Lara James - Why Wouldn't I [EP]

Lara James - Why Wouldn't I [EP]
2014, Lara James

Lara James grew up writing songs.  The fact that she was never exposed to pop music until her teens not-withstanding, James grew up on a mix of church music, jazz and old Broadway musicals.  In spite of her musical desires, she never pursued them until after she’d been married and had kids.  You’ll be glad she made the leap of faith, as James has a voice worth waiting for.  Her latest EP, Why Wouldn’t I, explores sparse and simple arrangements that allow her voice to shine. And shine it does.

James kicks off with the wonderfully sultry jazz number "Tick Tock", wielding a voice that could melt butter in a freezer and a fun energy. The energy remains high for "Why Wouldn't I", a carpe diem tune with a memorable chorus and a very danceable arrangement. In the hands of the right producer this song becomes a mega hit, but the electronic enhancements added in that process would detract from the simple beauty of James' composition.

James gives Garth Brooks' "The Thunder Rolls" a confessional/cabaret feel, but the quiet suspense of the arrangement is a perfect complement to her voice.  "Love Worth Fighting For" is a delightfully stripped down ballad with a melancholy feel, yet is full of a vibrant energy that's impossible to ignore. James is entirely on her game here, owning the moment the way a leading lady owns the stage. James bows with "Untouchable", a son of unrequited love that's stark and martial in its construction. There's a distinct pop sensibility here in spite of the stripped down arrangement.

Lara James can work with songs with sparse arrangements because she has a voice that fills up that sonic space. While perhaps not a belter, she shows a warm, full voice on Why Wouldn't I that runs from affable to sultry; with a quietly commanding presence that cuts to the heart of each every song. Some producer is going to get hold of James and make a huge star out of her with glitzy pop songs, but this musical milieu is where she shines brightest.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.larajamesmusic.com.  

Christine Marie - Christine Marie [EP]

Christine Marie - Christine Marie [EP]

2009, Christine Marie

Christine Marie is a California girl with southern intentions.  A singer/songwriter not yet out of her teens, Christine Marie is already a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and BMI, and is planning to move to Nashville as she starts college in 2011.  In 2009, Christine Marie released her self-titled debut EP, a 3-song collection of pop country inspired by the likes of Garth Brooks, Leanne Rimes and Keith Urban. 

Christine Marie opens with delicious pop/country of "Boy Behind The Radio", tracking the dreams of a young girl with a crush on a singer making her own dreams come true by becoming the girl behind the radio and someday meeting the voice.  Incredibly catchy, Christine Marie works the song for all its worth.  The song is universally appealing as there isn't a person out there who hasn't entertained a similar dream at least once in their life.  "Let's Do Somethin' About It" comes from the same country/pop lineage.  Christine Marie offers up a dynamic vocal performance, singing lead and harmony vocals on the EP.  There's a bit of a Jackson Browne-meets-Shania Twain aesthetic here that's hard to ignore.  Christine Marie closes with "It Starts Today", a musical resolution to go out and grab life by the horns and take what the world has to offer.  Once again a highly catchy turn, all the more appealing as the song (and the rest of the EP) hasn't been glossed over with the sort of high production values that steal life from the music. 

There's so much to consider in thoughts of who will "make it" and who will not.  Who you know and luck are big components of bridging the gap between being great and being famous, and such things cannot be predicted.  From a talent standpoint, from voice to sound to affability, Christine Marie displays the tools it takes to become a household name.  The songs offers on Christine Marie are catchy and accessible, with the sort of energy that tends to light up the request lines at country radio.  It might not happen right now, but don't be surprised if Christine Marie makes it big someday.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Christine Marie at http://www.christinemariesings.com/ or www.myspace.com/christinemariesings.  Christine Marie is available digitally through Amazon.com and iTunes.

