von Grey - Make Some Noise

von Grey – Make Some Noise
2011, von Grey

von Grey is a family quartet based out of Alpharetta, Georgia.  Sisters Kathryn (16), Annika (15), Fiona (13) and Petra (11) are making some real noise in the country world.  Starting out as a chamber music quartet under the name Kannafitra in 2007, the classically trained sisters soon expanded into an Appalachian blend of Bluegrass, Folk and Celtic sounds.   In 2009 the band changed their name to von Grey, and have been developing their songbook ever since.  The band has already won the Lilith Fair Local Talent Search”, and sisters Annika and Fiona have shared the stage with the Chieftains.  Annika even won the 2008 U.S. 12-and-under Irish Fiddler’s competition.  There’s no denying the talent in the band, and when you hear their tight, 3- and 4- part harmonies on their debut E.P., Make Some Noise, you’ll be hooked.

von Grey opens with “With You I Can”, a catchy piece of country/pop with an impressive modular vocal harmony sound.  von Grey sounds radio-ready here with a sound that’s a bit young but not in an unappealing sense.  “Next To Nowhere” is a solid entry, showing off the quartet’s wonderful harmonies.  “Eyes On Your Honey” is a highly infectious country number with a touch of rock and roll attitude.  It’s a song all about what she wants in a boy, and has a chart-ready chorus you won’t be able to shake.   “She’s A Wildflower” shows lead vocalist Kathryn to be the real deal.  The songwriting and the instrumental net behind her are equally impressive.   von Grey closes with “Make Some Noise”, a catchy country rocker that shows off the more playful side of the group.

von Grey shows off a distinctive vocal mix on Make Some Noise; the filial connection between the sisters offering a unique blend.  At the same time, it would be nice to hear a bit more complexity in the vocal arrangement; passing notes, counter-movement, etc.  Be that as it may, the ladies of von Grey get inside of your head with their catchy songs and distinctive sound, and threaten to stay long term.  There are two or three songs here you simply won’t be able to shake, nor will you want to.  Von Grey sounds like they are destined to be chart gold.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about von Grey at www.vongrey.com or www.myspace.com/sistervg.  
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The Cranks - Downside Up

The Cranks - Downside Up
2011, The Cranks

The Cranks dish out their distinctive blend of prep-school, post-punk pop on their second CD, Downside Up. Released in May of this year, Downside Up once again highlights the distinctive voice of Haley Gowland. Backed by her twin brother Connor Gowland in drums and Greg Preston on bass, Gowland turns listeners every which way loose on Downside Up. The Cranks show growth from their debut EP, What? both as performers and in the songwriting department. Gowland's lyrics are fresh and relevant, but are losing some of that youthful feel as The Cranks traverse adolescence and enter the complicated waters of young adulthood.

Opening with "Voice Inside", The Cranks offer up a catchy number with punk energy and real pop sensibility. Haley Gowland is thoroughly engaging on "Mexico", and the rest of the Cranks raise their game in an angular style that highlights the topsy-turvy sound that pervades here. "Under Radar" is a well-written musical allegory for not being seen socially. The song is catchy as anything, and could be a breakout song for the band. "Under Radar" is the sort of song a smart music director might pick for the soundtrack of a teen comedy full of angst. "Good Guys" shows a bit of the younger feel of The Cranks' earlier work, but is well-written nonetheless; a solid album track.

"Super Secret" seems a likely allegory, perhaps for something personal, but also seems applicable to a world where so many things happen around us that we never see. Either way, the song shows a real insight into the intricacies of a world where everything is negotiated and little is ever set in stone. The highlight of Downside Up is a rough little jewel entitled "Scatterbox". Punk energy and sound meet pure pop gold in a bit of musical magic that speaks very well for the future of The Cranks. "Here I Go" keeps much of that energy and verve going in another song with real pop potential. The Cranks closes things up with the pure joy of "Pirate". If you've ever heard a song that just screamed that the band was having fun recording, then this is it.

The Cranks continue to build their sound and style, and on Downside Up have become a cohesive and mature trio, rattling off catchy and intelligent punk-influenced pop songs like afterthoughts. While the Cranks are a cohesive whole, their shining light is Haley Gowland, who is maturing into a convincing front-woman before your very ears. The Cranks have a real future. Downside Up is the proof.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Cranks at www.thecranks.com on Facebook.  Downside Up is available for download from Amazon.com and iTunes. 

Babe Gurr - SideDish

Babe Gurr – SideDish
2011, Elan Records Canada
Babe Gurr continues her slow, relentless rise through the world of folk and Americana.  Her last album, Chocolate Lilly, earned rave reviews in both the U.S. and Canada, and led to a series of high profile concerts in both countries.  Gurr’s songs have also been featured on a number of shows on U.S. television, including the FOX series Higher Ground.  Gurr’s songwriting has also been lauded in venues such as the Billboard World Song Contest, the 12^th Great American Song Contest, and the Sonic Bids Nashville Song Contest, the latter of which she won.  Gurr recently released her latest effort, SideDish, a collection of eight originals and two covers with an international flair.

SideDish opens with “I’m Just Here To Dance”, a gritty tango, and Gurr’s voice is as sultry as the dance itself.  Gurr is a master storyteller, and proves it once again here.  “Solo Mia” is an absolutely gorgeous performance, with Gurr’s earthy alto the perfect complement to a great arrangement.  “The World Is Calling” is a wonderfully dark world/rock number that blends Middle Eastern and Western sounds in a vibrant and driven arrangement.  “I Will Be” is a pure love song; a promise of devotion with surprisingly melancholic undertones.  The song is dark and urgent; moving in an almost needful way. 

