Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Shotgun Mistress - No Friend of Mine

Have I mentioned how glad I am that straight-up rock is still thriving? I don't mean to make it sound pedantic, but we live in an age of instant-ready-made-EDM, hip hop, avant-garde bullshit. "No Friend of Mine" is a new track from the Australian group Shotgun Mistress; it's a bare-knuckle assault of a track from its gritty low-end guitars to the screaming (yet melodic) vocals.


It seems that Shotgun Mistress agrees with me, from their press release: "As some believe that the genre [rock] itself has lay dormant, still recovering from a 90's hangover. Shotgun Mistress not only brings back the style but also the attitude you can expect from a bunch of musical degenerates." Judging from the media attention these boys have been getting, it's likely there are more than a few people who agree. See their facebook page at www.facebook.com/shotgunmistress

Monday, May 13, 2019

I'm Just Dane - I Don't Need'em [Clean Master]


Jolting rhythms, vocoding, with melodic and fast-spitting lyrics are aspects of I'm Just Dane's new track "I Don't Need 'em" which fortunately comes in a "clean" version available on his SoundCloud page. The song is mostly about not needing trifling women who are often more trouble than the're worth. This is especially true in the era of E-THOTs cyber-begging incels for their paychecks. Men would do well to heed Dane's warning.


From his press release: Hailing from Boca Raton, FL, V12 is excited to release his first solo project. After success in the industry with a music group in high school, the rapper is Im Just Dane is a musician currently based in Los Angeles. While growing up in Chicago, Im Just Dane was influenced by artists like Michael Jackson, Usher and other classic R&B artists of the ’90s and 2000s. Im Just Dane’s signature style blends soul, blues and trap into what he calls "Contemporary R&B."

DRussellAmerica - WorkAHolic


We're going to have to have a serious conversation as a society about the materialism and rat-race that dominates global culture. Now that competition with East Asia, a recovering economy, and a shrinking job pool have led to a generation of antacid chugging overworked and underpaid professionals who stress to pay back college-loans all the while trying to plan for the future. 

This is a powerful and honest sentiment present in DRussellAmerica's new track "WorkAHolic." There is a deep 808 bassline (which I love, I'll never get tired of it) decorated with high piano melody/arpeggios. The lyrics are poignant and very WYHIWYG. 


One other notable thing would be Mr. DRussell's style of mask-wearing - there is probably a lot more there and maybe I'll do some investigating and get back to you all. 

Royal - "Letter To Cecil"

Turning on "Letter to Cecil," thick samples of choral with more than a bit of Motown flavor cascade through the speakers. Royal (a rapper from Delaware) is a self-reflective poet who isn't afraid to dig deep into issues of faith, life, death, parenthood, and living a virtuous life.


"Letter to Cecil" is a direct contradiction to the overpopular and unsubstantiated notion that Hip Hop is misogynistic and glorifies violence. Royal couldn't be farther from that cliche and guessing from his plays and booked shows, there is an audience hungry for what he has to offer. Access Royal's IG page here 

V12 - What You Need

"What You Need" starts out with very shoe-gazing guitar riff, it's very genre-non-specific until V12 starts rapping. It reminds me a lot of they kind of live-backed hip hop which was such a staple in the Phoenix, AZ scene circa 2003 (think Drunken Immortals). But V12 is far more straight up RnB oriented rather than Rock when it turns melodic (which is nice). The rock is there primarily as flavor.



From his press release: Hailing from Boca Raton, FL, V12 is excited to release his first solo project. After success in the industry with a music group in high school, the rapper is ready to release his much-anticipated project "The Commission". The first single from the album "What You Need" is available now.

Listen to a remix below:

Shadowfields - Never Again

It has such a sympathetic quality - a duet, strings, piano - a ballad, and did I mention that the voices are absolutely stunning in the realm of intonation? Shadowfields' (a totally kick-ass name btw) new song "Never Again" is a heartbreaking torch song with a climactic quality that will keep you coming back to it always again (ouch, bad pun, I know).



