One From Many - 29:11

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

Portland, Oregon’s One From Many, formerly known as FarCry, follows up their impressive debut LP The Alleged Album with a new EP release, 29:11, brimming over with enough emotional content for three full lengths. Born from the ashes of a failed marriage and other personal upheaval, vocalist Andrew Supina and his band mates have created a five song effort that isn’t so much of a collection as it is a journey. Grief and regret receive a wide airing, but there’s acceptance peering its way out of the gloom and it helps make this a fully rounded songwriting experience. One From Many embraces evocative, but never overwrought, production that gives surprising weight to their largely low-fi, acoustic-based sound. Big choruses and harmony vocals abound, but the overriding hallmark of the band’s music is an endlessly inventive melodic sensibility that makes even the EP’s lesser tunes essential listening.  

Leo Harmonay “Somewhere Over the Hudson”

URL: https://www.lharmonic.com/music/

The Review: North East based singer-songwriter Leo Harmonay has one of those voices that’s familiar but yet you can’t quite put your finger on him. His latest CD, “Somewhere over the Hudson” starts off with “Colors” a carefree folk/rock opener painted with colorful vocal harmonies, earthy tones, and popish appeal. Track 2 “Dark Sunday Gray” keeps the flow going in the right direction. It also shows how well these cats can really play outside the a-typical Pop embellishment. More emotional title track really open thing up as Harmonay’s acoustic guitar-voice tandem really flourishes. Slowly but surely you are introduced to Harmonay’s inviting deep voice via more great music. CD gets better and better as it advances. This is the perfect setting for a hungry Adult Contemporary Pop audience. The earthy foundation, poppy backdrop, and touches of acoustic guitar and layered instrumentation really make an impact. The almost soulful vocal tonality of Harmonay I was actually surprised to see he was a white man. His voice/guitar coupled with a nice reverb soaked snare drum/guitar both compliment each other well. It’s a very modern sounding CD, but don’t worry - there are no Kanye West guest appearances here. On standout racks “We Are Two”, “Rocks at Your Feet” and “Running Days” you will hear flawless transitions and impressive choral finales that will bring you back into familiar pop territory. Harmonay’s voice is spot on as he demonstrates remarkable vocal control and power. He also shows great depth as a writer. Some of these songs are brilliant. As I listened to these songs over and over again, I noticed how fluid all of the arrangements really were. The whole CD moves from one moment to the next, one transition /track to the next. And despite the lack of ‘jolting moments’ to catch you off guard, all of all the tracks manage to grab your attention with their gentle, lighthearted style. There’s some nice acoustic guitar work, and vocals and rhythmic touches really mesh well together within the sonic space. Some tracks give hint to an almost Jazzy-Folk territory.

Get Enchanted with Mostafa Zaghloul

With a name like Mostafa Zaghloul, it’s hard to really see what his sound would be like. It could be a psychedelic trip for all I know. With one song, I knew it looks were deceiving. “Cease Fire” was nothing short of beautiful. Enchanting plucks of the strings intertwined with sounds of nature. It sounded like it could’ve been an instrumental on an Incubus. With “Thaumatrope” we take a bit of a turn as things get a little eerie, but still remain like a dreamscape. We pick things up as “Anyway The Wind Blows” comes into play. The beat here is a little more modern and metropolitan. You could hear this in Manhattan as a CEO closes a deal. We head from an upscale bar in New York to a funky club with “The Doors Of Perception. What I like and appreciate about Mostafa Zaghloul is that he never plays the same thing twice. This is an artist that captures an array of essences that span the spectrum. Check out the many ways of Mostafa Zaghloul today! (https://soundcloud.com/mostafa_zaghloul)

Lamar Anthem: "Next to Me"

Lamar Anthem’s “Next to Me” is all about romance. This singer knows his strengths and plays up to them. He has this old school soul vibe to his delivery. Like something you’d hear back when acts like Smokey Robinson was just starting out. He has an old soul, but is able to twist it and make it work for a 2015 audience. The lyrics are like something you’d hear around Valentine’s Day, but are good the other 364 days of the year as well because there’s no wrong time to be in love. If you’re a fan of classic R&B, check out “Next to Me” by Lamar Anthem. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MGciz1bOpM)

