Category Archives: Rock

Artist Review: Kevin Borland – “Talking To Dead People” Album

Posted in Album, Alternative, Blues, Careers, EDM, Electronic, Indie, Music Review, Pop, Press Release, Rock by

Orlando, Florida’s Kevin Borland started making his impact in the music world with his 2016 debut album ‘Harbor City Meltdown’, a record that handsomely boasts his artistically progressive pop/alternative rock signature sound with a stylization that is original and dynamic. Tackling the realm of music with many successful releases under his belt over many years, Borland has a true knack and passion for being a composer/solo artist with several crucial influences from industry heavyweights like David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, as well as guitar pioneer Steve Vai.

Consistently putting out an array of notable releases since his debut in 2016, Borland has manifested into a thriving and rising solo artist, upping the ante with every record in terms of catchiness, coherence, creativity and originality. And this is heavily apparent with his newest album ‘Talking To Dead People’, a 15-track juggernaut that brings Borland’s colorful musical landscapes into to the forefront with cohesively catchy guitar riffs, progressive keyboard measures and melody-driven vocals fused together with well thought out lyrical themes. The track “Spoon Without a Fork” is a good example of this. With an unwavering groove from start to finish at the helm of this song, this track’s bass lines really tighten up the rhythm section in a way that drives the song in a dynamic direction alongside the story-telling narrative of Borland’s vocals. Topping the flavors off with prog/rock-style single-picking guitar riffs, this song is a standout of the album with its innovative verses and dangerously catchy chorus alongside all of the layers this song peels back as it plays out. If this is your first time hearing Kevin Borland, then this song will leave you with an insatiably unforgettable impression.

Another notable track on this record is the synth-driven “Autographed Picture of a Robot Dog”, a more jam band kind of approach with a gritty, bluesy rotund low end carrying an ominous melody that reminds you of the London nightlife. This song is anthemic, atmospheric and continues to demonstrate Borland’s inventive lyrical narratives – giving this song a distinctive edge that is sharp, witty and altogether innovative. Every part of this song is put together very diligently, especially the background vocal layers in the chorus that really give the entirety of this song’s melody an enhancement of compliments and style. It’s a brilliant listen from beginning to end and really solidifies the album’s overall tone.

One other song that really stands out on this record is closing track “No Love in the USA”, a more upbeat track with cruising tempos, diligently paralleled keys and guitars, and a big chorus that encompasses an anthemic arena of catchiness. This crafty closeout song not only wraps the record up with a shiny bow on top, but also entices you to start the record over again and do a deeper dive into Kevin Borland’s discography altogether. One thing this album has especially is multi genre approaches without crossing into absurd genre-mixing territories. It’s not some experimental craziness, it’s a diligently-composed and brilliantly themed collection of songs with crafty thought provoking lyrics that implement artistic outbursts of spoken word measures that really lend to the theming aspects of each song – coherently showcasing a signature sound that’s not only effective, but innovative in its execution as well. The attention to detail is amazing not only in terms of writing, but the performance factor as well. The production value is on point and doesn’t outdo itself in any way throughout the record’s duration. All in all, ‘Talking to Dead People’ is hands down Kevin Borland’s best release effort yet and will definitely hold a high regard upon those giving him a first listen. Those who are just discovering him will especially be impressed and will likely find enticement to go down the rabbit hole of Borland’s past releases, as well as pay close attention to the prospect of future ones as well. This album will not (and does not) disappoint in the slightest. ‘Talking to Dead People’ officially drops in June of this year and will be available across all digital music streaming platforms.

Connect:

•Official Website: https://www.kevinborlandmusic.com/

•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinBorlandMusic

•YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqBEbImP6SgSCYUhdMXpfQ

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Exclusive Artist Review: The Harmalators – “Two Great Minds Think Alike” Album

Posted in Acoustic, Album, Alternative, Americana, Careers, Emo, Experimental, Fusion, Grunge, Hard Rock, Hardcore, Indie, Industrial, Instrumental, Music Review, Partnership, Pop, Press Release, Punk, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Rockabilly, Single, Ska, Soul, Sponsor by

We’ve had The Harmalators duo on our platform before, and they have yet to do disappoint. Since that time, the elite Californi-natives have put together another plethora of colorfully eclectic songs with top notch production value and songwriting technique versatility – some which have landed them in award/charting positions. Comprised of eight amazingly blissful textures and structures that melodically soar throughout the musical landscape, the two brothers in The Harmalators have truly hit it out of the park with their 8-track collective, titled ‘Two Great Minds Think Alike‘, an exercise in innovation, thoroughness, blissfulness and so much more that’ll captivate your musical aura and ambience.

