Month: October 2018

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

Get it or forget it – Old Faith, The Mutineers, Colonel Petrov’s Good Judgement, He Arrived by Helicopter, PublicART

Good morning from Denver, where we are for this year’s Durango Songwriters Expo at The Omni Interlocken.  We kick things off tonight with a showcase before starting in the morning with listen sessions with industry professionals and seminars.  Tonight is also game one of the National League Division Series between our Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies.  In the meantime, here are five new artists to check out.

Artist Name:  Old Faith

Album Name:  Old Faith

Label:  Refresh Records

Genre:  Indie Rock Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  Landing; 2.  Reunion; 3.  Cherish; 4.  Switchbacks; 5.  Take Cover; 6.  Vacancy; 7.  Primrose

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  When you say the words “rock instrumental composers, most people think of Danny Elfman and Trent Reznor, but we would like to put forth another name – Old Faith.  This amazing four-piece band has created a masterful debut album, full of brilliant images and lush landscapes which are perfect for placement in commercials, videos, television and film.  They paint such lovely pictures with their instruments that would be the perfect soundtrack for a myriad of uses, and we can’t get enough of their incredible work.  Put this one on repeat and just sit back and relax.

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer, if you need a musical soundtrack for your daily living.  Get it today!

Artist Name:  The Mutineers

Album Name:  Threshold

Label:  Mutiny Studios

Genre:  Americana/Alt-Country/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Hard Sell; 2.  Couldn’t get Over You; 3.  Afterthoughts; 4.  I’ve got the Bottle; 5.  Hourglass

Publicist:  Shameless Promotion

Review:  Portland gives us another great indie band in the form of Americana/Alt Country powerhouse duo The Mutineers, composed of Merry Young on drums and vocals and Brian Mathusek on guitars and vocals.  These guys are not afraid to hit you hard with their music while providing intriguing stories in the form of their lyrics.  Hey Chris Funk – these guys need to be part of next year’s Traveler’s Rest Festival.  You cant go wrong with these five tracks, and we can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Recommendation:  This band rocks and we highly recommend you go Get this EP.

Artist Name:  Colonel Petrov’s Good Judgement

Album Name:  Among Servants

Label:  Moral Machine

Genre:  Dark Rock

Track Listing:    1.  Burning Straw; 2.  Ashes; 3.  Fire and Fury (The Poetry of War); 4.  Resistor; 5.  Providers; 6.  Ascension; 7.  Among Servants; 8.  Bad Shepherd; 9.  Death of a Guardian Angel

Publicist:  Viral Propaganda PR

Review:  If you like your rock dark and moody, then this is the band for you.  The music is hard and razor-sharp, with a cacophony of sounds that include jazz sax, heavy metal drums and guitar riffs and the overall dark imagery, including screaming vocals.  The band tends to let the music speak for itself, but has included a few vocals, including those on “Fire and Fury,” which consist of actual quotes from President Trump and Kim Jong Un.  This album is not pretty, but in this political climate, it may be just what the doctor ordered.

Recommendation:  While the overall vibe is dark and heavy, this band is very talented and worthy of your attention.

Artist Name:  He Arrived by Helicopter

Album Name:  The Shiny Hostel

Label:  Eastern Spurs (vinyl)/Very Special Recordings (cassette)

Genre:  Indie Folk/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  The Decline in U.S. Civics; 2.  Cold Damn Truth; 3.  Big Tree Big House; 4.  Hemoglobin; 5.  Alas the Cults; 6.  Lullaby #1; 7.  He Arrived by Helicopter; 8.  Fake Trees; 9.  Wulu; 10.  Death Wing Bird Trap; 11.  Day Kicks Night; 12.  Hot and Lonely

Publicist:  WolfieVibes Publicity

Review:  C. (Christian) Gibbs has been a very successful member of several bands, including Foetus, Modern English and Morning Glories.  He has assumed a new name (He Arrived by Helicopter) for this venture, and truly delivers an incredible album with equally powerful lyrics and vocals.  He is also quite the impressive guitarist as demonstrated on the beautiful instrumentals “Big Tree Big House,” “Lullaby #1” and “Fake Trees.”  In addition, he uses Middle Eastern and electronic sounds on the instrumental “Alas the Cults.”  Please listen carefully to the words of “Cold Damn Truth” and “He Arrived by Helicopter.”  This one is a definite keeper.

