John Davis was a member of 90s punk band Superdrag, Nick Raskulinecz  is a three-time Grammy Award-winning producer of Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Rush, Deftones, Stewart Pack is from Pegclimber and 1-900$, and Nick Slack played with Har Mar Superstar, The Pink Spiders and SLACK.

The first track on the 36 Hours EP, “More Juice” is a 48 second song of the band just jamming and the singer singing with so much passion that it’s as if he is screaming at some points. It’s a great song to start with, because it shows the album is going to be full of fun music.

Where’ s the super power man
got the lonely ranger
don’t you know you’ll be called upon
to save souls in danger
and they way they’re around
is killing us all I’m mean it’s truly
so what are you goin’ to do

The above lyrics are from “Tried and True” which starts out with just Nick Slack drumming and a guitar playing for the first few seconds. This song might throw the listener off guard, because the music and lyrics are lighter than their other tracks. The listener will be able to understand the lyrics and the song as a whole is more melodic. In this song, they might remind you of the Foo Fighters, who aren’t quite punk, but equally know how to rock.

The album ends with “Resistance is Victory” which sounds like a song the fans would mosh to. Davis’ voice screams his head off through the entire song. It’s an energetic song, that ends way too soon, they should extend this song a few more  minutes longer, because it’s just not long enough!

If you are in the mood for a rocking album, with raw vocals and where every track sounds a little different than the last then look no further. Epic Ditch’s album is exactly what a punk rock album should be. A group of guys with raw voices, playing their hearts out and having a great time in the process. Warning: Moshing most likely occurs at an Epic Ditch concert.

Rating: 3/5 Stars!
Album: 36-HOUR
Release Date: February, 2012
Genre(s): Skate Punk
Location: Nashville, TN
Members: John Davis, Stewart Pack, Nick Slack, Nick Raskulinecz
Label: Velocity of Sound
Website: www.VELOCITYOFSOUND.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/epicditch
Bandcamp: http://epicditch.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpicDitch

Released in May of 2012, Ray Tarantino is a beautiful showcase of his story. Everything about this album screams “Journey” and “Movement.” About the lyrical content Tarantino shared this with us, “the focus of the lyrics is movement and change, moving forward and oiling the mechanism that enables us to do so.” Combine that with the album art featuring a car speeding off in the desert, it doesn’t take much to see that Tarantino and his band thought very carefully of the message they were trying to relay to listeners.

Musically, the songs on this album could find homes with adult contemporary stations and even hard rock stations. Tarantino’s vocals and guitar playing style are diverse enough to fit into both styles (and possibly even more).  The album’s opening track, “Can’t You See” is intense and powerful, while the single, “She Comes to Me (so Easily)” is breezy, easy to listen and sway along with. Most of the songs on Ray Tarantino are very melodic and mellow, the perfect soundtrack for starting on a new chapter in your life. Tarantino’s vocals are raspy, entrancing. Like a warm fire on a cold dark winter night listeners will be reassured and comforted while listening. The album flows excellently, everything from the order of songs and even the amount is well thought out and coherent. “A Whisper in the Sea,” the album’s closing track is the perfect song to wrap up the story. Just acoustic guitar and Tarantino singing, this minimalistic track tugs at the heartstrings and will leave you wondering, “What comes next?” That, of course is up to you. Go start your own journey and find out!

“He is bald! He writes really good songs and has a great voice but he’s bald!”

This is how the head of a major recording company responded to Ray’s music. But Ray knew that somewhere in the word he would have found at least one person that cared more about music than hairstyle. The guy from the London based label will probably never know, but Ray was right!

It’s hard to believe that is how someone responded to Ray Tarantino’s music.  (Passage above taken from the bio section of http://www.raytarantino.com/)

Unfortunately that is how the mainstream media (and most of the world) thinks. Fortunately, we here at IMR and (our readers) care more about music than hairstyle! Show your support, listen and love!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Album Name: Ray Tarantino
Date Released: May, 2012
Genre(s): Singer-Songwriter
Location: Nashville, TN
Band Members: Ray Tarantino (guitars & vocals) – Paolo Legramandi (bass) – Nik Taccori (drums & backing vocals) – Ale Pasini (guitar)
Record Label: Tiny Drum Records
Website: http://www.raytarantino.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raytarantinomusic
Bandcamp: http://raytarantino.bandcamp.com/album/ray-tarantino

For those of us who work on the Dose every month, it is an experience of exploration and enjoyment. While I go through each submission, there is a committee of six that vote on the 35-40 finalists each month. Getting down to fifteen can be an extremely difficult task. The quality of the submissions received is so high, that we could easily offer 25 tracks almost every month.

