Tag: Marty Brown

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Thursday Treats

Get it or forget it – Thursday treats vol. 1

Thanks for checking us out this week.  Since so many of the reviews we do are of artists we’ve previously featured, we are proud to debut the other half of our Treats reviews.  That’s right, you get two Treats every week – Tuesday and Thursday.  Here are today’s delightful quintet.

Artist Name:  Diana Rein

Album Name:  Queen of my Castle

Label:  Gulf Coast Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Yes, I Sing the Blues; 2.  Worth; 3.  Walking Away; 4.  The Midnight Line; 5.  Time’s Ticking Away; 6.  Queen of my Castle; 7.  Pure Soul; 8.  One Foot In; 9.  My Love; 10.  It’s You; 11.  In the Chill of the Night; 12.  I Can’t Quit You; 13.  Get Down; 14.  Heat; 15.  Zoe

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  Diana Rein has become the quintessential blues musician, combining incredible guitar riffs with well-crafted songs sung with just the right amount of sass.  She starts the album off with an affirmation of her intent (“Yes, I Sing the Blues”) and then blows us away with her limitless talent and street cred.  Throughout this amazing release she shows the world why she received three LA Music Critic Awards and was recently nominated for three more in the current cycle.  There is no doubt in our minds that she is the female equivalent of BB King, and we are proud to champion this blistering blues guitarist.

Recommendation:  What are you waiting for?  Run out and grab this one today.

Artist Name:  Marty Brown

Album Name:  American Way

Label:  Plowboy Records

Genre:  Country

Track Listing:  1.  American Highway; 2.  I’m on a Roll (Better Than it’s Ever Been); 3.  Umbrella Lovers; 4.  Shaking all Over the World; 5.  When the Blues Come Around; 6.  Right out of Left Field; 7.  Kentucky Blues; 8.  Casino Winnebago; 9.  Velvet Chains; 10.  Mona Lisa Smiles

Publicist:  So Much Moore Media

Review:  Marty Brown is a true country troubadour, and his music bridges the gap between classic greatness and modern day country.  He is obviously influenced by such country greats as Vince Gill (“Right out of Left Field”), Alabama (“Umbrella Lovers” and “Shaking all Over the World”) and Sawyer Brown (“I’m on a Roll (Better Than It’s Ever Been)), and provides a modern take on their sound.  This is music that belongs on country radio, and is the perfect soundtrack for your two-stepping honky-tonking evenings.

Recommendation:  If you love great country, then this is the perfect one for you – go get it!

Artist Name:  Kelly’s Lot

Album Name:  Can’t Take my Soul

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Americana/Roots

Track Listing:  1.  All I Ever Want is the Blues; 2.  All Hope Ain’t Lost 3.  Alyssa; 4.  Woe is Me; 5.  Safe and Warm; 6.  Rise Up (Léve-Toi); 7.  Broke Myself; 8.  Let it Breathe; 9.  Dirt; 10.  Little Bit of This; 11.  Can’t Take my Soul; 12.  Mon Ami

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Kelly Zirbes and her band have been a Southern California staple for the past 25 years, and their 14th album is the true cream of the crop.  Her voice is tailor-made for the blues, and she passionately shares from her heart these blues-infused songs about the state of the world today.  She is truly a modern-day Janis Joplin.  These songs need to be listened to multiple times so you can catch all the nuances of the lyrics and the subtle greatness of the instrumentation.  We promise you that it will be well worth your time.  Even though “All I Want is the Blues,” “All Hope Ain’t Lost,” so “Rise Up”, be “Safe and Warm” and “Let it Breathe” because they “Can’t Take My Soul.”  For an added treat, check out the zydeco sound of “Woe is Me.”

Recommendation:  Run out and get this one.

Artist Name:  Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers

Album Name:  Heart of Memphis

Label:  Blueskitty Records

Genre:  1.  Another Sleepless Night; 2.  Dirty Pool; 3.  Come on Over; 4.  Cradle to the Hearse; 5.  No Time; 6.  Heart of Memphis; 7.  Memphis Soul Stew; 8.  Strange Angels

 Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  This is the third straight year we have had the privilege of reviewing material from Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers, and this is our favorite so far.  This lady and her band know how to make great music, and to share their passion with their listeners.  This is music that is truly enjoyable, and would make great placements for both film and television, as well as be the life of your weekend parties.  Grab a cold one and put this one on repeat.  The pure sound will keep you enthralled, especially on the title track.

Recommendation:  This one is a definite must-have for your collection.

Artist Name:  Casey Abrams

Album Name:  Jazz

Label:  Chesky Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Autumn Leaves; 2.  I’ve got the World on a String; 3.  Need Your Love so Bad; 4.  You are so Beautiful; 5.  Why Don’t you do Right?; 6.  Hound Dog; 7.  One Note Samba; 8. L-O-V-E; 9.  The Girl from Ipanema; 10.  Fly me to the Moon; 11.  Round Midnight; 12.  Blackbird

Publicist:  Chesky Records

Review:  We had the distinct pleasure of being at the CD release show for this album back in May, and we previously reviewed the live versions of these songs.  As many of you know, Abrams has become a staple in Postmodern Jukebox, and this album demonstrates that Abrams also knows how to reinterpret classic songs, but with a jazzier sound.  His music is not just loved by fans but is also receiving critical acclaim.  The album versions feature Anne Drummond on flute, Jimmy Greene on saxophone, Mark Whitfield on guitar and Giveton Gelin on trumpet, joining Abrams on bass and vocals, and they quickly show why they are the dream band.  We are sure these versions will quickly join your growing list of favorite tunes, especially “You are so Beautiful,” “L-O-V-E,” “The Girl From Ipanema” and “Fly me to the Moon.”  We are proud to welcome this former American Idol contestant to the industry’s elite.

