Nicky Swann – Burning Bright E.P.
2008, Nicky Swann

Hailing from Kingsteignton, Devon, England, Nicky Swann has deep roots both in the country and in the brand of acoustic folk music she writes and plays. Long of a successful cover duo, Swann became a songwriter quite by accident. Left without a guitarist and unhappy with potential replacements after her duo dissolved, Swann took it upon herself to broaden her guitar skills from the three chords she knew. In no time at all Swann was back on the circuit and writing her own material. The time since has been full of local awards and recognition, and Swann has begun to set her sights on a larger audience. Nicky Swann recorded and released her debut CD, Burning Bright (EP) in 2008. Without distinct popular flair, Nicky Swann offers up honest, from the heart folk music in the spirit of Lucinda Williams and at time Bonnie Raitt.

Burning Bright opens with Good Advice, an incredibly poignant story song about the daughter of a highwayman who warns her away from his ultimately fatal lifestyle. It’s a Greek tragedy set to music in a melancholy Country/Americana arrangement that is sonically gorgeous. Wheels Keep Turning is a song of hopeful melancholy about second or new chances and the passage of time. One Step Away is a little more upbeat, played in a more traditional Country arrangement. It’s a song about the dynamics of a relationship that is very intelligent and tuneful. This is not your typical Country/Folk fare, but a classic song that would be welcome in Nashville in almost any age of Country music. Time Stands Still is a passionate plea for a relationship not to end. It is one of the most heartfelt and personal performances I’ve heard on CD in some time.

Nicky Swann is a lesson in accidents and fate. If you do what you love and do it well you’ll be given what you love to do. The fact that the latter isn’t always exactly what you might have expected is irrelevant; or maybe it’s the point. Nicky Swann cocooned herself after the breakup of her old due, and emerged from that hibernation as an amazing songwriter. Burning Bright is a thing of beauty; a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc, and an instant classic.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Nicky Swann at http://www.myspace.com.nickyswann/. You can pick up a copy of Burning Bright (EP) at www.cdbaby.com/cd/nickyswann2.

Review: Jupiter Rising - The Quiet Hype

Jupiter Rising – The Quiet Hype
2009, Chime/Fontana Records

Jupiter Rising made quite a splash with their debut album, 2006’s Electropop. Music from the album is in regular rotation in television shows, commercials and sports arenas everywhere. On March 17, 2009, Jupiter Rising returns with their sophomore effort, The Quiet Hype. Vocalist/Producer Spencer Nezey and vocalist Jessie Payo grace us with an eclectic mix of electro/dance pop, soulful ballads and even the occasional stab at social commentary. A 2009 tour is in the works.

The surprising choice for lead single from The Quiet Hype is Falling Away, an up-tempo dance/pop tune that is certainly accessible and fun to listen to, but hardly the best candidate for a single here. Tres Cool, the likely second single, should have gained the first spot. The only justification for holding Tres Cool back is that it’s a perfect summer hit. Expect to hear it everywhere this summer; it’s a can’t miss single. Guarded could make for an interesting release. Although not as dynamic as Tres Cool, it has interesting vocal triad harmonies very reminiscent of Wilson Phillips.

Flip My Switch is bound for the hard core dance club scene. That it lacks in subtlety it make up for in pure glam and raw sexuality. The Quiet Hype is a personal favorite, as it lets Payo show off her vocal skills in a more relaxed setting. While still heavily produced, Payo gets to play with some seriously constructed harmonies. Payo has a perfect rock/pop voice with just enough edge to be memorable. Over Again is another mover and shaker. It’s a great pop tune, heavily produced but none the worse for wear.

L.A. Girls is a fun listen, trashing the gimme-gimme culture of Los Angeles (“Prada Bag, Gucci Shoes, Louis V, Jimmy Choos”). Other highlights are Follow Me, Snakeskin and When The Bass Drops.

Jupiter Rising isn’t exactly bubble gum pop, but they don’t hide their heritage in that realm either. Mixing elements of Pop, Hip-Hop and Rock, Jupiter Rising has created a highly entertaining dance album in The Quiet Hype that should gain significant commercial traction. And if it’s not the most intellectual music in the world, who cares? Who wants to think while they’re dancing?

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jupiter Rising at www.myspace.com/jupiterising or http://www.jupiterisingmusic.net/. The Quiet Hype hits shelves on March 17, 2009, and can be pre-ordered through Amazon.com. If you just can’t wait you can download Tres Cool and L.A. Girls through iTunes. And be sure to check out Jupiter Rising’s website. They’re running a remix contest for the song L.A. Girls that could get you some face time on Jupiter Rising’s web and MySpace pages.

Review: The Supervillains - Massive

The Supervillains – Massive
2008, Law Records

The Supervillains are back. Following up on their popular 2006 release, Grow Your Own, the Orlando, Florida Ska/Punk quintet are back with Massive, their most refined and accessible album to date. Produced by James Wisner (NAS, Justin Timberlake, Shakira); Massive features appearances by Slightly Stoopid’s Kyle McDonald and Inner Circle’s Kris Bentley.

