Alternative,Bass,Drums,Guitar,Harmonica,London,Lyricist,Music,Rock,Singer Songwriter,Songwriter,UK,Vocals

Single Review: “Butter Side Up Boy” – Laurie Wright

Laurie Wright is back with a track with strong vocals, guitars, drums and…. Harmonica! This song comes roaring out of the gates with attitude, and it’s a cracker. I really like Laurie’s vocals on this, it sounds like he’s having a blast recording it, but this belies the dark feeling behind the lyrics, there’s a …

Blues,Drums,Guitar,Pop,Rock,Singer Songwriter,Songwriter,Track Of The Day,U.S.,Vocals

Single Review: “That’ll Be The Day” – Buddy Holly

As tomorrow is 63 years since Buddy Holly, along with Richie Havens and The Big Bopper died tragically in a plane crash I thought I’d commemorate this with my favourite Buddy Holly song.  I have memories of jamming this on the piano with my friend Simon and him singing and playing on a battered acoustic …

Band,Bass,Drums,Funk,Jazz,Keyboards,Lyricist,Music,Percussion,Songwriter,Soul,Track Of The Day,UK

Single Review: “Living Proof” – Pearl’s Cab Ride

WELL!!! This… is…. FUNKY! The stabs in the intro promise so much and over deliver, this is professional musicianship at its best. From the horns, drums, bass, vocals, hammond organ this is a blast to listen to – it reminds me of early 90s acid jazz, and it’s so well done, I don’t want to …

Alternative,Band,Bass,Drums,Guitar,Music,Punk,Rock,Songwriter,Track Of The Day,Vocals

Single Review: “Boys From Jungle” – Junior Bill

I’m trying to decide whether this is a punk protest song or not. It’s definitely punk, the attitude is there.  But the lyrics are definitely interesting, it’s the reality of immigrants coming to the UK, and their stories, it’s loud, it’s aggressive. But do you oboe what? It’s getting the message across.  For me the …

Alternative,Drums,Electronica,Keyboards,Lyricist,Music,Producer,Singer Songwriter,Songwriter,synthesizers,UK,Vocals

Single Review: “Sidecar” – Prima Hera

I have heard this song so many times now, I think it’s part of my soundtrack of 2023. It’s such a simple song, Prima Hera’s vocals are gorgeous on this. She has a touch of reverb on her vocals, and she’s able to harmonise comfortably going from a major to minor harmony with the other …

London,Lyricist,Music,Pop,Pop music,Singer Songwriter,Songwriter,Track Of The Day,UK,Vocals

Single Review: “I Still Love Him” – Blossom Calderone

There are so many things that I like about this song, first of all it’s in 3/4 time. That will always be welcome around here.  Secondly, the pizzicato strings, you don’t usually hear that in music nowadays unless it’s arpeggiated a la Rodney Jerkins 90s productions, so it’s good to hear that.  Thirdly, Blossom’s voice …

Canada,Composer,Drums,Jazz,Keyboards,Music,Percussion,Piano,Producer,Review,Sammy Stein,saxophone,Woodwind

Album Review: “Letters To George” – John Hollenbeck. Words: Sammy Stein

https://johnhollenbeck.bandcamp.com/album/letters-to-george   John Hollenbeck is a genre-fluid composer/percussionist, renowned in both the jazz and new-music worlds. He gained widespread recognition as the driving force behind the unclassifiable Claudia Quintet, and the ambitious John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, groups with roots in jazz, world music, and contemporary composition. He has earned six GRAMMY nominations and has worked …