Archive for the 'Acoustic' Category

• Band / Artist : Wil Deynes – mySpace
• Genre : Pop / Acoustic / Rock
• Sample Track Download : Super Wonderful
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 7.5 out of 10

I’ve been meaning to review this EP for a while, but never got around to emailing Wil. Then all of a sudden I heard him on a few podcasts and then received a couple of emails from him. It’s funny how things happen like that sometimes. This 5 track EP has a great upbeat sound to it, opening with “Super Wonderful” which introduces you nicely to Wil’s sound. His sound reminds me very much of Hootie and the Blowfish, but with much softer vocals. In fact there is a very 90’s feel to most of the tracks, not that that is a bad thing. The previously mentioned Hootie, are still one of the artists in my all time greats CD’s list.

I know I have this bug up my, well somewhere on my persona, about title tracks and have to admit, at first thought “Stay” wasn’t as strong as the rest of the tracks, which to me is like leading with your best foot far, far behind forward. I warmed to it surprisingly quickly though. It’s a relatively laid back rock track, which is great, but it is somewhat overshadowed by the track that follows “Better Way”, which for me really shows Wil in his best light.

“Better Way” again reinforces that Hootie feel, but with Wil’s voice it takes the song in a different direction, which works nicely. It’s the track I’ve heard on the majority of podcasts, so either the podcasters are agreeing with me on the strongest track, or Wil is preferring this track himself and sending it out for pod play. “Nervous” is a track that really didn’t gel well with me. There’s something about it that just didn’t sit well with me. In my head I expected the EP to end on a laid back, relaxed note, but I was wrong. The final track “Tired” however does try a different musical style, but I have to say while it was a pleasant track, it wasn’t the direction I was hoping for. Overall though an Interesting EP, which opens very strongly. The first 3 tracks are great, while the last 2 tracks just weren’t my cup of tea, but very pleasant nonetheless.

Conclusion : I couldn’t quite shake the Hootie sound, but sometimes that’s not a bad thing. A great rising talent, who I’m hoping breaks out a bit and develops more of the Wil Deynes sound.

• Band / Artist : Lionel Neykov – mySpace
• Genre : Acoustic / Soul
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

It’s no surprise given the strong Eastern European overtones of Lionel’s surname, that this 9 track offering has a similar, strong flavour, that at times enhances Lionel’s voice, and at other time totally falls away to leave a voice that whilst not the most melodious, has a realness that is both charming and heartwarming. I have to admit though, listening to a track here and there on various podcasts, I was pretty much on the fence. Lionel has a very distinctive voice, but I had a nagging sense that it may not hold up for an entire album. I’m glad to say though, my previous fears, were totally unfounded.

The album opens with “I Need You” which starts, predictably enough, with soothing acoustic guitar, but it’s when you hear Lionel’s voice for the first time, that your aural senses are almost stopped in their tracks. When the mandolin / balalyka is introduced, the track takes on a real seasoned veteran feel, which is surprising, seeing as Lionel only picked up a guitar for the first time 7 years ago. “Hey Ruth” is another track that really stands out and has also been featured on a few podcasts and was indeed the first track I heard of Lionel’s. “Freeze My Senses” is a very interesting track, which at times feels like it’s should be performed in a Broadway production, maybe that’s accidental as Lionel is currently living in New York city.

“In the Sunshine” was a track I really enjoyed, but I couldn’t help feeling that it needed a bit more Summer injected into it. It’s hard to explain exactly what I mean, but it’s nearly there but not quite. Still great though. The album rounds off with “Brother’s Again” and with this song, I noticed that the Eastern European feel, whilst still present, is not as strong as towards the latter half of the album. This had me in conflict with myself, as it’s that earlier sound that grabbed my attention, but this final song is a cracker. Oh well, I’ve got the best of both worlds.

As a debut release, this is very striking, especially considering Lionel has only been playing the guitar for 7 years. It has some rough edges, but I think had these been smoothed out, this would be a very sterile sounding album. This is certainly one artists I’m very excited about and look forward to seeing how he follows up this release.

Conclusion : A great find and an artist that deserves some major recognition. It’s only early days in his recording career and also in his playing career, but I can well see exciting things ahead.

• Band / Artist : Mindy Smith – mySpace
• Genre : Folk Rock / Rock / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : Santa Will Find You
• Buy CD : Amazon
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

With American thanksgiving a recent memory, the Christmas season begins to quickly descend upon us. This is ever more apparent with the steady trickle of Christmas releases hitting my postbox. Many of these releases serve as little more than musical regurgitation, however every now and then, something sparkles like the bright Christmas star, in this case a wonderful collection 11 classic and contemporary Christmas songs from Mindy Smith.

