Song reviews


  Refugees by High Hope featuring Maria Stille


Refugees cover art


Meaningful

A singer with a conscience, Kristoffer Jonzon, in his new musical venture High Hope, wears his heart on his sleeve and takes his song “Refugees” in a direction that Neil young would approve of. Throw in some support from the ever sonorous Maria Stille and the result is both poignant and ear friendly.


  I Oh I by Myami


I Oh I cover art


Urban electro

Kind of old fashioned but about as good as example of the urban electro pop genre as you are likely to find these days, Melbourne’s Myami easily adds her song “I Oh I” to the playlist of every iPod in the metropolitan area.


Review date:  December 4 2015
  facebook.com/myami.artist

  Withered Earth by Shotgun Rodeo


Withered Earth cover art


Metal men

Here’s one for the beer drinkers. The band are actually be from Norway but Shotgun Rodeo have clearly mastered all the moves that you would expect of an American metal band and, powered by machismo and testosterone powered riffs, their song “Withered Earth” consequently runs straight and true.


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

  Silver Rose by The Rivers


Silver Rose cover art


Two up

Not short on energy, Glasgow blues rock duo The Rivers walk their song “Silver Rose” down a well-trodden track but their heart and soul are in the right place so that journey is a worthy one.


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

  Cold Cold feet by Sofia Talvik


Cold Cold feet cover art


Sentimental

Showing her customary mastery of the sentimental song, Sofia Talvik’s annual Christmas song “Cold Cold Feet” again explores the reality rather than the fantasy of the festive season. Her voice, as always, entrances, and she makes the world seem a better place with every verse. That puts her on top of my Christmas tree.


Review date:  December 4 2015
  www.sofiatalvik.com

  The Devil Closed The Door On me by Doris Brendel


The Devil Closed The Door On me cover art


Sound as a pound

Demonstrating that seventies style rock is the one and only way to go is Doris Brendel. Her voice suggests that she is using bourbon as mouthwash but her song “The Devil Closed the Door of Me” nonetheless reeks of the truth. When it comes down to it, we all seek the truth (and a good guitar solo).


Review date:  December 4 2015
  www.dorisbrendel.com

  Under by Heart/Dancer


Under cover art


Electro cool

There is a lot of easy on the ear electro pop coming out of Sweden these days and Heart/Dancer provide, with their song “Under”, yet another example of what can be achieved by combining wistful melancholy with a synthesizer.


Review date:  November 14 2015
  www.facebook.com/heartdancermusic

  Lips by Plastique


Lips cover art


Big

Keeping it loud are Plastique. “Lips” is the name of their song and even the relentless electro rock groove and gratuitous use of power chords cannot overcome the power and magnetism inherent in Anelise Kunz’s voice. Yes!


Review date:  November 14 2015
  plastiqueband.com

  The Dragon by The Secret Storm


The Dragon cover art


Moody magnificence

Certainly not lacking in moody intensity, The Secret Storm evoke the shadows effectively with “The Dragon”. The violin and guitar support the sultry female vocals admirably but it is the words that take this song into the adult world.


Review date:  November 14 2015
  www.thesecretstorm.com

  Maria by James Clark Hangover


Maria cover art


Honest

With a pleasingly rough edge to his voice, James Clark (and his Hangover) stamps his honesty all over his song “Maria”. It’s an old rock school approach but he carries it off.


Review date:  November 14 2015
  on.fb.me/1SsF4eh

  Gimme Resurrection by Anya Marina


Gimme Resurrection cover art


Downtown upbeat

Downright lively and, dare I say it, catchy, “Gimme Resurrection” neatly demonstrates that New York’s Anya Marina knows it is all in the song and, with a pop meets seventies rock groove powering things, you will soon be singing along to this one as you sit at the traffic lights of life.


Review date:  November 14 2015
  anyamarina.com

  Right Place by Auna Sims


Right Place cover art


Solid

A solid of example of a singer songwriter with a message, Auna Sims throws in enough drama into “Right Place” to get her inspirational words across.


Review date:  October 31 2015
  www.facebook.com/auna.sims


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