MUSIC REVIEWS

Adey Bell’s new EP release, Venus Exalted Vol. 2 – Tribute to the Dearly Departed, continues in the deeply felt tradition of Bell’s past releases. The Ashville, North Carolina-based singer/songwriter has earned a reputation as an intensely spiritual musical artist whose work has a higher purpose than mere entertainment. URL: https://shop.oracle88.com/ However, …

Pangaea’s music pulls off a neat trick. It invites a bevy of comparisons without ever sounding guilty of imitation. Their cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together” aims to clear a high bar. Refurbishing the work of arguably the single most influential rock band in history without inviting mockery is a …

The second album from Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road, Yellow Line, consolidates the band’s position as one of the pre-eminent bluegrass outfits today. The young Purcell possesses gifts far beyond his years as he’s just now enjoying the afterglow of graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He’s surrounded …

I went into hearing Tanya Mezh’s music with trepidation wondering what a fifteen-year-old singer, however talented, might have to say to a middle-aged music reviewer. However, such worries were needless. If nothing else, Mezh’s unabashed joy as a performer and immense musicality should remind even the most jaded listener why …

UniversalDice’s latest single, “Slip Away,” stands as a commendable addition to their musical portfolio. It’s rare to get a modern single that surpasses five minutes in length, but this piece commences with a gentle piano and strings-driven ballad, eventually evolving into a distinctive rock epic, highlighting the band’s versatility and …

Chris Bullinger‘s latest single, “Darlin’ ‘n’ Me,” emerges as a competent addition to the ever-expanding landscape of Americana rock. As someone who approaches music from a pragmatic standpoint, I’m always on the lookout for artists who can deliver a solid performance without veering into overhyped territory. With “Darlin’ ‘n’ Me,” …

As if to shove its way through the darkness on the back of a potent guitar’s hardest melody, we’re bid a harsh hello by the strings in “Bangkok City” as we start the tracklist in Vicious Kitty’s LP Vicious Kitty. There’s a feeling of iciness to the beat-solid piece that …

Alright now, hold onto your hat because we’re diving deep into a soulful tune with Trisha & Thara’s latest confection, “So Far Away”! Let me tell you, this isn’t your average pop-ballad. Oh no, this is a whole vibe, and these two sisters are serving up some serious sisterhood realness. …

The baker’s dozen worth of songs written and recorded by The Star Prairie Project for their seventh album, The Shining Ones, represents the best work yet from this fascinating band. The project’s creative engine, songwriter Nolen Chew Jr., aims high with the album’s conceptual scaffolding. URL: https://thestarprairieproject.net/ Structuring a thirteen-song cycle …

Good intros are everything in pop music. Slowly but surely, a delightful acoustic guitar comes slinking out of the shadows in “Beautiful Day,” the brand-new single from acclaimed folk-pop veteran Stephanie Bettman. Nothing is menacing about its euphoric melody, and yet its amiable disposition is rife with an underlying emotionality …