Saturday, May 9, 2015

Feisty Piranhas, Rocking Out Like an Evil Monkey

Evil Monkey - Sometimes wonderful things come out of such dire circumstances. On this posthumous release you gain view to a great Pop Punk band from the sunny lands of L.A. California. Even though Peter Alex Lust is no longer with us, his music still reverberates through the air refusing to die. From the epic openings of the title track you can hear the passion and fury unleashed from a life taken too soon. With grinding guitars you hear the anger that lies within. From behind the mic Peter sings with just as much passion and the notes soar into the air trying to find their way home. The melodic opening of “PCH” unfolds with classic Pop Punk fashion and melodic vocals hold the core of this group solid as an 100 ton anchor. Countering the vocal and guitar dynamics is the drum work from Peter’s father. With fills that fly like a hummingbird’s wings the drum work pushes each song and help them unfold like a golden sunrise. The Reggae textures found on “Change the World” help shake things up and keep the overall the sound of the album from getting stale. The band rocks out lock tight with pure mechanical precision. Production on this release is top shelf. Guitars sound clean and cut through the mix. Drums stay on top of the beat and never vary in tempo. Bass guitars hold down the low-end and add just right amount of bounce to each track. The anthemic rocker, “From Within” sounds like a solid rallying cry from a man refusing to give up. Turning the page and completely mixing things up comes “Memories” with acoustic guitars and a laid back guitar solo you can almost hear the tears smashing on the floor. With so much ground covered here I would recommend this album to those that like Rock, Pop Punk Reggae and Alternative genres. While Peter may have left us all there is still plenty to sink your teeth into from this Feisty Piranha.



Michael
Music Reviews


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Stacy Jones, Pouring a Round of True Sass and Class

Whiskey Wine & Water - From behind the microphone  Stacy Jones will kick you so hard you will fall backwards over your chair. This is truly a band that knows their craft and will have you swinging hard. With foot stomping attitude Stacy and the band will have dancing the floor afire with the track “Can’t Do Nothing Right”. From the snap in the snare, the pulse of the bass and the sizzle of guitars Stacy sets you up for a time of great fun. With the acoustic guitar swagger on “You and Me Tonight” you will feel like grabbing your love and holding them tight all night long. Fiddle work weaves like a true hard passion through this song that is so sweet you might just get a toothache. Overall the production on this collection is top shelf and you can tell this is no band of hillbillies cutting in their daddy’s garage. This is a band of true, seasoned pros. With a bit of slide in your step you will sway to the cool breeze that blows through your soul on “Dreams”. Stacy has a classic voice that commands from the mic. She can weave tales with her voice that make you feel like you are there with her. A true artist with a  soulful voice you will open your eyes while listening and feel a bit sad that she is not right there in the room with you. The chicken pickin on, “Hole in My Sole” add extra flavor with the right dash of sass. The rhythm section of ensemble is undeniably  one of the greats. Drum work is in perfect balance with the band and adds the right amount of kick and roll. Bass guitar work pulses the tunes along and courts your ears to dance like a sultry lover. With title track in ear, “Whiskey Wine & Water” resisting the urge to hit your local Honky Tonk and tear up the night is going to be hard to do. Stacy Jones delivers a soundtrack for great fun and trouble all night long just make sure you don’t get caught. I would highly recommend this album to those that like Country, Blues, Rock or a 5 star class of sass. You don’t need to wait till the weekend to have too much fun. Just slide over and press play for just the right dose of Whiskey, Wine & Water.