Review: Justyna Kelley - Over The Moon

Justyna Kelley - Over The Moon
2010, Iconique Music Group

Justyna Kelley grew up in Nashville, in a household where jam sessions were as much a part of family play time as anything else. Kelley appears to have been groomed for a career in music, but it's her passion for music that makes her special. Kelley's debut album, Over The Moon, features the sort of Country/Pop/Adult Contemporary crossover appeal you'd expect from Carrie Underwood, Shania Twain or Faith Hill. Produced by David Kershenbaum (Joe Jackson, Tracy Chapman), Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel, Shawn Colvin) and Guy Eckstine (Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jeff Lorber), Over The Moon features ten songs worth of smooth radio-friendly country/pop and rock.

Over The Moon opens with "Once In A While", a musical monologue from one who feels forgotten in a relationship. "Once In A While" is a classic modern country ballad; Kelley delivers the song with a grace and dignity that will surprise you. It's a great opening song that is likely to have mild radio success but will fit nicely into the wonderful world of licensing. "The One I Love" is a happy mid-tempo country/pop gem. This song could be a hit on either side of the Country/Pop divide, with a chorus that will get stuck in your brain and refuse to leave. Kelley has a cultured country alto voice that is appealing; just a hint of sultry attitude hidden behind a wall of sweetness that suggests "girl next door" qualities. "Pushover" finds Kelley drifting more into the realm of Rock N Roll in a kiss off song to a friend who isn't really. It's a song of strength, of standing up for yourself. Kelley's delivery is solid, but perhaps a bit short on the anger that runs through the song.

"Over The Moon" is full of the starlight and effervescence of new love. Kelley's smooth delivery can't diminish the utter joy this song conveys, and the sweet sound of her upper range perhaps makes the song even more endearing. This one could be a bonafide pop and country hit. "Shoulda Known" is the sort of generic Pop/Country that seems to do well on commercial radio but is quickly forgotten; a decent enough song but just not something that will stick with you. Kelley puts her pop shoes on for "Have You Seen Him?” combining elements of 1980's pop, rock and country for a solid tune with commercial legs. Kelley shines on the Diane Warren-penned "Life's Like That", navigating the soaring chorus with essential grace. Kelley says goodnight with "Emily", obsessing over her man's ex-girlfriend and whether she might still be on his mind. The song is an awkward closer, at best. I suspect it was included to show a different side of Justyna Kelley, but in the end it may have been more of a disservice to Kelley than anything else.

Justyna Kelley has a gorgeous voice, and reflects a poise and comfort on this recording that suggests a highly professional performer. Over The Moon suggests that no matter how pretty her voice may be, Kelley's isn't a powerful sound. This limits the range of material available to her, certainly, but not all of the material on Over The Moon was well chosen for her voice. Kelley can certainly deliver solid Pop tunes with appeal, and working in the circles she's in she's nearly guaranteed at least a modicum of success. Over The Moon has some strong moments, but never truly soars.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Justyna Kelley at http://www.justynakelley.com/ or www.myspace.com/justynakelley. No full album is availble yet, but you can download individual tracks from Justyna Kelley on Amazon.com.

Review: David MacKenzie & Josh Johnston - Notes Home

David MacKenzie & Josh Johnston - Notes Home
2008, Shandon Records (Ireland)

Dublin is home to David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston, but much of their writing gets done on holiday in Italy and France. Hence the title of their sophomore album, Notes Home. MacKenzie & Johnston were accomplished musicians before coming together. David MacKenzie began his professional career with the BBC Northern Ireland Radio Orchestra. He has played with various ensembles throughout Europe and has recorded with Elmer Bernstein, John Barry, U2, Shania Twain and The Corrs. Josh Johnston has recorded or performed with Roesy, Kila, Declan O'Rourke, Karl Scully and Ronan Swift, and counts The Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Alan Parsons, Ben Folds and Moxy Fruvous among his influences. MacKenzie and Johnston's debut album, A Minor Happiness was a straight-forward duet of violin and piano mix originals and covers, but for Notes Homes, the duo tackles the musical world of Stephane Grappelli and Joe Venuti with thirteen original tunes that transcend the spirit of the two jazz masters.