Mindy’s name is a relatively new one to me, but as soon as I heard the briefest of snippets undulate from her lips, I knew she was going to be something quite special . Let me just get a quick something out of the way, I’m in no way a Christmas song aficionado. Yes I know the classics like Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Silver Bells, many of the songs on this CD are relatively fresh to my musical repertoire.

The CD opens with the title track and I have to admit the music just falls away like the snow on a roof and all I can hear is Mindy’s beautiful voice. There’s enough of a rawness to be intriguing and enough of a beautiful tone to be engaging. Already I’m beginning to sound pretentious even to myself, there’s just something quite beguiling, almost mesmerising about a voice so wondrous.

People expecting the usual Christmas fare will not be disappointed. “The Christmas Song” has many of the elements you come to expect, in this case an almost full rendition of “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”, was it really not called this? “Santa Will Find You” will please many fans of a previous Christmas reviewed artist, Leigh Nash, pure poetry and pure unadulterated bliss.

If I were to pick out the just one track to highlight, it would have to be “Silver Bells”. While not one of my favorite Christmas songs, there’s something about Mindy’s interpretation that just captures my imagination and bring to the fore of my thoughts, all the good things to come in the coming holiday season.

Conclusion : Yes I can praise this album up to the yin yang, but I really do not need to. Maybe the window of opportunity to play this album is quite limited, it will always serve as a reminder to check out Mindy’s other works and act as a constant reminder to catch the future releases of this amazing artist.

• Band / Artist : Skipping Girl Vinegar – mySpace
• Genre : Acoustic / Pop
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Band Store
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8 out of 10

I’m constantly on the lookout for new music and always particularly interested in new music from around the world, specifically music that fits the Indie Launchpad ethos. It was therefore exciting to get this EP in from Australia, from a band I’ve certainly not heard anywhere else… so far.

The EP opens with the title track and has a really interesting flavour to it. There’s a great driving beat, but this is underpinned by the fairly uncommon, banjo or banjo sounding instrument. It’s a sound I’ve heard before, but not in a long while and really has that infectious feel to it. The second track on this 3 track EP is “Cold Come The Nights”, which maybe is a bit too mellow for my liking. Actually mellow isn’t the word for it, it’s more a horizontal. It’s so laidback it’s bordering on the brink of life, kind of track. The final track, a reworking is a bizarre little, soundscape of the original track or so the title “One Chance Soundscape” indicates.

Conclusion : With 50% hit rate on my radar, this could be considered an EP a bit on the fence. However it’s the opening track that is more the A side of this, virtual two track single. Certainly an interesting sound and one that I’m sure will flourish on a full length album.

• Band / Artist : Gretchen Peters – mySpace
• Genre : Acoustic / Folk / Country
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9.5 out of 10

I love finding new artists and bands. What is especially neat, is when I find them kind of by accident, as was the case with Gretchen Peters. I recently heard a track by Eva Cassidy, another amazing discovery, on the Coverville podcast and for some reason ended up at CD Baby. While not surprisingly, a search on Eva didn’t return any results, I did get a list of other artists I might like. I don’t know why, but Gretchen’s name stood out and I investigated a little further. I listened to a few of her tracks and while none of them jumped out at me, there was something about Gretchen’s voice that urged me to get a copy of the album in for review. Let me just say, I’m not a great fan of listening to music via web pages, as the quality often does not do justice and there is something very impersonal about the listening experience, but it usually gives me a good indication of whether I am going to like something. The tracks I listened to though, did not quite prepare me for the absolutely amazing experience the album turned out to be.

The album opens with “Ghost” a track that feels like a some kind of out of body experience, witnessing a life that once was. It has a wonderful atmospheric and melancholic feel to it, which really appeals to my tastes. For me though “Sunday Morning” stands out as just an amazing track. Starting with a very simple guitar melody, the vocals come in, and build up to some wonderful harmonies. This song reeled me in, hook line and sinker. I’d never really considered the genre of this album, until I heard this song. While it’s undeniable Gretchen’s voice has a lot of country influences, the album itself feels a lot more folky and relaxed. I actually listened to the CD for the first time in the car. My wife had gone into Timmy’s to pick me up a coffee, and I managed to listen to the first two tracks while she was away. I don’t know why, but when I saw her again, I missed her in a way I can’t explain. I know that probably sounds silly, since she’d only been gone 10 minutes, but those two tracks had really tapped into my emotional psyche.

“Jezebel” is an interesting song, that really showcases Gretchen’s vocals and reminds me a bit of Stevie Nicks. Unlike Nicks however, the harshness and is replaced by beauty and a softness that is at times almost heartbreaking. “Thirsty” really took a while to grow on me. While it’s still not my favorite track, it’s very much a rose, surrounded by roses of a slightly different colour. “England Blues” while very much a bluesy style song, has a very country flavour and is one that I gave more of a chance to, due to it’s subject matter, telling the tale of leaving Nashville for London, and not just for sightseeing. It’s a very simplistic, but enjoyable romp of a song.

