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CD Reviews

If you want your music reviewed eg If your in a band or you are solo send me an email All Reviews by Chris unless noted

I will gladly review your music


Linden - The Future Is... (Self Released)

Linden is one of the most exciting female fronted pop rock bands I have heard in a long time and I know soon or later they are gonna be snapped up by a record label. The Future Is.. is a fantastic introduction to band with 5 great pop rock tunes that are full of life and energy and are songs that are well thought out, well written, well played and well sung as well as being well produced. I could easily see any of these songs being played on Radio. Songs like Attached and Stranded show off the energy and solid song structure of the bands music. In And Out shows off the band talent for writing ballads. Overall this is a fine debut release for a band who got a bright future ahead of them.

Jimmie's Chicken Shack - Fail On Cue (Fowl Records)

Jimmie's Chicken Shack is a band who I have known about for years but never heard their music and their new album Fail On Cue is my introduction to them and I actually really really enjoyed this album. It is the perfect blend of funk metal,ska and straight up modern rock. It starts off with the catchy track 17 that pure funk rock metal and it's seriously straight up rocking with good vocals,melodies, good musicianship and well written. Caught Up shows the SKA influence in the bands music which is a really catchy upbeat funky track with good melodies and vocals and well written and good musicianship and the same goes for Mutha Luvas. Songs like The Quiet Ones, Another Great Idea shows off the talents of the band and Jimi Haha songwriting skills and also his vocals, The cover of Fugazi Waiting Room is really good and a nice addition to the album. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this album, It is just a good solid album that has plenty of great tracks on it to be discovered and enjoyed and it's also an album that deserves to be repeated over and over again. You will seriously enjoy this album and this from some one who didn't know what to expected but came out a new fan.

Danna & The Changes - Baby Love (PopBoomerang Records)

Danna & The Changes are a fresh new band from Melbourne started by Danna from The Suits fame and if this single is any indication the album gonna be a sure fire winner, The first song being the single Baby Love is the perfect piece of catchy pop music with a slight hint of country in the mix mixed with a dash of rock'n'roll with catchy lyrics and good use of backing vocals and good lead vocals, it's such a catchy song it's that I was humming it all day, Janie is a catchy country styled song with a pop edge with good musicianship, good solid vocals, good use of backing vocals and seriously it's a rollicking good time, toe tapping away and shows off the talents of all the band members involved and the last song is Station is the ballad that truly shows off the songwriting and the talents of the band and it's a really great song with good solid vocals, good musicianship, good melodies and rhythms. Dana & The Changes are seriously of the most exciting bands to come out of Melbourne at the moment and this release gives a good indication that album seriously gonna be so good. I can't wait to hear the album. Top stuff by a local band and mr popboomerang has a winner on his hands.

Brilliant Fanzine - Then Comes Monday (PopBoomerang Records)

I first heard this band on a compilation of bands featured on Popboomerang records and I really dug the tune and seeing them live impressed me more and the album what can I say it's the perfect pop album and one of the best real pop albums I have heard in ages, every song is well crafted and well thought out. The songs are catchy but also thoughtful and enjoyable. Songs like Change For You and Would We Go Back & Then Comes Monday show off the talents of the band with the song structure, melodies and rhythms and harmonies and vocals. Smile, When It's Through, It's Gone are ballad pop tracks off the album and they highlight the songwriting skills,vocals and how each of the band members work together. I really got into this album, with melodies,harmonies and vocals and songs that are truly well written and beautiful performed and well sung, it is truly refreshing to hear an album that is just a joy to listen to start to end. If the major labels took notice of bands like Brilliant Fanzine, maybe they would be in a better position and not have the situation of the latest grand theft auto game coming out and all. Highly recommend and can't wait to hear what they put out next.

Bootleg – Begged,Borrowed & Stole (Self Released)

Bootleg debut album is one funky catchy release, It's SKA,Reggie and Dub all rolled into one and it's a very good release, it is an album that just reminds me off summer and the parties listening to Sublime, it's a catchy album full of good time vibes, props to where they come from, working to survive, and in general having fun. It is a well produced,well sung, well thought out album, Songs like Holmes Beach show the good time nature of the band which the catchy lyrics,melodies and harmonies and just grooving in your seat, well I was when listen to this album, Angel Child with it's funky beat, good solid lyrics,good melodies and harmonies and rhythms, All I Need is a good song about working to survive with good use of beats,melodies,rhythms and harmonies. Officer Move is another good song which features Jenny Flory singing on the track who gonna be a music star in her own right soon and some one who has been featured on this site with it's good solid vocals,harmonies, rhythms and melodies. I really enjoyed this album, it was just a joy to listen to start to end, it was something different to what I normally get sent. Bootleg got a future here with their brand of catchy music, good time vibes and good solid vocals and good musicianship and this album is a winner. A fun enjoyable album that truly shines with good times gold.

Jesse Mitchell - The Twilight (Self Released)

Jesse Mitchell debut release The Twilight is a blend of laid back reggae folk pop music would be the best way to describe it. He got a great sound and he is very much influenced by an independent artist who is very popular and is still independent. The songs are very catchy, with good solid vocals,melodies and harmonies. Wake Up World is very much a upbeat funky track with good vocals,melodies and harmonies. Newborn Man is the ballad song on CD, it's got good solid vocals,harmonies and melodies. Get Back In Line is like the anthem song on the CD, it's upbeat, got solid vocals and good solid lyrics with good melodies and harmonies that really shine. The production values are fine, Jesse has got a great sound, he gonna go far with and this is a good introduction to the mans music. It's worth checking out.

Eva Popov - Me, The Sea & Star (Self Released)

Eva Popov is a local artist who just released debut album, and it's like a story a journey full of tales and adventures. It's an album that slowly but magically bring you into her world and most importantly her music and yes her music amazing. The production values are good, she such a good songwriter and her voice works fantastically with the music and their is a good use of violins through out the album. It is an album that has been beautifully crafted and it's an album that has something to say with stories and messages and letters that throughout the album you discover and will enjoy her journey, Once you hear the first song Smallest Things you know that this is something different and something that is truly original and fresh, Highlights are Invisible Traffic, Sea To The Traffic, Carry The Love, Animal Animal but really all songs are good. This album is something fresh and original and you will be taken on a magical journey of beautiful music which Eva Popov debut album Me,The Sea & Star seriously is and seriously is a must have album and one that will make her stand out and be noticed.

The Bends - Self Titled (Self Released)

Who said rock 'n' roll is dead, well it's certainly not in Canada, yes I have discovered one of the most exciting bands to come out of Canada and music in general in a long time and they are called The Bends, They have released their self titled debut album DIY and it's seriously amazing, It's 70's punk, rock 'n' roll and soul mixed altogether and it just rocks. There are two vocalist in the band one being Brian the front man and Heather on the keys who really shines on the catchy song (Love Is) Not Only Blind where both Brian and Heather thing a verse which is a slice of good rock 'n' roll with soul. It also shows off the good use of Keyboards which are fantastically used through out the album, Everybody has a Price has a jazz,soul vibe to the track with the way the guitar is being played,to the use of keyboard. and the use of dual vocals, it's a well written,well played track, He Got Too Much Soul is a nicely played track that is really groovy, with great use of keyboards and good vocals, and great guitar playing, it's seriously addicitive, The Pin-Striped Suits is the most catchy tune on the album with great lyrics, vocals, well written and well played, it's got a jazz rock'n'roll vibe to the track that is seriously groovy, the album itself has a good mixture of catchy funky upbeat rock 'n' roll tunes and you can tell the band is having fun as it's a really fun enjoyable album that really doesn't disappoint. The production values are low budget but it doesn't matter because the songs are so good that you will be too busy grooving on down to care. This is a must have album by a band who are gonna go so far and one of my highlights for the year so far.

Tess Henderson - Handmade By Thread (Broadcaster Records/Creative Vibes)

Tess Henderson debut album Handmade By Thread is one of few CD's I have listened to where I love every song on the CD. It's such a magical beautiful album, full of mysterious,melodies and good solid vocals and harmonies to be discovered. Tess Henderson is a local independent Melbourne based artist and her album Hand By Thread is a solid debut release, It's got so many good songs on their, such like the Haunting melodies of Triumph to the beautiful sweet well written Silver Rush, to the catchy beautiful Dust with it's beautiful melodies, good solid vocals and musicianship that is seriously second to none and leads the album off with Kiddo just a dark upbeat poppy tune that really reels you in with it's good solid vocals, catchy melodies and harmonies, I really dig this song and it's a great song to start off the album , By This Kiss shows off how well Tess can write a song with good melodies and vocals and good use of strings, a She has been described as another bigger Australian female singer songwriter but I think Tess Henderson is oh so much better. Why I hadn't heard of Tess Henderson earlier is just a bad oversight but now I am seriously hooked. You will be doing yourself a favor by checking out Handmade By Thread and see what your missing out.

Claire Clarke - Unhinged (Bluestone Records/Amphead Music)
Claire Clarke
Claire Clarke is one talented young singer songwriter who has made an album that rivals and is even better than her major label count-parts have done. The songs are pop rock tunes, a mixture of upbeat groovy rocking tunes that kick serious ass and some good old fashion ballads. Highlights included Rush, Down The Line, All I Need is a rock ballad that uses strings alongside good solid vocals, good musicianship and is truly a well written song that I could easily be heard on radio, Survive You really shows off her vocals and knack of writing a good solid ballad tune that really lifts her voice and it let's shine along side her fantastic songwriting and works fantastic alongside strings, Unqualified For Love is a pop tune with a dash of rock to the fold, it's catchy and funky all at the same time with good vocals and good solid lyrics, you will be taping and grooving away to the tune, but seriously all the songs are so good, 70 Percent of the album is written by Claire herself meaning only 3 tracks she wrote with other people. She is only 18 years old and is truly independent and the success she has got so far is a testament to her hard work and dedication and professionalism and having a team of people who care about her and her album truly shows what talent she has and by being herself and writing the tunes she has put out a first class album . A fantastic first class debut album by a singer songwriter who only going up. Seriously this is so good, you need this now.

Kate Akhurst - Like Little Red Riding Hood (Self Released)
Kate Akhurst
Kate Akhurst debut album Like Little Red Riding Hood is the perfect blend of Pop, Jazz and R&B. I first discovered Kate over 2 years ago and she moved to America and now she has released her debut album which is a fantastic release, it's unique, funky,poppy and has really does has some great ballad numbers and should be treasured as Kate Akhurst is gonna be a star and will sadly like most Aussie talent will be recognized once she becomes big in America. It starts off with Cause & Affect which is a upbeat catchy little number. It's got great vocals, good melodies, it's a really poppy jazzy tune that really shows of Kate vocals and songwriting skills. For some reason it reminds me of a nursery rhyme from the use of the strings and use of piano through out the track. Damn is a slow but poppy number that shows Kate fantastic voice and is layered with strings and pianos. You're Welcome is a r&b pop number that highlights a bit of edginess to the music War In Your Welcoming is one of my highlights off the album, It has a bit of Bjork feel to it, it's a power ballad well it is to me with beautiful melodies and vocals. It's really shows of what Kate can do songwriting, lyrics and vocals wise. It's one of the highlights 4 me off the album. Crazy On That Stuff highlights the pop sensibilities off the album, It's a catchy upbeat rocking tune with a dash of r&b with good melodies and harmonies, good solid vocals and it's a song so ready for radio play. It's catchy, it's in your face and it's a seriously funky tune. Plus shows off Kate vocals and songwriting skills. Six Cold Feet is ballad that is layered with atmosphere, strings and sweet vocals like a dream. It's a sweet song that pulls you in with it's layers of music, good solid vocals and honest lyrics and it's solid honest songwriting. It's such a magical song. End Of The Day is a Pop,R&b,Jazz infused song that bright bold and sassy and a little funky that has good lyrics and melodies and good solid vocals. I could easily see this being played on radio. The Fire is a really jazzy pop tune with the upbeat trumpets, it's a little funky but the vocals truly work well with the song here. Hello Ground finishes off the album well with a fantastic power ballad that such a beautiful song that really truly shines. It's got fantastic vocals by Kate that really truly shine here, plus her songwriting here is second to none, it's fantastic. Good lyrics and great use of strings throughout the song. The piano playing is truly fantastic on here too. This song really got to me, it some how connected to me, I love songs like this when songs like this are truly written and constructed well. This song truly shows off what Kate is capable of doing which is fantastic. This seriously one of the best albums I have heard this year and Australia should be proud to have her as an artist. It's got good solid songs, great vocals and well written by Kate who is an artist who will only be going higher and higher. One of my picks for album of the year, Yes already and my new favorite artist. Go get as it's seriously worth a listen.