We hope that you enjoy this month’s group of songs as much as we have. It has a decidedly international flair to it, as 8 countries are represented. Please remember to support these great artists so that we can continue to enjoy their work. Check out their sites, buy their music, go see them live, bail them out of jail, anything…

Grab your headphones boys and girls. These are the current artists of Indie Overdose:

 ***** The Big Dose *****

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The Bailey Hounds – “Those Devils Don’t Scare Me”
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Genre: Cemetery Blues
Band Members: Ryan (vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ), Gary (drums, percussion), Vince (electric guitar), Chris (bass)
Website: http://www.thebaileyhounds.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebaileyhounds

A band we covered back in January, The Bailey Hounds have become a favorite at IMR. We got to hang out with guitarist Vince Federici at the 2012 IMR Music Festival when he came to Atlanta with another project. Self-described as a “cemetery blues” band, they take morbid subject matter, add in a few great blues guitar riffs and classic harmonies to create auditory bliss.

Dave Tieff – “Time to Fly”
Location: Annapolis, MD
Genre: Pop
Band Members: Dave Tieff, Matt Ascione, Mark Owen, Corey Hall, Rob Houck, Larry Melton, Josh Lilly
Record Label: Giv Records
Website: http://www.davetieff.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davetieff

Former Laughing Colors frontman Dave Tieff has found the sweet spot that artists like Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Gavin Degraw yearn for. A man who has battled addiction and won, Tieff channels his passion and talent into this uplifting tune that could possibly be a summer favorite.

NovaKord – “Out There”
Location: Atlanta, GA
Genre: Alternative, Electronic
Band Members: Wes Daniel (vocals, guitar, keys), Billy Snyder (bass, keys, vocals), Johnny Cunningham (drums, percussion, vocals)
Website: http://novakord.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novakord

This band put on quite a show on Saturday night at the 2012 IMR Music Festival. Wes Daniel was also recently one of the musicians interviewed in “Breaking Radio Silence: The Price of Free.” Daniel, Snyder & Cunningham have put together one hell of a track here. Daniel’s emotional vocals are almost as powerful as Cunningham’s work on drums. With dual keys, electronics, guitar and bass it is hard to figure out where Snyder ends and Daniel starts, but they blend brilliantly.

Foxglove – “Land’s End”
Location: Cork, Ireland
Genre: Folktronic/pop
Band Members: Niamh Murphy (vocals, keys), Kate Curran (trumpet, backing vocals), Rob Dunne (guitar), John McAleer (bass), Dan Walsh (drums)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Official.Foxglove

With a voice as smooth as velvet, Niamh Murphy seduces your ear into pure surrender. Describing themselves as “folktronic,” Foxglove has a jazzy feel that starts with Walsh’s drumming. While busy, it isn’t overdone and he and McAleer create the perfect backdrop for the understated work of Dunne and Murphy on guitar and keys respectively. There’s more to this band than the sexy vocals, but I’d still listen to Niamh Murphy for hours, even if she was singing the grocery list.

Yellowbridge – “Cruising”
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Genre: Indie/folk
Band Members: Kyle Hyungsung Kim, Ciara Donnelly
Record Label: Yellowbridge Recordings
Website: http://yellowbridgemusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yellowbridge/287174924629321

Ciara Donnelly has a very distinctive voice that immediately jumps out and grabs you. One second it is in your face, the next quiet and seductive. “Cruising” is an attention-grabbing tune that makes you want to know more about Yellowbridge.

