Saturday, January 31, 2009

"No Refunds" by Hooper & Beckwith (Country Artist from Boston, Massachusetts (MA))

"No Refunds" by Hooper & Beckwith succeeds in displaying a dynamic blend between country, folk, and rugged blues. With impressive instrumentation and cut through vocal harmonies, this album gives listeners that true country/folk vibe. "It's the Whiskey That Eases the Pain" is the perfect example of the smooth, easy listening harmonies of Don Hooper and Steve Beckwith. But not only do Hooper and Beckwith bring listeners that appreciable vocal duo, but they also incorporate their well-played rack harmonica which complements the finger picking guitar on songs like "Ain't No Storm" and "It Ain't the Crime but the Cover-up." Their memorable lyrics and blend of instrumentation will keep listeners' attention throughout all 14 well-written tracks. "No Refunds" is well worth the listen for any true country/folk fan, and will leave listeners with a positive feel for this well-constructed album.

-Eric and The RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Hooper and Beckwith 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Cadillac Rhythm" by Son Lewis (Blues Artist from New York (NY))

Releasing his newest album titled "Cadillac Rhythm," Son Lewis has added another great collection of blues to his list of works. Lewis has created a refreshing approach to the many styles of blues with his own unique style of crisp guitar licks and soulful vocals. His energy and enthusiasm is heard throughout the entire album. The instruments are very supportive, as they accompany the vocals with flavorful riffs and solid chord progressions. "Old Blues Song" has classic troublesome lyrics, giving this tune a melody sung in true blues style. Taking the blues down south, "Nanny Goat Hill" is pure country blues, featuring some skilled glass slide usage on guitar. Fans of Muddy Waters or John Hammond will want to listen to "Cadillac Rhythm," as it is steeped with enjoyable and well-produced blues songs.

-Diane and The RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Son Lewis' music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Saturday, January 24, 2009

"The Salt Reaper - Selected Poems From the Flats" by Lasana M. Sekou (Spoken Word Artist from The Netherlands)

Discover the brilliant poems of accomplished poet Lasana M. Sekou whose outstanding album, "The Salt Reaper - Selected Poems From the Flats," is brimming with poetry cascading around music in motion. Sekou's knowledge is unsurpassed as words of world wisdom flow through his gifted mind. His pitch and intonations are strong and emotional while blending with the variations in musical style. This diversity of musical styles captures the relaxed orchestrated production and flows from piece to piece. Feel the slow jazz on "Weekend Dose" or reflect on the poetry as the classical guitar splashed with Latin inspirations plays on "Home Again" and "El Malecon." Lasana M Sekou's "The Salt Reaper - Selected Poems From the Flats" is not just any album of poems; it is a collection of insightful poetry with musical ambiance that will be enjoyed by poetry fans and Mos Def fans alike.

-Diane and The RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Lasana M. Sekou 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Friday, January 23, 2009

RadioIndy is pleased to present Joel Holmes with a GrIndie Award for the CD "African Skies "

RadioIndy is pleased to present Joel Holmes with a GrIndie Award for the CD "African Skies "

"African Skies" is a traditional jazz album with elements of world fusion from an extremely talented jazz pianist in Joel Holmes. Holmes collaborated with a number of skilled jazz musicians to create this album, including jazz legend Gary Thomas on saxophone and flute, outstanding Cuban percussionist Melena and the Emerald East String Quartet. The resulting arrangements are solid, all out jams. Many of the tracks on "African Skies" follow the traditional jazz sound reminiscent of Herbie Hancock, while others are in the world fusion realm, combining jazz piano with either African drums, or a string quartet to create a unique jazz fusion sound. The album and song titles suggest an element of spirituality and Holmes' compositions follow this concept nicely, making the entire album something of a journey. "African Skies" is also well-produced, with every element of each arrangement brought to life and failing to disappoint. "Impressions take 1" begins with an insane piano progression by Holmes that immediately puts him up there with great jazz pianists like Thelonious Monk and Oscar Peterson. Enjoy this one as it unfolds unfolds into a great traditional jazz number. "Chinese fishing song" features the Emerald East String Quartet, with a soaring violin coupled with Holmes on the piano, creating a unique jazz fusion sound. Gary Thomas carries "African Skies" and "Fatima" with sax and flute solos, respectively. "African Skies" is truly an original album that any jazz and jazz fusion fan should add to their collection.