Shannon Curtis - Boomerangs & Seesaws (Saint Cloud Records)

Boomerangs & Seesaws is quite simply a wonderful release by Shannon Curtis. I fell in love with her music when she was in Paradigm but as a solo artist she is simply amazing. Firstly she has a beautiful souring voice, a fantastic piano player and has written some wonderful sweet tunes. From the title track Boomerangs & Seesaws which is a beautiful piece of music, a powerful voice, fantastic piano playing and good use of a drum machine in the background. Wasted has a real Jazz influence to me throughout the songs. Can't Remember You just plain and simple a sold song that has a beautiful souring voice, good melodies,harmonies and good piano playing. The release finishes off with one of the most sweetest songs I have heard in years Waking Up With You and actually really moved me and I got teary eyed after hearing it and I have been playing it over and over again. It's just a simple beautiful sweet song about being with some one you truly love. It's beautifully written, good sweet sounding vocals, fantastic piano playing and it's so well written. This is fantastic release that just shows that the majors are not putting out as much good music any more and that you don't need a major label put out such a release as this. Shannon Curtis is gonna go very very far. I can't wait to see what she puts out next and sadly I won't be able to see her live when I am over in April.

Jenny Dalton - Carbon Lily Remixes (Glossy Shoebox Productions)

To be honest I am not normally a fan of remixes, there are a few that I really really like. But this remix CD of Jenny Dalton songs totally rocks. They feature remixes done by people from all over the globe. They are well produced, well thought out remixes and most of all they are fantastic to groove along to. My two favorites are the Cadence and the Bad Day Remix. The video clip for the Cadence remix is fantastic too. Being a person who isn't normally a huge fan of remixes I totally dug this CD being already a fan of her music just because they really worked well with her original music and put a great spin on the tunes, You need this CD and I can already see the clubs playing this music. I am already so excited for the next release by miss dalton.

Ben Birchall & The Corrections - Last Ditch Brigade (Cavalier/Shock Records)

Ben Birchall & The Corrections album Last Ditch Brigade is a seriously good album, good guitar pop music. Ben has written some fantastic tunes here with a mixture of slow and upbeat rocking tunes. You have songs like My Dear which shows off Ben's songwriting skills and vocals mixed with fantastic musicianships and good harmonies and vocals. Songs like Optimistic are just good pop songs. Good solid musicianships and vocals and melodies and harmonies. Next Year's Model and Wasting Every Moment are other goods that highlight the talent that has Ben has for writing good solid tunes. So Along is another highlight of just a plain good pop song with good melodies and harmonies and vocals and good musicianships. I really hope this does well for Ben as he is a really nice guy and he fantastic live. He is still young and he got plenty of music to make ahead of him and I am sure some one will see how talented he is and that they want to work with him and give him the exposure he truly truly deserves. It's a must have album by a much talented artist and his band.

Lime Spiders - Live At The Esplanade (Figtree Words & Music/Inertia)

Lime Spiders are back and who also are one of the most respected and which a lot of bands of today have sited as an influence and also who are kept constantly asked to play here with overseas bands and also overseas with various bands. They have just released Live At Esplanade and I tell you now, it's a cracker of a CD. The live recording sounds great and it features a lot of goods songs that you should know like Slave Girl, Action Women, Weirdo Libido,Just One Solution and Volatile for examples. Mick Blood still sings fantastic and the band worked well together as it's sounds tight. I being a fan and a late comer fan of the band in the last few years. I truly loved this CD and it's a great start if you are new to the band alongside Nine Miles High best of CD and if your a fan you would of already got this and if you missed any of their gigs this year after listening to this you will be extremely annoyed that you did like I was. This is a must have release and I hope we get some new stuff from these guys soon.

The New Electric - Flesh & Metal (Self Released)

The New Electric are modern new wave with a rock edge band and their release Flesh & Metal is a fantastic release and one of the coolest releases of the year. They are a band very much influenced from the 80's and it truly shows. Yes New Wave came from the 80's but these guys do something unique with it. The musicianship and production through out this EP is first class. The songs are catchy and funky and they really do get you grooving in no time. It starts off with What The Vibe that is a very very funky track. Good solid vocals, good lyrics, good musicianship and well written. Flesh And Metal is a good solid funky rock tune, with good solid melodies,vocals and musicianship. It's a song that takes you back to that area. Lady is a solid track is a really catchy really well sung well written track. I love the start of the track with the keyboards. It is really well written and has really good musicianship. This song will get you up and dancing in no time. Blue Envy is sorta ballad track, it's a really good track. I really love song alongside Lady. It's well written, good melodies and harmonies, it is a really good arranged track that you will no doubt in no time sing along too. Bustin Over is another really really funky top shelf song that you will no doubt be sing and dancing away too. It's a really good tune with good solid melodies and harmonies. Well written and a joy to the ears. Yes there is a good guitar riff in this song and good use of the saxophone. Bright Slippers is truly the ballad on the CD. It is the song that is well sung with lyrics that are catchy and harmonies that truly work with the song. Good musicianship and melodies. Overall this is a top effort by this local Melbourne band. What bugs me is that the music they are doing is unique now and is really damm catchy and really great to dance and funk about to, so why aren't these guys on the radio. This I think Fox FM could play and their audience would really enjoy it but sad thing is like most Aussie artists who are trying to crack Australia, once they get big overseas, people will give a damm. Why not give a damm about now. You need this CD.

Lydia Phillips - EP Launch East Brunswick Club 18th Of October

With one of my favorite singer songwriters this week Kate Earl announced on her myspace blog she had an enough and wants to leave LA and her label which is a subdivision of a major label, I am like what drove her to this. The politics of the music business I think it was and to me it sorta destroys your faith in music today when artists you truly like and think are better than most are being destroyed and well shit music still sticks around but then you come across an artist which truly truly restores your faith in music and being a local artist is even better. I found that person and her name is Lydia Phillips, I saw her tonight at the East Brunswick Club and wow is the word. She is magic on stage, she sings so well and plays such wonderful wonderful tunes. She plays a mixture of poppy upbeat funky tunes with energy and magic, and there is the slow but beautiful haunting melodies with Lydia sweet but powerful voice which truly brings you in. She plays all the songs of the EP which are all truly fantastic, and a bunch of new stuff which truly truly rocks. All the stuff she played was quite simply magic, Her backing band are amazing, they all work well together, Lydia is amazing life and she seriously one of nicest sweetest artists I have meet, She gonna be on my next gig and I would like to put something out by her as she has a bright bright future ahead of her and I wanna help any way I can. Lydia Phillips is a must see artist live and has restored my faith music. She is a truly gifted singer songwriter with a lot of talent and believe a lot of talent is an understatement, she is just simply amazing, She is also gonna be my artist of the year for the site as I truly think her is music is something quite special and truly magic to the ears.

Lydia Phillips - Hibiscus January (Self Released)

Words can not describe what I think of this EP by the talented talented Lydia Phillips, when I first saw the poster I went home and got in contact, and seriously Lydia Phillips is something really special and Hibiscus January is just that. A really beautiful pallet of music that has so many different layers with a beautiful voice that truly brings you in. Me and the moon starts it all with beautiful sweet song that shows of Lydia stunning sweet voice mixed with beautiful melodies and harmonies that let Lydia song writing skills and vocals shine. It is one of my favorites on the CD, Please is upbeat track with good melodies and harmonies and vocals and it's a really catchy song that draws you with it's solid musicianship, good vocals. Hibiscus January is a sweet track with good solid melodies,harmonies and beautiful vocals. Good piano playing and all over good musicianship. It's a truly truly great song. Time Somewhere is another solid track that has good solid melodies,good solid vocals, all over well written tune and Lydia beautiful sweet vocals. Be My Past is another song that is upbeat, full of good solid beautiful melodies that truly highlight Lydia amazing voice. You See Further is another favorite of mine, beautiful sweet melodies mixed with beautiful sweet vocals and good solid lyrics and good musicianship. This is seriously the best release by a local artist I have heard in a long time and to me the best Australian release of the year

Blow Up Betty - Asking For Trouble (Self Released) reviewed by Hayden Kenneth-Michael

"Asking For Trouble" is the name of the new release from Adelaide 4-piece Blow Up Betty. This group of rock-chicks have manged to put together quite a snazzy collection of poppy, punky tunes which, if this is your preferred genre, this could very well be the soundtrack to your upcoming sumer . The opening track "The Best Drug" is indicative of things to come elsewhere on the E.P, both vocally & musically. Dealing with relationships & the ensuing complications, the good times & the bad, the lyrics featured on "Asking For Trouble" could have been penned by any number of pop/rock-chick writers (think anything from The Donnas to The Bangles) but they are delivered in a way that is distinctively Blow Up Betty. Musically, similar references come to mind. Stand out track for mine is "You (Don't Wanna Be), which has a real likeness in both title & style to something the Ramones would have happy to release in their heyday. Whereas this release could have merely been just another chick-rock number, Blow Up Betty have gone above and beyond this call in delivering what could be considered one of Australia's best releases this summer. Sure to be a festival favorite in the coming months. 3.8/5stars H. Kenneth-Michael

Confuse – Misanthrope (Self Released) Reviewed by Dan Parr

Misanthrope is the debut album from English metal band Confuse. And what a great debut it is, with a high level of professionalism shown. Confuse have a great sound which is overwhelmingly unique, and thankfully they steer well away from the current mainstream rock style. The band kicks straight into it with Talk To Me, which sets the scene for the album with some stunning guitar riffs, fantastic vocals and powerful melodies. Confuse use variation in tempo to a brilliant effect throughout the whole album, and there is no better example of it than in this song. They are not afraid to slow it down and let their excellent musicianship shine through. Stars and You and Them are the slower songs on the album and they use vocals and melodies to carry the song when the tempo is held back. But there are two songs which stand above the rest, and these are Dehumanise and Headaches. The guitar work in Dehumanise is excellent and is probably the best on the album. There are some really heavy riffs in these songs and these are a reflection on the dark theme of the song. Headaches is where they pull all the different styles that they have used throughout the album into one epic 7 minute song. It starts off slowly then builds into big heavy riffs, catchy verses with some exceptional harmonising and a commanding chorus. This is the best song on the album. Overall it is an excellent album, you can purchase it from the band’s website http://www.myspace.com/confuseband
Four stars.

