Seattle’s electronic/pop artist Aradia released last October her album Citizen of Earth, a collection of electronic music, a good portion of which is reminiscent of the style preponderant in the 1990s while remaining quite diverse. Driven by the “do it yourself” spirit, she writes her music, records it herself, designs her costumes, and provides her… Read More Music Review: Aradia – ‘Citizen of Earth’
Louise Aubrie is a London-born musician who splits her time between her hometown and New York City. Her third album, Late 44, brings together indie post-punk roots with rock and pop melodies, the kind of which might remind listeners of other female-led punk bands from the United Kingdom. Tom Edwards (guitars), Boz Boorer (guitars), Joe… Read More Music Review: Louise Aubrie – ‘Late 44’
This six-song EP, titled Morphine, is the brainchild of Phoenix heavy psychedelic rock/metal group The Oxford Coma. Recorded live, Morphine is indeed psychedelic in its intensity and the auditory distortions that feature it. The three members of the band, Billy Tegethoff (guitar and lead vocals), James Williams (bass and vocals), and Anthony Chamberlain (drums), take… Read More Music Review: The Oxford Coma – ‘Morphine’ EP
A couple of my artist friends and I, concerned with the well-being of our communities, have been trying to figure out how to balance out a desire to create the kind of art that contributes to building a better world while at the same time making it a financially sustainable career path. In other words,… Read More Art as Service: The Importance of Leading a Coherent Life
At age 67 and following a long career in music, dsfečo—who, despite his name, is actually from good old Oakland, California—has released his debut solo EP, Watch It Sparkle. Out in digital form last December and in physical form in March, the six tracks have been written, played, and produced by the man himself. When… Read More Music Review: dsfečo – ‘Watch It Sparkle’ EP
Delta Deep is a project headed by Phil Collen of Def Leppard. Collen brought together Rob DeLeo (bassist for Stone Temple Pilots), Forrest Robinson (drummer for TLC and India Arie), and Debbi Blackwell-Cook (background vocals for Michael Bublé and Gregory Hines). Their self-titled album, released June 23, 2015, features special guests Paul Cook (drummer for… Read More Music Review: Delta Deep – ‘Delta Deep’
From Tokyo’s Budokan to New York City’s Madison Square Garden, professional bassist Kevin Jenkins has, in his 38-year career, played many a great concert venue. He has also played with and for some great artists such as Michael Jackson, The Police, and Tina Turner. Released this month, Til the Story’s Told is Jenkins’ second album,… Read More Music Review: Kevin Jenkins – ‘Til the Story’s Told’
Monterey (California) band Direct Divide, makers of what they call “violin intensified rock”, are releasing next month their five-song EP Own Your Ocean. Members Razz (strings and vocals), Kevin Proctor (guitar, synth, and keyboards) and Valdemar Huguet (drums) have created an almost cinematic sounding set of tracks that will appeal to lovers of Muse and… Read More Music Review: Direct Divide – ‘Own Your Ocean’ EP
That a 17-year-old Oregonian singer/songwriter can be good at jazz-inflected adult contemporary with a soulful groove might come as a surprise to some. But this will only last until they hear Shannen Nicole’s album Captive, which brings to mind Norah Jones and Joss Stone quite a few times throughout. The shortest track in the set… Read More Music Review: Shannen Nicole – ‘Captive’
In Songs from the (quaking) Heart, environmental activist Paul Doffing—who recently toured the United States on bicycle—seems to have put together a story in three acts and topped it off with a grand finale. All aspects of this folk album have been stripped down to their most simple form; all the tracks feature vocals (manipulated… Read More Music Review: Paul Doffing – ‘Songs from the (quaking) Heart’