Notes Home opens with The Latecomer, a vibrant and mildly rambunctious work that dances on the edges of Bee-Bop and Rockabilly. MacKenzie & Johnston dance around each other like a pair of prize-fighters, and when they meet musical sparks fly. Cap Mortola is a lilting tune, perfect for dancing. Things take a dark and sentimental turn on Silk, a light samba perfect for the parlor or piazza. Place Carnot perfectly present and past, with guitar and violin in perfect sync throughout. MacKenzie And Johnston take things down a notch with La Nabonnaise, one of the simpler and most stoically pretty songs on Notes Home.

Minor Happiness was not my favorite tune on the first listen through, but I have to admit it grows on you. The song is pure joy in melancholy blue with a melody that sticks with you and an arrangement that's a hair's-breadth from perfect. Broadband Blues takes another tack, with a light and airy theme that plays like a fragrant summer's evening breeze. The low point of the album, a misnomer, is Waiting. This is simple dinner jazz, perfectly executed; a musical resting place before the final stretch. Wistful Thinking leads into the highlight of the album. Point Neuf is a deliciously dizzy waltz, with the violin dancing like a dervish. Don't be surprised if Point Neuf causes you to push the replay button many times over. MacKenzie and Johnston close out with the highly danceable Sliding Scale. The piano is bedrock here, with the violin providing the fireworks.

David MacKenzie & Josh Johnston make all the right moves on Notes Home. Fans of Django Reinhart, skeptical of all of the artists out there who "sound like" Reinhardt, will be pleasantly surprised by the chemistry and musicianship on Notes Home. MacKenzie & Johnston don't try to be Reinhardt and Venuti; instead they pay tribute to their legacy, staying close enough to the masters to be in the ballpark but original enough to bring that classic sound forward into the 21st century as vibrant as it ever was. Make sure you get your Notes Home.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston at www.myspace.com/davidandjosh or http://www.davidandjosh.com/, where you can purchase a copy of Notes Home.

Review: Rachel Allyn - Late Nights And Early Mornings

Rachel Allyn - Late Nights And Early Mornings
2009, Rachel Allyn Music

Rachel Allyn is a little lady with a big voice reminiscent of some of the old-time country greats. But she's not just a country girl; she's a little bit Rock N Roll too. Allyn has put in her time in New York and California and even in the Tennessee 'Tonks, perfecting her sound and performing style and getting ready for this moment. Her debut EP, Late Nights And Early Mornings, is a 100% DIY affair, and provides an exciting musical picture of an emerging talent that isn't about to be contained. She's performed with Bobby Bare, and had impromptu performances with Shania Twain and Gretchen Wilson, but the time may be coming when up-and-coming vocalists brag about singing with her.

Late Nights And Early Mornings opens with Stand Still, a very appealing bit of Country/Rock. Allyn sounds like a classic country vocalist here, not just giving her best vocally but with her personality shining through the song in spades. Allyn sounds like she's enjoying every moment, and that energy, along with the essentially catchiness of the song makes it a great listen. The fact that Stand Still make great mix-tape material just ads to the package. On Bury Myself In Your Arms Tonight, Allyn gives a classic performance with a modern feel that has significant potential to break wide open. This is the sort of love song Country Music Radio has been starving for, and the licensing potential here is huge.

Allyn pulls off the perfect populist anthem on Gettin' By. Anyone who has ever trudged through the day-to-day realizing that their dreams are getting further and further away but never given up will see a bit of themselves here. Again, the commercial potential here is huge, particularly in troubled times. Allyn changes speeds with When The Young Ones Go, an ode to all of those who have given up their lives in wartime and for those left behind. It's a gorgeous and heartfelt tune that is poignant and pointed without getting messy with politics. For all that's come before, however, Allyn saves the best for last. You Drive Me Crazy has the potential to be the sort of monster hit that Nashville just doesn't produce anymore. Country, R&B and Rock blend to create a seriously danceable tune that should be all over the airwaves. Allyn's sweet and sultry voice gives this an extra lift and proves there's hope for country music after all.

