September 2015 Poetry and Reviews by
aka 
Stream "Vinyl"
Nicholas
Altobelli - Searching Through That Minor
Key (CD, Dalton, Pop)
Highly melodic well-written mid-tempo pop from Nicholas Altobelli.
This guy has an incredible knack for coming up with superb songs that remind
us of a variety of classic pop artists including (but not limited to) Paul
Simon, Jeff Lynne, and Sufjan Stevens. When we noticed
this album was produced by Salim Nourallah well...we knew it had
to be good (everything that Salim puts his fingers on turns to gold).
This album has a stop-and-start story. Altobelli had almost completed the
album when his marriage began crumbling to pieces. So instead of finishing
the album he recorded his Mesocyclone EP and released it, putting
the album to the side for the time being. He considered leaving the uncompleted
Searching Through That Minor Key permanently on the table...but was
eventually inspired to finish the album. Nicholas writes songs that have
a smooth familiar sound. He isn't trying to challenge listeners or break
any new ground. Rather and instead, this talented and inspired fellow seems
driven to simply make music that can easily be listened to and enjoyed.
Groovy cuts include "Searching Through That Minor Key," "In
The Morning," "Lonely Heart," and "Pile of Leaves."
Ruby
Amanfu - Album release concert at The High Watt, Nashville, TN, August
29, 2015 (Soul/blues/pop)
As of early last week we had never even heard of Ruby Amanfu. But
by the end of the week we were...diehard fans. Ms. Amanfu celebrated the
release of her new album Standing Still recently to a soldout crowd
at The High Watt in Nashville, Tennessee. We listened to a stream
of the album prior to the show and we were quite impressed. We had briefly
visited The High Watt recently while attending another show (the cool folks
at the club were kind enough to let us in to check out the place). The club
is perfectly laid out, has a great sound system, and the folks running it
are warm and friendly. We were having a great time this particular Saturday
evening as folks began to stream into the club. As listeners began to gather,
opening act Alyssa Bonagura
came out to warm up the crowd. And warm them up she most certainly did.
Playing solo with only an acoustic guitar, Ms. Bonagura had everyone in
the palm of her hand from start to finish. Alyssa's music sounds something
like a cross between Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris (more
the former than the latter). It's no small feat entertaining a packed crowd
at a popular club on a Saturday night in Nashville. But Bonagura managed
to captivate just about everyone with her gentle folk songs and her beautifully
precise vocals. This lady has an amazing voice and cool presence that could
easily catapult her to legendary status. Not long after Alyssa's set ended
Ruby's band took to the stage and began to play as the guest of honor made
a very subtle entrance. Dressed in an elegant brown dress, Ms. Amanfu looked
and sounded every bit like the classic star. There were so many things about
Ruby and her band that impressed us at this show. Possibly the single thing
that really stood out in our minds was how she and her band seemed to really
understand the value of restraint. Instead of belting out every song
at full force, the musicians took the exact opposite approach. While there
were some loud and very intense moments during this concert, most of the
songs were extremely soft and subtle. This made the louder segments really
stand out and it also made it a lot easier to realize what an incredibly
fantastic voice Amanfu has. This show consisted of Ruby and her band
playing cuts from Standing Still. The high point of the show for
us was "Cathedrals," during which Ruby silenced the entire room
with her captivating personality and velvetty smooth voice. Other highlights
included "Shadow On The Wall" (the first single and video), "As
The Dawn Breaks," "and "One By One." Instead of relying
on gimmicks, Ruby and her band mesmerized the crowd with their pure and
real talent. Her backing band was superb in every way (the guy playing
steel guitar was unbelievable). We left this show feeling as if we had
seen one of the next up-and-coming huge vocal talents of the twenty-first
century. And yes, Ruby really is that. If you ever loved classic
vocalists like Diana Ross in the early days you're almost certain
to get a major charge out of this charismatic performer. Ruby Amanfu is
destined for big things. We felt lucky indeed to be present on this most
magical evening. It was a night that everyone at The High Watt will never
forget. A totally hypnotic show. TOP PICK.
Auburn - Mixed Feelings (CD, Rat Country, Progressive pop)
The first thing that most folks will notice about the British band Auburn
are those unmistakable vocals. Chief songwriter/vocalist Liz Lenton
has a voice that can't be confused with anyone else. Her strange quivering
vocals aren't like anyone else. She's been compared to a variety of other
artists including Bonnie Raitt, Billie Holiday, Ricki Lee Jones, Amy
Winehouse, Kate Bush, and Janis Joplin. After the band's initial
splash, in the early twenty-first century they split...and spent almost
a decade without performing or recording. During that time Lenton was concentrating
on her new role being a mother. But eventually the urge to create and make
music prompted the group to reform in 2011. Since then they've received
a great deal of positive support. The band received a huge break when they
were chosen to open for Jefferson Starship on their 40th anniversary
tour. Just as was the case with their last album (Nashville), the
folks in Auburn returned to Nashville to record Mixed Feelings with
producer/guitarist Thomm Jutz. These twelve bluesy tracks are nice
and solid and have a decidedly American sound...so it's probably appropriate
that the band is choosing to record in the U.S. Nice captivating tracks
include "Mixed Feelings," "Hell Hath No Fury," "Out
There," "Crystal Stairs," and "Feel the Sun."
Beefer for the
Meef and
Pander for the
Deem.
Dan
Bern - Hoody (Independently released
CD, Pop)
Dan Bern is an extremely prolific singer/songwriter whose music you
have almost certainly heard before...even though you might not be familiar
with his name. At this point in time, Bern has released approximately two
dozen full-length studio albums...and those are in addition to EPs and live
albums. His career began way back in 1997 when he released his debut album.
Since then, he's made some amazing connections and his songs continue to
seep into the public consciousness through varied channels. Bern really
impressed us a few years with several tracks that he contributed to the
wonderfully inventive soundtrack to the film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox
Story. "Beautiful Ride" (co-written with Mike Viola)
provides one of the most emotionally charged musical endings ever written
for film. Hoody presents eleven new recordings. It's easy to see
why Dan is often compared to classic artists like Bob Dylan, Woody
Guthrie, and Elvis Costello. These songs are smart and hummable
and they features lyrics that display a depth of perception and intelligence
that is refreshing and real. Much of this album was recorded with the entire
band playing together in the same room, so that may explain the nice warm
overall vibe. Nice friendly tracks include "Hoody," "Turn
On A Dime," "Late Show," and "One Piece At A Time."
