Tag: The Raft

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards Best of 2017 Get it or Forget it Women in Entertainment

Best international EPs of 2017

We have reviewed a total of 338 albums and EPs this year.  As you can imagine, there have been quite a lot of great ones along the way, and we plan to share some of them with you over the next four days.  We are breaking our “Best of 2017” lists down into four categories – Best American EPs, Best International EPs, Best American Albums and Best International albums.  Today we will share our Top 10 Best International EPs.  Individual reviews are available as part of our blog’s “Get it or Forget it” series.

10.  Elephant Stone, Remix of Fools.  This five-song EP contains remixes from the band’s Ship of Fools album,  The best of those songs is the Young Galaxy remix of “The Devil’s Shelter.”  Check out these lads from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

9.  Amber Run, Alaska.  This four-song EP contains two songs from the band’s sophomore album For a Moment, I was Lost, as well as two cover songs, including Maggie Rodgers’ “Alaska.”  This band hails from the UK.

8.  Strange Boy, Annunciation.  The band released their debut EP with four songs.  They are also from the UK.

7.  TYA, No Money, More Love.   Queensland, Australia is responsible for this amazing band, who has brought us five new songs.

6.  The Raft, Coming up for Air.  Phil Wilson aka The Raft is responsible for two of the best EPs of 2017.  This one was released back in August.  Wilson hails from the UK.

5.  The Fisherman & the Sea, The Beggar Princess.  This EP is part of a group of four scheduled to be released before their debut full-length album later this year.  We can hardly wait.  Our first band from Finland.

4.    The Raft, Orion.  Gift number two from Phil Wilson.  This one is the best of the three EPs he released in 2017.

3.  Hundreds, Wilderness (Akustik Edition).  German siblings Eva and Philipp Milner have brought us a true treasure with an acoustic version of some of their hits, along with an acoustic cover of Bon Iver’s “Plume.”

2.  Wolf & Moon, Frames.  Stefanie and Dennis met at a party in the Netherlands, and now travel the world sharing their dreampop material.

1.  Cara Frew, Dance.  Cara splits her time between her native South Africa and the US, bringing great electro pop dance music wherever she travels.

We’ll be back tomorrow with the Top 15 American EPs.  See ya then.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – LeRiche, The Raft, Vinnie Paolizzi, Tall Men Group

Hope your first week of 2018 was a success. We have now arrived at the final reviews for all submissions for the LA Music Critic Awards for the second half of 2017.  Here are the final four.  Watch for the return of Monday Mashup tomorrow, and our Best of 2017 lists later this week.  Have a great day!

Artist Name:  LeRiche

Album Name:  X-Dreamer

Label:  Big Story Entertainment

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Nomadic Heart; 2.  River Runs; 3.  Under Covers; 4.  Come Around; 5.  Dreamers; 6.  Roam; 7.  Briefcase Full of Booze

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  LeRiche has such a dreamy voice that it makes his songs float on air.  His accompaniment is first rate, with a great singer-songwriter style.  From the first note of “Nomadic Heart,” we were hooked.  His music fits in with Andy Grammar, Jason Mraz, Ernie Halter, Tony Lucca and similar artists, and would be perfect for pop radio, as well as for placement for a myriad of television, film or commercial use.  This is his debut EP, and we are totally jazzed with his potential.  Our favorite tracks are “Nomadic Heart,” “Come Around,” “Dreamers,” and “Roam.”

Recommendation:  Definitely give the new kid a go – Get his debut EP now!

Artist Name:  The Raft

Album Name:  Orion

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Blue and Blue; 2.  Orion; 3.  Into You; 4.  My Elusive Friend

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Phil Wilson aka The Raft has released a trio of EPs in 2017, and we think he saved the best until last.  We reviewed his previous efforts in July and September, and consider ourselves privileged to get to do it again with his third EP, Orion.  The songs are so upbeat and happy they bring a smile to our faces, especially the title cut.  We truly believe that the sky is the limit for this amazing and talented indie artist.  All four songs are wonderfully written and performed, making The Raft one of our favorite discoveries of 2017.  You can’t go wrong with this one.  Check out the amazing vocals of Claire O’Neill on “Into You” – they will definitely change your perspective of indie artists.