Paul Meadow – Cheap & Easy

Primary URL: https://paulmeadow.com/

At first glance, you’d be forgiven if you thought Paul Meadow was a single person. But alas, it’s merely the moniker of Brooklyn duo Stirling Krusing and Chris Lee. Labeling their sound as slop folk, Paul Meadow have dazzled fans in their native borough for the better part of the past few years. Chris and Stirling struck a bond at a pub upon losing their jobs penning ad jingles for a firm to create the Paul Meadow musical vehicle. “Cheap & Easy” is their latest release but they’ve been around since 2012. They call themselves “slop folk,” but there is so much more going on than folk to begin with on this EP. They do have a sound all their own which fits into whatever that is, you can hear it, but there is also some progressive inclinations. They play too deep to call it one thing. This is proven right away on the first song, “I Love This Town,” begins with footsteps running, heavy breathing and a mystical build up to a smashing burst of emotion, followed by some great guitar lines. The vocals are outstanding and you know this is going to be a killer die. The arrangement is second to none, and the vocals are remarkable. You’ll love it as the guitar parts rip through the background and the whole band feel of this. What a way to open any album. It’s one of those songs you say wait a second, and start over so you can focus better on what’s going on. The second track is “Heart Of A Dog” and it’s definitely of the folk variety in the vocal department. But it’s still evened out by other influences, as do the rest of these cool songs. The guitars are country style to say the least but there is still something very alternative about it. It’s pretty sweet, really. It’s gut level but light hearted. By the time this over you know this is an undeniably awesome release. This stands up to anything on here, running by far the shortest.

I-qakaintelligentqueen Sings with Diversity

We’re quickly introduced to I-qakaintelligentqueen with “My Name is India IQ.” It takes awhile to get to her, but the beat keeps listeners company. We had a reggae feel with the introduction but then get wrapped up in hip hop with “Shorty When I See Yah.” We’re hearing a new side of the singer here and it’s great. From reggae to emcee to singer in “A Black Angel.” She suddenly transforms into a neo-soul artist with an island feel. If you’re a fan of artists who can take on an control a handful of sounds, check out I-qakaintelligentqueen now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/iqakaintelligentqueen)

Randall Gartman: Jesus

Randall Gartman’s “Jesus” album is country goodness! “Southern Man’s Way” gets right to the point and doesn’t dance around why we turned this record on - to hear some good tunes. He tells a tale of how he came to be and it’s simple and universal to most. The title track is a great song about the lord. It’s light and doesn’t weigh down too heavy on this or that. It’s just a sweet sentiment for the man upstairs. With “Alligator Crawl” he gets back into the swing of things like when we started. This one has more of a backyard party feel. It’s a great song that has a lot of push to it. If you’re a fan of country music that’s full of belief, check out not only Randall Gartman’s “Jesus” out now, but also his show if you’re in the Texas area on December 18 at The Cowboy Club. (https://randallgartman.com/)

My Politic drops new album

URL: https://www.mypoliticmusic.com/

While it is true many feel the music industry is in disarray, it’s always a breath of fresh air to hear a new band or artist that’s not afraid to take chances with their musical expression. With Nashville based My Politic latest musical offering “Anchor” it’s clear to me he has surpassed what many consider to be the a-typical musical release. First a bit about My Politic: They recorded their first album, “A Few Words I Couldn’t Find Yesterday” in 2008. After playing for years in the Springfield, MO area they decided to move to Boston, MA and try their luck on the East Coast. In 2012, “Could You Come Home” and “Oh My Love” from the Album “Younger Still,” released in 2010, were featured on the Real L Word on the Showtime network. In 2013 their song “A Name For You and Me,” also from their “Younger Still” album, was featured on MTV’s Buckwild. In 2013, the band released their fifth album “Love and A Motor Home.” Since forming the band has played countless shows across the US, which has helped solidify their Americana sound. My Politic made the move to Nashville, TN in the Fall of 2013 where they met their newest member Wilson Conroy, who has helped the band further realize their sound. They have started work on their sixth album. Do I have your attention yet?