From their press release: Chicago-based (Americana /swamp-grass, neo gypsy, folk-rock) band Shadowfields began in the summer of 2006 as a songwriting partnership of vocalist Heather Humphrey and multi-instrumentalist Tom McKeown.

See more at www.shadowfields.com

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Cplus - Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend (Revisited)

Every once in a while I like to do a follow-up blog post about a previous article, mostly just because I feel I have something more to say. A while ago, I wrote about singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Clifton Johnson, also known as Cplus, and his new single "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend." 



As I kept coming back to this tune I had a compulsion to research Mr. Johnson a bit more, only to find that it is not just me who has a profound appriecation for this man's talent. He has opened for A list entertainers such as Usher and Mint Condition. He plays in a band "Born in November" in addition to a thriving solo career. Not to mention, "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" is still doing extremely well. 

Hundred Round Kado - Spin the Block

The low end is nowhere near lacking in this track. Boston, Massachusets rap/hip hop artist Hundred Round Kado's new track "Spin the Block" is a quick-tempo, dark, and very orchestral song. Mr. Kado's voice and lyrics are intriguing if not a little myopic; graphic violence and violent narratives seem to be squarely in his wheelhouse.


It is very catchy though; Hundred Round Kado can spit quickly and still enunciate enough to be easily understood. For those fans of the "gangsta" rap genre, this should be a gem - I for one, would be interested to see what Mr. Kado would be capable of if he expanded into other subjects (to be fair, my exposure to him is rather limited and he may very well have a broader repertoire of style). 

Friday, May 10, 2019

Ivey - Through The Keyhole

With warm weather approaching and summer vacation brings the promise of early afternoons garnished with cold beer and white wine, it might be time to update your road trip playlist. Might I suggest the new album by Ivey titled "Take This to Heart?" I just finished listening to/viewing their music video for "Through the Keyhole" and it's the perfect tune for sunny driving with the top down.


The song has more than a little emo edge to it but the video is whimsical enough to show these guys don't take themselves too seriously (thank God). It's pretty straight-up rock and while the singing is a bit pitchy at times, it actually adds a bit of realism to the band's sound (think Bright Eyes or Modest Mouse). See their website at www.iveymusica.com 

Artist Interview - KOPO MAGIC

For today's artist profile we have KOPO MAGIC

MW: Tell us more about your new music.
KM: My new music is from Pop, Hip Hop, Electronic to Dance Music.

MW: Where are you from?
KM: I am from a small town called Payson Utah. Born and raised.

MW: When did you know music was going to be your passion?
KM: As soon as I could reach the keys of the piano. I had this wanting to not only play. But wanted to play for everyone. I would spend up to 10 hours a day playing the piano before I even took piano lessons.


MW: What memorable responses have you had from your audiences?
KM: I have many people tell me that my Because I'm Happy song brightens up there day and I have many people that use this song in their classrooms.

MW: What would be your dream musical tour? I want to go to Europe.
KM: One stop I'd love is to play for the Queen of England.

MW: How do you see the future of independent music?
KM: As the music industry has and is evolving. I see more and more people finding their audience easier and easier by social media.

MW: What are you most looking forward to in the rest of 2019?
KM: Recording and releasing all new music. And starting to branch out of my home state. I want to explore new circles and cool venue's. I'm always looking to expand my tribe.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Rob Georg - Ghost

The sounds of cinematic sound design combined with steel slide guitar and acoustics in a purely country setting is really engaging. This is the impression I get from the new release of "Ghose" by Rob Georg. I'm taken back to the Sub:marine Records (now defunct) release of the similarly named "Henry's Ghost" which was a beautiful combination of country and electronics.