“Voodoo Love” is bluesy, elemental folk/rock ala Bonnie Raitt; a catchy number with an unforgettable chorus.  This is Gurr at her finest.  “My Love” and “Let’s Find A Way” are both solid entries, and lead to the closer, “Rio’s Lullaby”.  The song is an apt closer, a gentle goodnight that highlights Gurr’s voice as the supreme instrument it is.

Babe Gurr’s SideDish definitely walks a different musical line than we have heard from her in the past, but it is a worthwhile one to follow.  Gurr shows a versatility of language and style that is unique in modern music; not just an ability to cover different ground but a depth of perception and musical understanding that is startling.  Gurr’s voice, as always, is a pleasure, and the journey she takes on SideDish is one that listeners will prize.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Babe Gurr at www.babegurr.com.  SideDish is available on CD from Amazon.com.  The album is also available in multiple formats from CDBaby.com. 

Emily Zuzik Band - The Wild Joys Of Living

Emily Zuzik Band - The Wild Joys Of Living
2011, Emily Zuzik Band/Maenades Music

Emily Zuzik has been known in the Indie world for over ten years, first for her work with Sexfresh and then as a solo artist.  Having toured throughout the US and UK, Zuzik has seen her stock rise at a slow and steady pace over the years.  Over the past couple of years, however, Zuzik's in-demand status has hit critical mass.  First there was the collaboration with Moby, and then Zuzik was chosen to sing the theme song to NBC's Love Bites.  Zuzik gets back to work with the release of her seventh album, The Wild Joys Of Living.  Produced by Chris Cubeta, The Wild Joys Of Living blends Americana and pop in a sound reminiscent of Sheryl Crow.

 Emily Zuzik has a voice you simply want to listen to, but she seems to get overly comfortable at times on The Wild Joys Of Living.  “You Want To Go Out Tonight” is a buoyant, 1980’s style pop/rock number; catchy yet reserved.  The chorus here is a real winner, based on a hook so pervasive you can’t avoid it.  “Feels Like Rain” is similar in design, with a chorus you won’t be able to get out of your head.  The dark feel of “Motels” is intriguing, but Zuzik slows down and gets stuck in a bit of a rut over the next couple of songs.  “How Did You Get So Good” is a return to form, however; a fun and provocative number where Zuzik’s voice shows the gritty sexiness of Chrissie Hynde.  The last two tracks, “Step back” and “You Know When You Know” are low key and light on energy.

Emily Zuzik has the sort of voice that will keep listeners engaged even if she’s simply vocalizing.  The material of The Wild Joys Of Living is better than simple vocalizations, but is very up and down.  At her best, Zuzik sounds like a superstar with all the tools, but it seems like Zuzik may have gotten a little too comfortable at times on The Wild Joys Of Living.  This is a solid effort with some great moments.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Emily Zuzik at www.emilyzuzik.com or www.myspace.com/emilyzuzik.  The Wild Joys Of Living is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... Season 2

Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... - Season Two
2011, MVD Entertainment Group

Music fans unaware of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... are missing out on one of the best music oriented shows on television.  Currently shown in Canada, Spectacle has consistently drawn big name artists to the small screen for sit down chats and memorable performances, both solo and with Elvis Costello and the Imposters.  MVD Entertainment Group recently released Season Two of Spectacle in the form of a 2-DVD set.  Season Two features interviews with and performances by such artists as Bono and The Edge, Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Lyle Lovett, Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, Ray LaMontagne, Neko Case and Mary-Louise Parker.

Spectacle has been honored with an EMMY nomination and a Gemini award as the Best Talk Series, and it's no surprise.  The artists who appear on Spectacle let down their guard speaking with Costello in a way that rarely happens on traditional talk television, and the musical performances are a real treat for fans.  Season Two features a special double episode Bruce Springsteen.  Special features include a special behind the scenes feature entitled Elvis Costello With... Inside Notes, and four bonus performances from Elvis Costello and his guests.  Costello is an engaging host throughout season two, keeping the format fresh with offbeat conversations and some truly wonderful musical moments.  Costello has managed to create a near-perfect television forum for music makers and music fans.  This is the rare television series you might find yourself actually watching again and again.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Spectacle at www.spectacletv.com.  Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...  Season 2 is available from Amazon.com on DVD and Blu-ray.

Grace Stumberg - To Whom It May Concern

Grace Stumberg - To Whom It May Concern
2011, Popadelic Records

Grace Stumberg is a 22-year old singer/songwriter from Buffalo, New York who proves that appearances can be deceiving.   But when you hear the big voice that emanates from her 4’11” frame you will be floored.  Stumberg, a graduate of Robbie Takac’s (Goo Goo Dolls) Music In Action career training program, is ready to take on the world with her debut album, To Whom It May Concern.  Showing a depth of songwriting talent you don’t often find in one so young, and a presence that recalls some of the great singer/songwriters of the past, Stumberg is just a break or two away from national recognition.

To Whom It May Concern opens with "Change The World", an anthem of inspiration and aspiration about making dreams come true.  Stumberg shows solid pop sensibility on what turns out to be the weakest offering on the album.  Commitment overcomes the arrangement.  The high point of the song is Grace Stumberg's voice, a gorgeous, velvety alto that works well for folk, pop and rock n roll.  "Happier Side" is a bluesy rocker looking for the bright side in a rough start.  It's a great tune, with big energy and an even bigger sound.  By the end of the tune you'll be thinking may Stumberg is the real deal.  By the end of "To Whom It May Concern" you won't even question it.  Stumberg goes for a more Americana setting this time around, with accordion, violin, acoustic guitar, bass and drums.  Stumberg sings for her own dreams here, declaring a trajectory she won't back down from; her voice is gorgeous and Stumberg creates a moment here.

