by Meredith Schneider | Feb 28, 2020 | albums, review
As if we hadn’t been blessed enough this week, Munich-based pop rock quartet KYTES – expertly comprised of Michael Spieler, Kerim Öke, Timothy Lush, and Thomas Sedlacek – releases their new album Good Luck today. Eleven power-infused pop tracks, replete with punchy lyrics and accented vocals are about to put you in the best mood ever, despite some of the subject matters. Like first track “Runaway”, for example, during which we hear the protagonist either setting boundaries with a conflicted relationship, or acknowledging his runner mentality in life. Either way, we start on a highly relatable note, and that doesn’t fade as we melt into the 80s-inspired work.
“Go Out” keeps the energy going at the same pace, while the coming of “Emily” leads us into what we would prefer to identify as a quintessential ambient love song. A sense of nostalgia is established within the lyrics, leading perfectly into the highly danceable “Take Me Home”. “Want You Back” comes in with a slight disco feel, the guitar parts absolutely standout. While “Alright” doesn’t exactly convince us that he is quite alright, “Shot of Love” has a very Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy” feel to it over spans of verses.
“Like a Dream” is as sticky sweet as the title would suggest, “Fast Life” is a bit quirkier in both composition and lyrical content, and will definitely get you on your feet, while “Wheel” is the defining ballad of the album. Bonus track “Livin’ in Havana” serves as our last sounds from this euphoric release, and it puts us in such vacation mode that we are almost looking forward to our next two days off… even if that means we are midwest-bound.
Keep up with KYTES here.
by Madi Toman | Feb 21, 2020 | albums, review
San Diego blues belter Whitney Shay will soon be releasing her new album, Stand Up!. An album for “dancing, drinking, and dreaming”, the flaming haired songstress brings old soul to the modern age with her high energy rhythm n’ blues, which is sure to have you crying over lost loves that never even happened. Yeah, she’s that good.
More and more artists are getting their start online these days, but Shay came up the old fashioned way, with word of mouth spreading her impressive reputation far and wide. While many modern artists have nothing to show for their work other than their streaming stats, Shay is a four-time winner at the San Diego Music awards, recipient of a nomination at 2019’s prestigious Blues Music Awards, and has been called a “future blues icon” by Blues Matters magazine.
The songs range from personal to socio-political in theme. “Being a strong, independent woman, raised by a single mother and grandmother, many of the songs on the album deal with themes of equality and female empowerment,” Shay says. Shay and her band are taking the album on the road for Ruf Records’ 2020 Blues Caravan showcase, and, not shockingly for someone that puts so much feeling into her work, a lot of the music is about the live performance experience. “When I perform I want people to dance and be engaged. To me, music has always been about catharsis, the purging of sad experiences. If I can make the audience leave smiling and feeling like they’ve forgotten about the trouble of their day, I’ve done my job.” Shay says.
And her opening track certainly does its job, setting both tone and theme for the album quickly and cooly. “Change With the Times” immediately lets listeners know not only that Whitney Shay is here and in charge, but also that she’s going to talk about some real shit. Shay’s studio band quickly proves that they’re just as top-notch as their vocalist, with the wailing organ on the track rivaled only by the saxophone solo. This super upbeat opener must be one of those drinking and dancing songs Shay told us all about.
“I Thought We Were Through” is a special moment on the album, with Shay’s level of control and expertise quickly becoming crystal clear here. She carries herself vocally with class as she attacks the number with impressive restraint and control, managing to paint the track with just the right amount of strength without overdoing it. This one is elegance in blues.
“Boy Sit Down” shows off a more playful side, although Shay loses none of her commanding power or grit. Her band really shows up on this one, utilizing horns, a particularly sick blues guitar solo, call and response vocal, and piano that sounds straight out of an old-time saloon to get her point across, which is all about equal rights for women.
Horn-heavy “Tell the Truth” is gritty and commanding while tracks like “Getting In My Way” showcase Shay’s more bluesy, sulty side. “P.S. It’s Not About You” somehow manages to skillfully combine a funk track with elements of rock n’ roll, intriguingly making me want to both head-bang and dance, while “Equal Ground” is tinged with country instrumentation. Shay and her band are not shy of dipping their toes in more than one musical pond, and they do it with skill and ease.