Recommendation:  Go grab this one – it’s all you’ll need on your desert island getaway.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Ten Amazing Videos Women in Entertainment

Ten amazing videos released in March 2019

March continued to show an influx in the release of music videos, and we received more than 200 requests. After posting 20 of them in our four Monday Mashup articles, we have combed through the rest of the submissions to pick the best 10, and present them to you now to close the book on March.

We kick it off with the rocking sound of Echo 2 Locate and their single “High.”  This one has everything you love in good rock videos – lights, action and an amazing female lead.  Enjoy.

Next up is Dutch band Eckhardt and the House, who invite extraterrestrials to visit in their song, “Humans,” a catchy pop song derived from an old Peruvian folk tune.

Our third video is an amazing cover of the classic Amy Winehouse tune, “Back to Black.”  The Electric Radio Kings have totally made it their own with their signature rock vibe, and we think this version is even better than the original.  What do you think?

With a mixture of jazz, trip-hop and neo-soul, Sariyah Idan creates music that chills and entertains.  She has just released a lyric video for her song, “You Got to Go,” and we love it, especially the amazing cinematography, which was mostly shot in Berlin as she was writing the song.  Enjoy this sweet treat.

Video number five is from Long Beach, California rock collective WARGIRL, and we love the retro feel of the song and the psychedelic vibe.  Check out “Mess Around.”

Country legend John Berry has just released a lyric video for “The Richest Man,” which he dedicates to his father.  It is so nice to have the honey-voiced Berry back, as his songs were at the top of the charts in the late 90s/early 00s.  We think this one will make you think of those you love who have passed away, and we likewise dedicate it to the memory of our Dad, who passed away in November 2017.

Our seventh video is hauntingly sweet and visually stunning, with amazing cinematography and the voice that reminds us of Marilyn Monroe.  Check out Luvia and her song, “Hunted.”  We previously shared the single version with you.

Next up is the absolutely beautiful voice of the amazing indie artist known as Callaghan Belle.  Check out the awesomeness of her song, “Dear Detroit.”  We think it will give a lift to your week.

We love our ninth video, which was shot on location at Sun Studios and other iconic locations in Memphis.  We love the growth in the band since we last reviewed them last September, and think you will love the sound of Lucky 757, featuring Matt Jordan on the piano.  Check out “Memphis Sun,” the video for the first single from their forthcoming album.

We close out the month with the video for “Umbrella Lovers,” which we featured as a single in mid-March.  Marty Brown is another country legend, and we are pleased to be able to support his music.  This is how country music is made.

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 10

Hope you all survived the start of Daylight Savings Time yesterday.  Hopefully today’s great music will give you the jump start you need (that and several cups of coffee).  We’re getting really excited about our return to LA next month, and looking forward to the Hollywood Fringe Festival, our debut solo show, Livin’ the Dream (a journalistic journey), and celebrating women at the third annual LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase.  We hope to connect with all of our LA peeps at at least one of these events.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes from one of the scheduled performers at this year’s Showcase, Brigitte Purdy, who took home wins for Best Blues Artist and Best CD (Female).

Our second single comes from the cold vastness of Denmark.  The Straw Family Band have been thrilling us since we introduced them to you back in July 2017.  Their latest, “Perfectly Fine,” is another prime example of why we love them so much.  The tune is melancholy while still upbeat and features stirring vocals that uplift and give the song its intended positive vibe.

Next up is the first single from Americana/Indie Rock duo Anana Kaye.  We love the harmonies and the intriguing vocals, and think this song should do well in both Americana and Indie Rock/College radio circuits.  Check out “Blueberry Fireworks.”

We had intended to feature our next single a few weeks ago, but it got lost in our email.  We are very pleased to present it now, as it is pure classic country that we can’t get enough of.  Check out Marty Brown‘s “Umbrella Lovers” and we think you’ll love it too.

Our final single this week is an amazing work of R&B smoothness, featuring the amazing vocals of Dominique Tey.  Her EP will drop next month, and this tasty appetizer should get you ready for it.  Here’s “Every Part.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

We kick off this week’s music videos with this torch song from the amazing Fiona Grey.  We definitely agree with her assessment that we need more “Girls Like Me.”

Our next video comes from Kakkmaddafakka, which we introduced to you in our Ten Great Singles of February.  Here is the video of that same song, and we love it.  Get up and dance your cares away.

Likewise, our third video is the latest from Blue Élan Records artists Red Wanting Blue, featuring the stunning vocals of Liz Brasher.  We introduced this song to you a couple of weeks ago, and we can’t get enough of it.  Check out “I Got a Feeling it Hurts.”

We featured Kat Holland‘s song “The One” in our post-Grammy Monday Mashup, and she has now released a music video for it.  We love the sound of her voice, which is elegant, airy and full of life.  See what we mean.

We close out this week with the heartfelt sound of Cameron Hawthorn, who likes to be “Dancing in the Living Room.”  Sounds like a great idea, don’t you think?