"Steady" starts from a simple, acoustic guitar led look back at how things and people change over time and turns into a polyphonic, multi-layered anthem of hope.  Stumberg builds the song by layering orchestration and vocal harmonies on a bit at a time, culminating in a grand crescendo of sound and melody that's breathtaking.  "The Roses" shows off the singer/songwriter side of Stumberg.  The ode to her grandmother or to a grandmother-like figure gorgeous details enough aspects of her life to make it real and is a compelling testament of love.  Before it's over there is a lovely, baroque-style orchestration that blends in to what is essentially a folk ballad, creating a moment of beauty so rich and touching you'll be moved whatever your constitution.

"Change My Color" is a live, in-studio recording that likens the changes of seasons to personal transformations, pointing out that both are as unstoppable as any other natural law.  The song features a pretty, singular and stoic melody that is unforgettable, and Stumberg's voice fills it out to perfection.  "Sticks And Stones" is a refreshingly poetic kiss-off song with a quiet undercurrent that is surprisingly catchy.  Stumberg's use of imagery and children's rhymes is novel in the context of someone finally opening her eyes to the truth.  This conceptual coming of age is buttressed by Stumberg's velvety, sultry alto.  It's an amazing piece of song craft.

"My Love", an internal exploration of love gone bad, is matter-of-fact in the telling, but underscored with a touch of regret that makes the song compellingly human.  Stumberg seems to have a knack for using each song as a vessel of truth, whether expressing views of the world around her or matters of the heart.  This ability to enliven ideas marks the great songwriters for who they are, and early indications are that Stumberg has the gift.  "Home" blends Americana, pop and classic rock in a Bruce Hornsby-meets-Bonnie Raitt mashup that's amazing.  It's a catchy, mid-tempo number about finding out where your roots belong.  Stumberg is in fine voice here, and listeners may be left thinking that Stumberg has found something of a home in this sound.  Refusing to be pigeonholed quiet so easily, Stumberg launches into the edgy rocker "Miscommunichicken".  The chorus is almost comical: "Don't spread yourself too thin, cause just like bread on butter you're only gonna get eaten".  Get beyond that, however, and you have a Ben Folds Five inspired rocker marked by heavily percussive piano and a correspondingly raw sound.  It's not Stumberg's best, but is an intriguing window on the breadth and depth of Stumberg's songwriting talent.

"Wartime" is a vibrant piece of rock n roll; full in sound and stark in melody.  What Stumberg has done with finesse up until now, she accomplished with inundating force of sound here.  It's an overloaded classic rock feast that will make a great jam tune for live shows, bordering on the neighborhood of progressive rock without losing the singer-songwriter pastiche.  There are hints of Neil Young here that are impossible to ignore.  To Whom It May Concern closes with "Change The World (Woody Mix)".  The mix is just Stumberg, her guitar, and occasional vocal harmonies.  The song is much more powerful in this stripped down setting, conveying the struggle to make a better world more powerfully as a solitary voice.

Wow.

Wow moments happen in music.  You might hear a certain song and be floored by the message, or the melody, or a turn of phrase.  But it's pretty rare to have that reaction to an entire album; to an artist as a whole.  Grace Stumberg is young and still lacks some of the polish of a seasoned songwriter, but she has a gift that most songwriters would kill for.  Stumberg makes her songs come to life for those willing to listen.  To Whom It May Concern lives and breathes from start to finish, touching on people, places, thoughts, emotions and events with a subtlety and grace that is surprising in an artist so young.  Stumberg can blow out the amps as well, when called for.  It's that knowing when to and not to that marks the dividing lines between a great songwriter and someone who might just be discussed one day in hallowed tones.  It's much too early to tell what Grace Stumberg's final trajectory will be, but she certainly seems to have greatness in her sights.  To Whom It May Concern is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Grace Stumberg at www.gracestumberg.com or www.myspace.com/gracestumbergmusic.  To Whom It May Concern is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Lynn Miles - Fall For Beauty

Lynn Miles - Fall For Beauty

2011, True North Records

Lynn Miles is one of the most accomplished Americana (or Canadiana, if you will) singer/songwriters in Canada.  Taking the time to build herself as an artist, Miles spent time in Los Angeles and Nashville before returning home to Ottawa, but in the process picked up several Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno Award.  Miles’ latest album, Fall For Beauty, appears on track to be her most commercially successful to date.

Fall For Beauty opens with "Something Beautiful", a song that explores humanity's yen for seeking the beautiful and sublime amongst the everyday struggles of life.  The song offers a poignant, mature perspective in a sharp folk/rock arrangement with more than a little pop sensibility.  Miles has a wonderfully mature voice that's part Sheryl Crow, part Bonnie Raitt and part Lynn Anderson.  "Fearless Heart" features a melody that climbs inside of your head and refuses to leave, amidst a dynamic country/rock arrangement that's the perfect complement.    It's the story of someone who wishes she could grab hold of life and ride free but is caught up in her own fears.  It's a brilliant aural portrait of someone caught in-between, and the vocal harmonies are angelic. 

