Tag: new music

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Get it or forget it: Ray & Remora, Riddle & the Stars, Earwig

Happy Monday – it was a very busy weekend between my full-time job, ushering at the Griz game (which we won), and auditions for A Christmas Story, the Musical at MCT.  But we’re back with another edition of Get it or Forget it, and we think you will love these artists as much as we do.  Grab your coffee and let’s dig in.

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Artist Name:  Ray & Remora

Album Name:  Startle it Up

Label:  Aeronaut Records

Genre:  Indie Pop, Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  The Happening; 2.  Hearts do Change; 3.  It’s Just; 4.  Startle it Up; 5.  Soft Brown Heart; 6.  Don’t Shoot me Down; 7.  Histories; 8.  Honey Beware; 9.  Creep Up; 10.  Skinned Knees; 11.  Baby Please 

Publicist:  Redeye Worldwide

Review:  It is a rare feat for a band to have a killer debut album, but Ray & Remora have achieved that difficult task.  Composed of Dan Crane (Ray) and Amanda Walker (Remora), along with new additions Jeff Liffmann and Damon Kellard, Ray & Remora have created a sound that is the perfect soundtrack for your day.   Remora’s vocals are the treat of this duo, spread across the delightful package of the band’s extreme musicianship.  This CD will have you doing the happy dance, as every song is wonderfully produced by Jon Joseph (BØrns) and mixed by Bryan Cook.  Best tracks include “The Happening,” the title track, “Don’t Shoot me Down,” “Histories,” and “Honey Beware.”

Recommendation:  By any means necessary, you must obtain this CD for your collection.  Indie Voice Blog is proud to give Ray & Remora’s debut album a very strong Get It rating.

rs3

Artist Name:  Riddle & the Stars

Album Name:  New Coastline

Label:  Songs & Whispers

Genre:  Alt-Country Rock Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Running Back to You; 2.  I may Never Know; 3.  Long way Down; 4.  Apples & Knives; 5.  New Coastline; 6.  Mexican Home; 7.  Valentines Day; 8.  Tracks; 9.  When we Ride; 10.  When the Weight is Gone 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Orange County, California based duo The Fallen Stars met Australian singer-songwriter Ben Riddle last year when they were both touring in Europe, and the result was the creation of a new and dynamic band which is currently touring Germany.  Their latest release New Coastline has been garnering critical praise, and this reviewer agrees with the hype – Riddle & The Stars is an amazing band.   Riddle’s smooth voice is the perfect addition to the rocking musicianship of Bobbo and Tracy Byrnes, and creates music that spans the genres of alt country, indie rock, country rock and Americana.   All three share the lead vocal duties, resulting in an album that never gets boring.  Best tracks include “Running Back to You,” “I May Never Know,” “Apples & Knives,” the title track, and “Valentine’s Day.”

Recommendation:   German label Songs & Whispers recognized the greatness of this band, and signed them to their label.  America needs to wake up to this international American-Australian treasure, and cherish their music as well.  We are proud to give this album a rating of “Get your ass out and get it now.”

earwig

Artist Name:  Earwig

Album Name:  Pause for the Jets

Label:  Anyway Records/LFM Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Wisdom Teeth; 2.  Lover’s Chords; 3.  I Don’t Want to Go; 4.  Bring Yrself 2 Me; 5.  Silverheels; 6.  Medusa Head; 7.  High Wasps; 8.  Holy Ghost Letter; 9.  Wasted on you (ft. Lydia Loveless); 10.  All my Sins are Blotted Out; 11.  Shine; 12.  Badr Moon 

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  This latest album from Columbus, Ohio based indie rock band Earwig won’t be released until October 14, although you can get a sample of what’s in store with their latest music video for “Wasted on You.”  The band has joined with Americana darling Lydia Loveless (currently on tour with Drive By Truckers) to create a fun and exciting single that gives just a taste of the awesomeness contained in the full album.

Led by the amazing guitar and vocals of Lizard McGee, Earwig is one of the best indie rock bands you need to know and follow.  Add to that the incredible bass lines from Constantine Hondroulis and the percussive base of drummer Nick Nocera, and you have a sound that is truly worthy of major attention.  Best tracks include “Lover’s Chords,” “I Don’t Want to Go,” “Wasted on You,” “Shine” and “Badr Moon.”

Recommendation:  What starts out as a solid indie rock album morphs into something strangely different in the middle before returning to its indie rock roots at the end.  Despite this shortcoming, there is enough juicy material to make it worthwhile, and to earn Pause for the Jets a rating of Get it.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

The Spider Accomplice has taken its fans captive with the release of ‘The Abduction’

Back in the day, concept albums were the norm for many rock bands.  The Spider Accomplice (TSA) has taken the concept album to a new height with the release of their new EP, the second installment of their Los Angeles trilogy.

Their first EP, Los Angeles:  The Trap, was well conceived and set a pretty high bar for indie rock.  That EP garnered the band their first LA Music Critic Awards for Best EP and Best Rock Band for the second half of 2015.   TSA followed that up with a series of videos called Los Angeles:  The Abduction, which likewise won the LA Music Critic Award for the first half of 2016 for best video series.