My My My – “Hard Kisses”
Location: Chicago, IL
Genre: Indie-pop
Band Members: Russell Baylin, Sarah Snow, Johnny Szymanski, Ante Gelo, Jake Bartolone, John Sorensen
Website: www.mymymyband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iluvmymymy

You may have heard this band without even realizing it as they have been placed in various TV shows. They combine 80s-style euro-pop musical stylings with a male/female vocal duo. Russell Baylin’s vocals are reminiscent of David Bowie or Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs), and Snow complements him very well. “Hard Kisses” is one of those tracks you will definitely blast in the car while screaming the chorus.

A. John Hawkins – “Eight Legs Are Good For Dancing”
Location: Toronto, Canada
Genre: Pop/Rock
Band Members: A. John Hawkins
Website: www.reverbnation.com/ajohnhawkins
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ajohnhawkins

Hawkins has spent the better part of a decade playing in a heavy metal band, which will most likely surprise you when you hear this track for the first time. Catchy lyrics, almost vaudevillian piano work and upbeat vocals paint a different picture than the one you create in your mind when reading Hawkins’ bio. One thing is certain though; he is incredibly talented and can write an interesting tune.

Xenia Dunford & the Eastern Exile – “The Only One”
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Americana/Rock
Band Members: Xenia Dunford (vocals, keys), Scotty Mlodzinski (guitar), Forrest Pettengill (bass), Adam Farley (drums)
Website: www.Xeniadunfordmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/xeniadunfordmusic

A recently reviewed artist at IMR, Melissa Landrin says “The Only One” is a sexy song with a jazz and blues feel that will have you snapping your fingers along with the beat. Xenia sings about the physicalness of a relationship and she finds the perfect words to go along with the topic with lyrics like ‘We’ll lace our fingers like a spider’s web, with no traces of start and end…’ [and] that’s only the appetizer.”

Woodmanstone – “Someone’s Ideal”
Location: Leicester, UK
Genre: Indie Rock
Band Members: Members: Woodman Stone (vocals, acoustic guitars), Doug Burgess (bass, electrics), James Buckley (drums), Tony Robinson (brass)
Website: www.woodmanstone.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/woodmanstone

Stone creates an upbeat, catchy tune here. The lyrics are fun and addition of horns adds a layer to this enjoyable tune. Working on their first album, we look forward to hearing more from Woodmanstone.

While Giants Sleep – “Celeste”
Location: Sweden
Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock
Band Members: Josef Molin (vocals), Ola Sandberg (guitar), Keyloth Perez (guitar), Daniel Thorisson (bass), Olle Ekberg (drums)
Website: http://www.whilegiantssleep.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whilegiantssleep

This five-piece band delivers emotional vocals and an almost post-rock vibe. They submitted a different song in the past that this editor liked as much if not more than “Celeste.” They are working on their second album to be released later this year and I will be looking forward to seeing this band grow.

Grace Pageant – “Bones”
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Genre: Indie Pop
Band Members: Grace Pageant
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gracepageant
Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSPYfmmMTfU

Originally performing under the name Anna Kaye, Grace Pageant follows a pounding piano with incredibly witty lyrics in this funky little tune. In some ways, both this song and the video for it are reminiscent of early days MTV when the concept of a video was just blossoming. Both head-scratching and entertaining at the same time, Pageant certainly draws you in for a closer look.

French Girls – “Honest Man”
Location: Riverside, CA
Genre: Indie Rock
Band Members: Conner Munson, Connor Pollard
Website: http://thefrenchgirls.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheFrenchGirls

Nicely done guitar work frames this mellow tune. One could imagine this song playing out to ten minutes with the duo working it out in long sequences. The two play well off each other.

Second Chance at Eden – “Sleep”
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Genre: Rock
Band Members: Elle G (vocals), Josh Donaldson (guitar), Dan Snow (bass), Brandon Miller (drums)
Website: www.sonicbids.com/secondchanceateden
Facebook: www.facebook.com/secondchanceateden

It is obvious that Elle G has pipes and after listening to a couple more up-tempo tunes, the band can certainly keep up with her. This song feels like a loaded gun waiting to be fired. You get the impression that they can really open this one up on stage and let it fly.

