Reviews by Joe Wawrzyniak
 SWAAI
BOYS - Meet the Mysterious Swaai Boys (www.swaaiboys.bandcamp.com)
Picture yourself on a hammock on the beach on a fine bright
summer day in Hawaii complete with a nice cool drink in your
hand, a soothing breeze wafting through the air, and the feel
of the warm sun gently caressing your face. Well that’s
exactly the image that’s vividly conveyed on every last
sweetly mellow and harmonic note of this utterly engaging
four song EP CD. Boasting delicate acoustic guitars, pleasant
vocals, and dead simple lyrics, this baby rates highly as
an ideal item to kick back and chill out to.
RICK BARRY - This Postdiluvian World (www.myspace.com/rickbarryband)
Offering up six songs worth of moody and introspective
pop-rock, this EP takes the listener on a movingly sorrowful
trip. Barry’s mellow soothing voice and thoughtful
lyrics make for a strong and effective double whammy. The
prevailing mood of melancholic regret gives the music an
extra touching resonance. The delicate tunefulness of the
arrangements further adds to the achingly fragile quality.
A bittersweetly affecting little gem.
 WALTER
SICKERT AND THE ARMY OF BROKEN TOYS – Soft Time Traveler
(armyoftoys.bandcamp.com)
Crank up the volume, buckle your seatbelt, and nail down anything
(and everything) that might fall or shake, for this fierce
and intense eighteen song beast of an album possesses the
right savage and harmonic stuff to set your hair on end and
get your ass shakin’. Moreover, this Boston-based group
have a firm knack for strong kickin’ hooks, tight playing,
and lyrics with real substance to them. It’s this deft
combination of ferocity, tunefulness, and on the money musicianship
that in turn makes this album so damn impressive and enjoyable.
 ROUND
MOUNTAIN – The Goat (www.roundmountainmusic.com)
This Santa Fe-based duo keep things real warm, simple, and
folksy on their latest album: The vocals are casual and comforting,
the playing crisp and able, the arrangements basic and unadorned,
yet still tuneful, the melodies pretty and soothing, and the
songwriting straightforward and unpretentious. The diverse
array of instruments that include horns, an accordion, a dobro,
and a mandola produce an extremely rich, harmonic, and appealing
gentle sound that puts the listener immediately at ease. Moreover,
the whole thing has a genuinely nice and pleasant quality
to it that’s impossible to either resist or dislike.
A lovely album.
 ANGELA
PERLEY & THE HOWLIN’ MOONS – Nowhere is
Now Here (www.angelaperley.com)
Blessed with a sweet twangy voice and a terrific knack for
colorful lyrics that paint vivid pictures in a handful of
sharp phrases, singer/songwriter Angela Perley deftly blends
blues, folk, country, and Southern rock into a flavorsome
brew with tang, soul, and spirit to spare. Whether living
it up at the “County Fair,” or advising a lady
friend to dispose of her unfaithful companion in “18
Feet Under,” Perley projects a winning mixture of sassy
grit and downhome spark that’s utterly charming without
ever becoming too cutesy or cloying. A total treat.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD – I Love You (www.thenbhd.com)
This Los Angeles quintet comes on like gangbusters with their
debut full-length album: Moody, yet bouncy and dynamic, these
guys really know how to milk a big, fat, and meaty hook for
all its worth. The smooth vocals radiate a winning blend of
laid-back ease and confidence. The cutting guitars, sturdy
basslines, and persistent drums deliver a steady succession
of crisp syncopated beats and constant snappy tempos. The
smart to the point songwriting clinches the whole deal: This
group doesn’t beat around the bush and cuts to the chase
with spot-on precision and straightforwardness. It’s
this sense of fiercely streamlined efficiency that gives this
album an extra tasty and appealing charge and potent brooding
atmosphere that’s impossible to shake or resist. A bang-up
yummy winner.
 ALESSSI’S
ARK – The Still Here (www.alessisark.com)
Charming. That’s the first thing one thinks while listening
to this lovely and lulling album. Singer/songwriter Alessi
Laurent-Marke’s incredibly sweet voice? It just radiates
a certain soothing and delicate charm. Ditto her thoughtful
lyrics and sturdy grasp of tender, yet lush and hypnotic melodies.
The gradual tempos and subdued beats possess a gentle sway
that’s appealing and captivating in equal measure. Toss
in the careful playing by a top-notch array of musicians,
sprinkle it with a pleasant dulcet sound, and the net result
sizes up as one to relish.
 SPUTNIK
– Rising (www.elgrande.net)
Representing pop-rock at its most buoyant, vibrant, and
engaging, this album radiates a bright light-as-a-feather
gaiety and positivity that’s sure to put a smile on
your face. The warm and energetic vocals soar over a tasty
array of jangly guitars, bouncy drum beats, and smooth basslines.
Moreover, the dynamic backing harmonies add extra zing and
appeal. The smart songwriting mines a likable line in sunny
optimism. Good easy’n’breezy fun.
 COLIN
STETSON – New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More
Light (http://colinstetson.com)
Multi-instrumentalist Colin Stetson returns with yet another
album of exceptionally fluid, melodic, and often surprising
jazzy improvisational perfection. Stetson’s remarkable
facility with the saxophone gets quite the extensive workout
as he makes that baby weep and wail like nobody’s business.
This is the type of off-kilter, yet still captivating music
that boldly eschews conventional formula in favor of a more
brave and startling “screw it, do it” experimental
avant-garde approach. What makes this album so impressive
and compelling is the way Stetson keeps things on a steady
course without ever faltering for a moment. Recommended listening
for those with a taste for something daring and different.
 THE
SHOUTING MATCHES – Grownass Man (http://theshoutingmatches.com)
Pouring on the lowdown bluesy rock with topmost tang and snap,
these three grown-ass men keep the grooves thick and tasty
throughout the duration of this ten track album. The guitars
deliver a steady succession of fierce cutting riffs, the drums
lay down a strong stomping beat, and the bass provides a gutty
undertow. Moreover, we also got some spot-on moaning harmonica
and zoned to the heavenly bone organ ripples to further ensure
that things be hoppin’. The vocals are quite lively
and passionate as well. Better still, the straightforward
songwriting says what it means to say in a pleasingly direct
and unpretentious manner. Damn solid and satisfying stuff.
 ESQUELA
BAND – Are We Rolling? (www.esquelaband.com)
Representing good ol’ get-down rollicking Southern-fried
rock’n’roll at its most simple, charming, and
unpretentious, the second album from this upstate New York
band bubbles with a warm and loose vitality that’s sure
to have you tapping your toes. Nothing real fancy or complicated
here; this band keeps everything basic and straightforward,
throughout, with lively vocals, crisp playing, sharp to the
point songwriting, and tuneful arrangements holding sway from
start to finish. Words of wisdom: “Ass, gas, or grass/
There ain’t no free ride.” A hugely enjoyable
and engaging little beaut.
MR. PAYDAY – It’s Payday!!!
(www.facebook.com/mrpaypadyband)
Screw pretense, crank that sucker up as high as it will go,
and get right down to thrilling brass tacks with topmost brio
and enthusiasm. That’s the essential meat and potatoes
attitude of this New Brunswick, New Jersey rock outfit. The
vocals are robust and compelling, the playing tight and dynamic,
the melodies awfully damn bouncy and catchy, the writing smart
and succinct. The guitars riff up a hellacious storm, the
drums keeps the beats big and constant, and the basslines
supply a strong undertow. Better yet, the lyrics have some
genuine substance to ‘em as well, so it’s not
just mindless noise. An excellent and impressive debut album.
 DRIVIN’
N’ CRYIN’ – Songs from the Psychedelic
Time Clock (www.DrivinNCryin.com)
Paying gloriously raw’n’ragged homage to 60’s
garage rock, this six song EP CD totally nails the wild vitality,
spaced-out experimental attitude, and scruffy quality of that
particular beloved subgenre of rock. The open and holler vocals
roar over a furiously freaky array of cutting 12-string guitars,
groovy electric sitars, funky synthesizer washes, and snazzy
blurting horns. Moreover, the songs actually sound like they
were recorded back in the far-out 60’s, with not even
the faintest hint of smug post-modern irony to be discerned
throughout. Instead this group brings a winning conviction
and sincerity to the music that’s a complete treat to
hear.
 MAL
BLUM – Tempest in a Teacup (www.malblum.com)
Blessed with a wispy, yet sweet voice and a strong knack for
clever and witty lyrics, indie folk singer/songwriter Mal
Blum adroitly mines a charming line in pleasant whimsy on
her fifth album. The key to this honey’s remarkable
appeal is its winning blend of simplicity and honesty; The
arrangements are spare and tuneful, the melodies warm and
effervescent, and the lyrics offer an engaging mixture of
quirky humor and equally offbeat reflection. Inspirational
verse: “It’s about the altitude not who is climbing
up.” A delightfully idiosyncratic album.
COHFLA – Breaking Out! (www.cohfla.com)
White guy doing hip-hop. Like word up, homies. Or, to be brutally
honest, word down, man. Seriously, this shit just doesn’t
fly my proverbial kite. Listening to the same monotonous hammering
beat drill its way into the base of my skull is about as much
fun as having my wisdom teeth pulled with a rusty old pair
of pliers sans anesthetic. That is, no fun at all. Sorry,
but me no likey.
 CARSIE
BLANTON – Rude Remarks and Dirty Jokes (www.cassieblanton.com)
Sporting an impossibly sweet voice and a smack dead on the
money knack for wickedly barbed lyrics, Carsie Blanton registers
strongly as a singer/songwriter to be seriously reckoned with
on this three song EP CD. Opening with a fiercely funny song
about a fed-up gal who’s in prison for murdering her
husband, followed by another amusing tune about a woman with
an unfortunate tendency for falling in love with every man
she sleeps with, and concluding with a lovely slow drag blues
addressing the lack of backbone and brutal honesty in the
modern world, there’s plenty of choice quirky originality
to relished throughout. Combined with the tuneful melodies,
eclectic sound (traces of pop, country, jazz, and even blues
are all tossed into the harmonic mix), and skillful playing
by the musicians, this honey overall sizes up as a total treat.
 VICTORY
– Victory is Music (www.victoryismusic.com)
Bursting forth from the speakers with completely galvanizing
and irresistible go-for-it snap and aplomb, Los Angeles-based
multi-instrumentalist Robert Fleming’s debut pop-rock
album possesses a vitality and catchiness that’s both
infectious and engaging in equal measure. Fleming’s
smooth voice soars over the lively arrangements while his
lyrics get straight to the point with commendable concision.
The quick tempos and forward-ho pushing ahead beats keep things
fresh, dynamic, and flat-out hugely enjoyable throughout.
The key word for this one is fun. If you’re looking
for music that makes you wanna dance and provides a wealth
of energetic entertainment, then this particular platter will
fit that bill quite well.
