Mascot Records artist: The Cold Stares - Heavy Shoes - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heavy Shoes, from The Cold Stares, and it's a solid hard rocker. Opening with heavy bottomed, Heavy Shoes, and it's as solid a rocker as you'll hear. With it's crisp drum snap by Brian Mullins and growly guitar line and vocal by Chris Tapp it's a solid opener. 40 Dead Men kicks up the pace but the dark, heavy vibe is ever present and cool. It's hard to believe that all of this sound is coming from 2 guys. Hard Times is another solid track with a strong guitar vamp and heavy drums. Strange Light is a more Zep like rocker with a great lead drum focus. Tapp's guitar isn't really flashy, staying primarily on the lower frets but this is some powerful stuff. He breaks loose on lead guitar but again, not running up the fretboard to deliver his lead. Very cool. Prosecution Blues is heavy and lumbering but right down the middle of the blues highway. Delivery is still fat and driven... a really nice approach. Mullins really works the drum kit and Tapp thins out his tone a bit with screaming attack. It's A Game flips over to a funky, James Brown rhythm with Mullins driving the train and Tapp playing great accent riffs against his own vocal. These guys have that two man formula down to a real science. Another track with that special, Bonham, type rhythm is Election Blues. Don't get me wrong..at no time does this band sound like Zep but the hot drum attack works really well with Tapp's aggressive vocal style and underplayed guitar work. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Dust In My Hands turns back to the more metal driven, harder work of the beginning of the release with a dark bottom, tight drums and Tapp's soaring guitar soloing and vocal styling gives this track a good weight for a closer. 

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Red Steel Music artist: Walter Egan - Facination - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Facination, from Walter Egan, and it's a straight ahead rocker. Opening with, I'm With The Girl, Egan continues his legacy of rock standard country fused songs. With his alt country voice and his strong musical sensibility, he's right on track. Solid opener. Miss Pamela, a pop rocker should get strong radio airplay with it's uptempo rhythm and catchy melody about historic super groopie Pamela Des Barres. With a cool doubled vocal lead, Yesterday Forever & Today is one of my favorites on the release. It's smiple rhythm and strong melody really hits dead center. Country flavored, Fading Love is another of my favorites with it's total country (not pop country) attitude. With it's simple, honest approach to music, this track is terrific. Early rock styling and a bit of country gives Treat Me Nice a nostalgic feel. It's early country/rock slant gives it real appeal for me. Wrapping the release is Hell I Know It's Over, a contemplative track with minimal, yet interwoven instrumentation and vocals. This is a solid closer for a real interesting release.  

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Until The Sun - Drowning In Blue - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drowning In Blue, from Until The Sun and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with title track, Drowning In Blue, finds Bruce Jensen on lead vocal and bass, and Brandon Teskey on lead guitar, backed by Alyssa Swartz on vocal and Chris Tex on drums. With amostly straight line rock feel, a dash of metal and a tad of blues, this is a solid opener.  On Shadow of the Valley, Tesky dons a slide and with a more rural feel lays down a contemporary blues track. This track has a bit of the rawness of the Stripes or Keys but with just a bit more complexity and polish. Rock ballad, 1,000 Miles Away follows a blues rock formula with cool vocals and fluid lead guitar lines by Tesky and a firm bottom by Jensen and Tex. Swartz has the mic on prime radio track, Burning Home, a country influenced blues number showcasing her solid vocals. I like Tesky's guitar solo on this one not only demonstrating strong phrasing but clean technique and feel. Very nice. A traditional blues intro on Doing My Best, shows the band in prime blues form. An 8 bar line by Jensen sets the pace and Tesky moves outside of the box showing not only blues but rock and jazz riffs giving the track a nice jolt. Wrapping the release is soulful, Deathbed Blues with Swartz showing her best vocal on the release, paired with simple percussion and Tesky on resonator and slide. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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The Livesays - Not What I Bargained For - New Release review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not What I Bargained For, from The Livesays, and it's a cool power pop rocker. Opening with driving rocker, Two Sides, Billy Livesay on lead vocal and guitar has a solid radio sound with influences of the likes of Elvis Costello, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. Backed by Victor "Cuqui" Berrios on organ and vocal, Tim Murphy on piano and vocal,  Jorge LaPlume on bass and Howard Goldberg on drums. Title track, What I Bargained For is a strong radio contender with a super melody and straight ahead rock character. One of my favorite tracks on the release is In A Small Town with it's pop folky approach. With Livesay on acoustic guitar and lead vocal, simple piano by Murphy and with the addition of pedal steel by Dana Keller it has simple beauty. Better Angels has an interesting melody and harmonies over a solid, straight ahead beat. I like the slight key change accent giving the track that hint of complexity. Wrapping the release is Crazy Isn't It, a pop rocker with rhythmic vocal lead and flashy guitar intro. This track has it all wrapped up in a ball like a tv theme song with a solid melody, warm harmonies and a nice balance. Cool closer for a cool release. 