“I Never Meant to Love Him” is the real standout on the album. Shay’s rich voice navigates the deep waters of the Sam Cooke-esque tune, swimming in the depths of her range one second and soaring into the sky with angelic falsetto the next. But don’t let words like angel fool you; this woman is a powerhouse, a freight-train, a force of nature, and just about any other metaphor for strength that you could dream up. Shay’s soul doesn’t just shine through; it sparkles.
Stand Up! is out today via Ruf Records and will be played via Shay and her band in Ruf Records 2020 Blues Caravan showcase.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 20, 2020 | albums, review
Southern California singer-songwriter Pi Jacobs is set to release her newest album Two Truths and a Lie on Feb. 21. This album is one about strength, struggle, romance, and the resilience of everyday women.
Jacobs unique style combines electrified rock and rootsy Americana, created by incorporating staple bluegrass and standard rock & roll instruments. These instruments accompany Jacobs’ bluesy, unforced vocals as effortlessly as though everything came together at the same time.
Most of Jacob’s music reflects on the broad perspective of travel, Two Truths and a Lie, is an outward and inward look at women, including herself. In songs like “First Thing Tomorrow”, she rocks the blues, admitting struggling with thoughts of freedom and putting off plans to “put this bottle down, wake up and take a stand.” This is relatable, because we all struggle wanting to change the world around us, while simultaneously trying to distract ourselves from it. “Party Girl” is a vulnerable track, allowing her to admit that she — as most others — has worked hard to fit in with people in her life, perhaps not always turning to the right decisions for it.
One of our absolute favorite tracks? Eleventh and final track “Slow On Down”, because of its relaxing nature, and its clear departure from its predecessors to bring you back to a peaceful state of mind, amidst all of the heavy topics covered throughout the album. It’s almost comforting to be in the presence of this track, and that’s everything we could wish from the end of a blues album.
Check out the latest video for “Rearview Mirror” below, and take your full listen to this album this Friday!
Keep up with Pi Jacobs here.
by Meredith Schneider | Feb 14, 2020 | albums, review
Chicago-bred psych pop quintet Post Animal – expertly comprised of Dalton Allison, Jake Hirshland, Javi Reyes, Wesley Toledo, and Matt Williams – truly brought their A Game with the release of Forward Motion Godyssey today. Leisurely rolling into an easygoing soundscape with “Your Life Away”, the 80s-inspired fade-in on second track “Post Animal” is both nostalgic and frantic. “Schedule” brings us back to a more 70s-psych aura, bright vocals and crashing cymbals leading the way.
“Fitness”, as its predecessors, has a completely different feel, bringing with it an audible sense of mystery. “In a Paradise” feels more 80s hair band, a track we could easily see being placed in the soundtrack of Top Gun II, if things were to go our way. (The first minute at least, before it goes into more Guitar Hero territory.) “The Whole” is an instrumental track that sounds as though it should be played in queue for a Star Wars attraction. Glittering and lovely, it paves the way for “How Do You Feel” (Note: NOT a question) in a way that highlights the synth in both tracks.
“Safe or Not” brings with its title a mystery, and with its soundscape more of a dance track than anything else. We can very much imagine “Private Shield” as more of a contemporary Warped Tour track, while “Damaged Goods” rips hard, and we’re totally smitten. “Sifting” is the eleventh and final track, bringing the listener’s heart rate back down after a short burst of ethereal energy mid-track.
What’s your favorite song on the new release? Let us know!
Keep up with Post Animal here.
by Kendal Chandler | Feb 14, 2020 | albums, review
Dennis Callaci drops his new solo record The Dead of the Day. Callaci is the founder of Shrimp Records and a member of the band Refrigerator, as well as released solo records.
Dead of the Day is part three of solo albums by Callaci. The first release being Bed of Light, released in 2016 followed by The End of the Night, released in 2017. Dead of the Day is a stripped down acoustic record full of guitar and piano ballads. The album opens with a fifteen minute instrumental. Everything on the record plays off one another – lyrics and music composition work in a way that creates a ghostly feeling.
The release of The Dead of the Day coincides with Callaci’s novel 100 Cassettes, with a narrative that ties into the narrative of the album. The book is constructed of 100 meditation on music, commerce, and abstract concepts. These ideas wrap around autobiographical information, the rich culture of Southern California from 1969 to today, and all musical points.