A Band Called Mithras – “American Demon”
Location: Howell, MI
Genre: Pop
Members: Bob Wilson
Website: http://www.abandcalledmithras.com/fr_home.cfm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Band-Called-Mithras/204916501653

A Band Called Mithras screams of early Beck right down to the vocals. Everything about this project is off-beat, from the song, to the description on their Facebook page, to the very fitting Monty Python photo. “American Demon” has a great funky vibe. It’s one of those cruising songs where you end up banging the drum section out on your steering wheel.

Silent People – “We’re Not Here To Stay”
Location: Arhus, Denmark
Genre: Alternative Rock
Band Members: Per Rødgaard (drums), Morten Juhlsen (vocals, guitar),
Kasper de Haan (keys and synths), Nikolaj de Haan (samplers, synths & effects, guitar, vocals)
Website: www.silentpeople.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/silentpeoplemusic

Apparently they are. At almost nine minutes long, Silent People isn’t going anywhere. They almost lull you to sleep in the beginning with the horn samples, and the almost quiet vocals. Stick around, it’s worth the ride.

There you have it. Fifteen tracks all for you. Enjoy! We’ll see you next month.

With haunting harmonies and the ideal Americana sound, The Vulcans would fit in well on a Mumford & Sons tour.  They have a very similar sound to the popular band.  While listening to Shadows, you can picture yourself sitting around a campfire in the Appalachian Mountains deep in the heart of Pennsylvania (the state they call home).

The first track off Shadows helps you travel to that setting with sounds of birds and water trickling down a creek.  Eventually The Vulcans’ main sound sets in on “Molt” with a mandolin, banjo, and then a harmonica.  The Vulcans’ amazing harmonies are introduced on the second track, “Auburn Girl.”  They sing of a girl who tricked them into thinking they were the only one in her life.  They felt like they had a connection, but it turns out they weren’t the only one.

“Believe me when I say I thought I’d found
Kindred spirit bonding with my own
A spark ignited somewhere deep inside me
But in my eyes, the flame’s going down.”

“Tomorrow’s Just Today” is a song in which The Vulcans use nature and weather as a metaphor for life.  There are many ups and downs and stormy days ahead, but the most important thing is to see through the clouds in order to get to the sunny side.  This is an example of The Vulcans’ ability to use insightful lyrics to convey their feelings in a song.

“Lessons Learned” could be a soundtrack to any young person’s life who is still trying to figure things out.  Lots of listeners will relate to this message, because so many people out there are still learning from their mistakes.  With a slower tempo and beautiful sound, the music goes well with the lyrical side to this song.

The perfect representation of The Vulcans’ sound is on the track, “Someone I Used To Know.”  The song has an upbeat feel, and they showcase their harmonies and trademark instruments throughout the song.  If they were to release one song off this album as a single, “Someone I Used To Know” would be it.

As The Vulcans state on their Facebook, many indie supporters are tired of the overly produced music that takes over many radio stations.  If you enjoy a folk, Americana sound similar to Mumford & Sons, The Vulcans will be the best fit for you.  They will have you believing in true, pure music again.

Rating: 4/5 Stars!

Album: Shadows
Release Date: 2011
Genre(s): folk, Americana, indie
Members: Nick Lindsay (vocals, guitar, mandolin, keyboard), Aaron Spangler (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo), John Thomas (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thevulcans
Myspace: www.myspace.com/thevulcanspa

The group’s latest single, “Blame It On the Brandy” kicks off with an opening guitar riff and drum beat straight out of Slade’s “Gudby t’Jane.” The song, a cautionary tale of binge drinking gone astray, features Casson weaving Bolan-boogie-inspired guitar leads, while Deering and the rest of the band lay down the song’s foot-tapping verses and infectiously hooky choruses with a suitably Rod-Stewart-and-the-Faces level of bravado. Little touches like handclaps and falsetto background vocals help maintain the authentic glitter-rock vibe while Deering struts in front of the mic, delivering a straight-ahead rock vocal performance a la Eric Carmen or Phil Lynott. Behind him, the rhythm section kicks up a driving riotous wave of rock, with Kauppila’s big arena drum sound and Mogg’s pulsating bass line providing the groovy framework. When all is said and done, “Blame It On the Brandy” comes out sounding rather like a Chinn and Chapman production involving Thin Lizzy and the Raspberries.

