Happy hump day. Here are five more reviews to consider of promising indie artists.
Artist Name: McMains
Album Name: American Soul
Label: Self-released
Genre: Country/Americana
Track Listing: 1. Would if I Could; 2. Devil Don’t Care; 3. Don’t say Goodnight Tonight; 4. Since I Started Loving You; 5. Is it Over?; 6. Shenandoah; 7. End of the Day; 8. Hello Heartbreak; 9. Take me Home, Country Roads; 10. Never 2 Late 4 Love; 11. Slow Down my Heart; 12. Time Well Wasted; 13. Under the Sun
Publicist: Doug Deutsch Publicity Services
Review: Just when you thought the days of the country troubadour had vanished, along comes McMains to let us know that classic country with an Americana flavor is still alive and well. McMains hits the ground running on “Would if I Could,” and never stops, delivering an album of 13 songs that belong in the library of every true country fan. Among those 13 songs are a covers of classic songs, including the traditional “Shenandoah” and John Denver’s “Take me Home, Country Roads.” Other songs we love include “Don’t say Goodnight Tonight,” “Hello Heartbreak,” “Never 2 Late 4 Love,” “Slow Down my Heart,” “Time Well Wasted,” and “Under the Sun.”
Recommendation: If you love country music, then you owe it to yourself to Get this one.
Artist Name: Mushy Callahan
Album Name: Revelations
Label: Self-released
Genre: Alt Rock
Track Listing: 1. Deep Meadow; 2. End of my Rope; 3. Outta my Hands; 4. Haunting Sleep; 5. Sweet Revenge; 6. Nobody Told Me
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Four brothers from Toronto put on a clinic on how to rock, and Revelations was born. From the upbeat positive lyrics and sound of “Deep Meadow” to the hard-charging sound of “Nobody Told Me,” Mushy Callahan delivers potential hit after potential hit. We love all six of these tunes, but especially “Outta my Hands” and “Sweet Revenge,” which we think have huge potential. This is one of the best EPs we have reviewed all year, and look forward to hearing what comes next from our neighbors to the north.
Recommendation: Get up and Get this one now!
Artist Name: Tar and Flowers
Album Name: Indian Summer
Label: Self-released
Genre: Americana
Track Listing: 1. Danny; 2. Summer at Michael’s House; 3. Ten ton Heart; 4. August; 5. This Machine; 6. Lost; 7. Opium; 8. Rumor; 9. The Lovin’ Kind
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Los Angeles is becoming the home of the best Americana music in the United States, and venues like the Echo are benefiting from the upsurge in popularity. While vocally they are not as strong as, say Great Willow or I See Hawks in LA, musically they can hold their own. Of the nine songs on the album, the strongest ones are “August,” “This Machine,” “Opium,” “Rumor,” and “The Lovin’ Kind.
Recommendation: This one is worth the effort. We recommend you grab it for your collection.
Artist Name: Michael McDermott
Album Name: Out From Under
Label: Pauper Sky Records
Genre: Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Track Listing: 1. Cal-Sag Road; 2. Gotta go to Work; 3. Knocked Down; 4. Sad Songs; 5. This World Will Break Your Heart; 6. Out From Under; 7. Celtic Sea; 8. Rubber Band Ring; 9. Never Goin’ Down Again; 10. Sideways; 11. God Help Us
Publicist: Jensen Communications
Review: In his return to the American music scene, Michael McDermott proves that his prior success in Europe was not just a regional phenomenon. With his raspy voice reminiscent of Bob Dylan, and instrumentation that is some of the best we’ve heard in any format, McDermott brings his brand of folk songs that tell stories, both personal and professional. During the first half of the album, he reminds us that he’s “Gotta go to Work,” that life can leave you feeling “Knocked Down” because “This World Will Break Your Heart,” leaving you singing “Sad Songs.” On the second half, he proclaims that he’s “Out From Under” and is “Never Goin’ Down Again,” off to sail the “Celtic Sea,” “God Help Us.” All in all, McDermott gives us an incredible collection of songs that will stay memorable and relevant for many years to come.
Recommendation: This one is a no-brainer – you should Get it today.
Artist Name: UMA E
Album Name: Reserve
Label: Self-released
Genre: EDM/Trip-hop
Track Listing: 1. For U; 2. STAY; 3. INSANE; 4. Little Star
Publicist: Mystic Sons
Review: UMA E Fernqvist is a Swedish producer and dance collaborator who has been working in the industry for the past 20 years. Reserve marks her debut EP, on which you wrote the text and provides the vocals, while Ulriqa Fernqvist and Peter Svenzon wrote the music. Svenzon also produced this interesting creation, that begs to be enjoyed while under the influence. This is not the type of music that you would enjoy listening to on the radio, but it might work well in television and film for those special party scenes.
Recommendation: If you live for the club life, and regularly attend events like Electric Daisy Carnival, then this is for you. For the rest of us, though, forget it.
