.  Vacancy; 5.  Off; 6.  Confessional; 7.  Ignite; 8.  Velvet; 9.  Without You; 10.  Christmas Eve; 11.  Shampoo; 12.  Cutting 

Publicist:  none

Review:  Scarlett Taylor is a fresh indie artist with a style that sets her apart from the pack.  She is an incredible lyricist who uses a musical style totally different from her peers to present her message.  Listening to Churches, her second studio album, it appears that she has had some bad experiences in her religious pursuit, and she tells her listeners the painful truths about her life.  The music is airy, spectral and intriguing, drawing her listeners in with something different.   We believe this artist has a lot to say, both in her current project and in the future, and recommend that you check her out.  We have a feeling that you’ll be hearing a lot more from this gifted artist.  Best track is “Ignite.”  Most provocative tracks include “Fucked Up,” “Imprisoned” (featuring Zay from The Truants), “Confessional,” “Velvet,” and “Cutting.”

Recommendation:  If you only like radio friendly music, then this is definitely not the disc for you.  But if you are eclectic in your musical tastes, and not easily offended, then we think you should definitely Get this album.

mcdougall_reachingforsomelight_cover

Artist Name:  McDougall

Album Name:  Reaching for Some Light

Label:  None

Genre:  Folk Rock

Track Listing: 1.  Roads; 2.  Stranger on the Prairie; 3.  Shaken; 4.  Ten Speed; 5.  Cut Loose; 6.  Pitcher on the Train; 7.  Make it Right; 8.  Story of the Gray Man; 9.  Barely Holding On; 10.  Watercolor; 11.  Moving Mountains 

Publicist:  In Music we Trust

Review:  With a voice somewhere between Tom Waits and Tom Petty, McDougall brings his folk rock stylings to his latest project, Reaching for Some Light.  It’s chock full of great story songs full of hope and the overcoming of obstacles.  Unlike his previous recordings, McDougall broke his long-time premise that if he couldn’t play it live, he wouldn’t record it.  What follows is a great disc of music where McDougall still plays almost all of the instrumentation, but recorded in a way that brings these songs to life.   Always a great lyricist, McDougall’s words are the backbone of these songs, but with this record, he allows himself the luxury of providing the musical background they deserve.  Every song on the album is worthy of your attention, especially “Shaken,” “Ten Speed,” “Cut Loose,” “Make it Right,” and “Watercolor,” which features the amazing violin work of Anna Tivel.

Recommendation:  If you like good music with a message of hope and love, then this is definitely the disc for you.  Get off your comfortable couch and Get It.

hornbuckle

Artist Name:  Michael Hornbuckle

Album Name:  Soul Repo

Label:  None

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Candle for Mary; 2.  Risin Sun; 3.  Hit me Up; 4.  Angel; 5.  Baby Rock; 6.  Back Seat Blues; 7.  Me and Melody; 8. One Night; 9.  Soul Repo; 10.  Sweat; 11.  Wishin’ Well

 Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  Michael Hornbuckle has a legacy in the blues world, but he does not rest on those laurels on his latest release, Soul Repo.  From the first notes of “Candle for Mary,” Hornbuckle redefines the blues with this amazing collection of songs.  Of all the artists we have recently reviewed, this is the one we would love to see perform live.  His guitar licks are what memories are made of, and his sweet voice brings the songs home.  Best tracks include “Hit me Up,” “Angel,” “Baby Rock,” “Back Seat Blues,” “Me and Melody,” and the title track, although there is not a weak song among the bunch.

Recommendation:  Hornbuckle personifies the blues.  If you only get one new album this holiday season, then this is the one you want.  Get out and Get It now!