 KEATON
HENSON – Birthdays (www.keatonhenson.com)
Achingly tender and delicate, London-based singer/songwriter
Keaton Henson’s sophomore album possesses a wrenching
poignancy that’s all the more moving because of its
intrinsic fragile quality. Henson’s quivery tenor voice
and thoughtful songwriting vividly capture a deep-seating
feeling of regret and melancholy that’s affecting and
endearing in equal measure. While the gloominess threatens
to get a bit too heavy-going at times, this album nonetheless
manages to be quite powerful and captivating thanks to the
pretty melodies and engaging simplicity of the spare moody
arrangements. It takes a special artist to make depression
seem so haunting and beautiful; Henson is definitely such
an artist. A lovely album.
 GRAHAM
REPULSKI – Cop Art (www.bigschoolrecords.com)
Representing Do-It-Yourself lo-fi indie rock at its most rough,
basic, and immediate, this short’n’snappy little
outing gets right down to stirring brass tacks with considerable
go-for-it vigor and a winning dearth of pretense. The jangly
guitars, clattering drums, and churning basslines roar and
rattle up a gloriously raw’n’raggedy storm while
Graham Pepulski’s tattered tonsils howl over the caterwauling
noise. Slick and polished this rickety racket sure ain’t,
but it still hits the deliciously scrappy spot somethin’
sweet.
 WHOABEAR
(www.whoabearmusic.com)
Delivering eleven tracks worth of extremely dense, dreamy,
and hypnotic electro-pop, this album casts quite a strong
and captivating spell. The cutting synth lines prove to
be especially mesmerizing as they weave in and out of the
tuneful arrangements. The hip-hop style vocals give the
music an extra funky appeal. Moreover, the driving beats
and brisk tempos keep things punchy and exciting throughout.
Better still, the lyrics possess some real substance to
them, so this isn’t all just eminently catchy and
danceable mindless noise. Damn tasty stuff.
 HOLLY
GENTRY – So Much More (www.hollygentry.com)
Coming on strong with a winning combination of sass and
spirit, Atlanta, Georgia-based singer/songwriter Holly Gentry
scores a bull’s eye with her debut album. Gentry’s
soulful twang blends well with the lively and tuneful country-flavored
Southern rock sound. Moreover, her clever and colorful lyrics
dig deep into personal experiences to give the music its
own distinctive and engaging identity: Whether addressing
the challenges of motherhood on the rousing opening number
“Rockin’ on the Inside,” or taking an
old college boyfriend to task for compromising his values
in the wickedly biting “Justin Timberlake Show,”
Gentry maintains a winningly honest, sincere, and down-to-earth
straightforward sensibility throughout. The arrangements
keep things dynamic and melodic without ever becoming too
slick or flashy. A very enjoyable and impressive album.
zzz
 UNSUDDENLY
– Don’t Waste the Mystery (www.unsuddenly.com)
Richly textured soundscapes are perfectly meshed with a
strong brooding sensibility and smart introspective lyrics
on this fine six song EP CD. Will James’ deep-voiced
vocals gently float over a soothing sonic bed of captivating
synth lines, tinkling pianos, steady pushing ahead drums,
and quivery guitar riffs. The basic prevalent vibe is lush,
dreamy, and hypnotic, with a sturdy underlying sense of
regret and melancholy adding a significant emotional punch
to the whole thing. An excellent album. z
z
 KEATON
SIMONS – Beautiful Pain (www.keatonsimons.com)
Los Angeles singer/songwriter Keaton Simons keeps the touching
and melodic bluesy rock firmly on tap on his sophomore album:
There’s loads of incredibly moving passion and pour-your-heart-out
open feeling evident throughout, which combined with Simons’
supremely expressive voice, smart introspective songwriting,
and spot-on sharp guitar playing kick this honey right over
the goalpost into so warm and sensitive that it’s downright
endearing sweetness. Simons’ ability to bare his soul
with disarming ease, candor, and clarity provides an additional
powerful emotional punch. Beautiful pain indeed.
 THE
BELLE SOUNDS (www.thebellesounds.com)
Effervescent folk-pop done with tremendous buoyancy and melodicism,
one can’t help but be swept away by the sheer infectious
tunefulness that’s richly evident in this spot-on delightful
album. Noelle Hampton’s sweet honeydew voice soars with
breathtaking grace and agility. The harmonic arrangements
likewise hit the dulcet spot, thanks to both the superbly
proficient playing and the sure grasp of heavenly lush hooks.
In addition, the songwriting digs deep into a strong melancholy
mood with often touching results (the haunting “Away
Away” in particular is simply heartbreaking in its plain-spoken
articulation of forlorn regret). A beautifully fragile and
affecting little jewel.
 THE
MILK CARTON KIDS – The Ash & Clay (www.themilkcartonkids.com)
Los Angeles-based contemporary folk duo Joey Ryan and Kenneth
Pattengale offer a wealth of lovely vocal harmonizing as well
as exquisitely delicate and intricate acoustic guitar playing
on their latest album. However, it’s not just those
two above cited assets that make this music so lovely and
soothing; there’s also an extremely pleasant sensibility
and gentle homespun quality evident throughout which provides
an extra appealing lift. The gradual tempos and subdued beats
further enhance the overall charming simplicity of this supremely
tuneful and timeless treat.
 ARRICA
ROSE & THE …’S – Lucky (www.arricarose.com)
Representing California folk-pop at its most lush, dreamy,
and captivating, this six song EP CD casts an incredibly strong
hypnotic spell on the listener. Arrica’s Rose’s
sultry voices purrs with utmost seductive ease. Meanwhile,
the arrangements keep this tuneful and enchanting, with the
gradual tempos and subdued beats combining together to carefully
craft a delicately pretty and soothing sound. Best of all,
the smart and thoughtful lyrics ably mine a touching line
in bittersweet reflectivity. Lovely stuff.
THE ORANGE PEELS – Sun Moon (www.theorangepeels.com)
Infectiously sunny and sparkling indie pop, done with a firm
grasp of snappy hooks and nicely reflective songwriting, the
fifth album by this always sturdy San Francisco Bay Area group
delivers the expected bright and harmonic goods. The vocals
smoothly glide over the immaculately tuneful array of jaunty
guitar riffs, forward-ho persistent drums, neatly percolating
basslines, and exuberant keyboards. There’s a sweet’n’swooning
romantic sweep and pleasant positive sensibility to this music
that in turn gives it a super tasty uplifting kick; one can’t
help but smile while listening to this zippy and engaging
affair. An absolute delight.
 THE
DUMB EASIES – Love! Love! Love! www.TheDumbEasies.com)
As tasty and bouncy as fresh bubblegum, this perfectly snazzy
debut album delivers eleven tracks worth of straight-up no-bullshit
rock’n’roll racket that happily eschew pretense
in favor of just immediately gettin’ down to stirring
and spirited brass tacks. The guitars grind up a fierce storm,
the basslines churn away with equal relentless ferocity, and
the drums lay down a mighty primordial steamrolling beat.
Meanwhile, the vocals are quite lively and rousing. The plain-spoken
simplicity of the songwriting rates as the yummy cherry on
an already delicious sonic cake. It’s the extremely
basic and uncomplicated quality of this music which in turn
gives it a substantial breezy’n’easy charm.
 KAGERO
– Gumbo du Jour (www.kagero.com)
Bouncing along at a nicely jaunty clip, this 13-track album
possesses a certain merry vibrancy that’s both infectious
and invigorating in equal measure. The lively vocals project
a winningly happy and carefree vibe. The peppy arrangements
are dynamically filled out with incessant energetic guitar
riffs, rousing strings, and surprisingly catchy accordions.
Moreover, the lyrics are quirky and colorful, with the offbeat
humor evident in such choice kooky cuts as “Rockstar
in a Grocery Store” sure to put a smile on even the
most humorless grouch’s face. A real toe-tapping treat.
 NEW
LUNGS – Lanterns (http://newlungsmusic.bandcamp.com)
This Seattle, Washington group skillfully weave an intricate
sonic tapestry of complex, yet stirring and arresting melodic
rock on this five song EP. The guitars swirl and whirl around
while the bass supplies a gutty undertow and the drums lay
down some damn formidable clip-clop pushing heavy beats.
The emotive vocals are likewise up to snuff (the harmonies
in particular are absolutely exquisite!), plus the songwriting
gets right to the heart of the matter with admirable concision.
Better yet, the songs vary from slow and reflective to more
flat-out snappy and rousing, with the latter stuff providing
the strongest socko punch. Damn good stuff.
 NEW
DAY DAWN – Rise Above This (www.facebook.com/newdaydawn)
Singer/songwriter Dawn Botti returns with this spot-on tuneful
and dynamic five song EP CD. Botti’s strong and supple
voice once again soars to the heavens with characteristic
verve and graceful agility. Moreover, the songwriting cuts
to the heart of the matter with bracing directness. The skillful
playing on the tight arrangements serves as the delicious
cherry on an already quite tasty sonic cake: The guitars cut
and slash with galvanizing precision, the drums lay down a
potent stomping beat, and the bass provides a gutty undertow.
Best of all, there’s a smart and reflective mature sensibility
at work that gives this beautifully melodic music extra substance
and resonance. An absolute gem.
 IL
SOGNO DEL MARINAIO – La Busta Gialla (www.orgmusic.com)
Q: What do you get when legendary tireless and prolific indie
musician extraordinaire Mike Watt decides to collaborate with
Italians guitarist Stefano Pilia and drummer Andrea Belfi?
A: You get one hell of a supremely trippy, offbeat, and startling
“try it, do it” experimental avant-garde sonic
excursion that boldly eschews conventional song structures
and tried’n’true proven formulas in favor of an
extremely fresh, inspired, and often surprising approach to
music. This is the type of music that excitingly walks on
that usually neglected beaten path that only the most hardy
and adventurous consummate pro musicians dare to tread. This
stuff is downright impossible to categorize – it’s
got traces of the blues, quite a lot of rock, a smidgen of
pop, and bits of just about everything else – and that’s
precisely what makes this truly singular album so great.
 RECOVERY
COUNCIL – Plan-Do-Check-Act (www.recoverycouncilmusic.com)
The New Jersey-based rock trio are in super resilient and
spirited form on their third album: Bursting with insanely
catchy hooks and a positively infectious light-up-the-room
happy vitality, it’s flat-out impossible to resist the
urge to break out in a smile and start bopping your head up
and down to the sweet radiance of this blissful music. The
peppy vocals fly smoothly over a pleasing array of snappy
guitar riffs, sturdy forward-ho drums, and nicely percolating
basslines. Fortunately, the overall upbeat and determined
vibe that pervades throughout never gets too cutesy or cloying;
it stays on the right side of breezy and positive without
ever succumbing to pure sappiness and perseveres through life’s
hardships with an admirable keep-your-chin-up resolve. A real
fine album.
 MY
GOLD MASK – Leave Me Midnight (www.mygoldmask.com)
Projecting a supremely ominous, yet captivating sound, this
Chicago duo’s latest album possesses a potent and pronounced
eerie quality that’s both haunting and hypnotic in equal
measure. Gretta Rochelle’s divinely smoky’n’sultry
voice pants and purrs with utmost darkly seductive aplomb
while the guitars swirl and whirl around serpentine riffs
and the drums lay down a fiercely unremorseful clip-clopping
beat. There’s something deliciously sinister about this
hellishly beautiful music, with Rochelle’s anguished
and emotive singing in particular rating as a definite gorgeously
spooky highlight. Incredible stuff.