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 NOT FRON THIS RELEASE

 

BMG artist: Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release (August 13, 2021), Little Girl Blue, by Nina Simone and it's terrific! This is a classic album which was originally recorded in 1957 by the then 24 year old Simone on her first recording outing. This release has been remastered and engineered by Michael Graves and Cheryl Pawelski and the vinyl (180g blue or black) cut by engineer, Kevin Gray. Opening with Ellington's, Mood Indigo and opens with Simone showing that she really knows her way around the keyboard having attended Julliard. In this hot jazz improvization, she really swings in with potent piano lines and great offset vocals, joined by Jimmy Bond on bass and Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums. Excellent opener. Don't Smoke In Bed, a Willard Robinson composition, finds Simone singing the blues with only a bed of piano as a light accompaniment for the most part and highly tense at the end of her phrases. Masterful. Another terrific blues, He Needs Me, shows Simone really knows how to work the track vocally and just the right amount of accompaniment to make the vocals glisten. You don't often hear the purity of feeling as expressed in this track. Moving into full throttle swing, Simone pours on the heat on Donaldson's Love Me Of Leave Me. Her vocal phrasing is really poised and her piano work blends classical lines with full on jazz. Just enough bass by Bond and a tight rhythm by Heath makes this a top track on the release. Rogers and Hammerstein classic, You'll Never Walk Alone gets a formally classical type arrangement tht will leave you sitting back thinking, this is a blues/jazz singer? She really is exceptional. Gershwin's I Love You, Porgy is a precious gem among the diamonds here. This track has been covered by most of the greats, most notably Miles Davis but this is no second class cover. Simone's expressive vocals and her dynamic piano work is stunning. Wrapping the release is Simone original, Central Park Blues with Bond walking the bass and Heath on brushes. A straight up blues number positions Simone on piano at lead but giving Bond a fine opportunity to front on solo as well. Her lead lines are stark and dynamic yet quiet and sensitive. This is an excellent closer for one of the classics of our times. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Wasted Youth - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wasted Youth, from Mick Kolassa, and it's chocked full of hot contemporary blues players doing what they do best. Opening with blues rocker, Throwing Away These Blues, Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with James Cunningham on drums, Tullie Brae on backing vocal, Rick Steff on piano, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and Marc Franklin on trumpet. Solid opener. Title track, Wasted Youth, has a thunder bass line by Ruffino and with Doug McMinn on drums, Brad Webb lays in some real nice slide work and Eric Hughes adds some real nice harmonica. Funky rocker, I Can't Get Enough gives Anthony Paule a nice chance to show his stuff and Kirk Smothers blows a real nice sax solo topping the track off. Victor Wainwright plays a real clean piano on Feeling Sorry For Myself, a cool blues track with just the right amount of sway. Brandon Santini adds his superlative harmonica tone to My Mind Doesn't Wander, an easy blues rocker. Slow blues, Pieces of my Past has a real nice pace and Jensen plays a soulful lead solo on guitar over his rich chords. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Edge of a Razor, an acoustic blues featuring  Albert Castiglia on slide guitar. Very nice closer. 

