Music Reviews of World, Adult Contemporary, Jazz, Blues, Country
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
Subscribe to our mailing list
Current Top Ten Chart
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
The Graduate - Anhedonia
Death By Stereo - Death Alive
Comeback Kid - Broadcasting
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of World Music, Adult Contemporary, Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Classical
Gustafer Yellowgold — Wide Wild World Buy it at Amazon
Gustafer Yellowgold is a family-oriented pop act that is children-friendly and adult-approved. As an opening act alongside groups like Wilco and the Polyphonic Spree, there would be a animated presentations to go along with the fun uplifting singer/songwriter pop tunes. Based around a character that is a friendly alien who came from the Sun and makes friends with Slim the eel and Forest Applecrumbie the flightless pterodactyl. Good wholesome fun story-songs that kids will love.
- J-Sin
Jose Duque's Zumbatres — Far Away Buy it at Amazon
Intriguing compositions that eschew French Impressionism and Latin culture, “Far Away” is free jazz with organic flow and soft harmonies. Extraordinarily gifted musicians, their energy lends “Far Away” a propulsion of a high magnitude. You gotta love the salsa flavors stirred in.
- J-Sin
Hutchy — My Time Buy it at Amazon
DC native Hutchy was originally born in Jamaica but moved to the nation’s capitol in the 1980’s. He soon become a well known DJ and contributor to the go-go and club world that DC is so famous for. His music is dub mixed with roots reggae with elements of dancehall mixed in. Fun filled times are “My Time” and Hutchy knows that he can entertain any crowd with his uplifting joints. Nice production makes this a damn nice find for any reggae junkie.
- J-Sin
Tinariwen — Aman Iman Buy it at Amazon
Tinariwen listened to classic rock and Led Zeppelin while residing in military training camps in Algeria. His love for Robert Plant and rock ‘n’ roll grew and grew and he eventually turned his affection for blues rock into an art form. Eventually his music was heard by Thom Yorke (Radiohead) who told the UK’s Mojo that “The Clock” was inspired by Mali guitar players (Tinariwen). “Aman Iman” is classic rock from desert nomads with an African bent that is so flavorful it will inspire your music too.
- J-Sin
LynnMarie and the Boxhounds — Party Dress Buy it at Amazon
It’s polka time folks! Jamming on her accordion, LynnMarie, a four-time Grammy nominee, fuses Slovenian music with energetic old-time country pop and pop-rock. It’s upbeat Oktoberfest tunes that is sure to have you tapping your foot and wondering if she’s really nude behind that accordion. She’s surely sexy but in her own way, a polka kind of way. Fun!
- J-Sin
Jeff Alkire — One Summer In Winters Buy it at Amazon
Saxophone laced jazz that works you over and gives you just enough time to put on your good suit before you’re compelled to dance. This is an album for true jazz fans who don’t require things to be smooth jams or avant garde but just right. Peaceful flute, stirring piano, and brassy trumpet give it a nice laid-back vibe.
- J-Sin
Christian Williams — Built With Bones Buy it at Amazon
I thought I had heard of it all when there was country fused with hip-hop. Now gothic rock meets country head on. Christian Williams writes Southern flavored music inspired by gothic literature, dark foreboding thoughts of love, and the Book of Revelations. His music is stripped down acoustic folk that reminds you of the original Hank Williams. Old-time country pop is a lost art form and I’m glad to see a young man bringing it back.
- J-Sin
Benny Reid — Findings Buy it at Amazon
These days you’d be hard pressed to find something truly fresh and original coming out of the smooth jazz camp and that’s precisely what makes Benny Reid so special. As a twenty-six year old he puts a young face and mind to an old genre and style of music. Strong alto saxophone play is what propels this young phenom to the top of many jazz critics must-have lists. “Findings” is an atmospheric piece-of-mind sort of jazz album that you can easily relax and space out alongside.
- J-Sin
Kemp Harris — Edenton Buy it at Amazon
African folk and blues pours out of every pore of Kemp Harris. His raw and throaty vocal style recalls Alabama soul and bluesmen. His first AAA single, “Sweet Weepin’ Jesus” is as raw as his voice yet it’s heartening and shows the talent that respected critics from the Boston Globe to NPR have been lauding. A skilled pianist and vocalist, Kemp Harris is also a talented songwriter and his “Edenton” is a truly special record.
- J-Sin
Mariza — Concerto em Lisboa Buy it at Amazon
Fado is not something you can easily describe nor understand. That’s why Mariza helped tell its tale via a 60-minute documentary “Mariza and the Story of Fado”, directed by Simon Broughton included along with this album. That’s a pretty nice bonus to an album, I might add. Her music is compelling journals that dip into socio-political issues as well as issues of the heart. Which of course all good fado does—Portuguese blues is what fado may be defined as but it’s far more complicated and emotional than those two mere words could describe.
- J-Sin
Read More Music Reviews