Amy Lennard is a singer/songwriter/storyteller who is very good at creating a lyric with twist and turns that are like setting real life to music. The overall sound is acoustic folk with a bit of rock instrument arrangements laying under the songs. You may catch a little of a Bob Dylan style organ playing on a few of the tunes adding a touch of depth to the backgrounds.

On the whole, it’s not the band, and it’s not the vocals that carry this album from beginning to end but rather the excellent writing style of the artist. Lennard puts you into the song story with the first picturesque line of the song. Lyrics like those in El Paso, "I love the way when we talked beneath the clear night sky" that makes you see the couple laughing and dreaming in their denims and bare feet. Dream grabs you with the simple thought, "I think that we could have some fun". It’s like a potato chip that you can’t stop with just one. What comes next you ask? I won’t tell you. Let Go paints this picture. "Walking in the desert sun painted on my back".

Lennard is without a doubt in the league of some of the best song writers and story tellers of our time. Musically there is nothing that will blow you away and make you say "WOW, that was an amazing solo", or "she can sing the phone book and sound fantastic," so don’t expect to hear that. But do expect to hear some very real, perceptive, strong and vulnerable lyrics that are better than anything you’ll find on reality television.


MSP    

By the time you read this, Chris Bickle will be gone - moved on to another record, yet another plan to bring music to its knees. The Bob Pollard of minimal noise, never before has nothingness been more prolific. I'll barely have broken the shrink wrap on his last scourging only to find there's a new menace forthcoming on an even newer imprint. These 12 tracks are that menace made manifest and what lies between "The Examinatione" and "Lies on a Tranquil Brow" might just be Bickle's best bludgeoning to date. The ideas here don't grow and develop as much as they distend, percolate and eventually smother their host. Bickle can still distort with the best of 'em, but gone is the locker room machismo of "in the red" for in the red's sake. "False Dymaxion" peters out into some primordial ether like a vertigoed bolero. And while "As Wheat in Winter" sounds like a Graham Greene novel, it sounds more like Harry Partch foraging through F.M. Einheit's junk drawer. For most of us, there are 13 ways of looking at blackbird. For Chris Bickle, though, there are more than 30 ways to kill it.
Logan K. Young    

Bernie Early performed on the radio when he was fifteen, Playing bass and guitar in a blue grass band. At seventeen, he was singing country music in clubs and lounges. (More info.) Early is in the Rockabilly hall of fame and making a move into a new genre that has proven to be just the ticket for him. He has found a small niche in the music market that is clamoring to hear what he has to sing about. Truckers all over the country have been waiting for Bernie to lay these tracks on them to make their trips down the road just a little more interesting. Early's voice is in a comfortable range that makes the "Rig Rockers" want to jump in and sing along on the 4:00 AM wired on coffee and cigarettes drive.

Trucker's radio stations across the country are gravitating to this new CD, the favorite track being #1 The Truck Stop. As one DJ said, "It's perfect and the truckers will know the feeling". The reason that it is doing so well, might be that there really hasn't been a new truck driving song since the late 90s.

With the release of this CD Bernie Early joins the roster of DAVE DUDLEY, RED SIMPSON, RED SOVINE, DEL REEVES and all the rest. His music production, sounding very Nashville, comes right out of The Gator Hole Recording studios with arrangements and recording by Galen Breen. Early can still hold his own vocally and he gives the truckers what they want. Early's CD should keep those truckers rolling along singin' a song until he releases his next one, just for them.

Track List

Look Out for Harley Johnson

Also a special note: Bernie has a new single release entitled Take That Gas and Shove It . A light hearted comedy song about the discovery that his truck does better with beer instead of gas. Who knew? Also includes: Son of a Trucker's Son both songs are getting monster plays on the truckers radio network and trucker stations all over the country.

Take That Gas and Shove It


MSP    

CAROLINE is a Sydney band, which consists of three young hipsters. Siblings Emma & Thomas Hamilton kick off the band with warm and strong vocals and harmonies, piano and drums, closely followed by groovy guitarist, John Knight. Caroline is the name of the band but not anyone in it.

A very 60s sounding band with inspiration from the Carpenters. The strongest performance on the CD is by Emma Hamilton who plays piano and sings with a young yet experienced voice that sounds happy and cute. The minimal production has a feel of a stage musical that you might hear off Broadway simply because it lacks the choir of singers and big musical fanfare.