Recommendation:  The simple fact is that you need this one in your library, so go Get it!

Artist Name:  PublicART

Album Name:  Modernika

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Electro-folk

Track Listing:  1.  Montreaux; 2.  Forever Keep Me; 3.  Light Years

Publicist:  Perpetual Media Relations

Review:  PublicART calls the artist friendly community of Silverlake in Los Angeles their home, but their music has a world-wide appeal, no doubt the result of their individual efforts.  Composed of Stevvi Alexander and Jan Ozveren, they are taking the world by storm with this all-too-short three-song EP, featuring the monster future hit, “Montreaux.”  Stevvi is currently working as the featured vocalist on the touring production of Ramin Djawadi‘s score from Game of Thrones, while Jan is the principal guitarist for Charlie Puth.  We truly love the sound of Stevvi’s vocals on both “Montreaux” and “Light Years,” both of which are extremely radio friendly,

Recommendation:  Run, don’t walk, and grab this one TODAY!

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Amnesia Scanner, Everlast, decker., Baby Jey, Saint Slumber

By the time you read this I will be on the road to Denver for the Durango Songwriters Expo.  We think you will love these artists, including the long-awaiting return of rock/hip-hop icon Everlast.  Let’s get started.

Artist Name:  Amnesia Scanner

Album Name:  Another Life

Label:  PAN

Genre:  Experimental performance art

Track Listing:  1.  Symmetribal; 2.  Unlinear (ft Pan Daijing); 3.  A.W.O.L.; 4.  Another Life; 5.  Daemon; 6.  Too Wrong; 7.  Spectacult (ft Oracle); 8.  Faceless; 9.  Chain; 10.  Securitaz; 11.  Chaos (ft Pan Daijing); 12.  Rewild

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  This concept might work as a live performance piece, but it does not work as an album.  The “music” pushes the limits of tolerance, especially the first two track.  Beginning with “A.W.O.L,” it begins to sound more like music that you don’t mind listening to.  Unfortunately, the voice distortion on the title track quickly begins to irritate your ears, making it extremely difficult to continue listening,

Recommendation:  Unless you’re in the mood for some extreme performance art that stretches the border of what we consider “music,” we recommend you just forget this one.

Artist Name:  Everlast

Album Name:  Everlast Presents Whitey Ford’s House of Pain

Label:   Martyr-Inc Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock/Soul/Blues/Hip-Hop

Track Listing:  1.  One of Us; 2.  The Culling; 3.  It Ain’t Easy; 4.  The Climb (Interlude); 5.  The Climb; 6.  Slow Your Roll (ft Aloe Blacc); 7.  Smokin’ & Drinkin’; 8.  Ooooohh (I Don’t Need You (ft Slug); 9.  Summer Rain (Interlude); 10.  Summer Rain; 11.  Don’t Complain; 12.  Break it Down; 13.  Break it Down (Interlude); 14.  HeartBeat; 15.  Dream Slate

Publicist:  MSO PR

Review:  Returning with a new studio album after a seven-year absence, Everlast aka Whitey Ford returns to reclaim his rightful place as one of the most diverse and unique artists in today’s music scene.  He shows his soulful sound on “One of Us” before spitting rapid-fire rhymes on the politically charged “The Culling.”  The autobiographical “It Ain’t Easy” debuted in Rolling Stone, and it is a masterpiece that would work well on the radio.  You can feel the passion in his voice and tell that he is singing from the heart.  That passion continues on “The Climb.”  He joins with Aloe Blacc for the soulful hip-hop sound of “Slow Your Roll” and closes out the album with the amazing song “Break it Down.”

Recommendation:  You simply MUST have this one – Get it!

Artist Name:  decker.

Album Name:  Born to Wake Up

Label:  Royal Potato Family

Genre:  Folk/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  No Beginning, No End (Intro); 2.  The Strawman; 3.  Burnin Grass; 4.  The Garden; 5.  The Matador; 6.  Awake; 7.  Smudge; 8.  Mexico; 9.  The Saint; 10.  No End, No Beginning (Outro)

Publicist:  Royal Potato Family

Review:  decker. is a gifted songwriter who knows how to deliver his more intimate thoughts in a folk/rock medium that entices the listener to pay attention and learn.  He displays a great depth of musical character, and his music runs the gamut of singer-songwriter to pop-rock band.  Best cuts include “Burnin Grass,” their creative cover of “The Garden,” “The Matador,” “Awake,” “Mexico” and “The Saint.”