Elmer
Bernstein - The Wild Side (CD, Varese Sarabande, Jazz scores)
We regularly cover film and television soundtracks recorded in the twenty-first
century. But rarely do we receive albums that present music by the past
masters. As such, when we received The Wild Side in our trust ol'
mailbox it was a welcome surprise. Elmer Bernstein (1922-2004) was
one of the most prolific film composers of the twentieth century. During
his fifty-four year career he worked on music for over two hundred films...many
of which are well-known classics. This album focuses on his jazz and big
band scores. The seeds for this album began in 2013 when producer Robert
Townson produced a live concert in Tenerife, Spain in which the Big
Band de Canarias performed some of Bernstein's best known jazz and big
band scores. The concert was so well received that he later brought the
musicians into the studio to record this album. This exceedingly well-recorded
disc features compositions from the films The Man With The Golden Arm,
The Rat Race, The Age of Innocence, Ghostbusters, Johnny Staccato, Devil
In A Blue Dress, Walk On The Wild Side, and more. Bernstein was a truly
amazing composer and the folks in the Big Band de Canarias do his music
justice. A fitting and well-timed tribute to one of the most important film
and television composers of all time.
David Courtney - Anthology (Double CD, Angel
Air, Blues/rock)
If you think you've never heard David Courtney's music...think again.
Those unfamiliar with this man's name will be very surprised at how
many of these songs they are familiar with. Harry Nilsson described
Courtney as being the English Phil Spector. Spin this anthology a
time or two and you'll see why. Rather than being a solo album, Anthology
is a collection of tracks by other artists (except for one by David himself)
that were either written, co-written, or produced by David Courtney. Quite
a collection indeed. The list of artists includes Leo Sayer, Adam Faith,
Roger Daltry, Roger Chapman, Maggie Bell, Smokie, Steve Ellis, Dollar, Odyssey,
Marina Kapura, Joe Egan, and Geisha. Talk about a varied and
impressive list of connections (!). This hefty double disc collection features
thirty-seven tracks and, as previously mentioned, you'll be surprised at
how many of these songs you know. Courtney has in excess of 30 million global
record sales to his name. Whew. If you're looking for the single
best source to find David's biggest hits all in one convenient package,
this is it.
Marshall
Crenshaw - #392: The EP Collection (CD,
Red River Entertainment, Pop)
After releasing multiple albums over the past few decades, pop icon Marshall
Crenshaw decided he wanted to take a different approach and recorded
a handful of EPs. Now that those EPs have been released it seemed like a
good idea to collect them onto one easily obtainable album...and thus, #392:
The EP Collection came into being. So if you're not fond of EPs you
now have a full-length album that makes for ultimate ease and convenience.
Crenshaw blew lots of folks away long ago when he released his debut self-titled
album...and since that time he's never let his fans down. His career has
been built upon the fact that he continues to deliver smart well-crafted
classic pop that is both timeless and ultimately very familiar sounding.
Because we seem to be constantly overloaded with music, when they were originally
released all of these EPs somehow escaped us. So this collection proves
to be particularly appealing because we (unfortunately) never heard any
of these super cool pop tunes. Not only do you get all twelve tracks from
the EPs...but this disc also includes the bonus tracks "Man With Money"
and "Front Page News (demo)." We've always been fans of this talented
man. Spin this one a time or two and you will be...too.
Dave
Davies - Rippin Up New York City: Live at
City Winery (CD, Red River Entertainment, Rock/pop)
Following up on the popularity and critical acclaim of his most recent studio
album (Rippin' Up Time), Dave Davies presents a brand new
live album recorded in New York City. This must have been a great event.
Davies and his band played sixteen great tunes for a very appreciative audience.
The set list includes old Kinks tunes as well as some well-chosen
Davies solo tracks. Joining Dave for this show were Jonathan Lea
(guitar), Tom Currier (bass, keyboards), and Dennis Diken
(drums). Even though the long-rumored Kinks reunion may never actually materialize,
fans can rest at night knowing that Dave will probably never stop playing
music. Few musicians who have been around for so long have been able to
retain their credibility with such style and grace. Dave is a true original
in the world of music--this man always manages to please fans and
critics alike. This album presents nice solid renditions of modern standards
like "Rippin' Up Time," "I'm Not Like Everybody Else,"
"Strangers," "King of Karaoke," "Livin' On A Thin
Line," and "All Day and All of The Night."
Larry
O. Dean - Good Grief (CD, Zenith Beast, Pop)
More nice, smooth, intelligent, well-crafted mid-tempo pop from Larry
O. Dean. If you find the perfection of the digital age sometimes makes
music less interesting, you will likely find the overall sound of the tracks
on Good Grief a refreshing change of pace. Thanks to legendary producer
Chris Stamey, these songs have the nice warm sound of a real
band playing real music. You won't hear hundreds of layered sounds
here...nor will you hear vocals that have been tweaked to perfection. Larry
has a nice warm presence and he delivers these tracks with impressive confidence.
We particularly love the lyrics here. Dean's words are simultaneously reflective
and sometimes amusing. But the melodies are the real draw here. These cuts
feature cool winding melodies that are slightly familiar and ultimately
very friendly. Eleven solid cuts including "Didn't See It Coming,"
"Botox Party," "Heather's Diary," and "(Driving)
Under the Influence (of Love)."
Dismal
Swamp Lords - Dismal Swamp Lords (Independently
released CD EP, Pop)
Whoa...these three guys have a totally groovy rockin' sound that
we're absolutely certain is making folks at their shows go wild. Dismal
Swamp Lords is the Richmond, Virginia-based trio comprised of Blee
Child on drums, E. T. Snider on bass, and Bruce Smith
on guitars and vocals. The name sure fits. These guys have a swampy, bluesy
sound that is fueled by driving rhythms, cool slide guitar, and vocals that
fit the songs perfectly. This EP presents five hard-hitting tracks that
display these guys impressive command of their respective instruments. Or,
in other words, these tracks totally ROCK. Our favorite cuts are "Black
Crow Blues," "The Devil Does The Driving," and "Mystery
Boots." It's a sure bet these guys are totally on fire in concert.
Truly hot smokin' stuff.
Patrick Doyle - The Music of Patrick Doyle: Solo Piano (CD, Varese Sarabande, Piano/instrumental)
If you're a fan of solo piano recordings this one is a must have.
You may not immediately recognize the name Patrick Doyle but you
most certainly have heard this man's music over the past couple of decades.
Doyle is a prolific longtime composer of film music. As such, he has written
songs for many hugely famous movies including (but not limited to)
Cinderella, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sense and Sensibility,
Nanny McPhee, Much Ado About Nothing, and Gosford Park. Recorded
during the past three years between other projects, The Music of Patrick
Doyle presents a retrospective of Patrick's film composing career. The
album features Doyle alone at his piano. The sound is stripped down yet
completely effective and real. This man's fingers are pure magic on the
keys, as is evidenced by all eighteen cuts on this album. Dedicated to Doyle's
wife Lesley, these recordings were obviously a labor of love. The
great news is that this is just the first of two planned volumes....so there
will be a second one to follow this. This album contains some of the most
beautiful solo piano recordings we have ever heard...period. Exceptional
from start to finish. Recommended. TOP PICK.
Fantastic
Four - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:
Music by Marco Beltrami
& Philip Glass
(CD, Sony Classical,
Soundtrack)
Movies featuring comic book super heroes continue to be all the rage in
2015. Fantastic Four is a reinvention of Marvel's first and longest-running
super hero team. To quote directly from the press release, the film "...follows
four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe
that alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably
upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and
work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy."