On the 4 song EP you will hear Emma’s command of the piano coupled with her Brother Thomas Hamilton vocal harmonies and string and horn arrangements. Solid bass, drums and guitar fill it out but not quite enough to make it sound as big as it should be. The talent shines through in a big way making me want to hear the next CD that Caroline can come up with. Good luck to you Caroline.
MSP    

COSTANZA Sonic Diary is just weird and exactly what the psycho ward ordered, that is if the plan is to keep the tenants from recovering. This CD’s text information is printed in a font that is difficult to read. The vocalist COSTANZA is pictured as a transparent ghost on the CD cover her vocals are so light and wispy that she is hardly present on the CD. If the idea is not to communicate any information why did they bother putting this CD out?

Musical phrases are mostly minor and repetitious through entire songs building a 15 title album that is a test of endurance just trying to keep from becoming very annoyed. There is little value that I can see or hear in this CD and this review reflects that sentiment. Half a star.
MSP    

Drink Small correctly considers this release his masterpiece. It consists of his singing accompanied only by his wooden, acoustic guitar. He has several talents. Playing is one, singing is another, and composing is yet another.

Small picks so deftly that another guitarist sometimes seems present, but is not. He addresses this in "Drink Small Boogie": "I ain’t got no rhythm guitar/Nobody but me" and, referring to himself, "You make one guitar sound like two." He is one of the last guitarists, and possibly the oldest, playing in the Piedmont style.

Small’s voice is unmistakable. He has one of the deepest voices of all blues singers; he sings in tune and sells the lyrics, in the sense of seemingly believing them. He is also good natured, as evidenced by an occasional chuckle, which does not distract from his overall seriousness.

Small composed all ten tunes on this CD. On "The Lord Been Good to Me," he sings that "all my songs are about me," and so they seem, either in detail or philosophy. For example, "Bishopville Is My Hometown" is obviously biographical, "Don’t Bump My Stacy Adams Shoes" refers to his preferred footwear, and the title tune recounts events from the past (membership in the Spiritualaires, such important engagements as at the Smithsonian Institution, and so forth) and expresses current realities, including "I got a little problem with my eyes."

Philosophically, Small is a moralist and an optimist. Despite his hardships, he sings a tune titled "The Lord Been Good to Me." In another, he encourages listeners to "Do What the Lord Say Do." He advises that "It’s Never too Late to Do Right (But Always too Soon to Do Wrong." In "Tryin’ to Survive at 75," he disavows rich people’s money.

Recorded in 2008 in Columbia, SC, Tryin’ to Survive at 75 indicates that as far as music is concerned, Small is doing more than surviving. He is excelling.


B. F.    

This CD is exactly why Cashbox Magazine's credibility outshines our competition. This is one of the best produced Country Folk CD's of the decade. Its not all about sales and how pretty you are and what major label throws payola your way to keep someone atop the charts but something that’s genuine and true and this is why the new Emmylou Harris CD "All I Intended To Be" has remained no. 1 for two weeks. The songwriting is superb, it flows well and is impeccably produced and it took over 3 years to finish.

Emmylou is at the top of her game with such beautiful tracks like "Shores of White Sand", "All You Have Left is Your Soul","Old Five And Dimers Like Me" and an old Merle Haggard classic "Kern River". Emmylou, Old J.D. doesn't care how long you stay # 1. You deserve the swift recognition that you are so much better and have more class then all the syrup and pancakes put together.
JDH    

Led by trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, the quartet Gato Libre includes accordionist Satoko Fujii, guitarist Kazuhiko Tsumura, and bassist Norikatsu Koreyasu.  Although the promotional material states that the music on Kuro is not technically program music, the tunes have such titles as "Patrol," "Battle," and "Reconcile."  Whether it is program music does not matter; the music matters, and it is excellent.

This CD focuses primarily on the compositions, all by Tamura, and all attractive. As a result, I am uncertain how much of the music is improvised, although this concern is largely irrelevant.  In favoring writing over soloing, this music is similar to that of Maria Schneider.  The featured use of the accordion also links the music of Tamura and Schneider.

Primarily, the music has a gypsy/flamenco feel, with some avant-garde touches.  While lyrical overall, it is also demanding in parts, though never too much so. 

This is the most rewarding music I have heard during the first half of 2008.


B. F.    

There may not be a hotter act right now on the Beach music scene than Holiday Band. From humble beginnings way back in 1991, they have worked through all the ups and downs of this business to emerge as a model of consistency that always delivers outstanding performances. Led by vocalists Mike Taylor and Mike Neese, who also play a mean set of keys and guitar, the band has had quite a run of successful album and song releases, particularly over the last ten years. In the background during that period has been a stable force of recognized musicians that flat come to play - Bill Ward on drums, Mark Payne on horns and Doug Neese on bass guitar. Adding Duane Neese to the mix over the last two years has completed all the pieces of the puzzle.