Rachel Allyn deserves to be the next big thing in country music. Strong songs, strong performances and a personality that is likeable beyond measure and shines through the songs add up to what might just be the perfect package. If you check out one new country artist in 2009, it should be Rachel Allyn. Late Nights And Early Mornings is a wonderful surprise and a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Get it.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Rachel Allyn at http://www.rachelallyn.com/ or www.myspace.com/rachelallynmusic. You can purchase Late Nights And Early Mornings as either a CD or download from CDBaby.com.

Review: Davie Gayle - Amber In The Clay

Davie Gayle - Amber In The Clay
2009, Claydirt Music/Remba Records

Los Angeles-based Davie Gayle grew up on country music in New Jersey, where her father was a guitarist in a country band. Her entire family was musical, and Gayle eventually formed a duo with her brother (The Gayles). After moving to LA, Michael began his own label and went into production while Davie threw herself into songwriting and performing. Davie Gayle’s debut solo album, Amber In The Clay, is a distinct and poignant collection of songs drawn from her own life experiences. Comparisons to Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless and Lucinda Williams are understandable, but Gayle’s point of view as a songwriter is practically unique.

Amber In The Clay opens with the title track, a story song paralleling a scientist who finds the building blocks of life stored in the earth and a person of significance who helps a broken or lost person rebuild their life. The song has a classic country tragic sound while moving toward a positive message. Get Me is a great roadhouse country tune that sounds like it should be a hit on the country charts. If Shania or someone of that ilk recorded this song you'd hear it everywhere, and Gayle is a much better vocalist. 3:09 finds Gayle giving a classic country performance in a voice that mixes her sweet tone and just the right dose of bittersweet sorrow. Channel To You takes more to the pop side of the scale with some R&B and Gospel influence in one of the more daring tracks on the disc.

Roundabout is one of the best story songs I've heard in some time, culminating in a positive message that parallels Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening. Gayle's sweet, honest voice is the perfect instrument to deliver this song, and she deserves real attention for this one. You Don't Say is a country flavored blues rocker ala Bonnie Raitt with an innate pop sensibility that will turn a lot of heads. Doghouse Flowers lets Gayle rip it up a little; this one will be a particular favorite of the ladies. Rockabilly Bug will have you reaching for your dancing shoes and cowboy hats.

Amber In The Clay is a pleasant surprise, hitting the high points of country music without succumbing to the Top-20 Country milieu that pervades commercial radio. Davie Gayle has a tremendous voice mixing sweetness with just a hint of mischief, and the arrangements here are out of sight. Amber In The Clay is music you need to hear; a potential breakout disc.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Davie Gayle at http://www.daviegayle.com/ or www.myspace.com/daviegayle. You can purchase a copy of Amber In The Clay at www.cdbaby.com/cd/daviegayle.

Review: Modern Science - Modern Science

Modern Science - Modern Science
2009, MIMORTL Records

Las Vegas-based duo Modern Science has forsaken their generation's obsessively melancholic musical angst in favor of old-fashioned fun-time Rock N Roll with a modern edge. Songwriter/guitarist/lead singer Kane Churko met bassist/backing vocalist Mike McHugh through MySpace in the midst of a troubled solo project entitled Mr. Kane. Finding an instant bond, the duo was born and took the moniker Modern Science as their own. Add in production from Juno Award winning producer, and father of Kane, Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Shania Twain, Phil Collins), and the end result is an energetic and infectious collection of ten songs entitled Modern Science.

