Holiday/Adult Contemporary Review: Margo Rey – This Holiday Night

Artist: Margo Rey
Title: This Holiday Night
Genre: Holiday/Adult Contemporary
Label: Organica Music Group
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Margo Rey is a singer and songwriter originally known as Margarita Reymundo. Her sound is best described as adult contemporary with infusions of alternative pop. Laced with ambient guitar, vocals imbued with raw emotion, and a style all her own, this artist has crafted a sound that has taken her to number six on the National Adult Contemporary Music charts. This album is full of energy and good cheer...READ MORE...

Pittsburgh Rockers Big Atlantic Drop Their Long Awaited Debut CD and Video Featuring the Single “Verdict”

Pittsburgh, PA-November, 13, 2012- Big Atlantic, a high energy band, with a name that is quickly becoming synonymous with some of rock’s greatest acts, has recently released their long awaited self-titled full length CD featuring the single “Verdict.

The album brings out the very best in this emerging rock act with its innovative and creative writing style, demonstrating a unique flare rarely heard in today’s rock music scene. Although every song on the album is extremely strong in its own way, the featured single, “Verdict” with its obvious strong hooks accompanied by the melodic riffs is, without question, is the stand out track on this recording. The song just brings it home on every turn. While each band member may have his own personal favorite, there are so many strong songs on this album that it was very difficult to decide which one was the strongest. You could play this record for ten different fans and get ten different opinions.

The energetic CD was produced by formidable record producer Rob Freeman. The band was also involved in the production. Blood, sweat, and sometimes tears went into this effort recorded at multiple studios; JKG studios in Pittsburgh and the Pilot Studio in Boonton New Jersey. The mastering took place at Turtle Tone Studios in New York City. When it was all said and done, the result was an astounding full length record.

Four rock steady musicians round out the quartet that is Big Atlantic. With Lee Caruso’s powerful red hot lead vocals and searing guitar riffs, Benjamin Hull’s syncopated bass groves, Tom Gascon’s dynamic drum beats and Jim Zamerski’s mesmerizing keys and guitar; Big Atlantic is proving to be a formidable force in the rock world.

Aside from great creative songwriting, an exciting live performance is probably one of the foremost trademarks of this high energy original progressive/alternative rock band. Their contagious spirit and obvious on-stage motivation is what sets them apart from all others. Although Big Atlantic is yet to share the stage with any high profile national acts, they are on their way, and are in the process of setting up a regional and national touring schedule. When asked what emotions he wants the band’s audience and fans to feel after a Big Atlantic performance, Lee Caruso replies, “We want our fans to feel full of hope, passion, energy, and motivation, giving them the confidence to take on the challenges they may face while chasing the dreams they long for.”

Big Atlantic’s new release is available at their official website and on iTunes. For more information on this up and coming rock outfit, to view the official video for “Verdict”, and to purchase the new CD, you can visit the band’s website at www.www.bigatlantic.com.

Track Listing
Verdict
Luminosity
Open Up
New Beginning
Change
Still: Waiting
I Don’t Wanna Be Free
Mad House
Say Hello to the World
Elocation
Born in the Wind
Motive

Media Inquiries:

Contact: Ken Cavalier, Publicist

Company: Allure Media Entertainment Group, Inc.

Location: New York, New York

Tel: 1-888-242-9331 x105

Email: alluremediaent@gmail.com

Band Website: http://bigatlantic.com/

Verdict You Tube Link: http://youtu.be/PlCouy2vo38

Leo Drioli Releases First Single “Give It Your Love” On House of Wow!

Adelaide, Australia-October 30, 2012- Leo Drioli is well known as a spiritual leader and now he is making his way into the hearts of music fans with a pop single that will remind music lovers everywhere of The Beatles and similar artists who ruled the airwaves. “Give It Your Love” is a positive message from a man that has many to deliver and now his audience will become much larger...READ MORE...

Rock/Pop/Country Review: Matt Jameson-Dirt Stomp Romeos

Artist: Matt Jameson
Title: Dirt Stomp Romeos
Genre: Rock-Pop-Country
Label: Olive Records
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The last time I heard from Matt Jameson was 2010 when he sent me his 5 song EP South Shore Girls... which I thoroughly enjoyed. So there should not be any reason why my experience would be different a few years down the road right? As it turns out I am glad to say that once again I have enjoyed the music of this talented artist...READ MORE...

