Brendan Kelley could go national on strength of Quicksand CD
Young Boston rocker Brendan Kelley kicks ass on his new Quicksand CD. Kelley’s raspy vocal, pounding rhythm section, and edgy guitar work make this a non-stop party. The crystal clear sonics are polished and let every note ring clean and pure. Kelley and each of his players don’t just play instruments. Each player layers these […]
Barbara Cassidy shines on traditional sounding CD Leaving Things The Way I Found Them
Barbara Cassidy sings and writes in a style solidly influenced by traditional folk idioms passed down through the centuries. Aside from that distinction from modern folkies and singer-songwriters, she also uses her voice in a style suggesting classical refinement. When she puts it all together on this Barbara Cassidy Band album, Leaving Things The Way […]
Kayla Ringelheim expresses beauty and truth on Wandering Feet CD
Kayla Ringelheim graces her Wandering Feet album with her silky smooth timbre and her stellar lineup of notable local players. Personal stories and emotional honesty make this a very warm and likeable album. Ringelheim composed music that’s loaded with lush melodic and harmonic textures. Producer(and drummer) Lorne Entress pulls a beautiful, natural sound out of […]
Stefilia’s Stone CD Like The Moon is a hearty, fulfilling first effort
The Stefilia’s Stone debut CD Like The Moon feature lush duets that carry the listener along many musical and lyrical adventures. Some bright, some dark, the duo efforts of Carrie Rowan and Adrienne Fawkes are considerable and enjoyable. Title track “Like The Moon” opens the CD with a lush harmony from Rowan and Fawkes. Thus […]
Mongrel bring fresh take to metal and punk on Reclamation CD
Mongrel have released their fifth CD of hard rocking metalish-punk rock. Reclamation rocks right out with rich lyrical themes on top of driving music with just the right amounts of metal and punch. “Bored To Death” comes charging right in with a raspy throated tough mama vocal, a blazing guitar progression, and a bombastic rhythm […]
Rick Berlin strikes again with Always On Insane CD
Rick Berlin With The Nickel & Dime Band let their high octane rock and roll music pour forth on their new Always On Insane CD. Berlin’s scratchy vocal, edgy backing players, and ebullient song structures are grand and diverse here. Berlin has a driving rock style that cannot not be compared to anybody else. Just […]
The Stone Coyotes rip it up on rocking A Wild Bird Flying CD
Aside from having an interesting personal history, The Stone Coyotes are a whip smart rock and roll trio with carefully crafted, hard-driving songs. The trio has a faint trace of roots rock in their sound. Enough to keep their songs engaging, not so much it feels like a novelty act. Their time period is hard […]
Ron Levy offers up huge creative genius and madness on Funky Fiesta CD
Ron Levy is a madman. In a good creative kind of way. But a madman none the less. Levy’s compositions on his new CD, Funky Fiesta, feature numerous musical styles and instruments crisscrossing and or supporting each other in way that are not usually done. Each composition is like a journey through Levy’s mind, and […]
Hey Now, Morris Fader reaches higher level with Good Times Ne’er Forgot CD
Hey Now, Morris Fader have outdone themselves with their latest release, Good Times Ne’er Forgot. Back to the original three piece format of organ-bass-drums, the trio have amazing guest guitarists fleshing out their sound. Yet, it’s the three piece format that contributes to the ultra catchiness of their new material. There is a tightness, freshness, […]
Liz Mitchell masterfully combines great voice, clever songcraft on Pretty House CD
Liz Mitchell sings so beautifully on her new CD Pretty House that it’s easy to imagine her having tons of training in gospel or opera. Her ethereal voice holds up strongly with minimal accompaniment on each track. On opening tune “Rain Came Down” Mitchell turns in a vocal finesse that combines her strong, high timbre […]
