Review: Griffin Anthony - Crazy Ways

Griffin Anthony - Crazy Ways
2010, Griffin Anthony

New York City-based singer/songwriter Griffin Anthony brings a Soul-imbued Pop sound on his debut album, Crazy Ways. With quality and style befitting some of the bigger names in Pop music, Anthony adds his signature Soul voice and sharp songwriting to create one of the biggest surprises of the new year. The self-produced Crazy Ways was mixed by Grammy winner Charles Dye (Ricky Martin, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, John Secada).

Griffin Anthony opens with the soulful title track. Anthony is vaguely reminiscent of Jason Mraz on Crazy Ways with a rapid-fire vocal style on the verses but breaks into a vaguely funky chorus full of Pop magic. So You is a Soulful Pop love song that's bound for the Mix Tape pool. So You is a likely candidate for licensing for television or films and may even have legs for commercial radio. Let Go is a great tune with a great message, and fits right into the commercial niche with artists likes Mraz, John Mayer, Rob Thomas and Jack Johnson. Funk and Soul are the order of the day on Keep It Honest, and Anthony even channels a bit of Dave Matthews on Sleepy Sunday, which has hit single written all over it.

The highlight of the album (the highlight amidst highlights) is Lift Me Up. Written form the perspective of a little boy who is trying to figure out the world around him but still looking to his Dad to make the way a bit easier, Lift Me Up is an amazing piece of songwriting. If you're a Dad this song will get to you. Without My Blocks returns to the flavor of catchy acoustic Pop with a soulful mien, telling a story against the backdrop of a divine arrangement. Anthony touches upon the desire for second chances on Plane Girl. If you've ever met someone while traveling or at the supermarket who caught you unawares and you let them walk away and wishes you hadn't, then this song sums up the desire for a second chance to do it differently. Anthony takes his Soul/Folk/Pop sound on the Lounge side for Pieces, an unpretentious little song that perhaps doesn't shine like its brothers and sisters but quietly holds its own. Anthony closes out with the Bluesy barn burner Hurry Up, shifting the tone of Crazy Ways suddenly in a promise, perhaps, of what comes next.

Griffin Anthony takes both the singer and songwriter aspects of his occupation quiet seriously, creating music on Crazy Ways that ranges from compelling to breathtaking. Crazy Ways is incredibly polished without sounding slick or over-produced. Don't be surprised if Anthony outlasts most of his Indie contemporaries and is still making viable, compelling music a generation hence. He's that kind of talent.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Griffin Anthony at http://www.griffinanthony.com/ or www.myspace.com/griffinanthony. You can purchase Crazy Ways as either a CD or Download from CDBaby.com. Downloads are also available through iTunes.

Review: Russ Hewitt - Bajo El Sol

Russ Hewitt - Bajo El Sol
2008, Saulitomusic

Dallas, Texas "Nuevo Flamenco" guitarist Russ Hewitt's star is rising on the back of his debut album, Bajo El Sol. Blending Latin, Jazz, Native American and Middle Eastern elements into his songs, Hewitt has created an album that has already garnered chart success (the debut single, Bajo El Sol), and is receiving rave reviews from all across the musical spectrum. Hewitt has a prodigious band behind him, with Walfred Reyes, Jr. (Santana, Strunz and Farah, Ricky Martin) on drums; Rafael Padilla (Miami Sound Machine, Shakira) on percussion; Bob Parr (Cher, Brian Setzer Orchestra) on bass and the inimitable Alfredo Caceres on guitar, listeners will be blown away by the tapestry of sound Hewitt weaves.

Bajo El Sol opens with the title track, an energetic and lively Latin/Pop instrumental. Lydia is propelled by an insistent melody that will keep recurring wrapped in a Flamenco arrangement. Tranquillo is built around the sort of mildly infectious melody that will keep you coming back for more, although the arrangement does fall into the overly repetitive category. My favorite track was El Beso, with Ojos Bonitos a close second. Be sure also to check out Byzantine, Inger and Palma de Mallorca.

Russ Hewitt is talented, and Bajo El Sol is a good introduction. The arrangements here are light and poppy, perhaps too much so at times, but Hewitt's playing is technically superior and shows emotional investment. There is a definite elevator music quality here because of the ultra-smooth arrangements and production, but there's a little more to Bajo El Sol than just passing time.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Russ Hewitt at www.myspace.com/russhewittmusic or http://www.russhewitt.com/. You can purchase a copy of Bajo El Sol at www.cdbaby.com/cd/russhewitt.

Review: Redfish - De Profundis

Redfish – De Profundis
2008, Redfish/SOCAN

Based in Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, Redfish are expanding their reach far beyond their home base. With album sales stretching as far across the globe as China, folks are starting to catch on to this dynamic band in a big way. With the soaring musical ideals of U2 and the quirky grit of The Tragically Hip, Redfish brings a unique sound to the table that is guaranteed to catch your ear. Redfish’s latest release, De Profundis, mixes commercial flavor with the sort of heady and interesting rock sound that is a sure recipe for success.

De Profundis gets off to a mixed start on Look On. This is a great guitar rock song, but the vocal effects on the song make it impossible to understand Edward Hagman, turning a great song into a good song. Breanna is one of the highlights of the disc. Co-written with Grammy winning producer Randy Cantor (Ricky Martin, Fugees, Bon Jovi) and Dennis Matkosky (who previously wrote Maniac for Michael Sembello), Breanna is the sort of dynamic rock song that gets eaten up on commercial radio. Big harmonies and a little flare for glam come across in a song that sounds like it might have come from a collaboration between The Tragically Hip and 54-40. Citizen is a call to action song (“We al came awake in a state of disgrace”) that is poignant and powerful.

Redfish take an ironic turn with the cover of Eric Burden & The Animals’ Sky Pilot; a song that could easily have been written regarding a recent U.S. President. Be sure to check out Anteroom, a big guitar rocker with blues in its heritage and some really funky guitar work. Also on the menu is All Your Life; opening with a Hendrix style guitar soliloquy, All Your Life is the song on De Profundis with the greatest commercial punch. Other highlights include At The End, Talk To Me and Lonestar.

Redfish have created a sound that is both stridently independent of commercial trends and yet with significant commercial potential. De Profundis has significant breakout potential with the right push or breaks. British Columbia has become a hotbed for dynamic and original sounding rock music, and Redfish is at or near the head of that movement. De Profundis is a must-own CD.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Redfish at http://www.redfishmusic.ca/ or www.myspace.com/redfish. You can purchase a copy of De Profundis at www.cdbaby.com/cd/redfish2.