Review: The Rippys - Lost And Found

The Rippys – Lost And Found
2009, Afterever

Ron and Leticia Rippy form two partnerships. The husband and wife duo are also known as The Rippys, the Los Angeles based music duo that throws out distinctions between religious and secular music and writes from a diverse well of influences. From artists such as Chicago, James Taylor, Wilson Phillips, Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman, The Rippys gather influence and inspiration to write about subjects ranging from relationships to God. Their debut CD, Lost And Found, seeks what all people seek: meaning, purpose, fulfillment and love.

Lost And Found opens with You And Me, a great pop arrangement with lots of energy. Is It Me moves to a big classic rock guitar sound with soulful vocals. Is It Me is a bit lyrically awkward, but highly listenable. Can You Hear Me (L) is funky with lots of soul. Maker is musically pleasing, but lyrically simplistic and repetitive to the point of distraction. Move Me is a reggae Praise song that works more for its quirkiness than anything else. Other songs of interest are Cries Out, where the Rippys manage to sound a bit like later Yes and My Whole Heart.

The Rippys remind me a great deal of Sixpence None The Richer, a band that is primarily Christian in content but occasionally delves into secular subject matter. There’s real talent here but also a tendency perhaps to force their desired subject matter into song rather than letting the songs be what they want and then finding words to fit. The music here is quite enjoyable, but the lyrical constructs can be awkward at times. Nevertheless Lost And Found is an interesting listen.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Rippys at http://www.rippys.net/ or www.myspace.com/therippys. You can purchase a copy of Lost And Found at www.cdbaby.com/cd/rippys.

Review: Melissa Axel - Transition [EP]

Melissa Axel – Transition
2009, Melissa Axel

Denver’s Melissa Axel is a woman with a piano. Following in the footsteps of Tori Amos, Axel uses the piano as more than just an instrument, it is the narrow focus through which she delineates the world using her personal perspective. The Berklee College of Music grad is working on a full length album at the moment, but in the mean time sent along her first EP, Transition, for review.

Axel has an interesting and pleasant voice that is deep and full, with a lot of implied strength. There’s no breathy pop maven quality here, but a sound reminiscent of earth and nature. Consequently Axel puts the listener instantly at easy (la Carly Simon or Joan Baez). The music is quite enjoyable as well, but Axel does run into some issues with the wordiness of her songs. Axel comes across as well spoken in her songs, but is wordy to the point of losing the listener at times. Fall This Hard opens the set with a wonderful piano and violin-sourced Pop ballad. This song is lovely and a joy to listen to and Axel manages to stay somewhat lyrically succinct. On Transition (No More Fairytales), Axel delivers what sounds like a Broadway soliloquy in song. The word count rises here and borders on distraction, but the song is so good it doesn’t quite intrude on the listening experience. By the time we get to Transparency and Madness the verbosity has become too much to bear. This is unfortunate as its somewhere in here that many listeners may choose to turn off the disc; the best song is yet to come. Transition closes out with Out Of Nowhere. Axel has reined herself in here, delivering a gorgeous piano/pop ballad with incredible harmonies.

Melissa Axel has a voice you’ll love listening to, and when she stays in control of the lyrics her songs are a pleasure. Axel appears to have a tendency toward extreme verbosity in her lyrics that detracts from the essential beauty of the music she writes. When Axel controls this tendency the results are sublime. Transition is a pleasure when she does and a difficult listen when she does not.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Melissa Axel at http://www.melissaaxel.com/ or www.myspace.com/melissaaxel. You can purchase a copy of Transition at www.cdbaby.com/cd/melissaaxel3.

Review: Last Charge Of The Light Horse - Fractures

Last Charge Of The Light Horse - Fractures
2008, Curlock & Jalaise Records

Last Charge Of The Light Horse is no stranger to praise. The New York trio's debut CD, 2005's Getaway Car was named Independent Album of the Year for 2005 by The Daily Vault. Their song The Second Time Around was even featured on the PBS show Roadtrip Nation. Not afraid of the sophomore slump, Last Charge Of The Light Horse barreled into 2008 with Fractures, a Folk/Americana celebration of life's trials and tribulations. Vocalist/guitarist Jean-Paul Vest, Bassist AJ Riegger and drummer Jimmy Romanelli have captured lightning in a bottle the second time around.

