Kirsten Manville has a lot to offer listeners on Some People Sing
Kirsten Manville’s latest CD Some People Sing, is a fine assortment of rootsie flavored singer-songwriter material. Produced by Brian Maes at his Briola Studios in Lynn, Massachusetts, Manville’s CD rings with authentic grit. Her vocal sounds clear and pure and the instruments can be heard in all of their natural tone glory in each of these ten songs.
Rick Berlin W/ The Nickel & Dime Band strike solid gold once again with The Courage Of The Lonely
Rick Berlin with The Nickel & Dime Band’s latest CD The Courage Of The Lonely is another winsome affair. Berlin reaches back into older rock and roll idioms and pulls them into the present to write songs that have dramatic punch while remaining true to the original forms. This results in some incredibly good rock and roll numbers that leave one wondering how this guy Berlin isn’t as big as the guys in The Traveling Wilburys.
Crowes Pasture combine acoustic folk elements to great success on Edge Of America
Crowes Pasture strum up a storm on debut CD Edge Of America. This duo, Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin, present a combination of original songs and covers that reflect their influences and let them showcase their folk music influences. Acoustic instruments and vocals shine in this earthy reflection of talent.
The Weisstronauts do it again with Flat Bottom Cold Greaser, a fine batch of instrumental guitar rock
The Weisstronauts rock right out with yet another fine bunch of instrumental guitar rock tunes on Flat Bottom Cold Greaser, their sixth full length CD since forming in 1999. Their unusual combo of guitar styles and rock subgenres make for many fun moments. They also keep things interesting.
Likho Duo document a fine sound on Blues And The World Beyond
Guitarist and harmonica player Noe Socha and upright bass player Cliff Schmitt play the instrumental blues acoustic style in their Likho Duo. Documenting their song selections in this Blues And The World Beyond album was a wise idea. Their arrangements provide a glimpse into the initial kernel around which these songs were built. What the two accomplish from there is amazing.
Schooltree triumphant on double disc art rock album Heterotopia
There is a lot that can be said about Lainey Schooltree’s new artsy rock opera double disc CD Heterotopia. It’s densely layered with instrumentation and vocals that keep it compelling from start to finish. Hearkening back to the days of Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and King Crimson’s In The Court Of The Crimson King, Schooltree has come up with a highly imaginative work with an accessible, relatable main character that all can sympathize with. Though Schooltree sends her protagonist Suzie through a nonphysical or metaphysical journey, the composer-songwriter keeps her in the every day single young woman mindset.
Tim Gartland lets his talent shine on If You Want A Good Woman
Tim Gartland had been on the greater-Boston blues and roots scene for many years before relocating to Nashville. Maintaining a strong connection to New England, Gartland also maintains a strong fan base here by releasing fine CDs like this year’s If You Want A Good Woman to remember him by while he organizes his next stop up here. If You Want A Good Woman is loaded with Gartland’s fine vocals and exceptional harmonica work. He is also a strong songwriter who has written some of these tunes with local keyboardist Tom West who also makes a solid showing on this disc.
The Wildcat O’Halloran Band have fun with Hot Pulldown, a fine bluesy concoction
The Wildcat O’Halloran Band are at it again. They’ve come up with another disc of fine, cruising, soothing, and sometimes stomping blues with this Hot Pulldown album. O’Halloran showcases a lot of lyrical wit in this mostly originals CD while his guitar, vocals, and his crack support band put things across in edgy, feisty, bluesy style.
Brian Templeton lets his soul shine on Blue Testament album
Some years ago, greater-Boston vocalist and harmonica player Brian Templeton got religion. The gentle giant, already a pleasant fellow to begin with, accepted the salvation that many musicians of our generation have accepted. Templeton expresses his faith and spirituality on this album Blue Testament. Whether or not fans of Templeton’s oldies rock and roll, vintage country, or blues feel the faith as deeply has he does, they should enjoy this work of powerful bluesy, rockin, swinging music. Not too many people can make gospel rock like Templeton can. It doesn’t hurt that Templeton has drummer Lorne Entress, keyboardist Dave Lamina, bassist Ed Spargo, and guitarist Lyle Brewer along for the ride.
Duquette shines on Trust The Night album
Duquette’s latest CD Trust The Night is an unusual amalgamation of roots music and edgy, classic rock idioms. While his combination of genres and the strong musical personality he uses to weld them together make his music hard to pigeonhole, it also makes his music easy to like. There is a freewheeling sweep of musical styles that come together brilliantly and perfectly in each track.