"I Will" is a musical monologue from someone who has lost faith in herself, life and humanity, but sees the need to get back to where she's been.  It's a song of determination and hope that carries the seeds of recovery from heartbreak and disillusion.  The gentle urgency here is compelling.  "Three Chords And The Truth" is a portrait of the artist as a young girl; an ode to taking on the world the only way she knows how: growing up and finding herself through writing and performing songs.  "Cracked And Broken" is a mournful tune detailing her broken heart at the hands of someone she loved deeply.  It's essentially an acknowledgement that she fell in love with the wrong person.  There's a tragic beauty to this tune, but something seems to be missing at the same time. 

"Little Bird" is a song of encouragement for someone who perhaps grew up with little.  It's a sweet number that may touch some chords out there.  "Love Doesn't Hurt" strays into the world of domestic violence, and may be the natural progression from "Little Bird".  The tale told here is simple and straight forward, all the more compelling for the lack of varnish or commentary.  "Save Me" is a mildly catchy number with an Orbison-esque guitar style.  It's an acknowledgment of wanting someone who is bad for and of being her own worst enemy.  Jim Bryson (Punchbuggy, Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer, The Weakerthans) joins Miles for "Goodbye", a song of parting about the mutual realization that things aren't working out.   Miles and Bryson's voices are a unique blend that works very well.  Fall For Beauty closes with "Time To Let The Sun", a sweet and positive lullaby done in a classic MGM movie musical style.  This one obviously stands out stylistically, but is surprisingly good even for being a musical anomaly.

Lynn Miles writes with depth and insight, singing from the veldt that lays somewhere between heart and soul, but is of both and neither all at once.  Fall For Beauty is a mature and intellectually resounding work, more of a song cycle about the human condition than simply a collection of songs.  Miles also has a talent for crafting arrangements for her material that work perfectly hand in hand with the depth of her lyrics.  This is not an album you put down easily, even if gets a bit uneven at times in the middle.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Lynn Miles at http://www.lynnmilesmusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/lynnmilesmusic. Fall For Beauty is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Jill Goldberg – Girl, Polite

Jill Goldberg – Girl, Polite
2011, Louar Music

Boston-based singer/songwriter Jill Goldberg returns on April 1, 2011 with a new six-song EP, Girl, Polite.  The talented and savvy artist provides her own perspectives on life, love and loss in solid, piano-drive pop/rock tunes full of heart.  Opening with “Not Worth It”, Goldberg crafts intriguingly radio-friendly pop without sounding saccharine or trite.  Goldberg’s deep alto voice is a pleasure to listen to, and she comes off as something of a cross between Laura Branigan and Paula Cole.  “Girl, Polite” explores the struggles of someone brought up to be a ‘good girl’ but feeling rage and anger at the actions of others.  What is occurring beneath the placid depths of polite conversation may surprise you, but should be strange to almost no one.  All of this is covered under a smooth-pop sound that is delightful.

“Where Did You Go” is a sorrowful pop ballad, born of heartbreak and loss.  There is a faux waltz underpinning the arrangement in 6/4 time, and Goldberg’s voice gives more than a few ‘WOW’ moments here.  “Five Steps” and “I’m Always Right” are bland filler, but Goldberg recovers nicely with “My Heaven”; a love song to one who may never hear it.  Goldberg writes here for herself, trying to survive loss and loneliness.  Goldberg is absolutely amazing on the chorus; her voice rich and deep and full of an abject beauty.

Girl, Polite hits a lot of right notes, and Jill Goldberg’s voice is in fine form throughout.  There are two filler tunes here, but even in her more mundane moments Goldberg is intriguing.  It’s a shame Goldberg will only be promoting this EP on the East Coast; she shows enough talent and panache to extend her reach well beyond the I-95 corridor.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Jill Goldberg at http://www.jillgoldberg.com/ or www.myspace.com/jillgoldberg.  Girl, Polite drops April 1, 2011, and will be available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.

Dorine Levy - Dorine Levy

Dorine Levy - Dorine Levy
2009, Dorine Levy

Tel Aviv, Israel’s Dorine Levy spent much of her formative years living in Montreal before moving back to Israel in her early teens. A rebellious child who didn’t take well to the move, Levy struggled to find herself in the midst of rebellious teen years. The one constant in Levy’s life was music. After the mandatory stint in the IDF, Levy chose music over a parentally-preferred career in law. In 2009, Levy released her debut EP, Dorine Levy, three songs of gentle acoustic pop with just enough pizzazz to go somewhere.

Levy opens with "Sun", a gentle pop ballad about being in love with someone not good for you. The need and vulnerability here is powerful, underscored by Levy's warm alto voice. "Sun" is a perfect introduction, the sort of song that could catch mild attention from commercial radio but would fit really well in a television soundtrack for a teen soap opera. "Falling Star" maintains the pop sensibility in a mid-tempo love song that fits into the same demographic as "Sun". "Fly With Me" completes the trifecta with a light-pop sound that's benevolent and pleasing without challenging the listener all that much.

Levy's sound is affable and non-threatening; just the sort of music that thrives in the current media-based music market. Levy has a voice that's pleasant to listen to but with just a touch of enigma to make it interesting. The songs on her self-titled EP are fairly average for pop songs. There's nothing really outstanding here, but it's the sort of non-threatening emotion-laden pop that gets licensing deals and ends up laced through network television soundtracks.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Dorine Levy at http://www.dorinelevy.com/ or www.myspace.com/dorinelevy.  Dorine Levy is available as a CD or Download from Amazon.com.  The EP is also available via CDBaby and iTunes.