 GOLDEN
BLOOM – No Day Like Today (www.goldenbloom.net)
Bouncing along with infectious verve and catchiness, this
remarkably bubbly five song EP CD is sure to put a smile on
the listener’s face thanks to its winning mix of snappy
hooks, bright cheerful vocals, and sparkling tuneful arrangements.
The carefree vibe of the music is vividly captured by Shawn
Fogel’s merry vocals and sharp songwriting. Moreover,
there are a few pleasantly relaxed and more thoughtful songs
to act as a nice counter to the more lively and exuberant
ones. A jaunty delight.
 BROADHEDS
(www.broadheds.com)
Bursting from the speakers with a gloriously raw’n’raucous
shoot-for-the-moon vitality, there’s certainly enough
ragged energy evident on this album to power an entire town
for at least a month. Snappy guitar riffs bounce off a fiercely
urgent blurting saxophone while the drums lay down a steady
succession of constant chunky and driving beats. Meanwhile,
the lively vocals yelp and yell with topmost lip-smacking
joy and gusto. Best of all, the persistent gaiety and vibrancy
of the music gives it a delightfully positive and uplifting
quality that’s impossible to either dislike or resist.
A total treat.
 PRECIOUS
BONES – Fracture (www.preciousbones.com)
Dynamically evoking the groovy and thrilling psychedelic
rock music of the 1960’s, this five song EP CD skillfully
mixes a catchy’n’lively rousing and tuneful
sound with an utterly engaging reverence for good old fashioned
straight-up rock’n’roll music. The playing is
crisp and proficient, the singing harmonious and captivating,
the songwriting sharp and reflective. The snappy tempos
and constant beats keep things fresh and enjoyable throughout.
Spot-on good and tasty stuff.
 LIGHTNING
JAR – Summerworld (http://lightningjar.org)
This four song EP CD keeps things nice and mellow with its
gently melodic folk rock sound. The pleasant vocals softly
glide over the tuneful arrangements that are beautifully filled
out by delicately strummed guitars, laid-back, yet persistent
drums, and exquisitely humming organs. Extra kudos are in
order for the sweetly reflective songwriting, the gorgeous
harmonies, and the divinely soothing air of easy’n’breezy
amiability. Lovely stuff.
 THE
LUNA LAVAL – A Good Fear (www.thelunalaval.com)
Offering up three songs worth of sunny and melodic pop-rock,
this Old Bridge, New Jersey quartet keeps things bubbling
along in a very pleasant and reassuring manner. The vibrant
vocals soar over a neat array of sparkling guitar riffs,
steady basslines, and sturdy pushing ahead drums. The snappy
tempos and bouncy beats possess a winning surplus of joy
and vitality. The smart introspective songwriting rates
as the yummy cherry on an already delicious sonic cake.
A really nice item.
 GRAHAM
PARKER – Three Cords Good (http://grahamparker.net)
British singer/songwriter Graham Parker has been around for
well over thirty years. Initially known as an angry young
man, Parker might have mellowed a tad with age, but that certainly
doesn’t he has nothing relevant or interesting to say.
Quite the contrary, as his excellent latest album confirms.
Okay, the sound is mellow and bluesy, the voice sounds a bit
croaky, yet Parker manages to keep things compelling with
his thoughtful songwriting and sturdy grasp of soothing laid-back
melodies. Moreover, Parker’s casual acceptable of life’s
numerous ups and downs possesses a genuinely moving honesty
and maturity to it: This isn’t a man who’s fruitlessly
attempting to change the world; instead he’s coming
to terms with the fact that people are flawed and things don’t
always work out the way you hope they will while hanging in
there and doing one’s best to accomplish a few good
things amid life’s myriad disappointments. Parker’s
band The Rumour are in top form throughout; this is the kind
of supremely tuneful music made by folks who know what they
are doing, but are old and grown up enough to trust what they’re
doing to do the job with no needless showing off. A very fine
and affecting little jewel.
 ENGLORIA
– Shine (www.engloria.com)
Representing pop-rock at its most infectiously upbeat and
vibrant, the eleven songs on this debut full-length album
sparkle with a happy go-for-it verve that’s a true delight
to hear. The radiant vocals soar to the heavens over a lively
sonic onslaught of rousing ringing guitars, dynamic drums,
and sturdy basslines. Best of all, the incessant stirring
cheerfulness of such bouncy songs as “High Tonight,”
“Where You Are,” and the specially exciting and
energetic “Found a Girl” are sure to put a smile
on even the sourest grump’s face. Moreover, there’s
a positive optimistic streak evident throughout that’s
both touching and uplifting in equal measure. A total treat.
 KOWTOW
POPOF – Tastes Like Armageddon (www.kowtowpopof.com)
Projecting an otherworldly vibe that’s eminently danceable
and hypnotic in equal measure, the latest album from this
offbeat singer/songwriter carves out its own unique little
corner of the pop-rock universe with praiseworthy clarity
and vividness. What makes Popof’s music so delightful
is not only his firm grasp of tuneful sparkling melodies and
similarly strong knack for sharp quirky lyrics, but also his
ability to keep his chin up no matter what obstacle life might
throw in his direction. Better still, the singular grooves
dig deep into a tasty deep spacey soundscape that undulates
with utmost captivating bounce and fluidity. An intoxicating
journey into a dreamy and sumptuous aural wonderland.
 ANDERS
& KENDALL – Wild Chorus (www.andersandkendall.com)
The singer/songwriter duo of Anders Parker and Kendall Meade
join forces to produce a real lovely, harmonic, and utterly
endearing little beaut of an album with their debut CD. Although
Parker’s dry croak neatly contrasts with Meade’s
sweet delicate alto, they still nonetheless meld into a single
pleasant and satisfying sound. Moreover, the thoughtful songwriting
mines a nicely low-key line in quietly affecting introspection.
The songs for the most part mosey along at a perfectly kicked
back clip, with the gradual tempos and subdued beats chugging
by in a soothing and engaging manner. The basic sound falls
into the twangy’n’tuneful country-folk realm,
with a dash of pop and a smidgen of rock tossed in on occasion
to keep things lively and interesting. An extremely impressive
and promising debut.
 CHARLES
COMPO – Foolish Pleasure (www.charlescompo.com)
Hitting a supremely cool, mellow, and soothing smooth jazzy
breeze right from the first spot-on precise and melodic note,
this instrumental album ace New York-born musician Charles
Compo makes for an extremely captivating listen. Compo’s
remarkably proficient playing of flute, guitar, and tenor
saxophone totally hits the bull’s eye with unerring
deftness and accuracy. Moreover, the arrangements are tight
and tuneful while the music flows along with exceptional grace
and swiftness. Pouring on the sweet bumpin’ funk like
nobody’s business, this one should be savored like fine
wine.
 LISA
RICHARDS – Beating of the Sun (www.lisarichardsmusic.com)
Blessed with a strikingly girlish, yet strong and compelling
voice, a fine eye for telling minute details, and an equally
sturdy grasp of harmonic country-flavored folk-pop, singer/songwriter
Lisa Richards carves out her own touching and fascinating
corner of the musical universe on her latest album. There’s
an astounding individuality not only to Richards’ uniquely
sweet and tremulous vocals, but also in her concise and thoughtful
songwriting. The delicately melodious arrangements are devoid
of needless clutter and compliment Richards’ sharp and
insightful lyrics in an admirably stark and unadorned manner.
The trudging tempos and relaxed, yet steady beats give the
music a downright magnetic pull. However, it’s the way
Richards addresses life’s most testing hardships in
a brave and direct manner that makes this extraordinary album
so poignant and resonant.
 CHRIS
RIFFLE – Another Dream (www.chrisriffle.com)
New York City-based indie folk singer/songwriter Chris Riffle
delivers six exquisitely delicate and harmonic songs on his
latest EP CD release. Riffle’s gentle soothing voice
merges well with the softly tuneful arrangements. The gradual
tempos and subdued beats ebb and flow at a relaxed rate that’s
hypnotic and reassuring in equal measure. Best of all, there’s
a lush and dreamy quality evident throughout that rates as
the extra tasty cherry on an already delicious aural cake.
Lovely stuff.
 ROSEMARY’S
GARDEN – Royal Flush (www.therainmakermediagroup.com)
For those who dig lively and pretentious straight-out no-bullshit
rock’n’roll served up with loads of glee and gusto,
this here be the album for you. Crunchy guitar riffs? Check.
Fabulously raw-throated open up and holler vocals? Yep. Strutting
basslines and fierce jumpin’ drums? Ditto. Almighty
galloping beats and forward-ho speedy tempos? Yes, we got
‘em! Concise lyrics that cut right to the chase with
admirable profane honesty and directness? Also present and
accounted for. Shake it up with a surplus of grit, keep it
simple, and play it loud, baby!
 SPACE
WOLVES – Space Wolves II (www.space-wolvesbandcamp.com)
Delivering twelve songs worth of extremely catchy, jangly,
and vibrant lo-fi noise pop, this Buffalo, New York group
keeps things bubbling along with a positively infectious surplus
of joy and vigor. The peppy vocals soar over a neat array
of snappy guitars, jumping drums, and percolating basslines.
The speedy tempos and kickin’ beats never let up for
a minute. Moreover, there’s a feeling of pure go-for-it
giddy and dynamic fun to be relished in every last delightfully
happy and radiant note. A total merry treat.
WAR POETS – Dulce et Decorum Est (www.warpoets.net)
Get ready to have those toes a tappin’ while listening
to this incredibly catchy’n’snappy debut album
from a very promising Minnesota band. There’s a positively
infectious surplus of sheer bounce and vigor evident throughout,
with the springy guitar riffs, bubbly basslines, and energetic
drums supplying a steady succession of quick tempos and constant
forward-ho charging beats. The vocals are likewise quite lively
and rousing. Moreover, the songwriting tackles mature subject
matter such as gay marriage and the necessity for honesty
in relationships with admirable depth, clarity, intelligence,
and thoughtfulness. Better still, this group deftly blends
elements of pop, rock, and country into an extremely rich,
tasty, and eclectic sonic mix. A very one the money album.
Live from the Lowdown Hudson Blues Festival (www.sojournrecords.com)
Okay, everyone, it’s time to relax. Draw the shades,
turn down the lights, and pour yourself a cool one as you
kick back listening to this divinely mellow music. Just let
those lazy tempos and gradual beats put you at ease. Unwind
as the lush melodies, supremely assured playing, and casual
vocals take you away to a place that’s as sweet, calm,
and refreshing as a quiet spring Sunday afternoon. Most of
the songs contained herein are pretty laidback and soothing,
with the occasional more lively and exciting number like the
dynamic “Fashion Blues” by The Beauties tossed
in to keep things hoppin’. Recorded live in July, 2011
at a blues festival, this is the kind of CD compilation that’s
the perfect capper to a long, hard, and stressful day at work.
