CD Reviews

Perry Desmond-Davies scores big with Sweet Ride CD

Perry Desmond-Davies scores big with Sweet Ride CD

Perry Desmond-Davies writes and sings some of the best acoustic singer-songwriter material to come out of her home state of New Hampshire. After working up her courage to sing publicly, Desmond-Davies embarked , 14 years ago, on a very fulfilling career. One listen to her voice will make a believer out of anybody. She simply […]

Yoke Shire go Celtic on new CD; in time for St. Patrick's Day

Yoke Shire go Celtic on new CD; in time for St. Patrick’s Day

Yoke Shire are chameleons. The prog-rock trio from Chelmsford, Massachusetts have gone acoustic in the past but this time they have gone Celtic. Brian and Craig Herlihy get in touch with their Irish roots on Awakening Celtic Spirits. Released in time for St. Patrick’s Day, their new CD features11 traditional Irish and Celtic songs that […]

Retro CD Reviews: Women Who Rock

Retro CD Reviews: Women Who Rock

Welcome to my latest Retro CD Review article. This is the column space I use to review CDs that I did not review at the time of their release. These “old” CDs are still “new” to listeners who have not yet heard them, and there are many, as local musicians do not have multi-million dollar […]

Dan Chauvin reaches the heart on Small Town Life CD

Dan Chauvin reaches the heart on Small Town Life CD

Singer-songwriter Dan Chauvin has released his third CD, Small Town Life, and it is surely a personal glimpse into his old hometown. His lyrics are full of insightful reflection and each song is a heartfelt rendering of a personal tale. Chauvin opens with “Coyote.” His light, handsome voice finds the tender spot, soothing the ear […]

Joe McMahon Trio delight with fine sense of colors and tones on self-titled CD

Joe McMahon Trio delight with fine sense of colors and tones on self-titled CD

The Joe McMahon Trio have released a thoroughly enjoyable CD that makes the most of colors and tones as well as technique and feeling. Most of the originals and standards on this self-titled album are like a kaleidoscope of colors, different shadings that come into play at just the right moments. Each piece creates a […]

Rusty Scott Organ Group grooves up their jazz on The Thrill Is Gone CD

Rusty Scott Organ Group grooves up their jazz on The Thrill Is Gone CD

Rusty Scott has recently dropped a third formidable jazz CD onto the greater-Boston music scene. Scott’s previous two efforts were piano CDs. This time around the instrumental jazz composer focuses on his Hammond B3 Organ and the results are just as brilliant and classy. Adding a whole new element of soulfulness and cool, The R&B colors behind […]

Jon Finn releases third master work Bull In A China Shop; CD dazzles with instrumental thrill rides

Jon Finn releases third master work Bull In A China Shop; CD dazzles with instrumental thrill rides

Long recognized as one of Boston’s premiere guitar talents, Jon Finn has released his third recorded document of his work. Finn has titled his latest CD Bull In A China Shop and like the said creature in the said setting, this guitarist is not afraid to charge in and break all the rules. Everyone has […]

Roomful Of Blues CD will have their fans Hook, Line, & Sinker

Roomful Of Blues CD will have their fans Hook, Line, & Sinker

Roomful Of Blues has turned out yet another fine album of jumping, swinging blues that has worked well for them over the years. “Hook, Line, & Sinker” gathers up Roomful interpretations of 12 cover songs with their new singer Philip Pemberton belting aggressively and emoting soulfully through out. Pemberton fits right in with this 40 […]

Sarah Blacker shines on winsome Come What May CD release

Sarah Blacker shines on winsome Come What May CD release

Sarah Blacker’s new Come What May CD stands up to repeated listening. I left this CD in my computer to play over and over again for days on end as I attended to other matters, and I never grew tired of listening to all the sweet vocal melodies it had to offer. Guitar, mandolin, organ, […]

Sully Erna's Avalon scores with original sound; Lisa Guyer works well with Godsmack star

Sully Erna’s Avalon scores with original sound; Lisa Guyer works well with Godsmack star

It is immediately clear why Sully Erna formed a separate band to record the ten songs on his recently released solo CD, Avalon. The album is far too acoustic-oriented musically and much too mystical thematically to work for his mega-million selling band Godsmack. Dark, mystical, unpredictable, and at times, downright scary. Yet, Erna’s songwriting always […]