The tune is a soundscape of beautiful instrumentation with top-notch singing. Although the song itself is rather dark and communicates a helplessness in grief recovery; it's about an individual being haunted and unable to move on. I imagine there is something rather sympathetic about hearing the pangs of separation penned by Mr. Georg. Hear "Ghost" on Spotify here

Artist Interview - @if


MW: So, I have to ask, where did the name @if come from?
@if:  That’s my real birth name. Lol. Looks like “@“ the right time, “If” I was there.  Moreover, it has high recall value and more importantly it emerges on top of all artists and playlists- “@“ before any alphabets. Means even before A or any number. So a marketing/promotional tool too.

MW: Do you think your song “Prickly Heat” is representative of your greater catalog?
@if: Honestly speaking, it is quite tough to say that. Because when I was setting the playlist for Sexcursion- every song was eligible to be on top as the first single. There are pop rocks songs like Prickly Heat and Instacrush. And then there is Hard Rock like Valentine, Serpentine & Frankenstein and Prank U. There’s blues/rock n roll like If I Was a Girl and finally Gothic Rock/Metal Rest in Pieces. But I admit Prickly Heat is catchy and sounds sweet to everyone in general.



MW: Can you name some of your influences musically or lyrically?
@if: So I am a lost soul from mid 60s who woke up in early to mid 90s. Queen, The Doors and AC/DC as my general rule of thumb. Then there is GnR, Velvet Revolver & Audioslave with contemporaries such as Sound Garden, STP and then my generation includes SOAD, RATM, Limp & Linkin’.
I grew up as hopeless romantic songwriter/poet listening to MJ, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, Sting, Rod Stewart, Richard Marx and George Michael. But ever since I lost my religion- I learnt sadness and romance is waste of time. Fun and party is my way of life now. Life’s too short to not enjoy every moment.

MW: Kind of related to #4, is there any music out now that you’re enjoying?
@if: So I am digging Dubstep- I did a dubstep version of Valentine, Serpentine & Frankenstein that has a video on You Tube and audio on Apple Music/Spotify and rest of the aggregate platforms. Dubstep is the first real heavy electro sub-genre that has connected with me.
Apart from that you will find a huge variety because I like to conceive and write beyond genres. These days I am also into Smooth Jazz, Arabic and Lounge music. I also love following guitarists such Satch, Beck and Vai.

MW: Are you playing live these days?
@if:  Yes I am pretty active in NY scene. You will find me performing at one of the local joints in Long Island and sometimes in Manhattan too. Still looking though for America wide and European shows.



MW: Where can people learn more about you and your music?
@if:  My music and me is about letting go. Laugh a lot about fallacies of life and when life’s good put your foot on accelerator. Having been to the darkest side of the spectrum- I believe it ain’t worth it at all. With so much information sharing there is content that will keep consumed all the time. Amazing documentaries, stand up comedians, experimental films, Audible/Blinkist and so much more that we even don’t know about that has not become mainstream yet. Of course the entire catalog of music history is also available at your finger tips. Is there any time for tears, depression or melancholy? I don’t think so. Just stay active, workout daily, don’t do drugs and you’ll find that every moment in life can be better than sex. That’s me and you can find that echo in my music. So pump up with volume and relish the puritan rock. 

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Halsey - Bad At Love (Davidmichael503 Remix)

DavidMichael503 is a producer hailing from Oregon (like me) who's recent remix of Halsey's "Bad at Love." The original was notable for its gentle and serine beat complete with square-wave synths and high end plunking pianos replete with sparse drums.


DavidMichael503's version is much more hard-hitting with a much more percussion centered instrumentation. There is also a dark undercurrent going on with a much more minor feel and edgier synths. Both certainly have their place where the original is much more friendly in a pop setting and the remix being more club/dance-appropriate.

The music video also has more than a few additions of thong-clad young ladies shaking which the male readers of CMT should appreciate.