The main stars in the film are Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan,
Jamie Bell, and Toby Kebbell. The music for the movie was created
by two of the best: Marco Beltrami and Philip Glass. Neither
need any introduction. It's truly amazing how well both of these artists'
music fits together here. This album presents twenty-five meticulously orchestrated
tracks. Some are moody, some mysterious, some suspenseful, and some slightly
abstract and peculiar. This is the kind stuff that'll sound great
in the theater...or in your home turned up really, really loud. The
attention to detail here is amazing. Spellbinding cuts include "The
Garage," "It Begins," "Ben's Drop," "Father
and Son," and "Strength In Numbers."
Five
Fingertips - Five Fingertips (CD, Guildwater Group, Independent
pop rock with a dash of syncopation, a hint of prosody, a touch of dissonance,
and a spoonful [100 milligrams to be imprecise] of humility)
Exceptionally creative and unusual underground pop from the mysterious man
who calls himself Five Fingertips. This album is a good example of
what motivates us to write about music. Because, after all, if we weren't
writers we probably would never have discovered this ultra cool obscure
gem. Fortunately for you, you don't have to be a writer. All you
have to do is read what we write and listen to everything we tell you to
(hahaha). This music easily fits in the category of independent pop
rock with a dash of syncopation, a hint of prosody, a touch of dissonance,
and a spoonful (100 milligrams to be imprecise) of humility. At first we
thought this just sounded like pop / rock but upon closer inspection we
changed our minds. Mr. Fingertips resides in Athens, Georgia but his music
doesn't sound like anything we're heard from the state of Georgia. The instruments
and overall sound here are very familiar. But it's the way the pieces are
put together that is extremely unusual...as well as the mega-cerebral super
smart lyrics...that make this self-titled album such a wonderful spin. If
you want to absorb some really creative wild writing, check out this guy's
web site (link above). He's way, way, WAY smarter than the average
musician in every way. The album ends with the last track eventually dissolving
into a long wash of pure noise...love it. Five Fingertips is easily
one of the best new artists we have heard in 2015. Cool, gripping, creative
cuts include "The Lines," "Time is Tasteless," "Nod,"
"The Poster Children," and "Plainsong." We just can't
get enough of this one. TOP PICK.
FOUR WORDS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE USED EVER
Viral.
Smartphone.
Selfie.
App.
Holly
Golightly - Slowtown Now! (Import CD,
Damaged Goods, Pop)
Holly Golightly first came to the attention of many as a co-founder
of the all-girl garage band Thee Headcoatees which was later re-named
Thee Headcoates. She released her debut album (The Good Things)
in 1995. Since that time she has recorded and released an amazing amount
of material...no less than fourteen solo albums plus numerous singles.
Slowtown Now! presents more of the moody, bluesy, country-tinged underground
pop that Holly is known for. Or, to be more precise, this is another totally
groovy album from this super talented lady. Released on Great Britain's
Damaged Goods label, this album has a really nifty overall sound and vibe.
Joining Holly on these tracks are Matt Radford on double bass, Ed
Deegan on rhythm and lead guitars, Bruce Brand on drums, and
Bradley Burgess on lead and rhythm guitars. The central focus of
these tunes are Golightly's relaxed, breezy vocals. This lady has a voice
that absolutely pulls listeners in. What we admire most is how effortless
she sounds. It's no wonder she has so many devoted fans. Ms. Golightly always
pleases with each and every release. Captivating tracks include "Seven
Wonders," "Stopped My Heart," "Catch Your Fall,"
and "When I Wake." Recommended. Top pick.
HUGElarge - HUGElarge (CD, Hwy
61, Rock/pop)
Albums full of cover tunes can be dull, annoying, and/or tedious. Fortunately,
this self-titled album is none of the above. The two guys who call
themselves HUGElarge have come up with a dazzling collection of cover
tracks that doesn't sound like the rest. The band is the duo of Robert
Malta and Matt Norelli, two guys who are no strangers to the
world of music (both played in numerous underground bands before recording
this album). What makes these cuts sound so appealing is the fact that they
are presented so simply with no filler added. So instead of sounding like
rehashed trash, these cuts end up sounding inspired. And the overall feeling
you get hearing them is that these guys had a great deal of fun during the
recording process. There's a lot to sink your teeth into...sixteen tracks
in all. Our favorite groovy cuts include "Sorry (I Ran All the Way
Home)," "Born To Lose," "Motivator," "The
Slider," and "96 Tears." These guys do two of the best
T. Rex covers we've ever heard...
I
Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story - Original
Motion Picture Soundtrack: Music by Joshua Johnson (CD, Varese Sarabande, Soundtrack)
We love peculiar documentaries so this one immediately caught our attention.
I Am Big Bird tells the story of Caroll Spinney...the man
who, for decades, has been and continues to be the well-known Sesame
Street character Big Bird. That may seem absurd and silly to some,
but being inside the huge costume of a character that means so much to so
many is a very serious and real responsibility. Spinney is now 80 years
old but has no plans to give up "the bird." Even though Sesame
Street has outlived it's usefulness decades ago (just an opinion,
mind you...), when the show began long ago it was groundbreaking and
very entertaining. And it inspired and influenced thousands upon thousands
of other artists and television shows. This documentary begins with Big
Bird in the early days working with Jim Henson right on through to
the present. From what we've read, apparently Spinney is an extremely likable
man...which is probably why this documentary is receiving such high praise.
The pensive, beautiful soundtrack was composed by Joshua Johnson.
Even without seeing the movie we are more than moved by this music. These
tracks are extremely well-crafted, displaying emotions and feelings through
the pure use of sound. We love the sound of these tracks. And we have a
feeling that we're going to fall in love with this documentary. Sixteen
tracks here including "Mother and Father," "China,"
"Family Matters," and "Why He Still Does It." Top pick.
Kinsey - My Loneliest Debut (Independently released CD, Pop)
Recorded in a chicken shack in upstate New York, My Loneliest Debut
is a nice cool slice of modern underground pop. Up to this point in time,
Nick Kinsey is probably best known as the drummer for Elvis Perkins
in Dearland, AA Bondy, and A.C. Newman. Here he steps
from behind the drum kit, displaying his skills on a variety of instruments
as well as his knack for writing nice flowing pop tunes. Folks into underground
pop will find a lot to appreciate here. Nick's lyrics are smart and insightful
and he's quite the master at coming up with cool arrangements. Eleven nifty
reflective cuts here including "Wide Awake," "Whipping Boy,"
"We Are Pipes," and "Eat Your Heart Out."
Glenn Mercer - Incidental Hum (CD, Bar/None,
Instrumental)
Glenn Mercer forever cemented his place in the world of music as
one of the original members of The Feelies. Despite the fact that
they released only a small handful of albums, the band remained vital from
the 1970s right on through to the 1990s...no doubt due to their riveting
and completely unforgettable live performances. It's been a long time since
the days when The Feelies were the coolest of the cool in the underground
rock scene. But, thankfully, Glenn Mercer continues to please his
fans with ultimately nifty releases like Incidental Hum. This is
his second full-length solo release and the first that is all instrumental.
