Category Archives: Uncategorized

Song Review -Off With Their Heads “Be Good” from the album Calm / Collected 

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Hey!  Great news for me (and hopefully some of you) as there is a new Off With Their Heads release just out this week 🙂  

I selected this track (which leads off the album) as it is such a good example of the great music this band puts together every time to surround the raw emotions of Ryan Young’s lyrics.   This song comes in lightly on some guitars and a simple drum beat that provides an effective foundation for the moment when Ryan comes in with that raspy and powerful voice.  I always tell people when you want sincerity in your song lyrics…just listen to OWTH.   And a special high five moment for the slightly odd way this track goes out…you will have to listen to it yourself and see what you think.

If you have the inclination, this entire album is really good and definitely worth a purchase.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://dasowth.bandcamp.com

As always, remember to support your local bands and businesses – community is powerful 🙂 

Song Review -Adam Baldwin “Causeway Road” from the album Concertos & Serenades 

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When I saw the news flash across on my notifications that there was an upcoming release for a new Adam Baldwin album…well I was excited.  If we have spoken before, you know that I am a big fan of this musician.  His style and lyrics hit home with me almost every time.  This song is a pre-release treat 🙂

This track is typical of all of the things that I like about his music.  The melody here is calming and wistful with some great texture added by a violin.  And the lyrics…well, there is quite the detailed story being told here.  It is not a complicated tale, but an interesting one with some poignant moments included.  

As a side note, check out his “Chin Up” sessions on YouTube – they are great! 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://adambaldwin.bandcamp.com

Please support your local artists – community is powerful 🙂 

Song Review -The Tisburys “Garden” from the album Exile on Main Street  

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First of all, this is just one of those songs that gets your attention because of the great rhythm and melody that fires off right as you hit “play.”  Then you of course have to hang out and see what happens …

Overall this is a well put together song and I really like the prominent bass overlay and the lead guitar part around the two-minute mark…and somewhere in there is a keyboard….yes?  Give it a listen and see what you think.  The lyrics gave me some pause and are worth study….I did especially like the “don’t hide behind your sacred symbols” part…very evocative. 

For some extra fun and good listening (if you are a Tisburys fan in general) check out their “Philadelphia’s #1 Deep Cut Bar Band Covering the Classics” album that was out in March of this year. 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://tisburys.bandcamp.com

Remember to get out there and support your local bands and artists – community is powerful 🙂 

Song Review -The Big Shaboozie  “Mr. Phony” from the album Mr. Phony EP  

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If you have caught any of this band’s music prior to the release of the current EP there will be a nice, familiar feel to this song.  There is a great groove to this track that carries you along from a slightly muted lead-in to some nice drums and guitars.  The supplemental vocals tracks here also add some good layers of atmosphere  – there is some real depth there especially if you slap on some cans and really drop into the sounds for a bit.  

For some extended listening pleasure (aside from the rest of this EP) check out their Shades of Faces album – you will not be disappointed.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thebigshaboozie.bandcamp.com

Hey, it is summer!  Get out there and experience your local area – community is powerful.  

Song Review -The Gabbard Brothers  “Little Mama” from the album The Gabbard Brothers 

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Hmmm…that is what I thought as I listened through this song for the first time.  Having been a fan of Buffalo Killers and also Andrew Gabbard’s solo endeavors (recently reviewed here) I was waiting for this collaboration to come out.  This track, an early release from the upcoming album set to drop in July, had me intrigued for sure but uncertain on exactly how I felt about it.  

Ten repeats later, I can say that I like it more every time I hear it.  The mix on this is interesting with the instruments just a little but forward of the vocals and the atmosphere of the music has a bit of the Beach Boys to it.  There is a very cool guitar part around the 1:30 mark and the pacing changes at several places throughout provide nice space.  And that lead out on piano at the end…very nice 🙂 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thegabbardbrothers.bandcamp.com

If you are interested in diving a little bit deeper you can find Buffalo Killers here https://buffalokillers.bandcamp.com

As always, please support your local businesses, artists and friends – community is powerful.  