Recommendation:  The Raft should become one of your favorite indie performers and a household name for indie perfection.  Get all of his EPs ASAP, especially this one.

Artist Name:  Vinnie Paolizzi

Album Name:  Kids

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Ugly Drunk and Scared to Death; 2.  Over the Limit; 3.  Scarlet Sky; 4.  Kids

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Vinnie Paolizzi has been making a name for himself in his hometown of Philadelphia and his adopted home of Nashville.  He is garnering lots of local radio airplay in Philadelphia and being compared to such diverse artists as Jackson Browne, Jason Isbell and Ryan Adams.  Upon listening to his latest EP Kids, we can easily understand why he is being met with such critical acclaim.  All four songs are great and worthy of more expanded radio airplay, especially “Ugly Drunk and Scared to Death, “Scarlet Sky” and the title track, which has “HIT” written all over it.  We look forward to the release of his follow-up EP Grown Ups.  This one is a keeper.

Recommendation:  Get it now – you’ll thank us later.

Artist Name:  Tall Men Group (TMG)

Album Name:  Feast

Label:  Tall Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Hey Loner; 2.  Unloved; 3.  Grandma; 4.  When we were Bad; 5.  Time Stands Still; 6.  Storm; 7.  The Night I met George Jones; 8.  Eggshells and Tears; 9.  California Soul Man; 10.  L’Amour; 11.  Surf the Mississippi; 12.  Baby Sleep

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  What started as a request from acclaimed Los Angeles indie musician Jimmy Yessian to five of his friends to get together monthly for food and music has developed into one of the premier indie bands on the Folk Alliance circuit.  Composed of Marty Axelrod, Severin Browne, Jeff Kossack, John Stowers, Ed Tree, and Yessian, this “supergroup” has just released their third album, and it is a work of pure genius.  Every member contributed two tracks, and the combination of their musical, writing and singing skills make TMG the “Travelling Wilburys” of the indie world.  With traces of country, Americana and classic rock, the musical sound of TMG is second to none.  Lead vocals are shared, with the writer becoming the dominant voice.  Each of them have their own vocal style, but  Yessian’s vocals remind us of a cross between Gordon Lightfoot and Jim Croce, and highlight “Unloved.”  Other tracks we really love include “When we were Bad,” “Storm,” “The Night I met George Jones,” “California Soul Man,” “Surf the Mississippi,” and “Baby Sleep.”

Recommendation:  If you love just good ole music, then this one is a must have – we highly recommend you rush out and Get this musical feast.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – San Cisco, Chuck McDermott, The Raft, Loka

We hope you had a wonderful holiday yesterday and that you’re ready to get back into discovering great indie music.  We have four very different artists for you today, so grab your coffee and let’s dig in.

Artist Name:  San Cisco

Album Name:  The Water 

Label:  Embassy of Music/Island City Records

Genre:   Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1,  Kids are Cool; 2.  Sunrise; 3.  That Boy; 4.  The Distance; 5.  Hey, Did I do you Wrong?; 6.  Waiting for the Weekend; 7.  SloMo; 8.  The Water; 9.  Did you get What you Came For; 10.  Make me Electrify

Publicist:   Guerilla Music Promotion

Review:  If you’re ever feel down, then we  have the perfect remedy for you – just pop in San Cisco’s latest album The Water and you’ll feel better in no time.  With a sound reminiscent of fun. meets Echosmith, this band will wow you with their upbeat songs, wholesome lyrics and memorable melodies.   Their first single, “SloMo,” has an impressive beat, delicious harmonies and an infectious melody that make it the perfect cure to the blahs.  Other impressive songs include “Sunrise,” “Hey, Did I do you Wrong?” “Waiting for the Weekend” and the title track.  This band is a joy to listen to and we are sure they are just as entertaining in their live performance.  San Cisco proves once again that some of the best indie bands hail from Australia – we can only hope they get to America soon.