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you just Get this one!

Artist Name:  Baby Jey

Album Name:  Someday Cowboy

Label:  Maintenance Records

Genre:  Alt Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Hannah Holliday’s Son; 2.  U Don’t Have 2 go Alone; 3.  Toboggan; 4.  Someday my Space Cowboy Will Come; 5.  Hundred Percent; 6.  Bernice Kentner; 7.  Teach me 2 Forget; 8.  Every Thing; 9.  I Accept

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  What do you get when you cross a hip-hop producer with two singer-songwriters?  You get the amazing album Someday Cowboy, the latest from Baby Jey (Jeremy Witten and Dean Kheroufi).   From the first notes of “Hannah Holliday’s Son,” it becomes quickly quite obvious that this is not your normal singer-songwriter angst – this is undeniably just fun and upbeat alternative pop music, which is just screaming to be played on the radio.  It takes the chill factor all the way to 10, and deserves to be put on repeat.  Every song is worthy.

Recommendation:  You NEED this one in your music library – run out and Get it.

Artist Name:  Saint Slumber

Album Name:  Youth//2

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Stay Away; 2.  I Think I Like You; 3.  Marrow; 4.  Coast; 5.  Infinite

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  This year has been a great one for Saint Slumber.  We featured the video for their single “Infinite” on September 10, and immediately knew that this band was on the rise.  It appears we were right because they recently played the iHeart Radio 104.5 Birthday Bash as well as the Monolith Tour with the likes of 30 Seconds to Mars, Portugal, the Man and Walk the Moon, in addition to being chosen for performances by SoFar Sounds and Balcony TV.    The sky is the limit for this band, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see them at next year’s Grammy Awards.  All five songs are amazing, and don’t be surprised to hear them pumping from your local radio station.

Recommendation:  Sell whatever you can and Get a ticket onboard this train before it leaves the station.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – David J, The Heiz, Jim Allchin, Future Thieves, SNEW

Looks like winter is definitely on its way, as we have snow forecast for next week.  We are heading down to Denver tomorrow and looking forward to reconnecting with industry friends and indie musicians from around the country at the annual Durango Songwriters Expo.  Should be a great weekend.  In the meantime, here are five artists to check out.

Artist Name:  David J

Album Name:  Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh

Label:  Glass Modern

Genre:  Singer-Songwriter Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh; 2.  Too Clever by Half; 3.  The First Incision; 4.  Imitation Pearls; 5.  Light and Shade; 6.  René; 7.  Stop This City; 8.  Justine; 9.  The Ballad of Cain; 10.  The Vandal and the Saint; 11.  Boats; 12.  Slip the Rope; 13.  Greener

Publicist:  Shameless Promotion

Review:  David J founded the gothic/post-punk alternative music band Bauhaus 40 years ago, and is now returning to his solo roots with the reissue of Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh, released in 1985.  The album has been remastered and remixed and feels fresh, with a style similar to Al Stewart and early Tom Petty.  The entire album has a very mellow, jazzy folk feel, which is so different from the sound of Bauhaus.  The sax on the title cut and “The First Incision” is magnificent, as is the rest of the instrumentation on this album, which retains that 80s vibe but with a reinvigorated feel that makes the album feel like it was just recorded.  Check out the timely lyrics of “Stop This City” – it’s almost as if they were written based on recent events.

Recommendation:  Definitely add this one to your collection.

Artist Name:  The Heiz

Album Name:  The Gun

Label:  SquidHat Records

Genre:  Punk/Rock

Track Listing: 1.  Dr. Rock n Roll; 2.  Good Good News; 3.  Soul Satisfaction; 4.  Taco Mambo; 5.  The Louder the Better; 6.  The Gun; 7.  I’m Starving Now; 8.  Excuse Me; 9.  Steak Steak Steak; 10.  White Cadillac; 11.  Chicken Bone; 12.  Remember (Walking in the Sand); 13.  Sabre Dance; 14.  Bad Medicine

Publicist:  SquidHat Records

Review:  The Heiz combine old fashioned rock and roll sensibilities with a more modern punk energy to create a special blend of music that has established them as a true voice in the underground scene and made their first two singles, “Good Good News” and “I’m Starving Now” instant classics.  We really love the switched off lead vocals, which keep the music fresh, and the entire album worthy of your attention.  This is just plain fun to listen to, and we plan to listen to it over and over.