Got It Bad for You is the latest release from Ripete Records – ten straight ahead songs with five that are already market tested proven hits. The CD combines elements of the ‘new’ Holiday Band together with what has worked for them over time. I Know It’s Hard But It’s Fair has that North Myrtle Beach Ducks Club trademark sound to it that can also be considered a tribute to a milestone in the band’s history – performing at DJ Throwdown 1999, which some consider to be Holiday’s ‘coming out’ party for the new millennium. Rabbit Got the Gun is an uptempo bluesy shuffle that is reminiscent of one of the most successful Beach music group CDs of all time – Shotgun Boogie. Switch gears for the next two singles – their renditions of Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone and Fool (If You Think It’s Over) have more of a ‘70’s uptown feel to them – and make for great material in the live Holiday performances. The latest hot tune, which is also the title track to the CD, is classic Holiday. All five of these songs have made the Beach Smokin’ 45 chart over the last two years, which is just an outstanding accomplishment!

That’s not to say that the remaining five tracks on this release cannot hold their own. The Duane Neese written Motor Under the Hood, a great dance number, could be the next big Holiday hit. Brother Doug steps up to the mike with his unique vocal style to bring it on Do You Really Love Me, another original penned by Duane and Mike Taylor. Duane takes the lead on a soulfully stirring delivery of There’s No Getting Over Me followed by Mike Neese with a smooth version of the Paul McCartney written Only One More Kiss. Mike Taylor closes out the effort goin’ way down south to the Fivemore Everlasting All Saints Church ya’ll with Rough Side Of The Mountain.

A killer set of songs from a tremendously versatile group that continues to etch their name in Beach music history as one of the best ever! It you have a chance to see Holiday in person, do not miss it!


Neal "Soul Dog" Furr    

Though mistitled because I cannot think of a definition of "jazz" that would accommodate this music, Jazz Diva is an adventuresome—even audacious--release for two reasons: Lowe sings straight, taking few liberties with lyrics or melody; and she performs some songs treated definitively by others, begging comparisons. This is retro music.

All fourteen selections are standards by the likes of Berlin, Waller, Arlen, Kern, Porter, Rodgers, and Gershwin. They indicate Lowe’s taste, which is close to impeccable. Lowe sings the songs credibly, attractively.

No matter how appealingly she performs these tunes, however, they suffer in comparison with treatments by others. Nat "King" Cole "owns" "L-O-V-E," as Doris Day does "Secret Love." Most daunting, though, is singing songs associated with Frank Sinatra: "The Tender Trap," "Come Fly with Me," and others. This is not to say that singers should not perform these songs; it is to say that they should have something new, if not unique, to contribute to them, or risk having their interpretations characterized as "nice," which is not a pejorative.

The arrangements by Frank McNamara are serviceable. In a few instances, he surprises by using unexpected material. The first selection, "Let’s Face the Music and Dance," has an introduction reminiscent of "Sing, Sing, Sing," for example, while the introduction to "L-O-V-E" is from Sinatra’s performance of "New York, New York." "Night and Day" concludes with a quotation from "Corner Pocket."

The band never really stretches out, and the few solos are perfunctory.

I would like to hear Lowe sing less familiar standards while allowing for jazzier accompaniment than she receives on Jazz Diva.


B. F.    

If not for one seemingly minute detail, this might just be one of the best post-rock records of the year - especially out of Seattle. The only problem: bassist Chris Cullman is bound and determined to warble through nearly 75 percent of an otherwise exquisitely wrought record. A poet he is not indeed, but it's neither words nor imagery, nor scansion even, that detract most from this three-piece's well-rehearsed excursions. (Save for a few - e.g. Cobain, Billy Corgan, Greg Dulli - I've long since stopped taking stock in modern rock lyricists anyways.) It's Cullman's voice itself - dull in timbre, neither here nor there in range - that's the ultimate sin. When he does keep his mouth shut though, like a good little boy, the aesthetic dividends are aplenty. Track seven's T.S. Eliot-referenced "Out WIth a Whimper" finds Cullman, guitarist/programmer David Green and drummer Will Andrews at both their most ambitious and effective. And honestly, I totally hit the repeat button more than once for "End Game" and at least half a dozen times for the album's fin "Fingers Crossed."

Ghosts is a definite sleeper record that, with one small tweak of the Cullman, jar the hell out of the right label bigwig. They'll have to get out of Seattle though. (And just so you know guys, I hear Austin, Texas has got a real nice scene going on. While you're down there, there's this band you absolutely must hear. Don't worry; I think you'll like 'em. They're called Explosions in the Sky.)