Recommendation:   If you need a pick-me-up, then we are proud to prescribe this record as the cure.  Rush out and Get it now.

Artist Name:   Chuck McDermott

Album Name:   Gin & Rosewater

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Country/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Belvedere; 2.  A Thousand Cuts; 3.  The Girl From St. Lucy; 4.  Irresistible Targets; 5.  Gin and Rosewater; 6.  Red Betty; 7.  James Foley Diaries; 8.  Hold Back the Water; 9.  Everything; 10.  Downtown Bus; 11.  I Walk the Line; 12.  Tryin’ to Keep the Wheels on the Road; 13.  Don’t let me be Misunderstood; 14.  People are Weak (ft. Stephen Stills)

Publicist:   HyPR Media

Review:  Chuck McDermott doesn’t have a pretty voice, but he has a voice that reflects the heartland – the grit and grime of a hard-working blue collar employee that is the backbone of our country.  When he sings, you feel the commitment, the struggle and the joy of someone who has been through the fire and come out the other side.  We love how he turns the pain of a bad relationship into knowledge gained in his song “A Thousand Cuts,” how he shows his love of storytelling in “The Girl From St. Lucy” and the title track.  His covers of John Stewart’s “Irresistible Targets,” Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” and The Animals’ “Don’t let me be Misunderstood” bring a new perspective to these time-tested classics.  He even brings another icon, Stephen Stills, in on his closing song.  All in all this is a collection of great songs that belongs in every music library.

Recommendation:  Please welcome Chuck McDermott to the fold of American musical icons who continue to share our heritage through their music.  Please don’t wait to Get this one.

Artist Name:  The Raft

Album Name:  A Lullaby

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Dream Pop

Track Listing:  1.  I’m so High; 2.  O No She’s Alive; 3.  O A Lullaby/Nobody’s Daughter

Publicist:  None

Review:  Phil Wilson aka The Raft is no stranger to our Blog.  We reviewed his previous effort back in July.  We are proud that he continues to exemplify the best of the indie music world with three more amazing songs that add additional depth to this persona.  The music brings us back to a simpler time when we were not so stressed out, and is uplifting and soothing.  We could easily keep this EP on continuous repeat.  We are proud to add The Raft to our list of artists we can count on to deliver great music.

Recommendation:  Get your buns over to the Bandcamp website and buy this one – you’ll thank us later.

Artist Name:  Loka

Album Name:  Northern Oscillations

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Unconventional

Track Listing:  1.  Herculean Rock; 2.  Silver Chain; 3.  Better Dimension; 4.  The Oldest Lights; 5.  The National Mistrust; 6.  6th Happiness; 7.  Jacob’s Ladder; 8.  Everything Exploded; 9.  Yes is not No; 10.  A Remembered Remedy

Publicist:  Neon Tetra

Review:  The music of Loka defies genre, with elements of rock, jazz, pop, psychadelica and more.  This is their third album, released six years after their last album.  It is obvious that the band has taken that time to grow their music, making it appealing to a myriad of fans.  Their first single, “Herculean Rock,” the first track of the album demonstrates that commitment, while the second and third tracks take you back to the LSD trips of the 60’s, with a sound reminiscent of The Beatles meets Jimi Hendrix.  The rest of the album vacillates though multiple musical styles.  If their intention was to keep the listener from getting bored, then they have succeeded brilliantly.

Recommendation:  We recommend you Get this album.  We can almost guarantee that you don’t have anything like it in your current music library.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it LA Music Critic Awards Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – The Daybreaks, Wendy Sweetlove, The Raft, Paradise Kings

We are so humbled by the response to our announcement of the nominations for the first half of 2017 for the LA Music Critic Awards.  You guys are the reason we recognize and share the incredible talent in the indie music scene.  Thanks for your support.  Here are four more great acts, one of which has already been nominated for three LA Music Critic Awards.  Please let us know what you think about them.

