A-Reviews…
| Alyssa Simmons
American singer song writer Alyssa Simmons releases her debut E.P titled I’m Ready. From the opening tune ”Stargazers” right down to the last tune ”Bigger Than Us” there is a song for everybody. It is evident that this girl has a raw talent for writing lyrics and she sings them from the heart. From upbeat catchy songs like ”I’m Ready” to a song with meaning ”You Had To Say Goodbye” it makes a feel good album. The hints of guitars and pianos make Alyssa soulful voice send shivers down your spine. This girl has the whole package and you will not be disappointed. Review By Jennifer Ormsby 6/6 http://www.myspace.com/alyssasimmons Audiokiss
Really Kind of Moving Dublin three piece band Audiokiss album “Really Kind of Moving” is a full sounding rock album with it’s moments of pop fever with a real 90′s feel, the lead singer Siobhan Mahon’s voice resembles Stevie nicks and Belinda Carlisle in parts, excellent voice and really comes to the forum on the album especially on “One Life For Now” slow song, but very moving and flowing rhythm with a folk/rock ballad feel from the sound. Review by T.Halpin 4/6 http://www.myspace.com/audiokissmusic
All Nations Acres and Acres from Nova Scotia,Canada have got folk music with it’s alternative twists, this can be heard through out All Nations it’s nine tracks of submerged and easy listening music, “From the Forest” this has some sweet lyrics and a very nice melody on the guitar with some catchy changes. If you like Paul Simon you will hear some similarities or it could be the influences showing through but sounding very nice indeed, change of tone and mood comes in on track five “All He Needs” gospel blues and some fantastic vocals enrich this song with some spiritual beauty, Don’t come knocking and Cell Phone song would be the alternative twist on the album but still shines with folk tones. Review by T.Halpin 5/6 http://www.myspace.com/acresandacres Adam Wilson Hunter
4/5
Oxygen EP Irish born singer song writer Alan Boyle now lives in Brisbane, Australia. Oxygen is his second EP to date, it contains six songs of a beautiful musical journey fused with folk roots and heart felt passionate lyrics…. and one ghost instrumental track to bring it back home, The opening song “Oxygen” has a blend of soft rock vocals and folk driven rhythm guitar strums, the song has its peaks with flowing dynamics coming from each instrument. Track 2 “Back To Go” the feel coming from this song gives off a real country folk rock vibe..Counting Crow/ Dave Matthews almost a southern American sound with the gentle approach on the lyrics, Alan attacks the song with real passion in his voice, nice catchy number. Track 3 “This Town” minimal sometimes is always the best option when you compose a song and Alan got this spot on in this song, both vocals and instruments work in harmony on this track, the song has a real deep folk acoustic feel..excellent stuff. Track 4 “Calling You Out” this is your soft folk love song, the Violin adds to the romantic feel, Alan’s voice is superb on this track almost addictive. Track 5 “All Over Again” Alan Voice in this song adds a real rock tone to the song and with the use of an electric sound on the guitar it gives a pop edge to the track, although the Violin and Trumpet gives off a real nice fusion of sound. Track 6 “Your Love is a Beautiful Thing” this is a sweet tune and Alan’s voice sounds great, minimal folk song with some catchy lyrics. Reviw by T.Halpin 6/6 ARCANE ROOTS
UK have given birth to some of the best melodic rock bands in the world and maybe we just might be witness to another, Arcane Roots are made up like most three piece super groups with Andrew Groves on VOX/Guitar, Daryl Atkins on Skins and Adam Burton on feel maker Bass. The three track EP is fast driven and full of energy, track one “Rouen” kicks in with a nice harmonic vocal with a bit of soul in it, the melody charms this song by grabbing the rhythm by the neck to create a very melodic core rock tune,the dynamics are great and i love the Floyd like style middle eight on the guitar. Track two “Nylon” has more of a US board band style theme with some catchy riffs and teasing vocals, the way this song changes from nice to raw metal energy is fantastic, this is power rock in your face mate. Track three “An Easy Smile” more of a moody song with some complex rhythms and anthem feel vocals, this is a real good song for a live gig its got that live energy about it, this is mosh music to the bone, fantastic stuff. Aine Duffy