Many of these tracks have an Eno-esque sound, around the time of
Another Green World. We love the sound quality of these recordings.
They have that simple stripped down sound that we normally associate with
home recordings from the mid- to late-1980s...before digital technology
made everything so extremely complex. We've always loved the sound of Glenn's
guitar...and on this album he's still sounding remarkably inspired and resilient.
Housed in an ultra-snappy cardboard foldout sleeve. Thanks for continuing
to entertain us, Mr. Mercer.
Dan
Miraldi - Chaos, Destruction & Dancing
(Independently released CD, Pop/rock)
Ahhhh...now this is one we've been waiting for. This is what
commercial pop/rock ought to sound like in 2015. Dan Miraldi
is one of those underground folks out there who has true star quality. We
fell totally in love with this guy's music after hearing his Sugar &
Adrenaline album that came out in 2012. The album quickly became one
of our favorite and most played discs of the year. Since that album came
out, Dan has released a couple of EPs. But now we finally get the full-length
follow up, Chaos, Destruction & Dancing. Fortunately for everyone,
this album was cut from the same fabric as Sugar & Adrenaline.
This one spins like a collection of oughta-be hits. Miraldi's songs have
that cool classic pop/rock sound that could easily appeal to millions of
listeners. With the right luck and timing, this guy could find himself played
to huge crowds. He has a personality and presence that come through
loud and clear in these tunes. This album features killer tracks like "Demon
Baby," "Junkie Friend," "I Gotta Figure Out How,"
and "Put Your Pistols Away." Once again, this guy's music totally
blows us away. Highly recommended. TOP PICK.
This is your mound.
This is rugs.
This is your mound on
Rugs.
Mr.
Holmes - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack:
Music by Carter Burwell
(CD, Lakeshore, Soundtrack)
The idea for this film is interesting and it's getting very positive reviews.
Mr. Holmes tells the story of an older Sherlock Holmes who,
upon looking back on life, becomes involved in an unsolved case about a
beautiful woman. The film stars Ian McKellen and is definitely a
different kind of Sherlock Holmes movie and, rather appropriately, it also
features a very different kind of soundtrack. Carter Burwell composed
some impeccable, beautiful tracks for this film that are subtle, thoughtful,
and probably provide the perfect backdrop for this introspective film. Whereas
most modern soundtracks are full of loud overpowering tracks, the soundtrack
to Mr. Holmes presents very subtle, reflective, beautiful instrumentals
that will appeal to a wide range of music fans. We love the super sparse
sound of many of these compositions. Burwell is a man who obviously realizes
the value of restraint. Impeccable tracks here include "Mr. Holmes,"
"Hiroshima Station," "Two Such Souls," and "The
Consolation of Fiction." Highly recommended. TOP PICK.
Philip
Polk Palmer - Here In The Deadlights
(CD, Silber, Progressive
pop/rock)
Cool moody modern pop that creates atmospheres. This album is connected
with two of our favorite things: the Silber label and the city of Savannah,
Georgia. Not surprisingly...we love the hilariously-titled Here In The
Deadlights. According to the press release that accompanied this album,
Palmer is influenced by artists like Joy Division, The Church, Echo The
Bunnymen, Bauhaus, and others. This album lives up to expectations.
On these nine tracks Philip Polk Palmer effectively combines the
trademark sound of the Silber label with the totally groovy vibes of the
city of Savannah. If you've never been to Savannah you owe it to yourself
to visit this most remarkable city. But if you can't make the physical trip,
Here In The Deadlights will provide the perfect mental trip.
These songs manage to convey the sights and sounds we associate with all
those great old buildings, swaying live oak trees, fantastic old cemeteries,
and drooping Spanish moss that sways in the breeze. Recorded by Brian
John Mitchell (except for the track "Apparition" which was
recorded by Andy Baker), this is easily one of the best releases
we've heard on the Silber label. Killer tracks include "Down The River,"
"Frog Strangler," "Joyride," and "Goodbye."
Recommended. Top pick.
Paper
Beat Scissors - Go On (CD, Forward Music Group, Progressive
pop)
This guy impressed lots of folks with his self-titled debut album. Now he's
back with an album that's just as good or better. This band is the
project created by Canada's Tim Crabtree. Tim writes intelligent
pop songs that don't sound like other artists currently on the horizon.
The songs merge sounds and ideas from progressive rock with the overall
vibe of modern pop...creating a strangely intoxicating world that is easy
on the ears and sometimes perplexing to the mind. Imagine combing the sound
of Sufjan Stevens with early Peter Gabriel...and you may have
some idea of what the songs on Go On sound like. Although at times
Crabtree's music gets a lot louder than these comparisons might suggest.
It's hard to guess what kind of commercial appeal this album will have.
But our guess is that it will be an instant success among critics
and fans of underground music. Ten well-crafted tracks including "Enough,"
"Wouldn't," "Onwards," "Bundled," and "Go
On.
Permanent Makeup - Taker (CD, New
Granada, Rock)
More and more bands seem to be taking their cue from the 1990s...one of
the most creative and fertile decades ever for music in the United
States. Recorded by the band in their home studios, Taker is one
aggressive rip-roaring slice of modern guitar rock fueled by fierce intensity
and true mental focus. So many bands play it safe in the twenty-first century.
Guess that's why the ones that don't are such obvious standouts.
Permanent Makeup is the trio comprised of Christopher Nadeau (bass,
vocals), James Bess (guitar, vocals), and Susan Dickson-Nadeau
(drums, art). Band names/references tossed throughout the accompanying press
release give a good indication of where these folks are coming from. We
sure as Hell can hear traces of underground artists from the past
like The Minutemen, Mission of Burma, and The Fall.
If you despise the world of twenty-first century commercial music, give
Taker a spin. It just might make a believer out of you all over again.
Thirteen gripping tracks including "Hey Taker," "Space Race
Is Dead," "Not Binary," and "Structure."
Pixels - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Music by Henry Jackman
(CD, Varese Sarabande,
Soundtrack)
We haven't seen this movie yet...but the idea sure sounds interesting. The
basic idea is that aliens pick up video feeds of classic video games from
Earth and take them to be declarations of war. They then attack the planet
in the form of video game characters. The film is getting mixed reviews,
which is what we would expect with a theme this peculiar. The music for
the movie was composed by the United Kingdom's Henry Jackman who
has previously composed music for some huge blockbusters like The Dark
Knight, The Da Vinci Code, and the Pirates of the Caribbean
films. One might expect the music here to be driven by the zany canned sound
of classic video games. Instead of taking the obvious approach, Jackman
chooses instead to use a huge state-of-the-art orchestral sound that will
no doubt add extra suspense and excitement when watching this film. Plenty
of cool creative sounds here as Jackman presents twenty-one immediately
gripping cuts. If you want to blow your mind, check out the list of vocalists
and musicians on the last page of the booklet. Although we didn't count
them, it looks like there were well over one hundred (!) musicians involved
in this project. After hearing this, we're totally psyched about
seeing this movie. Sounds like a true blast from the past.
