Tag: David Philips

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

Get it or forget it – David Philips, TULA, Harts, Cal Raasay, LeBarons

Happy Hump Day!  Did you enjoy yesterday’s amazing lineup?  We’ve got lots more where that came from, and will top it all off on Friday with the review of the brand new album from Reel Big Fish.  We can hardly wait.  In the meantime, here are five more reviews for your consideration.

Artist Name:  David Philips

Album Name:  Acoustic Cover Versions 1

Label:  KurVer Records

Genre:  Cover Songs

Track Listing:  1.  Dock of the Bay; 2.  Freedom 2018; 3.  Heart of Glass; 4.  Hit the Road Jack

Publicist:  Black and Tan Records

Review:  David Philips is no stranger to indie music, or to this blog, as we reviewed his previous release back in May.   On this brilliant EP, Philips strips down a pair of classic songs, “Dock of the Bay” and “Hit the Road Jack,” and totally re-imagines a pair of 80’s pop hits, “Freedom” and “Heart of Glass” to create a beautiful and peaceful soundtrack.  This one is a treat from start to finish.  We only wish there were more than four songs.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth adding to your collection.

Artist Name:  TULA

Album Name:  Skin

Label:  I Love That Song International

Genre:  Dark Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Colours; 2.  Another Kind of Red; 3.  Glow; 4.  Wake; 5.  Bullet

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  TULA was born in Sweden and currently based in Berlin.  Her new sound is drenched in beauty and darkness and totally radio friendly.  Tula’s first single, “Bullet,” which closes the EP, debuted at #1, and the follow-up single, “Colours,” is just as dynamic.  This dynamic voice deserves heavy rotation on American radio, and the chance to tour North America.  Her vocals are lovely while the songs provide food for thought.  This is music that has plenty of commercial appeal, and should be on the radar for every music supervisor, as well as club DJs, as these songs are ripe for dance remixes.

Recommendation:  Definitely add this one to your collection.  These songs will remain long after the final note.

Artist Name:  Harts

Album Name:  Queens, Kings & All Big Things

Label:  Marshmallow Pavement Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  QK&ABT (Intro); 2.  Ain’t Nothin on Me; 3.  Millionaires; 4.  Crumbling Down (Interlude); 5.  21&19; 6.  Wishfulness; 7.  Wishfulness (Interlude); 8.  Pearls (if you are my Lady); 9.  Shake ya Pants; 10.  Shake ya Pants (Interlude); 11.  Queens, Kings & All Big Things; 12.  Days Gone By

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  Harts has been compared to an early version of Prince, and the hype is real.  Queens Kings And All Big Things is a contextual continuation to his last album Smoke Fire Hope Desire. The theme of the album continues on from the song “Desire,” the last song on that album.  We first introduced you to him when we featured the video for “Ain’t Nothing on Me” back in March, and followed that up with his single “21&19,” in April.  Our favorite track is “Pearls (if you are my Lady)” but the entire LP is memorable, especially “Shake ya Pants” and the title track.

Recommendation:  We highly recommend this album, and believe it will be an amazing addition to your music collection.

Artist Name:  Cal Raasay

Album Name:  Rona

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Settling; 2.  Rona; 3.  Breakers; 4.  Blaven

Publicist:  Practise Music

Review:  Rona is a true work of art, painting beautiful soundscapes of life near the ocean.  The vocals of Cal Raasay flow seamlessly with his grandiose instrumentation, like the movements in a classical piece.  This one is perfect for meditation and reflection, or when you just need to chill.  We only wish there was more of this beauty, but this will have to do until the next time Raasay gifts us with his brilliance.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  LeBarons

Album Name:  Summer of Death

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Country/Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1,  Long Highway; 2.  Bad News; 3.  Brand New Sound; 4.  Open Road; 5.  Quiet; 6.  Waste; 7.  Until it Goes; 8.  Summer of Death; 9.  Power Lines; 10.  Born in ’76; 11.  Nothing Left to Say

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  On their debut release, LeBarons prove that they are destined to become a major player in the Americana music scene.  The alt country groove is the perfect soundtrack for the amazing vocals and incredible songwriting of Chris MacDonald.  These are songs that should become classics, and are very radio friendly, especially “Long Highway,” “Bad News,” “Open Road,” “Until it Goes,” the powerful title track and “Power Lines.”  We also bet they are a hoot to see when performing live, and hope we have the chance to see them when they come back to America again.

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one!