Modern Science is great for the first seven songs. There's an element of Devo-esque geek chic that runs deep below the surface of wonderfully constructed pop gems. Look Where You're Walkin' is funky and infectious bit of modern guitar Pop you won't be able to get out of your head. Every Little Thing has some serious hooks and is very danceable. I'm The One (Pick Me) is the highlight of the album. This song could be a top ten single on the Pop charts with the right support. It's that rare rock/pop song that would be as accessible to the club and dance scenes as it would be to mainstream and AAA radio. Release this in May and you have a potential "summer song" that will be around for years. Baby Please has a bit of a classic Motown sound to it and is highly entertaining and danceable. Modern Science changes the vibe a bit on the virulently electro-rock Whatever You Say, and then again as they bring the funk on U Funk Me Up. Even the modern rock meets Devo sound of Desperately fits perfectly with the dynamic Modern Science has established on their self-titled debut.

By the time we get to the last three songs it seems like Modern Science has exhausted their A material and picked out a few songs to fill out the album. While good, these last three just don't have the energy or urgency that characterizes Modern Science up until this point. While this may have been a conscious choice, and the songs themselves aren't bad, they are a bit of a come down from the first seven.

Modern Science has a great, catchy pop sound that is bound to grab some attention. If another golden age of Pop/Rock music is about to start then don't be surprised if Modern Science is one of the bands at the forefront. The first seven songs here are Desert Island material; the last three worthy listens. All in all, Modern Science is an outstanding effort. Make sure these guys are on your "got to check them out" list.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Modern Science at http://www.themodernscience.com/. You can purchase a copy of Modern Science at www.cdbaby.com/cd/modernscience.

Review: Lauren Houston - Roots & Wings

Lauren Houston - Roots & Wings
2008, Hale Groove Productions

Morning View, Kentucky is the home and spiritual base of Lauren Houston. Raised by hard-working parents on classic Rock and Roll and singer-songwriters, Houston developed a taste for performance early on. By the time she was in college she was ready to start performing as part of the Cincinnati-based trio Mr. Dub and the To Be’s, but shortly thereafter began on her own solo journey. Confessional songwriting is Houston’s style. “Six strings and the truth” is the motto on her MySpace page, and Houston walks the walk in every song on her debut album, Roots & Wings.

Roots & Wings is a classic country album with great musicianship, strong songwriting and the plaintive, sweet voice of Lauren Houston, but something truly great is afoot here. It's rare that I make a point of elevating a particular song above the album it comes from, but in this case I must make an exception. Fight This War should put Lauren Houston on the map in a big, big way. It's the ballad of a soldier's wife in a time of war. Houston plays the protagonist here, laying her heart bare as the wife of a soldier ("I'll fight this battle and you fight this war"). The song is astoundingly touching; a heart-breaking look at the thoughts and emotions of the ones left behind. It's patriotic and full of love for the soldier and is a well-told story to boot. If this song ever makes it to popular country radio it might never come out of rotation. At the very least it's the sort of song that should be licensed for movies about or based in the Iraq War/War On Terror that will be made in the coming years.

Sexy Boots is another highly commercial song that should do well for Houston. This is the sort of song that someone like Shania Twain could buy her next mansion with. Lauren Houston has a real knack for pop-country as displayed here, and she can even sing without a backing vocal track! Mason's Daughter goes more a traditional country feel and shows off the sweeter side of Houston's voice in fine fashion. Be sure to check out Can't Get Enough, a poignant love song that holds that same sense of sweetness Houston projects through most of her songs. Other highlights here include Wasted Emotions, You Feel Like Home, Heart In Mind and Mr. Tree. As an afterthought, a country rock mix of Sexy Boots is included to give you an idea of what someone like a Mutt Lange might make of her amazing songs.

Lauren Houston is a talent. She sings, she writes well and she has that down-home girl next door aura that is neither false nor cliché. Roots & Wings should help Lauren Houston ascend the country ladder, and Fight This War could be the song that allows Houston to look at wherever she wants to be and declare that to be the top. If that song ever gets into major distribution there won't be anyone in the business who will argue with her. This is a must have disc for that song alone, but take away Fight This War and it's still a very strong release.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Lauren Houston at http://www.lauren-houston.com/ or www.myspace.com/laurenhouston. You can pick up a copy of Roots & Wings at www.cdbaby.com/cd/laurenhouston.