Review: Akiva - If I Didn't Work Nights/The Daylight

Akiva - If I Didn't Work Nights/The Daylight
2009, Akivasound Music

New York City-based singer/songwriter Akiva never planned on a career in music. The aspiring brain surgeon was studying abroad in the UK when he found himself playing out regularly in pubs. The bug had bitten and Akiva's life would never be the same. Back in the states, Akiva has released two critically acclaimed projects, Bueno Y Sano and The Hermosa EP. Along the way, Akiva has released a series of singles on MySpace as stand-alone songs, but a deeper current was running through the tunes than even he was at first aware. This synchronicity came together in the studio under the guiding hand of Producer Philip A Jimenez (Wheatus, The Diggs, Beat Radio), and the end result is a double album entitled If I Didn't Work Nights/The Daylight, due out November 3, 2009 on Akivasound Music.

Disc one, If I Didn't Work Nights, opens with the irrepressibly catchy I Keep Calling You. Akiva captures a comfortable sound that's part early Rock ballad and part 1970's AM pop. If this song doesn't find its way to the radio dial it's more a comment on the state of radio than on the song. Akiva goes for a suburban soul feel on Heart In A Bind, a song about fumbling your way through the maze of love. Junk In The Trunk is worth a chuckle, but also happens to be as deliciously infectious as I Keep Calling You. This is the sort of tune that will have concert crowds on their feet and singing along. It's also a reminder that today's "ugly duckling" might be tomorrow's insane crush.

Mississippi draws some delta jazz into the folk/rock arena on yet another tune that will have you tapping your toes. Akiva seems to be very much focused on love this time around, but thoroughly avoids any sort of cliché or stereotypical lyrical sense. Lost In You is the sort of song that should be filling up teenage mix-tapes coast-to-coast. There are several songs here likely to be licensed if they come to the right attention, and Lost In You might just be the biggest of them all. If I Didn't Work Nights is about all the aspects of life that get in the way of love sometimes, and a confidence that the things that are meant to work will no matter what life puts in the way. It's a sweet and hopeful song that's going to strike a lot of chords, particularly in the lovelorn and longing. The arrangement is first class and the song will get stuck in your brain. Cigarette is a glimpse of the raw attraction that's generally fueled by spirits and often thought better of the in the morning

Disc Two, The Daylight is a 4-song EP that opens with Headlights Out, a song about being lost in a lost situation. The narrator here is trying to get himself back on his feet, but part of that process is getting out of the relationship he's in and he's found it very difficult to do. Lips On The Microphone is an odd but catchy tune that I'll leave to readers to decipher. You'll definitely be moving to this one even if doesn't end up making a lot of sense to you. The last two tracks on the EP are decent but certainly not up to the level of the material on If I Didn't Work Nights.

Akiva does very well for himself with If I Didn't Work Nights, while The Daylight ends up having a somewhat superfluous feel to it. This is one of those cases where the extra songs are decent enough but sound like castoffs compared to the main album. Akiva flirts with five stars throughout If I Didn't Work Nights; his best work yet.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Akiva at www.myspace.com/akiva or http://www.akivamusic.com/. If I Didn’t Work Nights/The Daylight was officially released on November 3, 2009. Expect the CDs/downloads to be available via CDBaby and other outlets very soon.

Review: Michael Bellar/The As-Is Ensemble - Turned On Turned Up

Michael Bellar/The As-Is Ensemble - Turned On Turned Up
2009, Left Three Lanes Music

Michael Bellar and The As-Is Ensemble were, at one time, the house band at New York City's Blue Note jazz club. They have played Lincoln Center (NYC), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.) and the JVC and Bell Atlantic Jazz Festivals. Their latest album, Turned On, Turned Up, displays the band's penchant for high-energy jazz and sense of mischief, as if anything might happen at any time. Featured performers on Turned On, Turned Up include bassist Rob Jost (Imogen Heap, Bjork); drummer Brand Wentworth (Aretha Franklin) and percussionist Robert Di Pietro (Norah Jones, Jessie Harris). Michael Bellar himself has toured/recorded with Art Garfunkel, Amos Lee, Howie Day, Wheatus, Jump Little Children and Giorgia

Turned On Turned Up opens with Squashing Pollyanas; serious Funk with an incredibly infectious bass line and high quality organ work over the top. This highly creative and danceable instrumental gets The As-Is Ensemble off on the right foot. The choice of Ben Folds' Fred Jones Part 2 as a cover is interesting. The instrumental version offered up here reminds us that Folds isn't just bombast and keys but a pretty mean songwriter as well. Bellar plays around the edges a bit but leaves the melody line essentially intact while burying it in reverb on the synth. All Things Rabbit is a high-energy jazz/rock instrumental featuring keyboard work vaguely reminiscent of The Who.