Vest is a true wordsmith, creating aural oil paintings in music and lyric. The depth and movement of the music is surprising given that we're talking about a bare-bones trio. Fractures opens with The New Year, a wonderfully dark celebration of the turning of time with highly melodic and ethereal effects. This song is very catchy but in a quiet way that will surprise you. Face To Face has a Dire Straits feel to it. Vest has a similar vocal sound to Knopfler at times, and his guitar style goes there at times, although he never quite captures the level of subtlety Knopfler is capable of (who does?). Something Out Of Nothing is a poignant vignette that sounds like it might have been born of jam session between Dire Straits and Toad The Wet Sprocket.

One of my favorite tracks here, sprinkled with wry humor, is A New Expression. This is a song about being in the doghouse that will hit home for those in the know. Even if you're not it's a great song. The Switch Is On is a great rhythmic rock song, expressing change both in the lyrics and in the movement evident in the musical arrangement. Time is a great Americana/Rock song. Fans of The Cash Brothers or Skydiggers will love this tune. The last three songs on the CD are perhaps the best songwriting of the bunch. These aren't flashy songs in any fashion, just good, solid songwriting with a touch of magic. A Song Like Yours couldn't be any plainer but in its ordinariness finds a subtle beauty that shines out of its plaintive arrangement. Spring Ahead is aural painting, perfectly framed; a vignette on a relationship forever captured in song. 100,001 is story song about the day-to-day details of life that can bog people down, but turns the tables to find magic in the mundane.

Last Charge Of The Light Horse keeps it simple, and in simplicity finds magic and a complexity that is amazing. Fractures is a thing of beauty, a musical aesthetic that is destined to be under appreciated in a music business with an attention span shorter than that of Tom from 50 First Dates. The overall dynamic here will be too mellow for some, but there is an incredibly vibrant energy that runs through even the coolest of moments on Fractures, but it’s a disc that really requires your full attention. You'll get out of it what you put into it. Fractures is a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc; A classic.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Last Charge Of The Light Horse at www.myspace.com/lastcharge. You can purchase a copy of Fractures at www.cdbaby.com/cd/lcotlh2.

Review: Blue Turtle Seduction - 13 Floors

Blue Turtle Seduction - 13 Floors
2008, azugasrecords

Party bands were originally an organic outgrowth of family get-togethers. In the days before television or radio, a family get together would usually bring in a few instruments, and the "band" would be filled out by various attendees picking up anything that might make a musical noise and chiming in. This guaranteed that the sound was always different, always changing, and accounts for many bits of inspiration that led to the diverse musical styles played around the world today. True party bands don't happen much anymore, unless you happen upon a kitchen party up in Newfoundland or some other such place, but Blue Turtle Seduction has captured the dynamic perfectly on their album 13 Floors. Based in South Lake Tahoe, California, Blue Turtle Seduction mixes Rock, Bluegrass, Hip-Hop and Reggae in a blend that is nearly beyond description. Infused with lively melodies and intelligent, socially conscious lyrics, Blue Turtle Seduction's music comes alive on CD.

Blue Turtle Seduction is like the weather here in Buffalo, NY, if you don't like what they're playing wait five minutes, it will change. 13 Floors opens with the Punk acoustic rock anthem What's My Name? You can slam dance with the violin until they transition into the aptly named Antidote, which uses Brian Wilson-era Beach Boys style harmonies to bring you back to earth. Perfect Gentleman made me think of Blues Traveler playing Ska music, whereas Haley sounds a bit like Tom Waits in a baroque musical arrangement. My personal favorite here is El Camino, with its Punk Rock verse, Country/Americana chorus and a Celtic/Gypsy blended style of fiddle playing that words just can't do justice to. Also noteworthy is the energetic and driven Foot By Foot, White Flags and the 13-minute musical odyssey known as Roses And Big Belt Buckle.

Blue Turtle Seduction are a true original. If there is anyone out there that sounds quite like Blue Turtle Seduction I've yet to hear of them. This is an eminently listenable disc. There's a real party vibe running through the album with only a couple of slow moments. It may be a bit of an acquired taste, but Blue Turtle Seduction's 13 Floors is a taste worth acquiring. This leaves us looking forward to what they might do next.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Blue Turtle Seduction at www.myspace.com/blueturtleseduction or http://www.blueturtlemusic.com/, where you can purchase a copy of 13 Floors.

