Archive for January, 2006

• Band / Artist : Josh Woodward
• Genre : Pop / Rock / Folk
• Download : Hey Ruth
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 8 out of 10

Insanity seems to be prevalent amongst musicians, because so many of them are giving their albums away for free, in the hope that you’ll like them enough to either, buy a CD, or make some kind of contribution. Whatever the reason, take heed and head over to Josh Woodward’s site, download this album and enjoy… then cough up some dosh and give the guy the recognition he deserves.

Crawford Street weaves a tapestry of stories that effortlessly combine, to give a story of any town USA. With mainly acoustic accompaniment, this is an excellent album to close your eyes and picture in your minds eye the stories unfolding before your ears.

My favorite track, has to be Hey Ruth, with it’s parallels to the Suzanne Vega track Luka. I must admit Josh reminds me of that other popular indie singer Jonathan Coulton, similar, but at the same time quite different.

Conclusion : With 2 additional CDs available for download, completely free and numerous other tracks, I’d say go get them now, because some record company, is going to sign him and then it will all disappear, but don’t forget, please do your part and support the artist, because this is music that you will want to play again and again.

• Band / Artist : Pippa Rogers
• Genre : Pop / Rock / Easy Listening
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 7 out of 10

Pippa Rogers is an artist I’ve come across a few times, more recently with her contribution to the Podsafe Christmas song. With her album Let Me In, she presents 8 tracks that form a wonderful mix of pop, rock and easy listening. It’s funny, easy listening was always a phrase I used to associate with the likes of Perry Como, Andy Wiliams and Roger Whittaker, a sort of euphemism for tired, pajama and slippers music, but the older I got, the more I realised that easy listening was just that, music that allowed you to relax and let the music wash over you.

I have to admit I’m not a big fan of the opening track Happy, even though it’s well liked by various podcasters, as I’ve heard it played and praised a few times. For me the album really begins with Take it All, which is a wonderfully infections melody. I’d love to hear a more rocky version of it. I have to also say Let Me In is also not a song I am too fond of. After thinking about this and the first track, the common factor seems to be the bass, which seems to distract too much from Pippa’s voice and also the melody. I do however love the song I’ll be With You. It’s one of those songs that almost puts you in a trance with the song seemingly lasting a lot longer than it actually does.

Pippa has such a beautiful voice with lots of energy and emotion, but I just would have loved that little bit more. With 8 tracks this is shorter than your usual album, but at just 6 UK pounds for the CD, that’s still pretty good value for money.

Conclusion : This is overall a good album, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from Pippa in the near future.

• Band / Artist : Fred
• Genre : Pop / Rock
• Sample Track Download : Good Night
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 7.5 out of 10

I first need to get a confession off my chest (quite apt really, read on). I first heard the track Good Night on the Catholic Insider Podcast. I missed the pre-amble announcing the track and thought it was Father Roderick singing the lead (well you never know, with all the other things he’s doing). It was only when I heard another track and the same initial track again that I found out the name of the band was actually Fred.

So what of the album. If you could harvest happiness into an album, it would sound something like Sound Awake. The band manages to combine upbeat tempo and suitably bouncy lyrics to make a quite fun, happy album. However there is one big black mark against the album, which comes from the track F**k You Stars (yes that is me censoring the title). This is one of most unwise tracks, I think I have ever seen included on an album. It’s not that swearing offends me, it’s just that the track sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest of the album. This would be a great family album, my kids loved it until that track. The older ones look at me quizzically and the younger ones thank good are too young to understand.

With all that aside though, this is still a great album (parental warning aside). It’s an album that doesn’t fail to raise a smile with it’s infectious sound.

Conclusion : If you have kids or are easily offended, maybe this isn’t the album for you. For anyone else after some catchy pop, this maybe what you’re looking for.

• Band / Artist : Hotrod Cadets
• Genre : Rock / Pop
• Sample Track Download : My Heart Sinks
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8 out of 10

This is a band whose album has long been in my CD rotation, for no other reason that it’s absolutely magic. When I first heard this album, it brought back strong memories of the 80’s indie scene in the UK. A time when every Smiths new release was hotly anticipated. With this, their first album, the Hotrod Cadets have a very polished sound, but at the same time it has a raw edge, which is very welcoming.

The album opens with the very strong track My Heart Sinks, which sets the tone for the whole album. Not The Only One, further re-enforces the sound for the rest of the album, which is pretty consistent. The track Sunday has an interesting sax intro, which sounds a helluva lot like a band called Three Stations East, a short lived band I used to love in the 90’s. Mind you I did happen to be friends with the sax player, so that’s me probably showing a bit of bias.

Try as I might, I can safely say there’s not a stinker on the album. Excellent Girl is a particularly good track, with lyrics that are very easy to relate to. I think many men can say they are at odds musically with their significant others. The lyrics on the album are particularly fitting and there’s a strong hint of the sardonic tongue of Morrissey in places.