Pop4 - Summer (CD, Satellites Group, Pop)
Think great pop music is dead? The four folks in Pop4 will make a
believer out of you all over again. This band is an underground supergroup
made up of four musicians with enough talent and charm to change the universe.
Pop4 is comprised of Scott McPherson (The Protagonist), KC Bowman
(The Logician), Kirk Adams (The Champion), and Andrea
Perry (The Mediator). Summer is about as good as pop gets. These
four individuals have recorded an album that is warm, friendly, charming,
smart, memorable, and completely grooooovy. These songs remind us
of a whole slew of our favorites...including (but not limited to)
XTC, The Beatles, Stackridge, Teenage Fanclub,
Azure Ray, The New Pornographers and...and...and...well, we
could just go on and on and on here. We've been in love with Andrea
Perry's music for a very long time (search for our previous reviews...she's
always a Top Pick). This lady is absolutely one of the best kept
secrets in the world of music. We have to admit that when this package
arrived we were drooling all over ourselves thinking it was a new solo album.
But even though it wasn't, we're as pleased as peaches with this album.
Summer is a precise and pure slice of perfect modern pop. The harmonies
are mind boggling...and the songs themselves are resilient and ultra catchy.
Not much more to say here except...this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Sixteen
marvelous tracks including "I Will Become Love," "Beautiful,"
"Blow Wind Blow," "Einstein and Sunshine," "What's
It Gonna Be Like Now," "Don't You Be Like That"... Aw, heck...we're
gonna stop listing individual cuts now because they're ALL wonderful.
You've got to hear this album. It is truly GREAT. TOP PICK.
Leroy
Powell and the Messengers - The Overlords
of the Cosmic Revolution (CD, Cleopatra,
Pop/rock)
We have to begin here by quoting Leroy Powell's own observations
about this album: "The Overlords of the Cosmic Revolution
is the greatest record ever recorded by anyone and of all time. It cures
AIDS, cancer, out, erectile dysfunction, and bad breath. If you buy enough
copies of it, you will get into heaven no matter what you've done. If a
cop pulls you over while you're listening to this music, they will have
to legally let you go (no questions asked." He has also made an
offer to give the person who buys the one millionth copy of the album a
personal check for $5,000 (haw haw!!!). Not only an extremely funny
man...but a very generous one as well. But the truth is that he's
not just funny and generous...he's also very talented and entertaining.
This is a concept album of sorts that tells the story of a band of rock
gods lost in the future. The album presents twelve cool rockin' tracks and
as an added bonus, the package includes a really cool comic book that tells
the story of The Overlords. Rarely have we heard anyone merge Southern rock
with psychedelia and make it work. This super clever rockin' album
features truly knockout cuts like "Weightlessness," "King
Kong," "Rising," "Brainscan," and "Checking
Out." Masculine loud pop/rock stuff with major balls.
Conan
Neutron and the Secret Friends - The Enemy
of Everyone (CD & Vinyl LP, Seismic Wave
Entertainment, Pop/rock)
Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends is the trio comprised of Conan
Neutron, Dale Crover, and Tony Ash. If you liked the hard
rockin' sounds of the 1990s when there were tons of cool loud underground
guitar bands roaming around the United States, you're likely to get a charge
out of The Enemy of Everyone. From the sound of these tracks, we'd
guess these three guys had a helluva time during these recording
sessions. The tracks on this album have a solid ballsy sound that is sadly
missing in many twenty-first century rock bands. Plenty of cool songs with
a definite groove and plenty of spontaneous noise/sound. And the artwork
is great. This album is being simultaneously released on CD and vinyl
LP. Gripping cuts include "Casually Intense," "Fight Math,"
"All Your Nostalgia Is Killing Me," and "R.I.P. Anger."
Smart loud stuff that rocks.
Presents
For Sally - Colours & Changes (CD,
Saint Marie, Pop/rock)
The second full-length release from the United Kingdom's Presents For
Sally. These folks are quick to admit that their music is inspired by
guitar bands from the late 1980s and early 1990s. So if you're like us and
loved that period...it's very likely that you will totally dig these
folks' cool tripped out underground pop/rock. Totally unlike all the processed-to-death
muck that infects our planet in the twenty first century, these tracks have
that cool thick sound of a real band playing real instruments.
These are not throwaway pop songs. These three musicians create grooves
and atmospheres with their music that are very warm, inviting, and genuine.
This is one of those rare cases where the band is doing virtually everything
right. Housed in a simply beautiful tri-fold cardboard sleeve, Colours
& Changes is a refreshing reminder that cool underground guitar
bands still exist. Captivating cuts include "We Fought Lucifer (And
Won)," "Wishawaytoday," "Everything I Said," and
"Softly Spoken Outside Honey." Top pick.
Pugwash - Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends) (CD, Omnivore Recordings, Pop/rock)
We've always enjoyed the positive uplifting sound of Pugwash. We're
pleased as punch to report that the band's newest album just might be their
best ever. These four Irish guys have a sound that is remarkably
similar to some of the great British and American guitar bands from the
1980s and 1990s. Although these fellows don't need name dropping to get
folks' attention (these tracks will certainly do that), it's interesting
to note that that folks contributing to these tracks include Ray Davies,
Andy Partridge, Neil Hannon, and Jeff Lynne (!!!). If you like
any of those artists, chances are you will totally dig the tracks on Play
This Intimately (As If Among Friends). These songs have a nice smooth
classic sound that should appeal to just about anyone who loves great guitar-driven
pop/rock. The band is comprised of Thomas Walsh (vocals, guitar),
Tosh Flood (guitar), Shaun McGee (bass), and Joe Fitzgerald
(drums). These guys create a warm friendly vibe with their songs that is
impossible to dislike. And the best part is that...the more you spin this
album the better it sounds. Looking into the future, you can be certain
that these tracks will still sound great decades from now. Twelve impeccable
pop tracks including "Kicking and Screaming," "Lucky In Every
Way," "The Fool I Had Become," "Silly Love," and
"We Are Everywhere." This will hopefully be the album that will
put these guys over the top. Hats off to the fine folks at Omnivore Recordings
for releasing this one on their ultra cool label. Highly recommended. TOP
PICK.
Raging
Fire - Everything Is Roses 1985-1989
(CD, Pristine, Rock/pop)
If there's one thing that's true about the world of music, it's that--no
matter how hard you try--you can never, never, never, EVER take it all in...simply
because there is so much music that is being made every minute of every
day. Perhaps that's why, at least up until now, we were never introduced
to the music created by the Nashville, Tennessee-based band Raging Fire.
