Welcome back to New Music Friday. We are pleased to present this five new albums dropping today, and love sharing brand new music with you. This week the artists are primarily domestic, but no less entertaining, and we hope you enjoy broadening your horizons.
Artist Name: RJ Chesney
Album Name: Amateur Revolution
Label: Self-released
Genre: Country/Folk
Track Listing: 1. Splendors of This Earth; 2. Pull Down the Moon; 3. A Place Just for Me; 4. Amateur Revolution; 5. Do you Remember Me?; 6. Proud of you Child; 7. No Reason Left to Stay; 8. Da Mayor is on the Scene; 9. Death, an old Widows Peek; 10. Baby You’re not Dead; 11. Never Give up on Love; 12. Rise up and Sing
Publicist: KG Music Press
Review: RJ Chesney grew up in the deep South and has kept those roots in his music. He hooked up with Norway’s HP Gundersen in 2015, and the two became friends, leading to this album. Gundersen not only co-wrote all but one of the songs on the album, but he also produced it and contributed electric and acoustic guitar to the mix. Chesney does not have a good voice, but it fits for this type of music, which is very rootsy, twangy and folky. If you love to hear old stories set to music, then this is the album for you.
Recommendation: Worthy of your consideration.
Artist Name: Luke Sital-Singh
Album Name: A Golden State
Label: Raygun Records
Genre: Pop
Track Listing: 1. Lover; 2. Raise Well; 3. Los Angeles; 4. The Last Day; 5. I Do; 6. Silhouette; 7. Almost Gone; 8. Souvenir; 9. Love is Hard Enough Without the Winter; 10. Hearts Attach
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: We introduced you to this artist back in January when we featured the video for his amazing song, “Los Angeles.” He is a pop singer-songwriter in the style of such Hotel Cafe’ stalwarts as Andy Grammar, Keaton Simons and Tony Lucca, and should do well in the LA indie music scene. He voice is crisp and clear, and floats on the atmosphere created with his beautiful arrangements. He has great potential, and his songs are extremely radio friendly, as well as great candidates for placement opportunities in film and television. Watch this one!
Recommendation: Run out and Get this one today!
Artist Name: The Suitcase Junket
Album Name: Mean Dog, Trampoline
Label: Signature Sounds
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. High Beams; 2. Heart of a Dog; 3. Everything I Like; 4. Stay too Long; 5. Gods of Sleep; 6. Dreamless Life; 7. Son of Steven; 8. Dandelion Crown; 9. Scattered Notes from a First Time Homebuyers Workshop; 10. New York City; 11. What Happened; 12. Old Machine
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Lorenz aka The Suitcase Junket is simply amazing. He has a great voice, writes impeccable songs, and knows how to tell a convincing story that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. It is by far one of the best albums to come out of 2019, and we believe there is a very successful future ahead for this artist. This one is going on repeat while we listen for every nuance we can find.
Recommendation: You simply MUST go Get this one!
Artist Name: Chris Koza
Album Name: Sleepwalkers Part 1
Label: Self-released
Genre: Americana
Track Listing: 1. Sleepwalkers; 2. Anagram; 3. White Lions; 4. Music to Me; 5. Hush; 6. Red Cassette; 7. Station Wagon Blues; 8. Man of Stone; 9. Hollywood Theatre; 10. Where we Go
Publicist: Youa Vang
Review: Chris Koza is the consummate musician, crafting masterful songs from a myriad of sources. On Sleepwalkers Part 1, he reinvents Americana music and shifts its focus from its rural beginnings to a more urban setting, keeping the vibe but making it more pop. These are songs that would fit perfectly on Top 40 and college radio, as well as a plethora of placement opportunities. This is an artist you will always remember, and enjoy the ride his songs take you on. Put it on repeat and drink in the new Americana sound. If you’re lucky enough to be in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, he will celebrate the release with a show on April 26 at the Parkway Theater.
Recommendation: Drop everything and go Get this one!
Artist Name: Ecce Shnak
Album Name: Joke Oso
Label: Records, Man Records
Genre: Chamber Punk
Track Listing: 1. Larry, Sleepover Friend; 2. Spooky, Ruudplaad Homegirl; 3. Xtina, a Foolish Prayer for the Broken Hearted, the Over-Pious and Queer Kids Worldwide; 4. Drake’s Pictorial Aid; 5. Harassment V: 18 Second Song; 6. Harassment VI: Punctual Bir[d]thday Card; 7. Harassment VII: One on Slav: Party at Patrick Ewing’s Place; 8. Harassment VIII: Finale: Late Birthday Card; 9. Dingleberry III: One on Tito: Trite Song; 10. Dingleberry IV: Finale: Katy’s Wart
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: Ecce Shnak is a seven piece art-rock collective based in New York City. According to Billboard, their music incorporates “punk, ska, twee indie rock a la Belle & Sebastian, rubbery goofball funk in the tradition of Frank Zappa and crunching, Meshuggah-esque math metal — all liberally sprinkled with humor.” Believe us when we tell you you have never experienced anything like them before. The lyrics contain arcane references and inside jokes, with incredible musicianship in the arrangements. You may scratch your head at their meaning, but you will listen to them over and over again because they are just that good.
Recommendation: Go Get it!