Australia Strikes Again (It’s Just Getting Better)

Aaaaaaaaand, we’re back!!!!!
After 7 months of traveling and pursuing ‘other’ things, LoveSound Magazine is back in business.  And thank you all who have been writing and e-mailing asking when LM will be back, and thank you for all of the responses to the newsletters over the past 7 months.

Anyway, what better way to get back in to the game than a review for Australian singer-songwriter Brett Goldsmith, and his new album ‘Ordinary Life’!

As his bio expresses, Goldsmith’s life is, and has been, anything but ordinary.  What an intro this is:

“Raised in the thick of his father’s nightclub empire, best known for Melbourne institutions Redheads, Seven and the iconic Saratoga, Goldsmith’s jet-set youth was spent playing bass guitar for rock legend James Reyne and touring, producing and playing on Platinum records for his Aunt, Olivia Newton-John & pop sensation Chantoozies.”

……….what????

Add on the fact that he (in my humble opinion) is also a brilliant photographer.

I don’t have many magic words to say about the record, except that it is a record that needs to be heard, over and over (it was great the first time around, but, the more I listen, the more I love).

One can only hope that Mr. Goldsmith makes his way to the U.S. for some live shows in the near future, as I see this fitting on the west coast, east coast, and midwest alike.  Well done, Brett Goldsmith.  I’m happy to be introduced!

*NOMINEE FOR LOVESOUND ALBUM OF THE YEAR

LoveSound Rating – 8/10

Favorite Tracks – ’100 Miles’ & ‘True Romance’

Brett Goldsmith – http://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au

 

What is ‘Panjanatan’?

What is Panjanatan?  ….I don’t rightly know.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this album.. this album being Mark Adams’ Panjanatan.  I found the album intriguing, from the moment it hit my mailbox.

The artwork/casing is very interesting, and before I even inserted the disc in to my computer, I paid a visit to Mr. Adams website, and immediately found him intriguing.

Then came what matters most, the music.  It took about 5 seconds and I was sold.  Bottom line!

I can’t say, or not, if this album is for everyone.. I would like to think so, though.

A lot of repetitive lyrics, which seem to go over well (take Radiohead, for example).  Unique lyrics, melodies, and instrumentation.  But, altogether, just solid music.  I want to use the word ‘artsy’… but that can a naughty word in my opinion.

But what genre is it???

Go check it out for yourself…..

*NOMINEE FOR LOVESOUND ALBUM OF THE YEAR

LoveSound Rating – 8/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘Oil On Mars’ & ‘Reptilicus’

Mark Adams – http://www.MarkAdamsUSA.com

Kids & Explosion (and genius).

Some of you are probably already familiar with Josh Raskin and his project Kids and Explosions.

I, on the other hand, was not.. and his new album ‘Shit Computer’ has been laying on my desk for about 2 weeks now.

I was intrigued by the cover, both front and back.  I finally opened the sucker yesterday… I had been cheating myself for weeks…..

This album is so f*cking sweet!!!

These songs are not ‘mash-ups’, they’re better.  Raskin’s brain works in a way that I, for one, cannot fathom.

This is art…

If you are in any of the following areas, go out and have a great night… if you’re not, stay home and buy this record:

 

07.18 WASHINGTON, DC. DC 9.
07.19 NEW YORK, NY. Mercury Lounge.
07.21 ANTIGONISH, NS. Evolve Festival.
07.31 MADISON, WI. The Frequency.
08.01 MINNEAPOLIS, MN. 400 Bar.
08.02 KANSAS CITY, MO. The Record Bar.
08.03 DES MOINES, IA. Vaudeville Mews.
08.04 CINCINNATI, OH. MOTR Pub.
08.05 CLEVELAND, OH. Beachland Ballroom.
08.07 PITTSBURGH, PA. Brillobox.

*NOMINEE FOR LOVESOUND ALBUM OF THE YEAR

LoveSound Rating – 9/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘Babies Are The Future’ & ‘You’re Good’

Kids & Explosions – http://www.KidsAndExplosions.com

Loving it, to Bon Death

There is a new song streaming through my head once every hour or so, and this has been going on for about 4 or 5 days.  If it was some sort of tradition to post a ‘Song Of The Week’ here at LoveSound, this would be it…

They’re new to me, so they might be new to you..  Sweden-based rock band Bon Death just released a new single called ‘Dream Girl’.  Catchy, energetic, ya know, all of those adjectives that make for a successful pop/rock song!  This one is extra special though.

Check out the band here – bondeath.se

Buy the song here – http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dream-girl-single/id544790604

Cinema Cinema ‘Manic Children & The Slow Aggression’

Notice there’s no catchy title to this post…
Because there’s absolutely nothing catchy about this album.

If catchy is what you’re after, you’re in the wrong place…
If one of the best albums of the year is what you’re looking for, then, lucky for you, it was released today.

