Month: July 2018

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Slowtrip, Waydown Wailers, Tuxedo, Frankie Simone, The Mountain Carol

Happy Independence Day to all our indie music lovers.  We’ve got a great bunch of reviews for you today, so let’s get this show going.

Artist Name: Slowtrip

Album Name:  Blur

Label:  Anchor Eighty Four Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Follow; 2.  02 2004; 3.  Slowtrip – Makeshit Happiness; 4.  Secondary

Publicist:  Earshot Media

Review:  Despite the fact that the members of Slowtrip are also members of three other hardcore bands, the combination created by the consolidation of their combined talents is more indie rock than hardcore.  These four songs offer hope that this is not just another indie rock band.  This band has something to say, and couch their message in solid, hard-hitting rock that will draw listeners in.  This band has definite potential.  If you live in or near their Orange County, California stomping grounds, we highly recommend that you go and check them out.  The vinyl edition of their EP will be released on July 13.

Recommendation:  Definitely give them a try.  This EP is worth the risk.

Artist Name:  Waydown Wailers

Album Name:  Backland Blues

Label:  Woodstock Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Back Door Woman Blues; 2.  I Want Your Soul; 3.  Done Somebody Wrong; 4.  Another Bump in the Road; 5.  No Mercy; 6.  Dizzy Miss Lizzy; 7.  Every Passing Mile; 8.  Somewhere in the Middle; 9.  I’m on the Hunt; 10.  State of the Union – remix; 11.  Lover of the Bayou

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Hailing from the area in upstate New York that borders Canada, the Waydown Wailers combine elements of classic rock bands like The Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers with British invasion bands like The Byrds to form their own version of gritty, dirty blues.  This album combines eight original tunes with covers of classic tunes from Elmore James (“Done Somebody Wrong”), The Fab Four (“Dizzy Miss Lizzy”) and a deep cut from The Byrds (“Lover of the Bayou”), the song they chose to close out this amazing set of tunes.  This album is great from start to finish, and belongs on your TGIF playlist, especially the sweet “No Mercy” and “Somewhere in the Middle,” which are more roots rock than blues.

Recommendation:  Get out there and Get this one!

Artist Name:  Tuxedo

Album Name:  III

Label:  Musarañas Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  III; 2.  Sigue Hablando; 3.  Enviado Desde mi iPhone; 4.  Mi Deporte Favoito; 5.  Intolerancia; 6.  La Espigayla Tormenta; 7.  Victoria; 8.  La Explanada; 9.  La Vida Aqúi

Publicist:  Musarañas Records

Review:  Tuxedo comes to us from Spain, and immediately hit us with some amazing psychedelic and electronic sounds on the title track, a spectacular instrumental tune with layer upon layer that will stay in the listener’s memory long after the song is over.  When the vocals arrive on the second track, they are haunting, rich and very memorable, despite the foreign language.  You can sense the meaning through their delivery and the tone set by the underlying instrumentation.  We would place these guys right beside the Gipsy Kings as proof of the quality of music that still emanates from the Spanish peninsula.  Regardless of whether the song has vocals or not, this band rocks and deserves your attention.

Recommendation:  You must Get this one – it will become one of  your favorites.

Artist Name:  Frankie Simone

Album Name:  Love//Warrior

Label:  Infinite Companion

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  War Paint; 2.  Blow my Mind; 3.  Love//Warrior; 4.  Queer; 5.  Love You Just the Same

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Frankie Simone delivers pop music that is reminiscent of Gwen Stefani and Nicki Minaj.  It is music that makes you want to get up and dance and belongs in the house mix of every DJ in America.  Not only is it just plain good music, it also has a message about accepting yourself and reveling in your differences.  It belongs on Top 40 radio, especially “Blow my Mind,” and should be in the catalog of every smart music supervisor, as these songs would do well as placements in film and television, especially the title track.

Recommendation:  If  you love to dance, or you believe that love should conquer hate, then this is the one for you.  Get it now.

Artist Name:  The Mountain Carol

Album Name:  Starkiller and the Banshees

Label:  Third Eye Industries

Genre:  Electro-pop

Track Listing:  1.  Dino; 2.  The Mountain Carol; 3.  Essex Ferry; 4.  Adventure Safari; 5.  Sway; 6.  Shadow Puppets; 7.  The Party’s Over

Publicist:  Behind the Curtains Media

Review:  We featured the music video for the lead track, “Dino,” in our first Monday Mashup in May, and little did we know that it would be just the tip of the iceberg of the amazing material forthcoming from this intriguing band that has a futuristic but retro sound.  You will love their hard driving sound which is reminiscent of new wave bands like Talking Heads.  This is music that definitely sets the mood, and will prepare you for something different.  This band is not afraid to experiment, and still delivers well rounded grooves that you will never forget.  This is not melodic music with smooth vocals – it is raw and edgy stuff that will help the band to rise to the top of the indie world.  We think this album has something for just about everyone.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Joey Racano, Ben de la Cour, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Andy Sydow, Wolfe Jackson

As we explained yesterday, while we were off covering the Hollywood Fringe Festival, we received 94 review requests for the month of June.  We will be focusing on those for our Get it or Forget it articles on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  For the Friday edition, we will focus on the July releases.  We should be caught up with everything by the end of the second week in August, so let’s get started.