Jenn Franklin - Errors & Admissions (Self Released) reviewed by Hayden Kenneth-Michael
Errors & Admissions may be the title of this debut e.p for songstress Jenn Franklin, but on it you are not likely to find either. At six tracks,it is just enough to get you somewhat hooked & to keep wanting for more. The opening number "What Took You So Long" hints at an "angry-rock chick" frame of mind (think Alanis circa Jagged Little Pill), but is still catchy enough for you to gather that Frankiln is really enjoying what she does. The mood may lighten up somewhat for the remainder of the release, but the infectiousness of the music & vocals doesn't. "Impasse 900" could be a staple of mainstream rock radio for years to come, while "innocence to Lose" is bound to get the lighters and cellphones flickering en masse when performed live. Musically this is a highy polished, well crafted effort & while vocally, it may sometimes seem a little cliche heavy, the cliches are fresh & fail to come across as sounding corny, as they so often can. A couple of listens through & I can amost guarantee you'll be singing along to it like you've owned it for ever. Errors & Admissions is suprisingly one of the best releases I have heard so far this year. Keep any eye out for it & be sure to check out www.jennfranklin.com for more info on this up & coming talent. 4/5 Stars.

Geoff Byrd - Featurette (Self Released)

Geoff Byrd could have been one of the biggest music success stories ever on the Internet and of word of mouth. He had talent, wonderful fantastic songs that really were something, he was on the brink of being a star but his age came into play and the major label wanted him to say he was younger and so he ditched the label and his manager and has put out his latest release Featurette which is most personal and experimental album to date from the music star by himself It's starts off with the sweet song Featurette which has gorgeous melodies,harmonies and vocals, nice use of strings and backing vocals. It is a song that truly beautiful to the ears. Provacateur to me has hints of The Beatles and the beach boys with the clapping and the beach boys styled backing harmonic vocals. It is a really catchy number with solid vocals, good melodies and harmonies and solid songwriting and solid vocals and lyrics. Summer starts off with harmonic group style vocals and goes into laid back electric guitars solid vocals, good honest lyrics, beautiful melodies and harmonies and it is a really good. The Sentinels is my favorite song on the CD, I just love this song it so screams radio, it's just a gorgeous piece of pop music with a rock edge, it's got good solid melodies and harmonies, sweet vocals and good lyrics. It is a really really well written song, I just truly love this song. Insignificant Others is another great song with choir styled vocals at the start then just turns into Geoff singing his heart out with another winner of a track. Good solid vocals and melodies and joyful lyrics and solid songwriting. Geoff manages to play all the instruments on the album, he wrote all the songs and even produced his album. The Ballad of Patch Walker is a country folk rock styled song with the vocals going in a different direction, they have a country feel to them. It's a good solid song that shows off his vocals and songwriting skills. For Whatever It’s Worth is another solid song that shows of his beautiful vocals and songwriting skills. It another sweet song with good melodies and harmonies and good musicianship. Terra Firma is another up beat pop track that has solid melodies,good solid vocals well written and is truly a joy to the ears. I just love it. Under the Sun finish off the song well, it's well written a joy to ears, good vocals, Geoff has gone for the Motown vibe feel and it really does show. It finishes off the album well. This is a solid top class effort of an album. This is a guy who stuck to his beliefs and has made a winner of an album. It's just really really good and any of these songs could be easily played on radio. This is a must have album and you know you need to get it.

The Open Season - Before We Start (Pee Records/Reverberation Distrubution)

The Open Season are back with their latest release Before We Start. It more good post hardcore with a dash of punk rock in the fold. It starts off with Blinded By Tradition which is solid melodies and vocals, good musicianship, good solid lyrics and it's really hits the release off well. Don't Believe In Goodbyes has solid vocals,melodies and harmonies. Good solid musicianship and like the rest of the release it is well produced. The Sun From Both Sides is a well written song is a slower song unlike the rest it has great use of piano thru out the track. Good solid melodies and vocals that work well with the track. Good musicianship and good lyrics as well. What Is Real is a great song that is real anthem upbeat energetic music that has good solid melodies, good vocals that really really work well here. Jimmy Hat finishes off the ep well with good solid melodies and vocals and good rhythms and harmonies. It's another song that works well and I could see the radio stations play and yeah good use of backing vocals here, Overall this is a top release worthy of your time.

Kristin Hoffmann - Real (Starr Records)

Kristin Hoffman latest album Real is quite simply the real deal. It is such fantastic pop rock tunes. It's starts off with Silhouette with a beautiful pop song with beautiful melodies,harmonies and rhythms. Good solid vocals and lyrics by Kristin that really shine. It is a truly beautiful song that shines and starts off the album so well and it's one of my favorites. Bittersweet is another winner of a track that has good solid vocals and lyrics,melodies and harmonies that truly shine and good musicianship. Kristin vocals really do shine here as they really stand out. Light is another winner of a track, it soulful upbeat vocals and good backing vocals. It's got nice upbeat melodies and harmonies, good lyrics and good musicianship. Falling is a track that shows of her songwriting skills with beautiful melodies,harmonies, that vocals that really shine here and work well with the track. Good lyrics and good use of strings. It's a sweet song that is really something. When We Were Kids is another winner of a track that really shines, it's a sweet upbeat pop song with a rock edge, good lyrics melodies and harmonies and good musicianship and fantastic piano playing by Kristin. Kristin vocals here also shine. Home is another good track is another ballad track that has good solid vocals melodies and harmonies. It's such a wonderful song that truly is awesome. Real is another favorite of mine, It has good use of strings that work well, good solid vocals and lyrics. Good musicianship and melodies. I really liked this song. Real the title track is a song I have been playing on repeat. It's a nice pop rock that has really good solid vocals, good musicianship, sweet melodies and harmonies. It's a really good toe tapping song that truly shines and shows of Kristin songwriting skills. I loved this track. Rescue Me is my favorite track off the album. I was so won over by this track. It just such a beautiful wonderful song that I really connected with, I love everything about the song. It's so sweet and beautiful. It's got gorgeous melodies and rhythms beautiful solid vocals and good lyrics and harmonies. Kristin songwriting skills here truly truly shine. I just love this song and totally connected with it. I love it. I declare is another good track that I liked and finishes off the album. It's a sweet song good lyrics,good melodies and rhythms, solid vocals and lyrics. Firstly why oh why was she dropped from Interscope, yes I know the reason and it just shows that Majors have no clue any more. Kristin Hoffman Real is the Real deal and it is so worth your time with plenty of wonderful beautiful song that are just really some thing. I loved every second of it. This first class all the way.

The Scissor File - From A Whisper To A Scream (Pee Records/Reverberation Distrubution)

When Pete from pee zine told me to check out this band called The Scissor File, I had a listen and boy did I love what I heard. Good solid catchy top shelf post hardcore punk rock tunes with life and energy. The EP From A Whisper To A Scream is a really a top shelf release full of good solid tunes and adds life to the genre. It starts off with Reason To Run a song that upbeat driving,catchy,good vocals and musicianship and good lyrics. I love this song it makes me want jump around the place. The Art Of Letting Go, is like the first song a bit with good solid vocals,melodies and harmonies Good Musicianship, well written. The song has got life and energy to bring it to the next level. Hold Still is probably the power ballad on the EP if you call it that, good solid song with good lyrics,melodies and harmonies, well written and it's a great song to listen to. Save Me (KMOH) is a song that is really got a post hardcore feel to it, it's a solid song that is catchy, good melodies,rhythms and harmonies, it's a song that is well played and well sung. I really like the tune and it has been getting repeat by me. Cheap Shots is another post hardcore sounding track with good solid melodies,rhythms and harmonies. Good lyrics and good musicianship. The EP is a well produced and well written. I can't think highly enough of this EP,first time in ages I have listen to a band that I truly really like and every song on the cd. This EP is top shelf and so worth your time, so get it now.

Scotty Don't - Self Titled (Self Released)

Scotty Don't self titled debut release is full of rock songs that have a reggae,ska vibe feel to them. Think collective soul meets sublime to me is a good indication of what their music sounds like, It's starts off with Back Porch that is a upbeat song with catchy lyrics and melodies,good harmonies,solid musicianship. It's one of the songs that you crank and just chill out to it's fantastic. When I Say is a song that is really reggae,nice laid back melodies,harmonies and vocals. Good solid vocals,good musicianship and well written. A good song that works well. Different Kind has good solid vocals,melodies,harmonies and musicianship. Good lyrics and solid songwriting. It's another funky laid back song. Punk Rock Lullaby is ballad track with accoustic guitar instead of electric guitar and vocals are in tune with the music. It's actually a really good solid, I was surprised how much I liked the track, it's got good solid vocals,melodies,good lyrics and it's well written and well played. Everything's Alright has a real reggae feel to it mixed with rock. This song so reminds me of Sublime. It's got a real summer time vibe to, a song you would crank if your chilling outside with your mates drinking beers for friends. It's a really great song with good solid vocals,melodies,rhythms and harmonies and good solid vocals and is well written. Chicago's Finest is a song about well TV cops who lived in Chicago. It's a laid back song just with the acoustic guitar. It's got good lyrics that are easy to sing along to. It's a short but sweet song that finishes off the album well. This is a good release for the band who I know will get heaps of fans from the release. It's worth a listen and to check out you will be quite surprised, I know I was.

The Lemonheads Live At The Corner Hotel - Thursday 6th Of April

I saw the lemonheads last Thursday night and they were fantastic. One of best concerts I have been to in a while. Evan Dando is such a talented front man for the band. The songs the band played were a mixture of good old classic stuff the songs everybody knew and sang a long to and also a little bit of the new stuff. It starts off with him and the band playing then after a long time they go out and he just comes out with his electric guitar playing some stuff and there were some songs eg The Outdoor Type where everybody in the room was singing along and it felt great. The the band comes back play a few more songs. Then it finishes but for the encore he just comes out with his acoustic guitar and plays a few more songs and it's just magic to hear him and his acoustic guitar. If you were at the gig and were a fan like myself, you would of not been disappointed. It was money well spent for an awesome gig that left you wanting more.

Stapleton - Hug The Coast (Gravity Dip Records)

Stapleton is an indie rock band from Scotland and their latest album Hug The Coast is fantastic and was produced and recorded by the legendary J Robbins. It starts off with Capitals which has solid melodies, good harmonies,solid vocals,good musicianship,well written. It starts off the album well and it got me hooked. It a sweet song that really shines, the kinda song that got me hooked into indie rock music. Happy Homes And The Hearts That Make Them is a song that is straight honest indie rock, good solid vocals,good solid melodies,well written,good musicianship. It reminded of The Promise Ring, It's a solid song that energetic,full of life,driving and works well with the album. Full Beams Down The Mountain is another song that is pure indie rock, driving, energetic,solid melodies and vocals,good solid songwriting,good musicianship and it's another track that wins me over. Sharks At Four is more of slow paced track that let's the melodies,vocals,lyrics shine here. It reminds me of Jets To Brazil,crossed with The Promise Ring. It is a song that really shows of the songwriting skills of the band and musicianship of the band. Make The Shapes is a favorite of mine, solid vocals,beautiful melodies,solid lyrics. It's sorta of driving sweet song that reminds me that this is what good music is about. Ships Of The North Atlantic was song that got me hooked into Stapleton music It is my favorite song off the album, It is to me what an indie rock song should be good melodies,good harmonies,good rhythms, good solid vocals,good songwriting. It makes a good song. It's an upbeat song that is catchy with solid lyrics. The use of the other instrument thru this track makes this song that just a little bit special. Between The Lines is another favorite of mine, it's a song that has good vocals that really do shine, this song all shows off the songwriting here, it is really a winner here. It is an Indie rock song that has heart energy and life. Coat Of Arms is a solid song with solid melodies and harmonies, good vocals that really shine here, good musicianship,good songwriting. It's a song that goes at a nice pace and show off the talents of the band here. Steadfast And Sure is an another favorite mine, it's an upbeat catchy song with great melodies,vocals that really do shine here, good harmonies,good solid lyrics. It is a well written song with good musicianship. The Storm You Never Knew About Blew Half The Island Into The Sea has J Robbins Touches all over. It's what indie rock is about good solid songwriting,vocals that never destroy the song. It's more a laid back song that indie rock is more know for. It is a wonderful song that shows off the bands talents. Hat Tipping is another upbeat indie rock that shines, it's got good melodies,harmonies and vocals. It is really well written, a joy to the ears. Good solid lyrics, it's is a really great song. Grasshoppers is another solid song that is well written with beautiful melodies,rhythms and harmonies. It is a joy to ears. Waltzer finishes off the album with a beautiful song laid back with good melodies,harmonies,solid vocals, good songwriting and musicianship. Honesty I love this album, one of the best discoveries I have found in ages in regards to bands. I love the songs on here. Such solidly written songs that are a joy to the ears. I recommend you check this out, it's so worth you time.

