Tag: David J

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music New Music Friday

Get it or forget it – New Music Friday vol. 4

It’s been a while since we had a Friday morning off, so we are celebrating by sharing these great new albums with you.  They are all dropping today.

Artist Name:  The Skullers

Album Name:  Freight Trains and Party Games

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Modern Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Still Life; 2.  She Denies Herself the Things she Loves; 3.  Convenient; 4.  Out of the Garden; 5.  Brooklyn Girls; 6.  She Denies Herself the Things she Loves (at the record booth)

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  The Skullers have hit the big time with the release of their latest EP.  It mixes elements of Americana/Rockabilly with modern rock to create a unique sound that is worthy of repeated listens.  We last reviewed them in March 2018, and they have continued to make great strides in their artistic growth.  This time around they have evolved from their blues rock origins to become a band worthy of heavy rotation on Top 40 radio.  We love every song on this EP, especially “She Denies Herself the Things she Loves” and “Out of the Garden.”

Recommendation:  Don’t hesitate to jump on this wagon – go Get this one today!

Artist Name:  Fox Stevenson

Album Name:  Killjoy

Label:  Anti-Fragile Music

Genre:  Funky Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Out my Head; 2.  Killjoy; 3.  Broken Man; 4.  Okay; 5.  Cavalier; 6.  Dreamland; 7.  California; 8.  Go Like; 9.  Use Me; 10.  Hold Steady; 11.  All Night; 12.  Perfect Lie; 13.  Headlights

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  Producer Fox Stevenson’s debut album Killjoy is a work of sonic beauty, with a richness that many seasoned artists don’t have.  It is funky, cool, fresh and worthy of repeated listens.  These songs are upbeat and perfect for keeping you in sync on your daily activities.  We think this album will launch his career out of the UK and into the rest of the world.  He hits the ground running with “Out my Head” and never lets up.  This one is a surefire winner.

Recommendation:  If you love fresh new music, this one should be first on your list – go Get it!

Artist Name:  Wildlife

Album Name:  Take the Light With You

Label:  Culvert Music

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Wasted; 2.  Broken Magic; 3.  Cut-off; 4.  No Control; 5.  All in Black; 6.  Follower (LaLa); 7.  Euphoria; 8.  Whatever, Memory; 9.  Dance Now; 10.  House in the Shadows

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  Toronto’s Wildlife is another band on the rise.  We debuted their single “No Control” in our Ten Great Singles of September 2019 article, and the rest of the album is even better. These lads have been influenced by the great acts of the 80s and 90s, like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, U2 and more.  Even though they have been together for 10 years, they bring a new freshness to the power rock of those acts and set themselves up to be one of the best acts of 2019.

Recommendation:  What are you waiting for?  Go Get it!

Artist Name:  David J

Album Name:  Missive to an Angel From the Halls of Infamy and Allure

Label:   Glass Modern Records

Genre:

Track Listing:  1.  Mosaic; 2.  Blue Eyes in the Green Room; 3.  Baudelaire; 4.  (I Don’t Want to Destroy) Our Beautiful Thing; 5.  Lovelorn; 6.  Clandestine Valentine; 7.  Of Purgatory and Perfume; 8.  Migena and the Frozen Roses; 9.  No Floods can Drown; 10.  Pre-Existing Condition; 11.  Copper Level 7; 12.  (I Walked Away From) The Girl in Yellow; 13.  Best Western Blues; 14.  Missive to an Angel From the Halls of Infamy and Allure; 15.  The Auteur (Redux/The Scarlet’s Cut); 16.  I Have Only Silence Now

Publicist:  Shameless Promotion PR

Review:  What do you get when you cross Tom Waits/Bob Dylan with Leonard Cohen/Andrew Lloyd Webber?  You get David J’s latest eerie and invigorating new album.  These songs could easily be made into an amazing musical and should be performed in major concert halls.  This soundtrack is worthy of your repeated listens and could easily become a daily habit.  We truly cannot get enough of these songs, and will be listening over and over again.  We recommend you do the same.

Recommendation:  This one is a must-have.

Artist Name:  Doug Duffey and BADD

Album Name:  Play the Blues

Label:  Out of the Past Music

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  The Things we Used to Do; 2.  Evil; 3.  Big Easy Street Blues; 4.  Have you Ever?; 5.  Drink it on Down; 6.  My Drivin’ Wheel; 7.  Talk of the Town; 8.  You Got That Somethin’; 9.  A Memory Left to Lose

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  There are so many styles of the blues, from Delta to Chicago to Memphis, and no one can play them all better than Doug Duffey and BADD.  They combine elements from all these blues styles into their own unique blend that highlights the blues and transforms it into a celebration of life, not just a wailing sound of agony.  They even add some jazzy grooves into their song “Evil,” further separating themselves from the rest of the blues genre.

Recommendation:  If you love the blues or just plain great music, then add this one to your collection today.

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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.