URL: https://www.saintblasphemer.com/ 

The first original material from Southern California based band Saint Blasphemer is challenging both lyrically and musically. Writer Thomas Monroe has some local renown as a talented poet and his lyrics are driven by memorable imagery and a convincing voice without ever sacrificing accessibility. His broad based depiction of the ravages drug addiction has inflicted on his area and network of friends is vividly rendered and accompanied by a high octane musical attack and arrangements that are to the point, but never bereft of subtleties. The band’s creative vision is quite firm. None of these songs waste the listener’s time with unsuccessful self-indulgence and instead maintains locked down aim on providing listeners with an intense listening experience that has no small amount of theatricality.  

URL: https://www.sterlingwitt.com/

The excitement provided by truly transformative music sometimes wanes with experience. Ecclesiastes said there’s nothing new under the sun and, to a certain extent, this dour Biblical cynicism rings true. It’s difficult to imagine how many guitar-driven four piece bands have written songs about cars, girls, summer, and having a good time and, after a few decades of hearing those innumerable variants, it’s easy to look askance on yet one more rock song railing against The Man, lusting after some woman, or living fast and dying young. If you are a true music obsessive, however, those moments never disappear entirely. If you search out new music, keep your mind open, and believe, the moment comes again. Hearing Sterling Witt’s music for the first time reminded me about that fluttering in my limbs, the lightness in my stomach, and the mental rush inspired music is capable of producing in me. His thirteen song fifth album Satyagraha crackles with the fire of real inspiration and the guitar, in particular, is super charged with the real spirit of rock and roll coupled with literate and thought-provoking lyrics.

URL: https://www.angieandthedeserters.com/ 

The third studio recording from Angie and the Deserters is the natural next step in the artistic evolution of one of the most compelling bands working in the Americana genre today. Despite all of the stylistic choices and high points filling the music of Angie Bruyere, she is a singer/songwriter at heart and one of the finest working on the modern scene regardless of gender or genre. Her voice, likewise, sets her apart for its unique blend of the nasal and the sweet, the raw emotion, wide range, and ample technique that seems so effortless for her to bring together. The latest release, You, is a six song EP that covers a surprisingly large range of textures while still touching on the usual themes and narratives in a distinctly personal fashion. Bruyere, as well, possesses a great talent for turning familiar lyrical moments into surprises with her literary turns of phrase and the sometimes subtle and delicious subversion of convention.  

URL: https://www.kathymuir.com/ 

There’s nothing regional about the talents of Kathy Muir. Her Scottish heritage, undoubtedly, influences her deep musical talents, but the songwriting driving an album like Second Life is more all encompassing, broader, and its roots inform it rather than dictate to it. She has largely outgrown the label Americana, but there’s still a strong cross-section of material present on the album that more than justifies it along with some other less frequently used classifications. In the end, this is just fine music, honed to a fine point both musically and lyrically, and such arts need no labels except for the merchants. Muir is certainly a member of the singer/songwriter school, but her sensibilities have a stronger literary bent than many working within the same arena.  

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheVon4U/

The Von, a three piece based out of South Florida, has released their second recording, a three song EP entitled 3nity. This firecracker of an effort doesn’t confine itself to a strictly hard rock approach and, instead, strongly pursues strains of pop and psychedelia thereafter woven cleanly into the classic power trio mix. They have a curious and satisfying ability to manifest a lot of presence without the music sounding too overcooked or bloated. Like a flash boxer, The Von are light on their feet, but there’s        quite a bit of technique and passion powering their impact. Unlike many groups of this ilk and lineage, The Von’s lyrics are intensely philosophical and, ultimately, humanist. The positive point of view promoted from song to song isn’t sentimentalized or reductive – instead, the songs are fueled by a voice inspiring us to pursue our best selves. They clearly had an idea from the start about the sound they wanted for 3nity and achieved it – it is a near perfect balance between the rough and the sweet, but never overwhelms the listener and knows when to pull back.

