Happy Thursday – we’re in the home stretch now with the Divisional Round this weekend in the NFL. Thank goodness we can enjoy great indie music anytime, and our five reviews today are proof of that. Grab your coffee and let’s get going.
Artist Name: Leading Edge
Album Name: Ghost
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie Folk/Pop
Track Listing: 1. We’ll Meet; 2. Forever Young; 3. Ghost
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Sweden continues to impress us with their indie music scene. The latest gift is a band called Leading Edge, which recently released their latest teaser three-song EP. The lead vocals of Anna Johannisson and the three-part harmonies are truly captivating, as is her amazing songwriting. Her band perfectly captures the mood of each song with some of the most beautiful instrumentation we have ever heard. They could easily become one of our all-time favorite bands. These songs are timeless and deserve world-wide recognition and attention from both radio station managers and music supervisors. Their music is truly worthy of radio airplay and serious placement opportunities. We love all three of these songs and will wait with baited breath for the next appetizer. In the words of Dickens’ Oliver, “Please sir, can I have another?”
Recommendation: Don’t delay – Get this one today!
Artist Name: Kinnie Starr
Album Name: Feed the Fire
Label: Aporia Records
Genre: Alt Pop/Hip-Hop
Track Listing: 1. Feed the Fire; 2. Gotta do Something; 3. I’m a Ghost; 4. I’m Ready; 5. The Cold Sea; 6. Vendetta; 7. Catch a Ride; 8. Big World; 9. Kiss It (downtown version); 10. We are Sky
Publicist: Effectively Immediately PR
Review: Kinnie Starr has had a storied career for the past 20+ years, and was once signed to Island/DefJam before forsaking the major label deal for a smaller indie label. She is also signed to Ole Music Publishing as a songwriter, where she has the chance to bring her activism to bear with well-crafted songs that speak out on the issues of today. She provides hope through her genre-defying sound, and her latest offering is simply amazing. Not only will the music move you, but her ability to transform her lyrics into incredible vocals will keep her in your aural memory long after the songs have ended. This artist deserves major industry attention, as her music and message appeal to people of all ages, races and cultures.
Recommendation: Drop everything and Get this one!
Artist Name: Marcus Haran
Album Name: A True Story: A Soundscape to in-Difference
Label: The Commission Entertainment Corp.
Genre: Hip-Hop
Track Listing: 1. Saturn Intro; 2. Saturn; 3. Jupiter Intro; 4. Jupiter; 5. Pluto Intro; 6. Pluto; 7. Venus Intro; 8. Venus; 9. Mars Intro; 10. Mars
Publicist: Eric Alper
Review: Music gives many artists the chance to reveal themselves, but no artist has become as transparent as Marcus Haran has on his latest masterpiece. This amazing concept album shares Haran’s struggles of being a Parisian-born Sri Lanka refugee with a major skin condition (Vitiligo), who was raised by an abusive father that even used him as a drug mule. The songs are deeply personal but totally relatable, resulting in the hope that all adversity can be overcome. You will experience a multitude of emotions while listening to those songs, and we hope that they inspire you to even greater heights.
Recommendation: You NEED the message of this album. Go out and Get it.
Artist Name: Jak Lizard
Album Name: Shine to Rise
Label: Self-released
Genre: R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop
Track Listing: 1. Cauliflower; 2. Much to Me (ft S’natra); 3. Quality of Life; 4. Something More (ft Joanna Teters); 5. Can I Stay; 6. Little Things
Publicist: Effective Immediately PR
Review: We have always been partial to blue-eyed soul, and Jak Lizard has it in spades. Mixing elements of soul, R&B and hip-hop, he hits the bulls-eye on his latest EP, delivering six amazing songs with a positive message of hope and victory over adversity. “Quality of Life” sets the tone, but every song contributes to the message, especially “Something More,” featuring the stellar vocals of Joanna Teters. These songs would be perfect for placement in the Fox television show Empire. This one is definitely going on repeat.
Recommendation: Get. It. Now.
Artist Name: Float Here Forever
Album Name: Tour the Ruins
Label: ALP Music
Genre: Alt/Punk Rock
Track Listing: 1. Cars Crashing; 2. Wasps; 3. Taking us for Granted; 4. Addax; 5. California’s Burning; 6. Brilliant Mind; 7. Slipping Away; 8. Plasmodium; 9. Plea Insanity; 10. Pilot; 11. Flickering Transmission; 12. Quick Burn Fire; 13. Gradients; 14. The in Betweens
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: We reviewed this band’s last album back in June 2017 and thought they were not yet ready, although they had potential. They appear to have taken our advice, because their latest is so much better. It was recorded by Grammy winner Dave Feeny and mastered by Alan Douches, and this added expertise has made a difference in the sound quality of the songs. Like most punk songs, they are short and sweet, but they also capture the quality of today’s greatest alt-rock bands. The harmonies are exquisite and flow nicely with the underlying alt-rock sound. These are songs that will stay with the listener for a long time, and are worthy of repeated play. We also love their confidence in having instrumental tracks like “Addax” and “Plasmodium.”
Recommendation: This band has arrived and deserves a place in your music collection. Grab it.