 

 

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

Get it or forget it – Airlift, Mala Ruckus, Rob Bonfiglio, Alezzandra, David Phillips

Because of the number of remaining submissions for the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2018, we will be doing reviews every day until they are done.  Here are five more for your perusal.

Artist Name:  Airlift

Album Name:  Don’t Mind Me

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Flat Earth; 2.  With a bit of Luck; 3.  Friday

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Airlift is an up and coming rock band from New York City who is releasing a new EP, Don’t Mind Me.  They base their sound on bands like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, U2, The Replacements, REM, My Bloody Valentine, and Sonic Youth, and have the goods to take their sound a long way.  This three-song EP is a good introduction to the band, and we think they have a lot of potential.  Their sound is radio friendly, and if their live show is anything like what’s on this EP, we bet they are killer on stage.  We look forward to what they do next, and we advise you to keep your eyes on them as well.

Recommendation:  Give them a chance and grab your copy.

Artist Name:  Mala Ruckus

Album Name:  People Mountain People Sea

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Folk Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Run; 2.  Hoverboards; 3.  Trees, Fields; 4.  Words; 5.  Sheets; 6.  East Hastings; 7.  Nowhere Bound; 8.  Take it Away; 9.  Beast of our Babylon; 10.  Fire; 11.  Ghosts; 12.  Barmaid

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This band has an interesting back story after forming in China.  All the members were from other countries, and they played out a lot until they were all arrested and interrogated for three weeks.  This release marks their debut full length album, and we like what we hear.  The sound is truly radio friendly, and we highly recommend college and indie radio station managers check out these tunes and get them in heavy rotation.  Our favorites include “Run,” Trees, Fields,” “Sheets,” “Nowhere Bound,” “Beast of our Babylon,” and “Barmaid.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one!

Artist Name:  Rob Bonfiglio

Album Name:  Trouble Again

Label:  Damask

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Passenger Seat; 2.  Trouble Again; 3.  Dreaming; 4.  Spread This Feeling; 5.  Gone; 6.  Tears; 7.  Love Over Hurt; 8.  There Goes my Heart; 9.  Mr. No One; 10.  Hey Blue

Publicist:  ACR Management

Review:  Rob Bonfiglio has been making music since the 90’s, first as a co-founding member of Wanderlust before becoming a touring guitarist and musical director for Wilson Phillips.  Since going solo in 2006, he has released five albums, and Trouble Again is his latest effort.  He hits the ground running on “Passenger Seat” and never lets up.  His music is truly radio friendly, and would work well as placements for television and film.  Our favorites include “Passenger Seat,” the title cut, “Dreaming,” “Spread This Feeling,” “Gone,” “There Goes my Heart,” and “Hey Blue.”

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

Artist Name:  Alezzandra

Album Name:  The Black Rose

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Triphop/Rock/Electronica/Ambient

Track Listing:  1.  Bad girl in heaven, good girl in hell; 2.  Bad Woman; 3.  Water Me

Publicist:  Effectively Immediately PR

Review:  Alezzandra hails from Sweden, but now calls California her home.  She is heavily influenced by David Lynch and Portishead, and her trippy erotic sound is proof of that influence.  We have never experienced an artist like this before.  She has written and starred in a short film that shares the entire EP, and although parts of it are NSFW, it is visually stunning and worthy of your attention.  Hats off to the amazing direction of Rodrigo Zan, who also co-wrote the film, as well as the jaw-dropping cinematography of Leco Moura.

Recommendation:  Head straight to YouTube and watch The Black Rose.

Artist Name:  David Philips

Album Name:  Get Along

Label:  Black and Tan Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Another Day; 2.  As Long as we Get Along; 3.  Friends Like You; 4.  Mountain to Climb 2018; 5.  My Gravity demo; 6.  My Gravity; 7.  Nowhere demo; 8.  Nowhere; 9.  Red on Yellow; 10.  This Time demo; 11.  This Time; 12.  Trim; 13.  When I’m Drunk 2018

Publicist:  Black and Tan Records

Review:  His vocals are smooth and silky while his accompaniment is simple and pure.  This album is a treasure trove, with eight new songs, three acoustic demos and two remastered songs from his vast catalog.  Regardless of whether the track is full band or acoustic demo, it is Philips’ voice that shines through.  This album provides the perfect soundtrack for your down time, and will provide you with a plethora of repeat-worthy song.  The smooth jazz and bluesy feel of “Another Day,” “My Gravity,” and “Nowhere” and the amazing instrumental “Red on Yellow” alone are worth the price of the CD.

Recommendation:  Make a wise investment and Get this one today!