Monday, May 6, 2019

Love Stallion - Slow Release



It's just so glam! Seriously vintage in tone and in style, Love Stallion is channeling the late 80's in a very genuine and yet mildly comical way. you won't find too many lead vocalists who can soar in the upper register the way this guy can (he's super pretty to boot). He's supported by equally talented musicians with one hell of a lead guitarist who understands it's what you don't do that matters just as much as what you do. Overall, I'm thrilled to see so many acts exploring genres that I had just assumed were long departed. Get in touch with your inner hair-band fan and give these guys a shot.

See more here: www.lovestallionrocks.com

James Lee Baker - Cowtown Blues


James Lee Baker is a classically trained musician operating in the realm of blues, acoustic, and singer/songwriter tunes. His song Cowtown Blues is an upbeat but growley tune about growing up country. Maybe it's the harmonica or bass that genuinely sounds washtub but this is real Americana. With skill like this it's not hard to see why Mr. Baker has played some of the U.S.'s finest venues like The Walnut Room in Denver, Colorado and the Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles. See more about James Lee Baker here: www.jamesleebaker.com

WOOD - Shelter

Rock ensemble WOOD has a new music video out for their song "Shelter." Directed by Billie Butler, it's a fairly simple narrative about a man determined to see/save his love interest during an epically bad series of tornadoes.


The song would be a pretty straight up rock-ballad save for some very unique high-end guitar countermelodies happening during the verses. It's passionately done and the vocal harmonies are tight, almost like a folk-group. Overall, Shelter proves to me that pure Rock music has a strong place in the American cultural landscape - it's a fixture, now and forever.

See more at www.woodtheband.com

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Meghan & Caitlin - Midnight


Laxed notions connected to intimacy in our modern age have really created a division between the sexes. Through thinking that sex is purely a physical activity for recreation has created a generation of girls who end up feeling used and objectified. Pop duo Meghan and Caitlin are tackling the tame attitudes towards hook-up culture in their new single "Midnight." It's a catchy tune using "those magic changes" chord progression, expertly and passionately sung, not to mention the poignant lyrics not easy to pull off in an uptempo electronic piece.  www.facebook.com/meghanandcaitlin

Friday, May 3, 2019

Grave Robbert - The Ecstasy of the Night



Scandinavia is Metal's holy-land. More than any other European culture, it's been the Swedes and Norse who have cultivated a brand of Rock that countless others have tried to emulate. It's no surprise that Sweedish Metal band Grave Robbert delivers a hard-hitting tune titled "The Ecstasy of the Night" - there are all the normal trappings that fans will enjoy (screaming vocals, virtuosic guitar, double bass kicks...etc) but there is a super cool friendliness to the song; almost as if it has a pop sensibility. This isn't to say that it's toothless, far from it, it's just to point out that this music can have a wider appeal than just the hard-liners. 

Ranzel X Kendrick - Seguin Son of a Gun

One thing that music enthusiasts get way too hung up on is genre. Is a track folk-country, alt-country, country-rock...etc. I can't imagine that the old timers who laid down the groundwork for American music really thought about genre all too much, it was more style they were concerned with.


Ranzel X Kendrick's new track "Seguin Son of a Gun" is a twangy quick tempo song complete with anthem-like lyrics - an homage to country living. There is an incredible fiddle going on in the background and all backed up by a simple strummed acoustic guitar. The vocals are unrefined and very raw - the kind you would hear around a campfire which is where my tastes lie. Overall, it's really nice to see country music starting to make its way back from the pop-incursions of the late 90's and early 2000's; Ranzel X Kendrick is such an artist.

www.ranzelxkendrick.com

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Charlie Christmas - Happy Day


There is more than a tinge of grunge nostalgia in Charlie Christmas's new release "Happy Day." The lyrics are uplifting like "Step into the light; everything's alright." But, the reverbed instrumentation and psychedelic effects make me wonder if the song contains multiple meanings, or at the very least minorly sarcastic (think Flaming Lips or His Name is Alive). Regardless of deeper meanings, it's a damn-catchy tune.

www.charliechristmasmusic.com

Monday, April 29, 2019

Pale Blue Dot - Only Love


Virginia based rock group "Pale Blue Dot" has a new single out - it's an upbeat, four on the floor style anthem (and even features a glorious trumpet part - not unlike a Wynton Marselas baroque solo) titled "Only Love." Male and Female singers are featured for both verses and choruses and both can more than hold their own against the busy instrumentation.


