Barbara Manning - Chico Daze - Album Review

Barbara Manning is a legend, and is often referred to as the Godmother of the good old fashion DIY scene.

Though Barbara Manning doesn't live a Rock 'n' Roll lifestyle these days, she was around in the late 1980s, which was a defining moment for punk, rock and the mixture of the two created Grunge!

Barbara Manning latest album Chico Daze is a solo effort of a collection of songs recorded between 2004 - 2009; as she had a backing band on past recordings called The Go Lucky's.

What to expect from Chico Daze is a combination of grunge-rock-punk of different volume levels, and a sweetness to her voice that doesn't scream or try to do anything other than convey the message of her songs.

The highlights of Chico Daze is the punk-rock driven two minute and a few seconds song I'm Running, though there are longer driven-rock tracks Island and Sweet Oblivion. Moments of Americana are displayed in How Did You Know and Better by Sounds. Getting slightly experimental on Ladies of the Sea and Wishes Don't Tie You Down featuring great guitar wah-wah licks, and the cheeky Slot Machine song that describes making-out! 

1. Don't Hold Back
2. Reverse Disguise
3. I'm Running
4. How Did You Know
5. Ladies of the Sea
6. Better by Sounds
7. Why, Why Won't You Love Me Back?
8. Slot Machine
9. Island
10. Sweet Oblivion
11. Tape You To A Star
12. Wishes Don't Tie You Down

Chico Daze is available through Bandcamp.

Sir. O - Forever + a Day - Album Review

Sir. O has released his debut album Forever + a Day, which has an overall grown-up sound since he released the single Please Stop Talking that features on the album.

The type of music Sir. O is making falls into two categories which are either expansive and loud - some examples are the single Please Stop Talking, Lost - while on the flipside he can produce mellower and quieter tracks like Stay, Comeback and Fighting.


The songs are sketches of how someone observes people around themselves, while other songs are more introverted and seems more personal especially in friendships and in relationships like the cruel let-down song Three Words, You're Out Of Tune, Someone Your Thinking Of, and the killer song that is so true to a lot of people in I Can Let Go Of Everything (But You), and Something Is Missing.

Forever Plus A Day has its own space as it's a classically waving your hands-up in the air and flowing to the orchestral chorus moments in this feel-good song.

Sir. O has a nice way of writing songs and say it more poetically whether the lyrics is dealing with happinesses, sadness or even being pretty hurtful or cruel, though you have to think slightly more than in straight-talk, which once understood a smile will break-out on your face.

The last track is Glimmer Of Hope which says Sir. O has gone through the turmoil of life's experiences whether the observer or in the midsts of it, this song is more happier and positive.

Forever + a Day is available through iTunes

Ali Ingle - Hey Kid - Music Video

Ali Ingle - Hey Kid is a modern hymn of life!

Seep Away - Seep Away - EP Review

Seep Away have released their self titled debut EP.

Though their sound is loud and full of distorted heavy metalist guitars and bass they have a certain attitude reminiscent of take this or die! 

The three tracks are different as Trudge hits the hardest meanest sound, you imagine you're stuck in a swamp with just a pair of oars and facing down the schnoz of an alligator, great! But it's a case of lock-up your wives or if you're rich enough your bitches, cos' these dogs are in town.

Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right has probably the longest instrumental intro with the lyrics starting at 1:58, into this southern slouch of a track.

Last up is Watch You Burn that has more underground grunge guitar that melts a common theme among the heavy metal scene.

Seep Away capture their raw no-nonsense sound well on their recordings, and you get a sense that if, when, and how you see them live they've got that reciprocal energy that you get just playing their music at home.

Seep Away is available @ Bandcamp 

IIZ - IIZ - Album Review

IIZ [pronounced 'eyes'] self-titled debut album is rather experimental electronic dance music and punk-rock but is accessible to the masses.

The band members are young and what an album to debut their talent. Ison Van Winkle main vocalist has a distinctive vocals that seems and sounds very much from the punk scene of the '70's and through the early to mid-80's. Mari is the second vocalist and her voice adds the mid to high notes that has some good attitude in her delivery. Jacob plays the grooves on Bass and Ross adds the drums, which both of them change and sound different when the music changes from EDM to more punky and choppy vibes.