Artist Name:  Joey Racano

Album Name:  Midnite Madness

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  In the Middle of the Night; 2.  Tell the Truth; 3.  Medicine Wheel; 4.  Eight Ball Jones; 5.  Saturday Cyberdate; 6.  Hello Baby (Reunion Blues); 7.  Six String Savvy

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Joey Racano takes traditional blues guitar and adds in elements of pop (repetition) and rap to create a most unique sound, as demonstrated on the first track, “In the Middle of the Night.”  He also throws in some wailing sax for good measure.  “Tell the Truth” has more of a rock beat but continues with his spoken/sung vocals and pop repetitions that immediately distinguish his sound from others in this genre.  His lyrics are deep and may require multiple listens to fully comprehend all that he has to say.  What he lacks in vocal prowess is more than made up by the musical accompaniment.

Recommendation:  This one is worth a listen or two just because it is so different.  It’s a throwback to when music was more important than smooth silky vocals.  You may or may not like it, but it’s worth a listen nevertheless.

Artist Name:  Ben de la Cour

Album Name:  The High Cost of Living Strange

Label:  Flour Sack Cape Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Dixie Crystals; 2.  Uncle Boudreau Went to Texas; 3.  Company Town; 4.  Face Down Penny; 5.  Tupelo; 6.  Guy Clark’s Fiddle; 7.  Just Like the Blues; 8.  The High Cost of Living Strange

Publicist:  Broken Jukebox Media

Review:  Americana is a uniquely American genre, and Ben de la Cour plays it better than just about any other artist we have heard in recent memory.  His voice is strong, smooth and fluid, and his songs are well written masterpieces.  His instrumental soundtrack perfectly captures this genre, delivering compelling time capsules of life.  His publicist said his album was the best he’d heard this year, and we would tend to agree to that.  This is an artist that should be on the top of the Americana scene, and we are proud and privileged to have been chosen to review his album.  We think he belongs in the company of Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton, as well as in the national spotlight.  We really love the sound of “Dixie Crystals,” “Company Town,” “Tupelo,” “Guy Clark’s Fiddle,” and “Just Like the Blues.”

Recommendation:  If you love Americana, then you must add this one to your collection.  Get it today.

Artist Name:  Cathy Segal-Garcia

Album Name:  The Jazz Chamber

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Star Eyes; 2.  Velho Piano; 3.  Time After Time; 4.  High Trapeze; 5.  Cinema Paradiso Theme; 6.  Message to Prez; 7.  This Moment; 8.  Universal Prisoner; 9.  Compared to What; 10.  Sleep in Peace

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review:  Cathy Segal-Garcia is a gifted jazz vocalist who has just released her 11th CD.  This time around, she adds an entire jazz chamber orchestra to the mix, and the result is rather grand, as in ballroom.  These tunes would have been right at home in the 1940s, with their elegant and expansive sound, and the feeling that you should be dancing around a large ballroom floor while she serenades your senses.  She even throws in a couple of cover songs, including a brilliant adaptation of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”  Grab a glass of wine, dim the lights and enjoy.

Recommendation:  If you love jazz, then we’re sure this artist is already in your collection.  We recommend you add her latest.

Artist Name:  Andy Sydow

Album Name:  Reasons for Departure

Label:  Uncle Ralph Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Reasons for Departure; 2.  Directions to the Moon; 3.  Who I Want to Be; 4.  Secret Rodeo; 5.  Hearts go On; 6.  Shame on Me; 7.  Lonely Love; 8.  Jenny’s Masquerade; 9.  Bus Drive; 10.  Whispering Moon

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  Andy Sydow is a gifted songwriter who hails from Denver, Colorado.  On this album, he has hooked up with LA Music Critic Award winning producer Chris Daniels to deliver an amazing group of songs that loudly proclaim he has arrived and is ready for his cameo.  From the first notes of the title track, Sydow firmly establishes himself as a force that cannot be overcome, so we advise you to sit down and enjoy these tracks.  Daniels has managed to highlight all the strengths of Sydow’s style, and give us an album that is good from start to finish.  You will not want to miss a single track, but just sit back and savor the instrumentation, the lyrics, the stories and the voice of calm that permeates this music.  Sydow is a combination of Tom Petty meets Jackson Browne, and we will forever be a fan.

