Folk Review: Jack Tempchin-This Guitar and Tonight

Release Date: August 23rd, 2019

Label: Mailboat Records

Website

Jack Tempchin is a folk artist famous for providing the world with what is now recognized as the California Sound. He entered the music world as a member of the Funky Kings in the 1970s and then proceeded to cowrite multiple radio hits in the 80s. He worked closely with Glenn Frey, co-writing songs such as ̈True Love,” ̈The one you Love, ̈ ̈Sexy Girl, ̈ and ̈"Party Town.” Originally from Encinitas, the city of San Diego proudly congratulated him on his success in 2012, when the mayor announced a “Peaceful Easy Feeling Day” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tempchin’s song released as a single. Tempchin’s newest album One More Time With Feeling is filled to the brim with emotion, amazing instrumentals, and lyrics sufficient to inspire his audience. 

Tempchin cleverly titled his newest album, since every single one of these songs has plenty of feeling to reveal. This album tells the story of a man going through a rollercoaster of emotions, all closely linked to love. The first song on this album, “True Love,” maintains a smooth melody, giving off a serene and calm atmosphere that suggests introspection and reflection on Tempchin’s part. It shows Tempchin first reflecting over whichever romantic battle he continues to describe in the rest of the album. “True Love” is a consistent theme throughout the album, repeatedly singing “True Loves got a lifetime guarantee” in “Never had the chance to say Goodbye.” “Love’s First Lesson” takes a much more solemn and reflective tone, claiming that loves first lesson is a broken heart. Tempchin demonstrates to his audience a glimpse of his love life and includes the highs and the lows, the good times and the bad times. 

Tempchin especially demonstrates his capability of writing a multitude of songs corresponding to multiple different genres in One More Time With Feeling. Although he does stick with his home genre of folk, Tempchin bounces from songs that are upbeat and fun to songs that are sad and tear-jerking. The title track, “One More Time With Feeling” is a song you can get up and dance to, its energetic. However, “Always Magic When the Sun Goes Do” is smooth, calming, and reflective. Whereas the instrumentals in “One More Time With Feeling” feel like they’re urging you to get up and dance, the instrumentals too “Always Magic When The Sun Goes Do” feel like they’re comforting you after a breakup. Tempchin’s One More Time With Feeling provides its audience with a whirlwind of emotions. From adrenaline to introspection, Tempchin demonstrates his amazing talent in each one of his songs. 

Key Tracks Include “Never Had The Chance to Say Goodbye”, “One More Time With Feeling”, “Love’s First Lesson”, “Peaceful Easy Feeling”

Ana McLaughlin-Muzikman.net Staff

October 21, 2019

REVIEWS PROVIDED BY:

The Final on Vinyl

MuzikMan Productions

MuzikMan Reviews

Write A Music Review

Prog Rock Music Talk

New Age Music Reviews

Rate The Tracks

Tracks: 
01. One of the Good Old Days
02. Peaceful Easy Feeling
03. True Love
04. One More Time With Feeling
05. Never Had The Chance To Say Goodbye
06. Back To The Old Me
07. Loves First Lesson
08. Out in The Desert
09. Always Magic When The Sun Goes Do
10. Big Lincoln

 

Folk - Rock Review: Yogi Lang-A Way Out Of Here

Release Date: Nov. 8, 2019
Label: Gentle Art Of Music
Website: www.yogilang.com

It’s a lazy Sunday morning, and Yogi Lang’s newest songs play in the background, as the chores are getting done. This album is something crossed between easy listening music and kickass motivational rock. It’s just a little something to get your head bobbing in the early hours of the day. Lang does a great job of taking the listener on a journey since each track brings something new and exciting to the table. So, wherever you are, turn the volume up, and get ready for A Way Out Of Here.

The first track “Move On” is almost theatrical, at a whopping nine minutes long. From the soft intro to the various music breaks, to the artist “locking the door” at the end, Lang puts on nothing less than a spectacular show. It’s fitting since each song provides a different experience than the previous one.

