It’s finally Friday, and we want to get you ready for the weekend with new releases from these five artists. Here we go.
Artist Name: Access:Icarus
Album Name: Eye of the Storm (Remix EP)
Label: Dr. Music Records
Genre: Indie Rock
Track Listing: 1. Eye of the Storm; 2. Eye of the Storm (Gravity Shock Club Mix); 3. Eye of the Storm (Gravity Shock version); 4. Eye of the Storm (Gravity Shock Radio Edit)
Publicist: Dr. Music Promotion
Review: We have never reviewed an EP composed entirely of multiple versions of the same song until now. Germany’s own indie rock stars Access:Icarus have the perfect song in “Eye of the Storm” to accomplish this feat, and all four versions (as well as the Official Lyric Video) are incredible, and each is different enough to warrant this special treatment. We think you are going to love this one, and want to hear it over and over again.
Recommendation: What are you waiting for? Get this one and boogie!
Artist Name: Relative Ways
Album Name: Alaska
Label: A&R Records
Genre: Rock
Track Listing: 1. Once Upon a Time . . .; 2. Enter, the Woods; 3. The Fox and the Grapes; 4. Last First Time; 5. Pride; 6. Birds of Prey; 7. Qualia; 8. This World; 9. Parenthisis; 10. . . . but in the End; 11. Frames; 12. Alaska
Publicist: The A&R Department
Review: This album is a natural segue from Access:Icarus, although the rock has a harder edge than their EP. Still, it is good to know that rock and roll is alive and well, and living down under. This is music that belongs on rock radio, and we would also love to see the live performances of these tracks. This band NEEDS to get on a tour of America ASAP. Led by multi-instrumentalist Mat Finnemore, this band is truly ready for the spotlight, and the tracks on Alaska are some of the best rock tracks we have reviewed this year. Just put this one on repeat and ROCK OUT!
Recommendation: You simply MUST Get this one – it will truly rock your world!
Artist Name: Zak Trojano
Album Name: Wolf Trees
Label: Whistle Pig Records
Genre: Americana/Folk Rock
Track Listing: 1. Kid’s Got Heart; 2. Nowhere Shuffle; 3. My Room; 4. Everyone Knows You; 5. 99 Ways; 6. Wolf Trees; 7. Young Surrender; 8. Paper Wings; 9. Lights are Low
Publicist: The Syndicate
Review: Fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter Zak Trojano has an old soul, as reflected in this amazing collection of Americana, folk rock tunes. He reminds us of the late great Jim Croce in his storytelling and song structure, and early Keith Urban in his style. Every song is truly unique, making this an easy album to simply put on repeat and then bask in the glory and warmth of Trojano’s voice and his incredible songwriting. You can’t go wrong with any of these songs, so just grab a glass of wine and let the music wash over you, clearing away the day.
Recommendation: If you are in the mood for some relaxing and reflective songwriting, then we highly recommend you give this one a listen. It would sound great in your musical library.
Artist Name: Klammer
Album Name: You Have Been Processed
Label: Under Dogz Records
Genre: Post-Punk
Track Listing: 1. Coast to Coast; 2. Modern God; 3. No Memory; 4. Spiral Girl; 5. Mechanical Boy; 6. Baddest Blocks; 7. Tonight; 8. Common Sense; 9. ‘Twas but a Magpie; 10. Human Clay; 11. Production; 12. A Long Cold Summer
Publicist: Shameless Promotion
Review: They may consider themselves post-punk, but we think Klammer is just plain good rock music in the style of The Cure and Depeche Mode. Their music is definitely universal, and should do as well in America as it has done in the UK. This is another album suitable for being put on repeat and then just rocking out to the beat. We love every song, but especially dig “Modern God,” “Spiral Girl,” “Baddest Blocks,” “Tonight,” “Common Sense,” and “Human Clay.”
Recommendation: Definitely Get this one.
Artist Name: CJ Hooper
Album Name: Urban Road
Label: A&R Records
Genre: Country/Pop
Track Listing: 1. When we Rise; 2. Burning me Up; 3. Highway 14; 4. Time
Publicist: The A&R Department
Review: We featured the lead single, “When we Rise,” in our Monday Mashup column last month, and it leads off this incredible but short four-song EP. There is a definite country pop vibe on that first track, similar to the current style of Keith Urban with a little Jason Mraz and The Eagles thrown in for good measure, but the song could just as easily cross-over to the pop side, making it a great candidate for heavy radio airplay in multiple formats. In fact, all four songs are radio worthy, and the songs would also be great candidates for commercial use or placement in films and television. This songs are sure to become some of your favorites in no time at all.
Recommendation: We can’t get enough of this one. Definitely Get it!