The songs are alternative and being that the band members are young they are touching on issues and themes beyond their youth, but this will be refreshing to the older listener.

Breaking the album up as the EDM songs are quite anthem let's-cement-ourselves-to-music-history-now-sounds in the hip-hop beat of the first track  Get Away ft. Sen Dog [Cypress Hill], next up is the 4 to the floor beat with head-nodding squeaks in Manic Pixie  maybe some crazy thoughts, person or substance? The Light is the best EDM track that'll goosebump you'all for sure unless you're a cold stone, the song is nicely sung by Mari which describes either a romantic meeting or a spiritual vision. If this what the song title says then going to sleep is probably hard-work as the sound of Epic Dreams MIX1 has a real punch! 

There are songs that fuse the EDM and punk-alternative-indie-rock which is the let's raise our hands up in Sugar, and this theme is twinned well in Cure.

The more punky groovy songs are the congo and big beat getting back to a vintage them sounding Retrospective. In this ranting of Color On The Run makes digs at parents or mothers in particular that are not happy with the choices of their offspring, or acceptance of them as people. A more stronger rock sound occupies Want and all of the give me everything now culture that is captured in this song. Analyst a psychological ride probably too many psychologists at school? Though in Man In The Background refers to blending in, or if in a strange place wanting to fit in. Probably the best punk-rock track is Strawdogs on the album. Finishing with I Never Knew MIX1 Voxup has all of the ingredients to end the party with a mixture of keyboards and alternative indie scores to leave you feeling buzz-up'ed!

IIZ is available @ Soundcloud [free for now]

Tor Marrock & Coco Star - A Christmas Night - Single Review

Tor Marrock & Coco Star duet on A Christmas Night produces a great alternative to the usual Christmas songs.

This song has a counterbalance theme between two very different vocalists, to the spiritual sound that has been created around Tor Marrock & Coco Star.

Available @ iTunes

Nenad Bach Band - All I Want Is Freedom - Album Review

Nenad Bach Band is a veteran seasoned artist that uses his art to promote peace worldwide.

His album All I Want Is Freedom is a reflection of his work in helping to achieve peace where it is lacking.

The style of music on All I Want Is Freedom has an array of different styles ranging from dreamy soft rock to 60's influenced pop music.

All I Want Is Freedom is a powerful song of wanting the freedom to experience the good things in life unhindered, like enjoying our time with family and friends.

The next song is a nice soft ballad I Will Follow You, that builds-up into a solid rhythm while the song's core message is too much money is influencing modern life in an unhealthy way.

The title Love Is The Sound is another influence in the '60's when love and peace were very much intertwined in popular and alternative culture back then, and this song captures these basic good human feelings into the modern world, not to be forgotten otherwise we're all doomed!

Thinking about all the different topics of life we all often ponder on is what Yes I Do is mainly focussing on.

Golden Slumbers is a total reworking of The Beatles song, which shows the high calibre that Nenad Bach has as an artist, with his band who are just as talented.

All I Want Is Freedom is available @ CD Baby

Caviare Days - Like Me - EP Review

Caviare Days are an alternative psychedelic rock group from Sweden, have a new release - Like Me EP.

Originally formed in Brooklyn, America by sisters Lina and Maja Westin, that have not only relocated to their native Sweden but are currently a five piece band with Timmy Grim - drums, Boris Grubesic - guitar, and Marcus Arborelius - keyboards and synthesizer bass.

The songs are very '60's alternative psychedelic rock and ironically they're all British influence have had the Abbey Road Studios treatment to get a raw echoey edge to the sound.

From the opening track Like Me, Great Minds - has some nice double vocals to get that stereo sound through the speakers, the epic revenge song Trigger, and the grungy Green, each have a good solid rhythm with parts of experimentation supplied by the guitars, and synthesizers to cut their unique sound above the rest.  

Caviare Days are a group worth checking-out as they'll sure produce some more musical surprises along their creative path.

Like Me EP is available @ Google Play

Cantaloop - Avalanching - Single Review

Cantaloop have released their latest single Avalanching.

The song is about things getting too overwhelming in life, especially the struggling aspect and focuses on relationships and their unfortunate endings.