Put Your Money On Cork chanteuse, Aine Duffy isn’t exactly your run of the mill singer/songwriter. She insists on rocking out. That it very much evident from the first track of her debut album. Duffy’s music can be described as a hint of Kate Bush with a dash of Janis Joplin, a cup full of Zeppelin and finished with a splash of twenty first century dance. Perhaps someone has also been listening to Sophie B Hawkins? The album grabs you, shakes you and makes sure you get your weekly dose of rock. One of the standout tracks ‘Ask John’, is already released as a single, receiving airplay on both sides of the Atlantic. Duffy is quickly gaining the respect of industry and fans alike and has already a dedicated fan base in L.A. and N.Y.C. Good musicianship, good arrangements, good beats, ‘Put Your Money On’ is a decent first album and a great starting point for Duffy. Review by Nessy 5/6 Apollo’s Thebe
Self titled E.P Apollo’s Thebe, are a five-piece up and coming band. They have somewhat of a dark electro pop sound but have their own originality as well. Since the end of 2008 this genre has come to light a lot. On their self-tilted E.P, there are eight outstanding tracks. ’Stawp’ and ‘Voice of God (clear the throat)’ are good listens. My favourite song is ‘Cape’, the singers chilling voice and the uncanny conversational talk in the background is what makes this track amazing. In the song ‘Amber’ you can hear influences from Thin Lizzy, but this is the only track I could compare with other bands. For songs that consist of vocals, guitar, the keyboard, cello and drums it can be very thin sounding, this may be due to the quality of the sound system they used or the fact they had a time frame of three days to record this. Also they tried interlinking some tracks but left gaps at the end when it changes into the next song. They might have to tighten that up for it to work. After listening to the E.P, I did a bit of research on them and was astounded to find out these lads are around 18 years of age. I thought they were much older. This definitely pushed the bar for me on the credibility of their music; if this is what they’re producing now, imagine what they could be sounding like in a few more years! Review By Laura McGlynn 4/6 ANTHONY GIBNEY STANDING IN THE DARKNESS A Dublin singer songwriter and has been on the scene a few years with many bands under his belt this is your classic A+B sided EP “Standing in the darkness” has all the flavors of your pissed up funk rock melodic tune it kicks in with a wicked thumping guitar grooves and smoothes out with a catchy chorus…excellent stuff. The second track “ Ritual” isn’t too bad like most EP’s they seem to leave the bad stuff to last but this has a real anthem rock feel to the song great composure and the vocals sound pretty dam good. Review by T.Halpin 5/6 http://www.myspace.com/agibney ANGEL CHAMBERS Angel Chambers (loving the name by the way) are four very young lads from Newry. But don’t be deceived by the fresh faces these boys can hold their own. Strangely, they list their influences as some old-school rockers like Nirvana, RATM, QOTSA and Audioslave and despite a tiny hint at the former, I am surprised because they sound far more contemporary than that would suggest. I am hearing more Lost Prophets, Angels & Airwaves, Biffy Clyro and others but anyhow… Well lads, I have heard a lot worse than this by people who have been around a lot longer and who should know better. The phrase that shouts at me is “one to watch” because in their songs you have great potential. A great platform is given with some impressive sounding vocals mashed out by Collie Clerkin and backed up by at least two of the others, bravely going for the delicate/shout/anthem style changes, which takes some work and they do really well (and will get better at it no doubt too). To highlight the point, check out the track ‘Leon’ (available on Myspace) which for such tender musicians is hugely ambitious, with layers, time changes and different textures – but they pull it off and its quite an awesome track in a Deftones stylee. If I was at a record label office just now, I would be thumbing through what Angel Chambers are doing and thinking… “y’know