While not wanting this review to spiral out of control, it’s ever apparent that this is one phenomenal album. It’s good to see that out of something heartbreaking, can materialize something amazing and beautiful. While I don’t wish Gretchen any more heartbreak, I’m hoping that she can at least draw a whole lot more out of her experiences, if this is a testament to what can be achieved.

Conclusion : A stunning album, that feels very personal and intimate. A tinge of sadness, melancholy and eternal hope for the future. Awesome.

• Band / Artist : Jane Taylor – mySpace
• Genre : Acoustic/Jazz
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Amazon
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9 out of 10

There’s many different styles of female vocalists that appeal to me. I do have to admit however I do have a soft spot for ones that have that air of vulnerability. Jane Taylor is one such artist, possessing such a delicate voice, that I feel an almost compelling need to scoop her up and tell her things really are going to be OK.

“Fall on Me” is a delicate song that really emphasis Jane’s diminutive vocals. It’s almost a contradiction, but with this particular track, she reminds me of Cyndi Lauper. Quite the contradiction, but that vocal similarity is evident. “My Street” is a wonderful track, that really paints an aural picture in fine and atmospheric detail. There’s a lot here that reminds me of Suzanne Vega’s first album, which is high praise indeed, as her debut is probably one of my top albums of all time, both for content and the memories it evokes.

“Hit the Ground” again brings to mind another artists that evokes fond memories for me, Eddie Reeder, formerly of Fairground Attraction. OK comparisons abound in this review, but that’s not to say this is weak, also ran album because of it. Three songs, and three comparisons to artists who are simply amazing is no mean feat. What would not surprise me, is if in the near future, I’m not making comparisons to Jane Taylor, because here is an artist that quite frankly blows my socks off, in the best possible way.

“Landslide” has a delightful guitar intro and then the piano starts and I’m in heaven as soon as Jane opens her mouth. Just the right ingredients to make a wonderful song. I’ve been particularly aware of the production quality of albums of late and here again, everything is perfectly balanced, allowing everything to fuse into a perfect blend.

“Getting to Me” is the track that brings the journey to an end and I have to pray that this is just one journey of many.

Conclusion : It’s albums like this that really remind me how spoiled I am. Reviewing this album was a sheer delight. I can feel the greed gurgling already, wanting more albums, but impatiently wanting them now.

• Band / Artist : Scott Cooper – mySpace
• Genre : Folk Rock / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : Tilt A Whirl
• Buy CD : CD Baby
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9 out of 10

I think one of the biggest compliments I get, is when an artists I’ve already reviewed, tells a musician friend of theirs about Indie Launchpad. This was the case when Rob Szabo, mentioned Indie Launchpad to Scott Cooper, who sent me an email to ask if I would be interested in reviewing his new CD, Tiny Increments. I only needed to hear a single track to know getting this album in would be a total no brainer.

Scott assisted Rob in the production of his wonderful album, Like a Metaphor. Here Rob returns the favor, also playing bass on most of the songs. You can also hear a strong Rob influence every now and then, and it’s easy to see that there is a strong bond between the two.

“Tilt-A-Whirl” is the track that opens the CD. It’s a very relaxed, melodic sound, with Scott’s vocals, perfectly complimented by some gorgeous female harmonies provided by [Caroline Brooks]. “Don’t Turn Around” continues in a similar vein, with words the flow effortlessly. The versus are easy going and laid back, but the hooks really sink in once it gets to the chorus.

“Insomnia Song” is the track that just totally blew me away on so many levels. It’s funny the guitar intro, reminds me of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. I heard this song once and knew it was the track I had to end the with last week, even before reviewing the album. Now this gives me a great excuse to feature the track yet again, not that I need an excuse. As you can probably guess the song is about someones inability to get to sleep. Counting down the night from 2am onwards. It’s such a beautifully simple song, but makes it’s mark nonetheless.

This is another one of those albums, I have to prevent myself from going through track by track, for fear of coming across as a sycophantic fan. All 11 tracks are such a sheer joy and delight to listen to. However I do get to delight in the magic gems that shine out from this veritable box, crammed full jewels. I’ve already mentioned “Insomnia Song”, but will again just say that even if the rest of the songs were pure drivel, this one track would make the album purchase worthwhile. Fortunately this isn’t the case. Special mentions must also go to “Don’t Turn Around”, “Amen”, and “Goodbye City”. A goodbye indeed as this is the track the brings this fantastic album to a close.

Conclusion : Absolute magic, pure and simple. Few albums make their mark so quickly and so indelibly. Absolutely and thoroughly a recommended addition to your collection.