Massive opens with You Got Me, sounding a great deal like Sublime. The Pit hearkens back to the early days of The Mighty Mighty Boss Tomes, in a pure Ska/Punk extravaganza. Home Again is a wonderfully catchy Pop/Punk hybrid with great harmonies happening between the two vocalists. My favorite track on the CD is the surprising cover of Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song). Aside from the reggae beat this cover is amazingly faithful to the original and very well done overall. St. Thomas is another curveball from The Supervillains; a honky-tonk style ode to the fringe benefits of a visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other highlights include Overdose, Iru Kanji and Snow White.

The Supervillains are a highly entertaining Ska/Punk outfit with a serious penchant for chemical relaxation. For this reason the album is one parents might want to think twice about before buying it for your child. That being said, The Supervillains might be one of the better Ska/Punk hybrid bands going. Massive certainly could be, there’s enough commercial fodder here to keep The Supervillains in consistent radio rotation until at least mid-fall. It’s a great listen.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Supervillains at www.myspace.com/therealsupervillains or http://www.thesupervillains.net/. You can purchase a copy of Massive at Amazon.com.

Review: Joy Ike - Good Morning

Joy Ike – Good Morning
2008, Joy Ike

Pittsbugh, Pennsylvania’s Joy Ike is a musical late bloomer. The 25-year-old singer/songwriter just started writing and performing 3 ½ years ago, but is already considered the gem of the Pittsburgh music scene by both insiders and outsiders. The Nigerian born former publicist has acquired a reputation for lyrical depth and social conscience while delivering strong pop arrangements reminiscent of folks like Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones and Fiona Apple. Ike’s second album, Good Morning, was released in 2008 to rave reviews in and around the Pittsburgh area, as well as some on the national scene.

Good Morning opens with a brief vocal intro, a Capella, that displays just what a gorgeous and warm voice Ike possesses. Ike steps out of a reverb chamber into real time like an angel stepping from your dreams into the now. You spend the next twelve songs hoping she won’t leave. Strongman is a piano-driven pop song with hints of soul, like an interesting hybrid of Tori Amos and Alicia Keys. Warriors Get Your Gear On is a wonderful, lyrically dense pop song projecting a somewhat serious perspective on a light and airy pop arrangement. Remember is a gem of a song, sounding like a soliloquy from a Broadway Pop musical. It’s a song about saving the world, or having the courage to try.

Jacob & Esau is a peppy, funk-tinged piano pop tune that sounds like Tori Amos stylistically and is wonderfully vibrant. Unconditional is a song of longing and devotion; certain mix-tape material in a piano-pop format. You’ll want to make time for the melancholy flavor of City Lights and the regretful beauty of Oh I Fight. Other highlights include the hauntingly beautiful and powerful Love Is; Hey, Where Are The Kids; the gospel-tinged The Least Of These and Hope. Hope is very similar in ideals to Rent’s Seasons Of Love, though different in style.

Joy Ike is the real deal; a singer/songwriter with something to say and ample to talent to deliver it. A warm and inviting voice wrapped up in strong and generous piano-driven pop/rock arrangements is the general recipe for Ike, who may be the best thing to come out Western Pennsylvania in a decade or more. Good Morning is an exciting introduction. Nice to meet you, Joy Ike, we hope to hear much more from you.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Joy Ike at www.myspace.com/joyike or http://www.joyike.com/. You can purchase a copy of Good Morning at www.cdbaby.com/cd/joyike2.

Review: The Greens - Broken Science, Vol. 1

The Greens – Broken Science, Vol. 1
2007, The Greens

Morgantown, West Virginia’s The Greens have been rockin’ Appalachia for more than five years now with an intriguing blend of Rock, Soul and Boogaloo. Andrew Tuck, Ben Sweeney and Nathan Yoke have formed an incredibly tight band over time that is always producing new material. The Greens sent along Broken Science, Vol. 1, one of their EPs from 2007 for review.

Broken Science, Vol. 1 opens with 10-4 Good Buddy, a well-constructed classic guitar-rock jam. Up next is All Over, a funky, R&B laden rocker with a serious groove going on. Crazy Thomas is my personal favorite on the disc. The Greens come across sounding a bit like Cowboy Mouth on this tune. The Greens Shows that same New Orleans style spunk on Swamp Queen, a Creedence Clearwater Revival sound-a-like that should be a concert favorite. I also highly recommend Penny, built on one of the most vicious guitar riffs you’re likely to hear.

The Greens Mixes blues, rock, R&B and a little bit of Louisiana swamp gas for an eclectic sound that is distinctly recognizable and unique. Broken Science, Vol. 1 is likely to be a niche record, not for lack of talent or interesting sound, but as a victim of the current trends in what some call musical taste. This is, unfortunately, the sort of CD that tends to fall through the cracks for all the wrong reasons. Don’t let it. It’s a great listen.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Greens at http://www.thegreensmusic.com/. You can purchase a copy of Broken Science, Vol. 1 at CDFreedom.com.