The Branders - The Branders

The Branders - The Branders
2009, The Branders

Denver, Colorado seems to be a hotspot for country and country-derivative music these days. The latest such band to come to our attention is The Branders, a duo consisting of singer Tarrah Speer and guitarist Dennis Gronbeck. Blending traditional country and rock n roll around Speer’s sultry voice seems to be a winning combination for the Branders, who celebrated 2009 with the release of their self-titled debut EP.

The Branders opens with the delightful honky-tonk country of "I've Been Thinking". Tarrah Speer has a sultry, soulful voice that will have you picking up your two-step boots and heading for the dance floor. "Real Cowboy" is pure Rock N Blues, and Speer will remind listeners of a young Michelle Malone but with a slightly more lyric voice. "Three Years" is a rueful look back over the three years since a relationship has ended that goes from the cusp of marriage to a chasm of days numbering in the thousands. "I Want You" is an upbeat love song with honky-tonk sensibility; a great dance tune built around a big hook and solid songwriting.

"Fall" has a solid early rock/country feel that's full of strong vocal harmonies and a classic country feel. "Makes Me Stay" explores the intangibles in relationships, zeroing in on that little bit of magic and how it can overcome all of the pressure of the outside world. The Branders close out with "Burn", an aggressive, guitar-oriented rocker about a woman scorned. The bluesy rock arrangement contrasts nicely with Speer's lyric alto voice. The theme of the song appears to be fighting back in the face of domestic violence.

The Branders are a pleasant surprise, both more country and more rock n roll that you might expect up front. The Branders is sonically pleasing, full of well-written songs and featuring the memorable voice of Tarrah Speer. One might imagine that The Branders still have some growing to do. It may be worth checking out whatever comes next for The Branders.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Branders at www.myspace.com/thebranders. The Branders is available through Amazon.com as either a CD or Download.

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: Kate Redgate - Nothing Tragic

Kate Redgate - Nothing Tragic
2009, Kate Redgate Music

Kate Redgate has never let a life less than easy stand in the way of her creative process; indeed her choices and the results have fueled her songwriting for the better part of 20 years. Redgate was adopted from Scott Air Force Base in 1970 and spent much of the first 16 years of her life on a farm in Southern Illinois. A stint in Foster Care at the age of 16 before several years of street life ensued where Redgate learned the craft of music hanging out in clubs and getting to know musicians. Children and single motherhood kept Redgate from performing a great deal for a number of years, although she began to reconnect with performing in 2001 following the recording of a self-titled demo CD. In 2005, Redgate shattered her arm in an accident and faced the possibility she might never play again. Things worked out for the better, and Redgate comes back in 2009 with Nothing Tragic; a reflection on all that's come before and a personal attitude that drives Redgate on toward the future.

Sitting down listening to Nothing Tragic isn't something you take lightly. It's like catching up with an old friend who's had a lot go under the bridge since last you spoke. With a dark and plain-spoken manner that speaks of Bonnie Raitt, Kate Redgate spins autobiographical musical yarns about a life that hasn't always been kind but has born good fruit. Last To Know underlines this spirit, with Redgate coming to the realization that mistakes are nothing to fear and that failure and freedom are co-equal partners in making choices. The Country/Rocker Into The Blues puts world-weary wisdom into an upbeat arrangement that's full of a cautious optimism and faith in tomorrow. The song is an "I'm alright" declaration with strong commercial punch. The Palace is a sonic painting of Redgate's time as a bartender, giving musical lift to at least one of the characters she encountered during that time.

Nothing Tragic speaks to Redgate's recovery from a serious injury that occurred at a point where she felt like she was getting her life together. It's a recognition that we all have our trials and that the cliché "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is true. Believe is about coming to a point where you're ready to put yourself out there again after having been hurt. It's potential mix-tape material for the broken-hearted and is couched in a great Country arrangement. Walkin' A Fine Line is another fine Country arrangement that finds Redgate further exploring the territory she enters in Believe; having graduated from a willingness to put herself out there to a committed interest. Cold November sounds like an allegory for putting your life back together after a loss; the song is honest without sounding bitter but also full of resolve. Written in strong-but-vulnerable language, Cold November is the sort of song I would expect to see licensed for a movie down the line. Redgate closes out with Roxy's, an ode to those who sell themselves, or at least an image of themselves to put food in their children's bellies and a roof over their heads. It's about the resolve to survive and give your kids a life even if no one ever gave you one.

Kate Redgate has walked a hard road and survived and has come back to a place where dreams are more than possible; they're in reach. Nothing Tragic lets go of the past and embraces a future full of hope and possibilities; told from the well of wisdom the hard road has won her. Musically the album is strong with great musicianship and a sense of melody that's pleasing to the ear, but it's as a story-teller that Redgate excels, wrapping listeners in her true-to-life tales and not letting go until the last notes fade from hearing. Make sure Nothing Tragic finds its way into your collection.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kate Redgate at www.myspace.com/kateredgate or http://www.kateredgate.com/. You can purchase Nothing Tragic as either a CD or download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/kateredgate.

Review: Cara Tower - Ambience Of Love

Cara Tower - Ambience Of Love
2009, Raw Dog Records

Cara Tower is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer for whom the process of creation never stops. A Southern California girl by birth, Tower has travelled all over the world chasing her muse. Along the way she has been a major label recording artist (Hollywood Records), an entrepreneur (Raw Dog Records) and a film composer among many other things. 2009 sees the release of Tower’s third album on her own imprint, Raw Dog Records. Ambience Of Love is full of positive, affirming songs and gentle arrangements.