• Band / Artist : Finniston – mySpace
• Genre : Acoustic / Pop
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : N/A
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8.5 out of 10

It’s always truly a joy when a new Finniston CD drops into my mailbox. I know, without doubt, that whatever it is, it’s going to be a wonderful collection of songs and I’ve not been disappointed so far. This time around it’s a two track single, called Week Days Off, from their forthcoming album on Ruby Records, another album I will be looking forward to greatly.

As mentioned before this single comprises of two tracks, the title track, which has all those wonderful Finniston hallmarks running throughout, from Steven Finnie’s great lead vocals, to Jolene Crawford’s great harmonies. What was originally a two piece band, has nicely blossomed to include Andrew Gifford on bass and Jamie Attridge on drums. Musically it all sounds very tight and just a sheer joy to listen to. The second track “Words Can Only Try” continues the acoustic, mellow theme and I’m reminded again that this is indie music at it’s finest.

Conclusion : Buy the single to fuel your Finniston fire, until the hotly anticipated album finally arrives. If you are suitably devoid of other Finniston music, the previous EP, “Golden Hour of Strict Tempo Dancing” is also still available.

• Band / Artist : Mike Mangione – mySpace
• Genre : Acoustic / Soul / Folk Rock
• Sample Track Download : Great Divide
• Buy CD : CD Freedom
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 9 out of 10

A real folksy, soul sound, with just a hint of the blues, is probably how I’d best describe this offering from Milwaukee based Mike Mangione. The opening track “Waiting for No One”, has that kick back and relaxed style, very reminiscent of the Commodores, “Easy”, which is a great way to open an album and certainly made my ears prick up, when I first heard it. “It’s Me Not You” develops things further, introducing a delicate balance of strings, which I think are either cello or fiddle, or perhaps both. Laid over the music, is a voice of earthy charm, with a hint of bluesy roughness, think a more Joe Cocker than BB King, but not quite so harsh.

The more I listened to the album, the more I kept coming back to the track “The Killing Floor”. At a tad over 6 minutes, it’s one of 3 lengthy tracks on the album, but it really engages and is probably the quickest 6 minutes you are going to encounter in a while. Many times, especially recently I’ve mentioned albums, that lack that killer track, but here it’s almost the total opposite. Every track has Mike’s hallmark firmly placed on them, but they all have that certain something, and more exciting, that something is different on nearly every track.

“You Don’t Wanna Leave” has a sound that conjours memories of Dire Straits in the 80’s, more album track, than single, but that’s not to say it doesn’t hold up as a great song. After all, I tend to find, many of a bands best songs tend to be album only tracks, as opposed to singles.

Picking killer tracks, proved relatively easy for this album. The opener, “Waiting for No One” is definitely up there and also “Great Divide” and “A Requiem For The Trash: Damnatio Memoriae”.

As the album reaches the end with “Mama, Be Not Afraid”, I can’t help feeling that there’s rockier side of Mike, waiting to be unleashed. I can just imagine his vocals, blasting with some wailing electric guitar. Don’t get me wrong, I love this album, but would love to maybe hear something else with a bit of a kick.

Conclusion : A phenomenally great album, from an artist I’m sure is going to go far.

• Band / Artist : William Fitzsimmons – mySpace
• Genre : Ambient / Acoustic
• Sample Track Download : N/A
• Buy CD : Artists Site
• Buy Digital Download : iTunes
• Rating : 8 out of 10

Mellow is probably a bit of an understatement when talking about Goodnight from William Fitzsimmons. I found out about William via another artist, Ingrid Michaelson, who I’ve also been trying to review. I saw Ingrid recommmend a few other artists on her MySpace page and knew instantly upon hearing William’s music that here was something truly magic.

This 13 track album opens with “It’s Not True”, with vocals that are barely more forceful than a whisper. Indeed the whole album is very much of this style, so while you are not going to put the album on to get the adrenalin flowing, it’s a good album to do the exact opposite, so lay back and let the world pass you by. Whilst being mainly acoustic, there are subtle hints of electronica, namely I think either drum machines or sequencers, but it’s very well thought out and doesn’t kill the flavour of the music.

Due to the style of this album, it’s really hard to pick out killer tracks, but several come to mind as ones I partcularly enjoyed. “It’s Not True” being probably my favorite track on the album, closely followed by “Everything has Changed” and “Please Don’t Go”, which also features vocals by Ingrid Michaelson. Funnily enough, I found this last piece of information on William’s MySpace page, and as coincidence would have it, these three tracks also feature on William’s MySpace player.

Conclusion : Certainly an album that you’ll need to conciously chooseto play, rather than haphzardly throw on, but once those lilting music and lyrics wash over you, you can be sure that your fractured soul will nicely heal.