Logan Young    

Randy is back and it was sure worth the wait. To drive record collectors crazy, Randy picked up a great unique voice and somehow really got interested in music way back then from his father Harold Traywick which I own a mint 45rpm on K-Ark records out of Nashville, the A side being "The Reason I Came" and I hope Randys return to Country music will highlight this title and put Country back where it should be. Of all the current crop of stars Randy was the innovator of new traditional country. Unlike all the others you could tell it was a Randy Travis song from the first note and that made him unique, none of today's artist even come close.

After 10 years of doing some of the greatest country gospel albums, all of which went gold, Randy is back in full brilliance on the CD "Around the Bend". His voice is like fine wine, it just gets better with age. The first track is a bluesy country track "Till I'm Dead and Gone", A humorous track on "Every Head Bowed" a look at those dining room blessings that get a little carried away as dinner cools down, and a gut wrenching ballad on the demons of alcohol and rehab on "You Didn't Have A Good Time". Other tracks ole J.D. took a llikin' to are "Around The Bend", "Dig Two Graves" and "Faith In You". Sure to debut at # 1 on the Cashbox Country album charts.
JDH    

Actor Sam Harris delivers his 8th CD and this particular project is very special to him, in that at this point in his life and career he can make a statement about life and politics in general that reflects the way he feels. Ole J.D. may not agree on all of his political agenda but Free is about freedom of spirit, political and constitutional freedom, freedom from bondage of others and self, freedom to express freedom from bad relationships, freedom to find new ones- the many meanings of the word in song. This CD is full of love and accountability and anger and joy and loss and contemplation and hope.

In Sam's words "of course, I want people to hear it. As an artist with an ego, I certainly want people to like it, to be moved by it, to sing it-my life is really full and I want to share that" Tracks include the title track "Free", "Anchor of Love",
JDH    

An absolute masterpiece. I loved every track and for ole Jed. to venture outside his normal range, this is saying a lot. On top of all this, this young man is from Greenland. A native Greenlander only proves that no matter where you come from you can make absolutely beautiful music. I can certainly tell that Paul Simon, Cat Stevens and others had a great deal of influence on this young man. The production on this CD is awesome and the songwriting is superb.

After going to school in Denmark, (Greenland is part of Denmark) Simon played in a number of bands in Copenhagen and several times in London. He secretly wrote his songs at home and ended up in Nashville on Music Row. Thank God, he got the hell out of there and got to L.A. where this album originated.

The guys at Bright Orange Records didn't hold back. They got the finest musicians like bass player Lee Sklar (James Taylor, Elton John), guitarist Shane Fontayne (Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon), drummer Jay Bellerose (Marc Cohen, Madeleine Peyroux) bassist Freebo (Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall, CSN) and produced by Matt Forger (Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney) and Jon Mattox. This project is absolute perfection.

Simon delivers this 12 track collection and one bonus track like he’s been working on his 20th CD. However it is not and this first effort will be remembered as a true classic and will last many years. J.D.'S favorite tracks on the CD are the brilliant song and should be single "A Beautiful Way To Drown", "Birds Eye View", "Full Speed", "Love Is My Umbrella" and I love the bonus track "The Future". This CD is for any record collection.
JDH    

If you insist upon forging metal music in a millennium weary of its alchemy, it best be the loudest, fastest, most unintelligible racket around. Otherwise, what's the point? The five lads assembled here know this almost instinctively, and furthermore, they only need 15 minutes to prove it. As a genre, metal now is about as standardized and codified as it's ever going to be. And with each one of its hallmarks - shredding guitars, guttural vocals and the ever present double kick - checked off in the first minute of "Left In Obscurity," it's abundantly clear that BTSFA have a monk's knowledge of the metal canon. Less lucid though is their desire to be confined by it, as there are moments in the final strains of "A Heinous Honor" that could make the philistines cry foul. But that alone could be the mass liberation BTSFA so earnestly call for.
Logan K. Young    

Cooper is an accomplished pianist whose work has provide him with a very full resume. He enjoys the feeling of the ocean with it’s flow and ebb and continuous streams of consciousness. You may find that this flow pulls you in a myriad of different directions like the dancing sparkles of sunlight reflecting on the ocean. Could it be Coopers reasoning for the name of this CD Light on the Water?

Cooper records each song as an improvisational solo piano without any added overdubs, being made up from the soul of his being as his fingers flow over the keys creating a mood in melodies. The CD is punctuated with various accents in riffs and a few key changes flowing from minor to majors and back for a total of 19 songs lasting 57 minutes.

The CD is an excellent source for finding relaxation but I did not find any particular piece to be outstanding or memorable. You will probably find that Cooper’s CD works best as a whole, stringing together of abstract piano pieces into the one hour of calming stress management. We could all use some of that in this crazy world today.
MSP