The music featuring the soulful and sonically beautiful vocals from Sam Rogers, is a soft jazz pop funk with a slice of trip-hop to create blissful tones, and is a sound that distinguishes Cantaloop.

There are two remixes by Fun Lovin' Criminals and London Funk DJ's.

Avalanching is available @ iTunes

Kodah - Forever - Single Review

Kodah have released a new single Forever.

The track is a slight throwback to the '90's grunge rock style of guitar music. The introduction has a nice chugging guitar rhythm that sets the beat and driving pattern for the song to enter, that deals with wanting to live forever.


Forever is available @ iTunes

Gus Garcia - Medieval - EP Review

Gus Garcia - Medieval EP release is a mixture of soft acoustic driven and lively songs that will last in your memory long after hearing these four tracks.

Clocks & Crocodiles is the first track, which is a lively and uptempo song dealing with not wasting time with tales of dreams.

Getting the more lively aspect to Gus Garcia's music begins in the second track Rhythm.

Showing the vocal talents of Gus Garcia is prevalent in this subtle track, Two for One.

Probably the best song on this EP is Medieval, a mixture of acoustic and soft rock elements that builds around the song.

The Sailor is a rather melancholy song that starts with a slow piano that goes through until it gets quite experimental with sounds reminiscent of the waves of the sea, and adds to the story and tales of the high seas.

Medieval is available @ CD Baby 

Frogbelly & Symphony - Blue Bright Ow Sleep - Album Review

Frogbelly & Symphony has released their debut album, Blue Bright Ow Sleep.

Just looking at the albums artwork you get a surreal image of the band, and some of the song titles are cleverly worded, while the music is both intriguing and fascinating.

This song relates to a character in the book and later term Catch 22, (Milo) Minderbinder. There are many different tempos, styles and colours to this opening song of espionage and conspiracy.

A pleasant request that one day you'll have difficulty in not accepting in this more rocky track, Invite to Eternity.

Getting evermore into psychedelic territory in Ride Off into the Sunset and Disappear, that even has some Middle Eastern musical scales being played amongst some ethereal wailing, while some spacey sounds swirl around.

When you hear what people want to do before the end of life, you get all of these crazy death defying bucket lists, however in Before I Die, you get a very down to earth request of having at least one child, and a wife, and the acceptance of failing and never achieving one's dream. This song will relate the most to people, than those about unrealistic wants and desired bucket lists!

This song Patch of Blue, is the build-up in the album of fusing the rhythmic guitar driven rock, and some of the folk, punky, and experimental leanings of Frogbelly & Symphony.

The music begins in the background and quite distant, which gives the impression of a far fetched place in this funny lyrical song, Cola in Mongolia.

The build-up to Leyla's Find is very tantalising to the senses, and you can't wait for that eclipse of sound, to spark to that climax, which does come very loudly!

Getting folky with the violin and the bass guitar pushing this seafaring track Shingle, all aboard and forward as the song is sung in a very sailor of the seas style.

Beginning with poetry starts Organism, where the music waves like the pleasurably senses this song deals with.

Hazyland is a blast of power rock, punk and what is their trademark sound from Frogbelly & Symphony. This song doesn't have wastelands, but plenty of sun and smoke!

Blue Bright Ow Sleep is available @ iTunes

The Birdman Rallies - Real River - Album Review

The Birdman Rallies have released their fifth album, Real River.

This album is a creative festival of different styles, starting with Dissolve Into The Black, a vibrating electronic kick drum thumping, with layers of other electronic gadgetry to impose the lyrical content neatly.

A Little Of Your Glitter swings into indie guitar mode in great portions, while the song deals with wanting that sparkle we have surrounding us.

Getting nice and mellow in Vampire, just don't venture out in the sunlight otherwise you'll melt. Though it deals with more of the leeches that inhabit our world.

Falling into the mood of the first track, though more harder in the political themed Great Storm Of Now.

A clever worded love song in the track Taj Mahal, which features an array of music styles that start with a jazz progression structure, and gets into a sort of pop reggae boogie.

It's fascinating that your school sweetheart never seems to leave you throughout life, which is passionately sung in Julia.

The next track turns in a one-eighty-degree look at the woman who puts her makeup on, especially the red lipstick in a warrior mode of hunting and fighting with her male counterpart, in the lushful sounding Heartless.