Michael
Music Reviews


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Ramesh B. Weeratunga, An Album For the World Two People at a Time

Two People - With a delicate touch Ramesh slides into your heart and soul. From the opening title track he creates a mood that radiates love and uplifts. With touching acoustic guitar work “Madha” floats around your ears and beckons you to come in Ramesh’s world of auditory bliss. Mr. Weeratunga does an excellent job of taking traditional Pop, Folk and Rock elements and combining them with Electronic and World sounds to create a true piece of art. One thread that remains constant from track to track is Ramesh’s vocals. You almost feel as if he is singing to just you up close and personal. I feel a strong Pink Floyd influence here and if you are a lover of the Floyd then you will fall head over heels for Ramesh. Not only does he pick up where they left off but he pushes the envelope even further and does it with such beauty and passion that I am sure even Mr. Waters would be a bit jealous. While this release is probably not what you would want to listen to when trying to get amped up for a football match, this is an excellent collection of songs to listen to at the end of a long hectic day. Kicking the tempo and spirit up a bit the number, “Healing Tree”  has a real snap to it. The world has so much that it can throw at you every single minute of every day its nice to have art that can calm the mind and help regain your center. Songs off this release roll over the air like a fresh water spring over land. A personal favorite is the cut “Mr. Hurry” featuring Momo Djender. While full of spirit the song has the ability to make you want calm down and smell the roses. With the number “Erotic Paradise” Mr. Weeratunga shows off his off-center comedic artistic flare. Creating atmosphere on every track and keeping it fresh you have a collection from a true artist that his helping make the world a better place one note at a time. I would highly recommend this album to those that like Rock, Progressive, World, Electrobeat and Funk. With so much static in the air it’s nice to listen to an album that makes you feel like there are just Two People in the room. 


Michael
Music Reviews
https://www.facebook.com/MusicReviewsbyMichael

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John Enghauser, Getting You Through Your Day With a Dose of Reality

 Reality - Like an onion that never makes you cry and only reveals more sweetness with each layer John has managed to create a beautiful piece of work in Reality. This is truly a guitar album with tantalizing notes hiding in ever single sonic corner. With the opening track “Black Dress” you are immediately launched into an uptempo number that makes you feel like running on the beach on a wonderful summer day. With its shift in dynamics the you will find yourself wanting to dance a funky breakdown in your car, living room or no matter where you are. On the track, “Keep Your Jacket On”, you hear John cranking some blues influenced rock with grinding slide work and acoustic bliss. This is the type of record that you would want to put on while you run errands around town. Its got the spunk to get you through you day no matter how much you find going to the laundry mat a bore. Shifting gears in “Reality” Mr. Enghauser reaches for a larger sound and even brings in some ballsy brass. Such strutting numbers are great for those days when you awake and realize that once again you for got to buy coffee and need a pick-me-up. Production on this release is done rather well but has a nice “indie” streak running through it for good measure. The guitars sound absolutely awesome providing a smooth bead of grass for theses songs to frolic in. Bass guitar tones are round, full and in the pocket and give true power to this collection. Drum work holds the beat and keeps the band together with its sonic glue. Holding the right amount of snap it keeps everything in check. Singing on this release from John explores different approaches showing that he is no one trick pony. John has the ability to write interesting songs and has the voice to back them up. Even on such low-key numbers like “Tears of Yesterday” John lays a bed of harmonies that sound so sweet he barely needs any backing instruments. With a bit of electronic flare the song “Tower” takes you on a journey of the mind, spirit and soul. With its thick groove, spirited drum work, grit and grind it certainly was a standout track for me. Rounding out this collection in delicate acoustic fashion is “We Hear You Cry”. With shakers counting off like sands of time and gentle acoustic guitars that float through the air with hope and promise till 2:17 where John explodes with powerful drums and explosive electric guitars. You can almost feel yourself grow three feet taller. I would recommend this album to those that like Rock, Blues-Rock, Classic Rock, Pop Rock and Alternative. With so much craziness in the world you may often feel like you need a reset of Reality, and with this Mr. Enghauser truly delivers. 


