Indie Music Reviews

The Sighs Are Ready To Wait On Another Day

published on September 8, 2017

The Sighs Are Ready To Wait On Another Day

Western Massachusetts 4 piece rock band The Sighs just released their latest 11 song CD entitled Wait On Another Day. From the first notes of “It’s Real” through to the final massive live solos and heavy riffs of “Thinking About Soul”, this release fires on all cylinders. In contrast a band like The Sighs delivers an incredibly balanced blend of Power Pop, Classic Rock and Hard Rock and just a dash of Alternative Rock. The Sighs band members include Bobby LaRoche (Vocals), Tommy LaPluta (Bass), Matt Cullen (guitar), Tom Borawski (Drums). In this aspect LaRoche and company have much in the way of promise and marketability especially to cult fans like The Smashing Pumpkins, Polaris, Counting Cows and even Screaming Trees. The Sighs provide 11 intriguing musical stepping stones and boldly showcase better than average musicianship with no illusions, or farces. This is real and genuine rock n’ roll musical expressionism folks! All tracks are powerful (both in a brutal and soft way), melodic and highly entertaining. Which doesn’t even begin to describe the inducing guitar/vocal presence of guitarist Matt Cullen and front man Bobby LaRoche, respectively. They are both masters at their respective crafts. Like I had mentioned its impressive how well the band have combined often heavy, grunge with alt-rock balladry. What’s more I didn’t fail to notice deep, soulful vocals and emotive lyrics perhaps influenced by John Lennon or Oasis. The band as whole are captivating composers within their own right. Some songs on this latest release seem painfully simple yet not to be underestimated (Tracks Words of Love, Lift Me Up); while some songs know a sure direction delivering the A-Typical Rock flair (Thinking About Soul).

Bunny Sigler - Angel Eyes

published on September 4, 2017

Bunny Sigler - Angel Eyes

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

Bunny Sigler’s latest single, a cover of the jazz standard “Angel Eyes”, shouldn’t be mistaken as tribute. Instead, we’re treated to “Mr. Emotion” tackling a venerable classic with all of the required stylishness and artfulness needed to get it over with a modern audience. This mainstay on the classic soul/R&B scene first came to fame as one of the true titanic talents of the Philly school of performers and his longevity can be marked down to a number of factors, some of which are fully on display with this performance. Sigler retains the uncanny talent for being able to get deep inside any arrangement or lyric presented to him and brings the forcefulness of his own personality to each work. Despite the material’s age, the production helps bring it to vivid life thanks to the clear rendering it receives here. This is a moment that certainly ranks high in Sigler’s long career.

Marc Daniels - Summer Song

published on September 4, 2017

Marc Daniels - Summer Song

URL: https://www.marcdanielscountry.com/

Marc Daniels is a relative newcomer to the scene and this latest single, “Summer Song”, is cut in the tradition of assertive pop country anthems that has experienced considerable commercial favor over the last decade or more. The production accentuates all of this but Daniels, to his everlasting credit, takes on a different approach to the form than many of his contemporaries. He foregoes the glossy surfaces and seamless changes that distinguish this style in favor of some gritty Southern Rock touches and the experiment at bringing together a smooth presentation with these more “authentic” elements results in a more successful outing overall. The song never risks self-indulgence, either, as Daniels and his collaborators keep things short and to the point.

HYTS - Exoplanet

published on September 3, 2017

HYTS - Exoplanet

SPOTIFY: https://play.spotify.com/album/6ge2D0YIJLhifhMq56VHVM?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

HYTS hails from San Fracisco and Tucson, AZ and are back with their new record Exoplanet. Overall Internet presence is slowly taking shape as I learned a few things about them even before I hit play. The CD hits the deck running with a strong first track properly titled “We Are” - I say properly because it pretty much sums up the tone of the band. It’s somewhat striking reminiscent of Dead Letter Circus, Pendulum and Deadmau5.

Weatherboy – Self Titled

published on September 3, 2017

Weatherboy – Self Titled

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

The ten song debut from Weatherboy is an outstanding mix of outright upscale pop gems possessing varying degrees of artistry. The collaboration between John Walquist and Ragnar Rosinkranz has wild musical dexterity and utilizes a number of seemingly disparate elements to supreme effect. There’s some clear influences exerting a hold over the musical imagination of this project, but Weatherboy are rare talents who have taken in those contributions, subsumed them into their musical DNA, and now reflect them back in a way unique to them. Their willingness to tamper with tempo, expand the genre’s instrumental vocabulary, and write from a place of immense skill and honesty, positions them to reinvent high pop, ala The Beatles, in unexpected ways. There are a lot of moods, however, weaving this album’s emotional character and they clearly entered into the studio with a clear conception of what they wanted and how to get it.

bd Gottfried

published on August 28, 2017

bd Gottfried

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/bdgottfried?lang=en

In 2017 - bd Gottfried is an edgy, uncompromised writer releasing his 8th solo album entitled: Through The Dog’s Eyes - produced by Juno Winner Siegfried Meier. With airplay in over a dozen countries he continues to work in an unrestricted style with lyrical depth that will always take you on a journey. Having a varied working background as a touring musician and session player. Working in the past with a vast array of artists such as Pino Palladino (Pete Townsend, John Mayer Trio). Breen Laboeuf (Celine Dion, April Wine). Greg Dechert (Bad Company, David Gilmour), to name a few. If to name a few more it wouldn’t matter because he’s an accomplished artist as it is, but if you look on his website you’ll see a who’s who of names in which to associate bd Gottfried. The album gets off to a blazing start on “Something You Weren’t” with a track that doesn’t relent much to speak of in establishing the overall energy and ambiance to be heard throughout the CD. This includes everything from interesting lyrics to incendiary guitar fills. You can hear within seconds why he’s been sought after as a session player. But you can also hear why he’s a solo artist.

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Sam Baker releases new LP

published on August 28, 2017

PRIMARY URL: https://www.sambakermusic.com/

Following a European tour behind his new album, Land Of Doubt, Sam Baker is turning his attention to creative projects in 2017: Opening his first-ever exhibition as a visual artist, staging an original play and filming a documentary. As you may know, Sam has limited hearing after being on a bus that exploded during a 1986 terrorist attack in Peru, but he’s from Texas, now living in Austin.

Seconds Before Landing - 'Now That I Have Your Attention'

published on August 28, 2017

Seconds Before Landing - ‘Now That I Have Your Attention’

PRIMARY URL: https://www.secondsbeforelanding.com/

The album cover is of a man screaming, it really goes with the title, Now That I Have Your Attention. The blue hue really tones down the image and draws your attention to the music. The introduction song begins with a message about extraterrestrials. It makes for an interesting introduction toan album. 4 AM is the first song after the intro. It’s about aliens and begins with the same announcer discussing an unidentified flying object. Then there is a voice that begins to surface, the voice of someone panicking, “Oh no,” like the aliens are going to get him. Then techno music begins, and he says, “Help me.” This song is very story like and makes the album very interesting album so far. Wondering Soul is next, it is about father and daughter both wondering, the artist is using both meanings of the word here. Lost and questioning.