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2009 Current Reviews
(please see our Archives for more reviews)
 Melissa
Giges - Evident
Native New Yorker, Melissa Giges is extraordinary as a
songwriter; performing piano, keyboards and vocals on her new CD,
Evident.
Jazzy, sultry, and smooth, combine with an element of
pop to produce a new and enthralling blend like Silent I Will Be.
Giges moves into the angelic on Could it Be You, moving and
ethereal. Bedtime Story is hauntingly beautiful. Lightening the
feel on Hey Lion, Giges is obviously multi-dimensional as she
delves into the depth of the lighter side, a paradox, how do you do
that? Tell Me Soon carries an autumny/wintery feel full of
anxious feeling. On Evident, the title track, Giges, takes the
listener back to the speakeasy feeling of the sparky yet slow-moving
energy classic of earlier times. And the layers continue to peel away
from Giges on Movie Scene with a Broadway feel, and given her
surroundings not a surprise, but what a combo on top of what we’ve
already heard. So many tracks have "hit" written between the lines, and
it is Evident. Lovely.
www.melissagiges.com
 Angie
Stevens - Queen of This Mess
Stevens country sound is almost old-time; going back
to country at it’s roots, forgetting the pop country sound of today,
Stevens offers us the real thing. The title track, Queen of This Mess,
asks for belief in love today, and is appropriate to Steven’s style,
perhaps asking us to believe (again) in country today. Coming
Home, This Time Around, good traditional country sounds.
Accidentally Smiling, borders on folk; a deeply heart-felt love
song. Give It On Back, brings to mind the Judds and we hear
Stevens begin to kick up her heals a bit and is very likely hit
material. The vocals on Anything include Seth and Josh Larson as
well, with a wonderful old-time, blue-grass, gospel feel.
www.angiestevens.com
 J.
- Da Music
For light soul-soothing sounds, Da Music, the
debut CD by J., is delightfully satisfying. Nice music to relax and find
that "groove" to get into. All instrumental, this collection will uplift
any mood or occasion. It’s moody, it’s classic, shadowy and street-smart
at times but always comes back to that "I feel good" sound. Keyboards,
bass, percussion; all low-key but not understated. J. has a style we’ve
been missing in contemporary sound.
www.myspace.com/jandcompany
 Catherine
Duc - Visions and Dreams
Sensual sound at its best, Catherine Duc’s Visions
and Dreams, is a melodic journey to a new horizon. From the Native
American sound on cuts like Essence of Dreams to imaginary
raindrops in Dancing in the Mist. Ethereal; Evocation may
be calling the whales with the beauty of the feminine vocal and flowing
musical sounds. Almost comparable to Yanni, One Autumn Day,
exhibits true beauty in musical flight. Soothing flutes, keyboards,
angelic voices; this CD is absolutely a must have for the soul.
www.catherineduc.com
 Judy
Nagy - Bulldog Girls at the Dresden
Judy Nagy’s, Bulldog Girls at the
Dresden, kicks off with the title cut, an interesting folk-ish tale
about Bulldog Mary and her Merry Band of bitches who may very well be
saving the day on Monday night at the Dresden. Paul McCartney, is
a unique take on a place we’ve probably all been; lost and naive’, with
hopes of marrying Paul. Nice surprise cover of the old, It’s Not
Unusual, in a contemporary sound.
Slow, bluesy, soft-movin’ songs to
groove to. Piano sounds, easy-listening. Great job on The Shoop Shoop
Song, with a smooth flow into, The End of the World. Nagy
takes you on a nostalgic ride whether through your past or to your
favorite pub around the corner, without ever having to leave the house.
www.judynagy.com
 Demi
- Genesis
Is it dance, is it pop, is it hip-hop?
Show Me, Don’t 4get to 4get, Bad Girls, and all of the songs on
this collection are tunes for steppin’ out. High energy and electronica
in motion, Demi may just take you where you want to go, so ride her
Tidal Wave, a core piece in this collection, to the top with her.