Agent - Expand/Contract (Self Released but distrubuted in nz by Global Routes)

Agent Expand/Contact is a fine metal album, It is alternative metal. I can tell where they get their influences from. This album rivals what the bigger and more known bands have put out and is so worth your time. It's starts off with Crotch Shrub Janitor which is an intro song that shows of the bands musicianship,songwriting and it starts off the album well then goes into No Future which dark,heavy, good solid melodies,rhythms, good solid vocals and lyrics. It's a good solid song that needs to be played loud. Burden Of Expression is a great song and shows of Jimi vocal rang, where can sing and also scream, it's shows he can do both with ease, It's also shows his fantastic songwriting skills, plus the fine musicianship. It's good solid dark melodies and rhythms and some great guitar playing. Hiatus has a really good intro with some awesome guitar playing with some great melodies, This happens to be one of my favorite songs, good solid vocals that really do shine,good musicianship,good songwriting. It also has got good lyrics. It's got dark dense melodies and rhythms. This is a song that I could see rock stations picking up and playing and getting a great response from the listeners. Ballad Of Russell Crowe has a bit of hardcore influence with the vocals sounding gruff, it's fast pace drumming, dark melodies, It has a real 80's hardcore vibe to it which makes the song sound great. Crave is a great track, it's a solid song with solid melodies and vocals that really work well, song is well written, the way the bass is used here is fantastic. It is a truly a good song that really does shine. Independent Thought Alarm is fast,powerful,energetic and has some solid vocals,melodies,rhythms. Monology is another solid track that has right amount of angst,solid vocals that easily change from singing to screaming. Jimi voice really does work well here and it also shows off his songwriting skills. The musicianship is top notch, a solid alternative metal track that could easily win them more fans and also seeing rock stations playing it also. EtunimAni is a great instrumental track that shows of the songwriting,the musicianship,guitar playing and let's the listener know how a good band they are. It's a really great track that really does shine. Power Trip is a song that angst fulled,dark melodies,solid vocals that work well with the song here. Stomp is good solid alternative metal music, it's got the right amount of everything to make a track worth while. It's got solid vocals,well written,good musicianship,good melodies. It's just rocks and needs to be turned up loud. Expand/Contract finishes off the album well with another great song that has got solid vocals that sound great,along side some good dark melodies,excellent musicianship,great guitar playing, it is a solidly written song. This is a fine debut album for Agent. It's alternative metal heaven, It sounds great for the budget I know they must of have to produced and record it. This is well worth for you time, check them out before they become the next big buzz band in metal. Visit http://www.agent.net.nz for more info and how to get a copy and if you live in nz ask for it at your record shop they have distribution for it there.

The Wellingtons - For Friends In Far Away Places (Popboomerang Records)

The Wellingtons play really catchy power pop tunes that are well written and a joy to the ears. It's starts off with Top 10 List, which is catchy melodies,vocals,rhythms, solid songwriting and good use of backing vocals. It's got good lyrics, that you will be singing to or humming away to in no time. Sight For Sore Eyes, is a really really good song that reminds me of Sekiden, it's got good solid melodies,rhythms and harmonies. It has good use of keyboards thru out the song Good solid vocals and lyrics, It is a catchy song but it's a song I could see radio playing. It's just a song that's a joy to the ears. Singer In A Cover Band is a song that has a real rock edge to with out losing the style of music they play. It's a song which the title says what's about. It's got good melodies,rhythms. Good musicianship, well written and it really rocks. If We Feel OK is another favorite and highlight for me off the album, it's a really well written song that reminds me of my favorite power pop band The New Pornographers, with it's melodies,rhythms, the use of keyboards in the right place and the use of both male and female vocals thru out the track. It's getting repeat by me. Girls In Magazines is quite simply a short sweet poppy upbeat song that has good melodies,rhythms,solid vocals and lyrics. Goodbye Heartbreaker is another great solid written slice of power pop heaven, with good solid vocals,lyrics,melodies and rhythms. It well written, good musicianship, you can tell the band hard work thru out the album and it's show with good songs like this one. Penny is a song is another song that reminds me of The New Pornographer with energy, honesty, solid song writing and good musicianship, it's also really catchy and you can really tell the joy they bring to there songs. Doin' It With You has a little bit of reggae feel but really it is their ballad track with nice laid back melodies,vocals and harmonies. It's a sweet song that really shines and it really sucks you into the melodies and rhythms. Zac vocals really do shine here. It is a winner of a song. The Nice One, is sung by Kate & Zac, she gets more singing time here, it's a really catchy song that gets you moving about with it's solid vocals and melodies and harmonies and rhythms plus it's good lyrics. Another highlight for me. She Gave Up finishes off the album well with sweet melodies,vocals and harmonies, it's has great lyrics, well written song and good musicianship, plus it is really catchy and I really do like the use of keyboards and how the vocals are used here and yes this song really does remind me of The New Pornographers. This is a fine power pop album and easily one of the best local release of the year of 2007, I'm glad I discovered this band and having heard this wonderful solid piece of power pop heaven I can see why they are popular and how they got their Japanese record deal, I hope this does well for the band and I can see why and you know you have to go get this now. Highly Recommend and this will be on my best of 2007 list for sure.

Sarah P - Two Tracks Off MySpace (not a cd)

OK I am gonna be totally honest here, I am not the hugest fan of modern R&B Music. I don't have any modern R&B in my music collection. But this artist simply known as Sarah P found the site contacted me, so I decided what the heck I'll give a listen to her music. The first song is called Unable To Be Free . It's a modern R&B which good backing vocals by Sarah P, a rapper which is actually his song does a solid job of doing the rapping, it sounds good, production values are good, it's a catchy song with some good lyrics, good backing vocals, it's a song well suited for radio. The next song is called Empty Space, is a nice modern R&B song that has more and less the same style of rhythm and feel is as the same track but she does a lot more sing and it sound really good, Her vocals are really good, the beats and rhythms and melodies and harmonies. There is a rapper in the middle of track who works well with the song. It is a different rapper to the first one. Overall the songs are good, I assume they are demos but they sound really good, produced well and overall they are worth listen, so go here and have a listen http://www.myspace.com/sparkemusic

Felicity Urquhart - My Life (Felicity Entertainment/Shock Records)

Felicity Urquhart won an golden guitar for her video clip Big Black Cloud and is easy to see why she won it with an album like My Life. It starts off with The Flood which is a good honest country song fulled with good lyrics,melodies,vocals and harmonies. It is a country song with heart. It is a personal song that is really toe tapping good time fun. On & On is a nice laid back song with good melodies, sweet powerful vocals, solid lyrics, good musicianship and good songwriting. It's a sweet nice country ballad song. Big Black Cloud is a powerful slow country song with good solid vocals and lyrics, good musicianship,great guitar playing and all over good song. I haven't seen the video but because the song good. I can see why she won a golden guitar for the video. Breathe is another good solid song with good melodies,harmonies,good vocals and lyrics. This is one is written by Felicity by herself and it is a really well written song that really shines and really won me over. No Mistakes was the song that got be interested in Felicity, it has got great vocals, good solid melodies and harmonies, good lyrics. It is a really good country rock song that really shines that I really did like. A Little Joy is a lovely ballad with good sweet joyful vocals, good musicianship, good guitar playing, good songwriting by Felicity, it's a winner of a country song. Felicity vocals really bring you into the song and drift to that special place. My Life is a song with heart, good vocals and melodies, good songwriting and great guitar playing,good musicianship. It's another favorite of mine with it's heart and soul and good musicianship. Lonely Girl is a nice laid back ballad that really shines and shows off Felicity vocals here, it's a nice song and good use of cello in the back ground. It really well written with Felicity and Glen Hannah. It's just a really beautiful sweet song that shows off Felicity voice. That Boy Sure Can A Jump A Train is a good solid laid back country song with solid vocals and melodies, good use of backing vocals, great guitar playing and fiddle playing Plus the use of Harmonica is a really nice. Listening to this song I am taking to a special place with the great guitar playing,good vocals and solid songwriting. Mr Catfish is a rollicking good time catchy country song that is so catchy you will be tapping and singing along in no time. It what makes a good catchy country song is about. Good solid vocals,catchy melodies and rhythms, good use of Harmonica,fiddle and drumming. Still Alive is a country song that I could easily hear being played on radio. It has got melodies,rhythms and harmonies. Plus good solid vocals and melodies. It's a really good country song. Take Me Back is a nice country song, good melodies,harmonies, solid vocals,good songwriting and good musicianship. It's what makes a good song to me. Turn Out The Lights is a nice bonus track which really could be part of the album. It's a nice song and a worthy addition as a bonus to the cd. Overall this is a good cd and also for the fact that it's a independent album. It has big distributor like Shock which is independent but it was made independently and this could be easily a major label produced album because it sounds really really good but it's not which also shows you don't need a major label to make a great record like My Life. Give this cd is a shot, it's got great songs on here and is a worthy addition to your cd collection, country music fan or not.

Bianca Jade - East 3rd Street (Manning Street Records)

Bianca Jade latest release East 3rd Street is a fantastic release full of great folk tunes that are well written and a joy to the ears, it is well produced and also has a fantastic production work on the case, which looks really classy and all for an independent release. The first song East 3rd Street is a really catchy toe tapping country folk song that is beautifully sung and well played with some good lyrics,good melodies and harmonies, it is a song that really shines, and got me humming and tapping away in no time. Nobody Told Me is a nice laid back song with great melodies,harmonies,good vocals, good musicianship and well written by Bianca, I really liked it as it was nicely sung, just really well done, just really shines. Leaving The Country is a song about love and it really shines and I do mean it and Bianca really really sing wells here it has some great melodies,harmonies,good lyrics that really work well here plus good musicianship and of course Bianca brilliant songwriting. The Ice Princess & The Clown is a lovely song that really won over with it's laid back charms,Bianca sweet vocals and her good lyrics. Good melodies and harmonies and some wonderful guitar playing and drumming plus solid songwriting. What You Can Say is a wonderful song with some good solid sweet vocals by Bianca, good lyrics,good guitar playing and it is really well written, it is some how really catchy, I was moving in my feet getting into the groove of the song. I really liked this song. Peace Of Mind is a nice laid back song with good melodies,harmonies,good lyrics, great guitar playing, it is really a joy to the ears. It really won me over. This is a fantastic release with Bianca Sweet vocals,her fantastic songwriting, such wonderful tunes,great guitar playing. I wanna here some more stuff from her now. East 3rd Street is a must have release by this wonderful Aussie artist.