Ambience Of Love opens with Even When, a song about overcoming obstacles and maintaining a positive outlook. It's a breezy pop tune that's 100% self-affirmation that acknowledges that life has a circular quality and that any rough times one goes through have happened before and will happen again. The implication, of course, is that the good times come around again as well. Love Is No Stranger opens with a voiceover that sounds like it's from a sermon and delves into a nice folk/pop arrangement with a moving bass line. The song itself is about giving yourself over to love and could just as easily be a love song as a song of praise (I left the song not being 100% sure which is intended). Why and Before There Was A Name both sound like meditations or perhaps even devotionals. The latter in particular is quite lovely. Courage To Change stays in the highly positive vein, challenging listeners to be the change they wish to see in the world. Flowers takes to a dance beat to explain the seeds of seeking universal standing in a bit symbolism that borders on cliché. Tower closes out with Appalachian Wind, perhaps the best tune on the disc. On the first eight tracks Tower has been focused inward; on Appalachian Wind she focuses on the world around her and the result is a haunting and beautiful tune.

Ambience Of Love is all about religion, philosophy and feeling good about oneself. With the exception of Appalachian Wind, the album feels more like a self-help book than a collection of songs. That being said, Cara Tower crafts pleasing arrangements around tried lyrics such that the album is a pleasant listening experience. Appalachian Wind shows that there's more to Tower as a lyricist than Stuart Smalley style proclamations, and hopefully we'll see more of that side of her on future releases.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Cara Tower at http://www.caratower.com/ or www.myspace.com/caratower. You can purchase a copy of Ambience Of Love at CDBaby.com.

Review: Adrina Thorpe - Halflight & Shadows

Adrina Thorpe - Halflight & Shadows
2009, Adrina Thorpe

Adrina Thorpe gained a great deal of popular attention from her debut album, Elusive, placing songs in shows from CW and Lifetime networks as well as independent films. Her song Who Will Find Me was proclaimed by DJ Armin Van Buuren to be "his favorite song of the last two years". Thorpe's follow-up CD, Halflight & Shadows, brings no sophomore slump for the performer whose songwriting walks the line between darkness and light. With an all-star band of cohorts including producer Filippo Gaetani; drummer Randy Cooke (Mick Jagger, Ringo Starr, Five For Fighting); cellist David Takahashi (Sting, Sheryl Crow, Kanye West); violinist Chris Woods (Justin Timberlake; Jessica Simpson) and drummer Fernando Sanchez (Luis Fonsi, Charlotte Martin), the classically trained Thorpe has managed to create a true aural experience for the listener. The blending of Classical, Folk and Rock styles dazzles with flashes of brilliance and magical undercurrents of melody and harmony.

Halflight & Shadows opens with Impossible Dream, a mid-tempo ethereal rocker in the style of Sarah McLachlan. Thorpe has a stunning and haunting voice, in turns, occasionally affecting the style of McLachlan or even Tori Amos while carving out a niche that is mostly her own. Impossible Dream carries with it a lost and searching sense that fits the song perfectly. Midnight is a dark and mysterious love song with an interesting mix of instrumentation. You'll hear everything from piano to orchestration to electronic sounds; a gorgeous and haunting mix. Everything Changes is about letting go of a bad relationship and places some of the thought process in song. The song is lyrically dense at times in the verse which is balance by an ethereal yet economic chorus.

Domino highlights the fact that once you know the truth your options are pretty limited. The song is gorgeous and dark and full of a barely contained anger that struggles with the narrator's good nature. This one sounds like it could be a Tori Amos outtake, with a piano style reflective of Amos' work and a vocal style that's almost dead on at times. Driving finds Thorpe in a place that is dark, vulnerable and full of need. The tune is unforgettable, halting and striving in turns with the turn of emotion that drives the narrator. The car ride is simply an encapsulation for a journey the narrator is consumed with. Coming Home is a song about running from what you need; sometimes when the prodigal child returns home facts have changed and people have moved on; A powerful and emotive track with a lush sound.

Walk is very much reflecting of Sarah McLachlan's earlier work. Dark and stormy and full of volatile emotions, Walk reflects a primitive beauty at war with need. Moment To End is probably the most beautiful vocal on the disc; the song gets caught up in the obsessive nature of the moment and repeats the title until it nearly hits a breaking point for the listener. This is either a miscalculation or an attempt to instill the sort of cognitive and emotional dissonance in the listener that the narrator feels. Kiss The Day is a highly melodic and vaguely ethereal Lilith Fair Pop-Rocker. The subject is a bit convoluted but it's sonically pleasing. Give You My Love is a sweet and open love song that holds no hidden traps or equivocations. It's a refreshingly honest and pure love song set to a haltingly beautiful melody line. Thorpe closes out the set with Seed, a six-minute piano and voice odyssey that's part epoch poem and part journal entry. Thorpe keeps listeners on the edge of their seat as she unfolds a story, spoken to another, about the prospects for love, life and happiness. The vocal is drop-dead gorgeous in a song that sounds like it could be the introduction to a stage show. This is the sort of tune that unfolds in concert to utter, unbreakable silence that explodes into a cacophony of applause at the end. It's the perfect close to the album.

Adrina Thorpe is an amazing songwriter. She's obviously been influenced by folks like Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos and even perhaps Kate Bush. You can hear these influences in her music but at the same time Thorpe has taken those influences and wrapped them up with her own personality and style to create something distinctive. Hers is a voice that would stop people on the streets of a place like New York City, and the arrangements she crafts are perfect frames and backgrounds for the stories she tells in her songs. Halflight & Shadows is brilliant; a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Don't miss it.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Adrina Thorpe at www.myspace.com/adrinathorpe or http://www.adrinathorpe.com/, where you can order Halflight & Shadows as either a CD or download.

