Tag: FreeWorld

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Artists Worth Checking Out Best of 2017 Women in Entertainment

Best indie albums of 2017

Here’s our list of the best indie albums of 2017.  Some of them were nominated and/or won LA Music Critic Awards during the first half of 2017, and most of the rest will be included when the nominations for the second half of 2017 are announced on January 17.  Consider this your “sneak peak” of those nominations.  Every album on this list has been reviewed in the “Get it or Forget it” column of our Blog.  How many of them do you have?

Honorable Mention:  Even though we have selected 25 albums for our list, there were a few that didn’t make the list, but deserve mention, including Ride by Marc Berger, Find the Silver Lining by Kelly Fitzgerald, Little Folks Like You and Me by Mike Younger, Small World by Monica Chapman and Honestly by Jay Asher.  Definitely check out these albums.

25.  The East Pointers, What we Leave Behind – This award-winning Canadian band has what they need to break into the American music scene.

24.  Becca Richardson, We are Gathered Here – Check her out at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on January 20.

23.  Harper Grae, Break Your Crowns – Definitely check out this rising star from Nashville.

22.  Rusty Young, Waitin’ for the Sun – Young was the former lead singer for Poco, and the band has reunited to support his solo artist.  This is his first solo effort for Blue Élan Records.

21.  The Show Ponies, How it all Goes Down – The band recently announced they would be disbanding and this album was their final one.  They were an LA Music Critic Award winner during the first half of 2017.

20.  Elizabeth and the Catapult, Keepsake – Check her out when she performs at Sundance this year.

19.  Great Willow, Find Yourself in Los Angeles – This band is becoming a player on the Americana circuit.  Check them out live if you live near there.

18.  Bryan Stephens, Village of Dreams – Another great Blue Élan Records artist.

17.  Jeffrey Halford & the Healers, Lo-Fi Dreams – Another LA Music Critic Award multiple nominee from the first half of 2017.

16.  Ray Goren, Me – This past LA Music Critic Award winner has a great future ahead.

15.  Marina V, Born to the Stars – This Russian-born singer-songwriter is one of a kind.  Welcome back to the charts.  More than 65,000 worldwide fans can’t be wrong.

14.  Chris Daniels and the Kings, Blues with Horns – This indie artist has had a storied career and his latest is one of his best.

13.  Chelsea Williams, Boomerang – Another premier act from Blue Élan Records, she will also be performing at Sundance.

12.  Jangling Sparrows, 140 Nickels – Watch for these guys near the top of the Americana music scene.

11.  Andrea Harsell and Luna Roya, Something for the Pain – This band is a Missoula, Montana staple that is definitely going places.

10.  Halladay Quist, self-titled – Another Montana artist with a family legacy of musical excellence.

9.  Gina Sicilia, Tug of War – Another Blue Élan Records artist who is at the top of her game.  Multiple LA Music Critic Award winner.  Watch for her 8th album coming soon.

8.  Amilia K. Spicer, Wow and Flutter – Another past LA Music Critic winner, this is one of the best Americana albums released in quite a while.

7.  Seasonal Beast – Muscle Memory – One of our best “finds” this year, watch for great things from this New York duo.

6.  Breaking Grass, Warning Signs – Another multiple LA Music Critic Award winner, this band is redefining bluegrass music.

5.  Wendy Sweetlove, Dirty Sunday – She was nominated for several LA Music Critic awards right out of the gate,  She is definitely an artist worth checking out.

4.  Janey Street, In my Own Skin – Reigning LA Music Critic Icon Award winner, she is another of the special breed of artists signed to Blue Élan Records.

3.  Rod Melancon, Southern Gothic – Multiple LA Music Critic Award winner, he is the last of these artists signed to Blue Élan Records.  He is currently touring Sweden.

2.  Katie Costello, Twice the Love – This artist has consistently produced award winning albums.  She also had one of the Best EPs of 2017.

1.  FreeWorld, What it is – The pride of Memphis, this band is redefining American Blues.  Check them out the next time you’re in Memphis.

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – Robbery Inc., FreeWorld, TYA, Louise Lemon, Seasonal Beast

It’s the last day of fall, with winter already pounding at our door.  Christmas is right around the corner, and there is still so much music to review.  Here are another five to give you something to think about.  Enjoy.

Artist Name:  Robbery Inc.