Opening track “Love On Fire” really emphasizes their vocal melody approach, all while keeping that indie feel at the forefront with several facets of different instruments playing their respective roles. Each vocalist really helps enhance the other and you can tell that their togetherness and solidification really puts the melody strength into the writing structure in its entirety. It’s a brilliant intro to the album that will easily entice you to listen to the duration of the record in its entirety.

“Where Would I Be Without You” is a much more simple listen but is undeniably a much more basic structure – and that is held to the highest regard. It’s a shorter song, one that is easily to take in as a classic, and could definitely be heard as an intro to one of those 90s sitcoms (a GOOD one, by the way). Another facet of this track is to find it impossible to get it out of your head. From its title track lyrics, addictive melody structure and just overall charming presence with its well-put-together.

Overall, ‘Two Great Minds Think Alike’ insatiably showcase both brothers’ strongest points in both production and performance value in ways that entice any listener to hear what they’ve put together over the years together and solo-wise as well. They’ve put out a small catalogue of their innovative gems in the past foür😝 its time, but this 8-track collection of highly-produces bliss will definitely turn some heads; especially when an album like this is in the band’s arsenal.

“Two Great Minds Think Alike” have also garnered them some award status. Including…

If this is the first time you’ve heard the first time you’ve heard The Harmalators, then it definitely won’t be the last!

Connect/Listen:

•https://twitter.com/hbarmalators
https://www.facebook.com/harmalators

©️ Artist Reach, LLC | ASCAP | All Rights Reserved

Exclusive Artist Review: Custom – “V” Album

Posted in Album, Alternative, Careers, Hard Rock, Indie, Metal, Music Review, Press Release, Rock by

Emerging from the iconic Seattle music scene, 5-piece rockers Custom began hitting the ground running in the music realm when they first formed in 2002 by guitarist Corey Petro and quickly began acquiring a street buzz. Flash forward nineteen years and Custom is currently one of the leading voices in the vibrant Seattle scene, releasing a handful of records and performing shows at a vast array of prominent venues and events to create a big name for themselves as a band with a raw energy approach to their big guitar-driven signature sound.

Their flavor of Rock is very distinctive; utilizing elements from 80s bands like Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister and Judas Priest while also diligently implementing a more modern sensibility that fits today’s more innovative Rock aura. After the widespread success of their album ‘Brace For Impact’ in 2018, Custom knew they had to follow up with a record that would do themselves justice while also raising the bar to the heights they already created – and that resulted in the band’s 2021 release ‘V’, their highly anticipated fifth studio album. If fans of the band were eager for a release that would crank up the performance and production value while still boasting that Custom signature sound they’ve been known for, then they got exactly what they wanted and a boatload more. Opening banger “King Alice” sets the tone for the record and truly hits you full force with their pounding rhythm section, beefy guitar gains and arena-style vocals that come together into one explosive sound. Vocalist David Lyon is at the top of his game on this track with his anthemic melody choices, high-range leads and distinctively executed vibratos. He leaves no stone unturned and really brings his vocal approach right to the forefront in a way that is both effective and impressionable for both old fans and new. For anyone that hasn’t heard Custom yet, this opening track will absolutely grab your undivided attention for the rest of the album’s duration.

Another notable track on this record is anchor single “Open Road”, a song with a rhythmically driving tempo and crunchy chugging guitars that really deliver the verses with punchy measures. Like the opening track, Lyon again serves up an anthemic chorus that is unwaveringly catchy and themed with clever lyrical outbursts. The wa-wa/crybaby guitar solo on this song is absolutely face-melting and several new elements are introduced on this track that really adds to the band’s overall distinctive Rock flavor. And that’s one notable factor of this record – each song brings something new to the table all while sustaining the perfect balance of consistency to give the band their own signature style that is completely their own. One more notable entry on this album is “Ten Years Gone”, a punchy tune with more subtle verses and atmospheric elements throughout the song’s structure. Lyons’ vocal harmonies in the chorus and octave-measures in the second verse are incredibly effective and showcases his vocal ability from other crucial angles. This song, just like the others mentioned, brings several new facets of the band’s songwriting structures while still maintaining their signature style that’s been made apparent since the opening track. This track is incredibly flavorful and is definitely a standout on the album altogether.

Overall, ‘V’ is an album that will definitely exceed expectations. It’s a record that balances both originality and familiarity in a way that will entice just about any listener to dive deeper into Custom’s discography and career altogether. It’s a record that has staying power, where it stays with you even long after it’s over – and you’ll definitely be coming back to it time and time again as one of your favorite releases in 2021 for the Rock spectrum. You can get your copy of ‘V’ now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and any other digital music streaming platform. You’ll be more than happy that you did.

