Song reviews


  Girl riot by The Aquadolls


Girl riot cover art


Girls and guitars

Endearingly anarchic as always, the Aquadolls turn the volume right up this time and buzz, fuzz and scuzz their way through “Girl Riot” with Melissa Brooks going large yet ironic on the post-feminist attitude out front. It’s there for all to see and see you should for garage rock belongs to girls these days and that’s a fact.


Review date:  December 12 2015
  www.facebook.com/theaquadolls

  Church is Burning Down by Tomás Doncker


Church is Burning Down cover art


Preacher

“Church Is Burning Down” might well be seen by some as old fashioned drawing, as it does, on seventies funk and socially conscious lyrics but the times they haven’t really changed at all so Tomás Doncker puts this song right into the back of the net. He’s the real deal and I don’t get to say that too often these days.


Review date:  December 12 2015
  www.tomasdoncker.net

  Cornhusker Strong by Heidi Merrill


Cornhusker Strong cover art


Nashville bound

Heading straight down that highway to Nashville is Heidi Merrill. No surprises therefore that her song “Cornhusker Strong” draws on such downhome values as hard work and divine guidance but the saving grace is the spirit evident in her voice.


Review date:  December 12 2015
  www.heidimerrill.com

  Loaded Gun by Chrystyna Marie


Loaded Gun cover art


Intense

Now this is more like it. Infused with an intoxicating mix of petulance and anguish, Chrystyna Marie tells it like it and thus leads her song “Loaded Gun” out of Lana Del Rey’s house and abandons it on the highway that is life. Let it be so.


Review date:  December 12 2015
  www.chrystynamarie.com

  Ridiculous by Mleo


Ridiculous cover art


Polished

Distinctly robust for a female fronted band from sunny California, Mleo hits all the right alt-rock chords with their song “Ridiculous” whilst displaying enough song writing maturity to bring forth comparisons with such melodic predecessors as The Hush Sound. Pleasing to the ear indeed.


Review date:  December 12 2015
  www.mleoband.com

  Still The One by The ROAMies


Still The One cover art


Rock balladeers

Two up and well advanced on their journey along the yellow brick road to soft rock nirvana, The ROAMies pay the extra dollar and go large with their ballad “Still The One”. If it’s good enough for FM radio then it’s good enough for me.


Review date:  December 6 2015
  www.theroamies.com

  Counterattack by Baxnug


Counterattack cover art


Kangaroo

I’m not quite sure what to make of Baxnug given that he is the inventor of the kangaroo’s tail for human beings but, as the hard rock world is a world full of crazies anyway, his song “Counterattack!” gets a pass mark no matter whether it is the riff powered real deal (after all it could be) or an affectionate parody.


Review date:  December 6 2015
  www.baxnug.com

  Fallen by Service of a Villain


Fallen cover art


Holding on

A chip of the old alt-rock block, Service of a Villain apply their downhome musical skills to “Fallen” and, with the potential for experimentation put to the side, the song is dragged forward by the sheer insistence of Jonny Cotton’s voice.


  Clone Fight by Indytronics


Clone Fight cover art


Energetic

An energetic indie rock band, Indytronics press all the right genre buttons throughout their song “Clone Fight” and, with youth on their side, they accelerate straight up the middle of the road.


Review date:  December 6 2015
  indytronics.com

  Hectic by Hagar Levy


Hectic cover art


Songwriter

Hagar Levy has the kind of voice that would sell a folk song but she nonetheless keeps it intense and urban throughout her song “Hectic” and, with a willing electric guitar keeping her company, she does not miss the opportunity to go large.


Review date:  December 5 2015
  www.facebook.com/hagarlevymusic

  Fatheads by Seawitches


Fatheads cover art


Reverbilicious

Indie rock meets the arthouse as Seawitches mix up reverb and drama and bake their song “Fatheads” in a hot oven for 4 and a half minutes. Jo Herring sprinkles the song with the all the angst and anguish that her voice can muster and that is enough to make any Echo and Bunnymen fan go all sentimental.


Review date:  December 5 2015
  www.facebook.com/SeaWitches

  We Love by Arigato Massai


We Love cover art


Synth excellence

Splendidly upbeat, Arigato Massaï bounce “We Love” along the synth pop road with both an abundance of charm and deeper lyrical leanings. Fannie Lineros has the voice to keep the song on course and she ensures that there is more than enough heat to counteract the chilled precision of all those synthesisers.


Review date:  December 4 2015
  www.facebook.com/arigatomassai


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