It’s time to review five new albums that all dropped on Friday, February 1. This is a very eclectic set of offerings, and we are happy to share the New Music Friday love.
Artist Name: Lost Cousins
Album Name: In Scenery
Label: Pheromone Recordings
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Stay; 2. Mindmaker; 3. City Escape; 4. Seajets; 5. Trails; 6. Montreal; 7. Forest Floor; 8. Shores; 9. Nothing
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: We introduced you to this amazing band last September when we featured their equally amazing single, “City Escape” in our Ten Great Singles article. We said then that they belonged on the radio, and with the release of their new album, there eight more reasons for that assessment. These songs are great, and the sound is true indie rock, with pop sensibilities and a touch of psychedelic rock to sweeten the mix. The music is sweeping and majestic, and should also be considered for placement opportunities in television and film. So glad that the Lost Cousins have arrived.
Recommendation: Run out and Get this one!
Artist Name: Shayfer James
Album Name: Hope and a Hand Grenade
Label: Self-released
Genre: Gothic Rock
Track Listing: 1. Mercy Down; 2. Ophelia; 3. Boots Worn Through; 4. Day of Reckoning; 5. Mostly Major Chords; 6. Crack a Bottle, Run a Bath
Publicist: Behind the Curtains Media
Review: Shayfer James is a gifted songwriter who is heavily influenced by the likes of Danny Elfman, among others. He adds a touch of reggae to his mix that elevates these songs to a new dimension, and will definitely remind the listener of the great songs released by Oingo Boingo. These songs are definitely radio friendly, especially “Mercy Down,” Boots Worn Through,” “Day of Reckoning,” and “Crack a Bottle, Run a Bath.” This is one of the best solo albums we have heard this year.
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one!
Artist Name: El Palacio de Linares
Album Name: Largos Agotadores
Label: Pretty Olivia Records
Genre: Latin Pop
Track Listing: 1, Cielo Amahilo; 2. Ciervo y Elizo; 3. Este Rato (Contigo); 4. Piscinas Naturales; 5. Cuestiones Inciertas; 6. El Estilo; 7. Modo Aviõn; 8. Pez Espada; 9. Luz Blanca; 10. Robert y Vashti
Publicist: Bobo Integral
Review: Music is truly the universal language, and even if you don’t speak Spanish, the power and joy of the words comes through in this collection of power pop tunes from Spain’s El Palacio de Linares. The fun and upbeat rhythms will make you feel good, like the music of The Beatles speaks to those who don’t understand English. We are proud to give this one two thumbs up, and encourage you to expand your horizons and add it to your collection.
Recommendation: Whether or not you understand Spanish, this one belongs in your collection. Go Get it.
Artist Name: Eric Brace, Peter Cooper and Thomm Jutz
Album Name: Riverland
Label: Red Beet Records
Genre: Americana/Folk/Country/Bluegrass
Track Listing: 1. River City; 2. King of the Keelboat Men; 3. Down Along the River; 4. Drowned and Washed Away; 5. Old Tom T. and Brother Will; 6. Mississippi Magic; 7. In the Presence of the River; 8. Southern Mule; 9. To be a Steamboat Man; 10. As far as I can See; 11. It Might be Hollywood; 12. Uneasy Does It; 13. Fort Defiance; 14. Mississippi, Rest my Soul
Publicist: Broken Jukebox Media
Review: These three amazing musicians have just released their second album as a trio, and it sets the standard for modern day folk troubadours. These songs about the Mississippi, both the river and the state, are destined to become part of American folklore. This time around, they have joined with bassist Mark Fain and drummer Lynn Williams, and feature the artistry of the Steeldrivers’ Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Justin Moses and Terry Baucom on banjo, and Mike Compton on mandolin. These songs will become a treasured part of your collection, and provide a wealth of information for American history buffs. We especially love the sweet tribute to the great Tom T. Hall contained in “Old Tom T. and Brother Will.”
Recommendation: We highly recommend you rush out and Get this one. It is truly a musical treasure.
Artist Name: Twilight Fields
Album Name: Songs From the Age of Ruin
Label: Self-released
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1, Prologue: The Ruined City; 2. Bomber; 3. Lazarus; 4. Demagogue; 5. Offended; 6. Taken Away; 7. The Animal’s Song; 8. Soldier Song; 9. The Holy War; 10. Maximum Darkness; 11. Lovers in a Dangerous Time; 12. Why did we do It? (The Last Ones); 13. Loss; 14. Epilogue: Barren Planet
Publicist: Shameless Promotion
Review: Canada’s Twilight Fields combines elements of prog rock, ambient, dream-pop, psych-folk and shoegaze to form their own mix they call ambient rock. The instrumentation is sweeping and broad, painting a picture perfect complemented by their stunning vocals and lyrics. This is an album that recounts our failures but encourages us to do better. Among the topics covered are the bombing of Hiroshima and the absurdities of the atomic age, homelessness and economic inequalities, the evils of populism and political repression, the toxicity of social media communication, animal rights, the utter stupidity of war and climate change. It also features two stirring covers of Bruce Cockburn’s immortal classic “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” and Thin Lizzy’s “Holy War.”
Recommendation: This one will make an interesting addition to your collection. We highly recommend it.
