Hope you’re having a good week. We are so pleased to bring you five more album reviews, including two from one of our favorite indie labels, Blue Élan Records. Get ready to be wowed.
Artist Name: Rvzoo & the Sugar Spun Elephant Band
Album Name: Guiding Star
Label: BBY Records
Genre: Pop/Americana/Jazz
Track Listing: 1. When I Was Young; 2. Give me More; 3. Which way to Run; 4. If I was a Bird; 5. A Song for Joyce; 6. Lonely Desert Wind; 7. Guiding Star; 8. Thru This Space and Time; 9. Transmission Ends; 10. A Song for Joyce (reprise)
Publicist: Self-promoted
Review: The album kicks off with the band’s current single, which is very reminiscent of 70’s Beatles, particularly the Yellow Submarine album. The simple musical score reflects the lyrics, which are heavy with pop hooks. The music truly takes the listener back to a simpler time when growing up was a distant dream. The next two songs have a much more Americana feel, before the piano takes over on “A Song for Joyce,” giving it a jazz standard feel, before returning to the Americana vibe on “Lonely Desert Wind,” with just a taste of U2/ David Bowie. The title cut is so relaxing and refreshing, perfect for daily chill time, especially the strings and acoustic guitar. That vibe continues on the next tracks before morphing into a more electronica/ambient sound on track nine. The album ends with a reprise of “A Song for Joyce.” What a magnificent audio journey.
Recommendation: There are so many twists and turns on this album that you simply must add it to your library. Get it today.
Artist Name: Keith Harkin
Album Name: In the Round
Label: Blue Élan Records
Genre: Folk Rock/Country
Track Listing: 1. Lauren & I; 2. I Remember it All; 3. Along the Road; 4. Take me Down; 5. First Time; 6. Whiskey in the Jar; 7. Risk the Fall; 8. Mercy; 9. Ring Tailed Rat; 10. Care Free Heart; 11. My Love Goes On; 12. September Sessions; 13. Keep on Rolling; 14. Wait on Me
Publicist: MAD Ink PR
Review: The first thing you hear is the amazing guitar work before that soaring familiar voice kicks in. You may have heard Keith Harkin during his ten years with Celtic Thunder, but you haven’t really heard him until you listen to this album. Harkin has dedicated this album to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting, and we cannot imagine a more fitting musical tribute. You simply must put this record on repeat, because you will hear different things every time, as all the subtle nuances of his craft come to light. This live album makes you want to rush out and see him in concert. His music is flavored by his Celtic past, as well as that pervasive Nashville influence, reminiscent of Keith Urban. There is not a weak song on the entire album, which has easily become one of our all-time favorites. We really love his rocking cover of the Celtic standard “Whiskey in the Jar.” What an interesting arrangement.
Recommendation: This album is definitely in the running for Best of 2018. Don’t waste another minute – Get it NOW!
Artist Name: The Components
Album Name: continuum.
Label: Mint 400 Records
Genre: Indie Rock/Grunge
Track Listing: 1. Parliaments & Witchcraft; 2. Mayday; 3. Filthy; 4. Spirits Help; 5. Interlude; 6. Complacent/Complaisant; 7. Ill Bandito; 8. Glass Haūs
Publicist: Behind the Curtains Media
Review: Solid rock and roll with a driving beat and guitar is what you get with The Components. The music definitely drives the song, and makes it easy to get caught up in the rhythm of the music. Our favorites include “Mayday,” “Filthy” (with its almost two minute instrumental intro), “Interlude,” and “Complacent/Complaisant.”
Recommendation: This one is worth the chance. Grab it.
Artist Name: Janiva Magness
Album Name: Love is an Army
Label: Blue Élan Records
Genre: Blues
Track Listing: 1. Back to Blue; 2. Hammer (ft. Charlie Musselwhite); 3. On and On (ft. Rusty Young; 4. Tell Me; 5. Love is an Army (ft. Bryan Stephens; 6. Down Below (ft. Courtney Hartman); 7. What’s That say About You; 8. What I Could Do (ft. Delbert McClintock); 9. Home (ft. Cedric Burnside); 10. Love to a Gunfight; 11. When it Rains; 12. Some Kind of Love
Publicist: MAD Ink PR
Review: All you have to do is look at the song list and the featured artists (including labelmates Bryan Stephens and Rusty Young), and you know right away that this album is going to be great. Add to that her 2016 Grammy nomination, her seven Blues Music Awards and a BB King Award, and it becomes quickly obvious that Janiva Magness is the reigning Queen of the Blues. Her smoky voice and the progressive blues soundtrack make a perfect combination, showcasing her talents at capturing the essence of the song. We love this album, but our favorite tracks include “Back to Blue,” “Hammer” (with its soulful harmonica), the sweet pedal steel and country sound of “On and On,” “Tell Me,” the title track, “Down Below,” “Home,” “Love to a Gunfight,” and “Some Kind of Love.”
Recommendation: This one is a no-brainer. You MUST Get this album ASAP!
Artist Name: Fishbach
Album Name: A Ta Merci
Label: Entreprise
Genre: French Pop/Dance
Track Listing: 1. Ma Voie Lactée; 2. Y Crois-Tu; 3. Eternité; 4. Un Beau Langage; 5. Un Autre Que Moi; 6. Feu; 7. On mi dit Tu; 8. Invisible Désintégration de l’univers; 9. Le Chàteau; 10. Mortel; 11. Le Meiller de la Féte; 12. A ta Merci; 13. Dansne Boîte en papier; 14. Ajmal Logha (ft. Bachar Mar-Khalifé)
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: Although this album was released last year in Europe, it was just released in the United States last Friday. Fishbach definitely transcends the language barrier and delivers music that is hip in any culture. It is upbeat, fun, and entices you to get up and shake your groove thing. It has that ABBA feel that is intoxicating, grabbing elements of 80’s dance music set to beautiful French words. It is easy to see why she won a French Grammy for her music.
Recommendation: Whether or not you speak French, the joy of the songs comes through loud and clear. Add this foreign language CD to your musical library – you’ll thank me for it.