In the mid- to late-1980s this band captured the attention of lots of folks
with their loud energized sound. The band was comprised of Michael Godsey
(guitar), Mark Medley (drums), Les Shields (bass), and Melora
Zaner (vocals). These folks were influenced by classic groups like The
Who, Led Zeppelin, X, and The Cramps. Although they seemed as
if they were on the verge of huge success, the group unfortunately disbanded
before they hit it big. So perhaps this career-spanning compilation will
reignite the flame that was originally set decades ago. These recordings
have held up really well over time. Twenty-two rockin' cuts including "A
Family Thing," "The One You Hate," "The Marrying Kind,"
"Under the Awning," and "More Than This."
Whitney
Rose - Heartbreaker of the Year (CD,
Cameron House,
Pop)
Super slick, super melodic warm and inviting pop from Whitney Rose.
Produced by Raul Malo (lead vocalist for The Mavericks), Heartbreaker
of the Year spins like a collection of hits that you've never heard
before. Ms. Rose has a voice that could easily appeal to millions of music
fans. And you can tell by the tone of her voice that she truly loves singing.
Producer Malo isn't the only Mavericks connection...other members of the
band also play on eight of these tracks. Music fans will no doubt go wild
over the cover of Andy Kim's "Be My Baby" which features
Raul as a co-vocalist. Superb sound quality here and excellent arrangements
from start to finish. This is what commercial music should sound
like...but usually doesn't. Ten warm hummable cuts including "Little
Piece of You," "Only Just A Dream," "Ain't It Wise,"
and "There's A Tear In My Beer."
Skittish - Two Legs Bad (Independently released CD, Rock)
The press release that accompanied this album classified the music as "neo-folk/indie
rock"...which gives a good indication of what this band's music sounds
like. The band members may find this puzzling, but some of the tracks on
Two Legs Bad remind us of some of the groovier cuts recorded by Marilyn
Manson. The songs have the same kinda loud bluesy rock feel that Manson
is known for. But in terms of overall sound and image, this is far, far
more positive and uplifting than the comparison might suggest. The band
Skittish is comprised of Jeff Noller (vocals, guitar), Brianna
Tagg (vocals, keyboards), Lazarus Ulysses Clearwater (bass),
and Jeremy Krueth (drums). Named after a line from George Orwell's
Animal Farm, Two Legs Bad features nine smart tracks with
a progressive sound and feel. Appealing cuts include "Regarding the
Wolf," "Roots," "Come Find Me," and "Meet
Your Maker."
Stone The Crows - Stone The Crows / Ode To John Law (Double CD, Angel Air, Blues/rock)
Twofer featuring the first two albums from Great Britain's legendary blues/rock
band Stone The Crows. The band got their start when vocalist Maggie
Bell met guitarist Les Harvey (brother to Alex Harvey).
After playing in two bands together (Kinning Park Ramblers &
Power), Bell and Harvey formed Stone The Crows. The band experienced
a great deal of success in Great Britain but, unfortunately, that success
did not translate to the United States. Maggie's voice has often been compared
to Janis Joplin so that may have presented somewhat of an identity
problem for her at the time. After recording and playing together for some
time, the band experienced a devastating blow. Harvey died from an accidental
on-stage electrocution in May 1972. Because he was the main songwriter for
the band (as well as Bell's partner), the event almost knocked the band
out of existence. They did continue on for a while, however, before breaking
up in 1973. Maggie experienced more success with two solo albums she released
shortly afterward, and received a great deal of notoriety as the co-vocalist
on Rod Stewart's song "Every Picture Tells A Story." So
here we have the first two albums remastered and reissued with four bonus
tracks added. We never heard these albums when they were originally released
so hearing them now is a particularly eye and ear-opening experience. The
band played interesting blues/rock with a progressive twist. And those trademark
vocals were definitely the focal point of the music. If you wanna see/hear
some interesting stuff, type in "Stone The Crows live" into YouTube
and you'll find a wealth of cool videos that show how cool this band looked
and sounded in the early 1970s. Once again, the fine folks at Angel Air
breath fresh new air into recordings that will entertain an entire new generation
of listeners...
The
Strange Flowers - Pearls At Swine (CD,
Area Pirata, Pop)
If you like ultra-catchy guitar-driven pop rock...come and get it.
The guys in Italy's Strange Flowers are back with another groovy
collection of pop tunes that are smooth, cool, and instantly hummable. This
band writes and records music that recalls other classic artists like Redd
Kross and The Grip Weeds. Pearls At Swine is a direct
hit. Until we read the press release that accompanied this album we had
no idea that this band has been around for two decades (?!!). Sheesh, you'd
never know it from listening to these fresh vibrant cuts. The band
is comprised of Michele Marino (vocals, guitars), Nicola Cionini
(guitars, backing vocals), Giacomo Ferrari (keyboards, backing vocals),
and Matteo D'Ignazi (drums, percussion). The playing is tight and
the arrangements are kept to a bare minimum...which is exactly appropriate
since these super strong tunes don't need any additional padding. We dig
every single cut on this album but particular standouts include "Throwing
Pearls At Swine," "Eugene," "Steven Bought A White Rope,"
and "Twins." Highly recommended. Top pick.
12 Monkeys - Music from the Syfy Original Television Series: Music by
Trevor Rabin and Paul
Linford (CD, Varese
Sarabande, Soundtrack)
Created by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett, 12 Monkeys
is a television series based on the 1995 movie of the same name that was
directed by iconic director Terry Gilliam (which was, in turn, based
on Chris Marker's 1962 film La Jetee). The story revolves
around a man who travels forward in time to prevent the release of a deadly
virus that was created by an organization called The Army of the Twelve
Monkeys. Folks love stories that revolve around the possible extinction
of the human race, which may explain why this story has such staying power.
We loved the 1995 film but we haven't yet seen the television series. Most
critics and fans give the show a very favorable rating. This album presents
music for the series created by Trevor Rabin and Paul Linford.
The overall sound and feel of these tracks is exotic, hypnotic, and strangely
puzzling. Rabin and Linford are both multi-instrumentalists so these tracks
are quite varied and complex. This lengthy soundtrack features over an hour's
worth of music. Strangely compelling cuts include "I Am the Clock (12
Monkeys Suite)," "The Monkeys On the Wall," "The Night
Room," and "The Cycle is Complete."
Tarmac
Adam - In Place (CD, Onesize,
Pop)
We felt adrenaline oozing through us when this album arrived. We absolutely
adore the music created by Australia's Tarmac Adam. We played
the band's last album (The History Effect) totally into the ground...and
it still sounds great. In Place is cut from the exact same
fabric...and we are, once again, hypnotized, mesmerized, and totally in
awe of this band. What will probably surprise most folks about these guys
is that they're really not all that different from a lot of other bands
in terms of their overall sound...but they're way, way, way, way, WAY
better. When we reviewed The History Effect we compared the
lead vocalist to Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs)...and that
comparison definitely still applies. Tarmac Adam songs feature cool smooth
melodies, intelligent lyrics, and wonderfully imaginative arrangements that
are a perfect fit. At a point in time when there are so many throwaway pop
bands, these compositions come across sounding strikingly resilient and
inspired. We can say without a doubt that this will easily end up being
one of THE top pop albums of 2015. If you love magical pop music, In
Place will blow you away. Yes, it's THAT good. Ten fantastic cuts here
including "A Town Called Mercy," "Blindside," "Nine
Lives," "Holding," and "The Loneliest Journey."
