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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 Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – The Furious Seasons, Steve Howell and the Mighty Men, Jeffrey Foucault, Chin Up Kid, Ruby Rose Fox

It’s Thursday and the weekend is closing in.  Here are five more great artists to check out.

Artist Name The Furious Seasons

Album NameNow Residing Abroad

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Acoustic Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Expo Line; 2.  So Sorry Adele; 3.  Easy to Find; 4.  Tethered; 5.  The Loyal Canadians; 6.  Whatnot; 7.  Fort Knox; 8.  Marathon; 9.  Airtight; 10.  Understood; 11.  The Muse; 12.  Status Quo; 13.  Come to LA

Publicist:  KG Music Press

Review:  With a sound and style reminiscent of the 1960s artists like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Buffalo Springfield, The Furious Seasons have arrived with a modern-day take on acoustic folk.  Their harmonies are impeccable, as is the sound of their acoustic guitars and upright bass.  The vocals are smooth and crystal clear like Jim Croce, and evoke peaceful memories of a simpler time.  This is an album we could easily put on repeat, and enjoy the thousandth time as much as the first.  Brothers David (guitar) and Jeff (upright bass) Steinhart are joined by Paul Nelson (guitar and harmonies) to create the best trio we have heard in many years.  We really love their tongue-in-cheek protest song “The Loyal Canadians.”  This is music that will last through the generations.  Well done!

Recommendation:  A strong candidate for Best Album of 2018, you simply NEED this one, so Get it now!

Artist NameSteve Howell & the Mighty Men (ft. Katy Hobgood Ray)

Album NameGood as I Been to You

Label:  Out of the Past Music

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Bacon Fat; 2.  When I was a Cowboy (out on the Western Plains); 3.  New Dirty Dozens; 4.  It Hurts to be in Love; 5.  Come Back Baby; 6.  Blues in the Bottle; 7.  Easy Rider; 8.  The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore); 9.  Bad Luck Blues; 10.  Lining Track; 11.  You Gonna Quit me Baby

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  You’ve never heard the blues done like this before.  Mixing blues standards from the 20s, 30s, 50s and 60s, Steve Howell and the Mighty Men take you on a blues history tour, featuring songs by the founders of the blues like Arthur “Blind” Blake, Lead Belly, and Memphis Minnie, as well as blues remakes of pop classics like Gene Pitny‘s “It Hurts to be in Love” and Frank Valli’s “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore).”  This one is unique and well done, and would make an excellent addition to your musical library.

Recommendation:  You should definitely check this one out.

Artist NameJeffrey Foucault

Album NameBlood Brothers

Label:  Blueblade Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Dishes; 2.  War on the Radio; 3.  Blown (ft. Tift Merritt); 4.  Blood Brothers; 5.  Little Warble; 6.  Cheap Suit; 7.  Rio; 8.  I Know You; 9.  Dying Just a Little; 10.  Pretty Hands (ft. Kenneth Pattengale)

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Jeffrey Foucault has that sweet country vocal that works perfectly with Americana.  His songs are well crafted and tell amazing stories, and his accompaniment is some of the best out there.  He also chooses his featured guests well, which include the amazing Tift Merritt on “Blown” and guitar from Kenneth Pattengale of the Milk Carton Kids on “Pretty Hands.”  The entire album is soothing and relaxing, perfect for evening and weekend chill times with good friends and a cold beer.  Grab one, sit back, put the album on repeat and enjoy.

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you Get this one.

Artist NameChin Up, Kid

Album NameChin Up, Kid

Label:  Standby Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Corners; 2.  One Love; 3.  Wasted; 4.  Growing Apart; 5.  Give and Take; 6.  III.III.MMXIII (ft. Reis); 7.  Nothing Left to Lose; 8.  Drop Dead Over You (ft. Liz Mauritz); 9.  Eye for an Eye (ft. TarXanTelly); 10.  When I’m Gone (ft. Andy Potter)

Publicist:  Earshot Media

Review:  Chin Up, Kid has created a strong indie rock vibe on their sophomore album, with music that is truly radio friendly (although would need some FCC cleaning before use on Top 40 stations, but is perfect for college radio just the way it is).  They are getting good response to their singles, “Wasted” and “Growing Apart,” and the entire album is chock full of potential hits, including the first track, “Corners” and “One Love.”  This music would make great placements for film and television, and definitely beats just about anything currently on the radio.  The music has deep lyrics, and the energy that is just beneath the surface is bursting with potential.  We can only imagine how that energy is brought out in a live show.

Recommendation:  If you love powerful and energetic rock, then this is the album for you.  We highly recommend you Get it.

Artist NameRuby Rose Fox

Album Name Salt

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Experimental Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Caroline Says III; 2.  American Daddy; 3.  Binghamton, NY; 4.  Charlottesville; 5.  The Matador; 6.  Lady Godiva; 7.  You’re Sister is Dead, I’m Buying a Sega; 8.  Christopher, I’m Coming Home Without You; 9.  Boy Wonder, Come to me to Survive the Internet Bully

Publicist:  Far Digital PR

Review:  Ruby Rose Fox is part Lady Gaga, part Amy Lee and totally impressive.  Her vocals are legendary, and her delivery is pure cinema.  She is also not afraid to talk about the issues of the day, including #metoo, gun violence, and the current political climate.  She is an artist we would love to see perform live, as these songs are created to be an impressive spectacle.  Fox uses her skills as an actress and director to bring out the best in herself.  Her vocals are sweeping, powerful and, as her bio suggests, “wall-shattering.”  She is a voice crying out in the wilderness and deserves your attention.

Recommendation:  This one should definitely be on your must-have list.  Get it today.