TSA’s newest EP, Los Angeles:  The Abduction, is scheduled to be released on October 1, and Indie Voice Blog was one of the outlets fortunate enough to receive an advance copy.  In all honesty, this release could be the premier event of the year.

The new EP doesn’t just live up to the hype, it smashes it into little pieces and raises the bar once again.  The first song, “Bromelaid,” seamlessly joins the two EPs together as it segues from The Trap into The Abduction.  As the narration ends and the song begins, it becomes obvious that the listener is about to be blown away, as the perfect beat of Justin Lee Dixon on drums lays a firm foundation for the otherworldly guitar riffs of Arno Numisto, topped off with the cherry that is the incredible voice of lead singer VK Lynne.

Hats off to the amazing work of producer Steve Kravac (Blink 182, Less Than Jake, MxPx), who has harnessed the power of this super nova band and crafted an EP worthy of the members of TSA.  Kudos also to Andrew Faust (Dead Winter, Midnight Shinigami), a former collaborator who has returned to provide perfect bass and backing vocals that complement and complete TSA’s total package.

Every song on this EP builds on the foundation laid by the song before it, spinning a story that will not be complete until the third EP is released.  Notwithstanding the amazing story that is unfolding on their first two EPs, these songs are good enough to stand alone, and are most worthy of radio airplay, especially “You Still Lie.
Los Angeles:  The Abduction returns us to the era of prog rock, and is most worthy of every music lover’s attention.  It easily will become one of your favorite musical treasures and should be shared with all of your closest friends.  Indie Voice Blog is proud to give TSA its highest recommendation and, on the five star system, gives it 17 stars.
Check out the band’s website and Facebook pages, follow them on Twitter and Instagram and definitely subscribe to their YouTube channel.  You can order the EP through Bandcamp.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Jon Mullane’s new album simply shines

Last week we told you about Jon Mullane and the release show for his new album and the documentary about his life.  Today we will be reviewing that album, and sharing our interview with this amazing indie artist.

Shine kicks off with an old-fashioned 90’s rocker “My New American Girl,” which immediately lets the listener know that Mullane has come to play.  It is catchy, up beat, and totally radio friendly.  That trend continues with the second track, “Shine on Tonight,” and the third track, “Way Up,” which could be the new anthem for positivity. 

Honestly, there isn’t a weak track on this album.  The hits just keep coming in track four “In Your Life” and track five “Don’t Let Go,” before Mullane changes gears with a power ballad at track six, “Any Other Way.”  Track seven brings us the amazing hit “Born Beautiful” before giving way to the rocking “Take me Away” at track eight.  The album closes with two more amazing tracks, “So Into U” and “Body Rock” before providing a bonus track remix of “Any Other Way” with just piano and voice.  “Body Rock” is perfect rocker that puts an exclamation point on the statement that is Shine.

All in all, this album has set the bar for indie pop/rock and made Mullane the frontrunner for an LA Music Critic Award for the second half of 2016.

Now that you’ve read the review, sit back and learn things about this amazing indie artist. 

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

JM:  Since I was 15, in high school.

 IVB:  Who do you consider to be your influences?

JM:  U2, Bowie, any song with a great melody!

 IVB:  What makes your new release so special?

JM:  Every song on this album creates a sense of enthusiasm in the listener, and I have been told by many that the songs bring them both comfort and optimism.

We’ve released three singles and music videos before releasing the album, one of which, ‘My New American Girl’ broke Top 40 on the Hot AC Billboard Radio chart.
The music video for ‘Any Other Way’ won an HMMA (Hollywood Music in Media Award) for Best Music Video.

The song, “Born Beautiful,” encourages all of us to embrace the beauty we can find within ourselves, and through this song and its video, in which a young woman rejects suicide, I have formed partnerships with mental health organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA.org), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org – US), and the Campaign to Change Direction (changedirection.org – US), to help raise awareness and change the culture of mental health.

Essentially, I’ve developed a musical story leading up to the release of the full album.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

JM:  The album release last Thursday was coordinated with the release of a documentary about my life and music career, Jon Mullane – Shine On.  

My current single from the album, “Born Beautiful,” has been released as well as a video for the song, which has been nominated for a 2016 IMEA (International Music & Entertainment Award) for Best Music Video. I have also been nominated for Best Pop Artist this year.

After the release party, I will be going out on tour across the US, Canada, and Europe. Tour planning is underway.

 IVB:  Do you have any stories you want to share about your band – touring, recording, or fan interaction.

JM:  There is nothing more fulfilling than hearing from a fan that has been touched by my music.  I received this e-mail from a fan in Austria:

“Hi my friend Jon,

I pray, that all is well with you and your dear ones my friend?

Really always newly thanks for your amazing music, to me, you are one of the greatest composers and musicians of all time and I always hope, that you and your mates will make in the near future another record. I will forever support you and still love all your albums so very much.

Sadly, my beloved dad Peter is very weak and down, the side effects of the chemotherapy are horrible.

But especially I never give up to trust in God and music always is medicine to me too.

Take care my friend, know, I always appreciate you Jon and keep you and all the ones in your life in my prayers and thoughts too.

Sending you all my best wishes and kindest regards from very hot Austria,

yours forever friend and fan”

Mullane is a wonderful addition to any listener’s “must-have” indie music catalog.  To find out more about him, check out his website and Facebook pages and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.