Highly recommended... TOP PICK.
Toadies - Heretics (CD, Kirtland,
Pop)
A different sort of release from The Toadies, Heretics features
"deconstructed and acoustically re-arranged fan favorites, two brand
new songs, a surprising cover, and a previously unreleased track."
The surprisingly accessible sound of these tracks may surprise some folks.
But our guess is that the fans will readily accept the different approach
from a band that refuses to cave in or give up. Twelve groovy tracks including
"In The Belly of a Whale," "Queen of Scars," "Possum
Kingdom," and "Send You To Heaven." As a side note, fans
of the band and others will note that the Toadies are once again putting
on their annual music festival Dia De Los Toadies on September 11
and 12, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas (this is the third year in a row for the
festival).
Everyone is
Typical.
Wimps can't
Think.
Wimps can't
Cope.
Wimps can't
Face the world,
Nope.
Yompy
and the Tip Nippers - Bird Headache
(CD, Krunderwisp, Pop)
Recorded in a package of chewing gum, Bird Headache has all the mrowl
of a whisper thing. The folks in the Austin, Texas-based band Yompy and
the Tip Nippers obviously have a puny growl to pick with the community.
This fifty track album sounds like it was recorded inside a package of chewing
gum. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that 49 of these tracks are about being
locked inside chewing gum packages. The idea sounds novel and funny but
when you get to song #43 or #44 the idea starts to wear thin. But that's
actually the best thing about this album. It's annoying and horrible and
that's what makes it so interesting. You can listen to one song and then
listen to another song. And then you can listen to the next song and then
the next song. It doesn't matter what you listen to really, because all
music sounds the same. The tenth track ("Got To Get Out Of This Particular
Package Of Chewing Gum") is the real treat here. The band lets loose
and shows what they're made of. The fabric of necessity is bonded with lumps
and bitties. And the lamp of all knowledge goes out with the wand. The only
other track worth hearing is the continually tedious "Why Can't I Get
Inside Some Other Kind Of Package?" On this cut, the band ponders the
question of what it would be like to be inside a package of cake mix rather
than a package of chewing gum. If you don't like things, you probably won't
like this. If, on the other hand, you like things...then you might like
this. We can't recommend this until some future point in time when we can
recommend this. Until then, you'll just have to warm up your duster and
cram on the cash to get the limited amount of rooftop puppets for maximum
revolvement.
A
Aa's OK - OK's Aa
Concettta Abbate - Falling in time
Lee Actor - Piano concerto
James Adler - Introspections
Alarm Clock Conspiracy
Alchemilla - Hearts
All Walls - All Walls
AmaamA - Prirbanolly
Amarachi - All or nothing
Amplifires - Llife's a gamble
An American In Paris - Original Broadway cast recording
A Projection / Exit - Proj 1 rec Stockholm
Arjun - Core
Autopilot - Desert dreams
Aylin - Cloud
Azumpy - Plaza rowl
B
Bruce Babcock - Time, still
Bekah Barnett - Rise
Jeremy Bass - New York in spring
David Berkeley - Cardboard coat
Brent Best - Your dog, champ
BeThisBell - Work it out
Blindness - Wrapped in plastic
Blind Willies - Every day is judgment day
Crystal Bright & The Silver Hands - Crystal Bright & The Silver
Hands
Emilyn Brodsky - Eats her feelings
Dewa Budjana - Hasta karma
Mary Bue - Holy bones
Bum For Bum - Loudy wow
Doug Burr - Pale white dove
By The Red - Folk songs from the Red River Valley
C
The Canal - Original score by Ceiri Torjussen
Leah Capelle - Leah Capelle
Carry Illinois - Alabaster
Benjamin Cartel - Gothenburg
Sergio Cervetti - Transits: Minimal to mayhem-
Tom Chapin - 70
Jon Chi - Another rising sun
Child 44 - Original motion picture soundtrack
Chuck - Original television soundtrack
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Music fro the Star Wars saga
Climax Blues - Broke heart blues
Coastal - Beneath the snow and streetlights
Cobbler - Original motion picture soundtrack
Phil Cody - Cody sings Zevon
Colorway - THe black sky sequined
John Conlee - Classics 2
Cracker Factory - Chasing ghosts
Cody Crump - Death
Crzie - Blaffter
CSDT - Mobo tumbie
Cusses - Here comes the rat
CZZD - Kuddly zoop
D
D Train - Original motion picture soundtrack
Nicholas David - Make hope
Dandelion War - Opposite shores
Karl W. Davis & The Sweetpeas - It's high time
Dawa - Psithurlsma
Dawn Patrol - Original motion picture soundtrack
Death - Death
Debug - Original motion picture soundtrack
Deckchair Poets - Searchin' for a lemon squeezer
Reina del Cid - The cooling
Desert Dancer - Original motion picture soundtrack
Doctor Who - The day of the doctor
Donna Deussen & The Paul Weitz Trio - On the street where you live
Andrew Diruzza Quintet - Shapes and analogies
Double Naught Spy Car Stew - Panorama city
Gary Douglas - Keepin' faithß
Dovekeepers - Original television soundtrack
Dust on the Radio - Halfway to the stars
Dying to be Dingy - Buffs and nuffies
E
EAEAI - Lambs and shrimps
East Cameron Folkcore - Kingdom of fear
Elasticity - Elasticity
Elements Rising - Modern works for chamber ensemble
Tawny Ellis - Ghosts of the low country: The muscle shoals sessions
Exovex - Radio silence
Ezziersetthendumm - Mouse prize
F
Far From the Madding Crowd - Original motion picture soundtrack
Farmer Jason - Christmas on the farm with Farmer Jason
Feenie Meener - Daffter
Fernando - The dogs
Jamila Ford - The deep end
Guy Forsythe Blues Band - The pleaser
Red Ray Frazier - Blood in the water
Friend Roulette - I see you, your eyes are red
Fumes From Fuma - Daddy's squirrel
Furious Seasons - My love is strong
G
Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah - Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah
Rachel Garlin - Wink at july
Get Ahead - Volcano
Susie Glaze - Not that kind of girl
Emily Gold - Recluse
Golden Eels - Periscopes in the air
Good Field - Future me
Good + Kill - Original motion picture soundtrack
Joe Goodkin - Record of life
Go Time! - Ratsel
Grahams - Glory bound/rattle the rocks
Great Human Odyssey - Original television soundtrack
Great Spirit - Front porch to frontier
Maxwell Gualtieri - For Los Angeles
Gypsy Lumberjacks - Giants of America
H
Hildegard - Hildegard
Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank - American shuffle
Cody Joe Hodges - The good stuff
Honey Barbara - Wave grass
Tim Houlihan - Anthems
Andrew D. Huber - Mercury gets a moon
Tod Hughes Project - Changing gears
Stephen Hunley - The other side of never
Jordan Hurwitz - Here I'll stand
Bobby Hustle - It's the hustle
I
Indian Summers - Original television soundtrack
Infinitely Polar Bear - Original motion picture soundtrack
In Sonitus Lux - The equinox session
Interview - Original motion picture score
J
Lucas Jack - Before i forget
Jack Kerowax - Jack Kerowax
Jacob and the Good People - Rotten
PI Jacobs - Hi-rise ranch
Heidi Jacob - Beneath winter light
Ethan Jano - I'll be fine
Suzanne Jarvie - Spiral road
Mary Ann Joyce-Walter - Immortal diamond
K
Matthew K. - Matthew K.