After reading their bio, I'm excited to note their broad range of influence not only from Popular and Rock genres but also Bebop (which almost certainly explains the trumpet) not to mention, their commitment to evolving as artists which is more than laudable. www.palebluedotband.com


Desi Hip Hop releases new Android/Apple App


A brave new world is upon us; now, whatever music we desire is quite literally at our fingertips through the use of the supercomputers we carry around in our pockets. Desi Hip Hop has released an OTT streaming application replete with amazing artists from the Indian Rap community. Readers of this blog may recall the short feature we did on the artist SUN J with his tune "Dehli." Now, find him and tons of other artists right on your phone.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tp.desihiphop.app
http://www.desihiphop.com/desi-hip-hop-music-video-streaming-platform/540306

From the announcement:

Hip Hop overtook Rock as the most streamed genre in the world and is now making waves across Asia. Although Youtube has been North America's go-to platform for music video streaming, Asian audiences are finding it increasingly difficult to discover and consume the vast amounts of content coming from such a diverse region. DesiHipHop Inc, a California based Platform & Media Co just launch a beta app on android "'Desi Hip Hop" to lay the foundation for a new breed of Asian Urban Youth diaspora across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to celebrate their culture and create cutting edge content.

While most streaming giants sell Music or Video subscriptions, DesiHipHop wants to focus on the Lifestyle with it’s new OTT Video Streaming Platform. "In the 80's we stood in line to buy music, we waited all week to watch Soul Train. We didn't have Digital, Mobile & Social technology to help us discover Hip Hop culture. I'm an immigrant Indian and when I wanna discover new Hip Hop music from South Asian artists, I have no idea what to look for on Youtube. So we're building a platform solution for Fans, Artists, Brands & Audiences to connect, curate, create & celebrate culture", says "Desi Hip Hop" Founder Hardik Davé.

Hardik Davé, a former Technology Executive has been building Digital Experiences for enterprises and brands across retail and sports and is now turning his focus on music. You can download the app for Android here, or find out more about it at the DesiHipHop official website. 

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Green Tea Goblins - Pot Monsters



Green Tea Gobblins have a new anthem out to, you guessed it, cannabis. The song itself sounds quite a bit like the drug feels after smoking for a few hours and you realize it's 3am while Doors or Ravi Shankar is playing in the background. Really, the tune is simply a mishmash of samples over a reverb-laden rock track, not entirely unlike something modest mouse. I'm not sure if GTG intends this track to only be used while consuming the substance it lionizes but you might give it a go, if interested. https://greenteagoblins.com/music

MEMORI - 'CTRL C CTRL V' MV

I never liked the term "J-Pop" as a catch-all for music coming out of Japan - the term seemed to indicate a lack of seriousness on the part of the performers and collapse everything into one monolithic all-encompassing-genre. In truth, there has always been a diverse, and interesting musical landscape contained within the small chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean.


Memori is an artist who is new to me. But she has a style and sound that is not only refreshing but strikingly aggressive for such a feminine and beautiful young woman. The song "CTRL C CTRL V" navigates the space between heavy hitting indie rock and pop-electronica. Accompanied by a French-Themed music video, this is one that I greatly enjoyed. Find more of her at www.remembermemori.com

Woodfish - Damn Thang


Funky beats and the most insane bass part I've ever heard coming out of a rock trio are just two qualities of the new Woodfish song "Damn Thang." The tune is expertly rendered by the group with an upbeat quality that really drew my attention from writing this review - there is also a captivating music video telling a narrative of a beautiful woman's infatuation with her pizza delivery boy. I have to be honest, dear readers, I just can't get over the lead-singer's bass playing, it is just the busiest low-end instrument but it really makes the song - and makes the band rather unique.