DANNY KALB AND FRIENDS – Moving in Blue (www.dannykalb.net)
Veteran Greenwich Village musician Danny Kalb returns with
a vengeance on this sprawling, ambitious, and hugely enjoyable
two disc CD release. Encompassing everything from blues to
gospel to country to good ol’ rock’n’roll,
this album comes across like a lovely, tuneful, and passionate
sonic encyclopedia of rock itself for the last forty odd years.
Sometimes going at it solo with just his own marvelously deep
mellifluous voice and a well-strummed acoustic guitar, other
times ably backed by a slew of top-rate players, Kalb pours
his heart, soul, and extensive experience into the music with
always melodic and impressive results. Best of all, Kalb wisely
keeps it simple throughout, with no needless filler or flashy
fireworks to be found at any point. Instead he digs into the
tasty drawn-out grooves, lingers on those hypnotically gradual
tempos and subdued, yet steady beats, and casts a divinely
jazzy spell on the listener that’s both soothing and
seductive in equal measure . A total treat.
PARKWAY DRIVE – Atlas (www.parkwaydrive.com)
Beautifully melodic, yet still quite punchy and visceral,
this Australian hardcore metal band totally hit it right out
of the ballpark with fiercely crunching aplomb and exceptional
musicianship on their fourth album. Sure, on a strictly gut
level this album certainly makes the grade with flying colors:
The ferocious growly vocals, relentless hacksaw guitars, churning
basslines, and savagely pummeling drums roar away with an
awesomely aggressive vigor and abandon that’s exciting
and impressive in equal measure. The rapid-fire tempos and
stomping beats barrel along with a forward-ho momentum that
lays brutal waste to everything in its lethal wake. However,
it’s the remarkable skill evident in the playing and
the breathtaking complexity of the music itself that makes
this album so damn special and notable.
VINCA MINOR – Capital of Sorrow (www.secondshimmy.com)
Beautifully sparse, haunting, and melodic, this album creates
a powerfully sorrowful and melancholy mood that grabs the
listener right from the first brooding note. The richly layered
sonic textures are vividly filled out by ambient synth lines,
stately pianos, a tremendous sense of intoxicating cinematic
sweep, and Matt Menovcik’s exquisitely forlorn vocals.
The feeling of overwhelming sadness fortunately never degenerates
into saccharine mush; instead it’s given a certain wrenching
poignancy and dignity by Menovcik’s gorgeously lush
and stark arrangements, thoughtful songwriting, and consummate
musicianship. The gradual tempos and subdued beats further
add to the hypnotic pull of the music. Lovely and moving stuff.
REESE VAN RIPER – Ghost Oil Revival (www.facebook.com.reesevanriper)
Spitting out five songs worth of fiercely crunchy’n’punchy
scraped right up from the howling gutbucket bluesy rock’n’roll,
this Newark, New Jersey group totally tear it apart on their
latest EP CD release. Everything you love about lowdown dirty
rock is present and accounted for: Wild raw-throated vocals
holler over a seething sonic onslaught of savage hacksaw guitars,
churning basslines, and relentless steamroller drums. The
speedy tempos and chunky beats roll along with ferocious go-for-broke
joy and vigor from start to finish. What’s not to like?
 THE
FAVE – Watching Me Starve (www.thefave.com)
Delivering quite the deliciously get-down funky groovy diggin’
rock’n’roll buzz with a mere four songs, this
EP is sure to make you stand up and shake your ass for all
its worth. The grinding guitars, chugging basslines, and sturdy
drum beats spit out a steady succession of hard-as-granite
hammering beats and nicely slithering gradual tempos. The
hoarse vocals likewise possess a perfectly gritty and weathered
quality. Spot-on sharp and reflective songwriting, too. Damn
good no-bull rock served up nice and snappy with a yummy side
order of skill and smarts.
 DOTS
WILL ECHO – Drunks is the New Sober/ Stupid Is the
New Dumb (www.reverbnation.com/DotsWillEcho)
The Ridgewood, New Jersey indie rock duo of singer/multi-instrumentalist
Nick Berry and drummer Kurt Biroc have concocted one incredibly
massive, sprawling, and ambitious monster of a double length
album. Clocking in at 79 minutes, this baby not surprisingly
dips and ducks all over the place, but luckily these two amiable
and good-natured fellows are funny, talented, and personable
enough to sustain one’s interest throughout. The ragged
vocals possess a certain scruffy charm, the playing is loose
and spirited, the arrangements are a tad rough, but still
tuneful and captivating. However, it’s the soothing
lazy’n’lulling quality of the music that makes
this outing so much likably laid-back fun to listen to. Often
sounding like it was recorded at the tail end of a pleasantly
casual weekend bender, with an eclectic array of songs that
neatly alternate between lively and thrilling and more relaxed
and comforting, this honey gets by on the basis of its utterly
engaging easygoing vibe alone.
 DRIVIN’
N’ CRYIN’ –Songs About Cars, Space and
The Ramones (www.drivinncrin.com)
Spitting out six songs worth of furiously dynamic and exciting
go-for-the-throat thrilling no-bullshit rock’n’roll,
this kick-ass EP item gets right down to stirring brass tacks
with considerable rousing brio. The lively vocals shout and
holler over a fiercely energetic sonic onslaught of rippin’
guitars, churnin’ basslines, and full-speed-ahead relentless
steamrollin’ drums. Best of all, the snappy tempos and
hard-charging stomping beats never let up for a minute. An
absolute blast of pure rock vitality.
 AARON
EMBRY – Tiny Prayers (www.weareeachother.com)
Hey you? Stressed out? Life getting you down? You need to
hear something to take the edge off at the tail end of a long,
hard, and arduous day? Well, sit back, relax, and give this
beautifully gentle, tuneful, and lulling folksy treat a listen.
Singer/songwriter Aaron Embrey’s soothing voice will
immediately put you at ease. His pleasingly relaxed persona
and the engaging homespun simplicity of his straightforward
songwriting are likewise quite appealing and comforting in
equal measure. Moreover, Embrey’s sturdy knack for soft
and pretty melodies serves as the tasty cherry on an already
delicious cake. This is the type of sweetly harmonic music
that conjures up pleasant visions of a quiet afternoon spent
with your closest friends on a back country porch. Plaudits
don’t come much better than that.
 NEIL
NATHAN INC. – Sweep the Nation (www.neilnatha.com)
Paying gloriously full-blast thrilling dynamic and passionate
tribute to 70’s glam-rock, deftly mixing elements of
power-pop and alternative rock for yummy good measure, former
high school history teacher turned singer/songwriter Neil
Nathan assumes the identity of his delightfully outrageous
and provocative alien alter ego The Overlord for this immensely
enjoyable concept album. Boasting loads of insanely catchy’n’crunchy
guitar riffs, infectiously danceable grooves, vibrant melodies,
totally kickin’ arrangements, soaring choruses, and
spot-on smart lyrics urging the need for freedom and democracy
in America, this honey not only provides plenty of great energetic
music to shake your butt to, but also delivers a handy helping
of tasty food for thought to chew on and digest as well. Long
live The Overlord!
 THE
JIGSAW SEEN – Gifted (www.thejigsawseen.com)
Coming on like total gangbusters, the latest album from this
eclectic and ambitious Los Angeles group offers a tasty array
of diverse elements that range from raw gritty blues to elegant
orchestral pop to full-speed-ahead all-out rock’n’roll.
Some of the songs are short and snappy (“Open Up the
Box Pandora” in particular seriously smokes like nobody’s
damn business), others are more low-key and lengthy (“Christmas
Ain’t for Christians (Anymore),” about a bitter
old geezer on his hospital deathbed, is simply heartbreaking),
all are exceptionally well crafted, played, and arranged.
In fact, the musical proficiency on display throughout really
makes this one to relish, with smooth vocals, shimmering keyboards,
percolating basslines, and snazzy guitar riffs all carefully
creating a sound that’s as shiny, polished, and streamlined
as a new car straight off the factory line. Beautiful stuff.
 THROAT
SPROCKETS – Methadone Picnic (www.myspace.com/throatsprockets)
Groovy and wiggy in equal measure, this offbeat and engaging
third album from an alternative Los Angeles band score major
points for its sheer wildly creative and original weirdness
alone. Fortunately, weirdness isn’t all that this group
has to offer: The intricate arrangements are rich in catchy
riffs and surprising mid-song tempo shifts, the melodies are
likewise quite dense, dynamic, and delicious, the vocals smooth
and charming, and the songwriting bright and witty. Such choice
kooky cuts as “Asleep at the Wheel,” “Vivesexual,”
and “Undecided” possess a delightfully bouncy
verve and flaky quality that’s both appealing and invigorating
in comparable measure. Plus this band can turn the sweetly
burnin’ funk up like nobody’s freakin’ business.
A total treat.
 H.E.
MILLER – Your Time Will Come (www.HEMillermusic.com)
Coming on with a winning blend of cocky swagger, sharp wit,
and sheer go-for-it raw thrilling vitality, New Jersey musician
H.E. Miller’s sophomore album possesses a grungy and
gritty verve that’s both exciting and appealing in equal
measure. Miller scores a bull’s eye in all possible
categories: His vocals are lively and enthusiastic, his playing
of multiple instruments skillful and dynamic (the beefy strutting
guitar riffs in particular are very tasty), his songwriting
concise, thoughtful, and to the point, the arrangements are
tight and vibrant. Flashy and polished this gloriously rough’n’ragged
racket sure ain’t; instead it’s every bit as fierce,
scrappy, and unvarnished as it ought to be. Proof positive
that the keeping it simple back to the scruffy basics approach
to rock’n’roll is a sure way to go.
 BERN
& THE BRIGHTS – Work (www.bernandthebrights.com)
This Montclair, NJ group whips up seven tracks worth of
infectiously bubbly’n’bouncy pop-rock on their
latest EP release. The opening tune “Slave Driver”
addresses the hapless plight of the average working stiff
with spot-on precision while providing an insanely energetic
danceable beat, “I See Red” swings and sways
to an irresistibly lush’n’breezy tropical groove,
and “Thieves, Creeps, and Automatons” concludes
everything on a nicely harmonic note. The lively vocals
belt out the concise and thoughtful lyrics with real hearty
aplomb while the crisp basslines, snappy guitar riffs, and
peppy drums supply a steady supply of brisk tempos and straight-up
kickin’ beats. An immensely enjoyable outing.
 KHALED
– Luci (www.khaleddajani.com)
Delivering a nice blend of energetic flamenco-flavored
grooviness and laid-back contemplative sensitivity, this
eleven song album supplies a steady succession of tasty
licks, poignant moments of reflection, and thrilling kicks.
We’re talking straight-up no-bullshit meat and potatoes
rock’n’roll here along with a good deal of more
low-key and cerebral introspection tossed in for good measure,
with lively passionate vocals soaring over a dynamic array
of surging basslines, snappy guitar riffs, and forward-ho
jumpin’ drums on the faster cuts and more pleasant
whispery singing plus appropriately tuneful and delicate
melodies on the quietly thoughtful numbers. Tasty stuff.