Recommendation:  Go. Get. This. One.

Artist Name:  Jim Allchin

Album Name:  Prime Blues

Label:  Sandy Key Music

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Give it Up; 2.  Devil Don’t Sleep; 3.  Voodoo Doll; 4.  Snuggle Up; 5.  Jim’s Boogie; 6.  Summer Sunrise; 7.  Enough is Enough; 8.  Found the Blues; 9.  Two Bad Dreams; 10.  Pawn Shop Man; 11.  Lost my Mind; 12;  Up to Destiny; 13.  Tech Blues; 14.  Logoff

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Jim Allchin is the consummate blues guitarist and vocalist.  His brand of the blues is strong, energetic and funky, with impressive horns that complement his voice and guitar riffs.  He also put a lot of thought into his lyrics, which make his music stand out from his peers.  “Give it Up” for “Jim’s Boogie” while you watch the “Summer Sunrise.”  “Enough is Enough” – put away your “Voodoo Doll” and just “Snuggle Up” because you have “Found the Blues” and it won’t give you “Two Bad Dreams” because the “Devil Don’t Sleep.”

Recommendation:  If you love the blues, you must have this album in your collection.  Get it today!

Artist Name:  Future Thieves

Album Name:  Future Thieves

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Online; 2.  Machines; 3.  Dark Spin; 4.  Prom Night; 5.  Same Things; 6.  Drive; 7.  Concha; 8.  Loneliest Time; 9.  Lost in my Head; 10.  On the Run; 11.  Over

Publicist:  Self-promoted/Right Angle PR (tour)

Review:  Welcome to the next big thing.  Future Thieves offer a positive alternative pop format with meaningful lyrics, great vocals and a beat that would sound perfect on the radio.  This album is chock full of potential hits and sounds a lot like all the things we love in Phil Collins and Genesis.  These songs deserve to be played on repeat, and are also perfect for placement opportunities in commercials, television and film, as well as heavy rotation on college radio stations, especially “Drive.”  These guys have a definite future – catch them on their upcoming tour.

Recommendation:  Jump on  this bandwagon NOW and Get their album today!

Artist Name:  SNEW

Album Name:  You’ve Got Some Nerve

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Rock

Track Listing:  1.  UR Freaking me Out; 2.  Holy Hell; 3.  Acetylene Queen; 4.  Put Upon; 5.  Sharpie; 6.  You Tell Me; 7.  Something New Everybody Wants; 8.  Revolution is a Closed Loop; 9.  You’ve Got Some Nerve

Publicist:  Guitars Forever Marketing & Promotion

Review:  SNEW has been not so quietly staking its claim as the successors to the legacy left by such famous Hollywood Strip bands as Guns n’ Roses, Poison, Motley Crüe, AC-DC and Steel Panther with their fourth studio release, You’ve Got Some Nerve.  The album hits the ground at a furious pace with the band’s first single, “UR Freaking me Out,” and doesn’t slow down from there.  There isn’t a weak track on the album, and we love them all, especially that amazing first single.  We suggest you put this one on repeat and TURN IT UP!

Recommendation:  If high energy, hard driving rock is your thing, then don’t miss this one.  We strongly recommend you Get it before it’s gone.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Ten Great Singles Women in Entertainment

Ten great singles released in September 2018

Closing out the month of September on the new single front with 10 of the best singles we received which were not selected for feature in our Monday Mashup column.  Here you go!

Our first single is a dancehall mix by Risky Motion that will definitely get you grooving on the dance floor.  Check out “Get me Going.”

Our next single is a rocking number called “City Escape” by Lost Cousins.  We think this one would sound great on the radio.

https://soundcloud.com/lostcousinsband/city-escape/

Single number three comes from the southern rock/Americana band Sunshine Riot.  Give a listen to “Go for a Ride.”

https://soundcloud.com/sunshine_riot/go-for-a-ride-1

Our next video is a smooth indie tune called “Panic Stations” by Australia’s own Mousewater.  Let the vibe flow over you.

Our fifth single is from actor Erich Bergen, who plays Blake Moran, the assistant to Téa Leoni in Madam Secretary.  We really love this song, and hope you will also dig “Running Through the Night.”