www.woodfishmusic.com

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Heathcote Hill - Save The Ones You Love


Heathcote Hill's new song: "Save the Ones You Love" is a heartfelt ballad about the priorities we make in regards to how relationships are formed. The beat is a somewhat poppy country-folk pulse. I do wish the song had a bit of grittier edge to it a la Bright Eyes or Calexico; for some reason, the expert production sheen seems to divert from the genuineness of the track (but this is really just me being nit-picky). It is; however, an extraordinary expression of one man's thoughts. For more information, you can visit his website here: https://www.heathcotehill.net/

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Jeffrey Halford and The Healers - Deeper Than Hell


I love dark blues licks, probably most so from late Doors albums, you know, the types where Jim Morrison looked like he just gave up on life but somehow that giving up just allowed them to experiment more. It's not to say that Jeffrey Halford and the Healers reflect some lazy ambitions of a bygone era, far from it. But there is a flavor to the tune "Deeper Than Hell." The track is brand new - so new you can't hear it yet (I was gifted a private SoundCloud link because I'm that cool). Take my word for it though; it's cool with expertly played guitar licks and a smooth lead vocalist.

http://jeffreyhalford.com/

The Vics - Proud


The slow-core indie sounds reminiscent of Calexico or 16 Horsepower pump through my headphones while I'm listening to The Vics song "Proud." According to their bio, they are an amalgamation of the new and the old hailing originally from Pittsburgh The song begins with expertly reverbed drums - the kind you would hear in a single microphone 1950's style production session. It's a breakup song but not some kind of sappy "woe-is-me" type thing; actually, for having such an emotional edge, it's rather manly and resolute in it's driving guitar, vocals, and percussion. It's a difficult sound to describe, which is why you should give it a listen www.facebook.com/thevics




Madelyn Victoria - Right Here With You



What do we all really want out of life? It seems to me that for the past 2-3 generations where children are (rightfully) taught to pursue their dreams we have overcorrected in the direction excess. What I mean by that is: Young people dream of riches, fame, and abundance; but what about simpler/nobler paths? There are paths that include finding someone to lean on, starting a family, and contributing in your own way to your society and community. This is a sentiment echoed in Madelyn Victoria's song "Right Here With You" which essentially is an anthem to the apparently simple, yet like all things in this world, the richness and beauty lie deep underneath the still waters. It's a super fun/danceable tune that I could see being very popular in country bars or line-dancing clubs. Her music can be found at her website: www.madelyn-victoria.com

Tia McGraff - Let 'em See You're Strong



There are certainly times in all of our lives where we feel so challenged that success or survival is not guaranteed. For me, this was after my first wife left me - she packed up her bags into a four-door sedan and headed for the East Coast. After ten years of a shared life, I didn't know how I could possibly reassert myself as an individual. At times like that, I think many of us turn to sympathetic music which provides inspiration to keep going. I would have loved to have a tune like Tia McGraff's song "Let em See You're Strong." It's got a lot of country flavor with more than a few pinches of Gospel. It's a power ballad with expertly played instrumental parts (piano, guitar, strings...etc) which all leads to a very satisfying effect. Luckily you can stream all of Ms. McGraff's music through her website www.tiamcgraff.com

Clayton Morgan - Good Love



The dance rhythms are infectious; it's a happy tune, very at home with current Euro-Sounds. The chord progression is nostalgic, they are the (to quote the "Grease" musical) "magic changes, which, whether it's the Delfonics, Taylor Swift, or Clayton Morgan (which it is) never get old. The lyrics and voice are both very gentle and pleasant, singing the kind of tune you could imagine hearing on a low-key summer evening with a special someone. The song features Martone and is available for streaming on Mr. Morgan's FaceBook page here: www.facebook.com/claytonmorganmusic  