“Shine On Me” and “Freedom Of The Day” are great tracks for those fall road trips, and have a soft rock sound similar to The Goo Goo Dolls. “Love Is All Around” has a distinct grunge rock sound to it at the beginning, but the vocals weren’t the right fit for the track. The vocals were lacking the energy that that track could have used to take it to the next level. “I’ll Be There For You” is the last track of the album, and it wraps up the “theatrical production” quite nicely. It feels like the end credit track of a movie because of the background vocalists and full orchestral section. There are cool cosmic synth elements that make you feel like you’re in another dimension, which might allude to why the album is titled A Way Out Of Here, but then again, that’s just speculation.

Overall, A Way Out Of Here is a colorful album, combining elements of folksy country and alternative rock. Lang creates a comfortable atmosphere with his smooth vocals and carefree acoustic intros. It’s a rare thing to hear live instruments used on tracks today, but Torsten Weber does an incredible job playing the guitar and gives the tracks an authentic rock sound. It’s refreshing to see an album that incorporates so many genres and doesn’t happen to sound like the same song being played on repeat with different lyrics. In fact, you probably wouldn’t be able to recognize that it was the same artist if you were to blindly listen to two different tracks off the album. So, take a listen to the album. You might even be surprised by what an adventure it will take you on.

Key Tracks Include: “A Way Out Of Here”, “Move On”, “I’ll Be There For You”, and “The Sound Of The Ocean” 

Lily Clark – Berklee College of Music Intern
October 6, 2019

Tracks:  
1. Move On
2. A Way Out Of Here
3. Shine On Me
4. Don’t Confuse Life With A Thought
5. Love Is All Around
6. Freedom Of The Day
7. Early Morning Light
8. The Sound Of The Ocean
9. I’ll Be There For You
 

Folk Review: Cynthia Chitko-Days Gone By Remembered

Release Date: June 15, 2015

Label: Promotion Music Records

Website

Cynthia Chitko is an artist with a deep emotional investment in her music. Days Gone by Remembered is Chitko’s sophomore album and reaches deeper into in a folk sound with country and Americana foundations. Songs of remembrance and focus on the family are rich with expressive elements, vocals and instrumentation. Artists on this album include Peter Phippen (Fender bass, William Hall & Son boxwood flute), Randy Sabien (violin, mandolin), Ivan Lunde Jr (frame drum, Rain FX), Robert Baca (trumpet), Terrence Karr (tabla drums) and of course Cynthia Chitko on acoustic guitar and vocals.

In an album that scrapes against the raw emotions of being human Days Gone by Remembered is a look into the fiber of the artist’s soul. One of the most striking pieces was “My Innocence”. It tells of a young girl whose innocence was stolen at the hands of someone very close to her. This piece will resonate with anyone who has ever had a similar experience. The pain suffered travels across time, even when the perpetrator dies. The acoustic guitar, frame drum and Fender bass blend with Cynthia’s seamless vocals to portray feels that most consider too difficult in general conversation, let alone a well-built song. This song is for all of us that have been wounded in such a way by the very people we trusted. Kudos to you Cynthia for your courage and forbearance. 

“Gray Rainy Day” begins with the natural sound of rain and morphs into melodious violin sequences. Chitko’s vocals resonate through the piece, paired with Fender bass, acoustic guitar and Rain FX. Memories are stirred by occasions but even as events happen both good and bad, life still goes on. 

Evoking the spirit of freedom, “Dance with Me Mata Hari” spirals into being. The Tabla drum, acoustic guitar, Fender bass and Chitko’s signature emotive vocals take the listener on a magic carpet ride. The wild and sensuous essence of the legendary spy and lover coaxes you to cast all your inhibitions to the wind and let yourself go. The rhythm and folk sounds of this piece make you want to throw back your hair and just do it. Step out of the box and let your flag fly high.

Days Gone By Remembered is an album rich with memories and textured sound. The human condition is a blend of joy and pain and Cynthia Chitko purveys that well by using voice and instrumentation to craft an organic experience. She and her contributing artists have brought the shadows of the past alive and they are dancing. If you enjoy folk music with a focus on human elements, I recommend this album.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: My Innocence, Dance With Me Mata Hari, Gray Rainy Day

Tracks: 
01.Days Gone by Remembered
02.Stain on the Wood
03.Snake Eyes
04.My Innocence
05.Word
06.Whenever I See You
07.Gray Rainy Day
08.The Spirits Won't Let Me Be
09.Unfree
10.Dance With Me Mata Hari
11.Watching over You
 

Dana Wright, Sr. Staff Writer

October 26, 2015

Review Provided By Write A Music Review