 BUILDER
OF THE HOUSE – I Am a Tidal Wave (www.builderofthehouse.com)
This six song EP release immediately puts the listener
at ease with its warm folksy sound, pleasant vocals, and
pretty melodies. This Portland, Maine trio delicately blend
elements of folk, bluegrass, and Americana into a pleasingly
fragile, jaunty, and harmonic whole, with the snappy tempos
and jubilant beats creating a happy vibe that’s rousing
and endearing in equal measur e. Moreover, there’s
a sweet and upbeat quality to this music that’s impossible
to either dislike or resist. A very nice little item.
 MATT
BAUER – No Shape Can Hold Me Now (www.Mattbauermusic.com)
Blessed with a soft and soothing whispery voice, a strong
knack for thoughtful lyrics, and an equally sturdy grasp
of serenely fragile, yet tuneful melodies, alt folk singer/songwriter
Matt Bauer certainly has what it takes to come through with
a very pleasing and appealing five song EP CD. Whether it’s
his lovely opening duet with Jolie Holland on “Andaman
Sea” or the haunting reflection of “Tonight
We Get to Sing Our Songs,” Bauer delivers a real winner
with this engrossing and impressive release.
 BRIGHT
LITTLE FIELD – Treatment Bound: A Ukulele Tribute
to The Replacements (www.brightlittlefield.com)
Now, here’s a real cool and inspired premise for
a tribute album: Let’s do these incredibly happy and
peppy acoustic bluegrass-sounding ukulele renditions of
originally raw’n’snarly punks songs by the legendary
group The Replacements. Does it work? Like a charm, buddy,
thanks to the snappy playing, impassioned singing, and,
most of all, an infectiously spirited feeling of pure go-for-it
merry aplomb. The extremely catchy and folksy country-flavored
sound gives the whole thing an extra harmonic kick and warm
appeal. An absolute delight.
 THE
LUYAS – Animator (www.deadoceans.com)
This extremely quirky and charming album from an experimental
Canadian indie rock outfit casts a singularly hypnotic and
captivating spell with its tranquil and unusual sound. Jessie
Stein’s soft and delicate voice floats over a fluid
and languid array of gradual tempos and subdued beats. The
arrangements create a compelling assortment of oddly entrancing
sounds that bleep and waft throughout like a gentle breeze
in an empty giant orchestral theater. There’s a fragile
and ethereal quality to this highly distinctive and creative
music that’s endearing and enchanting in equal measure.
A strikingly original one-of-a-kind marvel.
 MUD
PIE SUN – Wooden Circle (www.mudpiesun.com)
The Philadelphia-based duo of Steven Pitcherella and Tom
Quinn, who started out recording music together initially
on cassette back in the early 1980’s, make a belated
entry into the digital age with their latest collaborative
effort. Offering up an offbeat and eclectic, yet still tuneful
and compelling blend of such diverse sources as pop, psych,
folk, and garage rock, these guys conjure up a sound that
not surprisingly comes across as quite fresh, novel, and
varied, with quiet reflective pieces that go heavy on the
pretty delicate melodies, brooding regretful moods, and
hushed vocals as well as a few more snappy and exciting
all-out rockin’ numbers sprinkled throughout for good
measure. The wildly creative arrangements not only use traditional
instruments and fierce guitar feedback, but also utilize
natural sounds that include cicadas, chirping birds, and
barking dogs with always surprising and often stunningly
haunting results. A marvelously idiosyncratic pip.
 THE
KNIGHT OWLS – Turning the Triad (www.reverbnation.com/theknightowls)
Crank up your stereo, sit back in your easy chair, and
prepare for a hip’n’heady trek into the pleasingly
tripped-out aural alternate dimension while listening to
this incredibly groovy psychedelic rock treat. The surging
basslines, funky fluid guitars, and sturdy charging drums
all go full speed ahead with utmost stirring momentum and
impressively skillful musicianship. The songs bend and wind
around the most exceptionally well sustained protracted
corners, with the steadily pushin’ tempos and constant
rolling beats keeping this continually exciting and interesting
throughout. Better still, the melodies are extremely rich
and layered while the arrangements are remarkably dense
and intricate. Very fine and enjoyable album.
 HELVETIA
– Nothing in Rambling (www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com)
Beautifully trippy and laid-back, this experimental psych
rock outfit take the listener on a groovy soothing sonic
journey into the blissed-out heady beyond with their seventh
album. Nifty sitar and wonky wah-wah guitar riffs cut a
sweet swath through buzzing basslines and constant clump-thumping
drums. The nasal vocals project a winningly casual and relaxed
vibe that goes down smooth and easy. The gradual trudging
tempos and subdued beats further add to the overall refreshingly
hazy’n’lazy atmosphere. It’s a stone gas,
baby!
 BAND
OF HORSES – Mirage Rock (www.bandofhorses.com)
Blowing on down from the gentle and melodic country-flavored
indie rock hills on a gust of exceptionally crisp and proficient
musicianship, the fourth album from this Charleston, South
Carolina group hits the sweetly tuneful spot with right-on
captivating accuracy and consistency. The reedy vocals project
a certain winningly folksy charm while the harmonic arrangements
keep everything on an easy’n’breezy soothing
keel throughout. The mid-tempo shuffles and relaxed beats
further add to the overall comforting laid-back vibe. The
thoughtful songwriting likewise warrants kudos as well.
A perfectly mellow and worthwhile album.
 KILL
THE BAND – Mock Bottom (www.KILLYTHEKID.com)
Fuck yeah, bitches! This quirky and creative Brooklyn,
New York band joyfully mix straight-up meat and potatoes
punk rock’n’roll with a side order of funky
white people rap and a megadose of wickedly funny sarcastic
and irreverent humor. Lead singer Killy Dwyer goes to town
on the kooky vocals with lip-smacking loopy aplomb. No foolin’
about the fiercely right’n’tight arrangements:
The drums lay down plenty of chunky steamrolling beats,
the guitars spit out groovy riffs with head-bopping brio,
and the fat throbbing basslines supply a get-down pulsating
undertow. But it’s this group’s cheery willingness
to blithely poke fun at everything from celebrity babies
to post 9/11 terrorist paranoia that makes this album such
a gut-busting riot to listen to. Single most sidesplitting
track: “Timing is Everything,” in which these
giddy pranksters engage in a lively and uproarious gripe
session when nobody can properly remember how to play a
song correctly. An absolute hoot and a half!
 JAMES
DALTON – Frankonia (www.jamesdalton.co, jamesdalton.bandcamp.com)
Okay, everybody. It’s that time again. You know, it’s
time to chill. And what exactly are we going to chill to today?
Why, this perfectly pleasant, soothing, and tuneful latest
album by folk blues singer/songwriter James Dalton. First
off, we’ve got Dalton’s supremely mellow, yet
hearty and engaging voice to take the edge off of a day. Next
up there’s Dalton’s appealingly basic and uncluttered
musical style: No fancy frills, no needless flashy pyrotechnics,
no protracted show-off solos, just a guy strumming a guitar
and playing a harmonica with utmost simple’n’straightforward
skill and aplomb. The eloquently homespun quality of Dalton’s
concise and thoughtful songwriting rates as another sterling
asset. An absolute delight.
 BOY
OMEGA – Night Vision (www.boyomega.com)
Beautifully moody and brooding, dripping with a strong sense
of despair and regret, there’s a delicate, yet powerful
and compelling vibe to this pop-rock album that’s deeply
affecting and endearing in equal measure. The frail whispery
vocals project a potent feeling of yearning and melancholy
with bracing directness. The bittersweetly reflective songwriting
further captures an overall atmosphere of profound sadness
with a similarly striking vividness. The spare, but tuneful
arrangements carefully craft a gently melodic sound while
the gradual tempos and subdued beats add to the pervasive
haunting quality. By no means a fun album, but definitely
a very touching and resonant one just the same.
 TWO
GALLANTS – The Bloom and the Blight (www.twogallants.com)
Erupting from the speakers with a bracing melodic ferocity
and raw emotional intensity, this album hits you with all
the startling force of a sudden sucker punch to the solar
plexus. The hoarse anguished vocals howl and moan out a shockingly
naked feeling of gut-shredding angst. The lyrics are likewise
quite fierce and uncompromising in their straightforward articulation
of urgency and honesty. But it’s the punchy arrangements
and dynamic playing that really provides an additional powerful
quality to this brutally cathartic and explosive music. The
songs for the most part are really savage and aggressive,
although there are a few more subdued and touching numbers
scattered amid all the caterwauling racket. An extremely haunting
and impressive album.
 THE
BERGAMOT – Static Flowers (www.thebergamot.com)
Artfully blending a beautifully crisp, tuneful, and energetic
sound with smart songwriting and an equally sharp-as-a-tack
worldly sensibility, the indie pop-rock duo of Jillian Speece
and Nathan Hoff totally hit it out of the ballpark with their
excellent third album. Speece’s sultry voice works well
with Hoff’s smooth pipes; the pair belt out the precisely
observed lyrics with tremendous skill and aplomb. The arrangements
keep things lively and harmonic throughout, with a neat array
of instruments crafting a sound that’s rich, warm, and
captivating in comparable measure. Moreover, the eclectic
mix of jazz, pop, rock, and even country elements adds an
extra tasty zing to an already quite delicious sonic cake.
A lovely little jewel.
 DOUG
RATNER & THE WATCHMEN – Lessons Well Learned (www.dougratner.com)
Loaded to the roaring brim with a furiously explosive surplus
of pure galvanizing energy, this five song EP CD shakes and
rattles up an invigorating storm with its smack dead on the
money serving of straight-up unpretentious meat and potatoes
rock’n’roll. The dynamic vocals belt out the lyrics
with utmost brio while the rippin’ guitars, diggin’
drums, and churnin’ basslines spit out a fabulously
raw rough’n’ready sound that goes right for the
jugular. Great kick up the dirt gritty stuff.
ECLECTRIC MAYHEM (www.eclecticmayhemmusic.com)
Adroitly combining pure go-for-it aggressive hard rock punch
with the intricate melodicism of pop, this Cleveland, Ohio
quartet knock listeners flat on their keisters with their
spot-on proficient playing and one-two-pow sonic dexterity.
The passionate and expressive vocals soar and roar with considerable
aplomb while the cutting guitars, smooth basslines, and sturdy
drums lay down a strong-as-marble aural foundation. The heady
furious buzz of “Again” gets things off to a rousing
start, the more low-key “Want It All and ” “Let
You Down” nicely mine a touching line in thoughtful
introspection, the sweetly harmonic “For the Birds”
chugs along at a pleasingly relaxed rate, “Fun with
Gun” snarls and sneers it up to the supremely crunchy’n’punchy
max, “Better Off Dead” likewise rocks it out somethin’
stirring, and energetic “Lost” concludes everything
on a perfectly snappy and exciting note. A real fine and impressive
album.
