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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 6

OMG – that was the best Grammys Show we have ever witnessed.  Everything that was lacking in last week’s Super Bowl was present – superstar performances, inspiring speeches and incredible music throughout.  Alicia Keys was the perfect host and her “Songs I Wish I’d Written” segment brought us to tears.  It was also about time that the talents of Women in Entertainment were clearly on display, showing the world what we already know.  We’ve got some news for you today that is the perfect segue to that, as well as five new singles and music videos for your consideration.  Here we go!

INDIE ARTISTS SHINE AT 61ST GRAMMY AWARDS SHOW

Congratulations to indie band Opium Moon on their Grammy win last night for Best New Age Album.  Huge props to amazing violinist Lili Haydn and her equally amazing band for this honor.

Congratulations also to two artists we had the privilege of reviewing here on our blog.  Composer and music educator John Daversa took home three Grammys for his amazing jazz album American Dreamers that featured DACA kids and spotlighted their cause.  Blues legend Buddy Guy won for Best Traditional Blues Album for The Blues is Alive and Well.

LA MUSIC CRITIC AWARD WINNERS SHOWCASE TO HONOR WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT

The Third Annual LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase is set for Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at The Mint LA.  This year’s Showcase will honor the role of Women in Entertainment, and will feature a stellar line-up that includes Fanny Walked the Earth (the first all-girl group to release an album on a major label); multiple-award winning rock band The Spider Accomplice, led by VK Lynne; Rebelle Road artist The HawtThorns, led by label co-founder KP Hawthorn (former member of award-winning group CALICO the Band); blues phenom Brigitte Rios Purdy; Americana sweetheart Amilia K. Spicer; and two of our International winners, blues band Reloaded Norway and Latin singer Constanza Herrero.  We expect to announce a couple more artists in the coming weeks.  Tickets are now on sale for just $10 in advance or $13 day of show, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  We hope to see you there.

BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL SET FOR FEBRUARY 15-24, WITH OPENING NIGHT FILM AT THE WILMA

This year the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival will celebrate its 16th opening night on Saturday, February 16 with a free screening of a film that celebrates winter culture and the pioneer who helped bring it to the big screen.

Directed by Patrick Creadon, SKI BUM: THE WARREN MILLER STORY chronicles the life and times of the legendary filmmaker who, through his annual ski films and national tours which began in the early 1950’s, was a driving force in the development and promotion of the ski industry in America and throughout the world.

The screening will begin at 6:00 p.m. at The Wilma (131 S. Higgins) with a Q&A with filmmakers and cast following the screening.  We advise you to show up early to make sure you get a seat.  This year’s free opening night is made possible by Bob Ward’s Sports and Outdoors.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes from Australian folk singer Short Shadows.  We love his vibe and the sentiments contained in “Nothing Good Comes from Preston.”  Check out those horns.

Our second single is a sweet pop song from David Alexander called “Falling.”  We love the strings and the heavenly vocals and think you’ll want to hear more from this young man.

https://soundcloud.com/david-alexander-300103527/falling/s-CJZ6d

Next up is the rocking sound of Signs & Symbols, who share their latest single “Coffee for Friends.”  This one will get your week off to a rocking start.

Our fourth single is from pop artist Kat Holland.  We really think she’s “The One,” and think you will want to add this artist to your favorites.

Our final single this week comes from UK band Woman’s Hour and is very powerful both sonically and lyrically.  Check out “Luke.”  We think you’ll be searching for more of their material.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from Los Angeles street performer Katie Ferrera.  It is a powerful and beautifully shot video that shows what it’s like to busk, as well as the raw talent of this amazing artist.  Here’s “Weightless.”

Next up is “People Get Ready,” the gritty tune from another UK artist, Emma Bosworth.  The song talks about mental health issues and presents them in terms we can all understand.  Please give this artist your attention.

Our third video is a blues smoker from The Spear Shakers, who we introduced to you last month in our Ten Amazing Videos from December article.  Here is their latest, “I Went Down Easy.”

Next up is an amazing live performance of the power ballad “There has to be More” from Eliza Spear.  The song talks about transitioning to Los Angeles from North Carolina, and offers hope that there is more than just what you can see.  We think you should take her advice to heart.