Mikaela Kahn - Milk & honey
Stephen Kalinch / Jon Tiven - Each soul has a voice
Kelly's Lot - Don't give my blues away
Robert Kennedy Trio - Big shoes
Knack - Zoom
Kuu Kuu - Lawsy messy and messier lassies
L
Landmarq - Roadskill: Live in the Netherlands
Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved - This house of mine
Lazzie and Dammithy - Rarnine
LB and the LB BLs - Backs and the slacks
Left Ready - Ghosts
Librarians - Original soundtrack from the television series
Ligro - Dictionary 3
Linty Tinty - Bobo and the lobster squirrel
Brian Lisk and the Unfortunates - Curtisinterruptedus
Peter Liu - Bamboo groove
London Music Works - Epic themes
Mike Love - Gypsy man
Lucifer's Friend - Awakening
Lunden Reign - American stranger
Luv - Original motion picture soundtrack
Luxury - Bones & beaten heart
M
Tim Mahoney - Peace of winter
Maia & The Pilots - Taking off
La Mandragore - Midgard
Mantoes - Mangoes
Many Arms & Toshimaru Nakamura - Many Arms & Toshimaru Nakamura
Graig Markel and the 88th St. Band - Graig Markel and the 88th St. Band
Craig Marshall - After all
Frince Marshall - Another Marshall
Pamela J. Marshall - Through the mist
Max - Original motion picture soundtrack
Jimmy McIntosh and... - Jimmy McIntosh and...
Medici - Red eye
Mono Pony - Idle beauty
Moon & Polution - The box borealis
Moop Poom - Moooooo porium la tordent
Moors & McCumber - Pandemonium
Jeremy Morris - Bright morning star
Ken Will Morton - All's fair in love and war
Moto Continuo - New works for pinao trio and solo cello
Zae Munn - They were mysterious guests
Michael Murray - Percipience
Jordan Myers - Ruin me with love
N
Nacona - Long gone song
Naazer - Blushy mush mush
Neighborhood Bullys - Callin' all rockers!
Neu Human - How to stop time
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb - Original motion picture soundtrack
Noah's Tape - Vol. 2
Nuster Plus - Taxi mission dumb
O
Dawn Oberg - Bring
One The Huggler - Nearly a sin
Orange is the New Black - Music from the original series
Orphan Black - Original television score
Orphan Black - Original television soundtrack
Pete Oxley / Nicolas Meier - Chasing tales
P
Chris Page - Volume vs. voice
Gabrielle Papillon - The tempest of old
Daniel Pearson - Alone, together
Penny Dreadful - Music for the Showtime original series
Kat Perkins - Fearless
Pinder Brothers - Melancholy sea
Playing It Cool - Original motion picture soundtrack
Jeremy Porter and the Tucos - Above the sweet tea line
Jon Pousette-Dart - Talk
Q
Quill - Brush with the moon
R
Mason Razavi / Bennett Roth-Newell - After you
RBBAKKA - Now the phlop
Brad Reiman - Walking in the unknown
Rewrite - Original motion picture soundtrack
Sarah Lou Richards - The woman behind the curtain
Kimm Rogers - Where the pavement grows
Lila Rose - We animals
Roxy Roca - Ain't nothin' fancy
S
Lionel Sainsbury - Andalusian fantasy
Sasha's Bloc - Heart on fire
Elliot Schneider - Better a fool than aloof
Pierre Schroeder - Voyage
Sciflyer - Energizer
Seahorse - The fire's heart
Shack Band - America
Shae - Can you feel the music
Sahkespeare Concerts Series - Full fathom five
Shakespeare Concerts Series - Orpheus with his lute made trees
Shams - One and all
Shoe Birds - Southern gothic
Sick of Sarah - Anthem
Cameron Siegel & Friends - World junk
Siena Root - Pioneers
Ian Sims and Divergent Paths - Conundrum
Vytautas Smetona - All the way back
Snow In Mexico - Juno beach
Soda Pop Sun - Soda Pop Sun
Alan Sondheim, Azure Carter, Luke Damrosch - Threnody: Shorter discourses
of hte Buddha
Jillian Speer - Daggers & suede
Bert Sperling - Renaissance
Spuyten Duyvil - The social music hour Vol. 1
Southpaw - Original motion picture soundtrack
Stairway - Pearls of the deep (best of)
James M. Stephenson - The devil's tale
Stubborn Son - Birthright
McClain Sullivan - Rachel
Summer Children - On the go with Summer Children
Sun Soul Orchestra - What matters most
Super Nova - Luna aura
Sweet - New York groove plus
T
32 Below - Every little thing about you
10,000 Maniacs - Twice told tales
Joe Jack Talcum - Home recordings 1993-99
Rachel Taylor - Magnetic
TBelly - Dead men don't pray
Them Howling Bones - Them Howling Bones
theSHIFT - 7th direction
Thirty Steps To Forward - Hinterland
Tidelands - Old mill park
Tornado Project - Trios for flute, clarinet, and computer
Tree Machines - Tree Machines
Tripping Souls - Don't waste your life
Trust Fund / Joanna Gruesome - Split vinyl EP
U
Ugly Guys - Still twenty-five in your head
Unfinished Business - Original motion picture soundtrack
George Usher / Lisa Burns - The last day of winter
V
Toomas Vanem - Toomas Vanem
Various Artists - Sweet Relief: Love is Everywhere
Javier Vercher - Wish you were here
Eyal Vilner Big Band - Almost Sunrise
Vixerupper - Nowdy doo
Michael Vlatkovich Septet - Ask 7
Vogue Dots - Mauka
W
Skoota Warner - Vignettes
Wasted Wine vs. The Hypnosis Center - Wasted Wine vs. The Hypnosis Center
Wendy Webb - This is the moment
Geoff Westen - I'm not crazy
John Wetton - Anthology
John Wetton - New York minute
Megan Wilde - Wildfire EP
Words and Pictures - Original motion picture soundtrack
Wyatt - Here comes everybody
X
Xraw - Rawx
Y
Yillie Momo - Puckie the minchster
Z
Daniel Z - Some romantic night - the solo years