Debra Aryln - Complicated Mess (Home Slice Music)

Debra Aryln is an artist who after hearing the first note, I was hooked and very impressed right away. Her music has been described as Piano Pop. She writes her music and even produced her latest album. Her latest album Complicated Mess is just fantastic. An album which really won me over from the first note, It not often I get a CD which right from the first note, I am hooked. It starts off with Let It Go which is catchy poppy upbeat song that shows off Debra vocals and songwriting skills. It's a song that is upbeat and full of life. The lyrics are great, they really make you sing along, It also has good melodies and harmonies. Fine is a ballad that really shows of her talents, The song has great vocals,good solid lyrics, good use of backing vocals, It has great melodies,harmonies and good musicianship. It is a really good song that shows of her talents. Complicated Mess is a poppy number with a rock edge, shows of her talents with her good solid vocals,good honest lyrics,great songwriting skills plus good melodies,harmonies that work well with the song. Circles is another great track, it's a rocky poppy ballad that shows off her great vocals,good solid songwriting skills and good honest lyrics, It's just a really good song that shines. Why Can't We Start Over? reminds me a lot of Fiona apple with it's dark melodies, Debra beautiful piano playing, good solid soulful vocals by Debra, It's a really good song that shows off Debra's talents which she has plenty of. I'll Walk Away is a favorite of mine as it has got great melodies,harmonies,good solid vocals,honest lyrics,well written song. It's a really great song that is catchy to me and won me over with it's melodies and charms. The One is another solid song with catchy melodies,harmonies,good solid vocals and good lyrics. It's a well written song that has a lot of heart. Words I Never Meant is a solid upbeat ballad track with good solid vocals, honest lyrics. Beautiful melodies and harmonies, good songwriting and beautiful piano playing by Debra. The horns used in this track are nice touch to what is a really good song. Fall Apart is a really great song that has good melodies,good powerful grabbing vocals that really do shine here, It's a solid song that is really well written with powerful vocals and good musicianship. Roll On finishes off the album well with a poppy number that's really catchy, good solid vocals, good melodies and harmonies. It is a really catchy song. If you haven't got this album by the time you have finish reading this review what are you waiting for. This probably one of best album's I have heard in a long time. Sure I have said in a number of reviews but this one I mean it, this girl is extremely talented, writes and plays and sings her own music and she even produced the album. Debra Arlyn Complicated Mess is a must have album, Get It Now or be left out when you haven't discovered the hit new artist first. Amazing Stuff.

Stepanian - Wait Out The Rain (Self Released)

Stepanian latest release Wait Out The Rain is a solidly produced ep full of well written,honest rock pop songs. It starts off with Beautiful Disguise a catchy very radio friendly song that is well written, got great melodies,harmonies,good vocals and lyrics. Plus the saxophone used in the Chorus is a nice touch to the song. I could so hear this on radio and people lapping it up. Everything is a funky rock tune that turns into a solid rock pop tune that got great melodies and harmonies, solid vocals and good lyrics. This is also a very radio friendly song that be a hit with the people. The harmonica used in this song is a nice touch. Straight Up is rock with a dash of pop melodies. It's a good honest enjoyable song that works well. It's catchy like the rest of them. Good solid vocals,melodies,harmonies and good musicianship. It's a nicely written song too. Falling is a rock song that is well crafted, good vocals,good musicianship, it is a joy to ears. Like all the songs on here it's radio friendly and in a good way. The song isn't stale the band know how to write songs that breathe life into rock pop music genre and touches like Saxophone and Harmonica add to listening experience. It finishes off with Caroline which is a nice rock song with pop melodies. It is like others a joy to listen to as it's well sung,well written and well played. Overall this a good produced EP, that's sounds like it could be on a major label but you would be surprised that they did this themselves. I can see this doing well for the band and raising it's profile. This worth a listen and telling friends about. Good Stuff.

Michael Jantz - Snapshots Of The Universe (Ruby Records)

Michael Jantz plays rock music with an acoustic edge. His new album Snapshots Of The Universe is a well produced enjoyable solid listen of an album. It starts off with Love Is But An Ocean which is a solid rock song that has great vocals and melodies,good solid lyrics. It really solid song that really pulls you in. Always On Time is a nice laid back song that has great melodies,harmonies,good vocals and great backing vocals by Hannah Prater. It brings you in with it's nice sweet vocals, good lyrics and great harmonies and melodies. You is a nice upbeat catchy rock song with good melodies,harmonies and good vibes. It just really wanna make you sing along. It's one of the highlights for me. Turn On The Radio has a laid back country folk feel to it. It really a nice cruisey song that drifts you away into the melodies,vocals,harmonies and vocals which are good. The backing vocals by Hannah Prater work well with the song. Sierra is a laid back song with a Latin feel to it and it's nicely done with good melodies,harmonies and good lyrics. It's a really chilled song that is great. Tell The Truth is a nice upbeat catchy feel good rock song with a dash of pop melodies. It's got good vocals,melodies,harmonies, great lyrics and good musicianship. The song writing and musicianship are excellent. Stop stuff all the way. Have We All Gone Crazy is just a really good rock song with great melodies,harmonies,good lyrics,solid songwriting,great vocals and good musicianship. This what a good rock song should be. I have been playing this song on repeat. Mama's Comin' Home has that old time rock 'n' roll feel to it with the lyrics and the way of vocals sounding It has good melodies and harmonies. It's a toe tapping good song. Livin' On Sunshine is a real rocky rooty's track with good melodies,harmonies and vocals. Backing vocals by Hannah Prater work well with the song. It works well. Better Than You is a really good rock song with great melodies,harmonies,rythms,good solid vocals and some good lyrics. It just really worked with me when the first note came out. It's a well written song that really really shines. It's a favorite of mine. Goodnight, Irene is last song and is a nice laid back acoustic number, It's some nice lyrics that work with the song and it really finishes off the album well. Overall I can see why this guy is making a name for himself with some high profile gigs and with an album like this one full of good solid song that are sung well,played well and written well. I can see this album doing good things for him,there are plenty of songs on here which will grab the listeners ears. A Solid album from an artist to watch out for. He could be picked up by any big label soon.

Monikers - Eat Your Young (Kiss Of Death Records)

Monikers EP Eat Your Young is full of angst gruff pop punk. The kinda stuff which was around before bands like Green Day made it big. It starts off with Information which is an angst anthem song with good lyrics,melodies and some good musicianship. It really starts the EP off well with a catchy anthem that gets you rocking out. Two Stories is a really great catchy pop punk track that has little bits of influences from rancid in it. It's a catchy track with some great melodies,rhythms, some good vocals and some good lyrics. Musicianship is also good. Holidays is another great pop punk track that has good melodies,rhythms and great vocals. It is a really catchy song that get's you singing away and moving about. Mirror Images is a really great track that is really well written, it's catchy, got good musicianship,good vocals and some good lyrics. It's a really great pop punk song that shines with life. Not The New is a acoustic track and it's good with good lyrics and the gruff vocals really work well here. Overall this a great little EP. It's full of really great catchy punk pop songs. It's worth checking out. I was surprised when I put this CD in my CD player, it won me over with good old fashioned punk pop songs. Give this a shot it's really good, I can't wait to hear more.

Light Yourself On Fire - Self Titled(Kiss Of Death Records)

Light Yourself On Fire self titled EP is full of good honest hardcore/death metal tracks. The songs have energy,angst,great vocals and some good song writing. It starts off with 960 am which is heavy,solid balls of a hardcore track with some great vocals,rhythms and good musicianship. It starts off the EP well. Smells Like It Sounds is dark,heavy,great gruff vocals, good honest lyrics,good musicianship and it's a song that needs to be played loud. Flux Capacitor is a dark heavy ever so moving hardcore track with great drumming,good musicianship, great vocals and some good rhythms. It's a song that really done shine plus some good lyrics. Rickshaw is an great track with some rhythms,driving beat,solid vocals, some good lyrics. It really does sound great. A good song that had me banging my head away. You Talking Is It Necessary is heavy, solid,good musicianship,it's got great vocals that really wanna make you let all your anger out. 4 Blows has great vocals,good rhythms,good musicianship, good lyrics, it's a well written track with energy and honesty. Revision Starts At Home has some good rhythms,good riffs thought out the track, solid vocals and good lyrics. It finishes off the EP well. Overall it's a good EP for the band and fans of this kinda music will wanna have a listen and pick it up. It's deserves to be played loud. The production values are fine. I think this will help them start their musical career.

Lisa Maxwell - Select Vancancy (Essential Music Australia)

Lisa Maxwell debut album Select Vacancy is a great release for this singer songwriter. She writes and plays rock songs with an alternative edge. Select Vacancy starts off the album with good solid vocals, upbeat edgy melodies and harmonies. Good lyrics and good musicianship. You just want to crank it loud and sing along to it. It's a song full of life with honesty. Anna is a rock song thru and thru with edgy dark melodies, good solid vocals that shine that really bring the song to the next level. It's a solidly written rock song that edgy and has some good lyrics to boot. I Know is a favorite of mine, good solid vocals and melodies, some good lyrics and good musicianship. This song has some good upbeat melodies. This song just grabs you and won't stop. Waste Of Life is the one song I could so hear on radio. It's a really good dark rock ballad with a faint hint of melody along side it. It's catchy edgy and some really good lyrics and good solid vocals that shine from Lisa. Delusion is another rock ballad type song with some good vocals, good lyrics well written by Lisa. It's song that full of life and energy, you can help but sing along and groove along to it. I know that sounds corny but that what I think. Secrets And Lies is another favorite of mine. I really liked the start of the track. It's a really great rock song that is edgy,solidly written, full of great melodies and harmonies and good solid vocals that really shine and some good lyrics. I have been playing this song on repeat. Not So Easy it's a good rock song that got some good melodies and harmonies. Good musicianship, a well written track and some good solid vocals and good lyrics By Lisa. It's good dark edgy rock song. Never Coming Back Here Again is another good solid rock that really highlights off Lisa powerful solid voice. It's an upbeat edgy rock song that full of life with soul and energy. Harmonic Rock is a just a good solid instrumental rock track that shows off her good song writing skills. It's tops. Same Story is a really really great track that so reminds me off Fur Patrol as it has good melodies,harmonies,great vocals and really good musicianship I could seriously see radio picking this up. It really does show off her vocals and songwriting skills and her good honest well written lyrics. This and like every other song is well produced for the budget that they obviously had for the album. It sounds great. Out Of Sight finishes off the album well with a good solid dark rock ballad with good solid edgy melodies,great lyrics, good solid vocals and it's just a great song to listen to. This is just a good solid rock album with great rock songs that are well written and sung solidly by Lisa. Turn this up loud and start singing away to Lisa Maxwell – Select Vacancy. It's tops.

Jessica Paige - Under My Skin EP (Self Released/Sound Vault Records)

Jessica Paige’s new EP Under My Skin is an excellent EP and deserves great success. It is well-produced and sounds awesome! She won a JB Seed Grant to help her band tour to publicise the EP, which rivals one that any money-loaded label would put out. It starts off with Under My Skin, which is a pop/rock track that is so beautifully written and brings you in with Jessica’s powerful vocals and the driving beat. This song was on her first EP but has been re-done with added use of violin to give a more polished feel. It really works with the song to make it a powerful ballad/anthem that I can hear being played on radio. It's a really wonderful song which has won several national and international awards. Buckley is a pop-rock song about musical artists/bands and Jessica’s dreams of writing and playing like them. It's a song with quirky lyrics and a really catchy melody. A retro guitar sound and brilliant guitar solos add to its appeal and her songwriting skills and her great voice are obvious. Let It Out is really wonderful and it's one of my favourites off the EP. It is a beautifully written, honest, personal ballad with great melodies, harmonies, Jessica’s voice, in turn delicate and vibrant, and poetic lyrics. My Best Friend is a really jazzy pop song that gets you tapping away. The musicianship is excellent with good use of jaunty piano throughout the song. Pitter Pat is a really soulful, laidback, jazzy song - it reminds me of Sade, Sera and Kate Earl, especially with the great trumpet lines. It has gorgeous vocals and clever lyrics along side some beautiful melodies. The EP finishes off with Dear Sweet Friend which has a great driving conga rhythm. It really shows off Jessica’s voice and her songwriting skills. The use of violin throughout the track adds to the strong emotional element. Again, a lovely melody and harmonies makes the song really shine. Overall, this is a first class EP with some great songs to listen to. Jessica’s hard work has paid off to record a solid EP with great songs that will win the hearts of many, including me. Go pick this up right away and listen to the next big thing, mark my words.