this has got some mileage”, because I would be interested in getting my hands on a young and ambitious band like this. In the spirit of constructive criticism I would simply say this. Keep doing what you’re doing you’re sounding good and don’t compromise. Work damn hard at practising and polishing those layered vocals because while they will sound great done well, get it wrong….ouch. Dessie is a busy and competent drummer for his age, but play for the songs Des – you have a double bass drum pedal, use it ‘wisely’, sometimes throwing the kitchen sink at it can occassionally throw the meter off… sometimes less is more, know what I mean? Get some gigs in and above all, enjoy what you’re doing because you have a good future if you keep this up, good on yer. www.myspace.com/angelchambers4 ALANALDA
DEMONSTRATION This is a Ep with plenty of musical talent with moody tones mixed with some original style with songs like ” In the past” this tune creeps in with a rock a billy feel yet changes with some cool dynamics in the rythm, lyrics are excellent a good solid tune. “Always someone watching” this song has a feel of modern classical music with its driving bass and strings in the background, the vocal a very well placed over the melody a nice winding down song, very good. “Steve’s shirt” good humor from the lyrics in this song with its anthem feel great vocals. “I am the law” this is a good listener with its catchy chorus and hypnotic piano very well written and composed excellent. review by T.Halpin 6/6 www.myspace.com/alanaldatheband ANDREW HANDRICK
THE TRUE RICHES OF LIFE A collection of mellow tunes with elements of southern rock style melodies can be heard through out this album with the first track (Miss Califoria) kicks in with with a hypnotic grung tone on the vocals sounds a bit like early Smashing Pumpkins nice laid back strumming coming from the guitar and a pop cultured beat to gel it together, (Time) this tune has nice flowing rythem to it with uplifting vocals and a lazy groove. (Come Around) this has nice upbeat melodie, the vocals sound really well but the guitar seems to be cutting into the mix too much but sounds well, (Learning Curve) this tune has a nice feel to it vocals are placed very well with a nice ambient feel chorus has a catchy theme with a driving melodie (90 Miles An Hour) you can feel a nice summer tone from this tune a real country rock feel with some great vocals and some great dynamics in the verses. (City Man) this tune has laid back feel with some nice lyrics it’s great to hear songs like this from a Dublin artist it has more of a American tone but cool. (Ground Down) there is more of a folk/rock tone with a nice melodie like a 60′s San Francisco song, great vocals and composed very well. (Stolen) Andrews deep vocal in this song works really well a bit like Lou Reed, the latin rim shot is nice too and lifts to a cool rock tune again the dynamics are fantastic great song. (An Answer) this is a more upbeat happy tone song with some great vocals but the mix maybe over eq’ed. (Wendy) here is a fantastic grooving tune with a upbeat country rock feel vocals sound great with a very friendly radio tone, Overall the album sounds great for a self produced product but has the making of a fantastic album. review by T.Halpin 5/6 AVIATOR SHADES
Lets talk about AC/DC or Whitesnake no let me tell you about AVIATOR SHADES this is a rockin band with a kickass Ep to blow your mind with the first track from the Ep “DOIN ALRITE” big drum sound and excellent gutair solo’s that bring old school rock to a new level. The second track “SLICE OF PIE” perfect harmony’s on the gutairs I haven’t heard this played so well like this since Thinlizzy pulled it off in the 80′s this tune has a mean groove to it and rockin vocals too. The third track ” OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN” get your cigarette lighters out for this one and start to wave them in the air its got that slow rock jovi feel to it but sounds really well and has nice lyrics to back it up too. The fourth track “EYE OF THE STORM” let your hair down for this tune with its melodic gutair and cruel lyrics this song will get your head banging again, this Ep AVIATOR SHADES is perfect for your rock collection so don’t miss out and grab a copy quick. review by T.Halpin 5/6
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