 STEPHEN
KALINICH & JON TIVEN – Shortcuts To Infinity/Symtomology
(www.foothillrecords.com)
Musicians Stephen Kalinich and Jon Tiven collaborate on two
albums for this double CD release. Symtomology cuts
loose with loads of great’n’gritty bluesy rock,
complete with boozy’n’woozy vocals, tasty harmonica,
crunchy guitars, grungy basslines, hysterically raunchy humor,
and trudging drum beats. The whole thing gives off the sensationally
sloppy vibe of having been recorded over the course of a wild
weekend bender of heavy duty partying and carousing. However,
the lyrics are often extremely sharp and biting (“Hard
to be a Millionaire” in particular is a hilariously
wicked hoot while terrific “Weed” boasts the following
immortal verse: “If at first you don’t succeed/
Try a little weed”), so it’s not all just mindless
noise. Shortcuts To Infinity keeps the fine bluesy
rock on tap, but adds a more mature thoughtful and reflective
sensibility along with a stronger grasp of tuneful musical
construction and more proficient playing (the marvelously
protracted “Out of the Darkness” tears into a
delicious slow-drag bumpin’ groove for a little over
seven minutes). A top-rate double dose of straight-up scrumptious
rock’n’roll.
 THE
JELLY PROJECT – Ugly Dirty (www.rockthejellyproject.com)
Kickin’, screamin’, and hollerin’ up a wonderfully
raw’n’raucous storm, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based
bluesy rock group the Jelly Project joyfully eschew needless
bullshit filler and flashy razzle-dazzle show-off pyrotechnics
on their terrifically primal and stripped-down debut album.
Lead singer Angelica “Jelly” Thomas’ fierce
throaty voice roars over a seething sonic blend of churning
basslines, rippin’ hacksaw guitars, and relentless steamrolling
drums. The snappy slithery tempos and massive pounding beats
keep things blazing along at a constant furious pace. Better
still, the sharp lyrics offer a lot of biting social commentary
amid all the ferocious caterwauling noise, thereby ensuring
that this album works exceptionally well on both a visceral
and intellectual level. A very tasty serving of straight-up
no-nonsense rock’n’roll.
 SEAN
ROWE – The Salesman and the Shark (www.seanrowe.net)
Blessed with a marvelously deep, soulful, and commanding baritone
voice, singer/songwriter Sean Rowe brings an authentically
weary and rundown, yet sturdy and durable lived-in quality
to his stripped-down simple country folk music that’s
moving and compelling in equal measure. Rowe’s astutely
observed story songs vividly capture a brooding melancholy
vibe with bracing clarity and an admirable dearth of maudlin
sentiment. Moreover, the spare and atmospheric arrangements
do the tuneful trick sans any unnecessary flashy razzle-dazzle
filler. Moseying along at a deliberate pace, with the slow
tempos and relaxed beats both taking their own sweet time,
this strong and affecting sophomore album sticks in the listener’s
memory long after the CD has finished playing.
WHITE VIOLET – Hiding, Mingling (www.whiteviolet.net)
Close the windows. Turn down the lights. Get real comfy in
an easy chair and pour yourself a glass of your favorite tasty
beverage. ‘Cause it’s time to kick back and chill
to this supremely gentle, soothing, and harmonic Americana
pop-rock music. Lead singer Nate Nelson’s quivery tenor
casts a calm and captivating dreamy spell as he softly sings
the concise and thoughtful lyrics. The beautifully dulcet
and delicate arrangements keep things properly tender and
tuneful throughout with a steady succession of gradual tempos
and subdued beats. But it’s this Athens, Georgia band’s
weary and battered, yet still resilient and optimistic sensibility
that in turn makes this album so special, touching, and endearing.
A lovely and haunting little jewel.
MELISSA ANTHONY – Live at the Saint (www.reverbnation.com/melissaanthony)
Offering up five songs worth of lovely, soothing, and delicately
melodic folk-pop, this album immediately wins the listener
over on the basis of its glowing warmth and stripped-down
sonic intimacy. Sporting a sweet’n’sultry voice,
a fine way of playing a gently harmonic guitar, and an engagingly
straightforward songwriting style, singer/songwriter Melissa
Anthony cuts an impressive and captivating figure throughout.
Best of all, there’s a real gracefulness and fragile
dulcet quality to the enchanting music featured herein that’s
a truly luminous joy to hear. An utterly charming and wonderful
little jewel.
 REALITY
SUITE – Avoiding the Red Lights (www.realitysuite.com)
Ringing through loud and clear with a pleasingly punchy
and melodic brand of highly kickin’ pop-rock, this
quartet from North Haledon, New Jersey serve up six songs
worth of immensely exciting and energetic pure sonic pow.
The robust and passionate vocals belt out the concise lyrics
with topmost urgency. The snappy guitars, steady pushin’
basslines, and firm diggin’ drums keep the speedy
tempos and meaty beats hoppin’ along at a constant
dynamic clip. Moreover, such songs as the divinely chillin’
“Sinking In” and the supremely hip’n’happening
“For Those That You Love” tear into a hard-crunching
rough’n’tumble groove with commendable flair
and skill. Damn tasty stuff.
 THE
MOMMYHEADS – Vulnerable Boy (www.mommyheads.com)
Representing pop-rock at its most pretty, charming, and thoughtful,
this album possesses a sweetly delicate appeal that’s
both affecting and endearing in equal measure. The soft vocals
project a lovely sense of wide-open sincere emotion. The extremely
dense, complex, and tuneful arrangements are quite tasty indeed,
with tinkling pianos, percolating keyboards, cutting guitars,
sturdy basslines, and urgent forward-ho drums delivering a
steady succession of snappy tempos and constant shuffling
beats. The songs neatly alternate between low-key reflective
numbers and more all-out exciting full-bore rockers. Best
of all, the songs are frequently stretched out long and winding,
with all kinds of surprising peaks and valleys done with an
utmost skillful and consummate musicianship that’s truly
something to hear. A simply terrific album.
THE DROWNING MEN – All of the Unknown (www.thedrowningmen.com)
You all know the drill. I just had a very grim, grueling,
and thankless day at my crappy job. So after work I decided
to get a much-needed load off by giving this particular album
a spin in my CD player. Right from the first infectiously
chipper and dynamic note I knew I was in for a real treat.
The lively vocals soar over an energetic, engaging, and invigorating
sonic onslaught of ringing guitars, smooth basslines, and
steady drums. The tuneful arrangements keep things humming
in a pleasingly crisp and straightforward manner. Better still,
the bracing clarity of the smart and reflective songwriting
gives this sweet rootsy indie folk-rock music an additional
appealing warmth and immediacy that’s impossible to
either resist or dislike. By the time I got to the end of
this album, I totally forgot about the lousy day I had at
work. Accolades don’t come much better than that.
 DELICATE
CUTTERS – Ring (www.skybucket.com)
Artfully blending elements of indie folk, pop, and rock into
a beautifully brooding and atmospheric mix, the strong melancholy
vibe conveyed on this album pulls the listener in and makes
one hell of a potent lasting impression. Despair and heartbreak
positively drip from every last harmonic note, with lead singer
Janet Elizabeth Simpson’s achingly tender and lovely
vocals projecting a forlorn sensibility with bracing clarity
and authority. The gorgeously tuneful arrangements further
enhance the overall mournful attitude thanks to the weeping
fiddles, soft, yet urgent drums, and sturdy guitar riffs.
Moreover, the songwriting cuts right to the touching heart
of the matter with a winning directness and a refreshing dearth
of pretense. A really haunting and moving little jewel.
ECHO ORBITER – Aerosol Power (www.echoorbiter.com)
Offering up 12 tracks worth of gloriously raucous pop-rock
racket, this Philadelphia group keep things buzzing and hopping
with considerable kick up the dust gusto on their latest stripped-down-to-the-rickety-bare-essentials
release. The robust vocals holler over a lively and exciting
onslaught of grinding hacksaw guitars, diggin’ basslines,
and sturdy hard-charging drums. The constant tempos and meaty
driving beats ensure that the music remains thrilling and
dynamic throughout, with a tough and energetic rough’n’ready
sound that eschews needless razzle-dazzle in favor of a more
winningly basic and straightforward approach to bangin’
out a tune. It’s this latter element of stark simplicity
that in turn makes this platter such a raggedy-ass delight
to hear.
 ANNIE
AND THE BEEKEEPERS – My Bonneville (www.annieandthebeekeepers.com)
Exquisitely delicate and melodic, with a lovely feeling of
real warmth and a winningly gentle’n’tuneful folk
Americana sound, one would have to be a total joyless sourpuss
to resist or dislike the sweetly captivating spell that this
album casts on the listener. Annie Lynch’s gorgeously
lilting voice and the astutely observed details in her precise
songwriting make for a strong and impressive double whammy.
The sparse arrangements likewise hit the calmly harmonic spot,
with plenty of especially nice and carefully strummed guitar
picking as well as supremely understated use of horns. Best
of all, this album manages to be quite charming and pleasant
without getting to cute or sappy about it, with the catchy
titular song in particular rating as a definite delightful
highlight. A total treat.
POOR LUTHER’S BONES – Jukes & Junk (www.myspace.com/poorluthersbones)
Pouring on the lowdown gritty bluesy moaning rock something
fierce, the heady’n’heavy buzz and handy helping
of poignant regret to be savored on this album are both truly
something to hear. The raspy vocals project a strong and affecting
sense of bone-weary resignation. The scrappy arrangements
are nicely filled out by raggedy chopping guitars, churning
basslines, and steady, but laid-back drums. The gradual tempos
and kicked-back beats keep the rough-around-the-edges music
bumping along at a pleasingly relaxed clip. But it’s
the strongly felt mood of deep-seated discontent and melancholy
along with an underlying delicate hope bubbling just underneath
the brittle surface despair which in turn makes this album
so touching and compelling.
 DW
DUNPHY – Reliquary (www.myspace.com/dwdunphy)
A fine compilation of fifteen of Do-It-Yourself New Jersey-born
singer/songwriter Dw. Dunphy’s strongest and most impressive
songs, there’s a quiet and understated power to this
exquisitely lo-fi music that pulls the listener in a supremely
subtle, yet still potent and captivating way. Dunphy’s
dry voice projects a certain weary appeal while his sharp
songwriting offers a wealth of precisely observed details
and an utterly disarming matter-of-fact attitude on life’s
countless ups and downs. The spare, but melodic arrangements
likewise do the appealingly basic trick, with especially lovely
use of gently strummed acoustic guitars and delicately humming
synthesizers. Moreover, there’s an exceptionally wrenching
poignancy evident throughout that reaches its heart-breaking
zenith with the deeply touching “Cannot Hear You.”
A beautifully fragile and moving collection.
 ANTHONY
D’AMATO – Paper Back Bones (www.anthonydamatomusic.com)
The perfect album to listen to on a lazy’n’hazy
Sunday afternoon, singer/songwriter Anthony D’Amato
artfully blends twangy country and harmonic folk into a
lovely, touching, and altogether savory mix. D’Amato’s
warm and reassuring vocals cast a pleasant and soothing
spell while his songwriting impresses with its eloquently
plain-spoken simplicity and straightforwardness. The gradual
tempos and subdued beats give the gently tuneful music an
utterly winsome kicked-back charm. Kudos are also in order
for the crisp, tight, and uncluttered arrangements. A sweetly
affecting and endearing little jewel.
