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

Get it or forget it – URUK, Laura Benitez and the Heartache, Mark Erelli, Matthew Stubbs and the Antiguas, Eric Benoit

Happy hump day.  Hope you’re ready for more great new music because here we come with five more artists for you.

Artist NameURUK

Album NameI Leave a Silver Trail Through Blackness

Label:  Consouling Sounds

Genre:  Instrumental/experimental electronica

Track Listing:   1.  I Leave a Silver Trail Through Blackness

Publicist:  Viral Propangada PR

Review:  URUK is a collaboration between Massimo Pupillo from Zu and Triple Sun and Thighpaulsandra from Coil.  What makes this album unique is that it contains just one song which is 38 minutes long.  The band takes you on an audio journey through electronica, ambient and discordant sounds and percussion.  While not the type of music you will hear on the radio, it’s instrumental nature could be useful for placement in television, film and commercials.  It’s an interesting concept, to be sure.  The jury, though, is still out on this one.

Recommendation:  If you like the unusual and unique, then this one is right up your alley.  Otherwise, you may just want to forget it.

Artist NameLaura Benitez and the Heartache

Album NameWith all its Thorns

Label:  Copperhead Records

Genre:  Country/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Something Better Than a Broken Heart; 2.  Easier Things to Do; 3.  Our Remember Whens; 4.  In Red; 5.  Whiskey Makes me Love You; 6.  Almost the Right One/Casi mi Cielo; 7.  Ghostship; 8.  The Fool I am Right Now; 9.  Secrets; 10.  Why Does it Matter; 11.  Nora Went Down the Mountain

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  Laura Benitez has such a pure country voice, similar to Mary Chapin Carpenter.  Her band, the Heartache, has an eerie similiarity to The Mavericks, with that cajun sound of accordion, steel and fiddle.  Composed of Bob Spector on acoustic and electric guitar, Mike Anderson on electric and upright bass and Steve Pearson on drums, the Heartache provide the perfect soundtrack for the sweet voice of Benitez and the intelligent lyrics she has crafted, including her co-write with Doug Tieman on the first track.  Joining the mix for this album are Billy Wilson on accordion, Steve Kallai on fiddle and Jim Goodkind on harmony vocals.  Benitez also contributes harmony vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar.  The result of the combination of these amazing artists is an album of pure enjoyment for those of you who think no one does country or roots music right any more.  We truly expect Laura Benitez to soon be the queen of country radio.  Best tracks include the cajun influenced sounds of “Something Better Than a Broken Heart” and “Secrets” the tantalizingly sweet “In Red,” the rockabilly masterpieces “Whiskey Makes me Love You” and “The Fool I am Right Now,” the soulful “Almost the Right One/Casi mi Cielo,” the haunting “Ghostship” with its amazing fiddle, the old-fashioned waltz “Why Does it Matter,” and the bluegrass sound of “Nora Went Down the Mountain.”

Recommendation:  Don’t waste any time – Get this one now!

Artist NameMark Erelli

Album NameMixtape

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Mixed acoustic covers

Track Listing:  1.  Brokedown Palace (Grateful Dead); 2.  The Boys of  Summer (Don Henley); 3.  I Feel so Good (Richard Thompson); 4.  Ophelia (The Lumineers); 5.  Against all Odds (Take a Look at me Now)(Phil Collins); 6.  Deep Red Bells (Neko Case); 7.  Don’t Give up on Me (Solomon Burke); 8.  Tony (Patty Griffin); 9.  My Body is a Cage (Arcade Fire); 10.  Crying (Roy Orbison)

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Mark Erelli has created this amazing mixtape of great and influential cover songs, drawing from his 13 years of “Under the Covers” shows at Boston’s Club Passim.  These events, held every December,  feature Erelli and his friends performing their favorite cover songs.  He has compiled quite the collection, and adds his own personal touches to his respectful homages to these great cover songs.  You can really feel the emotion of the songs and we could not be prouder of an album of covers.  From the opening notes of The Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace” to the final lingering sound of Roy Orbison’s “Crying,” Erelli delivers a stunning tribute.

Recommendation:  If you love music, and appreciate tributes to great songs, then this is the album for you.  Get it soon.

Artist NameMatthew Stubbs and the Antiguas

Album NameMatthew Stubbs and the Antiguas

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Instrumental Psych Rock/Acid Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Fistful; 2.  Bastille Day; 3.  El Segundo; 4.  Dub Stubbs; 5.  John Doe; 6.  Unwinder; 7.  Del Diablo; 8.  Dancing with the Bull; 9.  Death Grip; 10.  Tarantino

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  This is the type of music Jimi Hendrix would have made had it lived a bit longer.  It is raw, fierce and groovy, just the kind of musical backdrop you need for your after hours festivities.  Charlie Musselwhite’s guitarist Matthew Stubbs and his band have created a dynamic instrumental package of great jams.  They would also be perfect for placement in a myriad of television, film or commercial applications.  Put this one on repeat – you’re gonna love it.

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it, just Get it.

Artist NameEric Benoit

Album NameHeartrender

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alternative Electronica/Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Passion; 2.  Taos; 3.  Wait; 4.  Dragonflies; 5.  Aristotle; 6.  Dream (ft. Cat Fugue); 7.  Heartrender

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  This seems to be the day for strong musicianship, as we have had a lot of great music.  Eric Benoit is likewise a strong musician who is not afraid to experiment to find the perfect vehicle for his song.  The first track, “Passion,” is pure electronica, while “Taos,” the second track brings in his singer-songwriter background to create an impressive folk song that is also his first single.  Make sure you listen to the whole song, because something magical happens about four minutes into the song.  All in all, we love the way these songs build and soar, making each one special.  We loved every song, but especially “Taos,” “Aristotle,” “Dream” and the haunting title track.

Recommendation:  This one is unique enough that we’re sure you don’t have anything like it in your collection.  Get this one then.