Bill Abernathy - Find a Way


The art of story-telling along with music is something that I have always admired. Perhaps it has something to do with my experience as a church musician but I have always felt that when the two were put together the result was always something that equaled "The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts." Bill Abernathy is an artist that I really appreciate, and his song/album "Find a Way" is a wonderful synthesis of narrative. In the intro to the tune, Mr. Abernathy tells a story about his father defining all odds to survive WWII, have a family and live a successful life. The personal connection the song has to Bill is obvious from his passionate performance. It's pretty straight-up acoustic rock played on a 12-string guitar, not overly sentimental but very heartfelt which is a hard combo to pull off but it's made a little easier the more genuine it is; and this is plenty genuine.

www.billabernathy.com

Gliffo - Get The Sun In Your Head


The world is dynamic, it always has been; throughout cultural history, there have always been more individuals creating than the gatekeepers could promote. This all changed with the advent of social media. Finally, independent producers of art could go toe to toe with major industry cats. It seems this sentiment is shared by the artist Gliffo, in the infobox of his YouTube video "Get the Sun in Your Head" he writes: "There's a soul of an artist in almost every human being. So it's not surprising that the entrepreneur C.S. had a musical inspiration and a song in his ear almost overnight, which he sings here as 'Gliffo.'"  The hook is a positive-messaged upbeat melody that will quickly become an ear-worm. His backing musicians and singer are all top-notch players, plus it's a whimsical and fun video. 

Monday, April 22, 2019

The Jon Johns - Stories



The Jon John's song "Stories" seems to occupy some strange space in the nether regions of folk, alt-country, and shoe-gazing. The vocals are heavily reverbed which give the song a very ethereal and atmospheric quality which just works - it adds a uniqueness to a tune which would otherwise be a pretty straight up folk sound. On the other hand, the song is decidedly modern with an almost loop-like architecture in the guitar, piano, and drum instrumentation. Let me be frank, I loved this tune and went on to hear the rest of The Jon John's album "Road Trip Mix Tape,' an aptly named title as all of the songs have very specific characters. See links below. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5HynWRetQwaVi4v6p6ENPO?si=Nhk3iU4MTFGUIW3_WhbbVA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejonjohns/

Hro Palyan - 2 Faced (feat. Nazo Bravo)



Self-awareness and self-reflection are qualities that only occur in the mature phase of one's life. Hro Palyan is a Hip Hop artist (accompanied by Nazo Bravo) with a sick flow and a message for examining one's behaviour in a way that demands we live as honestly. "2 Faced" starts out with an admission of being the same and then goes on into an exploration of pain in relationships of all kinds (friendships, enemies, and love). The beat has a very satisfying low end which I loved coming through my Fostex monitors not to mention the creepy-out-of-tune-piano sample. The video is pretty great too. 

Cplus - Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend



Reimagining classic songs from a bygone era is a hip-hop staple which harkens back to the days of sampling breaks as the backdrop for MCs. Cplus is an artist working through the Marilyn Monroe anthem to materialism "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," in a way that not only makes the song an original but also turns the blatant selfishness of the 1953 hit squarely on its head. Cplus's song is more critical of an era obsessed with friend requests, Instagram likes, and the constant pursuit of ignoble paths. Complete with beautiful harmonies and a soft/gentle contemporary RnB voice it will be interesting to see how well this tune plays out with a public who could very well be counted amongst those the song is critiquing.

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/cplus/272448338
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4uk29j5K8hIVCVj8q4OfUz

Saturday, April 20, 2019

SUN J - DILLI (Delhi)

It seems that Hip Hop now (like its predecessor, Jazz) has truly graduated into a global phenomenon. It's not to say that there wasn't Hip Hop and Rap made by people outside the Western World before the current culture, there was; but I'm continually astounded by the level of sophistication and raw talent coming out of the Eastern Hemisphere currently.


