AyOh, a band comprised of Chicago
music scene veterans/world travelers
singer-guitarist Avi Dell, singer-drummer
John Paul Arrotti, and bassist Lin
Takrudtong, get solid support from guest
musicians on its Take It To The People EP.
The guitar-driven and high energy "Ay-Oh
(Out Alive)” and "Never" are the most
impressive, but Dell and Arrotti's full-bodied vocals give all four tracks strong commercial appeal. (www.aoband.com)
– Terrence Flamm
If you're a believer that aliens made a
wrong left turn and landed in Roswell,
New Mexico in 1947, then Crashland will
supply the soundtrack to your investigations with Novus Initium. With Zappaesque theatrics, prog-rock sensibility and
jam band awareness, Crashland members
use '50s Sci-Fi names like Major
Aluminumm, Jordac, and Celestia to contribute to a mission delivering their alien
rock opera. With all of the theatrics,
Crashland sounds best sticking to melodic
country-rockers like "Old Mountain Road"
and its tribal abduction theme, "Niburu."
(www.crashlandmusic.com)
– David Gedge
It's been more than 15 years since Dean
Goldstein's last effort, during which time
he's gotten sober, built a log cabin, and
become an expert woodworker. Recently
resurfacing as leader of Dean III & The
Wagers, it was a hiatus well spent. Dirty
Go Time! continues to bridge the gap
between hard rock and power pop on its
third release, Tight Like Wood. Lead vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski still employs
his distinctive, talky vocal style, and the
band is crafting more complex and melodic arrangements. "The Life We Once Knew"
adroitly mixes acoustic and electric guitars, while "The Lines Were Blurred" is
more straightforward hard rock. The guitar-driven "In A Certain Mood" calls to
mind The Rolling Stones circa the 1970s.
(gotimeband.com)
– Terrence Flamm
Armed with a slew of vintage instruments on Wish We Had Our Time Again,
Marty Hays bridges the best of bluegrass,
old time country and southern gospel.
While it's definitely a traditional album
that hearkens back to a bygone era, there's
loads of impressive finger picking and
earthy harmonies that could easily appeal
to the O Brother Where Art Thou audience.
(www.cdbaby.com/cd/martyhays)
– Andy Argyrakis
With the indie folk/acoustic alternative
revival in full swing, Dan Hubbard could
quite feasibly find himself alongside The
Civil Wars or The Head And The Heart on
a personal playlist. "Maybe Someday" is
the runaway highlight throughout Livin'
In The Heartland as the singer/songwriter
pleads for a wider artistic platform, and
while he'll certainly hav ?????????????????()A??????=??]???()M???????????????????????????????)??????????]???Y????????????? ? ??) ?????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????(?????????????+?L?)???? ?????)Q??? ????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)5?????????A????????????????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)M????????????????????????????????????????t?Q???????????????????????????????????????????????????????(???????A?????????????????????)???????????????I??????????????(??????????????t????????????????????)???????????????????????(????????????????+?L?)????M?????()????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????+?M??????????()Q?????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????)M????????????????A??????=?)]????????????????@?????????)???????)?????)??????)%d)???????????????????????????M??????)????????????????????????%?????????)?????????????????????????????!????)e??1?????e??????????????????)??????????????????????????????)???????? ??????????????????????)????????L???????????????????M???????)?????????????????????????L????)??????????????????%????????????????)??????????????????????????Q????????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????+?L????? ????????((??????????????????????????????????((0