photo by Georgios Grigoriadis; photo courtesy of BJF Media Single Review of Deaf Rat: “Say Your Lies” (AFM Records) Sweden’s Deaf Rat are vocalist Frankie Rich and guitarists Pat Kramer and Max Lander. “Say Your Lies” is the band’s most recent single. image courtesy of BJF Media Upon first glance at the main lyric, you might think this is simply an updated, more tuneful, more verbose “Shout at the Devil,” and in a roundabout way it isn’t entirely not that, but Deaf Rat’s “Say Your Lies” has a touch more harmonies, tunefulness, and soaring power. And, of course, it’s catchy. You’ll find you ..read more

photo by Marion Earley; photo courtesy of Wyn Doran Single Review of Wyn & the White Light: “Can the World Change” Wyn & the White Light are 2023 New England Music Awards Female Performer of the Year nominee Wyn Doran and, presumably, the White Light: Lucia Jean (bass/vocals) and Heidi Tierney (drums/vocals). The day after Christmas, this trio dropped “Can the World Change,” a song about Wyn’s near-death experience in her twenties, an event that landed her in the hospital for a week and a half, starting the day after Christmas. (There you have the inspired connection to the December ..read more

image courtesy of Frank Roszak Promotions Album Review of Emma Wilson: Memphis Calling What a voice! Emma Wilson‘s Memphis Calling is a powerful rhythm and blues record. While I’d primarily classify it as blues, it is a very soulful blues with some pop-friendly melodic playfulness. In any case, I can see why Emma’s press material refers to her as rhythm and blues rather than simply blues, and I’m convinced by this record that it’s an appropriate distinction. But about that voice? Emma shows it off throughout the album, but she wastes no time getting the listeners’ attention, showcasing its t ..read more

photo by Horatio Baltz; photo courtesy of Video Age and Throwin’ Bo’s Album Review of Video Age: Away from the Castle I found Video Age‘s album while diving down a Bandcamp rabbit hole. After far too many near-misses (and complete misses), I stumbled upon Video Age’s Away from the Castle, and it was not merely good but interesting and new enough that I reached out to the band to get a review copy. I am impressed Away from the Castle‘s funky, disco-influenced, laid-back, light, old-style pop smoothness, steeped in ’70s pop cheerfulness with perhaps a few ’60s harmonies and the occasional ’80s ..read more

photo by Austin Fenn; photo courtesy of Lara Herscovitch Album Review of Lara Herscovitch: Highway Philosophers Lara Herscovitch is a folk singer-songwriter with a relatively straightforward top-shelf singer-songwriter delivery and damn fine songwriting skills. As a singer, you can feel the emotion in her vocals. As a songwriter, well, her songs are detailed and variety, comfortable and chance-taking. Her creativity flows throughout Highway Philosophers. cover photo by Joy Bush Photography; image courtesy of Lara Herscovitch I first listened to Lara’s music in the run-up to 2023 New Englan ..read more

photo courtesy of Cobra Promotions Single Review of Cascando: “Jimmy Boy” Cascando is a Limerick, Ireland-based roots rock band. “Jimmy Boy” was the first single from Cascando’s EP In Absence of Trees. It was recorded in September 2023, just a couple months before its release. The song opens with a catchy, twangy guitar hook, driving forward with a foreboding tone and rough harmonies. There’s a flute solo about a minute in that just adds to the song’s unique vibe. The rhythm is steady throughout, carrying an energy from beginning to end that is certain to keep nightclub audiences engage ..read more

photo by Will Cook; photo courtesy of Nothing’s Shocking Media Album Review of Thorslund: Thorslund Thorslund are brothers Jeff Thorslund (vocals, guitar, bass) and Tom Thorslund (drums, backing vocals), with Charles Horin handling live bass duties. The band performs classic, timeless, guitar-driven hard rock music. You hear elements of ’70s rock, but with updated tone, riffs, and production values. In its bio, Thorslund notes the influence of the melodic elements of grunge on the band’s music. I’m not convinced that influence, necessarily, comes through in an obvious sense, but if it’s an i ..read more

image courtesy of Rock Rose Music Album Review of Matt Smith’s World: Into the Light Austin, Texas-based Matt Smith has released acclaimed CDs with his band Matt Smith’s World going back more than a decade. The band’s latest release, Into the Light, is a collection of funky rock ‘n roll music that’s good-natured, jammin’, and groovy, the sort of thing you might enjoy while lounging in a bean bag chair staring at the lava lamp. In other words, it’s straight outta the 1970s. And it covers a lot of musical territory while still remaining a cohesive record. photo courtesy of Rock Rose Musi ..read more

cover artwork: Illustration by Douwe Dijkstra, design by Janne Timmer; image courtesy of Big D Radio Promotons Single Review of Harlem Lake: “Carry On” Harlem Lake is a powerful Dutch blues/blues-rock outfit, winners of the 10th European Blues Challenge in 2022. The band features the powerhouse vocals of Janne Timmer and the musicianship of Dave Warmerdam (organ, Rhodes [keyboard], backing vocals), Sonny Ray Van den Berg (guitar), Benjamin Torbijn (drums), and Kjelt Ostendorf (bass, backing vocals). “Carry On” is my first exposure to Harlem Lake’s music, and this song really packs a punch. I ..read more

cover art by HanFran Studio; image courtesy of Kelsey Blackstone Single Review of Kelsey Blackstone: “505” Kelsey Blackstone is one of New England’s rising young singers. Rather, I suppose, now she’s one of Nashville’s, but she was still in the Northeast when this song was recorded, so for this single, at least, it’s unambiguous. A few months ago, I reviewed Kelsey’s single with Jason LaPierre “When I’m With You,” which was a Video of the Year nominee at the 2023 New England Music Awards, so this isn’t her first appearance here at the blog. photo by Ben Crocker; photo courtesy of Kelsey Bla ..read more