Michael 
Music Reviews

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Sunday, May 3, 2015

Jim Baugh, Power of an Earthquake and the Passion of an Artist

Benefit Concert for the Peninsula Youth Orchestra -  Continental plates shift and grind creating great earthquakes that can destroy beyond imagination. Climate fronts of hot and cold air collide and can generate massive tornados that rip across the plains and give the great mother nature a facelift. And so 12 notes colored black white on a piano over and over again can evoke such tension and release. With Jim’s fast and furious right hand glancing across the keys of his piano grace and beauty roll off the soundboard and into the air. From the power of his left hand it almost feels as if he can on his own construct massive mountain ranges. Truly a seasoned talent in conjunction with his passion Jim creates where others merely observe. You will find yourself wishing to take flight like a hawk in its prime, so that you can soar high into the air where you can savor the notes longer and truly realize that vastness on display. A specific treat is his original composition entitled “KE”, while a dedication to Keith Emerson Jim seems to also excel in channeling the greats into his own playing. Even if you are not a fan of Jazz or Progressive Rock I would highly recommend taking an opportunity to watch this talent on display. For even those that like a catchy tune on the radio will appreciate the true artistry on display here.

Entire concert (edited)

Michael
Music Reviews


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Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers, Laying Out the Real Deal

Ante Up - You know every once in a while I spin a record and I hear a voice crack in my feeble mind and it says something like, “You damn youngins and yer yay yay whoop whoop music. If you knew anything bout anything you would be listening to the blues. What you done be listenin to know is bad recycled trash!” With Michele and her Love Dealers you have a release that just gets down and plainly plays the blues. The guitars have a great cut to them and will pierce your heart and covert your soul. They can get right up in your face like a dog howling at the moon or lay back and sound like a sour heart has been plugged straight into an amplifier. The bass work on this collection is really great. Laying in the pocket between the guitar and the drums it can dance like a seasoned woman of the night or wind through the song like a cool breeze on a hot summer night. Hitting the skins in all the right places, the drum skills on display here work excellently to evolve peak moments in each song to ring paramount. Whether it's laying back and cracking the rim of the snare to exemplify a somber mood, or cranking it up with the right amount of bounce the drum work fits the bill on every single track. Fronting this band of seasoned blues rascals is Michele D’Amour. With her smooth delivery she sets up for nice laid back journey through the heart of a blues soul. With all the dirt that her backing band kicks up it would be nice to hear Michele get a little dirty on the vocal side but her voice is hers and she holds her own. She can wind a tale of serious heartache or cut up over the blues “Dress Code”. I would recommend this band to those that like the blues genre. So with this gauntlet thrown down Michele and the Love Dealers challenge you to Ante Up and throw the current fad called Pop Music aside and listen to something real.

Links: 




Michael
Music Reviews


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Clay Howard, Its Time You Found Out Who the Hell is Clay Howard!

Who the Hell is Clay Howard? - Its rare anymore to hear a real rock band at the top of the charts, but here Clay Howard cranks one and doesn’t even care if you know his name. With the grinding of the six strings, cracking of real drums and the groove of bass guitar you might not know who Clay is before you spin this, but you will by the end of this record. On display is a man that spins out one great song after another. This is truly just a great rock record. I am sure that many will try and call this Alternative or Indie but this is just an awesome rock record. Clay has a voice that is just made for great rock songs. His searing voice has the ability to soar into the heavens while possessing the grit of  a soul that has lived life the hard way. While nay sayers of the rock quote cliche cracks about how “it all sounds the same” obviously they haven’t heard Clay and his band in action. While guitars don’t ape the classic tones of Jimi Hendrix they often employ interesting use of effects that help each song have its own voice and push the sonic envelope. Backing the voice and grind of this band is the groove of the bass guitar, which will make it nearly impossible to keep your girl standing still no matter how tight her jeans are. Rounding out this powerhouse dynamo is touch and power from behind the drum kit. Whether pummeling the skins with reckless abandon or adding that right amount of sizzle to the track, the drums take this band from a bunch of guys in their garage to a future Rock n Roll hall of fame nominee. This band truly has the goods. I would highly recommend this album to those that like Rock, Pop, Indie and Alternative genres. Who the Hell is Clay Howard? He’s the guy who’s going to melt your face off with pure Rock ecstasy. 

http://www.clayhoward.com
http://www.thesilveralerts.com
http://www.amazon.com/Who-Hell-Is-Clay-Howard/dp/B00UUK3HFU/ref=zg_bsnr_195254011_6 

Michael 
Music Reviews


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