Dennis Callaci Tour Dates
02.14 – Pomona, CA @ dA Center for The Arts
02.15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Book Soup – 2pm
02.15 – Glendale, CA @ House Show
02.16 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Streetlight Record Store – 2pm, Santa Cruz CA
02.16 – Oakland, CA @ House Show
02.18 – Portland, OR @ Music Millenium in-store – 7pm
02.19 – Seattle, WA @ Sonic Boom in-store – 7pm
02.20 – Boise, ID @ Record Exchange – 7pm In-Store Performance
02.21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ House Show at Barn Deluxxe
by Madi Toman | Feb 12, 2020 | albums, review
New York-based Americana trio
The Lone Bellow have been around for a decade now, but their newest release has shown that
the folksy group still have plenty of stories left to tell and plenty of new ways to tell them.
The group, comprised of lead singer/guitarist Zach Williams, multi-instrumentalist Kanene Donehey Pipkin and guitarist Brian Elmquist (both of whom join Williams on both vocals and songwriting) have just released their fifth studio album, Half Moon Light, produced by
The National’s Aaron Desner, who also oversaw their sophomore album, Then Came
the Morning.
The album itself is a beautiful showcase of catharsis for every one of the band members, who have all endured shocking amounts of tragedy and hardship in their lives that they admirably translate into soul-shaking music. The group holds tight to its folksy roots on Half Moon Light, but it’s uplifting and spiritual tone often soars into the rafters with clear influence in gospel, soul, and blues.
The chilling story of “Intro”, “Interlude”, and “Finale”, which appear dispersed equally throughout the album, is one unlike any other. The album works around the difficult theme of death, but instead of it being a somber reflection, it’s a triumphantly uplifting celebration of life. This tone is firmly set right from the start with the intro, which showcases Williams’ grandmother bringing the house down in a moving tribute at her husband’s (William’s grandfather) funeral when this old woman, supposedly barely capable of walking, made her way up to the front of the church, kicked the paid musician off the piano, and in the final moments of the packed service, hammered out a soul-shaking medley of songs as a beautiful tribute to her husband of 64 years. Williams later realized in the studio that his dad had recorded the whole thing, and it in turn made its way onto the album. The soulful medley effortlessly manages to tie the album together in a uniquely beautiful way.
In “I Can Feel You Dancing”, Williams and Elmquist send a letter beyond the grave to their own grandfathers, who passed away fairly recently within a couple months of each other. In a showcase to the beautiful celebration of life that takes center stage thematically on this album, the track is a moving ode to life both lived and yet to be lived, as it pays tribute to their loved ones before them but also to the people currently in their life who push them to live to the fullest everyday. Triumphant horns, soaring harmonies, and a comfortingly-grounding drumline decorate the pure and sparkling walls of this number, which embodies what it means to celebrate life.
Explosive blues-rock track “Just Enough to Get By” showcases Pipkin absolutely bringing the house down with earth-shaking vocals and brutally honest storytelling. The ache and grit in the multi-talented musician’s voice bleed onto the emotional track, which tells the story of her mother, who was raped as a teenager and forced to give up the resulting child. 40 years later, that child came back into her life, and all of the emotions that Pipkin clearly felt are laid out for all to see (and feel) on this powerful track. Pipkin usually plays an important role in bringing life to the oh-so-sweet 3 part harmonies that have long been a key weapon in The Lone Bellow’s folksy musical arsenal, so seeing this intensely soulful side of her voice is an impressive display of her dynamism to say the least and a standout moment on the album.
“Good Times” is a mind-bending bout of wild storytelling courtesy of Williams that features piano that is somehow both devilish and gleeful all at once. The track is supported by shouting choruses, which are also featured on “Count on Me”, which celebrates camaraderie and friendship. Songs like “Wash it Clean” and “August” shift the focus back to heavier material. The former features beautifully picked guitar and sliding strings as Elmquist pays tribute to his recently passed father, who he had a difficult relationship with, while the latter is an ode to Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison, who tragically passed away in May of 2018.
The trio impressively manages to stay grounded in the music that made their fans fall in love a decade ago while also bravely exploring new genres and themes. Their adventurous musical spirit aside, a constant is the positive light that the band manages to cast over so many difficult stories of hardship and tragedy, and they undoubtedly have a knack for translating those trials into a celebratory story of life.
The Lone Bellow will play at
Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City on March 2nd, 2020. Come out with us that night for one of the most entertaining stage performances you’ve ever experienced!
Keep up with The Lone Bellow
here.
