Rock Review: Kwame Binea-Shakedown EP

Release Date: July 17, 2015

Label: Indie

Website

Kwame Binea’s debut Shakedown EP gives potential listeners a chance to focus in on a positive message backed by great music.

The first track “Let Go” features a driving back beat, stinging guitar leads punctuated by a horn section and the deeply emotive and rich vocal tones of Binea. This kicks things off on an upbeat note and the rest of the tracks follow that lead.

There are trumpets, saxophones, and background vocals to compliment the lead singer but it’s the conglomeration of it all together that makes all the musical magic happen.

“Hang On” is very similar in tone as the first track and it has parts that really rocks with leads from the guitar that cut like a razors edge. Binea sings “Hang on little brother, save your soul.” This track moves along like a locomotive down the tracks and it never lets up for a second. I like the momentum that carried over from the first track over into this one.

“Little Lady” changes the pace and approach. The driving horns and complimentary background vocals are there. Binea’s vocals are softer for the musical backdrop and it works very well. It sounds appropriate for a pop hit on the radio while the first two tracks could fit anywhere as well, they just rocked along harder. This one shows that the band is not only talented but versatile when they decide to take that route.

“Waiting” rounds out the EP and closes the curtain on this nice taste of the Kwame Binea presentation. This track starts off with a nice acoustic guitar and smooth vocals and beautiful background vocals for an extra texture. After about a minute the pace picks up with the instrumentation and the vocals just ride on that wave perfectly. Then everything begins to come to apex and blend together with a punctuation point. It is a nice way to end the EP.

The Shakedown EP is an excellent introduction to an emerging artist to keep an eye on. All the talent is in place to go back into the studio and create a fantastic full length album now. I am certain when that arrives it will be impressive.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Let Go, Waiting

Tracks:
1. Let Go
2. Hang On
3. Little Lady
4. Waiting
 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

July 16, 2015

Review Provided By Write A Music

Featured Track: Kwame Binea - Hang On

Kwame Binea sings with a purpose and plenty of emotion on his upcoming release Shakedown. "Hang On" is a great example of what to expect on the upcoming album. 

"Hang On" is full of hope and positive energy. There is nothing about this music or artist that suggests any sort of negativity, its all upbeat and straight forward.

Good music is not something that is a given, it is hard to find with so many artists to choose from. Trust me, Kwame Binea has got it together and he knows how to deliver a song.





More About  Kwame Binea:

http://www.kwamebineashakedown.com

According to legend or myth (depending on who tells the story) the band earned its name Uptown Shakedown because the walls in Kwame’s apartment in Harlem used to shake when they rehearsed there. It was later truncated to just Shakedown.KwameinfusesalotoftheBritish rock elements of the legendary rockers that inspired him to become a rocker such as; Rod Stewart, the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin. He was also heavily influenced by soul singers Otis Redding and Sam Cooke, the iconic Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley, (both whom were revered in England) blues greats Buddy Guy and Robert Johnson, funk pioneers Sly and the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic, and South African world music giant Fela Kuti.

He has fed his recording and live endeavors with an unyielding spirit and intestinal fortitude that is strikingly visible in his artistic growth. He continues to draw a legion of loyal fans with electrifying and inspirational performances at most of New York City’s most celebrated venues including Brooklyn Bowl, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Sullivan Hall, The Bitter End and Joe’s Pub. He also has a Summer Residency at Arlene’s Grocery and he’s continually expanding into other major markets on the East Coast.

Simultaneously, he has incrementally built his growing fan base digitally with several well- received videos helmed by noted Director Jamal Joseph and a couple he self-produced/directed with Joel Davenport (“Little Lady and “Hang On”). He has also accumulated nearly 2 million hits via all his social media sites (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter) in the past several years and has netted a cumulative 800,000 views on Youtube from a handful of videos over the past year alone.

Kwame Binea Shakedown…is primed and ready to really SHAKE UP things…break through some walls…and you heard it here first.