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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 1

Welcome to our first Monday Mashup of the new year.  We thank you so much for your response to our year-end articles last week, including the announcement of the LA Music Critic Award winners for the second half of 2018.  Your responses pushed us over the 95,000 view mark, and set a new single-day record of 1,972 views on Friday.  We love sharing these amazing indie artists with you.

LA MUSIC CRITIC AWARD WINNERS SHOWCASE

Our third annual LA Music Critic Award Winners showcase is set for Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at The Mint in Los Angeles, and it’s shaping up to be another great one.  The showcase helps raise awareness and funds for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, and this year will feature our first international winner!  More details to come soon, but Save the Date!

ALICE WALLACE SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

Four-time LA Music Critic Award winner Alice Wallace will release her new album on January 18, her first on Rebelle Road Records.  We will be featuring her in our Get it or Forget it reviews on that date.  In addition, we are bringing back our Women in Entertainment series, and she will be the next artist to be featured.  Don’t miss this one.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this year comes from LA Music Critic Award winner for best EDM/Dance Artist/Band TNEO.  It is the third single from their album, Robotish, and the best one so far (IOHO).  Check out “Cold Grey Day.”  We guarantee this one will have you dancing into the new week.

Next is the latest from mother-daughter duo Cliffs and Caves.  They have a sweet indie folk/country sound with a full orchestra sound.  We really love the sound of “Goodbye for Good” and think you will too.

Our third single is a rock instrumental track from the forthcoming album by the Hedvig Mollestad Trio.  This one has everything lovers of rock and metal desire, and will also appeal to acid jazz lovers as well.  Check out “Bewitched, Drawfed and Defeathered.”

Our fourth single goes to the opposite end of the spectrum, with the haunting voice and lyrics of Rié Fu on her song “Mirror.”  She grew up in Tokyo, signed with a major label, but decided to forego that path, relocated to the UK and decided to go indie.  We think she made the right choice.

https://soundcloud.com/rie-music/06-mirror

Our final single this week is the latest from Teachers with Guns, who we introduced you to back in November.  This one is called “E.T.H.” and we like it a lot.  It has an amazing instrumental track to kick it off, followed by reflective lyrics sung by a voice that means business.  Check it out.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video this year is from LA Music Critic Award nominees The Daybreaks.  It was recorded live at Pentavarit, and gives us another reason to love this Nashville-based band.  Check out “Flesh it Out.”

It’s been a while since we featured anything from the amazing young artist Olivia Millerschin.  Here is her cover video of Taylor Swift’s song “New Year’s Day,” which was recorded live in studio.  We think we’ll be hearing lots more great music from  her soon.

Although it technically came out on Christmas day, we love the latest from LA Music Critic Award winning rock band The Guess Who.  Here is their latest, “In America.”  We love that they are still rocking after 40 years!

Our fourth single is an amazing cover of the 1926 blues classic “John the Revelator” from LA Music Critic Award nominee Jason Robert, from his forthcoming album Death of Stone Stanley.  This one will appeal to lovers of classic blues rock.

We close out this edition of Monday Mashup with the brand new video from up and coming country star Kamber Cain.  We love her song “Love Story That I’ve Already Read.”  We think this one is going to be a hit!

 

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

Get it or forget it – The Upstart Crows, Olivia Foschi, The Guess Who, DaM-FunK, Murder by Death

As we start the final week in September, we are pleased to continue to bring you reviews of new artists, as well as welcome back another great band from the past who are staging a comeback.  Let’s get going with today’s reviews.

Artist NameThe Upstart Crows

Album NameThe Upstart Crows

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Bad Medicine; 2.  Ballad of Broken Bottles; 3.  Dixie Wailin; 4.  Song of Time; 5.  Melancholy Haze; 6.  Mercury Kisses; 7.  Heart to California; 8.  Lying & Crying; 9.  Tightrope Walker; 10.  Nice Guy; 11.  What did I Say; 12.  Wait for Me

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  The Upstart Crows are a two-piece band that formed in 2015 while lead singer and guitarist Jonathan Adams and drummer Forest DeCoste were attending college.  Their debut self-titled album has been two years in the making, and the time was well-spent.  The songs are short and sweet, and although not a concept album, all of the tracks share a lyrical theme of loneliness and regret.  Adams wrote all the songs, and chose an upbeat high energy musical base to present their lyrical message.  Their brand of alt rock borrows heavily from punk, and you can also hear a little celtic influence similar to the sound of the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.  All in all, it is a most worthy debut effort, and we look forward to hearing what they come up with next.  Best tracks include “Dixie Wailin,” “Song of Time,”  “Mercury Haze,” “Lying & Crying,” “Nice Guy,” and “Wait for Me.”

Recommendation:  Definitely worth checking out.

Artist NameOlivia Foschi

Album Name Fleeting Windows

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Due to Wake up Soon; 2.  Stay as Sweet as you Are; 3.  Firefly; 4.  Dreams Come True; 5.  Dienda; 6.  Pitter Patter; 7.  Quiet Now; 8.  Look for the Silver Lining; 9.  Tiny Toes; 10.  My Life; 11.  Looking Up

Publicist:  Are Group

Review:  This beautifully relaxing album has everything lovers of jazz and big band enjoy, a truly mellow musical vibe, beautiful vocals and lyrics that tell a story.  Olivia Foschi has delivered a perfectly written group of songs that present the true emotional gamut that almost every woman can relate to, told from a mother of twins.  Not only can women relate, but men will enjoy the incredible jazz sound, as well as the soaring vocals of Foschi.  We really love what she’s done with “Look for the Silver Lining,” that amazing song from the musical Monty Python’s Spamalot.  Overall, this album is an incredible homage to the history of great jazz music, with its beautiful keys, perfect jazz drums, and the scatting of artists like Etta James.  These songs are destined to become classics, and this album will become one of your most treasured jazz recordings.

