Primary URL: https://www.moniqueangele.com/

From the first notes of the single “Poisonous Touch” through to the final winding twists and turns of “Touch as a Sign” this release is a taste of the old with a breath of fresh air. This is real and genuine Contemporary Pop Rock or Light Classical Rock expressionism before everything started sound super sonic. All tracks are powerful, melodic and infectious, which doesn’t even begin to describe the inducing vocal presence of Angele.

Artist URL: https://rainstickcowbell.com/

Rainstick Cowbell who goes by the name of Scott Arbogast is a hot running artist from Portland, Oregon. His latest CD released in 2014 is entitled “Hand over the Heart.” Nowadays making music is so accessible to anyone and being that we have the do it yourself attitude, it just makes sense. Most bands don’t want to sit around just waiting for someone to make our dreams come true, they are doing it themselves. This latest album by Rainstick Cowbell is an extremely thought provoking, at times captures the pure essence of intense Singer/Songwriter and Alternative Folk at its most intimate. All 11 tracks provide a intensely exhilarating experience that can tingle the senses into submission. In this aspect I think I get Arbogast. If you’re looking for a sappy love record this may not be for you. If your looking for The White Stripes – again not for you. If you are looking for something in simple but somewhat dark and clairvoyant – it’s the perfect record for you. The frontal core member of Abrogast and his guitar are at the forefront of each piece. His voice fits this style of music like a hand in glove. Rainstick Cowbell delivers middle ground between gripping ballads and raw honest al-rock subject matter. The first 2 tracks (Uncle Merv comes home to try to save the farm) and (The Perils of Patriotism) are like pouring gasoline on a fire. I guess the closest artist I would compare him to would be Ola Podrida. I can also hear Longhorn Slim, Patrick Park, Nathan Retekiff, Horse Feathers and even The Low Anthem.

Score: 4/5 Stars

Primary URL: https://www.lovejupiter.com/

(New York) 4 piece Love Jupiter just released their latest EP entitled “1967” in 2014. The music of Love Jupiter strikes a chord at the core of what made 90’s hard rock so mesmerizing, fusing it with new frenetic style and creative exploration. Love Jupiter is: Matt Adamec - Vocals, Bass, Michael “Chickie” Ciulla - Vocals, Guitar, Bob DeRienzo – Drums, and Mark Goetz - Vocals, Guitar.

Rachel Lynn Sebastian released her latest 12 Track CD back in 2013 entitled “Raven Heart.” Sebastian is a pop/rock/soul artist from rural Oregon who has been proclaimed “Adele’s competition” by Hollywood Life T.V.. She has toured all over the world including major stays in London, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Saigon. In 2013 Rachel completed both a 30-state tour in the United States as well as a two-month solo tour in Europe promoting this album.

Primary URL: https://www.hunterandthedirtyjacks.com/rock/

Band members are: Hunter Ackerman (Vocals), Jon Siembieda (Guitar), Carmelo Bonaventura (Guitar), Aaron Barnes (Bass), Brian Lara (drums).

Their inspiring sound is built off bluesy guitars, rolling bass lines/drum rhythms, lyrics that get right to the point and a superlative vocal front. Their dedicated front-man dons a five o-clock shadow and appealing baritone like no other. Ackerman and the band have a passion for entertaining and wooing every crowd paralleling some of their biggest influences like Black Label Society, Marshall Tucker, Grand Funk, Bob Seger, Black Stone Cherry and Led Zeppelin just off the top of my head. With a growing reputation as one of the hardest working bands down in the L.A. area Hunter and the Dirty Jacks question new music tradition and offers listeners a glimpse into the past of real Rock ‘n’ Roll music. What’s apparent from the 12 tracks featured is this is a surprisingly tight band with a jagged edge. The sharp edge collection of songs almost feels like your watching a band live, is very compatible with the persona and personality of these 5 which will intrigue and indulge many. Listening to font man Ackerman, “the intrigue” quality struck me as I was listening to him, mainly because I wanted to put a face to the voice, to the band. When I saw the picture of these guys it was everything I had visualized. They look like 5 modern-day musical outlaws. Whether it’s by design or by accident putting a tight rhythm section coupled with a retro sound and a heavy blues/rock swagger is a smart move. This band rocks the house and Ackerman, like the rest of the band, has an impressive musical presence.