Jupiter in Velvet - The One in the Many

URL: https://jupiterinvelvet.com/ 

The latest album from UK based songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Jupiter in Velvet manifests a basketful of moods. Velvet excels unleashes hard-hitting rockers with guitar fireworks to spare, but melody is the hallmark behind everything he does and he just as often does well with more nuanced compositional numbers that utilize guitar and keyboards in equal measure. There are a lot of ambient backdrops used on this album, but they never dominate – in the end, keyboards and synthesizer are consigned to providing valuable color layered over the rhythm section so Jupiter in Velvet can work his magic on top. It is often magical indeed. He has breathlessly easy command over a variety of styles, though rock is most clearly is forte, and his ability to weave these varying elements into coherent wholes is one of his chief attractions as an artist. 

Project Grand Slam - The Queen’s Carnival

URL: https://projectgrandslam.com/ 

The fourth album from Project Grand Slam, The Queen’s Carnival, follows 2015’s roaring success Made in New York. The band has once again set their sights on finding another unusual cover to showcase their imaginative vision and their selection this time, a stunning reinvention of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, is by far their most revelatory effort yet. It is breathtaking, over the course of the release’s eleven song, to hear the sheer diversity at the band’s command, but the cover featuring vocalist Lucy Woodward is the burning heart of this record. It highlights the daring that fuels their musical explorations while conclusively demonstrating there isn’t an arrangement of any complexity that their skills can’t fully exploit. The production values are top shelf across the board and does an immaculate job of capturing Project Grand Slam’s varied, almost dense, musical attack.  

Bunny Sigler - Stand Up

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

Longtime Philadelphia native and R&B/soul music legend Bunny Sigler remains every bit as strong of a musical force late in his career as he stood at its peak. He might lack the commercial clout he once enjoyed, but Sigler now enjoys the twin results of two very different rewards. The respect accorded to him as one of the more important progenitors of a particular musical style makes him an in-demand figure for younger musicians to seek out for the reflected glory that working with him brings to their own careers. The second reward is just pure experience. Sigler is no longer beholden to chart positions and sales receipts in the same way that propelled his career as a young man. Instead, the confidence gained from experience allows him to follow his own muse with greater certainty than ever before. 

Kaylee Keller – Song Like That (SINGLE)

URL - https://kayleekeller.com/

Have you listed to the Radio lately? Is it me or is something horribly wrong with today’s music. Do you remember when music actually had really instruments in them with real people playing them? No kidding. How about good songwriting performed by artists that not only wrote the music but poured their heart and soul into performing them. Now when one listens to the radio what do you hear: a pretty face, cookie cutter songwriting, crafted via a microphone, some fancy sampling and a mix that sounds more like a commercial than a piece of music. Not to mention the subject matter is a bit off kilter and somewhat dark and melancholy. Yes the magic is all but gone from modern-day music, and people are wondering why. Actually there are a few select artists out there that still believe in the power of music.

Luis Mojica – Wholesome

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

Different. Unique. Unconventional. Random. Funny.  

These were the initial thoughts I had while listening to Luis Mojica’s debut album Wholesome which released late in July. The album details Luis’ journey from city living to mountain living. Utilizing many instruments like piano, cello, saxophone, flute–to name a few, combined with Luis’ vocal styling creates a unique modern twist on a Baroque sound. Accompanied by Melora Creager of Rasputina, and drummer Brian Viglione, Luis harmonizes his voice with their experienced playing skills. Each song on the album is very different and not like the rest. The instrumentals on each track are strong and memorable. Unfortunately I can not say the same for Luis and his lyrics. Luis has a beautiful voice that harmonizes well and fits the Baroque style perfectly however the album as a whole was definitely lacking.  

Rogue Valley - Radiate Dissolve

URL: https://www.lostinroguevalley.com/

Hailing from Minnesota, Rogue Valley has ventured far from home since their 2009 formation. Their talents have pushed them onto stages with nationally recognized acts like Lucinda Williams and Andrew Bird while they’ve also capitalized on opportunities for appearances on television and movie soundtracks. The five piece presents themselves unusually for the genre they’ve chosen to ply their trade in. Rather than one singer, the band has male and female lead singers. Guitarist and songwriter Chris Koza has a pleasing, middle of the road voice capable of surprising emotive range, but the real vocal star of the show is second vocalist and keyboard player Linnea Mohn. She has a supernaturally fluid ability to move between different vocal registers without producing any apparent strain and inhabits her parts on radiate dissolve with a singular beauty. The twelve songs on this album resist quick labeling – they are never indulgent and often incorporate a number of stylistic traits.

The Ann Wilson Thing - Focus #2

URL: https://www.theannwilsonthing.com/ 

The latest solo release from longtime Heart lead singer and Hall of Famer Ann Wilson, Focus #2, is a laser-focused EP featuring two covers and two original compositions. Wilson’s guitarist Craig Bartok assisted her with writing the new pieces and his guitar work helps distinguish them, along with the cover choices. The cover songs are live recordings and the production does an outstanding job of capturing the band’s performance and enthusiastic audience alike with vivid clarity. The studio recordings are similarly distinguished by the production’s obvious attention to detail and the balanced presentation of two radically different arrangements and styles. One isn’t accustomed to encountering EP releases with such artistic weight, but there’s little question after hearing this release that Wilson is as invigorated as ever both in her capacity as a performer and a writer. 

Cody Webb releases self-titled EP

Primary URL: https://codywebbcountry.com/music/

The self-titled first release from Nashville based songwriter Cody Webb is the sort of initial effort great careers begin on. We live in a fast-paced world. New talents rise and fall with increasing frequency and the durability required for long careers is at a premium. An artist like Cody Webb, however, is ideally poised for sustaining one of those increasingly rarefied careers thanks to his extraordinary mix of performing charisma and songwriting skill. His instrumental talents are another key component in his presentation and underscore everything he does with his voice. It is unlikely that Webb will receive the credit he deserves as a singer, but his performance over this half dozen songs is, by turns, confident and comforting. He is a consummate interpreter and entertainer alike. The production makes him the star of the show, so to speak, but he’s surrounded himself with an assortment of top flight musicians capable of fleshing his songs out to their fullest potential.