Recommendation:  You simply MUST add this one to your library.  Get it ASAP!

Artist Name:  Wolfe Jackson

Album Name:  Nobody Knows Me (Better Than You)

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana/Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Nobody Know Me (Better Than You); 2.  Comfort Love; 3.  One More Time; 4.  Where my Heart Belongs; 5.  Brother; 6.  Lord Forgive Me (I’ve Been Bad) (bonus track)

Publicist:  Effective Immediately PR

Review:  Wolfe Jackson is a UK transplant who has firmly established himself as an American artist.  On his debut EP, he shows why he sold out his record release show at Hollywood’s famed Hotel Cafe.  His sound is raw and rare, and should provide him with a long career in music.  From the first notes of the title track, his amazing voice rises above the simple accompaniment, reminiscent of Jason Mraz, who was also had success at the Hotel Cafe early in his career.  His songs feel like they are being sung directly to  you while you listen to him in the comfort of your living room.  This is a voice that will surely rise like cream to the top of the music scene.  We expect to see him become a household name in no time at all.

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer.  You need this album in your library, where we are sure you will listen to it over and over again.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 23

After a month of reviewing the Hollywood Fringe Festival, preparing the nominations and winners listings for the LA Music Critic Awards and coordinating the LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase, we are ready to get back to our normal schedule.  We received 86 review requests for the month of June, so we will be focusing on those for our Get it or Forget it articles on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  For the Friday edition, we will focus on July releases.  We should be caught up with everything by the end of the first week in August.  We will continue to publish our Monday Mashup article each Monday, starting with today.  We apologize for the delay in reviews, but this will be an annual occurrence as the month of June is dedicated to coverage of the Fringe.  Thank you for your patience.

REDHEAD EXPRESS ANNOUNCE NEW NAME

The Redhead Express are a group of four sisters from Spring Hill, Tennessee who have become synonymous with turning great pop songs into amazing country covers.  However, the group has written some amazing original tunes as well.  As a result, they have decided to release those originals under a different moniker so as not to confuse their fans.  We are happy to announce that those songs will be released under the band name PaperDolls.  We look forward to reviewing their original content, and wish them well in all their efforts.

DIY QUEEN CREATES NEW BAND

Shannon Hurley has been the reigning queen of DIY for several years.  Besides the amazing and award-winning music she has released solo, she and her husband, bassist Ben Eisen, have also released award-winning music under the moniker Lovers & Poets.  Hurley has announced that they have created new music that doesn’t really fit the brand of either of these two formats, so they have created a new platform called Ghost Ability.  Their first EP is now available on BandCamp.

NEW SINGLES

First up this week is Sketti Tangles, another amazing act courtesy of A&R Records.  Their first single, “The Long Way Down,” is a good tune to kick off this week.  Please let us know what you think about it.

Our next single is from 14 year old Evann McIntosh, whose voice will thrill you with its intensity and sweetness.  The song is courtesy of Holy Mattress Money.  Here is her debut single, “Better Now.”  We are sure we will be hearing a lot more from this very promising young artist.

Our third single comes to us courtesy of Blue Élan Records’ rising country music star Amy Wilcox.  We think you will really enjoy the sound of “Bandwagon.”

Do you like to get into “Trouble.”  If so, we can’t think of a better person to do it with than Megan Wilde, whose powerful vocals will blow you away.

Our final single today is “Instagram” from Catey Shaw, a song about relationships and social media.  This one should get your new week off to a great start.

https://soundcloud.com/antifragile_music/instagram-catey-shaw/

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from the rocking indie sound of Alana Sweetwater, who has been a friend of this reviewer for many years.  We are sure you will love the retro sound of “Gotta Get Up.”  We are so blessed to have this young lady back in the spotlight.

Our next video has been out for a couple of months, but if we ever needed its message, the time is now.  Please give it up for Fanny Walked the Earth and their feminist power anthem “When We Need Her.”

Our third video this week is the latest from Rvzoo and the Sugar Spun Elephant Band.  Check out the amazingly sweet and retro sounds of “If I Was a Bird.”

Our next video marks the return of veteran electronic artist Andrew Bayer with his latest “Immortal Lover,” featuring Alison May.  Check it out.

Last but not least this week is our final video from Lauren Balthrop and features clips of some of Hollywood’s classic films.  Check out “Don’t Ever Forget” and leave us a comment below with your thoughts.