Review: Project Grand Slam – Spring Dance

Artist: Project Grand Slam
Title: Spring Dance
Genre: Jazz
Label: Cakewalk Records
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Project Grand Slam is an internationally known New York based Jazz group. Formed in 2007, the band consists of Robert Miller (composer, electric bass), Ron Thaler (drums, percussion) and Gilad Ronen (saxophone). Guest artists include Danny Lerman (saxophone), Mike Eckroth (keyboard) and Joye Hennessey (vocalist). Spring Dance is the band’s third album...READ MORE...

Review: Paisty Jenny – Head in a Haze

Artist: Paisty Jenny
Title: Head in a Haze
Genre: Rock
Label: Independent
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Paisty Jenny is a rock quartet from the Midwest, and they have been at it since 2002. They have released four albums during this decade, including their latest, Head in a Haze....READ MORE...

Review: Sons of the Radio – Heartstrings & Heresies

Artist: Sons of the Radio
Title: Heartstrings & Heresies
Genre: Rock-Alternative Rock-Modern Rock
Label: Independent
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With all the controversy that is associated with Craigslist (murders, robberies and prostitution) it’s nice to see something positive come of it. In January of 2009 the three remaining members of power pop band Savage Mill put an ad in Craigslist looking for a vocalist. Matt Gomez responded. Later that year they replaced their guitarist with Mike Sullivan, the planets all aligned and the rock gods bear offspring, Sons of the Radio...READ MORE...

Review: Radio Drive – This Is Our Time

Artist: Radio Drive
Title: This Is Our Time
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label: Interscope Digital Distribution
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If you are looking for an alternative pop rock band that has an upbeat sound, look no further than Radio Drive. The man behind the magic is the very talented Kevin Gullickson. Starting his musical career with a four song EP, Gullickson has been contacted by several major record companies and Grammy Award winning producers that are interested in his sound...READ MORE...

Review: Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real – Wasted

Artist: Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real
Title: Wasted
Genre: Progressive Country
Label: Tone Tide Records
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Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real is a progressive country band based out of Venice Beach, California. The band made its start in 2008 and has had several member changes. Now with their new 2012 release, Wasted, this free spirited band has an exciting line up and is better than ever. The current band members are Lukas Nelson (vocals, guitar), Anthony LoGerfo (drums), Tato Melgar (percussion) and Corey McCormick (bass)...READ MORE...

Review: Brandon McHose – Late Night EP

Artist: Brandon McHose
Title: Late Night EP
Genre: Rock
Label: Independent
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Brandon McHose developed his passion for music as a child when his father shared his eclectic music collection and began to teach him on his 74 Les Paul guitar. As McHose grew in his musical talent, he spent a lot of time in the Austin music scene and then landed in Chicago...READ MORE...

Review: Candye Kane-Sister Vagabond

Artist: Candye Kane
Title: Sister Vagabond
Genre: Blues
Label: Delta Groove
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Candye Kane is the jump blues phenomenon from East Los Angeles who has been rocking the blues scene since she was in her early twenties. She has been listed as one of Dan Akroyd’s 30 Essential Women of the Blues...READ MORE...

Review: Pyewacket-1967

Artist: Pyewacket
Title: 1967
Genre: Classic Rock/60’s Psych
Label: ItsAboutMusic.com
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The term “Pyewacket” comes from the book Bell Book and Candle referring to the spirit of a witch. The group, which formed in 1967 in California...READ MORE...

East of Fairfax-Nothing’s Different, Nothing’s the Same Review

Artist: East of Fairfax
Title: Nothing’s Different, Nothing’s the Same
Genre: Pop-Rock
Label: Independent
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Though highly derided and scoffed at by so-called musical elites, well-written and well-performed pop is a tricky beast to tame. When executed with perfection, it practically ensures stardom; when mishandled, it's worse than karaoke. The LA-based collaborative East of Fairfax falls into neither category, lacking just another coat or two of polish to turn their heart-on-sleeve sensitivity into worldwide domination. Though their sophomore release Nothing's Different, Nothing's the Same presents all the proper pieces, the final product is perhaps a tad too calm, a tad too serene, and perhaps even a tad too derivative (even for pop) to leave a lasting impact. The result is Daughtry on Ritalin – talented and smooth, but stuck in the clouds once too often.

East of Fairfax's double-edged sword is frontman Brian Spain, the perfectly-named crooner whose charisma will either be a priceless boon to the band's career or else its death. Spain and Spain alone is plastered on the paraphernalia, raising questions as to whether the group – which includes a great deal of guest players – is merely a supporting rung for his own talent. That's not to say that the Spain-as-headliner strategy isn't smart; indeed, with ample amounts of confidence and personality behind the mic, Spain has the standard qualifications for an arena rock vocalist. Trouble is, Nothing's the Same doesn't offer that sort of blistering sing-along fare, and is more apt for quiet coffee-house sipping than crowd-spanning idolatry.