We start off our second half with the latest from the phenomenal trio Southern Halo.  Check out “I Think Too Much,” and tell us this one doesn’t belong on country radio.

Any artist that walks away from a major label has our immediate respect.  Check out the latest from indie artist ISA and her song, “Shy.”

Here’s an artist that reminds us of a folk rock version of Cat Stevens.  Check out Flow Commotion and their single, “Come Back Home.”

Single number nine is from another amazing Australian artist, Mantell.  Their new single is called “Lulu,” and we love its rocking vibe.  Enjoy.

Our final single this month is the title track from the new EP coming this Friday from Zsuzsika.  Check out “Start Again.”

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 35

Looking forward to heading down to Denver on Wednesday for this year’s Durango Songwriters Expo.  We’re having a meet and greet at The Walnut Room on Wednesday night before the Expo kicks off with their showcase on Thursday night and closes Saturday night with a concert.  Should be an interesting weekend, and it will be warmer there than here in Montana.  In the meantime, here are the latest happenings in indie music, as well as five new singles and five new videos for you to check out.

COLIN DEVLIN CD RELEASE SHOW AT HOTEL CAFÉ

Colin Devlin and Blue Élan Records will celebrate the release of Devlin’s new album High Point (which we will be reviewing on Friday) with a concert at the esteemed Hotel Café on Wednesday, October 3.  The opening act is Devlin’s labelmates Roan Yellowthorn, who are making their Los Angeles debut.  Roan Yellowthorn goes on at 7 p.m., followed by Devlin at 8 p.m.  If you are in or near Los Angeles, we strongly encourage you to be there.

SPOTIFY TO ALLOW INDIE ARTISTS DIRECT UPLOADS

Spotify has announced a new feature which will enable independent artists to upload tracks to the service directly – without any requirement for a third-party aggregator or record label.  The feature currently remains in invite-only beta mode – with a few hundred United States artists being ushered in – but Spotify says that, in the future, it will “bring upload to even more artists, labels, and teams.”

Artists will be able access the upload function via the Spotify For Artists platform, which counted more than 200,000 verified acts amongst its monthly user base at the end of June.

The best part is that this new upload feature is completely free, unlike the current feature provided by existing third-party digital aggregators/distributors such as CD Baby, TuneCore, Distrokid and Ditto – all of which require either a one-off upload fee or a yearly subscription payment from artists.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single today comes from long-time indie artist Amy Kuney, who advises us to just “Hold On.”  We should all listen to her advice.

Our second single comes from another great artist client of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services.  Here is “Highway Jawn” from Paul Edelman and Jangling Sparrows.  This one will get your toes a tapping while you sit back and enjoy your whiskey and beer chaser.  We can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.

Next up is the latest from LA Music Critic Award winners Lovers & Poets.  Check out their cover of the title track from the 1968 sci-fi film “Barbarella.”  We really love the 60s vibe of this song, which bring back great memories of the powerful female singers of that era.

Our fourth single comes from another amazing publicist, Jennifer Allison Publicity.  Please enjoy this premiere of the new single, “Desnudame” by Joaquin Torres.  Spanish and English never sounded better together.

Our final single this week is the first release from new Blue Élan Records artist Lisa Lambe.  We think the title of the song, “Beautiful Thing,” sums up the incredible music she has created.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video offers timely advice on what it means to be “beautiful.”  Check out this amazing video for “Costume Party” by The Voice‘s Season 12 runner-up, Lauren Duski.

Next is the video for the first single off the forthcoming album from We are the City.  For a rocking good time, check out “When I Dream, I Dream of You.”

Our third video this week is from Zoey Clarke, who we introduced to you last year when we reviewed her last album.  We really like the sound of her new material, including “Rewind,” and can’t wait to hear the rest of her new music.

If you like nostalgic videos, then our fourth video this week will likely take your breath away, especially if you love Irish Castles.  Check out the latest, “The Hill Dwellers,” from Kramies.

Our final video this week is from the incredible Korean-American artist, Tiffany Young.  She will be in Los Angeles on October 3 from 6-8 p.m. at the Sunset H&M (8580 Sunset Blvd) to celebrate the release of her new video, “Teach You,” as well as her new collaborative effort with H&M.

See you soon with our first Get it or Forget it for October.