Kathy Muir - Second Life

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.  

The Von - 3nity

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.

Alex Di Leo - So We Go

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.  

Josh Birdsong - Simple Geometry

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.  

Stefanie Keys - Open Road

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. 

Juliet Huns - Behind the Scenes

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.

Norwood - Notes To My Blood

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”.

The Good for Nothin' Band - Maniac World

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thegoodfornothinband/?hc_location=ufi 

Some might push music like this away without giving it a chance. There are music listeners among us who will openly dismiss genres like blues, traditional country, and jazz saying they no longer have anything to say about the complexities of modern life and thought. We have cluttered our lives and thinking with so much detritus that we are now conditioned to believe our representational art should be burdened with the same static. The unabashedly old fashioned music of bands like The Good for Nothing Band are antidotes to such nonsense. Ten songs on their debut collection, Maniac World, attest to the ability of blues and jazz music to disperse that static we rely upon and, instead, clarify our thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a way few art forms ever have.