It’s a good song that proves again that it’s not about how soon you make music, it’s about how good you make music. “Echoes of Paradise” starts off relaxed, as if the songwriter is a seasoned flyer who knows what she’s looking for to say. After years of family and friends, and letting her dreams go, Elisabeth started her recording […]
ROCK/Review Sweet Mess – The Warning
Sweet Mess can hold a room all on their own, and “The Warning” shows that. It’s a band designed for the stage and that live gladiator spirit is shimmering in every moment of the song. Originally from Phoenix, this 4-piece got their chops in the ring playing tribute shows for years before they finally got to their own material. That […]
ROCK/Review Sam Sly – Intwined
On “Intwined,” Sam Sly has created something that is handmade in the best sense of the word. Here you can hear real instruments doing real work. It does not follow any trend. It simply follows the direction of the sound, giving a very natural feel to the song. Sly learned most of what she knows about music on her own, […]
Pop-Rock/Review Noah James Mass – I Am the One
“I Am the One” is a song that definitely stands out from “Misery Winter”. It’s like it’s leaning towards something more gentle, but it doesn’t feel like a complete repeat, more like a change of mood by the same songwriter. He writes, produces and plays nearly all of his music. The amount of control he’s got over his own sound […]
Pop-Rock/Review Matt DeAngelis – Playing God
Matt DeAngelis has created a song that has a strong sense of urgency, but never strays from its form. From the first few bars, “Playing God” seems to have a certain momentum that never abates until the very end. It’s the songs that DeAngelis has been writing since his youth that are here. He has a close studio band of […]
Pop/Review The New Citizen Kane – FREE to FEEL
The New Citizen Kane has assembled an EP reminiscent of waking up slowly and choosing to stay awake. “Free to Feel” unfolds across seven tracks, which build upon one another. By the end of the day, you’ve really been somewhere. An artist who has worked for years to create his own world, not inside the traditional production model, and creating […]
ROCK/Review Andy Smythe – Beautiful Day
This one starts with a guitar sound that’s like stepping out from being inside too long, courtesy of Andy Smythe. Beautiful Day is hardly trying to impress you from the get-go. It simply seems to get into your system and you get into it. Over the years Andy has been working in the UK independent scene, playing a huge amount […]
ROCK/Review Noah James Mass – Misery Winter
Noah James Mass has created something that feels lived in from the beginning. “Misery Winter” doesn’t wait around to get going. It does not hesitate to come forward and does not hesitate to pull you with it. This is an artist who does almost everything himself, from writing to producing to playing most of the instruments. It’s not something that […]
Electronic/Review Max Macready – The Hunt
The band Max Macready have created is like a late night drive with no destination in mind. The Hunt is a track that’s about tension, but not tension that screams. The type that moves around the room with you as you listen. This is a UK duo that construct their own world with their music, using old machines and envisioned […]
ROCK/Review COSMIC SOULS – My Room
There’s a way COSMIC SOULS do it, and they never raise their voice. My Room is the type of song you listen to gradually. It doesn’t try to capture you in the first 5 seconds. It waits, and it’s the waiting that makes it worth hearing. This is a band that has definitely done things their own way. No one […]
ROCK/Review Richard Green – Holey Shoes
Before you even realize it, Richard Green’s Holey Shoes has you hooked. It combines funk, indie and rock and has a soft electronic sound, and somehow all parts fit in where they belong. From the first notes, there is a warm feeling in the song. This feeling remains as it moves along. The spirit of early Red Hot Chili Peppers […]
ROCK/Review Sean MacLeod – Inside Out (Radio Edit)
Here is Sean MacLeod back with “Inside Out,” and right from the beginning, it’s obvious that much care has been taken in the music and the concepts. The song is fast-paced and immediately grabs you. The track is always kept active with a sense of movement throughout. That's When the Earth Becomes a Star by seantmacleod The bass line plays […]
Pop/Review Catlea – Someone’s Got To
Catlea moves into a new environment with “Someone’s Got To,” which is like listening to someone slowly work through a difficult time. The song is about choosing yourself when others can’t do it for you. That simple decision is one of the best parts of the song. The song begins with a gentle and clear guitar sound. It enters softly […]
ROCK/Review Laji George – This is my World
Laji George goes solo with ‘This Is My World’ which is like a door opening after being closed for a while. The song is about standing up to problems. This sense is present throughout the song, from the initial quiet intro to the more powerful parts of the song later. The song begins softly with only the voice and something […]
Pop-Rock/Review Allan Jamisen – Milk & Honey
This is a new song from Allan Jamisen, which is somewhere soft and true, like a hand laying gently on your shoulder. He lives in Phoenix and is a musician and painter, and that painter’s eye is apparent in the tender way in which this track is constructed. All sounds are well considered. The guitar and synth glide in like […]
Pop/Review Naoko Hiranuma – Not a Heroine
Not a Heroine is a song by Naoko Hiranuma, and it’s a song that catches your attention. It’s not like a soft noise in the background. It invites you to hear the words and the emotions behind them. The song starts softly, almost as if it’s a secret being shared with you. It’s very honest, as if she’s talking about […]
Soul/Review GIANFRANCO GFN – TRACES OF THE WORLD
Gianfranco GFN has just released a song titled Traces of the World, and it’s like being invited into someone else’s memory for a little while. The song is a slower one that brings a sense of remembering moments from a life rich in experiences. One of the first things you notice are the strings, which have a soft and warm […]
ROCK/Review Rumour Den – All In This Together
All In This Together is a new song from Rumour Den, and it’s attention-grabbing because of its honesty. The song refuses to ignore difficult topics or pretend they don’t exist. It just shares its message in a straightforward and clear way. The guitars immediately stand out with a rough and natural sound. They feel warm and real. It feels like […]
Soul/Review Cheryl Craigie– What’s Going On
It’s like listening to a familiar song, but in a new rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” as Cheryl Craigie brings her own voice to the performance. It’s respectful and yet personal. The song is distinguished by her vocals. Her voice is quiet and self-assured, with each word sounding sincere. She feels as though she truly grasps the message […]
Pop-Rock/Review Bardi Johannsson X d’Ant – Staring at Nothing
Bardi Johannsson and d’Ant have released their first collaborative song, and it’s one of those songs that slowly seizes you. It doesn’t have to be loud and demanding. Rather, it grabs your attention naturally and holds it as it progresses. The song has a soft and dreamy feeling from beginning to end. It is slow and quiet rather than hurried, and […]
Pop/Review Ana April – Revolution
Revolution is a natural song that grabs attention from the get-go by Ana April. It looks lively, fresh, and vibrant, but not overpowering. It’s quite something that draws you in so fast, and before you know it, you’re loving the song and its easy charm. The song’s focus is her voice. It is expressive and emotional, and each line is […]