The As-Is Ensemble turns expectations on their heads with Fur Turban, carrying a Middle Eastern Flavor and Latin Rhythms. The song is highly energetic in presentation and is very entertaining. The Damage Done captures a European sound that verges on melancholy before busting out into a bass-driven, accordion-led chorus. Unravel is an introspective rainy-day peace, with a melancholy-yet-hopeful feel that's more intriguing with each listen. The As-Is Ensemble takes on Led Zeppelin with their instrumental version of Misty Mountain Hop, which turns out to be a big treat. Turned On Turned Up closes out with Yoga For Prison Girls, a questionable selection as the arrangement is mellow and frankly, it's likely the weakest track on the disc.

Michael Bellar/The As Is Ensemble are a highly original and intriguing bunch. Turned On Turned Up a bit uneven at times, but overall is a very strong release.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Michael Bellar/The As-Is Ensemble at http://www.michaelbellar.com/. You can purchase Turned On Turned Up as either a CD or download from Amazon.com. You can also download the album from iTunes.

Review: Alan Semerdjian - The Big Beauty

Alan Semerdjian - The Big Beauty
2009, Alan Arts Music

Alan Semerdjian has created a circle with his music where life feeds art and art feeds life. As the front man for New York City band Surreal for most of the 1990’s, Semerdjian toured the East Coast of the United State many times over, sharing the stage with a who’s who of bands and artists and writing music that still gets used periodically for television and movies. These days, Semerdjian is on his own, playing a quirky brand of Alt-Pop mixed with Americana. And I wouldn’t say he’s entirely on his own, as Semerdjian collaborates with an impressive list of friends (including Jen Chapin, Daniel Carter, Nick Gianni and Chris Barron (Spin Doctors)). Semerdjian’s latest release, The Big Beauty, encompasses all of the melodic and lyric charms fans have become accustomed to in a slightly more refined package. The Big Beauty is produced by Rilo Kiley's Michael Bloom, and features Franz Nicholay (Hold Steady), Chris Kuffner (Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor), Dave Diamond (Zen Trickers) and Philip A. Jimenez (Wheatus) among others.

The Big Beauty opens with Your Love, a distinctive melody wrapped in gorgeous harmonies and an Americana-Pop arrangement you won't be able to get out of your brain. This leads into I Can't Tell You How; strong active Americana-Rock that reminds me of what you might hear if Ron Hawkins were ever to jam with the likes of Blue Rodeo. Semerdjian has a couple of WOW moments on The Big Beauty, and the first one arrives three songs in. Bad Dreams is an amazing take on loving someone who is perhaps not emotionally stable. Lyrically, musically and vocally this song is flawless. You Can Run finds Semerdjian taking a Chris Isaak turn with a beautiful yet melancholy tale.

Hole In Your Home is highly textured in arrangement and equally emotive. The two distinctly percussive natures (one literal, the other emotional) come together to create a powerful moment in song. The sometimes shadowing and sometimes juxtaposed natures of these two rhythms seem to echo relationships as the members fall in and out of sync repeatedly over time. Semerdjian rips off the roof on Everything (She's Still The Best). Fans of early Skydiggers/Cash Brothers will listen to this with distinct joy. Semerdjian dishes out a bit of sleight of hand here, opening with a prologue that speaks to his Armenian heritage before slowly transitioning into a driving folk/country arrangement that won't allow you to sit still. Stephanie is a love song that takes a disastrous turn. Keep your game face on, as the lyrics will get a smile out of your before they're done.

Melody combines elements of Jazz, Funk and Blues in a tune that is alternately pensive and busy (perhaps at times too much so). This is a great listen, but does border on becoming too muddy at moments. When There Was Something Wrong With You is the other real WOW moment on The Big Beauty. Semerdjian has crafted an arrangement you won't want to end. This is true ear candy. AM Radio changes pace with a full, multi-layered sound wrapped around an unforgettable melody that's very much down tempo.

Alan Semerdjian has one of those voices you could listen to all day. Take care you don't get so into his voice that you miss on out on the wonderful musicianship, distinctive lyrical style and songwriting that comprise The Big Beauty. Alan Semerdjian has been a critical favorite for a long time, and carries a lot of respect from fellow musicians, but its baffling how he hasn't broken through into the social conscience of a music scene crying for talent like this. The Big Beauty is required listening from an essentially talent. Make sure you spend some time with Alan Semerdjian soon.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Alan Semerdjian at http://www.alanarts.com/, http://www.alansemerdjian.com/ or www.myspace.com/semerdjian. The Big Beauty hits the street on September 1, 2009. You can purchase a copy of The Big Beauty at www.cdbaby.com/cd/semerdjian2, or you can download the album from iTunes.