Review: Katie Garibaldi - Next Ride Out

Katie Garibaldi - Next Ride Out
2009, Living Dream Music

San Francisco's Katie Garibaldi released her sixth album, Next Ride Out, in June of 2009, a stunning feat considering Garibaldi is all of twenty-five years old. Garibaldi is a prodigious songwriter and engaging performer and finds time in-between to run her own record label, Living Dream Music. Produced by Guitar Player Magazine Editor-In-Chief Michael Molenda, and displays Garibaldi's eclectic mix of Rock, Country and Folk that's as Americana as they come, while also showing a more personal and more mature side of Garibaldi than we've seen in the past.

Following in the footsteps of artists like Ani DiFranco, Garibaldi controls all of her material and her own musical destiny. That comfort and self-assuredness comes through on Next Ride Out. Garibaldi opens with Say The Word, a song of love and devotion that's sweet and sultry and innocent all at once. It's major mix-tape material and seems like a perfect candidate for country and pop radio in spite of the girl-next-door aura the song carries. Hey, Hey Darlin' is a fun little country tune about love and the truly important things in a relationship from the perspective of someone who's nearly lost what they had in that department. Garibaldi breaks out the funk on A Love Without Chains, a dark and slinky tune with a seriously soulful vocal line. Without Trying So Hard looks back at a failed relationship that's deeply bittersweet. Garibaldi is at her most vulnerable here as a performer, delivering a musical soliloquy that could have walked right out of musical with deep emotion and a grace that is compelling.

You've Already Got Me gets back to the Americana sound with a sweet song of assurance that just asks for the time to allow emotions and bonds to grow in their own order. It's an incredibly mature and intelligent bit of writing that runs entirely counter to the sort of glitz-and-ditz that passes for love songs on commercial country radio. Nothing Good Lasts digs into a healthy slice of cynicism about a beau in a classic Country/Rock arrangement. This is probably the most "commercial" track on the disc. I Owe You Nothing is a down-tempo country anthem for those whose hearts have been toyed with, featuring strong songwriting and a melody that will sit in the back of your mind and remind you repeatedly that it's there. Next Ride Out closes out with Falling For You, the sort of ballad that Nashville producers drool over. Garibaldi outdoes herself with a performance that should seriously raise her profile in the country music world.

Katie Garibaldi just keeps getting better with time; the girl next door with a magical talent and an affable delivery will turn a lot of heads with Next Ride Out. Her song Falling For You is going to be a serious hit for someone, whether it's Garibaldi or someone else covering it down the road is the only question. Talent like this needs to be heard outside of the Northwest US and Texas. If you're a fan of Country or Americana music, Katie Garibaldi is a must-hear artist.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Katie Garibaldi at http://www.katiegaribaldi.com/ or http://www.livingdreammusic.com/. You can purchase Next Ride Out on CD or as a download at www.cdbaby.com/cd/garibaldi4.

Review: Kendel Carson - Alright Dynamite

Kendel Carson - Alright Dynamite
2009, Trainwreck Records

Vancouver’s Kendel Carson comes with a pretty solid resume for a 24-year old singer/songwriter. Her debut album, Rearview Mirror Tears, received strong critical acclaim, and her work with The Paperboys is highly regarded. On June 23, 2009, Carson will release her sophomore album, Alright Dynamite. Carson is generating a lot of buzz for this one, so we thought we’d check it out.

Carson thrives on provocative lyrics and a pleasant voice to thrive, but comes across with a lukewarm presentation on much of Alright Dynamite. Carson projects Sheryl Crow part of the time, like on Belt Buckle. The song is something of a free association on attraction. The arrangement is appropriately slinky but is ultimately ear candy without a lot of lasting impact. Lady K is a reflection on immortality, fame and creation against the backdrop of a relationship that may or may not be a one night stand. I Don't Wanna Be Your Mother revives the Sheryl Crow comparison with a decent effort at 1980's era Country/Rock. Carson revs things up for Ten Lost Men, her best effort on the album. The song is a well-written paean to how men are often saved from themselves by the women they love. Jesse James wants to be an iconic song, but it’s lyrically awkward and Carson just doesn't present it with enough charisma to sell it. The same thing occurs on New Shoes, a "whose zooming who" song about infidelity that is quirky and catchy in arrangement, but falls flat with the vocal line. The musicianship on Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz is excellent, and Carson gives it a fair run, but it just doesn't hold up to the original. The rest of the album is filler that perhaps was left behind as B-sides for hard core fans.

I have to say I was disappointed with Alright Dynamite. Kendel Carson has generated a lot of buzz in advance of the release of Alright Dynamite, and I'm hoping that perhaps in the live setting she'll prove to be deserving of it, but this album just isn't as exciting as the buzz. Songs like Two Lost Men prove there's potential here, but this album is just too average to stand out in the crowded music marketplace.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kendel Carson at www.myspace.com/kendelcarson. Alright Dynamite will be released June 23, 2009. You can pre-order a copy from Amazon.com. Check back at Kendel Carson’s MySpace page for digital availability.