Having the same irritation in life as driving on the Ring Road is uniquely put, and the following song On A Corner Overtaking paints a picture of driving through the valley roads, in the sweaty summer months.

The tribal sounding track Patrick, deals with not only a good deed by a dear friend but has a romantic angle which isn't reciprocated.

The cello plays a crucial part in the introduction to Kitty In Detroit, of not only shacking-up with a girl, but in the once great motorcity capital in the world, however it is now a decaying and crumbling American state, Detroit.

Coming to a close is the dub heavy beat of Wild Sisters, which is counterbalanced with strings and keyboard sounds. The song looks at sisters and how they are similar in some ways, and in other ways they are opposite.

Real River is available @ iTunes and @ Amazon

Matt Backer - Get Backer - Album Review

Matt Backer has released Get Backer, which is a great collection of southern blues, boogie woogie and rock 'n' roll.

As Matt Backer is from New Orleans, the American State of Louisiana, that is oozing with coolness and cultural history from that part of America, which is what it is famed with, does shape his music.

A good quality Matt Backer has and is demonstrated in the first two tracks - Histrionic Narcissist Blues (Let's Talk About Me) and Take Me Back To Abu Dhabi, is a sense of humour.

This hip blues song Leaving Trunk (featuring Peter Cox), is sung with conviction and passion about venturing out into the big wide world, and one of the most important thing is singing and playing the blues!

This rolling track emulates what a Rock & Roll Headache (featuring Marcella Detroit) sounds like, however by the time this song finishes your headache will have gone.

Starting Gun is a great song for those that have had to succeed and find their own path in life, that ain't easy and you get a sense that you're not the only one that has travelled this path of disappointment and doubt.

Kind of think this song Too Big Too Fail, is obliviously a swipe of the indiscretions of financial manipulation? Though interestingly as the small guy loses his job, house, and everything else, however if you are too big too fail like a bank, you'll most certainly get a nice pay cheque from the government! Let's just keep this to ourselves?!

This place must be pretty sinful in the House Of Flying Daggers, that has a modern sounding electronic drum beat, and nice echoey harmonica plus an array of guitars, bass and even a mouth Jaw Harp thrown into this song's loose southern blues, melting creative cauldron.

Talking isn't required or too great effect, but making love is the central plot in this driving upbeat song, Don't Talk.

For two and a half minutes you are pushed through Salt In My Wounds, and made to feel the angst and heartbreak in this more white soul rockin' sounding track.

The percussions comprise of claps and spoons, with slide guitar in this colourful jet-lagged themed tune Hip Fatigue.

Finishing off with a blues and boogie woogie number I Don't Worry About A Thing (featuring Bill Blue & Adam Gussow), is something we either learn or come across with age.

Get Backer is available @ iTunes or on CD @ Amazon

Milow The Girl - High Speed Trouble - Single Release

Milow The Girl latest single is the intoxicating pop tune High Speed Trouble.

The song has a good message of wisdom, but those most intelligent even get into trouble!

The two remixed versions both by Carlone are one for the radio and the other longer & more experimental version for the dancefloor.

High Speed Trouble is available @ iTunes & Amazon

The Great Escape - The Great Escape - Album Release

The Great Escape have released their debut album The Great Escape.

This Los Angeles trio look pretty surf, but their music is far from that.

Expect to be blasted-off quite literally from the start of the first song All I Think About, however the next song Rebel just continues the bursts and hooks from the guitars, through to the horn section.

The Secret Song is a fairly folkish track, which throws you off at first but then you realise they're talented enough to pull this change of direction.

I Want It All is another twist to The Great Escape as it's all Big Swing and boogie woogie blues piano that drives this song of acquiring as much as possible.

The band make a point of melting '60's & 70's music into a modern format and It's Getting Better just fits their vision very well.

For some reason Let's Go seems a perfect song for driving one of those big American convertible cars down the highway with this song cranked-up to max twenty!

Another surprise track Put It On Ice is full of soul and funky hooks, and even has the deep male voice to add to the boogie groove in this song.

Returning to the folk and acoustic dimension of the band is a very reflective song, I Just Can't Help Myself.

The Great Escape is available @ iTunes