The B-side “Marionette” is more of a power-popper and slightly less Anglo-sized than the A-side; sounding almost more like the Replacements or Big Star than the Sweet or Mott the Hoople. “Marionette” is also more anthemic than the swaggering A-side, with more great falsetto backing vocals, and an ascending and descending guitar jam Brian May would surely have approved of. “Marionette” was recorded once before, for a previous release. However this more complete version lends a nice counterbalance to the Stonesy bravado of the A-side as Smash Fashion demonstrate their knack for also being able to deliver straight ahead power pop, injected with arena rock sensibilities.

“Blame It On the Brandy” is available as a limited edition seven-inch on Smash Fashion’s own oh-so-aptly-named label, Electric Pudding Records. It was produced not by Chin and Chapman but by Deering and Casson, and features cover art that looks as if it was inspired by Terry Gilliam’s animations from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. With only 300 copies having been pressed, “Blame It On the Brandy” is currently available as a vinyl-only limited-edition single from CD Baby and at record stores around L.A.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Album Name: Blame It On the Brandy
Date Released: 2011
Genres: Glam Rock, Classic Rock, Power Pop
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Band Members: Roger Deering, Stu Casson, Nigel Mogg, Reijo Kauppila
Website: http://www.smashfashionmusic.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/smashfashion

If you look back a few decades to the world of vinyl, the ability to make copies was minimal at best. The big record companies had full control though, and musicians were at a complete disadvantage in regards to the music they created. As technology advanced, passing along free music got easier. What child of the 80s did not make, give or receive mixtapes of their favorite songs? Bands started to use some of the same technology to record their music and pass these cassettes out themselves.

Now, anybody with a computer can create music and distribute it all over the world. They may lack the big resources of a music label, but the power is solely in their hands. The issue now, more so than yesterday, is exposure. With technology making everything so accessible, making your music stand out from the millions (literally) of other bands out there can be a daunting task. So what do they do? How do they handle the question of giving music away compared to being compensated for their hard work and talent?

I had the chance to ask three different artists a few questions on this topic:

Jeremy Strother – The lead singer of Australian band I Am Apollo. Their track “Jony and Jaq” was the highest rated song on our first edition of Indie Overdose. He and the boys are coming to the states and playing shows in both New York and Los Angeles in June.

Gina Sicilia – One of our cover girls for our big “Women of Indie” issue. She can sing the blues like few out there today. Her ability to create her own music as well as re-create some long forgotten classics should make her a staple in many music collections. She will be hitting Philly, Buffalo, Boston, Hartford and even Kansas City over the next two months.

Wes Daniel – The voice behind the Atlanta-based trio Novakord, an IMR favorite and 2012 IMR Music Festival performer. They recently released Out There and will be playing the Pancake & Booze Festival in Atlanta on May 18th.

I started by asking all three how they felt about giving away a free track, or even a whole album, to build a fan base. All three agreed that giving away free music is a must in order to gain fans. Sicilia even went as far to say it was ”crucial.” A whole album might be a different story. Daniel gave a good argument against giving the whole thing away when he said “if you spent ten grand and took off 3 months of work to write, track, produce, promote, design, and release, all on your own…….you’re gonna need to try to push that as a commodity.” All three agreed that giving away music could only enhance their careers, with Strother stating “I think bad songs hinder your music career much more than free downloads!”

We moved on to how each of these artists was currently getting exposure. It came down to the big three: social media, live performance and word of mouth. Daniel said that “all these elements are the fundamentals of indieisms,” but wnet further to call social media a “necessary evil.” Sicilia on the other hand, looked at the Facebooks and Twitters of the world as “really fun and exciting.” She went further to explain that she “found that really putting [her]self out there on social media and making the absolute most of it that [she] can, has been very rewarding and very beneficial in terms of expanding [her] fan base, and ultimately getting new people out to [her] shows who might buy CDs.”