URL: https://www.alexdileo.com/ 

The six song EP debut from Alex Di Leo heralds the emergence of an important new songwriting talent on the modern scene. Without ever striking a single retro note, Alex Di Leo’s work recalls the solid command of songwriting basics distinguishing classic work while setting a bar for itself that it sound thoroughly of the moment at all times. It clears that hurdle with room to spare. It takes a compositional approach to its band sound with no one instrument ever gaining prominence and, instead, an unified approach puts it on different footing than similar work from his peers. There’s no familiar grinding and clashing from the star-making machinery here. Instead, despite his top billing, Alex Di Leo presents the sound of the six songs as a total band performance and not merely a talented singer and songwriter backed some anonymous, if highly skilled, accompaniment.  

URL: URL: https://www.joshbirdsong.com/ 

Josh Birdsong’s first collection Simple Geometry is anything but simple. He takes a relatively spartan and basic approach for the skeleton of the EP’s five songs and elaborates on each with great care and tremendous creativity. Much of this is accomplished through the superior production job the release receives and his distinctive take on guitar playing. Birdsong never uses the instrument in a typical way and, instead, gears the six string in a much more comprehensive way – rather than pulling off riffs and needless solos, Birdsong’s musicianship looks to enhance the song as a whole. He eschews any pyrotechnic displays of flash and his ear for a compelling melody seems to be pretty much limitless. There isn’t a single song on Simple Geometry where it sounds like Birdsong is coasting or disinterested. It’s rare to encounter performers and their work when it is so obvious that the central figure is hanging with every word and note, but that’s very much the case with Simple Geometry and it makes for one of the year’s most impressive debuts.  

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/stefanie.keys.5/ 

Few artists working within the Americana genre can lay claim to be the sort of well-rounded talent that Stefanie Keys is. There are many fine singers working today, men and women alike capable of turning a relatively mundane phrase into performed poetry by virtue of their phrasing alone, but few actually bring together melody, musicality, and message with such artful coherence and range. Keys is equally at home with gut wrenching blues or R&B as she is essaying the gentlest of acoustic reveries. Her latest release, the third full length album in this California native’s short career, is a ten song confection entitled Open Road and there’s some significance here. Keys writes, sings, and plays like someone for whom the road ahead is indeed open – no more obstacles, trials, or struggles are left to be overcome before Keys can engage listeners with the fullest expression yet of her experience and consciousness. She achieves all of that here with semi-shocking ease. 

URL: https://www.juliethuns.com/

The title of Juliet Huns’ debut release, Behind the Scenes, implies that the three songs comprising the EP reveal something deeper about Huns than what a common pop tracks might do. If we accept this interpretation as true, then even a single listen to Behind the Scenes will convince anyone that Huns has achieved her goal with ease. The musical arrangements are largely driven by electronica like keyboards and synths, but Huns proves she isn’t afraid to mix that up as the songwriting demands. The production zeroes in on capturing her vocals in the best possible way, but it presents the music quite well and emphasizes its melodic virtues. There is a sureness about this recording that’s quite appealing. It is clear from the start that Huns knows exactly where she wants to go and how to achieve every effect she seeks out. Few releases of any length in 2016 will prove as satisfying as this.

Album: Notes To My Blood

Label: Independent

Website: https://norwood.band/

Genre: Folk Rock

Sounds Like: The Mountain Goats, Flogging Molly

Technical Grade: 7/10

Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10

Commercial Value: 7/10

Overall Talent Level: 9/10

Songwriting Skills: 9/10

Performance Skills: 7/10

Best Songs: Randolph Carter Rides Again, Middle Child

Strengths: Great lyrical content, truly original, honest music

Weaknesses: Artist persona definitely greater than level of technical musicianship/ability

CD Review:

Norwood is a folk-rock project founded by lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Norwood, who traded his musical theater background for a dedication to songwriting approximately six years ago and has since released two full length albums. Based around New York City, the band features Nastasia Green accompanying Norwood with vocals, Keith Michael Pinault on bass, violinist Hajnal Pivnick, and drummer Max Maples. Many of the members of Norwood have credentials in theater as well as musical education and promotion. This most recent album, titled “Notes To My Blood”, was released this year as a followup to Norwood’s debut album released last year titled “Year Of The Bear”.