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Memphis International Records artists: The Dinallos - The Dinallos - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by The Dinallos and it's interesting and diverse. Opening with a cool instrumental, All The Ponies Go 'Round (Danny's Lullaby), Michael Dinallo on guitar, Jim Gambino on keys, Dave Jacques on bass, Justin Armaral on drums, and Mike McAdam on guitars create a very inviting opener. The track has a beautiful lushness to it, with a simple yet creamy guitar harmony. Very nice. Folk rocker, Lemonade, features Annabel Dinello on lead vocal in harmony with Juliet Simmons Dinello creating a Breeders like vocal sound with some cool Nashville style guitar picking. Very cool. Country flavored, Purgatory Road features a solid duet between Juliet and Will Kimbrough. With a contemporary turn around and inclusive of Aaron Till on fiddle and Gambino on accordion, this is a promising radio track. Nothing to Lose But the Blues has a retro early 60's surf feel with a cool rhythm. You Got Nothing on Me is a solid ballad featuring Juliet on lead vocal with really lush backing vocals by Ann McCrary, Regina McCrary and Alfreeda McCrary Lee. Very nice. Wrapping the release is another instrumental, The Long Goodbye, with lead guitar melody, piano by Gambino and a snappy drum beat by Amaral under a swaying R&B style structure. This is a real nice composition and one that nicely ties the release together. Solid outing. 

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Gulf Coast Records/Hillside Global artist: Tito Jackson - Under Your Spell - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 6, 2021), Under Your Spell, by Tito Jackson and it blends modern funk, blues, pop and rock for his own style. Opening with Wheels Keep Turning, Jackson on lead vocal and guitar sets a pop pace joined by Michael Harris on drums, Michael K Jackson and Brandon Adams on keys, Darnell Neal on bass, Jason Parfait and Ian Smith on horns. I really like the horn work and slide guitar efforts by Jackson on this track. Heavy footed, Under Your Spell, has a great foot drum thump and with strong addition by Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Robert King on bass and sassy horn work by Parfait and Smith, this track has a great groove. R&B track, Big Leg Woman has a strong sax intro by Parfait, and gives Jackson a great chance to shine on lead vocal, features Kenny Neal on guitar with Jackson and keeps with the theme of ballsey horn throughout. My favorite track on the release is You're Gonna Push Me To Far with some really nicely stylized guitar "JG Watson" like work by KT Thomas. Very cool. George Benson is a standout on lead guitar on Rock Me Baby, a smooth, R&B take on BB King's classic track. Also featured are James "Boogaloo" Bolden on trumpet, Russell B Jackson on bass, Eric Demmer on sax, Wilber Crosby on lead guitar, lamar Boulet on trumpet, Darrell Lavigne on keys, Brandon Jackson on drums, and with Claudette King on lead vocal, Michael Lee and Tito Jackson on lead vocal and guitar. Wrapping the release is smooth soul track, I Got Caught (Loving In A Dream) with warm vocal harmionies and featurning Tito on guitar, Harris on drums, Brandon Adams on organ, synth bass and piano, Tyree Neal on guitar, and with pootent horn accents by Parfait and Smith. Solid closer. 

   

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earMUSIC artist: Robben Ford - Pure - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pure, from Robben Ford and it's my favorite in years. This release is all instrumental and opens with the prelude to Pure, with an intriguing melody with a definite eastern influence. Ford is joined by guest musicians Nate Smith, Toss Panos and Shannon Forest. Ford's tone is excellent as always and with a unconventional bass line and a jagged drum rhythm, I really love this opener. Balafon is a jazz rock piece with lush melodies, primarly playing off of chords with minimal percussion. Very cool. Funk salted, Go, has a solid blend of guitar and bari sax with terrific bass and drum lines making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Terrific jam! Very strong. With contemporary blues styling, Blues for Lonnie Johnson is a great opportunity for Ford to show the excellent blues guitar phrasing that he's know for, backed by rich sax work and a compact drum rhythm. Who wouldn't love this excellent track. A second, expanded version of Pure appears now with it's haunting melody, virtuoso guitar improvisation, cool drum pattern, unusual percussion work and ethereal presentation. Very nice. Wrapping the release is If You Want Me To, an easy flowing jazz rocker with a slightly funky beat. Ford really knows how to craft and play strong pieces and this releases confirms that his work is very essential. 