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Exclusive Artist Interview: Ivy Blue

Posted in Acoustic, Album, Alternative, Careers, Indie, Music Review, Press Release, Rock by

Emerging from Te Aroha in New Zealand, Ivy Blue is the official solo project of James Brodie, an ambitious musician with Autism, ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Utilizing his passion for music as a creative outlet, James through his Ivy Blue moniker started singing about his life and his experiences with his mental health issues in 2014 on the advice of his counselor. His music is tailored to help inspire and educate others about mental health through his own experiences both on his recordings and live shows. By singing about his life and the challenges he faces, James has had the opportunity to play a vast array of shows in Europe and New Zealand, which has also led him to perform in 11 other countries subsequently.

After independently releasing a handful of singles and EPs over the years, James has partnered up with Swerrdmedia Music Group to release his full length debut studio album ‘Wasting Daylight’, comprised of 11 well-written anthemic tracks with a distinctive Alt-Rock sensibility. Featuring a charismatic vocal style and heartfelt story-telling lyrics, this ambitious record showcases many angles of James’ ability as both a songwriter and performer. His in-depth and dynamic signature sound shares an equal balance between originality and familiarity, implementing several crucial elements of yesterday’s nostalgic Rock sound and today’s more innovative and eclectic modern style. His anchor single from the record “Stanley Avenue” is an excellent example of this, diligently casting a spotlight onto James’ witty lyrical outbursts and clean rhythmic acoustic guitar progressions. This story-telling track not only has catchy and coherent melody choices, but a charming sensibility in James’ delivery of the song as well. You really get to know him in this track and it really gives the listener an opportunity to soak in the many different facets of James’ writing style. Another song off this album worth mentioning is “No Going Back”, a more melodically visceral track that’s a little more rhythmically paced. What’s great about this song is we get to hear a different side to James’ craft, all while maintaining a coherent consistency with the music’s overall delivery. This song is very flavorful, more emotional and really enhances the uniqueness within James’ musical aura. This is another well-written track that will entice you to listen to the rest of the album with your undivided attention.

The official release date for the album is October 11th and will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and any other digital music streaming platform of your choice. It’s a very ambitious and intriguing debut for James Brodie and will undoubtedly entice both old fans and new to keep a close eye on what he has up his sleeves in the very near future and beyond. And since the release date is just around the corner, we got the opportunity to talk with James Brodie about the Ivy Blue project in an exclusive interview.

•How long have you been active under your artist name?

I have been active as Ivy Blue since 2014 when I first started writing music for what would be my first indie release Rosewall (which, like my other independent projects has not been released onto streaming sites… yet…). The name came about because I wasn’t so sure about releasing those songs under my real name and the songs I had been writing from as early as 2013 when I was a session player in Future Te Aroha’s Monday Nights group (later becoming The Danny Broeglin Band, who I would regularly test songs with and get feedback) seemed like an extension of me but not something I wanted to label solely as mine. So my best friend Troy and I put names into the hat (as he would often help with my music) put random words into a hat and we’d ach draw one out- those two words becoming what we would work together as/my moniker. The two words that were pulled out were Ivy Blue, and the rest is history from there.

•What music scene/city do you currently represent?

I live in Morrinsville (10 minutes from my hometown Te Aroha) and am part of the New Zealand music scene. My closest city is Hamilton, but I play where-ever I can get a gig.


•The pandemic has really thrown a wrench into the live music experience and for artists altogether. How has it affected you and your career (if at all)?

This album was meant to be released in 2020 and I was due to be on tour in Europe/US soon after. Obviously, this has not been able to happen and what I have primarily been focusing on as a musician is doing studio work and writing for the second album with Ivy Blue (which all going to plan will come out sometime soon). I’ve only been able to play a couple of shows here in New Zealand but the plan is to get back on the road next year now that the world is opening up and things are starting to get under control in most of the countries I was meant to perform in.I also do other things outside of music so I’ve had time to focus on those and clear my decks so I can be ready for 2022. Of course, things can change so who knows what might happen? New Zealand’s been relatively unscathed (only 2 major nationwide lockdowns and small escalations) but the rest of the world’s not been so lucky so I can only hope it’s manageable soon so I can get out there, and of course my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who’s been impacted by COVID-19.

•What are some of your music influences?

There’s a lot of things that come into it but my main influences right now are Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and Robbie Williams. U2, Queen, REM, Arielle, and Ally Vennable are also on that list as are Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Shihad, and Ed Sheeran (among many others).

•What kind of concepts do you tend to write about as an artist? Shine some light on that.

I don’t know if I have any specific concepts that I sings about. It’s something I’ve never really wrapped my head around and took the time to think about. Overall though, my music is like my journal. I just observe my life, what’s going on around me, the things that I’m learning, and put it to the songs that I create. There’s not much more to it than that but maybe this is something that I can give more thought to at a later point.