The lack of fire is Fairfax's biggest hurdle towards forging some kind of distinguishable identity. Opening track "More Than The Sun" is better for a drive in southern Cal than as an eye-raising introduction, and wastes a golden chance at lasting impressions. Furthermore, the mystique of songs like "Feel This Too" and "Ready For Descent" should theoretically provide a more muscular display than the result allows, as little soul ends up escaping the polished gleam. The overarching impression is that Fairfax has accomplished the latter half of every artist's career hurdle – slick professionalism, solid musicianship, studio presence, and the like – but not the elementary steps; that is, rugged originality and group chemistry that separates shepherds from the flock. The meandering "Time & Space" is a perfect example of this: what should be a splendid piano piece is instead rather murky, rich in everything but a notable melody to tie all the emotions together.

East of Fairfax – and thus, Nothing's Different, Nothing's the Same – are easy to like, but difficult to love. Some of the puzzle pieces work and some do not, which is to be expected, but even the good is often marred by a tendency to hem and haw. The record puts much of its effort into trying to please and befriend its listeners, when instead it should be knocking them onto their backs. That is the general essence of power pop, as even the most radio-friendly of bands know how to put intrigue and volume to good use. Fairfax needs to unbolt and unchain the raw elements if they are ever to finish the oft-started,rarely-completed conquest of pop stardom.

3/5 Stars

Kevin Liedel, MuzikReviews.com Sr. Staff Editor

April 24, 2009

© MuzikReviews.com

For Questions or Comments On This Review Send An Email To kliedel@muzikreviews.com

Tracks:
01.More Than the Sun
02.Feel This Too
03.Time + Space
04.Like Ghosts
05.Letter to a Friend
06.Get in the Game
07.I Could See Us Together
08.The Damage
09.For All This Time
10.Ready for Descent
11.Until You Say Goodbye

Benon and Vamposs Release Eclectic Indie CD I Know

Kampala, Uganda-January 13, 2009- Benon and Vamposs are among Uganda’s most celebrated recording artist and have a good chance of expanding that reach with their recent release I Know...READ MORE...

Benon and Vamposs-I Know

It is not a frequent event to have the opportunity to listen, enjoy, and then review a unique band from Uganda. The duo Benon & Vamposs are stars in Uganda, a literal hit machine there with the potential to spread their wings and take off with the right representation on much larger scale. I Know is a 14-track treat filled with reggae, R and B, hip-hop and some sweet pop around the edges for extra polish. This is eclectic music and anyone that has a penchant for world music and preferably an open mind to discover something entirely...more...

Freddy V-Easier Than It Looks Review

Artist: Freddy V
Title: Easier Than It Looks
Genre: Jazz-Funk-Soul
Label: Independent
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Fred Vigdor (or Freddy V) pushed his stake in the ground a long time ago when he stepped in with his saxophone to help the legendary pop-soul band Average White Band climb the charts. AWB remains one of my favorites to this day. For a decade Freddy’s trademark sax was a steady groove on AWB tracks. His accomplishments with that band alone still resonate today...READ MORE...

Charmaine Clamor Releases A Filipino Serenade on FreeHam Records

New York, NY - December 8- Charmaine Clamor’s critically acclaimed recordings have the ability to amalgamate the soul and swing of American jazz combined with traditional Filipino folk music, languages and instruments. By doing something so unique, it instantaneously created a new fusion genre she dubbed jazzipino....READ MORE...

Donna Lee Quartet-Mellow Review

Artist: Donna Lee Quartet
Title: Mellow
Genre: Jazz
Label: Zivaldo Records
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In 1999 Zdenko Ivanusic and Andrej Henigman, two classically trained altoists from Croatia crossed paths while playing in the Croatian Army Symphonic Wind Orchestra in 1992...READ MORE...

Funk and Soul Artist FEMI Releases Debut EP Sweet Water Soul

Los Angeles, CA-November 24, 2008- FEMI has come a long way in a short period. She rose up from the Oakland underground to record her grand entrance into the world of recorded music with Sweet Water Soul.
FEMI’s debut, a six track EP titled Sweet Water Soul,...READ MORE...

FEMI-Sweet Water Soul Review

Artist: FEMI
Title: Sweet Water Soul
Genre: Funk-Soul
Label: Talking House Records
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FEMI takes me back to a Sade concert I attended in San Francisco in the 1985-86 time frame. These are fond memories because I was jumping head first into exploring jazz and all of its sub genres. Sade was a combination of pop and jazz...READ MORE...