Strother may have put it all together when he said, “they all help each other. Social media doesn’t mean you will have people at your next show, and playing live doesn’t mean you’ll have people checking you out online, but finding ways to make them all work together is great.”

We talked about Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) calling out Sean Parker (founder of Napster and current owner of Spotify) and stating that the entrepreneur shouldn’t be trusted. When I asked them if applications like this have a big impact on the industry as a whole, Sicilia and Daniel both had the same sentiment. “The idea of accessing music for free is one of the realities of the music business right now,” explained Sicilia. “It’s not going to change, and there will always been another application that comes along with that similar concept.” Daniel went on to say “it’s an individual moral decision as to whether one will take a product or will rightly barter their hard earned wage in exchange for one’s hard work written on disc.”

Strother felt that there was a positive side in the ability to gain exposure, but also stated that “People love to listen to music but [he] reckon, most people have no idea of the hard work that goes into producing a single track, and then have that hard work be summed up in 3-4 minutes or whatever the song length is…and then to have it streamed for free online means the artist gets no money, and can’t sustain a living to keep doing it. Budgets get smaller and smaller and more shortcuts have to be made and it does put a huge strain on the whole industry.”

All three of these artists are hard-working individuals who are passionate about their music. So when I asked them what they were doing to continue to grow, the excitement could practically be felt. Daniel, in typical indie fashion, said they were doing everything. “Releasing, getting airplay on college radio, touring, shmoozing, communicating with old friends in other states and countries, submitting EPK’s far and wide and establishing relations with every person possible.”

Sicilia stated that “what [she’s] doing is pretty simple. [She’s] trying to constantly improve on [her] singing and songwriting, and from there record the best quality music possible. After that, getting it out to the fans through social media and websites like YouTube is not just important…it’s everything. Of course getting play on Satellite radio does not hurt one bit, but social media is where it’s at.”

Strother followed with “songwriting will always be [their] focus. [He has] seen bands slog away for years with great online press and huge tour schedules and get nowhere until they write “THAT SONG.” Then boom, all the doors start to open up and they are all over the radio, in magazines and become financially viable as an artist. To take IAA (I Am Apollo) to the next level [they’re] more concerned with working on the thing [they are] selling, not so much the selling of it.”

Finally, I asked them one last question. Could a band survive by giving away all of their music for free? Sicilia stated that “Unless you’re Aerosmith or getting paid a ridiculous amount of money at shows, [she] don’t think an independent artist can possibly survive financially by giving away their music for free. [She] know[s] people are doing it though. Maybe it’s a brilliant idea and [she’s] just totally unaware of why!”

Strother said “It’s a fine line between making your music accessible and devaluing your art. [Their] approach was to make the first single free to download in the hope that people would like it enough and buy the album. [He doesn't] agree with young artists giving away all their work for free. [They] spent some money on [their] debut record Rave On, and while [they] are not at the stage where [they] can live off money that comes in from sales, the money that [they] do get back gives [them] room to promote [their] music through film clips, posters, ads, etc.”

Daniel agreed and said “[he] just doesn’t see how an artist can give away all of its music unless it’s a hobby or they are independently wealthy. Your typical indie band consists of 2 or more members, of which usually all have day jobs where they earn what they can to barely survive, and use the rest to reinvest in their passion. If that passion is being given away; eventually, if there is not some sort of return, their passion will dry up…So no, [he doesn’t] think indie artists can afford to give all their music away. Just like no business owner can afford to give all of his product way. An industry that tries to insinuate that doing so is a model for success, is sadly bound for detriment.”

If there is one thing a reader can take from this, it is that these artists that we cover at IMR struggle financially in their daily lives just like us. They do not have big investors or labels to back them. Many of them, like the writers here at this site, work day jobs to survive and chase what they love in their spare time. Remember that the next time you listen to a great new artist. If you look hard enough, you might just see the blood, sweat and tears. Reward them on their effort and make them feel that they aren’t doing it for nothing.

