Taylor Jules will be with us for many years to come. This is a singer/songwriter with staying power. She’s early in her career, but already exhibiting veteran characteristics and an aesthetic far beyond her years. Her new single “MIA” reveals these traits to anyone paying attention. It doesn’t rely on the latest sonic flavor of the month to ensnare listeners. Producer Marc Swersky, a two-time Grammy award winner, wouldn’t be…
Danny Paisley’s “Till Lonesome Comes Around” will please both longtime country and bluegrass fans as well as casual listeners. The three-time IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year returns from a three-year health-related layoff with a stunning solo rendition of this Brink Brinkman and David Stewart-penned tune. His bluegrass chops have a transformative effect on the performance while likewise appealing to county music aficionados. I’m bowled over by the vast span…
Strange Company’s “Lois Lane” has timeless pop-rock qualities that make it an instant winner with me. The Memphis/Nashville outfit’s debut album, Eyes Wide Open, promises to be one of 2024’s best efforts in this vein based on the promise of this number alone. Vocalist Chris Burris and lead guitarist Aaron “Crash” Robinette lead the way for this outstanding young band, but it isn’t a glorified vehicle for their talents alone. Make no mistake – Strange Company plays as a cohesive and full-fledged band,…
Let’s take a trip down the rabbit hole of moody ambient rock with b.d. Gottfried’s latest offering, “Ghosts and Girls.” This ain’t your typical album, folks. No sir, this is a sonic journey into the depths of emotion and existence, crafted by a true musical maverick who dances to the beat of his own drum. Now, if you’re expecting your run-of-the-mill rock album, you’re in for a surprise. b.d. Gottfried…
I’m a steadfast admirer of Universal Dice’s past releases and expect that their pending release Misfit Memoirs matches or exceeds the standard set by Gerry Dantone and his bandmates. The forthcoming collection’s first two singles “Curse”, and “Once Upon a Time”, establishes a high bar. “Once Upon a Time” is the latest track from Universal Dice’s pending album and leaves a lasting effect on the listener. I applaud Dantone and his band’s faithful adherence to traditional songcraft and eschewing any bells and whistles abundant in many modern releases. It…
When you encounter the likes of “Ride That Money Train,” one of the more formidable excerpts from Jonathan Brenner’s Instagram Success, the first thing you’re going to hear is a powerful melodicism that only gets more potent as we drift further down the line with the arrangement. This opening salvo of play is searing and propellant of a textural melody that will be hard to get out of your head after indulging in its charisma for the…
From the striking tone beneath its title track to the more aggressive melody of the climax of “My Sweetheart,” the movement of the music is always playing an important part in telling us a story in the new EP from Phoenix-based Dorsten, To the River. It’s fairly common to try and pull different elements together within a mix to generate a vibe to match lyricism, but I would be lying if I…
Memory Lane is the third full-length release from Steve Wilson’s skilled bluegrass project Wilson Banjo Co. Wilson has built a reputation as one of the genre’s most formidable talents as a bandleader, producer, songwriter, and engineer for numerous recordings. He’s played alongside top-tier talents such as Deeper Shade of Blue, Dale Ann Bradley, Kim Robins, and Jesse Brock, among others. Wilson Banjo Co. enjoys two critically acclaimed prior releases titled Spirits in…
With a sturdy foundation from the beat, bd Gottfried’s “Live, Fight & Die” kicks into gear on the back of a memorable string melody that is as glowing as it is effervescent. The rhythm is relaxed, but there’s an underlying sense of urgency in the music pouring out of our speakers so seamlessly. In this colorful, guitar-powered release, texture and tonality are as important as lush lyricism and a sensational…
Alice the G00n’s single “CYA” has enjoyed considerable chart success, and she’s poised it for even greater heights with the recent release of its accompanying music video. Directed and conceptualized by Alice, the action-packed clip reflects a full-on effort to capture realistic physical action balanced with her artistic ambitions in footage that has no clear equal. The video for “CYA” fleshes out the song’s story of one tough ass-kicker dispensing…