Our final video this week will definitely give you something to think about, as it is all about global warming and resultant changes.  Check out this powerful and thought-provoking video from KLOGR for their song “Somethings in the Air.”

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Best of 2018 Women in Entertainment

Forty best albums of 2018

What a year for indie music.  We received a boatload of review requests from around the world, and published reviews of nearly 1,000 CDs and EPs.  We culled through those we reviewed first to pick our nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards, and now to compile our list of the 40 Best CDs of 2018.

Due to the sheer volume, we only considered full-length projects for this list, but that doesn’t mean that quite a few of the EPs we reviewed weren’t also worthy of distinction.  We may yet put together another list of just EPs.

In the meantime, while we wait for the winners of the second half of 2018 for the LA Music Critic Awards to be announced tomorrow, here are our favorite CDs of 2018.  You can find their individual reviews by searching for them on our blog.

40.  Kate ReidThe Heart Already Knows

39.  Deb RyderEnjoy the Ride

38.  Jeffrey FoucaultWar on the Radio

37.  Katie HerzigMoment of Bliss

36.  Eric Tingstad – Electric Spirit

35.  Fanny Walked the Earth – self-titled

34.  Wily Bo WalkerAlmost Transparent Blues

33.  Buddy GuyThe Blues is Alive and Well

32.  Walt WeiskopfEuropean Quartet

31.  Mindi Abair & the BoneshakersAll I Got for Christmas is the Blues

30.  YYNOT – self-titled

29.  Peter V Blues Band Shaken but not Deterred

28.  Delta MoonBabylon is Falling

27.  The TextonesOld Stone Gang

26.  Ronny MorrisSweet Silence

25.  Sydney WrightSeiche

24.  GleesonThe Years Have It

23.  Colin DevlinHigh Point

22.  EverlastDon’t Complain

21.  ZsuzsikaStart Again

20.  Michael PetersonFrom Here to Eternity

19.  K. Michelle DuboisAutumn

18.    Broken BellowsI, Kaleidoscope

17.  Rachel SageMyopia

16.  Janiva MagnessLove is an Army

15.  John Flanagan TrioHonest Man

14.  Lee Ainley’s Blues StormShoot me Down

13.  FloodsBad Times

12.  Frank Hannon (From One Place . . . to Another, vols 1 and 2)

11.  Keith HarkinIn the Round

10.  Southern HaloJust Like in the Movies

9.  Cindy Alexander – Nowhere to Hide

8.  Kari KimmelGold & Glitter

7.  Hymn for HerPop-n-Downers

6.  Jordan Siwek Sun Inside You

5.  Slim GambillFake Jazz

4.  Gina SiciliaHeard the Lie

3.  Birds and ArrowsArbitrary Magic

2.  Brigitte Rios PurdyStill I Rise

and the Best Album of 2018 goes to

Norway Reloaded – My Longest Mile

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Venus X and Asmara, Buddy Guy, Danny Sandock, Ben Caplan, Palberta

Getting closer to the weekend.  Hope these five new releases will get you in the proper mood.  Enjoy.

Artist NameVenus X and Asmara

Album NameTrouble in Paradise:  Putaria Maxima Vol. 2

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  EDM

Track Listing:  Mix-tape

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  This is the first mix tape we have reviewed, and it is not at all what we expected.  It mixes rap, dance, dembow and R&B among other genres from all the ghettos of the world.  According to the press release, “Here is part two, a political statement, full of the sinister and sexual energy that rules the world. We aim to offend everyone.”  They should consider their mission a success.

Recommendation:  Unless you like depressing and degrading rap music, you should Forget this one.

Artist Name:  Buddy Guy

Album NameThe Blues is Alive and Well

Label:  Silvertone/RCA Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  A few Good Years; 2.  Guilty as Charged; 3.  Cognac (ft. Jeff Beck & Keith Richards); 4.  The Blues is Alive and Well; 5.  Bad Day; 6.  Blue no More (ft. James Bay); 7.  Whiskey for Sale; 8.  You did the Crime (ft. Mick Jagger); 9.  Old Fashioned; 10.  When my day Comes; 11.  Nine Below Zero; 12.  Ooh Daddy; 13.  Somebody up There; 14.  End of the Line; 15.  Milking Muther for Ya

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Buddy Guy is a living legend.  He is poised to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association at their annual festival in September, and is also a multi-Grammy Award winning blues icon and recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  For this album, he borrows some rock and roll legends, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck and James Bay to make a statement that is crystal clear and absolutely true – “The Blues is Alive and Well.”  Even though he is 81 years old, he has never been sharper or better, and this album will easily be remembered as one of his best.  Even though he is by no means an indie artist, it would be a crime to pass on the opportunity to review this one.

