Ajay Mathur:Â Talking Loud
Ajay Mathur Talking Loud (Ajay Mathur) A simple yet effective high-sailing guitar line begins the upbeat first tune, “Sooner Or Later,” off Ajay Mathur’s 5th full-length album, Talking Loud. As I often do (if they are written well), I respond to ballads better than a rocker, and Mathur’s early slower “Don’t Want The Phone To Ring.” More...
The Color of Cyan: Agape Â
The Color of Cyan Agape (The Color of Cyan) The swirling, rising, spooky keys that turn quite mournful of “Inception” start us off on The Color of Cyan’s new release, Agape. I’m not sure all the layered More...
Swansgate: Becoming Someone
Swansgate Becoming Someone (Swansgate) Big swirling string strikes begin on “Lost in the Sun,” as we easily float into Michael McKinney’s MOR beat and Stu Draughn’s tight vocal delivery laden, with maybe More...
Aura Blaze: Open-Mindedness
Aura Blaze Open-Mindedness (Cleopatra Records) Open-Mindedness opens an EP of the same name from Rhode Rachel’s Aura Blaze. This trio of tunes, written (save for the last track, a cover of The Charlatans, “The More...
Spencer Elliot: SE3
Spencer Elliott SE3 (CandyRat Records) Spencer Elliott’s strummed and echoey acoustic breaks into the free-flying groove of “Torque,” the opener on his new album SE3. Along with drummer Chris Hudson and More...
Leadbetter Band: Howl
Leadbetter Band Howl (CD Baby) A heavy beat with Mark Johnson’s organ spikes and some chunky guitar runs inform the opener “Waterdogs” from Oregon-based rock trio Leadbetter Band’s new Howl. The second More...
Chawa Lilith:Â EuphoniousÂ
Chawa Lilith Euphonious (Chawa Lilith) Calling out with her potent singing incantation and a bed of breathy sounds behind her, Chawa Lilith starts us off with “Good Things,” introducing us to the atmospheric More...
Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz: Stuck Inside
Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz Stuck Inside (Baggage Room Records) A slow stamping snare and single piano chords run under the verses of “Morton’s Pillory Plea,” the opener on Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz’s Stuck More...
1st Base Runner:Â EllisÂ
1st Base Runner Ellis (1st Base Runner) 1st Base Runner’s new Ellis EP is a collaboration between Tim Husmann and his longtime friend Bryan Ellis. Opening with “Near Me” and its flicking beat, new-agey More...
Flavour Nurse
Flavour Nurse Flavour Nurse (LovAnaverse Records) Dramatic orchestra strains and a deep scary choir raises the drama of “Dystopian Galaxy” before it settles into the very Brian May-ian guitar opening of “Majesty,” More...
