Indie Music Reviews

Shane Scheib

published on August 19, 2015

Band/Artist: Shane Scheib - Fast Friends (EP)

Sounds Like: Brett Dennen, Damien Rice, John Mayer, Timmy Curran, Mason Jennings, Matt White, David Gray

Shane Scheib is an American/Nashville based singer-songwriter. His latest 6 Track EP “Fast Friends” is an original blender of sound mixing artists like , Timmy Curran, Mason Jennings, Matt White and David Gray, with just a dash of Gavin DeGraw. On this CD expect a heart plucking pop/rock staple that fuses folk and contemporary songwriting with soulful melodies and subject matter. All songs touch on all styles, fusing many amazing genres with each song. I can even hear elements of Americana, Blues and alt-rock. This latest 5 track offering is a pop-rock 5 track wp/album that gleefully dances up and down the spectrum of all of the aforementioned styles.

Oogee Wawa - More Sand than Money

published on August 18, 2015

Oogee Wawa - More Sand than Money

URL: https://oogeewawa.com/

These guys are putting us on a little and it’s all good. Oogee Wawa would like for you to believe that they are about have good times and spreading positive energy through their music and that’s certainly true. They never claim that’s all they do, but their album More Sand than Money clearly reveals the Long Island based four piece as far more sophisticated musicians and players than they trumpet. It’s part of their appeal and manifests itself in assorted ways throughout the album’s 12 tracks. These aren’t sullen virtuoso musicians or impassioned social critics. The songs are unvarnished glimpses into their lives and draw from the comedic and serious alike in varying amounts. There’s also tremendous character that comes through in their music and lyrics. Few tracks embody like the opener “Let It Out”. Oogee Wawa contrasts full-time stresses of balancing “real life” obligations with the life of a professional musician and finds that the heart ache, worry, and disappointments are worth it when it’s time to go onstage. The reggae influence is strong, but the musicians infuse it with a rock bite. They turn to much more melodic fare on the second track, “Pretty”, one of the album’s earliest examples of the band’s songwriting potential. The song’s ability to give listeners a multi-dimensional speaker and meaningful lyrical content over a much more traditional reggae track is quite impressive. “More Sand than Money” follows the melodic path of its predecessor and peaks with an instantly memorable chorus, but other elements stand out. The biting guitar fills and fluid rhythm section playing make all things possible here and the vocal tops it off superbly.

Angelle: Reve (It’s But A Dream)

published on August 17, 2015

When it comes to New York, their inhabitants don’t mess around. That’s why you know you’re going to get the truth with Angelle’s “Reve (It’s But A Dream).” The record starts out with “Dream” and the drama builds up for a minute and then she comes in very serious. She has a great command of her situation and that’s clear from the stern way her lyrics come across here. In “Loving You” she lets her guard down just a bit and we can hear her heart. Then the script is flipped with “I’m All Fucked Up.” The title alone makes you anticipate what’s to come. It’s a true testament to where women are in music today. Back in the day heartbreak was so “woe is me” now women are fighting back with stronger words about it, but the whole song isn’t has hard as one would’ve assumed. It actually plays like something from Monica. Listeners go on quite the journey with Angelle. By the end she comes to terms with herself with “I Deserve” and it’s a high note to end on. If you’re a fan of Jill Scott and Monica, check out Angelle’s “Reve (Life’s But A Dream),” out now. (https://angellemusic.bandcamp.com/releases)

K Valentino, The Soul of Jersey

published on August 17, 2015

K Valentino brings some soul to New Jersey with her latest bunch of tracks. “Drugz” sounds like it’d be this hardcore rap song, but then we’re introduced to a captivating, soulful delivery. In “Sneak Days (Comes Around)” the claps at the beginning really set the pace and make it light. You really feel like you’re listening to some classic Ashanti. With “Just Frontin’” the heart of the artist is laid out on the line and then some hip hop is tossed in the mix to break the song up and give it some drama. “The Ending” is just the beginning as it’s clear from what we’ve heard so far that K Valentino likes to bring a lot of theatrics to the intros of her songs. Each starts with these grand entrances. Lastly, “You The Boss” brings us to the actual end with a naughty track that would be a little risque for the radio, but perfect for some downtime at the crib. If you’re a fan of artists like Rihanna and Ashanti, check out K Valentino today. (https://soundcloud.com/kvalentino)

Matthew Weaver Gives His Pieces Peace`

published on August 17, 2015

Matthew Weaver is a true artist and performer. “Subsequential Passions” sounds like something you’d hear at the part of a classic era movie when the characters are walking through the woods, their enemies hiding in the bushes. Then all of a sudden that drama is taken up and lightened a bit in a fairytale like way. In his “Violin Sonata” Weaver plays on the sadness of things, but with every dark day there is brightness as this piece conveys. It’s clear that Matthew Weaver can write a wonderful and evoking piece of music and perform it with ease. With so many artists out there turning to pop and mainstream music, it’s nice to hear someone sticking with the classics. If you’re a fan of the first type of music to really take the world by storm all those centuries ago, check out Matthew Weaver’s pieces now. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaVQwUmsZZFo8CGnXSSVBCA/videos)

Ron Louis Smith II - “Spank”

published on August 13, 2015

Ron Louis Smith II - “Spank”

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

The son of Ronald Smith, a founding member and horn player with disco legends KC and the Sunshine Band, scores big with the release of his album The Prince of Sunshine. Ronald Louis Smith II unleashes a dazzling eight song collection that explores an assortment of voices while maintaining a constant tether to a hard-charging, sharply defined dance music aesthetic. Other musical influences exert a hold over his approach and his command of fundamentals strikes an interesting contrast with the album’s glossy, modern production.

Kwame Binea - Kwame Binea Shakedown

published on August 10, 2015

Kwame Binea - Kwame Binea Shakedown

URL: https://www.kwamebineashakedown.com/

This outstanding eight-piece assemblage of talent features the songwriting of front man Kwame Binea and one of the band’s two guitarists, Justin Wilcox. The remaining band may not garner songwriting credits but modern listeners will struggle to find such large collectives of musicians, in any genre, capable of delivering Kwame Binea Shakedown’s dramatic musical punch. The band’s debut, self-titled ep is a polished and passionate reminder that the fearlessness dividing entertainers from artists is clearer than ever before. Kwame Binea commands these four songs with his charismatic and intensely musical singing and the band matches him step for step with a bold fusion of styles.

Sydney Alese – Time

published on August 10, 2015

Sydney Alese – Time

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SydneyAlese/479160072184571

Sydney Alese delivers an exciting mix of dance, rock and pop on her infectious debut Time. For an artist just starting out she has an excellent grasp of the fundamentals. There are enough hooks and beats here to incite a foot movin’, club frenzy while having people singing along at the top of their lungs. Not only is Alese a multi-instrumentalist, but she’s also a great singer that’s really working her voice across the album’s punchy set.