Recommendation:  Make no mistake – you must add this one to your collection.  Get it today!

Artist NameDanny Sandock

Album NameThrowin’ me for a Loop

Label:  Aardvark Records

Genre:  Folk Rock/Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Throwin’ me for a Loop; 2.  Miss ya Baby Blues; 3.  Sycamore Canyon Mentality; 4.  Passin’ the Buck; 5.  In the Tabloids; 6.  Splitsville U.S. of A.; 7.  TMI; 8.  Hitch-Hiker; 9.  Sick of This City; 10.  Mixed Emotions; 11.  Broken Promised; 12.  Ol’ Stompin’ Grounds

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  With a sound somewhere between Jimmy Buffet and the Beach Boys, Danny Sandock turns in a splendid job on his fifth CD.  He doesn’t have the best voice, but it is real and unrefined.  The true stars of his music are his amazing melodies and lyrics, and the way he blends it all together to create these amazing summer songs that are perfect for driving down the PCH with the windows (or top) down, or just relaxing by the bonfire at the beach on a cool summer night.  Really love the harmonies, and the bodacious harmonica on “Sycamore Canyon Mentality” and “Passin’ the Buck,” which also shows his Americana influence.

Recommendation:  Definitely give this one a listen.  It is well worth it.

Artist NameBen Caplan

Album NameOld Stock

Label:  Rhyme & Reason

Genre:  Broadway Musical Soundtrack

Track Listing:  1.  Traveller’s Curse; 2. You’ve Arrived; 3.  Intermezzo 1; 4.  Truth Doesn’t Live in a Book; 5.  Od Yishama; 6.  The Happy People; 7.  Minimum Intervals; 8.  Widow Bride; 9.  Intermezzo 2; 10.  Plough that Shit; 11.  Lullaby; 12.  Fledgling; 13.  What Love can Heartbreak Allow?

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Ben Caplan worked with playwright Hannah Moscovitch and director/co-writer Christian Barry to create Old Stock:  A Refugee Love Story, in which Caplan played the lead.  After opening in Halifax, Nova Scotia and having a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the show spent seven weeks off-Broadway.  Caplan has converted the musical score to a concert version, which is contained in this CD.  Caplan’s voice is one of the strongest we have ever heard, and he makes the transition from the stage to CD look easy.  Grab a glass of wine, put this CD on, and enjoy the beauty of the play without being there.

Recommendation:  If you love Broadway shows, you will love this one.  Definitely Get it.

Artist NamePalberta

Album NameRoach Goin’ Down

Label:  Wharf Cat Records

Genre:  Punk

Track Listing:  1.  Surfing with Berry; 2.  Roach Goin’ Down; 3.  In my Fame – Jug!; 4.  Pixels; 5.  Cherry Baby; 6.  Big box Inn; 7.  Cross it Out; 8.  I Have found the Ego; 9.  #1 Fill; 10.  Ink of Truth; 11.  From Lamp to Lamp; 12.  Sound of the Beat; 13.  Ziddy; 14.  Big Time; 15.  Jaws’ Return; 16.  Gimme Everything you got Girl; 17.  Momentous Space-Up; 18.  Palberta; 19.  Fake-Out; 20.  Come Again; 21.  Rich Boy; 22.  Heaven to Rock n’ Roll

Publicist:  Promo Juke Box

Review:  This one is definitely not your parents’ punk music, but a sound for a different, more hyper-active generation.  The disc contains 22 short tunes, with heavy instrumentation and frentic vocals.  It is not an easy listen, and probably not the type of album you put on repeat.  However, it is clearly a work that took time to create, and something you definitely should listen to from start to finish.

Recommendation:  If you love punk, you might like this one.  To the rest of us, just Forget it.