Therese’s debut EP All Yours, features a tale of love and loss, with a gentle touch of earthly rhythms (if you’d like to get technical, think the Dixie Chicks). The first track “Baby Girl,” lets you know who Therese is right away; and how could you think of her as anything but charming and sweet. There is even an innocence to her voice that convinces you she is a young, naïve teen in love, until you suddenly retract that thought and realize you’re recalling that certain time in your own life. This is a good thing though, because it makes you wonder if there is so much more to her music that you are missing. However it’s the simple things in life that are enjoyed the most.

Having performed everywhere from Chicago night clubs to grassroots festivals to Italian concert stages, Therese has already made her mark on the Chicago music scene as a folk singer/songwriter and operatic soprano, and has recently joined the Opera on Tap Chicago; and she shows no signs of slowing down.

In all honesty, this album does conjure up memories of Dylan’s original folk, acoustic music only because of its simplicity. Even with piercing violins in the background, Therese manages to maintain that lowdown, raw folk vibe that is missing in a lot of mainstream music. Where layering and auto tune has complicated and overwhelmed songs, it is rare to experience an organic album like All Yours and enjoy it for the simple fact that it is easy on the ears and pleasurable to the soul.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars!

Album Name: All Yours
Date Released: January, 2012
Genre(s): Folk, Pop
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Band Members: Mari (Vocals/Guitar), Joe Buchheit (Keys), Anthony Sobun (Upright bass), Isaac Krantz Perlman (Percussion)
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/maritheresemusic
Bandcamp: http://maritherese.bandcamp.com/

There isn’t a track on the album that shies away from the personal, privy or intimate. Howling out of North Carolina, singer/songwriter Amy Alley has chosen to enter the music scene with her cards on the table. Heavily influenced by her upbringing among a colorful, diverse bunch in Charlotte, NC, she draws upon her own experiences, braving tough subjects like sexuality and religion. She takes the listener by the hand and guides them through the act of self-discovery, breaking down those experiences into their rawest parts and putting them on display.

Visceral, suggestive imagery pervades the low and dragging opener, “Think of Me – Fill the Hole.” Like many of the tracks to come, it explores topics of love and lust. Alley’s vocals take the form of an in-your-face incantation, often directly addressing the various subjects of her songs.

Confessions are a recurring theme throughout I’m Not Perfect. “Not Mama’s Girl” explores religious upbringings and the search for individuality beyond them. “Delicate Little Hands” tells the story of a young girl’s affectionate gesture and its profound effect on the singer. Amy Alley has the talent and ability to take commonplace events, to unravel and examine them, and incorporate them into thought-provoking material.

While elements of the folk genre remain intact, the album still has range and personality. The music reflects the sentiment of the lyrics, sometimes raw and forceful, at other times hushed and mild. The arrangement is for the most part simple – a standard set-up of guitar, bass and drums. Synth fills out the country/pop-rock mash-up “I’m Not Perfect,” and “Butterfly” is the only track that seems to have fallen victim to heavy-handed production. Amy Alley isn’t afraid to get technical with her playing either as the guitar flourishes in “Reasons to Stay” and “Probably Should.”

Spoken word numbers put the musician’s poetic sensibility on display, and they standout for their heightened emotion. “Anyway” speaks to the politics of sexual orientation in a fresh and understated way. “Newark When It’s Raining” is about Alley’s own disappointment with the unfair expectations of work life, giving us a hint towards her motivations for pursuing music.

The album’s title speaks to a larger truth regarding Amy’s work in that there is still room for growth and refinement. At times, the vocals are a little pitchy and the rhythms struggle to find consistency. There are subtle miscues on this album that may be audible to the attentive ear, and they take away from its presentation as a whole.

I’m Not Perfect is the stuff of late night, long distance phone calls to old friends and former lovers. Each track strikes as an entry in the diary that might occupy Amy Alley’s bedside table. The good news is: there are still many pages left unfilled. There is plenty of room for growth, and this musician has a lot to offer with her fearless brand of confessional folk. Her debut album marks the beginning of what will hopefully be a successful and prolific musical career.

Rating: 3/5 stars!

Album Name: I’m Not Perfect
Date Released: February, 2012
Genre(s): Folk, Spoken Word
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Band Members: Amy Alley
Website: www.amyalley.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Alley/150732146938
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/amyealley
Reverb Nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/amyalley

Lonely Streets is proof that Xenia found the perfect group of musicians to create the music behind her voice.  Like peanut butter and jelly, her voice and the music of Mlodzinski, Pettingill, Farley, and Dunford on the keys mix so well together.  You can’t imagine one without the other.