Enter Sun J and his tune "Dilli." Sadly, my Hindi is limited to phrases like "Me tola tola Hindi samashtahu - that was my best phonetic attempt) but even though I can't make out the phrases, this song is banging catchy.  Not just that, the video is sharp and well shot with plenty of action and a view would be time well spent.

It's an upbeat track with some spooky keys supporting the fast-paced lyrics. Mr. J seems to be describing life in one of the worlds largest cities (Delhi) and the shots show various members of that communities underclass. Watching this actually sent me down a rabbit hole of Desi Hip-Hop's channel that kept me entertained for about an hour. Find more about Sun J here: http://www.khatarnaak.com/

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Rev Peter Unger - “There’s a Spirit”



Something that even in the midst of my insufferable atheist period of life, one principal that I maintained was a notion that we are stewards of what is around us in order to preserve the beauty for the next generation. It's nice to see this sentiment echoed in Peter Unger's "There's a Spirit" - a new single released by the artist. The song is very folk-oriented with a notable absence of drums. The beginning is a chaotic (but pleasant) jumble of plucked strings that almost sound out of time with each other, until falling into place with the first verse. Rev Peter's voice is soft, melodic, and is the perfect vehicle for delivering this message. The song can be heard at https://www.reverbnation.com/revpeterunger

Monday, April 15, 2019

Craymo - Take It Slow (Gotta Say Hey) World

Here's something a little off the beaten path. I have to say that I find it rather heartening that we live in a world where one of the principal messages seems to say "slow down." When you think about it, all of the so-called "advancements" of technology and communication have served to isolate us more now than virtually any time in the past. The idea of stopping once in a while and having some gratitude is something desperately needed.


This is why I appreciate Craymo's song and music video "Take it Slow." Not only is it utterly charming that this middle-aged man is dancing and having fun with millennials, there are also beautiful shots of a beautiful beach landscape (making me envious). It's a fun song with a beautiful message.  

R.W. Roldan - The Color Of

In a world of Taylor Swift and her ilk, long graduating from the Country genre into the more profitable pop domain, it's really nice to see genuine folk, acoustic, and poetic Country music being made. Hopefully, fans will take note of those operating in bars, churches, and (God help us) coffee shops.


One such artist is R.W. Roldan and his song "The Color Of" with the accompanying music video. The lyrics are, well, lyrical. The song is linear and (thankfully) very traditional in many ways, perhaps most so, the low, slightly distorted guitar solo in the middle of the track. The song in and of itself does have a political bent with the lines "What makes the color of man's skin a capital crime?" plus the narrative that goes along with it in the verses. But, the point of the song is somewhat more nuanced than a simple white-bad/other-good dichotomy and it really should be explored. 

Les Fradkin – Summer


So, I remember being quite young and my parents had a series of CDs (transfers from LPs) titled “Classical Beat” where orchestral pieces were paired with popular music-style drumbeats and the effect was quite pleasing. Later in college, I became fascinated with “Switched on Bach” as it was such a staple in the synthesizer world.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when I found Les Fradkin’s awesome rendition of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” composition played through what I can only imagine is a guitar-style-midi controller (I may be wrong) pumping out virtuosic synthetic lines that are perfectly representative of the Italian Master’s genius. The track is intense and very worth the listen! Mr. Fradkin and his music can be found here: www.bongoboyrecords.com/lesfradkin 

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

The BeeKeepers



Today, while scrolling through my recommendations, I stumbled across East-Coast new folk music trio The BeeKeepers. Luckily their website has a host of wonderful/original songs to sample (and buy – of course, I suggest buying). The track preloaded into the playlist was the song “Roots Run Deep,” a languid and empathic tune with acoustic guitar playing slow chord changes over gorgeous voices singing in harmony.  With brilliantly written songs like this, it’s easy to see why major publications have taken note of this group; everyone from Huffpo to Skope magazine have featured reviews on these ladies. If curious, their webpage can be found here: https://www.thebeekeepers.net which includes fun photos, tour dates, as well as streaming music.