Recommendation:  If you love jazz, you must Get this one.

Artist NameThe Guess Who

Album NameThe Future IS What it Used to Be

Label:  Cleopatra Records

Genre:  Classic Rock

Track Listing:  1.  When we Were Young; 2.  Runnin Blind; 3.  Talks all the Time; 4.  Baby Come Around; 5.  Haunted; 6.  In America; 7.  Playin’ on the Radio; 8.  Give it a Try; 9.  Good Girl; 10.  Long Day

Publicist:  Eric Alper PR

Review:  Although only one original member of the band remains (drummer Garry Peterson), this band is worthy of the name, and takes their legacy in a new direction, adapting to the musical tastes of today.  Lead vocalist Derek Sharp (D#) has an amazing range and delivers potential hit songs that will win over even the most die-hard fans of the band’s original rock vibe,  We featured the video for the band’s first single, “Playin’ on the Radio,” last month and stand by our initial assessment of their new sound.  From the first notes of “When we Were Young,” it becomes quickly obvious that this band has returned to reclaim their place on Top 40 radio.  There are so many potential hits on this one, that you should just put it on repeat, kick back and rock out.  Best tracks include “When we Were Young,” “Runnin’ Blind,” “Baby Come Around,” the beautiful ballad “Haunted,” “In America,” the amazing title track, and “Good Girl.”

Recommendation:  You simply MUST run out and Get this one.  It will remind you why you always secretly loved this band.

Artist NameDāM-FunK

Album NameArchitecture II

Label:  Glydezone Recordings

Genre:  Modern Funk

Track Listing:  1.  Don’t Give Up; 2.  Best Weekend; 3.  Bounce; 4.  In the City

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review: This amazing artist creates his own modern vision of funk, incorporating aspects of jazz, boogie, aor, soul, house and more into a delightful mix that is perfect for both those chill times and when you’re hosting a house party.  His tunes would be a great addition to any DJ, and definitely get the party started on the dance floor.  They are instrumentals, which makes them also ripe for use by smart music supervisors in commercial, film and television applications.

Recommendation:  If you love to dance, or just love great music, then Get this one.

Artist NameMurder by Death

Album NameThe Other Shore

Label:  Bloodshot Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Alas; 2.  Chasing Ghosts; 3.  True Dark; 4.  Stone; 5.  Travelin’ Far; 6.  Only Time; 7.  Space; 8.  Bloom; 9.  I Have Arrived; 10.  New Old City; 11.  Last Night on Earth

Publicist:  Bloodshot Records

Review The Other Shore is an amazing concept album with the central theme being what happens when the Earth becomes so ravaged that its populace must flee the planet to continue their existence.  Told in the style of a space-western, its songs give the listener much to think about and are set in an old fashioned country/ folk style that is full of body and soul, with a heavy string sound, including mandolin, guitar, bass, cello and fiddle.  The lead singer has a voice that reminds us of the late Chris Ledoux.  This band has been at the core of the recent Americana music explosion since the early 2000s, and this album will only strengthen their stock and recognition.

Recommendation:  We highly recommend this album.  We suggest you Get it today!

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 28

What a wonderful weekend.  Spent it working the backstage gate at The Decemberists’ Travelers Rest Festival in Missoula.  Over the course of the weekend, I heard a lot of amazing music and made some great new connections, including three members of The Decemberists (Chris Funk, Nate Query and Jenny Conlee) and Colin Meloy’s mom), I’m With Her and their lovely families, indie bands Lenore, Matt the Electrician, Tune-Yards, Cardioid, Ural Thomas & the Pain and Whitney, NPR darling Gaelynn Lea, and fellow Virginian Lucy Dacus.  A full review will be coming soon, so stand by for another busy week of articles.  In the meantime, here are five new singles and five new music videos to get your week off to a good start.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes from the creative minds of two amazing songwriters, Vic Fuentes of Pierce the Veil and Curtis Peoples, as recorded by Peoples.  Here’s one of our new favorite songs, “Castaways.”

Next up is the latest from Sheridan Reed.  We love the groove of “We Should Both be Here,” and are sure you will too.  Enjoy this tune.

https://soundcloud.com/sheridanreed/we-should-both-be-here

Our third single this week is from Americana/roots band HONEY RIVER, and we think this one is a potential mega-hit.  Check out “Peace, Love.”

Our next single is from Dutch band Money & The Man.  It has a harder alternative rock edge and should help shake up your Monday.  Here’s “This Season.”

Our final single today will get you body on the dance floor.  Let’s give it up for “When I Ask You Why,” the latest from dance pop artist and producer Fish Fox.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week comes from the granddaughter of Willie Nelson.  She is also a member of the amazing country band mmhmm, which we recently reviewed.  Here is “Mama Cry” from her other band, the Raelyn Nelson Band.

Next up is the latest from Korean-American artist Tiffany Young, who has already accumulated more than 1 million hits on a video that was just released five days ago.  Check out “Over my Skin.”

Our third video is a blast from the past.  The Guess Who were huge back in the early 70s, and they’re back sounding like they never left.  Check out their latest video “Playing on the Radio.”

Next up is “Night After Night” from Rare Americans.  It is a punky indie rock tune which will help propel you into the new week.

We close out the week with the amazing voice of GABI.  This tender ballad will soothe all your troubles away.  Enjoy “Whole With You.”