Conclusion : This is an album that I can imagine many record companies would insist needs polishing. I say sod ’em cos it’s perfect the way it is.

• Band / Artist : Robin Stine
• Genre : Jazz / Easy Listening
• Sample Track Download : Never Say Goodbye
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 9 out of 10

There’s many naughty vices in life. Sex; Chocolate; Caviar and now Robin Stine, for if there were ever a musical vice, this would be it. If you’ve never been seduced by jazz before, there’s not many better albums to do it with than Daydream (no pun intended). I’ve never been a big jazz lover, but what I do love is the old style of Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane and even Harry Connick Jnr, but I suppose that’s more big band. I’m definitely not a fan of the kind of jazz that’s just full of wails and screetches and this unfortunately is what puts a lot of people off jazz.

What I find especially great about this album, is that Robin manages to combine some old standards like Nature Boy and … wow I just looked to see who wrote some of the other standards and they are all written or co-written by Robin Stine. It feels like I’ve had some of these songs in my head for year. Suffice to say, they are all exceptional tracks and go to make this a very well rounded album.

The music accompaniment on Daydream is top notch, allowing Robin’s sultry voice to shine. Every time I listen to this album, I can’t get the George Michael song, Kissing a Fool out of my head. I’d love to hear Robin do a version of this.

So many genres of music are now becoming more openly accessible to people who would never have given them a chance before. This is a wonderful thing and with artists like Robin deservedly so. Particular standout tracks for me are Daydream, Sweet Blossom and Never Say Goodbye.

Conclusion : This is an exceptional album from an exceptional artist. I especially like to put this on when the kids are in bed and then cuddle up to my wife, with a few glasses of wine. I eagerly await her next release. As does my wife.

• Band / Artist : Whitney Steele
• Genre : Pop
• Sample Track Download : Stumble (Acoustic)
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 7 out of 10

Though not my usual listening genre, it’s always good to dip your toe into something different. There’s lots of mainstream solo girl pop acts, like Britney, Jessica, Ashlee etc., so it’s nice for the indie scene to have one of their own. Whatever your take on pop, it’s undeniable that Whitney Steele has a wonderful, clear smooth voice and a lot of future potential. Although this is primarily pop, a lot of the songs have that Alanis Morrissette edge, which goes a long way to extend her appeal beyond the 12-16 year olds.

This, her first EP release, contains 6 songs. Whilst it doesn’t contain a standout track, it is a very accomplished first release, which will enable Whitney to quickly establish a base of fans. The 6 tracks are :

1. Storm Warning
2. Stumble
3. Crazy
4. Time I Go
5. Movie Star
6. Acoustic Stumble (Original Demo)

For me the strongest tracks on the album are Stumble, of which there is also a wonderful acoustic version and the very Alanis sounding Storm Warning. The only track on the album that grated on me a bit was the track Crazy, which is just the kind of pop music that makes me switch channels, when I hear it on the radio, but that’s just me.

Conclusion : This is a young lady with a very bright future. I would love to hear her expand on the singer/songwriter, Alanis inspired side of her repetoire and steer away from the pure commercial pop.

• Band / Artist : Brother Love
• Genre : Rock / Pop
• Listen Online : Here
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : Buy
• Rating : 9 out of 10

This has to be one of the most aptly named albums this year. If I had to choose one album of the year, this would definitely be it. In fact I must also say that I think Brother Love should also be artist of the year. I, along with many other people first heard of Brother Love via the new medium of podcasts and indeed I think Brother Love had a good hand in paving the way for many other artists to follow suit, open up and allow their music to be freely played on podcasts, allowing them much greater exposure.

So enough of all that, what about the album. Man can this guy wail and yes I do mean in a good way. The more I listen to this album, the more I hear traces of Marc Bolan, he of T-Rex fame. In fact Brother Loves even has a Marc Bolan look happening, I would be most interested to know if he’s ever heard of him. Although this album was released in 2004, with all the excitement generated via Podcasts, it’s pretty easy to consider this a relaunch for 2005.

The album opens very strongly with the track Push, a high energy introduction to the sound of Brother Love. Sick of Chicks, the next track goes on the backfoot and shows a more mellow side. There She Goes and Summertime are probably the two tracks that podcast listeners will have probably heard on one of the many podcasts that have featured Brother Love, including the Daily Source Code and Accident Hash. The rest of the album is every bit as good as the initial tracks and it’s one of those albums that is guaranteed to make you forget the crappy mood you were in.

Standout track for me has to be Alone. Boy does this song bring back memories of being a batchelor. A life wholely different to the one with a wife and four kids I live now, but hey I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Conclusion : If you only buy one album from this years selection at Indie Launchpad, you won’t go wrong with Brother Love’s, Album of the Year. With 2005 nearly behind us, it’s going to be great to see how Brother Love follows up this album in 2006.