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Blind Pig Records artist: Altered Five Blues Band - Holler If You Hear Me - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 3, 2021), Holler If You Hear Me, from Altered Five Blues Band, and it's a strong contemporary blues release. Opening with blues rocker and title track, Holler If You Hear Me, Jeff Taylor is authoratative at the mic, backed by Jeff Schroedl on guitar, Mark Solverson on bass, Raymond Tevich on keys and Alan Arber on drums plus some cool harmonica work by Jason Ricci. Great opener. Ricci and Schroedl really hit the road running on If You Go Away (She Might Come Back), and with a modern take on Chicago style blues, Taylor sets a grat pace. With a great blend of instrumentation and a tight drum rhythm by Arber, this track rocks. Slow blues, Holding on With One Hand, is one of my favorites on the release with excellent guitar lead, and powerful vocal from Taylor. The addition of Ricci on this release I think is a master stroke because everything that he plays on gains substantially from his feel. Another solid Chicago style track is Where's My Money in the vein of Muddy Waters. This is a nicelt paced track with strong lead vocal and a healthy dose of Ricci on lead harmonica. All Suit, No Soul is another of my favorites with clever lyrics, a Latin beat, warm keys by Tevich and with a lot of open floor for Schroedl on lead guitar. Very nice. R&B based, Leave Before I Let You Down, is a real nice showcase for Taylor's vocals and Schroedl shows his tasty chops. Solid. Wrapping the release is high energy blues, Big Shout Out, with Taylor, Ricci and Schroedl trading call and response. I really like Ricci's gritty sound contrasted against Schroedl's clean sting. This is a super closer for a very tasty release. 

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Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method - 50- New Release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 50, from Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method and it's quite good. Opening with Brand New Day a super blues rocker with a light Lating twist,Polly is up front on vocal and bass, backed by Dave Miller on guitar and Tommy Cook on drums. With a suspenceful bass line, strong gitar lead and plenty of cow bell, this track is a super opener. With a tango rhythm accentuated by Cook on snare, Can't Catch Me really catches the mood and Miller's "early Santana" like guitar phrasing really gives this track spark. Excellent! Blues ballad, Smiling is one of my favorites on the release with Miller at the mic. His guitar work, gilstening chords as a part of the rhythm part, and with searing lead, really sets the mood on this track giving it a real emotional grip. Very nice. Lumbering blues rocker, I'm Not Guilty, is really a nice showcase for O'Keary's vocals with it's rock solid bottom and dramatic styling. Miller lays in a cool guitar solo with shimmery effects and solid statements giving the track great balance. Wrapping the release is a power rocker, American Highways, with O'Keary on lead vocal and a strong guitar punch. Miller's lead work on this track takes a firm blues rock stand, flexing his guitar muscle with nicely formed statements. This is a solid closer for a real nice release. 

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Shark Park Records artist: Lea McIntosh - Blood Cash - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood Cash (August 20, 2021), from Lea McIntosh and it's a cool bluesy rock release. Opening with title track, Blood Cash, with it's country blues rock influences, McIntosh's vocals are authorative joined by Travis Cruse on guitar, bass and drums, and Andy Just on harmonica. Solid opener. Slinky, soul fused, Blue Stoned Heart, shows McIntosh at her best vocally with a funky bass line by Myron Dove and Deszon Claiborne on drums, Eamonn Flynn on keys, Cruse on Vibanet and laying down a sweet guitar solo. Latin based, Purple Suede Boots is one of my favorites with Just and Cruse trading riffs and a tight drum rhythm by Claiborne. Very cool. Soul Stripper has all of the characteristics of a pure radio track with strong vocals and melody and includes warm Hammond work from Flynn and some flashy guitar lead by Cruse over a real nice bass line by Dove. Very nice. Wrapping the release is The Fire Is Coming, a solid rocker with straight ahead attack with backing vocals by Tammi Brown and Will Bell and another fiery guitar solo by Cruse. Nice closer. 

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Lauren Anderson - Love On The Rocks - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love On The Rocks by Lauren Anderson and she has a powerhouse voice with a variety of music styles. Opening with Keep On a spiritual based format with a deep lead vocal by Anderson and rich vocal backing that leaves you wanting more. Back to Chicago is a cool R&B based, slightly funky blues rocker with a great feel. With a solid bottom, laid down by Matt Doctor on drums and Hutch on bass, complimented by Jim Greene on guitar, Kiran Gupta on keys and fdeaturing some real nice lead guitar riffs by Mike Zito, this is a real nice track. Slinky, Holdin' Me Down, had a funky, pop, hip hop kind of sound with repetitive monotonic vocal styling as is popular in contemporary pop music. Stand Still is a folk ballad style and one that I like pretty well. Anderson seems comfortable in this skin and with warm, guitar, drum and key backing, a strong entry for best radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is ballad, Your Turn, an obvious radio track with it's solid melody and smooth lead vocal. Backer by keys, drums and strings by Jon & Liz Estes, a cool closer. 