Cinema Cinema is a Brooklyn-based duo (cousins, at that) consisting of Ev Gold and Paul Claro.  ‘Manic Children and The Slow Aggression was also produced by Don Zientara (Fugazi, Bikini Kill, Bad Brains, to name a few).

It can’t be said any better than this:

“Throughout Manic Children & The Slow Aggression, shattered & heavily-treated guitars pound into focus by a primal assault of beats and shifted tempos. A vocal delivery, honest to its bloody, shredded core, forces the attention of listeners. Not a moment of pause prevails; but a feverish journey from one song structure to the next weaves incessantly
throughout the performance.”

Wow…. Oh, and you can (should) go check out the album in its entirety here – http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/12
And for the love of god… buy the damn thing if you love it (you’ll love it).

*NOMINEE FOR LOVESOUND ALBUM OF THE YEAR

LoveSound Rating – 9/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘UFO’ & ‘Levitation’

Cinema Cinema – http://www.CinemaCinemaBand.com

Wyld… and I like it!

The Wyld Olde Souls… never heard of them.  Maybe you have.  Actually, after doing some research, their name popped up quite a bit.

They are a psychedelic folk band from NYC.  Their bio sets the story straight.. they ‘mesh medieval and Indian influences with their passion for late 60′s British folk rock’.  Totally right, and right on!

Well, they’ve just released a new video for their first single from their current album ‘Ensoulment’.  I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing the album in its entirety, but I am instantly a fan after hearing their single, entitled ‘Leave Her’.

To be completely honest, I don’t think that the video does the song justice.  It’s a nice video, but the track itself is wonderful.

Welcome, The Wyld Olde Souls!

http://www.WyldOldeSouls.com

A First Time For Everything

I have certainly been getting out of my comfort zone lately.

Reviewing blues bands, jam bands, and now what…. Hip-hop??

But, as I’ve often said lately, there are exceptions.  The new album ‘The Meridian of Rhyme’ from the artist known as Qwiet is my exception.

The songs are a bit uplifting, positive, and well done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the official video for ‘To The Sky’ featuring Cody Wood..  Enjoy..

LoveSound Rating – 6/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘To The Sky’ & ‘The Truth’

Qwiet – http://www.Qwiet.com

‘Freakchild’ is right…..

This album is insane..  I love it!

Actually, I want to meet this guy.

The name, Reverend Freakchild.  The album, God Shaped Hole.
I’m almost beginning to wonder if this is his real, legal name.

Again I say, it takes a special kind of record to take me out of my ‘reviewing-an-album-comfort-zone’.  This is a special record.

Ya know, if you’re a hippie, or love late nights at rowdy bars or outdoor festivals, this album is for you.  But, this album swept me all up as well.. someone with absolutely no interest in blues or roots music.  I’m a fan, and this is one of my favorite albums of 2012 so far.

Reverend Freakchild ‘God Shaped Hole’

LoveSound Rating – 7/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘Strange Music’ & ‘Supersubconscious’

Reverend Freakchild – http://www.myspace.com/reverendfreakchild

A Change Of Pace…

I’ll go ahead and let it be known.. this is not a common type of record that I would post about.  Honestly, when I found out that it’s instrumental, sort of ‘jam-band-ish’ almost, I nearly skipped right over it.  I’m glad I didn’t…

I was taken for quite a ride the first time I listened to Andrea Balestra’s album ‘Fine Arts Avenue’!

When I pressed play, I felt like I should be dancing at Beale Street Music Festival or Bonaroo.  Then, when track 2 (Portraits of Isabelle) kicked in, I felt like I should be chillin’ at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC.

Fans of instrumental/bluesy/jam bands, you will admire this record.  All others.. well, you will too.  I just can’t really convince you with words, because I wasn’t convinced with words.

Give this beautiful album from Andrea Balestra a chance.  You’ll be glad you did…

LoveSound Rating – 7/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘Wishing Well’ & ‘Portraits of Isabelle’

Andrea Balestra – http://www.AndreaBalestra.com

A Hell Of A Way To Start 2012!!

Glad to be back at work here.  The Holidays were a good break, and life seems to be moving along smoothly now.  But, here’s the deal:

They’re called The Porter Draw….

I’m going to leave out the comparisons and the ‘if so and so had a lovechild it would sound like this’.
Look at their picture.. that’s exactly what they sound like!

I don’t mean to jump the gun, but, at the end of the year, I know this one will be on my Top 10 list..  Which is why I’m pleased to announce the first nominee for 2012′s LoveSound Album of the Year:

The Porter Draw, and their debut album, ‘California Widow’!

*NOMINEE FOR LOVESOUND ALBUM OF THE YEAR

LoveSound Rating – 9/10

Favorite Tracks – ‘Dirty Trade’ & ‘Davey’

The Porter Draw – theporterdraw.com