Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: December 1, 2016 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Roy Orbison – The Ultimate Collection

To be honest there are a slew of Roy Orbison albums out there packed with “hits” and “best of” tracks, but this latest 26-track offering from Legacy is among the best to date, including his late career tracks and going all the way back to his legendary Sun Records period.

Posted on: November 28, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Michael Van and The Movers – A Little More Country

A Little More Country is the latest album from Michael Van and The Movers. Little More Country’s titular effort seamlessly blends together the easy-going rock of the seventies with a current and contemporary country style (exemplified by Florida-Georgia Line and Brad Paisley. The bubbling opening shifts into something pulling from the country and western tradition of the 1960s and 1970s, Gettin Drunk On A Monday. Coming forth with each effort built off…

Posted on: November 25, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Violet Night – North

We last checked in with Violet Night for the release of their I Hope You’re Well, which showcased a wide variety of styles over the course of four tracks. The band has just released a new single, North, which does well to further expand the tool set available to the band while building off of some the influences and styles that made their previous EP so memorable. North is a…

Posted on: November 22, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Chip Gibbons – Billion Dollar Pill CD Review

Chip Gibbons’ Billion Dollar Pill begins with the titular single, which will have listeners focused in to Gibbons’ vocals. While the instrumentation provides a deep and intricate sound to the opening point to the EP, there is much greater gravity to the discussion that is weaved by the vocals. Hints of Warren Zevon, Phil Ochs, and Neil Young can be heard alongside Gibbons’ charismatic voice. A solid production unites these two…

Posted on: November 18, 2016 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Mike Watt – “Ring Spiel” Tour ’95 (CD)

Mike Watt has always been a musician’s musician. The go-to-guy who’s always namechecked in discussions on old punk rock influences. Thanks to his groundbreaking work with the Minutemen, fIREHOSE and eventual his solo stuff, he managed to built up a strong cult following as well, but he never really got much attention in the mainstream until his first solo album, the stellar Ball Hog or Tugboat in 1995.

Posted on: November 14, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Unkle Adams – The 90s

Unkle Adams’ The 90s comes forth with a rap flow that links together Macklemore, mc chris, and 3rd Bass. A laid-back song, The 90s is able to smartly bring together nostalgia with a current, contemporary sound. Unkle Adams takes listeners on a journey with this single, an effort that will have fans searching up all the events, pop-culture references, and other allusions that Unkle Adams makes here.

Posted on: November 14, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Uncle Frank – Fountains

Uncle Frank is able to create a retro-heavy dance track in Fountains that builds off of the funk of the 1970s and the electronic music styles of the 1980s to make something fun and wholly unique. Fountains has the echoing guitars, immaculate production and oozing sexuality of an earlier era; bits of Prince, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Flock of Seagulls can all be heard here. Fountains is a sly,…

Posted on: November 14, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Alessandro Coli – Flames

Alessandro Coli’s Flames is a powerful pop track that has just enough of an edge to stand out in bold opposition to much of the music currently garnering radio play.

Posted on: November 14, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 3

Sky Katz – Party Ain’t A Party

Sky Katz is the rare example of a rapper that can be young and come forth with a taut flow that easily tattoos itself deep into the mind and hearts of listeners. The production of her original track Party Ain’t A Party provides ample highlighting for Katz’s confident lyrics.

Posted on: November 12, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

HEIRSOUND “Choke”

The instrumental-heavy opening to “Choke” showcases the technical skill of HEIRSOUND. Stakes are raised when the back and forth of the band’s vocals interact with a deliberate arrangement to make for something dark, brooding, and tremendously emotive. 

Posted on: November 12, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Mummy Dance by CHARACULA!

Mummy Dance by CHARACULA! is an eclectic track. Hints of Alice Cooper, Machine Head, and HIM represent the blueprint upon which CHARACULA! builds upon. Heavy chugging guitars, intense drums, and a supersonic set of vocals make for an authoritative, brutal single.

Posted on: November 12, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

LEL Brothas “Bad Guy” ft. Coolio

The new single by LEL Brothas, “Bad Guy”, is a tremendously hard-hitting track that will burn its way into fans’ brains. Hints of horrorcore (e.g. Tech N9ne, Gravediggaz) can be heard here, but the beauty of Bad Guy has to be the inimitable vocal styles of the act.

Posted on: November 12, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

HEIRSOUND “Slow Motion”

HEIRSOUND create an engrossing indie / alternative rock-infused track that combines twinkling instrumentation and a pensive, thoughtful feeling. A lush production allows the dual vocals, drums, synths, and guitars ample opportunity to shine singularly and as a combination of elements.

Posted on: November 12, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Nicky Romero – Take Me (ft. Colton Avery)

A powerful track, Nicky Romero’s Take Me utilizes the vocals of Colton Avery to tattoo a melody deep into listeners’ souls. The instrumental / vocal dynamic that is crafted here pushes each to an entirely higher plateau. Part of the beauty of Take Me has to be the diversity of approaches that Romero utilizes.

Posted on: November 7, 2016 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Bell X1 – Arms (CD)

Over 16 years and across more than half a dozen albums, the Dublin-based Bell X1 has seen their numbers swell and fall – they are now a tight trio; they’ve dabbled in folk pop and synth rock and have ended up somewhere in between; and with their latest, “Arms,” they have attempted to reset all expectations and in doing so have turned in one of their most consistently satisfying albums…

Posted on: November 7, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Milana May “Crazy Boy”

Milana May’s “Crazy Boy” is a haunting effort that immediately draws fans in through a blending of atmospheric and expansive instrumentation. A pop-forward set of vocals do two distinct things over the course of the track’s duration. These vocals add considerably to the harmonies achieved with the song, along with providing a distinct counterpoint to the instrumental arrangement.

Posted on: November 7, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

M Dominik – Debris

Debris is an electronic-infused pop track that links together ambient, trip-hop, and glitch into a song that both bolsters the vocals while giving music aficiandos something to sink their teeth into. The instrumentation that plays at the back of Debris is impressive, rising and falling to keep listeners firmly on the edges of their seat.

Posted on: November 7, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Roses for Ghosts “Beauty’s Sweetest Dress”

Roses for Ghosts’ “Beauty’s Sweetest Dress” is a power-pop track that builds off of the framework initially laid down by Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, and Bowling For Soup. The band spins in a bold new direction with an electronic-infused double step, giving Beauty’s Sweetest Dress a considerable boost.