Casey Watt - Lead You Astray (Self Released)

Casey Watt is a queensland based country singer songwriter. Her latest album Lead You Astray is full of good solid honest country tunes that are great to listen to.I Don't Wanna Work This Hard is a good solid song to start the album off with good melodies,harmonies,rhythms and great vocals by Casey. The musicianship is also good. My Heart's Always Calling Home is a beautiful wondefull song with good melodies,harmonies,rhythms and good solid vocals by Casey and good lyrics. It is a beautifully written song by Casey. It's just a joy to listen to and it's been getting a repeat from me. It's a favourite of mine. Close The Door is more of an upbeat pop rock song that's full of life with good melodies,harmonies and rythms that getting you tapping and singing away in no time. It's a just good enjoyable song that' well written by Casey. Daddy Says is more of laidback pop song with a latin feel to it with good solid vocals by Casey plus good melodies,harmonies and good lyrics that go well with the song. It's All Coming Back To Me Now is a country song that grabs you in with good solid vocals and good lyrics that work well with the song plus good musicianship and good solid melodies,harmonies as well. If I Needed You is a duet with Brendan Radford is a nice beautiful country ballad that shows of Casey voice and works well with Brendan as well. It has good lyrics and good musicianship and harmonies. Like the rest of the album it is well produced and sounds great and the musicianship is excellent and can not be faulted at all. Lead You Astray is a nice laidback song that shows off Casey good vocals,good lyrics. It also has good melodies and harmonies and musicianship is top form. You Gonna Get Hurt is a just a feel good upbeat catchy country song with great vocals and lyrics. It so damm catchy you will tapping and singing away. Musicianship is excellent and melodies and harmonies are great also. Another good track for me. Not The Only One is a great country track that's laidback with good melodies,harmonies,great vocals and lyrics. It just a nice track that wins you over with the vocals and melodies. Carousel Cowboy is a nice sweet song that is very country with great vocals and melodies,harmonies that are great. Musicianship is excellent and it's just a nice song. Half The Fun is another favourite of mine. It's an edgy upbeat song with great vocals, good solid lyrics plus good melodies and harmonies. It just a great song that's toe tapping fun. Love Me Still is a nice ballad to finish off the album which highlight's Casey great voice and the melodies and the harmonies of the track also. It is a sweet wonderful track that really won me over. This is a great release as it shows Casey great voice plus the songwriting skills she has on a number of track. It also shows that Country music is very much alive music wise in australia. The production values and musicianship is first class for an independent release, it felt like a major label release. Lead You Astray is country music heaven and it's a must listen album for an artist who will be around for a very long time. Top Stuff.

Rebecca Loebe - Hey, It's A Lonely World (Self Released)

Rebecca Loebe latest album Hey, It's A Lonely World is a fantastic release with beautiful accoustic pop/folk songs with soul and life and harmony. Grace starts off the album with catchy rhythms and melodies. Plus good solid vocals and lyrics. It will really get you singing along in no time. It's a great song to start the album off with. Over Again is a beautiful personal song that really shines. It has great melodies,harmonies,great vocals that really shine here and deeply personal lyrics. The song has good use of Cello thruout the song. It a winner of a track. It's more of a laid back personal song that has something to say with it's honesty and it's powerful vocals. Jason is another song that is personal and is more upbeat and sorta funky with catchy rhythms and good solid melodies and good honest personal lyrics plus good poweful vocals by Rebecca. All This Time is another favourite song with good melodies and harmonies,good vocals that shine thru out the song. It has a country feel to the song and it really wins you over with beautiful melodies and harmonies that shine. Paradise City is another beautiful song with just her and her guitar and her great vocals with the occasional piano thru out the song plus the occasional cello also, it has good vocals that shine and good melodies and harmonies and good lyrics. It really won me over with Rebecca vocals that really stand out here for me. There Tonight is an upbeat song with catchy rhythms and melodies. Vocals that jump and get you really into the song with good lyrics and harmonies. It's a good song just to kick back and listen to. Until The Day is another great song that is laidback with good driving melodies and good poweful vocals that shine and good lyrics. It's a good song full of life that really shines here. Any Other Kind Of Martyr is another great track with beautiful melodies and harmonies and good poweful vocals that really shine, it's beautiful laid back song with good use of cello thru out the song that really works well here. Like most of tracks here one a cover and the other is written with some one else, Rebecca can craft and write song great songs and this album shows it. As I Tell You So is another favourite of mine with good melodies and harmonies and great vocals by Rebecca. It's really laidback upbeat song full of life with great vocals, great guitar playing and good lyrics. It's a song I have been playing on repeat. Lay Me Down Lowly is a cover of a song by Albert Loebe and it's a great song that is catchy upbeat with good vocals,melodies and harmonies and makes you really wanna sing along and move along with it. It finishs off the album well. I really liked this cd as it's a nice easy going album It's just the perfect album to play anytime. It's got good songs that shine,great vocals and good guitar playing and productions values are tops. Rebecca Loebe is a great artist with a great album called Hey, It's A Lonely World, check it out people. Bring on the next release please.

Inkerman - Self Titled (Self Released)

Inkerman are great aussie rock band. If you take Kiss Chasey,Jimmy Eats World and Goo Goo Dolls you will get what Inkerman sounds like. Over You starts off the album well with catchy hooks and melodies,great vocals that shine plus good honest lyrics that really shine. It also a well written song with good musicianship. It's a song that makes you sing and tap away in no time. Shades Of Grey is my favourite track as it has got great melodies and harmonies that really shine with some great guitar playing and great vocals that really work well with the track. It shows off how good songwriters these guys are and talent this band has. I think this song could easily be played on radio. It's just a really good rock song with great melodies that shine and great lyrics. How Long has great melodies and harmonies that really shine. Along side some good vocals and some good lyrics. It also shows off the songwriting of the band. Ring True is a great track that has great melodies and harmonies. It is an excellent track well written and shows off Dave vocals that really shine and also shows off the songwriting skills and musicianship here. Overall this is an excellent debut release for Inkerman. It show off their songwriting skills and also that they craft some great tunes that deserve to be heard. It also great they produced the ep and also did arrange the Orchestral and Keyboard on this ep as well. There is loads of talent here and I for one can't wait to hear more from them and I hope I do check this out folks. Go to http://www.intermanrock.com for more info and how to get a copy.

The Dramas - The Actual Truth (Self Released)

The Dramas is a new band which features talented musicians Michelle Albano who I am already of fan of for a while and Dan Zweben. They write and play pop rock tunes that a beautifully crafted and well song and played. Both Michelle and Dan sing together on the tracks and they complement each other well. The first track Somebody's Gonna Love is a beautiful song that really is well written and crafted. It's a song that honestly sung well and their voice work well together. It beautiful melodies,great harmonies,nice lyrics that are easy to sing along to. It's a song I could easily see radio picking up and playing. It's one of those nice easy listening laid back tracks that drifts you into the music and melodies. It's a nice song, Something More for a minute there I thought I was listening to one of Michelle song. It's a nice upbeat poppy rocky track that has great melodies and harmonies, vocals that shine and complement each other well. Good vocals and is a well written track by the both them. It's a short but sweet song that really grabs you and lets you sing along in no time. Green is a song that reminded me of a Pete Droge song as it has a real folk influence to the track. It's catchy,full of life, great vocals and melodies,nice lyrics that complement the music. Good musicianship as well as being well written. It's a song that is catchy that you can easily sing along to and will be after a few listens and yes you will be tapping away like I was. Dan takes the vocals for the track and Michelle does the backing vocals. Goodbye reminds me of the first track but has more of a rocker sound and they both share the vocals in this track which works well for the track. It has the great amount of energy with it's powerful vocals by the two,well crafted song,nice lyrics, good melodies and harmonies and good musicianship. It's works for me. Last but not least is Speak which is a great track full of pop melodies and harmonies plus a rock edge which makes it's a nice easy listening track that shines. It is well crafted and written by the pair and also sung well. It a song that really shines. OK here the deal forget what a major label artist you are listening to on the radio. Go to http://www.myspace.com/thedramas and buy this cd. The Actual Truth is a fantastic EP and a great start for the pair. I hope it does well for the both of them and I can't wait to hear their album, if the EP is this good then the album gonna be top stuff. Fantastic release pick this up.

Aaron Comess - Catskills Cry (Hey Boy Music Inc)

Aaron Comess debut solo instrumental album Catskills Cry is a blend of moods music mixed with 80/70's rock. It has very good production values. The musicianship is excellent for this type of album and the songwriting by Aaron is solid for this type of music. It's starts off with Flower which has great rhythms,an late 70's rock vibe mixed with cruzie moods music to give the song a nice relaxing feel which just lets you driff off and enjoy the music.It's my favourite song. 3.33 am shows off the musicianship and it's more of dark upbeat tempo song that let's out the rock in the song with a dash funkyness. Africa is a song that starts off with an African music beat then moves into solid edgy guitar playing that sounds like it's come from the 80's along drum beats and good rhythms and melodies. Catskills Cry has driving melodies,along side solid guitar playing that really stands out here. Edgy melodies and has real good vibe that makes you tap your feet slowly as you get into the song. Ode to Atilla feels like a rock song with guitar playing and nice slow drumming but it has a certain vibe that make feels like a moods song that driffs you to that place. Good track with some good musicianship and is a well written song. Future is a rock song with a dash of a jazz feel. It's a dark song with some great riffs and melodies that take the song to a whole new level and makes you just wanna rock out. This is the kinda of instramental song one would find on any bands album who would want an instramental track. It's that kinda song done really well. Lullaby for Bkuzmo is a nice upbeat rock feel track with a laidback feel alongside good melodies,riffs and good musicianship. It's just a good upbeat song that a certain feel to it Cap Juluca reminds me off the first song of this album Flower as it that nice laid back feel with nice cruzy rock grooves and good melodies with some nice riffs that don't over take the song and it really takes you to that place with it's drifty laid back feel. I could listen to this song for ages. Sky has got a modern rock feel to the track. The riffs and melodies feel like it has come from the 90's with it's slow but upbeat drumming, the good melodies and good musicianship. It's a well written song with a nice laidback track that just really let's the guitar playing shine. Seventy-Six is rock with some nice funky but catchy riffs, nice upbeat drumming. It song has got a bit of hendrix thing going on and it's really great. Zapped finishes off the album with good track of nice laid back but slow upbeat drumming with good melodies and great musicianship. It's a nice song that finishes off the album well, reminds off Cap Juluca and Flower off the album. The best way to describe this album as rock with a moods feel. It's a nice instrumental album that doesn't feel out of place or over takes the song. It is never heavy, it's just a nice laid back album that let's the musicianship and Aaron Comess songwriting skills shine. Top Stuff.

