Just when we thought we were caught up, we received more than 30 new requests for review for albums being released on or before April 30, a whopping 266 submissions for the first half of 2018. With today’s five reviews, that makes a total of 226 we have written this year. It’s quite obvious that indie music is taking over the planet. With the exception of the new release from the Kris Lager Band, the other four are all being released today.
Artist Name: David Fitzpatrick
Album Name: Parachutes in Hurricanes
Label: Daystorm Music
Genre: Southern Rock
Track Listing: 1. Lost on the Same Street; 2. Long way Down; 3. Half a Mile; 4. How I Wish; 5. All in Tonight; 6. Your Ghost; 7. Money Isn’t Everything; 8. So Happy with You; 9. Bed of Roses; 10. If I Could; 11. Done to Me
Publicist: Daystorm Music
Review: Our first impression of the new release from David Fitzpatrick is that he came to rock, southern style. The sweet sound of “Lost on the Same Street” brings back memories of growing up in the south and listening to the sound of The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynrd and The Doobie Brothers. Fitzpatrick’s gravelly voice is the perfect fit to the amazing musicianship of his band. The organ on “Long Way Down” truly makes this cut special, while the guitar and the organ combine to make “How I Wish” equally appealing. “All in Tonight” has a jazzy vibe that complements their southern rock style. Other worthy cuts include “Your Ghost,” “So Happy with You,” “Bed of Roses,” and the retro sound of “If I Could.”
Recommendation: Definitely worthy of addition to your musical library, we strongly recommend you Get this one.
Artist Name: Southern Halo
Album Name: Just Like in the Movies
Label: Self-released
Genre: Pop Country
Track Listing: 1. Southern Halo; 2. My Girls & Me; 3. Notice Me; 4. I Think too Much; 5. Tom Girl; 6. Anything is Possible; 7. Not Today; 8. Missing Mississippi; 9. Famous; 10. Gettin’ Back Up; 11. Hey Boy; 12. Coming Home; 13. It’s Always Been You; 14. Just like in the Movies (revised)
Publicist: So Much Moore Media
Review: Familial harmonies have always been our favorite, and Southern Halo has them in spades. Sisters Natalia (guitar), Christina (drums) and Hannah (bass) Morris have all the makings of a family legacy like the Judds, The Kinleys and SHeDAISY, and have been taking Nashville by storm since then were pre-teens. They released their debut album in 2015, and have returned with their original production team for their sophomore album. This one is a concept album, and every song works together to produce a record that should be listened to from start to finish, without skipping a single song. The music is worthy of cross-over, in the style of Taylor Swift, but with the most heavenly harmonies we have reviewed this year. Radio station managers and music supervisors need to give this band serious attention, especially “Anything is Possible.”
Recommendation: This is what modern pop country should sound like. This one is a must for serious music lovers. Get it Today!
Artist Name: Sideline
Album Name: Front and Center
Label: Mountain Home Music Company
Genre: Bluegrass
Track Listing: 1. Thunder Dan; 2. Frozen in Time; 3. Old Time Way; 4. Song for a Winter’s Night; 5. Bluefield WV Mtn. Girl; 6. I Long to See His Face; 7. Lysander Hayes; 8. Memories that we Shared; 9. Something out of Nothing; 10. All Because of Me; 11. Satan’s Chains; 12. Cotton Eyed Joe
Publicist: So Much Moore Media
Review: Sideline is a cross-between the bluegrass stylings of Rhonda Vincent & the Rage (but with a male vocal) and the country sound of Alabama and Shenandoah. The songs are very radio friendly for classic country and Americana, and should play extremely well to fans of those genres, in particular the amazing track, “Frozen in Time.” This is the band’s fourth studio album, and the chemistry is evident from the first note. The band’s bluegrass roots are truly shown on the tracks “Old Time Way,” with its amazing mandolin, banjo and acoustic guitar picking, backed up by some incredible fiddle, and “Lysander Hayes.” Other cuts worthy of your time include “Song for a Winter’s Night,” the gospel songs “I Long to See His Face” and “Satan’s Chains,” “Something out of Nothing,” and their instrumental cover of the traditional bluegrass tune “Cotton Eyed Joe.”
Recommendation: If you love classic country, bluegrass or Americana, then this one belongs in your music library. We think you need to Get it immediately.
Artist Name: Porlolo
Album Name: Awards
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie/Folk Rock
Track Listing: 1. Wasting Time; 2. I Don’t Want to Lose; 3. Awards
Publicist: Noisy Ghost PR
Review: Colorado project Porlolo, a combination of vocalist Erin Roberts and guitarist Tom Moore, plays music that mixes Americana, indie and folk rock with melancholy lyrics that grab hold of you and make you empathize with the song. The current line-up also includes Ben Desoto on drums and Anna Morsett on bass, and is truly worthy of industry attention, especially in the fast-growing Americana genre. All three songs are wonderful. Our only regret is that the EP is too short and barely whets our appetite, leaving us wanting much much more. We also advise music supervisors to check out these tracks because they would do great as placements in television and film.
Recommendation: This band is amazing and this short 3-song EP is the perfect appetizer for the awesomeness we are sure is yet to come. Grab it now.
Artist Name: Kris Lager Band
Album Name: Love Songs and Life Lines
Label: Self-released
Genre: Soulful Rock and Boogie
Track Listing: 1. Aurora Borealis; 2. The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants; 3. Sweet Magnolia; 4. I Wanna Hold you in my Arms; 5. San Francisco Bound; 6. You Know I Love You; 7. Pickin’ up the Pieces; 8. You and I; 9. Where the Green Grass Grows Tall; 10. Guiding Light; 11. I’m Still Here and I Ain’t Lettin’ Go; 12. I’ll be Thinking of You; 13. That’s What Love Is; 14. Journey’s Sonata
Publicist: Frank Roszak Promotions
Review: The album kicks off with the spirited instrumental “Aurora Borealis” before giving us the first glimpse of the unique vocals of Kris Lager on “The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants.” His style is a mix between Bob Marley and Bob Dylan, and is perfectly suited for this “feel good” musical vibe. Check out the stirring “Sweet Magnolia,” the soulful and inspirational “I Wanna Hold you in my Arms,” the upbeat boogie tracks,”San Francisco Bound” and “You and I,” the down home Americana sound of “Where the Green Grass Grows Tall,” the bluesy sound of “Guiding Light and “That’s What Love is,” and the closing instrumental “Journey’s Sonata.”
Recommendation: Don’t miss this one. Get it before it’s gone.