Review: Stephen Luke - No Man's Land

Stephen Luke - No Man's Land
2009, Sweet Lucy Records

Cincinatti's Stephen Luke returned to music as a form of physical therapy after severing two tendons in his left hand. Taking lessons from guitarist Kelly Richey, Luke quickly reignited the fire he once felt as a teenager performing at local dances in the 1970's. In the process of learning from Richey, Luke started writing songs that caught his teacher's attention. Once fully recovered, Stephen Luke signed with Richey's Sweet Lucy Records and has released his debut CD, No Man's Land. Filled with classic roots rock sounds reminiscent of Tom Petty, Steve Earle or James McMurtry, No Man's Land also features Kelly Richey on guitar.

The CD opens with the title track, a straight-up classic rock tune with great harmonies. Long Way From Home has a funky/blues feel to it that's a pleasant listen. Powered By Love is the standout track; a Clapton-esque blues rocker with a rough feel. The second half of the album is a bit on the slow side, although Santa Ana Winds, I Must Dreamin' and Hurricane are all decent. Stephen Luke has a pleasant if not overly dynamic voice, but the guitar work here is excellent. Overall the disc is a pleasant listen but didn't bowl me over by any means. Guitar players, particularly those interested in electric blues will find a lot to like here. No Man's Land is a decent listen.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Stephen Luke at http://www.stephenlukemusic.com/. You can purchase a copy of No Man’s Land at www.cdbaby.com/cd/stephenluke.

Review: Falling Blind - Falling Blind

Falling Blind – Falling Blind
2008, Trip Six Records

Seattle’s Falling Blind claims heavy influences by both Incubus and Nirvana, and lays those influences out for all to hear on their debut EP, Falling Blind. With roots in Redding, California, this West Coast band has garnered a lot of industry attention already. They are touring the West Coast this Spring with their eyes on a wider audience in the future.

Falling Blind opens with Spoonfed Morality, a big guitar rock song with interesting arythmic sounds. Just A Distraction is up next, a classic sounding Pop/Metal ballad with some real kick in the bridge. Vocalist Clayton Marquiss is at his most soulful here. Where I Stand is your prototypical driving rock song with big guitars and heavy rhythms, whereas Modest Opinion marks a band that’s doing more than just cranking out tunes. Modest Opinion opens with one of the filthiest guitar licks you’re likely to hear and slams through a tight, compact rock arrangement that is a pleasure to listen to. This is an Indie classic. Dirty brings back the arrhythmic guitar style of Mike Davidson in a song with great movement running through the music. Falling Blind closes out with Is There A Reason, a classic, 1980’s Hair Metal sounding rocker.

Falling Blind is sure to find fans across the hard rock spectrum. For how much they stress influences like Nirvana and Incubus, Falling Blind ends up sounding wholly like themselves and no one else. Guitarist Davidson is a special find, with a style that could become distinctive and even signature over time. This is an excellent start.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Falling Blind at www.myspace.com/fallingblind. You can purchase a copy of Falling Blind at www.cdbaby.com/cd/fallingblind.

Review: Tingstad & Rumbel - Leap Of Faith

Tingstad & Rumbel – Leap Of Faith
2008, Cheshire Records

Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel are a Grammy Award winning duo with 19 albums on their resume. Their 2003 release, Acoustic Garden won a Grammy, and 1998’s American Acoustic was honored as “Acoustic Instrumental Album Of The Year”. Tingstad & Rumbel have been playing together since 1985 and have toured all over the world together. Their latest album, Leap Of Faith, debuted at #6 on the NAR charts.

Leap Of Faith opens with the title track, instigating a lovely vibrant energy in the interplay between guitar and clarinet. A sweet rendition of Georgia On My Mind makes way for Zacatecas, which will definitely get your feet moving. It’s a little too mellow to really dance to, but enjoyable nonetheless. Spring Maiden is a Celtic piece that sounds like it could have come right off of the Braveheart soundtrack. San Antonio Rose is a profound musical moment. The guitar work here is outstanding. If you don’t listen for any other reason, this is worth it. Summertime is another bravo moment. The guitar style here is unique and beautiful. Other highlights include the Klezmer-light To Life, Medicine Tree and Happy Trails.

Tingstad & Rumbel make acoustic instrumental music that is too good to be classified as elevator music or even dinner music. This is music you sit down and give a serious listen to. Musicians with a true passion for their instruments will love Leap Of Faith. Others will have an appreciation for the artistry here, but it might take someone who’s worked for months or years to perfect their craft to really get it. Either way, it’s a great listen.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more and Tingstad & Rumbel at http://www.tingstadrumbel.com/. You can purchase a copy of Leap Of Faith at www.cdbaby.com/cd/tingstadrumbel3.