Artist Name:  The Daybreaks

Album Name:  Meet me at the End of the World

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  The Machine; 2.  Do Whatever Gets you High; 3.  Stranger; 4.  Cruel Summer; 5.  Panic; 6.  Hypnotized; 7.  Hold on to Me 

Publicist:  Think Press

Review:  It was just supposed to be a collaboration to write songs for placement in television and media, but the undeniable chemistry between Heather Bonds and Kaleb Jones led to the formation of The Daybreaks, one of the hottest groups in Nashville.  The release of their debut EP will only add to that exposure, as these guys are phenomenal.  They have already garnered one LA Music Critic Award for their stellar cover of “Cruel Summer,” and we believe they will get a few more during their career.  Kicking off with their single, “The Machine,” they hit the ground running and deliver a stunning debut that deserves world-wide attention.   There is not a weak song on this debut, and the EP should be placed on repeat.

Recommendation:  If you love well written songs, amazing harmonies and a musical background that heightens your senses and perks you up, then you should immediately Get this EP.

Artist Name:  Wendy Sweetlove

Album Name:  Dirty Sunday

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Modern Soul/Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Babysitter; 2.  Delilah; 3.  Come to Momma; 4.  Dirty Sunday; 5.  Shadow Son; 6.  Sharp Dressed Man; 7.  Burn it Down; 8.  I Bring the Word; 9.  Come Inside; 10.  Left of You; 11.  Sucker Punch; 12.  El Cubano 

Publicist:  None

Review:   From the first notes of “Babysitter,” it will quickly become evident that Wendy Sweetlove is a powerful performer who will quickly become a household name.  Sweetlove calls her music “Modern Soul,” but we simply call it magnificent.  It deserves to be played on every radio station and will surely continue to gain her new fans.  On top of that, she knows how to put on a great live show, and if you were lucky enough to be at the LA Music Critic Awards Winners Showcase last month in Los Angeles, you know what we’re talking about.  She is currently nominated for three awards, and we believe that she will receive many more during her career.  We are really impressed with her cover of ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man,” which she has turned into a funky jazz standard.  Favorite tracks include “Babysitter,” “Delilah,” “Come to Momma,” “Dirty Sunday,” “Come Inside,” and “Sucker Punch.”

Recommendation:  If you like your music down and dirty, then this is the perfect album for you.  Although it is not yet available, you can stream three cuts on Sweetlove’s website.  The minute it comes out, we strongly urge you to Get it.

Artist Name:  The Raft

Album Name:  Coming up for Air

Label:  SoLar Records

Genre:  Indie Pop/Dream Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Glad I Don’t Know; 2.  Coming up for Air; 3.  Anarchy in our Guitars; 4.  Regrets 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Phil Wilson, aka the Raft, is a UK artist whose music should do well here in the States.  His sound is smooth, with his sweet voice and musical backing that would be the perfect fit for radio airplay.  His four-song EP delivers the perfect taste that begs for more.  From his first song to the last one, we simply love this EP especially “Glad I Don’t Know.”  Give him a listen and we think you’ll agree.

Recommendation:  Definitely head over to the Bandcamp website and Get your copy now.

Artist Name:  Paradise Kings

Album Name:  Controlled Burn

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rockabilly

Track Listing:  1.  ’69 Chevy; 2.  I’d Sing the Blues if I had Em; 3.  Three Strikes; 4.  Slow Down; 5.  Butter me Up; 6.  Patience; 7.  Poor me, Poor me, Pour me Another Drink; 8.  Money Ain’t my Friend (live) 

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  The album starts out with a rocking instrumental intro before launching into an incredible vocal that gets your toes to tapping before an uncontrollable urge to dance takes control of  your body.  You can fill the heavy influence of greats like Chuck Berry and BB King in the sound of Paradise Kings, and we think that this band has the potential to take the blues genre by storm.  Best tracks include “’69 Chevy,” “I’d Sing the Blues if I had Em,” “Slow Down” and “Butter me Up.”

Recommendation:  If you love great blues music, then you simply MUST Get this album.  It will be a valued addition to your musical library.