This beauty from New York shows us
that she’s got a lot going and isn’t taking no for an answer. If you
want an upbeat, fast-moving dance EP, she’s your girl.
www.rhapsody.com/demi/genesis
www.myspace.com/demi360
 Michael
Scott Parker - Naked
This is female rock at a high. Sultry,
deep, fast and furious, Michael (yes she’s a girl) Scott Parker, really
steams it up on her 2007 release, Naked. Right off the bat,
Let’s Make Crazy, jumps in and let's us know where we're heading and
we want more. Tiny Yellow Leaves diverts to a slower, mid-tempo
almost jazzy sound because, "heartbeat’s slowing down now, look at all
the tiny yellow leaves," and is perhaps the only slow point in Parker’s
exploration-al journey.
Great music with widely ranging vocal
abilities, it seems Parker rolled up everything from the eighties to
contemporary rock and put it all into one hot new ball of music along
with some unique sounds clearly her own.
www.creaturerock.com
 Ellen
M. Wilson - Songs of Ascent
Beautiful, swirling awakening of
transcendent vocals spanning the ages. From giving thanks, to healing,
to ending war; Songs of Ascent, is a moving collection of what
are obviously songs of divine inspiration, culturally folk, and
mythically tuned.
Whatever your faith, Wilson’s tribute
to ancient verse and prayer may just awaken the age-old soul within,
enticing ancestral memories to rise and lead you on your very own soul-ful
journey to the wisdom that guides us all. Wherever you are spiritually,
Songs of Ascent will take you higher.
Modah Ani to Ellen M. Wilson.
www.ellenmwilson.com
 Linq
- Life Goes On
Diane "Linq" Lincoln’s newest cd,
Life Goes On, touches hearts and consciousness with her music and
lyrics (all by Lincoln except one track, Ode to the Butterworth Boys,
a soothing contemporary folk tale).
Where will the Wild Ones Go is
a call to arms for the love of nature’s loss to bulldozers, with nice
guitar and vocals. Change the Picture, is asking for just that,
change, change in the world with an emphasis on racism. Diversity
Dance offers up variety as the spice of life from sexual orientation
to socio-economics.
The title cut, Life Goes On, is
people, life, loves, and Linq assures us it’s all par for the course,
and reminds us a simple ‘be here now’ with love is all we need.
Route 32 Blues carries traditional blues sounds lending a lighter,
humorous side to this highly outspoken and artistic work, and
it’s pretty good blues. Most importantly on this CD, Linq asks us, "when
the peace train comes, will you be there?"
This is an excellent collection and
work from rising artist Linq and her cohorts. Our pick for the new Woman
on the Rise; this gal didn’t set out on her musical journey until she
turned 55. Life Goes On is her third CD since 2004, not bad for a
late-bloomin’ boomer.
www.linqmusic.com
Andrea Plamondon - A Collection of Songs from San
Francisco’s Underground 1989 -2006
From San Francisco, Andrea Plamondon has
created an unusually unique arrangement by adding her lyrics and vocal
melodies to the music on this collection. An upbeat punk-eighties style lends to a
rhythmic dance beat on the first two tracks, with percussion brewing
strongly on songs like Hope Springs Eternal, and on Five Year
Old Sages I am reminded of the likes of Grace Slick with a softer
side. Little Boy Lost really exhibits an angelic performance
reminiscent of something close to religious; the crescendo almost
eternal, winding into a haunting vocal on Invisible Animals.
Desert March is very "world" feeling whether of the middle east or
an ancient Roman cathedral.
Plamondon is widely versatile with an emotional and
mental recurrence to the mind. She would likely be comfortable on a punk
stage, taking a bow on Broadway, performing a rock opera or singing
three hail Mary's, and this collection is proof of that.
www.tigressmusic.com
 Eve's
Burden featuring Sharon Jordan - The Black Letter
The California-based rock group, Eve’s
Burden, fronted by outstanding vocalist, Sharon Jordan, has released
their debut CD, The Black Letter.