 DAVEY
AND THE TRAINWRECK – Last Stop Hoboken (reverbnation.com/daveyandthetrainwreck)
Moseying along at a pleasingly woozy, yet melodic and captivating
kicked-back clip, this album offers seven tracks worth of
nicely cookin’ and simmering blues-rock bliss. Dave
Calamoneri’s smooth vocals project a certain easygoing
charm while the arrangements are neatly filled out by percolating
basslines, funky burnin’ guitar riffs, soulful harmonica,
rippin’ organs, and steady bumpin’ drums. The
alternately slow slithering or more quick barnstorming tempos
and subdued, yet constant beats keep things loose, groovy,
and get-down happening throughout. This is the kind of right-on
bitchin’ music that’s best listened to while
wearing shades and leaning back in a leather recliner while
drinking a long tall cool one. Dig it, baby.
THE TEMPER TRAP (www.thetempertrap.com)
Exploding with a positively infectious blast of sheer bouncy
vitality and captivating harmony, this Australian pop-rock
group come through with thrilling flying colors on their
energetic sophomore album. Artfully blending soaring choirboy
vocals with lively arrangements and sparkling melodies,
this band produces a sound that’s exciting and arresting
in equal doses. The dynamic “Need Your Love”
gets things off to a cracking start, “London’s
Burning” simmers with a seething sense of outrage,
the neatly syncopated “Never Again” gets down
with a spot-on pulsating groove, and “Leaving Heartbreak
Hotel” concludes things on a beautifully graceful
note. A very solid and satisfying album.
 THE
GRIP WEEDS – Speed of Live: In Concert In New Jersey
(www.gripweeds.com)
The retro 60’s psychedelic rock outfit from New Jersey
totally hit it out of the ballpark with this incredibly
dynamic and exciting live album that was recorded all over
the Garden State at various different venues. The passionate
and energetic vocals soar and roar over a fierce nonstop
array of burning basslines, blazing riffin’ guitars,
and relentless steamrolling drums that rarely let up on
the speedy forward-ho tempos and constant hard-rolling beats.
The band tear through a slew of their own songs with a sense
of joy, fury, and sheer go-for-the-throat bone-rattling
brio that’s a galvanizing blast to hear. Better still,
they also shred it up somethin’ ferocious on inspired
covers of “(So You Want to Be ) a Rock’n’Roll
Star” by The Byrds and “Shakin’ All Over”
by The Guess Who. Insanely awesome stuff.
 PAT
GUADAGNO – New Jersey Material (www.PatGuadagno.com)
Sporting an appealingly raspy voice, a clean and straightforward
style of dynamic guitar playing, and a wonderful knack for
bringing a simple song to exceptionally exciting and energetic
life, singer, guitarist, and troubadour Pat Guadagno covers
fourteen uniformly excellent songs with a laid-back skill
and engaging ease that’s a total tuneful treat to
behold. Better still, there’s a tremendous sense of
warmth, harmony, and a marvelously wholehearted passion
for music permeating every last lovely glowing note. Guadagno
wisely keeps the arrangements spare, tight, and uncluttered,
with no flashy show-off pyrotechnics and a laudable noted
emphasis on both the plain-spoken poetry of the lyrics and
the basic sweet sound of the pretty melodies. A lovely album.
 KAIA
– Two Adult Women in Love (Jealous Butcher)
Blessed with a beautifully husky voice, a firm grasp of
delicately pretty melodies, and a refreshingly frank, honest,
restless, and emotionally open persona, out-of-the-closet
lesbian singer/songwriter Kaia Wilson’s latest album
deserves praise for its remarkable bravery and fierce integrity
alone. Wilson’s smartly reflective songwriting addresses
the bittersweet reality of being a gay woman with a put-it-all-out-there
forthrightness that’s affecting and endearing in equal
measure. Moreover, the spare, yet tuneful arrangements carefully
craft a gently harmonic country-flavored sound that casts
a soothing and compelling spell. A lovely and inspiring
album.
 JENEE
HALSTEAD – Raised by Wolves (www.jeneehalstead.com)
Supremely mellow and melodic, singer/songwriter Jenee Halstead’s
third album makes a strong and lasting impression on the basis
of its beautifully low-key and reflective sensibility alone.
Halstead’s exquisitely crystalline voice pierces through
the delicately harmonic music with bracing clarity and an
achingly sumptuous honeydew sweetness. The tuneful arrangements
keep things tight and simple, with deftly spare use of such
basic instruments as the banjo, a ukulele, synth bass, and
an acoustic guitar producing a warm folksy sound that’s
intimate and ethereal in equal measure. Best of all, Halstead’s
songwriting smartly mines a nicely touching line in laidback
introspection. A lovely album.
 THE
BRIXTON RIOT – Palace Amusements (www.thebrixtonriot.com)
Hey, you! Yeah, you. Ya wanna hear some mighty fine hard-stompin’
straight-up meat and potatoes rock’n’roll that
just gets right down to stirring crunchy’n’punchy
brass tacks with considerable brio and zero high-falutin’
pretense? Of course ya do. Well, this particular album totally
fits that tasty bill somethin’ sweet: We’ve got
passionate smooth-voiced vocals that soar into the melodic
sonic stratosphere with tremendous aplomb, killer riffin’
guitars that happily hack away throughout, firm and unyielding
basslines, rousing jumpin’ drums, constant snappy tempos,
and constantly pushin’ ahead forward-ho meaty beats
that never let up for a minute. Naturally, the crisply proficient
playing and nicely concise songwriting definitely don’t
hurt matters any. But it’s the invigorating sense of
sheer go-for-it vitality and the band’s consummate musicianship
that makes this honey such an absolute pleasure to hear. If
your butt doesn’t shake while listening to this fun
and energetic music, then you better go to the doctor ‘cause
you’re missing your ass.
 THE
STATIC SEA – Third Parties (http://thestaticsea.com)
Offering up 12 catchy tracks worth of extremely bubbly, upbeat,
and invigorating indie pop-rock, this delightfully buoyant
album makes for a very enjoyable listen. The robust vocals
soar over a lively sonic bed of snappy guitar riffs, smooth
buzzing basslines, and constant jumpin’ drums. Better
still, this New Jersey group keep things simple and straightforward
throughout, with a neat noted emphasis on steady driving beats,
swift tempos, and tight uncluttered arrangements that get
right to the energetic meat of the matter with a refreshing
dearth of flash and fuss. The music itself has a fluid and
coolly undulating rhythmic momentum to it that’s extremely
tasty and captivating. The overall chipper and pleasant mood
that pervades throughout serves as the yummy icing on an already
delicious cake. Damn impressive stuff.
THE PORCHISTAS – The Baby Album (www.theporchistas.com)
Hopping and bopping up a frothy sonic storm with an irresistibly
rough-around-the-edges go-for-it buzz, this pleasingly scruffy
rock’n’roll album has a real scraggly kick to
it that’s both engaging and enjoyable in equal measure.
The raw and merry vocals shout out the simple lyrics with
considerable aplomb. The scrappy, yet tuneful arrangements
keep things loose, ragged, and charming, with churning basslines,
tattered cutting guitar riffs, woozy blurting horns, and relentless
drums delivering a steady succession of crunching beats and
laid-back, but steady tempos. Favorite song: The hilariously
twisted and tasteless “Zombie Jesus.” Polished
this rattling racket sure ain’t, but it’s got
more than enough pure joy and scroungy vigor for it to qualify
as a perfectly satisfying sliver of fun and unpretentious
rock noise.
 THE
MODERN AIRLINE (themodernairline.com)
Clocking in at a right’n’tight 28 minutes, this
remarkably catchy, groovy, and dynamic album from a five piece
punk/New Wave band from Brooklyn, New York gets straight to
the thrilling heart of the matter with topmost flair and finesse.
The robust vocals mix well the snappy synth lines, manic riffin’
guitars, poppin’ basslines, and insanely kickin’
drums. Sheer infectious shoot-for-the-moon joy and vigor are
the order of the day here. Both items are rendered with a
delightfully cheery vitality that’s impossible to either
dislike or resist. Favorite song: The amazingly witty and
energetic butt-shaker “Vee Haf Vays (of Making You Rock).”
A hugely enjoyable album.
 JENNY
OWEN YOUNGS – An Unwavering Band of Light (www.jennyowenyoungss.com)
Bursting with infectious energy, given an extra shot of uplifting
vitality by the incredibly chirpy and robust vocals, with
a strong knack for sharp and wickedly witty lyrics, catchy’n’snappy
melodies, and tasty big’n’bouncy pop-rock hooks,
New Jersey-born singer/songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs’
third studio album possesses so much sass and verve that one
can’t help but smile and happily bop one’s head
up and done while listening to it. Youngs’ spirited
brash persona eschews sappy sentiment in favor of a more clear-eyed
and sarcastic take on life and relationships that gains considerable
strength from taking things on the chin with an unflappable
attitude that’s both endearing and affecting in equal
measure. While a majority of the songs rock out with tremendous
rip-snorting gusto, there are still a few more subdued, thoughtful,
and touching numbers sprinkled throughout. An absolute treat.
 MICHAEL
ANDREWS – Spilling a Rainbow (http://everloving.com)
Beautifully moody and melodic, suffused with an exquisitely
pure feeling of hope and anticipation, composer/singer/multi-instrumentalist
Michael Andrews comes through with a delicately well crafted
album of achingly frail and tender harmonic pop. Andrews’
slight wispy voice and thoughtful songwriting make for a strong
double whammy as he chronicles his excitement about becoming
a father for the first time. Andrews manages to address the
subject of fatherhood in an admirably positive and straightforward
manner that fortunately avoids cliché and sentiment
while noting both the highs and lows of being a parent. The
gorgeously lush, ornate, and tuneful arrangements are likewise
up to par. A lovely and touching little jewel.
 KELLY
HOGAN – I Like to Keep Myself in Pain (www.beekeepercorp.com)
Atlanta, Georgia native Kelly Hogan hits it out of the ballpark
with this beautifully smooth, soulful, and soothing third
album that deftly melds elements of pop, R&B, and country
into one supremely tasty and tuneful sonic mix. No fooling
about Kelly’s extraordinary voice: It’s warm,
rich, and lovely, with a wonderfully delicate Southern lilt,
the kind of sweetly appealing purr that sends the listener
right to a more pleasant and relaxing soundscape that’s
a complete joy to visit. The smart and thoughtful songwriting
certainly doesn’t hurt matters any. Ditto the gently
harmonic arrangements and consummate playing by a first-rate
group of musicians. A total winner.
 DELTA
MOON – Black Cat Oil (www.deltamoon.com)
Shaking and rattling with a fabulously raw feeling of fierce
urgency and equally burning intensity, this bluesy Atlanta,
Georgia Southern-fried outfit dredges up 11 songs of terrifically
ragged and slithery gut-bucket rootsy rock’n’roll.