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Brandon Isaak - Modern Primitive - New Release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Modern Primitive, from Brandon Isaak and it's an interesting mix of blues, rock, folk and jazz music. Opening with Lost Love and Loose Women, a bluesy shuffle, features Isakk on lead vocal and guitar and lap steel and Keith Picot on bass. Jazzy, Valentine Blues is a fleet fingered rag with solid vocals and trademark guitar soloing by Isaak. Very nice. With a bit of swampy blues, I Wish I Did What I Said is another really cool tracks with Isaak on resonator, harmonica and lead vocal. This track has it's own feel but traces to early southern country blues. Very nice. My choice for radio track of the release is swing track, Something New, with a solid melody, strong rhythm and really nice lap steel work by Isaak.  My favorite track on the release is Six Little Letters with it's driving piano rhythm and vocal/guitar call and response. I really like Isaak's guitar soloing on this track with excellent phrasing and feel. Another track with hot guitar lead is Back To New Orleans and it's uptempo swing beat. A nice harmonica solo and strong vocals make this another of the most memorable tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is seasonal, I Wanna Swing For Christmas. Isaak really knows how to swing and his vocals just float on the track. Solid closer for a real nice release. 

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Henri Elkan Music artist: Wayne Alpern - Frankenstein - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Frankenstein, from Wayne Alpern and it's a clever blend of pop, hip hop, jazz, blues and sampling in an organized fashion. Opening with Carol King's top hit, You've Got A Friend, Alpern remolds the track with with synthesized sounds, trumpet and guitar leads and extended turnarounds. With help from David Mann on reeds, Tatum Greenblatt and Brad Mason on trumpet, Mike Boscarino and Mike Davis on trombone, John Patitucci on bass, Andy Ezrin on keys, Kevin Ramessar on guitar and Clint De Ganon on drums, its a full house. Mann, Greenblatt and Mason produce the fire power for horn led Motown track, Ain't That Peculiar made popular by Marvin Gaye. Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island is my favorite track on the release with Greenblatt and Mason working with Ezrin on the lead and warm backing by Boscarino and Davis. Martha and the Vandellas' hit, Dancing In The Streets is another top track on the release with some hot playing by Patitucci, Greenblatt, Mason, Mann, Boscarino and Davis but for me, artistic vocal additions throughout the track really detracted from the musical efforts of the instrumentalists. Wrapping the release is Steve Winwood's Gimme Some Lovin', which is really done in orchestra style a la Doc Severinsen style arrangemet. If you like dual trumpets and upbeat driving tempos, this is your day. 

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ATM artist: Billy Test Trio - Coming Down Roses - New Release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 13, 2021), Coming Down Roses, from the Billy Test Trio and it's really cool. Opening with All of You, a traditional Cole Porter number, Billy Test on piano is anything but subdued. His piano energy is over the top and Evan Gregor on bass stands out nicely on standup bass. Playing a bit of drums myself, I appreciate Ian Froman's tight time, textural use of ride cymbal and snare accents as much as his riding splash cymbals. Great opener. Original track, Fate is a bit more adventurous with a strong lyric melody but inventive improvization by Test. His use of not only phrasing but intensity and delicacy of presentation adds nicely to the composition. Driving track, Coming Down Roses, really is a solid concept with the agressive bass line of Gregor holding the bottom, Test really running hard on piano and Froman's complimentary drum accents. Gregor takes a really nice detour on bass  while Test and Froman lay back easy as he does, but never does the track sag. The piano return is a surprise with intense drumming from Froman giving it a great kick. Very nice. Mother's Day With Freud is another track that I really enjoy with an emphasis on a jagged rhythm pattern laid down by Froman. Gregor has the intermediary role, setting a great walking bass line, giving Test the freedom to improvise over a supple melody. It's really cool to listen to how tight Gregor holds the bottom as Test shifts the melody and Froman really wids it out. Froman and Gregor share the space on a loose jam before Test rejoins with accents of his own creating a really nice fusion frenzy. Very nice. Closing the release is Belonging, a much more restrained track with a strong piano melody. Test shows subtle intensity and Froman and Gregor, balance. This is a really nice closer for a solid release. 

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