The first track off Lonely Streets begins with Xenia’s silky voice accompanied by the keys – just the way her career started.  After about thirty seconds, the drums kick in abruptly, and you know you’re in for something incredible.  ”The Only One” is a sexy song with a jazz and blues feel that will have you snapping your fingers along with the beat.  Xenia sings about the physicalness of a relationship and she finds the perfect words to go along with the topic with lyrics like “We’ll lace our fingers like a spider’s web, with no traces of start and end.”  That’s only the appetizer.  Things eventually heat up.

“We’ll lay underneath the stars like we were young
Chasing lips and crossing tongues, all night long.”

“Every Now and Again” is a very relatable song in which Xenia sings about feeling like you just can’t get it right sometimes and how hard it is to get through the tough times.  Like all of the songs on Lonely Streets, she chooses the perfect words to paint a picture for the listener.

“Like a newborn babe, all alone in the night
I’ll hold fast to my mother, and keep my eyes peeled for life.”

“Every Now and Again” isn’t only about the hard times though.  Xenia presents a light at the end of the tunnel.

“And if I can get to the other side, I might get to see the sun rise
And every now and again I might find some peace of mind.”

“Best I’ve Ever Had” is the most upbeat track and the best representation of the Americana genre on Lonely Streets.  It’s hard not to move your body in some way when listening to this song.  Although the song has a very fun and positive sound to it, it’s anything but.  Xenia sings about how she doesn’t understand why her lover is always so sad when she’s so happy to be with him.  It gets to the point where she begins to wonder if she’s doing something wrong and maybe they weren’t meant to be in the first place.

“I don’t know what it is that I’m doing wrong
Have you been fallin’ out of love all along?
I just can’t tell, I thought I knew you well.”

Even though there are only five tracks on Lonely Streets, Xenia Dunford & The Eastern Exile have chosen the perfect songs to showcase their talent and introduce their music to the world.  This album will definitely have listeners writing on the band’s Facebook page asking when the next album will be released.

Rating: 4/5 Stars!

Album: Lonely Streets
Release Date: March, 2012
Genre(s): Americana, Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Members: Xenia Dunford (vocals & keys), Scotty Mlodzinski (guitar), Forrest Pettingill (bass), Adam Farley (drums)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/xeniadunfordmusic
Website: www.Xeniadunfordmusic.com

They just released their first self-titled E.P. on April 27^th and their timing couldn’t be more perfect. This E.P. will be the perfect soundtrack to those hot summer nights out on the town with friends or even for the ride home looking back on the adventures that were had; The Electric Sons have you covered.

The E.P features four songs that have their own individual and unique vibe. Reminiscent at times of Mute Math, the vocals are smooth and the beats are always upbeat and impossible not to dance along with. Lyrically the songs are very intriguing and inspiring simultaneously:

We were building castles in the sand
Crawling down below to see the kingdoms we command but
Is this all we have to see?
Is this what we want to be? 

(Lyrics taken from “Break Away”)

The song ends with the line:

We want to break away
Before we fall apart

These lyrics can be interpreted to mean different things for different listeners, yet the basic point is the same. Poetic, yet grounded the lyrics are understood on many levels.

 The Electric Sons E.P. is a terrific debut showcase for what this band can do. From the production quality to the music, vocals, and lyrics: everything is a home run. After only 4 songs they will definitely leave you wanting more, so start it over and play it again!

5/5 Stars!

Album Name: The Electric Sons
Date Released: April 27, 2012
Genre(s): Electronic
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Band Members: Ben Richards, Andrew Miller
Website: http://www.theelectricsons.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theelectricsons
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/theelectricsons
Bandcamp: http://theelectricsons.bandcamp.com/album/the-electric-sons-e-p

UPDATE: The Electric Sons have released a bonus track to accompany their latest EP. Get it here: http://theelectricsons.bandcamp.com/album/the-electric-sons-e-p-bonus-track