Month: January 2017

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Leslie Nuchow – Balm for Gilead

Leslie Nuchow is a strong signer-songwriter that opens up to tell listeners a wholly engrossing story on her latest album, Balm for Gilead. Hints of Sheryl Crow and Natalie Cole can be discerned on tracks like Rivers. The equal time that Nuchow gives to the instrumental and vocal sides on her latest album is a bold move. There is just so much that the piano contributes in term of Nuchow’s…

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Deborah Henriksson – Breakers’ Roar

Over the course of the last three years, we have been fortunate enough to delve into Deborah Henriksson’s music. On Breakers’ Roar, Deborah is able to create an engrossing song because of sweeping instrumentation and cogent narration. Hints of Great Big Sea and This Is Your Time-era Michael W. Smith can be heard here, but Henriksson’s vocals imbue the composition with a sound that is unique. While the track itself is catchy,…

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Meridian Incident “Yellow Wings”

Meridian Incident’s “Yellow Wings” is a powerful hard rock track that builds off of the work of Papa Roach and Seether. The emotion that is brought by the guitars, bass, and drums on Yellow Wings is substantial.

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Daniel Correa “Fold It Back”

Daniel Correa’s “Fold It Back” is a unique-sounding track as the track successfully blends New Jack Swing, jazz, and Britpop into a tremendous effort. Instrumental and vocal sides are given highlighting variously through Fold It Back, but the track’s backbone relies on a thick and assertive bass line, futuristic synths and a heavenly set of pipes on Daniel.

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

J-Wonn – 24/7

J-Wonn’s 24/7 is a R&B track that builds off of funk and gospel genres. The vocal ability of J-Wonn is impressive, reaching highs and lows that would be nigh-impossible for the average singer. A ropy bass line and sizzling horns and synth create a stellar backdrop upon which J-Wonn can shine. The dynamic that is created between the vocal and instrumental sides pushes each to a higher plateau.

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Dylan Bernard – “Flames”

Dylan Bernard’s Flames is a passionate ode to love that captures a popular sentiment. The dual duty of Dylan – showcasing a narrative and contributing to the harmony of Flames – is impressive. Little more is present on Flames besides a piano and Dylan’s voice, but the track is fulfilling, engrossing, and easily keeps fans on the edges of their seats until the final note.

Posted on: January 16, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Art of Solving Clues For Free

Assimilating and arranging pieces of a story to give way to newer clues or a happy ending – jigsaw puzzles say it all. A simple board game which engages and entices the player for a long duration of time. The thrill and thrust to accomplish a task pave the way to excellent team building and team leading skills as a grown up adult. It also sharpens your problem-solving abilities and…

Posted on: January 13, 2017 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

SET THE BOY FREE By Johnny Marr

Almost as a rule, musician autobiographies are a chance to settle scores, name names, spew vitriol; essentially an exercise in one-sided venting. Obviously, someone forgot to mention that to Johnny Marr. And while this revelation may turn off some of the realty TV-warped Smith out there, for those looking to get an honest sense of who Marr is as a person, Set The Boy Free makes for a fascinating read.

Posted on: January 12, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ingelik Moods – Demos

Ingelik Moods are currently working on their full-length album, slated to be released in 2017. The band has graciously let us check out a few of their demos. Arsenic is a warmly emotive, slow-paced track that tells more with a synthesizer than bands can hope to convey with vocals. When the guitars kick into the mix, Arsenic is given a fullness that hearkens back to the mid-1990s alternative rock scene. I personally…

Posted on: January 11, 2017 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Les Stroud – “Arctic Mistress”

“Survivorman” Les Stroud has released Arctic Mistress, an engrossing track that blends together equal amounts rock and late-nineties alternative music. Listeners will immediately be struck by the tautness of the song. The guitar’s strumming meshes nicely with the robust bass line and perfectly-placed drum lines.