Review: Jono & Friends - Misty Roses

Jono & Friends – Misty Roses
2008, J. Frola

Jono Frola has led something of a charmed life. The one time rock club manager, advertising jingle writer, actor, songwriter and singer has travelled all over in pursuit of his various muses. Appearing in films such as Making Mr. Right, Tweeners and Natalie In New York. His jingles have been featured in spots or campaigns for Sports Illustrated, Pan Am Airlines and International Harvester. In 2008, Frola released Misty Roses on CD. Let’s take a look.

Misty Roses opens with the title track, a schmaltzy Bossa Nova that’s played as smooth as silk. I Was Wrong is pure 1970’s AM radio material. The gentle R&B groove here should be full of soul, but Jono just doesn’t provide that feel in the vocals. Jono makes the most of his cover of The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps. He extracts some lovely sounds from his guitar, but the energy just isn’t there. It’s a melancholy song, but there was a spark to the original (and to several covers I’ve heard over the years) that is simply absent here.

Island Dreams has more energy, with a delicious Bossa Nova beat underneath it all. Dazed also shows a bit of life, and the cover of Randy Newman’s Marie actually reflects some inspiration on the part of Jono & Friends, but about half of the album falls prey to its own listlessness. Jono himself is a passable vocalist, but pitch problems do appear on the mastered recording. This is (almost) always a dubious choice. Misty Roses is meant to be a romantic album, but romance requires energy, and about half the time Jono & Friends just don’t have it here.

Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jono & Friends at http://www.jonofrola.com/. You can pick up a copy of Misty Roses at www.cdbaby.com/cd/jonofriends.

Review: Scythian - Immigrant Road Show

Scythian – Immigrant Road Show
2007, Imagramaphone

If you’re looking for first class Celtic music then we’ve got an album (and band) for you. Scythian, a band of Ukrainian descent based out of Washington, D.C., may just be the hottest thing going on the Celtic circuit. With three vocalists, two fiddlers and more spirit than entire jug of punch could provide, Scythian storm the stage or the studio; wherever they happen to be playing. Classical musicians who started busking for fun, brothers Danylo (guitar/accordion/vox) and Alexander Fedoryka (violin/mandolin/bass/vox/harmonica) teamed up with Josef Crosby (violin/bass/vox) and Mike Ounallah to form one of the most dynamic Celtic outfits going. Scythian’s latest effort (their third) is Immigrant Road Show. You won’t be able to put it down.

Immigrant Road Show opens with Immigrant Stomp, a lively Irish Jig featuring some of best fiddle playing I’ve heard in a long time. Try to sit still through this song. Just try it. Hills of Donegal is a great listen; very lively and full of energy. It’s a bit of a modern take on a classic Celtic song; talking about wanting to turn Donegal into a Vegas-style fortress. This would not be a popular idea with traditional Celtic fans but is still a great listen. Jacobites is done in a dynamic arrangement that is full of tension and life. It’s a great rendition. One of my personal favorites on the album is Highway 81. There is a very 1930’s or 1940’s cabaret style to the arrangement that is endearing. The violin fills and complementary lines are well done to the point of brilliance. Vocalist Danylo Fedoryka’s easy style is perfect for this song.

Boyko Dream is done in a gypsy style that invokes dark and daunting images. There are also elements of a middle-eastern sound here that are very intriguing. Boyko Dream ends up as a huge jam with each member trading solos and egging the others on. Tuesday Morning is a Celtic themed rock song with real legs. This will get your feet moving and would have real commercial potential with the right placement. Final Reel is a master class in Celtic ensemble playing. You’ll dance, you’ll laugh, you’ll call for another pint. Classic. Technoccordian is a stab at Celtic hip-hop; complete with MC.

Kesh Jigs is a wonderful opportunity for some Irish dancing. Great for a dance hall or a kitchen party, just make sure to keep the Grog flowing. I Will Go dips into the Scottish songbook for a revolutionary song from the era of William Wallace (or thereabouts). Stop The Show throws you violently back into one of the most frenetic jigs I’ve heard; I got dizzy just listening to the dueling fiddles of Josef Crosby and Alexander Fedoryka. Make sure you check out Follow Me Up To Carlow and Fields of Athenry, but put aside some time to appreciate Gypsy Fiddle. We got an idea of what the two fiddlers were capable of on Stop The Show, but this piece is amazing.

Scythian is the real deal: an old school, grab your shillelagh Celtic band. So many bands mix Irish musical heritage with Bluegrass, Rock or World Music these days that it is a pleasure to hear a band going the old school route. The sound is sweet. Another pint or two while you listen; Immigrant Road Show is a treat for the ears. It’s a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc and a must for your collection.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Scythian at www.myspace.com/scythian or http://www.scythianmusic.com/, where you can purchase a copy of Immigrant Road Show.