Song Review -DEHD “Stars” from the album Blue Skies

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Song Review -DEHD “Stars” from the album Blue Skies

What can I say…I love this band and have been a fan for awhile.  I had previously heard “Bad Love” off this album which I believe was an early release on Bandcamp.  Having just checked back in and saw this entire album was available I had to jump at the chance to review one song 🙂

This track (and the album as a whole) is a very familiar DEHD song in all of the best ways…slightly eccentric guitar & smooth vocals from Jason Balla, simple & poignant rhythm from Eric McGrady and bellicose vocals & bass from Emily Kempf.  Listening to this song puts you in the mood to break out into a hypnotic dance groove.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://dehdforever.bandcamp.com

You can also check out my review of their album “Water” here https://jackmesenbourg.com/2021/05/16/album-review-dehd-water/

Please remember to support your local musicians 🙂 – community is powerful.  

Song Review -Olathia “Believe” from the album Madness Reigns

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Strange things happen.  I know I have said it before and it still mostly holds true…the cover is never better than the original.  Then, just the other day I was kicking around online looking for music from Ohio-based bands and came across Olathia.  More specifically, I came across their album Madness Reigns which contains covers of two Savatage songs.  How long had it been since I had thought of that band?  Well, it had been awhile indeed, although I did remember the song Believe from their Streets: Rock Opera album.  Thinking about Savatage took me on a little rabbit hole adventure involving the death of Criss Oliva, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and that oddly unsettling cover to their Gutter Ballet album….I pulled the plug at that point and went back to to this cover of Believe by Olathia.

I have to say…I was pretty impressed and it might actually be…better than the original.  Chris E. has a great voice and is backed by solid musicians.  They give this song that soaring yet somber tone that makes these kind of anthem-style songs really work.  There is a better depth of sound and ambiance in this version that the original…in my opinion anyway 🙂   Definitely take a few minutes to listen to it  and let me know what you think.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://olathia.bandcamp.com

Keep getting out there and supporting your local people and businesses 🙂 – community is powerful.  

Song Review -Andrew Gabbard “Cloud of Smoke” from the album Live in Loveland

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Some songs are amazing in their relative simplicity and this is one of the classics.  A song like this you can just wrap around yourself while sitting on the porch passing the time on a cool evening.  The music that accompanies the strong vocal treatment really helps as the clean rhythm and airy pedal-steel relax your mind and add a very warm tone.   Feel free to put it on repeat and chill out for a long time.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://andrewgabbard.bandcamp.com

And remember to get out and support your local businesses – community is powerful.  

Song Review Graveyard Club “Valens” from the album Moonflower

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I was super happy to hear that this band has a new release coming up in June and took the opportunity to purchase this song which was out early.  Most of the reviews you read out there about Graveyard Club reference comparisons to The Cure, New Order and the like…and I really have no complaint with that as there is a definite connection.  For me through, their music does a great job of melding the influences of bands such as that with their own brand of energy and music composition.   

The way the drums lead off this song draws you right in and the synth gives a positive lift of underlying energy.   You have a sense of running somewhere and then the vocal comes in to tell a story that I am honestly still trying to figure out…which just makes it more fascinating to me:)  It is one of those songs that likely has a very different meaning to various listeners.  And high-five for the brassy guitars that ring out several times along the way…very dramatic!  My only complaint is that the vocal mastering is a little muddy but there is always the chance that this was intentional as it does add a layer of texture.

Fun song to listen to and well done – it definitely gets my recommendation.   

You can check out more of their music and information on the Bandcamp page https://graveyardclub.bandcamp.com

Hey it’s spring! Please remember to hit up your locally-owned businesses as you go out to enjoy the sun…community is powerful 🙂 

Song Review – Meskales “Mis Amigos” from the album Mis Amigos

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I first started listening to this band back in 2020 when I heard a song off of their eponymously named EP.  The energy and sense of fun that they bring to their music caught me right away and it shows up well on this track.  Even without a translation for the lyrics (which they do provide on their Bandcamp page to back up my poor Spanish skills…) you can experience the fast-paced and tightly played music that shines though on this song.   And those horns…what can I say…they make me happy 🙂   I also have an affinity for the lyrics: “It’s impossible to try to make me change…what you think of me will never matter.” 

This is a solid ska / reggae style song that I would definitely recommend you give a listen.   

You can check out more of their music and information on the Bandcamp page https://meskales.bandcamp.com

And please remember to support your local artists & businesses…community is powerful 🙂