CD Reviews

April, warmer weather, hotter New England live music

April, warmer weather, hotter New England live music

April. It’s spring already, and the temperatures are getting warmer, for now. We can get out more often in the nicer weather and take in more live music. Below are some offering where you can find your favorite New England music, bands, and singer-songwriters. April 2: Sharon Jones; featured artist at Paul & Nate’s Tuesday […]

One Dime Band and their friends Side Hustle up one of year's best local blues albums

One Dime Band and their friends Side Hustle up one of year’s best local blues albums

One Dime Band shucks their live duo approach for a full band experience in the studio. Their new album Side Hustle wastes no time exploiting the multitudes of talent available to them in the greater-Boston/New England blues scene. Opening with title track “Side Hustle,” One Dime Band’s John Brauchier’s guitar work and Paul Gallucci’s vocal […]

Linda Marks outdoes herself with A Recipe For Hope

Linda Marks outdoes herself with A Recipe For Hope

Linda Marks outdoes herself on her new A Recipe For Hope album. The prolific singer-songwriter has matured as a lyrical messenger and grown as an artist. She offers more variety of styles while crafting her styles to bolder lyrical themes. Opening dandy “The Road To Hope” finds this sophisticated singer-songwriter letting her soft, smooth timbre […]

American Beauties offer striking beauty on Sound Of Mind

American Beauties offer striking beauty on Sound Of Mind

American Beauties’ recent release Sound Of Mind eases it way out of the stereo speaker with sweet, accessible songs, an album with plenty of pretty melodies moved at considerate paces by sensitive grooves and rhythms. There is also a special something in band leader Michael Gray’s voice, a sweet, plaintive vocal that will stir your […]

Sado-Domestics rise to a greater musical power with Beach Day In Black And Whiite

Sado-Domestics rise to a greater musical power with Beach Day In Black And Whiite

Sado-Domestics’ sophomore effort Beach Day In Black And White makes a comely appearance, being interesting and accessible at once. Lucy Martinez and Chris Gleason present their likable, earthy, individualized vocals and winsome guitar work alongside Jimmy Ryan’s Mandolin finesse and Eric Royer’s pretty, rambling pedal steel. All of the instruments, voices, and songwriting ideas come […]

Rob Glassman Band achieve true artistic goals while Feelin' Good Feelin' Right

Rob Glassman Band achieve true artistic goals while Feelin’ Good Feelin’ Right

Rob Glassman Band’s latest effort Feelin’ Good Feelin’ Right combines old school numerous styles with the freedom of jam bands’ flowing energy. It cannot be under estimated the tremendous sense of motion Glassman’s songs travel with, and they do travel. Each track makes the listener feel the music is taking him some place special . […]

John Stein Trio with Cindy Scott develop a dandy album No Goodbyes

John Stein Trio with Cindy Scott develop a dandy album No Goodbyes

Boston jazz guitarist John Stein offers another fine album. No Goodbyes, released by Whaling City Sound, is marked as much by its compositional ideas as for its skillful execution of each number. Stein’s own “Zip Line” zips right in, starting in media res, a phrase that has no beginning and no end. Stein moves his […]

The Faith Ann Band offer an impressive calling card with In Bloom

The Faith Ann Band offer an impressive calling card with In Bloom

The Faith Ann Band made its way from Manchester, New Hampshire to venues throughout New England. After making a name for itself, the Faith Ann lead combo went into a studio for the second time since their Monster In Me debut recording to document the sound that provided their success and visibility on the scene. […]

Riley Johnson shows he will become a legend with Running Behind

Riley Johnson shows he will become a legend with Running Behind

Connecticut singer-songwriter Riley Johnson keeps his new Running Behind album carefully balanced between singer-songwriter material and Americana roots influences. While his narratives stem from his songwriter eye, his vocal timbre, approach, and all of his instrumentation ring out with authentic notes and chords from rustic acoustic instruments and old time American flavor. This results in […]

Andrew North and the Rangers showcase depth of zany talent on Thanks For The Warning Vol. 1

Andrew North and the Rangers showcase depth of zany talent on Thanks For The Warning Vol. 1

Andrew North and the Rangers made a fairly large name for themselves in northern New England. This New Hampshire-based jam band initially got by mostly on touring. This live album Thanks For The Warning Vol. 1, recorded at their album release party at Area 23 in Concord, captures the lively fun of their mid-tempo rockers […]