For the second week in a row we were too busy on Friday with the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival to do our New Music Friday reviews, so we are sending them out today. Thanks for your patience, and to the wonderful folks at The Syndicate for providing four of these gems.
Artist Name: MSB
Album Name: Short Stories
Label: CEN/The Orchard
Genre: AAA/Pop
Track Listing: 1. 1000 Times; 2. Death to the Uptight; 3. Slip and Fall; 4. City Living; 5. Trouble is Fun; 6. On Your Own; 7. Love Right Now; 8. Sparkling Eyes; 9. Top of the Hill; 10. One of You; 11. Moment to Steal
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: Michael Sackler-Berner aka MSB is a masterful songwriter and storyteller whose lyrics are heartfelt and whose musical composition is majestic and memorable. Each song is a complete story and provides the basis for the album title. He mixes multiple genres into his sound, creating a masterpiece in indie music. From the cinematic sound of “1000 Times” and “Sparkling Eyes” to the funkier “Death to the Uptight” and “Love Right Now,” and from the soulful “Slip and Fall” to the big-band groove of “City Living,” he shows us over and over that he is a true force to be reckoned with. We love his style and look forward to hearing a great deal more from this amazing artist. Just put this one on repeat and listen to it from start to finish and over again.
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one.
Artist Name: Murray A. Lightburn
Album Name: Hear me Out
Label: Dangerbird Records
Genre: Jazz/Soul/Pop/R&B
Track Listing: 1. Anew; 2. Centre of my Universe; 3. To the Top; 4. I Give Up; 5. Hear me Out; 6. Belleville Blues; 7. Changed my Ways; 8. Fan Fiction (Ballad of a Genius); 9. I’m not Broken; 10. When They See Me
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: We introduced you to the amazing sound of Murray A. Lightburn last month in our Ten Great Singles article. That song, “Belleville Blues” is just the tip of the iceberg of the greatness contained in this album. There are hints of the soulful 60s, the jazzy greatness of the 70s and a joyful pop sound that is timeless. He is also the lead singer and principal songwriter of Montreal band The Dears. The first track, “Anew” is cinematic in its approach, giving us powerful and soulful vocals and a soothing pop/R&B sound that would fit nicely on AAA radio. That vibe permeates this album, making it one that you will want to hear again and again.
Recommendation: Run out and Get this one!
Artist Name: David Huckfelt
Album Name: Stranger Angels
Label: Self-released
Genre: Folk/Americana
Track Listing: 1. King Whirl; 2. Still and Still Waiting; 3. As Below so Above; 4. Heart Wherever; 5. Everywind; 6. The Lost 40; 7. Starring the Night; 8. Stranger Angels; 9. The Field & the Pearl; 10. You Get Got; 11. False True Lover Blues; 12. Star Nation
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: David Huckfelt is the lead singer of critically acclaimed band The Pines, and wrote his debut solo album in the solitude of Isle Royale while spending time in that isolated area as an Artist in Residence. The resulting album is hauntingly folk and almost transcendental in nature, capturing the isolation and mysterious vibes of one of our country’s most unique national parks. The album also features some of his peers, including Amelia Meath from Slyvan Esso and Dave Simonet from Trampled by Turtles. His solo album just continues his mastery of this genre and will give you delicious food for thought.
Recommendation: This one is a must-have for all lovers of Americana music. Go Get it!
Artist Name: Semaphore
Album Name: Leave with the Season
Label: Si Doux Productions
Genre: Post-Shoegaze/Rock
Track Listing: 1. Unreliable; 2. Convergence; 3. Pie; 4. Leave with the Season; 5. Didn’t you Dream; 6. Unreliable (acoustic bonus track)
Publicist: Behind the Curtains Media
Review: Semaphore is a Brooklyn-based band that blends elements of post-shoegaze, pop punk, post-hardcore, electronica, jazz and metal to create a truly unique sound. Featuring jazz saxophonist Siddhu Anandalingam, drummer Emmett Ceglia, guitarist Jay Kohler and bassist Niko Hasapopoulous, the band is an eclectic range of superior musicians who are not afraid to bring it all, and who together create an amazingly lush soundscape of music that will stay with the listener.
Recommendation: Definitely worth checking out.
Artist Name: Hot 8 Brass Band
Album Name: Take Cover
Label: Tru Thoughts
Genre: Hip-Hop/Street Brass
Track Listing: 1. Love Will Tear us Apart; 2. Shake Your Booty (Down to the Ground); 3. Remember the Time; 4. Give me the Night; 5. Baby be Mine
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: Hot 8 Brass Band is one of the hottest acts in New Orleans, mixing an old school brass band approach with harder edge hip-hop treatments of some of your favorite songs, breathing new life into the songs of artists like The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, George Benson and more. They are jam-packed with energy and it shows in the sound they deliver. We especially love their version of “Shake Your Booty,” as well as “Remember the Time,” which would be the perfect song for a Second Line Parade.
Recommendation: This one will quickly become your jam. Get it and play it on repeat!