Ingrid Michaelson - Girls And Boys (Cabin 24 Records)

Ingrid Michaelson Girls And Boys is an impressive second album, I would describe her music as Alternative pop with a dash on rock off the side. She has been compared to people like Fiona Apple and Ani DiFranco. Her first song Die Along kicks off the album nicely with honest lyrics,good solid melodies,rhythms and harmonies. It is rock number with a dash of pop on the side and shows she can do edgy songs. Masochist is another great track and it's one of my favourites it's more of a pop song with a rock edge and has honest personal lyrics,great vocals that shine. It is well written by Ingrid and their great use of piano thru out this track. It is a nice track that really shines and shows of her songwriting and her voice as well. Breakable is another very personal song that has very personal lyrics that really shine. Plus some great melodies,harmonies, good musicianship that make the song really work. It's some how upbeat The Hat is proberbly one of the songs I could see being played on radio. It is a upbeat poppy track that is full of life,has great melodies and harmonies. Her vocals shine here and so does her songwriting skills. It also has great musicianship as well. I don't know why but this song reminds me of summer and the good old days when I was a teenager. The Way I Am reminds me of Sade mixed with a bit of jazz. It's a short but catchy little number that really shows off Ingrid vocals as they are really good here. It's a song that really gets you tapping away and a huming along to the tune. It's good nice melodies and harmonies. It's a well written track that works well. Overboard is another favourite track is a real rock pop number that is sweet as she sings about her childhood and I think it really works. It is a nice track that really does show of Ingrid vocals,nice melodies and harmonies and does show how good Ingrid is at writing a tune. Good musicianship. It is a nice sweet track that makes you feel good inside, don't know if that was the purpose but I have been playing the track on repeat. Glass is another great track that really shows of her vocals,songwriting skills and it's another sweet song that good melodies and harmonies plus good musicianship. Starting Now is another great track that is a rock track with pop edge. It's more of an alternative rock track another favourite of mine, it has great melodies,catchy beats and catchy lyrics, good vocals by Ingrid that really shine and great musicianship. Love this track. Corner Of Your Heart reminds me a lot of Missy Higgins track I'm All For Believing,with it's dark and beautiful melodies mixed with great piano playing and beautiful vocals that really shine and good lyrics and good musicianship. December Baby also really shines with good honest lyrics, great melodies and harmonies and Ingrid vocals really shine. It is a nice laid back track that really draws you in. Highway finishes off the album with good melodies,harmonies,great vocals and lyrics. It is another sweet track that really shows off Ingrid vocals and songwriting skills.The production values of this album are good and it's sounds great. This album is excellent with tracks that win you over with her honesty and songwriting skills and her voice. It also shows like a number of artists, that you can make excellent albums with out major label support. Pick this up and be taken on journey of excellent music.

The Brightwings - Stay - (Self Released)

The Brightwings debut release Stay is quality release musicially and in production quality. It is rock pop album with folk and a little bit of country influences eg for example Pete Droge,Shawn Mullins and Tom Petty for example. It starts off with a classic rock track All I Need which takes us back to the good old days of rock with good melodies,harmonies,good musicianship. Great vocals and lyrics that get us tapping and singing along away,Good song to start the album off with. Many Miles is another great track with pop melodies and a rock edge. This is another song I could see being played on radio with good melodies and harmonies,good lyrics and great vocals. You can feel the country influence with this track. Leave You is a straight up good old fasioned rock track with great melodies and harmonies,good vocals that work well and shine here,plus some good lyrics and good musicianship by the band, A winner for me. I Wan't You To Stay is a nice sweet laid back pop song with great vocals that really shine along side good melodies and harmonies. A really nice track that shows off good vocals and songwriting skills.Can't Stand Here is just another good old fasion rock track with great melodies and vocals plus good muisicanship and harmonies and good lyrics that get you tapping and singing away in no time. Far From Shore is one of my favourite tracks off the cd as it a sweet ballad of a track with great vocals that really shine,good melodies and harmonies. It is well written song with good musicianship. I liked this song a lot and have been playing it on repeat. Mallory is another great ballad track that has great vocals, nice sweet melodies and harmonies and good use of backing vocals. It fits cd well. I could see any of the of tracks off the cd being played on radio. They are great tracks that do the band well. Please Come To Boston is a cover of an Dave Loggins song, an artist who I had never heard of until now and it is a good cover which the band have done justice. Overall this is fine debut release for the band and it shows like a number of artist that you don't need a major label to put out a great release with production qualities that rival what a major label artist would have it. Check this out and tell your friends about this great new artist before they become huge. Bring on their next release.

Carly Binding - So Radiate - (Festival Mushroom Records)

Carly Binding new album So Radiate is a breathe of fresh air amungst the major label artists. She has put out an album which rivals the american and uk mainstream major labels artists have put out and I think it is much better.She has written half the album by herself and half with other people, a number of tracks have been wirrten with the boys from Eskimo Joe. I See The World is a pop song full of live and energy with catchy lyrics and melodies and good vocals and harmonies and good lyrics. It really grabs you and makes you sing along in no time.My Satellite is a pop ballad with poweful vocals that really shine,melodies and harmonies that are sweet and good lyrics that really get you singing along. It is a song that really shines and shows of Carly great voice. It is written with the boys from Eskimo Joe. Sio Radiate was the first song I heard off the album on her MySpace page and that really won me over. It has the erergy and honesty that really shines, it has great powerful vocals,lyrics that make you sing in no time. It has driving poppy angst that kicks the song into a whole new level.It is the song that should played on radio if it isn't already getting a single release. All I Mean is another pop ballad that has good musicianship,Great powerful vocals that really shine along side great melodies and good lyrics that work well with the song. This is another winner of a track that I could easily be played on radio. It just screams radio play and deserves a listen. Come Round Again is another song with good honest lyrics, good melodies and harmonies and good musicianship that bring the song to a new level. It is a song to me that really great to listen to and sing along to. Rich Man is a pop rock song with catchy melodies and vocals that really shines which stand out here. Plus it has lyrcis that are make you sing along in no time. Call Me A Fool is a straight up pop song with an rock edge. It catchy full of life and has great melodies and harmonies and good lyrics and good musicianship. Plus Carly wrote it herself and it is written well and really makes yoi bound around. Do Not Erase is a nice upbeat pop ballad that is written hy Carly that has good musicianship and good melodies and harmonies and vocals that really shine here plus good lyrics and good use of strings in the background. Cold Fever is another track written with the boys from Eskimo Joe and it a dark pop ballad that has vocals that are just right and don't over take the song and put's the song in the right place along side some good lyrics,nelodies and harmonies and great use of piano here. It is a song that really works well. New Saviour another nice laid back pop song with really good vocals that shine along side good use of backing vocals and good honest lyrics plus great melodies and harmonies. Last September is a poppy rocky upbeat number that gets you tapping and singing away in no time with good musicianship,great vocals and melodies and it's just a great catchy song that shines. It like the song before it was written by Carly. What You Need is also written by Carly and is the last song on the album and it is my personal favourite song off the album even tho there are many this song really shines and makes the album that so much better. It is a ballad that really shines with poweful vocals and harmonies and good melodies and good honest lyrics. It is also a catchy number that get you singing along in no time. It also shows how good Carly is as a songwriter. It has great use of strings and good use of backing vocals that are done thruout the whole album by Carly. I hope that the record label has the right idea and release this a single as I really could see this doing well for Carly on the charts. This is really excellent release for Carly and shows that she gets better with each release. So instead of buying the latest overseas pop artist album go and buy and buy Carly Binding So Radiate. It is a excellent cd and I for one hope it does well for her as it should it's that good. Can't wait to hear more.

Marla Sokoloff - Grateful - (Self Released)

Marla Sokoloff is best known for her day job but she is also an excellent singer and as songwriter. Her music is bubbly catchy pop music with a dash of rock on the edge. She puts out her debut release Grateful independently and it a really good cd. All the songs on this cd are very radio friendly and deserve to be on radio because they are all good songs that show off her voice. The first track I Told You So is upbeat and full of life with great melodies,catchy lyrics and good harmonies and good musicianship. It's a great song that is bound to be lapped up by the kids. Grateful is a upbeat poppy ballad with good honest lyrics,great melodies and harmonies and in no time you will be singing along in no time. It happends to be one of my favourites off the album with good lyrics and great vocals by Marla. Save Me From Myself well is the one track I know that should be heard as I think it's the one song that well you know will easily catch on with people with good honest lyrics,sweet harmonies and melodies and great vocals by Marla, you have a winner of a track. Call Me Crazy reminds me a lot of Amanda Marshall and Alanis Morissette with it's driving melodies and powerful vocals and good harmornies with mixed with some good honest lyrics and good musicianship. It a song that deserves to be cranked loud and to sing a long to as, it is a song that will really get you singing along. Any Given Day is a straight up catchy melodic feel good pop song with good melodies and harmonies and good honest lyrics that really shine along side Marla great voice. A winner of a track. Ashley is one of my favourite track. It really shines for me with great powerfull vocals,dark melodies melodies and good harmonies, and the lyrics are extremely catchy as I was singing away in no time. It just a really good song I would love to hear on radio.Turned On Me is a song I really really love. It is a song that I enjoy listening to time and time again. It is a really really good song to me. It has great melodies,harmonies,really great lyrics that get you singing along and her voice which really shines here alongside some great musicianship. You have a really good song which I reckon is here. This song I reckon should be on radio and deserves to be it. It's a really good song. The album finishes off with I'm Done which is a poppy upbeat ballad with catchy lyrics,good melodies and harmonies that really shines along some good vocals and musicianship. It is really finishes off the album well. It is a really good CD that is bound to pick her some fans. If you like good catchy pop rock music then look no further than Grateful by Marla Sokoloff. It's a winner by me.

Claire Clarke - Alter Ego Ep - (Bluestone Records)

Alter Ego is the debut ep for singer Claire Clarke and it is a good introduction to a talented singer who I know you will hear a lot more of. Firstly I have to talk about the packaging as it is really well done and diffrerent to most cd packages as it Rectangle shape which opens up to a picture of Claire and at the bottom the cd which also looks good. It also shows to me that she is a serious artist who wants to stand out and be heard and it's good for a independent artist. Now to the music, Claire sings pop rock music that is really damm catchy and rocking to say the least. The first track is Less For You, More For Me is a track that is a song that should be played on radio if it hasn't already as it pop music with rock edge. Good melodies and harmonies and good musicianship. It's a song that screams radio play with it's catchy melodies and harmonies and it will get you singing away in no time with it's good lyrics. End Of Time is a pop rock ballad song with good melodies and harmonies and good use of male backing vocals, Claire voice really shines here and she has written good lyrics to go with the song. My Temptation is a rock song with a pop edge with great melodies,vocals and good musicianship and great harmonies. It a damm catchy song that will get you singing in no time. Overall this an excellent debut release for Claire Clarke, with 3 great songs that are bound to be popular and really great packaging, I liked this cd a lot. I hope it does well for her as it is really good and well done for an indie release. Top Stuff

Sandrine - Dark Fades Into Light - (Trigger Records/MGM Distrubution)

