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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

 

GenesisDemi - 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

 

Watching For Rain CD CoverAnne 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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