The raspy vocals possess a satisfyingly hoarse quality. The
guitar riffs quiver with utmost snaky aplomb while the bass
supplies a gritty undertow and the drums lay down a strong
pounding beat. Better still, the concise songwriting gets
right to the point in an admirably terse and unpretentious
manner. This is the type of lowdown groovy music that vividly
evokes images of a blood red moon hanging moodily in the sky
over a dusty and desolate desert landscape. A damn fine album.
 PARLOVR
– Kook Soul (www.parlovr.com)
Representing indie pop-rock at its most infectiously frothy
and catchy, this Montreal, Quebec trio really hit it out of
the joyfully bouncy ballpark on their second album. The exuberant
vocals project a robust happy vibe that’s impossible
to either dislike or resist. The lively arrangements keep
things hoppin’ along with a steady succession of dynamic
head-boppin’ beats and constant speedy tempos. The smart
songwriting neatly explores a perfectly touching line in bittersweet
reflection. But it’s the overriding feeling of sheer
bliss and boundless vitality which makes this album such an
uplifting and exciting treat to hear.
STOLEN RHODES – Falling Off the Edge (www.stolenrhodes.com)
Rolling along the stirring sonic road with utmost verve and
harmony, this lively rock album sweeps the listener along
on one hell of a hugely rousing and enjoyable journey down
the ol’ rock’n’roll highway. The raspy,
yet expressive vocals hit the soulful spot. The tuneful arrangements
likewise do the trick, with ringing guitars, sturdy drums,
and smooth basslines keeping things chuggin’ along at
a pleasingly constant clip. The songs nicely alternate between
full-bore exciting barn burners and more laid-back and reflective
numbers. Better still, these guys eschew needless flashy razzle-dazzle
and just get right down to the straight-up butt-shaking basics
with a winning lack of pretense. A really solid and satisfying
album.
 MIGHTY
HIGH – Legalize Tre Bags!! (www.mightyhigh.net)
A gloriously loud blast of trashy’n’thrashy bluesy
rock’n’roll noise that offers 11 songs about smokin’
weed and getting’ high, this album sure ain’t
politically correct by any stretch of the imagination, which
is exactly why is so goddamn funny and enjoyable to listen
to. These Brooklyn-based bad boys really kick out the blistering
jams with a steady succession of rippin’n’wailin’
guitars, churning basslines, and relentless steamrolling drums.
Better still, there’s a hilariously brash and irreverent
sense of blithely tasteless humor evident throughout, as confirmed
by the gut-busting tunes “Tokin’ N Strokin’”
(about the life and unfortunate untimely death of David Carradine)
and “Drug Wars,” in which “Just Say No”
Nancy Reagan gets a well-deserved sonic raspberry blown right
in her officious face. The rapid-fire tempos and barnstorming
beats never let up for a minute. Great grungy stuff.
 XAVIER
RUDD – Spirit Bird (www.xavierrudd.com)
Indie Australian multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd takes
the listener straight to the lush, vibrant, and entrancing
wilds of the outback on this album.: The yowling vocals,
pulsating tribal beats, extraordinarily exciting didgeridoo
playing, and snappy forward-ho tempos sweep one along in
a madly thrilling swirl of harmonic folksy sound that possesses
the rousing energy of a dingo stampede. Better yet, there
are plentiful moments of finely affecting introspection
amid all the aural whooping and hollering, plus the music
is always melodic and captivating throughout. A terrific
album.
 FALLON
CUSH – April (www.falloncush.com)
Fallon Cush continue to nicely mine a delicately harmonic
line in gentle and soothing country-tinged pop-rock on their
sturdy sophomore album. The group’s characteristic fragile
warmth asserts itself once again with sumptuously tuneful
and thoughtful results. Steve Smith’s reedy voice projects
an engaging feeling of easygoing intimacy and introspective.
Moreover, Smith’s smart and thoughtful songwriting grapples
with life’s constant hardships and addresses the need
for reconciliation as well as the basic desire to keep on
plugging away no matter what with utterly winning resilience
and straightforwardness. Kudos are also in order for the divinely
melodic arrangements. The gradual tempos and laid-back beats
trudge along at a pleasingly relaxed clip. A lovely and touching
album.
 MISS
MAY I – At Heart (www.facebook.com/MissMayIMusic)
Oh fuck yeah! Strap yourself in, crank it up loud, and get
ready to blow out your eardrums while listening to this fabulously
thunderous slab of pure in-your-face punishing hard metal
rock. The ferocious vocals howl and yowl over a savage sonic
onslaught of rippin’ guitars, diggin’ basslines,
and pile-driving drums. The relentless steamrolling beats
and rapid-fire forward-ho tempos keep things tearin’
along at a brutally intense and constant rate. Moreover, one
can discern amid all the shred ‘em up noise a genuine
sense of complex melody and a firm grasp of real musicianship
that are both impressive and exhilarating in equal measure.
Hell, even the songwriting manages to evoke a potent feeling
of raging anger and angst that comes across as sincere and
authentic. Amazing stuff.
 WATERSLIDE
– Lincoln Signal (www.waterslidemusic.com)
Singer, songwriter, and producer Mark Doyon stakes out his
own funny, inventive, and singular corner of the sonic universe
in this marvelously offbeat and inspired album. Doyon’s
smooth vocals and sharp’n’witty lyrics make for
a potent double whammy. Musically, this album delivers a richly
layered, melodic, and hypnotic sound that buzzs and hums with
a startling sense of playfulness and imagination that’s
truly something to hear. The crisp arrangements keep things
tight and tuneful throughout while the songs take the listener
on a captivating trip into an entertainingly idiosyncratic
aural world where off-kilter humor, keen observations, and
genuinely surprising creativity are the order of the day.
A worthwhile foray into the eccentric indie-rock outer limits.
 CALLAGHAN
– Life in Full Colour (www.callaghansongs.com)
Blessed with a beautifully sweet and soothing voice, a strong
knack for pretty and harmonic melodies, and a firm grasp of
smart and thoughtful songwriting, UK-bred singer/songwriter
Callaghan comes through with a terrifically radiant and engaging
winner on her sunny and appealing country pop debut album.
Covering life’s various ups and downs with a keen eye
and an utterly charming down to earth positive attitude, Callaghan
cuts through the nonsense and gets right to the heart of the
matter with refreshing clarity and directness. The delicately
tuneful arrangements qualify as another sterling attribute,
with the gentle guitar riffs, subdued drums, and understated
bass all creating a sound that’s fragile and enchanting
in equal measure. Best of all, a lovely warmth and purity
of spirit shines throughout. A wonderful album.
 SUIT
OF LIGHTS – Shine on Forever (www.suitoflights.com)
Singer/songwriter Joe Darone artfully blends harmonic indie
pop and angular hard rock into a beautifully brooding, complex,
and arresting sonic whole with his supremely moody third album.
Exploring the many facets of human consciousness in a smart,
incisive, and provocative manner, Danore takes the listener
on an absorbing aural journey that chugs along at a gradual,
yet still hypnotic clip. Danore’s soothing vocals and
smart songwriting make for a potent double whammy while the
shimmering arrangements keep things tuneful throughout. The
calmly reflective sensibility provides an extra intelligent
quality. Excellent stuff.
 RED
– Broken Earth (www.redsongs.com)
Two CDs of everything under the sun rock’n’roll
music is a lot to listen to. Fortunately, the music contained
on these two discs is strong enough to be worth all the time
one has to invest in listening to it: Usually punchy and energetic,
sometimes subdued and reflective, always melodic, and often
thrilling, this stuff seriously cooks on primo unleaded gas
like nobody’s freakin’ business. The robust vocals
hit the right-on stirring spot while the gritty guitars, sturdy
drums, and churning basslines supply a steady succession of
fierce barnstorming beats and constant forward-ho charging
tempos. Better still, there are a few more thoughtful, low-key,
and harmonic songs sprinkled amongst the all-out rousing rockers.
It’s this latter tasty element of variety and eclecticism
which in turn makes this album such a deliciously rich and
diverse treat to hear.
 ADVANCE
BASE – A Shut-In’s Prayer (www.caloverderecords.com)
Neatly bumpin’ along to a cool syncopated rhythm, this
album delivers ten tasty tracks worth of nicely soothing and
melodic meditative electronic pop-rock. The relaxed vocals
and spare, tuneful, and unflashy arrangements both cast a
pleasantly insouciant vibe. Moreover, the thoughtful songwriting
nicely mines a winningly casual line in low-key introspection.
The gradual tempos and subdued beats keep things percolating
at a perfectly mellow manner. A good album to listen to when
you want to kick back and take a load off.
 THE
MEMORIES (Underwater Peoples)
Representing straight-up no-bullshit rock’n’roll
at its most short and snappy (most of the twelve songs contained
herein are well under two minutes long), this group certainly
gets right to the point with admirable clarity and concision.
The vocals are fairly ragged, yet still sturdy and passionate.
The arrangements keep things buzzing with a neat array of
jagged guitar riffs, relentless drums, and smoothly percolating
basslines. Moreover, there’s a truly touching wide-open
sensitivity and vulnerability evident throughout. But it’s
the fierce brevity and rattled intimacy of the cut to the
bone music which in turn makes this album so weirdly endearing,
affecting, and enjoyable.
 SAM
DENSMORE – Ku-Thar’-Tik (www.reverbnation.com/samdensmore)
Portland, Oregon singer/songwriter Sam Densmore adroitly mines
a nicely affecting and incisive line in bittersweet reflectivity
on his debut solo album. Low-key, subtle, and contemplative,
Densmore casts a sharp and down-to-earth unsentimental eye
on life’s steady stream of ups and downs while maintaining
a firm grasp on delicately tuneful melodies and tight arrangements
that keep things buzzing along with utmost harmonic finesse
and a refreshing dearth of needless flashy razzle-dazzle.
Densmore’s pleasant voice and smartly succinct songwriting
make for a strong and impressive double whammy. Moreover,
Densmore plays a mean acoustic guitar and never degenerates
into mushy cliché at any point throughout the album.
Best of all, by emphasizing a stripped-down no-frills blunt’n’basic
sound Densmore is able to bring an immediacy and intimacy
to the music which adds considerably to its overall power
and poignancy. Wonderful stuff.
HAROULA ROSE – So Easy (www.haroularose.com)
Offering up five songs worth of sweetly harmonic folk-pop,
singer/songwriter Haroula Rose’s second EP release
casts a very warm and relaxing spell. Rose’s soft
and pleasant voice puts the listener immediately at ease.
The frothy melodies and bouncy arrangements likewise project
an utterly engaging cheerful vibe. Rose’s upbeat attitude
and thoughtful songwriting further add to this honey’s
considerable sunny charm. Highlighted by the lovely titular
track and concluding with a beautifully haunting spoken-word
cover of Jimmy Webb’s great “Wichita Lineman,”
this one’s a perfectly winsome winner all the way.
back
to jerseybeat.com l back
to top
JerseyBeat.com
is an independently published music fanzine
covering punk, alternative, ska, techno and garage
music, focusing on New Jersey and the Tri-State
area. For the past 25 years, the Jersey Beat music
fanzine has been the authority on the latest upcoming
bands and a resource for all those interested in
rock and roll.
|
|
|
|