Album Name:  Honeybee (7″ vinyl)

Label:  Apostoles Records

Genre:  Alternative Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Honeybee; 2.  Skin

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Robbery Inc. is a trio composed of Robb Torres, former guitarist of TRAPT, as well as bassist and keyboardist Johan Wei-Haas and drummer Matt Cambros.  Their sound is alternative rock, with a healthy dose of great keyboards and guitar, as well as finely crafted lyrical content to create music that is memorable and radio friendly.  This two-song 7″ vinyl is jam packed with incredibleness.  “Honeybee” is a formidable tune that could easily see placement in television and film, and should be on radio stations worldwide.  “Skin” has a sound reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Led Zeppelin, and is surely an instant classic.  We only wish there were more than two songs here, but it has definitely piqued our interest for whatever comes next.

Recommendation:  This one is a definite instant classic.  Get it now.

Artist Name:  FreeWorld

Album Name:    What It Is

Label:  SwirlDisc

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Deeper by the Minute; 2.  Find a Better Way; 3.  Shrimp n’ Grits; 4.  Dinja Babe; 5.  It’s Alright; 6.  For the Moment; 7.  The Shape I’m In; 8.  Sideswiped; 9.  Another Sunday Night; 10.  Believe; 11.  Eve Waits

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  We love the blues, and FreeWorld is one of the best out there.  From their home in Memphis, they are spreading their music to the world.  They are also celebrating their 30th anniversary as a band, and we truly believe they will have many more years to come.  What It Is, their seventh studio release, was mixed by the incomparable Dave Aron and master by Grammy winning engineer Brad Blackwood.  From the first notes of “Deeper by the Minute,” it becomes immediately evident that this band knows their stuff, and they have come to share their mastery of the blues.  This one is great from start to finish, and features some amazing instrumental tracks as well.

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer – you simply MUST Get this one and put it on repeat.

Artist Name:  TYA

Album Name:  No Money, More Love

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Alternative

Track Listing:  1.  Midnight Drive-Through; 2.  Space Man; 3.  Hustle; 4.  Boston Shelves; 5.  Feel it Happen

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  We brought you their single “Hustle” in our Monday Mashup on October 23, and are now so pleased to be able to review their entire EP.  Once again, Australia has given us another reason to love music from down under.  TYA has a unique groove that should appeal to lovers of a multitude of genres, like pop, alternative, dance, and the like.  Their EP packs five incredible tunes into a sweet package that is great from start to finish, and we love everyone of them, especially “Hustle.”   We expect only the best in the future from TYA.

Recommendation:  Get onboard before the train leaves the station.  Get their EP now.

Artist Name:  Louise Lemón

Album Name:  Malex

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  R&B/Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Malex; 2.  Malex ‘Tailor Hill acoustic session’; 3.  178

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  R&B has a fresh new voice in Swedish songstress Louise Lemón.  Her latest EP contains the powerful song “Malex,” which is radio friendly and deserving of serious consideration for placement in television and film.  It is memorable and sure to satisfy even the elitist R&B music lover.  Both versions of the song are noteworthy, as is “178.”  We are once again impressed with the musical talent coming out of Sweden, and can hardly wait to see what she does next.

Recommendation:  Get this one – you won’t be sorry.

Artist Name:  Seasonal Beast

Album Name:  Muscle Memory

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Alternative

Track Listing:  1.  I Can Make You Disappear; 2.  Making Shapes; 3.  Dry Bones (ft. Sasha Daniel); 4.  This is Where; 5.  Take me Back; 6.  Another Day; 7.  Heading to a Wall; 8.  Ungovernable; 9.  Don’t Disappear; 10.  Playing in the Dark; 11.  No One Can Open the Door (ft. Julian Cassia) (Bonus Track)

Publicist:  Effective Immediately PR

Review:  Upon first listen, this band reminds us of Mandy Perkins and Of Verona.  We simply adore the lead vocals of Yuli Beeri, who truly brings the musical vision of keyboardist/lyricist Yuval Semo to life.  This album is so soothing and melodic that it can form the perfect musical background for their listeners’ day to day life.  We would love to see them live in concert, as we can only imagine being in the same room with their immeasurable talent.  Wake up America – this is the type of music we need on the radio and in television and film.  Add us to the list of people who are in love with their music.  This one is going on repeat!

Recommendation:  Don’t delay – Get this one TODAY and put it on repeat!!!!