It’s Thursday again, and Friday is knocking on the door. Check out these five incredible artists to get you ready for the weekend.
Artist Name: Bobbo Byrnes
Album Name: Two Sides to this Town
Label: Song & Whispers
Genre: Americana
Track Listing: 1. Angelia; 2. Heart Like Mine; 3. Glad; 4. Jealous Kind; 5. Massachusetts; 6. Dam; 7. Welfare Calling; 8. Last Hurrah; 9. Summer Wine; 10. Vegas
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Bobbo Byrnes has been a staple of the burgeoning Americana movement in America for quite a few years. Whether playing solo, with his lovely wife Tracy in their band The Fallen Stars, or in the combined band Riddle and the Stars, Byrnes consistently delivers some of the best music in the world. While his vocals may be an acquired taste, much like Tom Waits, his musicianship is never in question, as he delivers stellar performances on just about anything with strings. We have known him since the early 2000s, and have seen him and his band perform countless times, including award winning performances for the Orange County Music Awards (OCMA) and the SoCal Music Live Awards. He and his bands are also multiple winners of the LA Music Critic Awards. However, since the release of his last solo album Motel Americana, which we reviewed back in September 2016, he has stepped up his game, and this album may well be his best to date. Several tracks truly shine, including “Heart Like Mine,” “Jealous Kind,” “Dam” (the best “damn” song they have ever done), “Welfare Cadillac,” and “Summer Wine.”
Recommendation: Get it NOW!
Artist Name: Wily Bo Walker
Album Name: Almost Transparent Blues
Label: Mescal Canyon Records
Genre: Blues/Americana/Rock
Track Listing: 1. Chattahoochee Coochee Man; 2. Loan me a Dime; 3. I Want to Know; 4. Storm Warning; 5. Motel Blues; 6. Did I Forget; 7. Fool for You; 8. Walking with the Devil; 9. Long way to Heaven; 10. Moon Over Indigo; 11. Light at the End of the Tunnel
Publicist: Blind Raccoon
Review: Wily Bo Walker is a Scotsman who has established himself on the American blues scene, becoming one of the very few UK artists to be inducted into the U.S. Blues Hall of Fame. Just a casual listen to his latest release erases any doubt that he is worthy of that honor. His sound is a mix of blues, soul, classic R&B, jazz rock and Americana, and all of it is HOT! His songs are the stuff of legends – perfect storytelling and lyrical content, a gravelly voice that leaves no doubt to the listener that this artist has lived what he sings about, and a collection of some of the greatest musicians in the world – making Walker’s music the type that you want to listen to over and over again. This one is definitely the best blues album we have reviewed this year, and probably one of the best solo efforts as well. Look for it to win a few awards. There isn’t a weak song on this album.
Recommendation: This is a MUST-HAVE for your collection, regardless of your musical tastes. Get it before it’s gone.
Artist Name: Mark Tolstrup
Album Name: Northstar
Label: Self-released
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. Northstar; 2. Hey Hey Baby; 3. I Don’t Know; 4. Milk and Honey; 5. Old Man’s Blues; 6. City in the Rain; 7. Haunted House Blues; 8. On the Nickel; 9. Back Water Blues; 10. Free Brother; 11. My Song is Don’t Worry; 12. Dead Man’s Shirt; 13. Requiem for Coyote
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: Northstar is an intensely personal album that could only have come from Mark Tolstrup. He lays it all on the line in the title track that sets the mood for the entire album, letting his listeners know right off the bat that they are in for a treat. He wrote the title to be sung at the funeral of his father. He shares these amazing songs with a cast of incredible musicians, including Jessica Wern on drums and vocal, James Gascoyne on bass, Sharon Bolton on vocals, Chris Carey on keyboard, Dave Lambert on sax, Woody Strobeck on trombone, and Oona Grady on fiddle, among others. Together they take Tostrup’s personal vision and make it universal. We love the overall tone of the album, and the varying kinds of blues displayed, as well as his covers of Tom Waits’ “On the Nickel” and Michael Eck’s “Dead Man’s Shirt.”
Recommendation: You should definitely Get this one.
Artist Name: De’Anza
Album Name: Cosmic Dream
Label: Fusion Beats
Genre: Latin Alternative/Electronic
Track Listing: 1. Cosmic Dream; 2. La Puerta; 3. Want; 4. Stage I: Light Sleep; 5. Llena de Gracia; 6. Stage III: Deep Sleep; 7. ¿Estás Recibiendo?; 8. Stage V: REM; 9. War
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: De’Anza brings us Latin culture to the world of electronic funk in this concept album tracing the various stages of the sleep cycle. Several of the tracks are written in Spanish and delivered with a myriad of funkiness and electronica. We love the Latin vibe of her music, which could easily translate to serious radio airplay, as well as making some interesting placement options for television and film, especially “Want,” with its R&B groove and truly funky style.
Recommendation: Give this artist a listen. We think you’ll be hooked.
Artist Name: Peggy James
Album Name: Nothing in Between
Label: Happy Growl Records
Genre: Singer-Songwriter Country/Folk
Track Listing: 1. We had to Meet; 2. X-Files; 3. An Hour with You; 4. Lover; 5. Nothing in Between; 6. Muscle Man; 7. Gotta Have a Love; 8. In One Ear (and out the Other); 9. Ghost; 10. Sound of Your Wheels; 11. Fallen Snow; 12. I Wish you Well
Publicist: Daystorm Music
Review: Milwaukee native songbird Peggy James has released an amazing solo effort which mixes her Midwestern roots with her Southwestern influences, creating a truly unique sound that has a folky Emmylou Harris/Shawn Colvin vibe over a Grace Potter like organ sound, as well as some of the finest guitar we’ve heard in a long time. James has such a sweet, pure and beautiful voice that takes this well-crafted gems and makes them sparkle even brighter, shining the light on every facet of the song. The stories will draw you in, and the musicianship will keep you interested. You will find that you don’t want anything to come between you and this music.
Recommendation: Run out and Get this one today!