Review: Elke Robitaille - Flowers In The City

Elke Robitaille - Flowers In The City
2009, Rag Veda Records

Musical nomad Elke Robitaille is home anywhere she goes as long as there's a stage to perform on. The British Columbia native and current Portland, Oregon resident has two national tours of the US and Canada under her belt and recently released her third album, Flowers In The City, featuring some of her most memorable songwriting to date. The folk songstress spent a few years deeply involved in the Los Angeles music scene, winning the Rock City New Award for Outstanding Folk Band in 2005, as well as working for Nettwerk Music. Robitaille also had a four month engagement at sea aboard Princess Cruises' The Diamond Princess.

Robitaille has a somewhat limited voice, but a very pleasant sound when she stays in range (the low notes get a little murky). Flowers In The City opens with My Own Way, a decent folk/pop love song that's heartfelt but not syrupy. Out Of My Life meanders its way out of the speakers with a gorgeous cello part complementing Robitaille's voice, but the energy level keeps the song from ever really getting off the ground. By the time she reaches I'm Doing Fine, Robitaille has settled in nicely and is ready to show off her songwriting chops. This relationship song is all about what's gone wrong. It's highly melodic and very well written. Bright Lights is a personal look at life in the city; all that it has to offers and the hidden moments you can find there. The song is poetic and full of real ardor.

Interlude is self-explanatory, an instrumental break that shows perhaps a whimsical side to Robitaille; slightly bouncy and possessed of interesting sonic components, Interlude provides a glimpse of another aspect of the artist as well as perhaps a chuckle or two. Move is my favorite song on the disc; a perfect mix of dark, furtive tones and Robitaille's voice. Gravity is also very well done; a song about having two destinies. The first is career oriented and the second is all about a person. The protagonist here tries to protect the former while holding on to the latter. Gravity represents the sometimes opposing pull of each destiny, and the strength and the character needed to balance both.

Elke Robitaille is a nuanced and subtle songwriter with a unique perspective; she's able to deliver her thoughts in enigmatic fashion without coming across as bizarre. A talented lyricist; her arrangements are fitting to both her subjects and voice. Flowers In The City is one of those albums you keep around forever and pull out once in a while. It probably won't be your top listen after your initial courtship, but will also likely never make it into the trade-in pile. A nice effort.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Elke Robitaille at http://www.elkemusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/elkemusic. You can purchase a copy of Flowers In The City at www.cdbaby.com/cd/elke3, or you can download the album through iTunes.

Review: Natalie Gelman - Natalie Gelman

Natalie Gelman - Natalie Gelman
2006, Natalie Gelman

You'll be excused if thinking Natalie Gelman is just another folk/rock singer-songwriter until the first time you actually hear her sing. If you still profess the same heresy thereafter you're bound to be remanded for a hearing exam. The decorated opera singer (two performances at Carnegie Hall as a soloist) has a supple voice that can handle the demands of a Rock N Roll song, the subtlety and weight of a folk song or the lyricism and endurance required to sing an aria. The New York City native is dedicated to music not only as a vocation but as a means to affect the world around here. Gelman toured from Miami up the East Coast to New York City in support of the 2006 release of her debut CD, Natalie Gelman on roller blades, raising money along the way for charity. She has been featured on the front page of the New York Times, in Billboard Magazine, on CBS' The Early Show and as a New York City finalist for season 3 of America's Got Talent.

Gelman has a big, impressive alto voice that will draw your attention the second she opens her mouth to sing. Gelman sounds like a tough girl behind the mic, but there's a great deal of heart and vulnerability that she wears on her self-titled CD, coming across as a delicious mix of Joan Osborne and Sarah McLachlan. The album opens with the runaway song Rest Of The Way. The song outlines a picture of someone fleeing a bad relationship by making the same sort of bad decisions that led them into the relationship in the first place. The song is very well written with a distinctive chorus and a nuanced presentation that shows great maturity and touch as a songwriter. Sweet July is a love song that looks backward with a lot of energy and rhythm. Always Was is a touching paean to the idea that first love never truly dies. This is a well-written and nuanced song that's full of a quiet yet passionate urgency.

Just Someone may be the ultimate dysfunctional relationship song; following a similar meaning track as Sheryl Crow's Strong Enough without the passive-aggressive tendencies implied in that tune. Never finds Gelman returning to the retrospective love song category, looking back on a past love. This is one of the prettier songs on the CD, with a great melody and a strong arrangement. For all the good that's come before, Gelman saves the best for last. Forgive Me is a stunner full of an emotional depth and honesty that rarely survives the cut in pop music. The protagonist put off a potential suitor to take time to figure out what she really wanted; by the time she figured out it was him he'd moved on. Gelman asks forgiveness in song, although whether its forgiveness of the suitor or herself she's really requesting. The song is heartfelt and driven and written in a rock arrangement that is a perfect surprise. Generally this sort of song appears in a melancholic dirge; Gelman's musical placement here is perfect.

This is one of those CDs that took me a little while to get into. It had kicked around my desk for a couple of weeks, getting a listen here or there but not really hitting home. All of a sudden on the third or fourth listen something clicked. Gelman is a tremendous songwriter, but off the beaten track enough that you have to work for the experience. Folks who listen passively may not get her, or at least not fully. Natalie Gelman is an impressive debut. There are rough edges here or there but nothing that won't refine over time. Between her distinctive style and familiar yet proprietary sound, it’s easy to prognosticate that Gelman will be making music worth listening to for many years to come. Be sure to spend some real time with Natalie Gelman. It will be worth the investment.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Natalie Gelman at http://www.nataliegelman.com/ or www.myspace.com/nataliegelman. You can purchase a copy of Natalie Gelman at www.cdbaby.com/cd/nataliegelman or download the album through iTunes.