Jordan’s strong and confident vocals
are immediately impressive and pleasing. Some songs are faster and
heavier-hitting. Eve's Burden has a unique but at the same time familiar
style. The title cut, The Black Letter, slinks in with a slower
pace echoing a blues sound that melds back into a heavy but at the same
time mellow rock. Candy Girl is our pick for hit potential.
Jordan has a versatility to move and blend genres, adding a slight
contemporary pop/country sound. An harmonica lends even more to an
interesting pop/country mix in the heart of this classic rock
collection. Windows of Heaven is beautifully done with a hope for
this troubled time. Guitar on Black Lightening is worthy of any
of rock's classic players and is a most powerfully moving song.
This CD contains 17 songs; all great
and will please any classic rock fan. Full of surprises and sometimes
contradictions, Eve’s Burden is obviously a talented band on their way
up. Just when you think you’ve heard it all . . . along comes Eve’s
Burden. And on my shelf there’s always room for one more classic
rock band.
Visit them at
www.myspace.com/evesburdenmusic
 Anne
Trenning - Watching for Rain
Listening to Anne Trenning’s newest cd, Watching
for Rain, which begins with the traditional Welsh folk song, The
Ash Grove, one feels transported to an earlier time and place. Her
performance is with such ease, it just suddenly becomes noticeable that
you are no longer where you were when you turned the cd on.
Ten originals also line this piece of work which are
composed and performed by Trenning. Eden Hall is wonderfully
Celtic with the feel of a true jig on its heels. There is a welcoming
peace to her music, wonderfully uplifting, especially noted on The
Welcome Song.
A Prayer for the World may sum up Trenning’s
inspiration and take on Watching for Rain, says the artist,
"There is a change in the air for the whole world, and I wanted this
collection of songs to communicate the hope for constructive
transformation. Water is one of life’s essentials, and I feel the same
way about music, " and you’ll feel the same way about Trenning;
Watching for Rain is one of life’s listening essentials.
www.annetrenning.com
 Colleen
O'Grady - Hidden Treasures
Houston-based Colleen O’Grady brings the spiritual
blessings of everyday life into the light on her new cd, Hidden
Treasures. Guitar, Irish flute, violin and harmonica all come
together on this cd for a rich and variable sound.
This is a cd with a message. Playfully alternative on
some songs, with a mix of country and Celtic on others, O’Grady’s
musical poetry leads the listener to a world of beauty on tracks like
You are More. How Many Stars encourages us to look deeper at
our feelings and life. Hear You, is a contemporary cry for our
souls to listen for more . . Get back on the Horse and Dance
with Me bring in a slight country sound while the title cut,
Hidden Treasures, glimmers with the sounds of the Irish. Is it
Love, Your Hands; stories of love and children, add an earthy
touch to an overall inspirational collection. A ministry for the soul,
O’Grady has listened well.
Find Colleen O'Grady at
www.cdbaby.com
 Tamara
Lewis - Living Down River
Tamara Lewis brings an uncanny old time sound and feel
into her songwriting and recordings on her second CD release, Living
Down River. The title cut is dreamy and one can almost feel a
southern breeze. It’s an easy ride and reminds that life should be so
yet isn’t always on tracks like Love Song to the Midwest and
Better Day. Don’t Look at the Mountain encourages us to let
go of the past and find our healing in a new day with a bit of a gospel
feel. Big City Blues comes in with a grindy, down at the
crossroads touch and is sure to satisfy any blues fans. Cold Coffee,
Warm Beer, is original retro; another with a new twist on that old
time feel.
Lewis’ songwriting takes us back to a simpler, easier
time. It’s a soft, soothing country sound with a gentle healer’s touch.
She’s classic in her ability.
www.tlewismusic.com
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