•If you could put together a dream show or tour, what bands/artists would be on the bill?

I’d just do one big jam session with all of my favorite musicians if I’m honest. And it’d be a massive band. Bono and The Edge from U2, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, The E Street Band, Michael Stipe, Ally Vennable, Robbie Williams, Queen, Arielle, and for good measure, my friends who I love playing with. Even with the biggest stars in the world, this kind of thing is best shared with friends.

•When is your next release coming out?

Wasting Daylight (my debut full-length album) arrives onOctober 11th to digital stores and steaming sites. CD and Vinyl releases are also in the works, but due to the current outbreak in New Zealand have been postponed.

•What’s in store for you in 2021/2022? Give us the goods.

Hopefully in 2022 I’ll be back out on the road playing the shows I was due to play in 2020, but we shall see what happens. I’m fully vaccinated and ready to go. Just waiting for the business end to be carried out, dates to be rescheduled, and all the logistics to be ironed out. I’ve also been working on a few songs to keep my fingers moving and bide my time until the tour can kick off so you might hear something from that. But plans can be easily upended in a pandemic so I’m going to wait a little longer to fully spill the beans. When the times come for me to talk about those plans, you’ll know!

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Exclusive Artist Review: Isabel & The Whispers – Self Titled Debut Album

Posted in Album, Alternative, Careers, Emo, Indie, Music Review, Pop, Press Release, Rock by

NYC-born and bred artist Isabel Marcheselli (formerly known as Isabel Rivera) formed her band in 2005 under the official name Isabel & The Whispers and quickly began manifesting her love for music into a collection of anthemic songs that would become the band’s self titled debut album. Known for her insatiably dynamic craft in several artistic areas including vocals, songwriting and poetry, Isabel has musically crossed a vast array of genres and her eclectic scope of music continues to evolve and defy easy categorization. While she was classically trained, she can easily create music in mass-appealing genres such as Pop, Dance and Indie – utilizing her craft and artistic merit in ways that would ultimately garner the undivided attention of many listeners across the musical landscape.

And in 2008, after a few years of writing and solidifying their signature sound, Isabel & The Whispers would release their self titled debut album comprised of 8 atmospheric and intellectual tracks that would give Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval a run for her money. This amazingly crafty collection of tunes provide that aura of catchiness you’d expect from a vocalist with a Pop sensibility, but ultimately wins you over with a soft Indie implementation with a crisp subtlety that will easily captivate any fan of the genre, respectively. Opening track and anchor single “Josefina” is direct evidence of this and it really kicks off the record with a signature style that touches on textures of ambience and atmosphere. The piano lead parallels diligently with Isabel’s hypnotically visceral vocal melodies, giving the listener a listening experience that is both effective and unforgettable upon first listen. It’s an anthemic song that truly sets the tone for the rest of the album and casts a bright spotlight onto Isabel’s ability to not only write an amazing melody, but express them thoroughly through lyrical content as well. Her poetic and story-telling ability really puts her on a level very few artists tend to reach, and it’s quite a joy to behold when you really pay attention to not only what she sings, but how she sings it.

Another notable track on this record is breakup song “High Horse”, a song about a past love with Isabel’s signature story-telling method that has been made apparent from the very first track. Once again we get a beautiful piano lead, this time in a minor key, a smooth rhythm section and a more high-ranged Isabel with this song’s anthemic chorus. Though she tackles common subject matter in this song, she again brings a simple concept to new heights with a poetic presence that really brings the overall story to form in a way that is intelligent and artistically visceral. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions sung with a sense of subtlety that almost makes it a lullaby, but no matter how you interpret it, Isabel just does it well. She completely makes the concept her own. One more notable track is closing song “Dot To Dot”, a song that combines the previous two songs into one intelligently crafted composition. This anthem really closes in on each element both Isabel and her band have brought to the table throughout the album’s duration in a way that ties it all together, perhaps also with a bow on top like a musical gift. We have Isabel at the peak of her vocal melody execution, delivering her blissful and breathy lyrical outbursts that are again enticing and thought provoking. Her band serves up their amazingly rhythmic measures, diligently paralleling her story-telling approach in a way that is effective and almost surreal. By the time you reach the end, you are almost disappointed it is now over. But the best part is, you can start it all over again, and that’s what makes this album stand out – its staying power. Its ability to stay with you even long after it’s over. Something not heard often among today’s more modern releases. And that’s another thing that makes this album a standout, the fact it could easily please music fans from just about any generation or era. Older fans will find it nostalgic, while newer fans will hear its innovation. But the truth is – it’s both.

This is an album you won’t forget anytime soon. You can get your copy now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and any other digital music streaming platform.

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