Sandrine new album Dark Fades Into The Light is a new transition as it strips away the gloss and shine of her last album to give a more rawer, more personal and enjoyable journey with some beautiful songs with good melodies and harmonies and some personal lyrics. The album starts off with Let The Love which is a poppy folk song with beautiful melodies and good harmonies and good honest lyrics that really shine and along side Sandrine unmistakable voice that you know the minute you hear her it's her and it starts off the album well. Love & Pain some how reminds me of Macy Gray with it's soulfull and beautiful melodies,catchy beat and beautiful harmonies and her fantastic vocals along side some good lyrics and good musicianship. Where Do We Go is another song that has catchy melodies,harmonies and rhythms that's get you tapping and singing along and no time and it is joy to listen. This song like Yestedays Full and Prove Me Wrong features the band Rainer Maria is great addition to the songs as I am huge fan of the band and it makes the song great. Bubble is another great track with good use of piano. It has wonderfull melodies and harmonies and great musicianship and supurb vocals and good honest lyrics that will get you singing away. It is a favourite of mine and I have been playing this on repeat as it's that good. OK is really good song with beautiful melodies along side some beautiful haunting vocals that really shine mixed with some good honest lyrics. This a well crafted song by Sandrine as she writes with power and passion. Her songs really do shine and it really shows. She is a fantastic songwriter. Red Shoes proberbly the one track reminded me of her last album Trigger as it has that atmosphere and those nice spacey melodies and that wonderfull piano playing and those good honest lyrics and her amazing vocals shine here. It is a nice laid back beautiful melodic song that is just a joy to listen. Don't Forget About Me Baby is a nice catchy enjoyable song that has upbeat melodies and harmonies, great vocals that really shine and good honest lyrics with some good musicianship. It is a great song that just really works. La La La is a short but sweet song with some good honest lyrics and catchy rhythms and some beautiful vocals along side good melodies and harmonies which make the song that extra bit special. Kisses is a nice laid back beautiful song with some good honest lyrics that really shine and her beautiful powerfull vocals along side good melodies,rhythms and harmonies. Prove Me Wrong is my favourite track off the album as it is a really really good song with haunting vocals and beautiful melodies and harmonies that really shine along side some good honest lyrics. It is a well crafted song that really pulls you in with honesty and it really really shines. I just can't stop playing this song on repeat. She should release this song as a single as it's bound to pick her up some more fan. Eleven is a nice laid back with vocals that really shine along side some beautiful melodies and good honest lyrics that really work well with the song, another favourite of mine that really is good. Stormy is another highlight for me with it's laidback poppy atmospheric feel and it's a song that take you to what she is singing about with it's beautiful melodies and vocals that work well with the song and don't feel out of place and of course her personal lyrics that really are great and it some great harmonies and good musicianship. Yesterday's has nice melodies and harmonies and some beautiful vocals and has some good lyrics and great musicianship. It a nice song that really shines that pulls you in her personal lyrics. It is a good good song that really shines and it's a joy to listen to. This Time finishes off the album with it's melodies and rhythms and good honest lyrics and vocals that really shine that really get you singing away in no time. It is a nice beautiful short but sweet song that finishes off the album well. I am just going to say this but I reckon this is best australian release this year. Sandrine is amazing artist and this album really shows how good she is a singer songwriter. Every song on this album has been well written by Sandrine. There are so many songs on here that deserve to be heard and so does this album. She also shows that you don't need a major label to make a fantastic album. I highly recommend this CD. Please do give this a listen as I hope this does well for her as it should do. An Excellent release.

Peal - Beautiful Baby Elephant - (Self Released)

Peal latest album Beautiful Baby Elephant takes me back to when I was a teenager in high school with modern rock and modern rock pop was on the radio and when it was good. This does take me back and this a great cd with great songs that would not fit out of place on radio. Say Goodbye starts the album well with a song fulled with beautiful melodies,vocals,harmonies and great lyrics and great musicianship. It's a song which reminds me of summer and the days driving in your mates car. Fall Away is song that edgy vocals with great use of violin and great harmonies and melodies. It song that get you tapping and singing away and takes you to that rock heaven place. It just a joyful slowly rocking song Carousel Junkie is a favourite song off the album for me edgy,catchy vocals and melodies and great harmonies with great musicianship and catchy lyrics. It is a well written song full of life and makes just want to rock and move about. Let Me Breathe has great energy and vibe with beautiful melodies,harmonies and great vocals and good honest lyrics. This is a very radio friendly song that deserves to be on radio and be played loud and sung along to. Down reminds me a lot of the Counting Crows with it's vocal and good use of accoustic guitar and it's drumming and energy. It a song with good honest lyrics and some great guitar playing with some great melodies,harmonies and great musicianship. It is a well written song that really shines and get you humming and singing along in no time. Get In Your Way has great musicianship,great rocking guitar and honest lyrics and it's diriving beat . It's a song that really grabs and won't let you go until it finishes with it's edgy powerfull vocals and great melodies and harmonies. It is a song that really really rocks.Maria is a song that full of life and energy with catchy lyrics,vocald and melodies.It also great lyrics and harmonies, great musicianship and well written like the rest of the songs. For an independent release it is really well produced and recorded and sounds great. Lonely Alone is a rock song with a dash pop in mix for a bit of melody. It has great melodies and harmonies mixed with edgy vocals and guitars. It is a well written song one of my favourites mixed with great lyrics and great musicianship. I really liked song and was playing it on repeat. Rely is a great rock song that is really damm catchy with catchy vocals and melodies. Great harmonies and upbeat solid vocals that really drive the song to the next level. Add some good honest lyrics and some great musicianship you have a really great song. Pure is an upbeat catchy rock song with good melodies,harmonies and great lyrics mixed in with some great musicianship and solid vocals. The accoustic song which of course is a bonus track finishes off the album well and is really well done, you have to hear the album to find out what your missing. This a really good modern rock pop album that really shines with great vocals and musicianship. I hope it does well for the band as it deserves all the success it get's. Check it out people and play it out you don't know what you are missing.

Rocket - Girls With Candy Hearts (Teenacide Records)

I discovered Rocket when looking in Missing Link and thought they sounded interesting so I wrote the details down and went home and looked them up on the web to discover some really great music by a an all girl band, poppy rock'n'roll music that is really well done but also catchy that get's you moving about. They really reminded of The Del-Emmas with the covers then the original track in the mix as well but unlike the The Del-Emmas this is a studio recording not a live one like the Barhop Ep they put out. The ep Girls With Candy Hearts features covers and some original tracks. Join The Professionals is a cover of the band The Professionals and is really well done, as it catchy,has great melodies and vocals and great use of keyboards and dual vocals thru out the song, they have made this cover their own as it feels like something they would of written as it feels fresh and just doesn't sound like a straight cover. Not That Kinda Of Girl is an original track which is really good with great harmonies,good catchy lyrics and good melodies and great musicianship, it is a song that will get you singing and grooving along in no time, it did for me as I had this song on repeat for ages. BackStreet Noise is a cover of the artist Nick Gilder that mixes 70 vibe with 80's energy and vocals with the keyboards with really great catchy lyrics and basically feels like a rock'n'roll track with great female vocals and the whole energy makes it so infectious you just wanna sing and dance along which is great. Being a huge fan of The Ramones, I loved their cover of the song I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend but being females they changed it appropriately to Girfriend and the cover doesn't lose any of the energy and vibe of what The Ramones but they give it a fresh kick of female vibe and energy and make it even more catchy, nice work girls with the track. Funtime is a Iggy Pop Cover and it's really great, it really has a eighty feel with the lyrics,catchy dark melodies,great use of harmonies and vocals along good use of backing vocals in the right place. Breakup Season is an original has the vibe and the beat/vocals of the 60's pop songs and the energy of 70's punk/rock song and is really well that so damm catchy with great lyrics,vocals,harmonies and melodies and great musicianship. It is a great song that will get you moving about in no time. Guitar Center Love Song is written by the band and it's just Lauren W on vocals and her playing the keyboard and is sweet song and also shows they can write a great tune with great vocals,melodies and sweet harmonies. If you haven't figured out by now I love this cd and I can't wait to hear more and hopefully they come play in australia. Proberbly one of the great releases of year, it's what should be heard and played loud and danced to it. Two Thumbs Up All The Way.

Jessica McPherson - Since You Came Along (Masque Agency/Self Released)

Jessica McPherson is a singer I discovered last year in the starbust soundcheck competition. I was captavited by her fantastic vocals which worked really well with the music. You have no doubt read the interview so finally here is the review of some of her stuff. Since You Came Along is a collection of stuff she has recorded so far which really show of her vocal range. Each song has been beautiful crafted to work well with her vocals and it really shows. It starts off with Some Day which is a song which has beautiful melodies,haunting poweful vocals that really shine. This is a ballad which really shows how good Jessica is as a singer.It is my favourite track. Before I Fall shows that she can do a song with an edge, This track is a rocky number that also has a funky beat and highlights that she can do edgy songs as well as the pop ballads. It has great vocals and great melodies and harmonies and really shines. Never is a nice laid back song that has really great vocals that really shine mixed with good melodies and harmonies and some great lyrics. I Miss You is a nice beautiful ballad with powefull vocals,great harmonies and melodies and her voice really shines here. Will I Ever Know is another favourite back with beautiful lovely vocals and great melodies and joyful harmonies and some great lyrics. I could easily see this on the radio people digging this and singing along in no time. It screams radio to the max. Band Of Gold is a funky little number with catchy melodies,vocals and beautiful harmonies, this song really gets you moving and tapping your feet in your chair, I know it did it to me. It also highlights she can do different styles of music not just straight ballads which is a major plus. Jame's Song is another great ballad with haunting powerful vocals with beautiful melodies and harmonies and some really good lyrics. For Me reminds me off Kate Earl, Natalie Merchant with it's singer songwriter and soul feel with it's haunting powerful vocals and some excellent piano playing with beautiful melodies and harmonies and some good honest lyrics. Another favourite of mine of the CD. Since You Came Along has beautiful vocals, great melodies and harmonies and is another song I could so see be playing on radio as it beautiful ballad that everyone will be won over by. The last track photo finishes off the album well another powerfull ballad with haunting vocals,honest lyrics and great melodies and harmonies that really shine. A great song to finish off the cd well. This cd is a good reminder of what a great talent Jessica Mcpherson really is. If you want to get a copy visit www.jessicamcpherson.com.au for more details how to. She is gonna be huge and sadly the australian music and media industry will pick up on her when she huge overseas. Check this cd and see what your missing out on.

Katherine Schell - Emptier Streets (Recessive Gene Records)

Katherine Schell album Emptier Streets is a great release and one which should get people to take notice, There are hints of Fiona Apple,Amanda Rogers thru out this album. To me is it is pop music with an alternative edge. The first song Paced has the makings of a song for radio with beautiful melodies mixed with dark melodies and haunting vocals and beautiful piano playing and good honest lyrics that really make the song shine. Emptier Streets which is the title of the album and this track is one of my favourites on the album as it has good poweful vocals that really shine mixed with beautiful haunting melodies and good harmonies and good honest lyrics and all round great musicianship. It is a upbeat song with driving melodies that is really powerful. Rest Assured is a great song which also has haunting melodies and vocals that really shine mixed with some beautiful piano playing by Katherine that really shine. Come To Me is proberbly the most personal song on the album as is written for Katherine brother and it is really honest song that has beautiful upbeat melodies, brilliant vocals that really shine mixed with some great musicianship, plus really honest personal lyrics and it is a well written song by Katherine. Imagineer reminds me off a Michelle Branch song with it's pop sensabilities and beautiful melodies and haunting vocals and it's beautiful lyrics, this also another song that radio would play in an instant, it is the ballad song on the album Take Me As I Am is a song fulled with beautiful melodies,harmonies and excellent vocals, it's a song that layers of energy mixed with upbeat energy with fast Piano playing and great musicianship. It has good honest lyrics and is well written by Katherine. On My Own is the song that really reminds me of Fiona Apple with it's upbeat drumming and piano start and the use of guitar, it has haunting vocals and beautiful dark melodies and great use of backing vocals. It is a great song and you will be singing away and tapping along just as I was. Next Holiday has beautiful melodies,haunting vocals and good use of cello and Katherine piano playing really shines here, it also has great haunting harmonies and is well written and such a beautiful song that you will get lost in it's many layers of melodies and harmonies. We Are Like Stargazers has great melodies with haunting vocals, great musicianship and it is a well written song with great energy and has a great funky vibe to it. The Gravity Situation finishes off the album with beautiful melodies,haunting vocals and harmonies and it is a song that has many layers of melodies and harmonies. I really liked this album and I know it's gonna do good things for Katherine, It is a well produced album with good musicianship,well written songs by Katherine and also great lyrics. She is some one I know you are going to see a lot more of it the future, mark my words.

Katie Brianna - Self Titled (Self Released)

Katie Brianna debut self titled ep is fantastic. She is a country singer songwriter from