-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Joel Holmes's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Thursday, January 22, 2009

RadioIndy is pleased to present Ronnie Vinston with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Vencino Hill"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Ronnie Vinston with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Vencino Hill"

"Vencino Hill" is an upbeat instrumental dance/R&B album full of big hooks and new age vibe from Ronnie Vinston. Vinston's displays his talent as an arranger through his keen sense of blending sounds and creating an atmosphere. His songwriting is comprised of a simple yet effective idea: create a memorable foundation and build upon it. He starts you with a great beat and a great groove, then takes you to another place with the addition of layers and variances in each arrangement. The sound quality of "Vencino Hill" is top notch, and the great production and slick mix do the arrangements justice. Highlights include "Avanti," with a great gritty lead melody, a strong beat, and relaxing ambient synths. "Ricci" opens with a jungle-esque beat and evolves into a highly meditative piece. The title track, "Vencino Hill," is the speediest of the tracks and will certainly get you moving. With "Vencino Hill," Ronnie Vinston has created an album gushing with music that draws you in and makes you feel. If you enjoy innovative new age dance music with hints of R&B, give "Vencino Hill" a listen.

-William and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Ronnie Vinston's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present Viva Mayday with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Viva Mayday"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Viva Mayday with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Viva Mayday"

"Viva Mayday" is the politically charged self-titled debut from reggae rock outfit Viva Mayday. A typical rock three piece – guitar, bass and drums – Viva Mayday rely heavily upon the upstroke to create their classic reggae sound. They also incorporate punk and classic rock elements into their music, showing their musical talent and diversity. The lead singer's vocals are uniformly in the style of traditional reggae and fused with a variety of musical styles, Viva Mayday show likeliness to Bob Marley, Dispatch, The Clash and Sublime at different points on the album. All the while, their lyrics are reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine. Viva Mayday's songs are jam-packed with socially aware, politically charged lyrics that exploit the bands disgruntledness, for the most part, with American foreign policy. "Viva Mayday" is also well-produced, sure to keep both the music and lyrics polished and audible. "Fidel" opens with an incredible Hendrix-style guitar solo as they sing about "the war machine" and "propane democracy." "Missionaries" reflects the "give peace a chance" mentality of the entire album with a Marley-esque vocal, suggesting that even the people that mean perfectly well are struggling to survive abroad. "1963 Motorcade" is a song about the assassination of JFK and conspiracy theories against the government. "Viva Mayday" is certainly opinionated and controversial. If you enjoy what Rage Against the Machine offers lyrically and punk-infused reggae rock, you should give this album a listen.

-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Viva Mayday's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present Chaos Da Verbal Villain with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Villiantine's Day"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Chaos Da Verbal Villain with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Villiantine's Day"

"Villiantine's Day" is an East Coast experimental hip-hop album from Chaos Da Verbal Villain that features innovative production and rhymes that push the envelope. Chaos brings extreme intensity and a powerful delivery to the table. His lyrics are controversial and well-constructed, and his creative choices present a new innovation with each new song. The arrangements support the constant battle with sanity that the album presents with odd beats, zany synths and a nice thick coat of darkness that perfectly compliment the album's concept. "Villaintine's Day" is professionally produced and sounds fantastic. Highlights include "Verbal Vybin," with strong lyrics, a nice hook, and an interesting beat. "Mental Madness" features an incredible beat, cool claps, and a hauntingly zany vibe. "For The Love featuring Ajent Smif" has a cool cat jazz vibe, a slick bass line, and a strong guest vocal. Chaos Da Verbal Villain certainly lives up to his name with "Villaintine's Day," as he comes off as a well-versed, veteran and innovative emcee. If you enjoy underground hip-hop that challenges your state of mind, get a little chaotic with Chaos.

-William and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Chaos Da Verbal Villain's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present Feed The Need with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Feed The Need"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Feed The Need with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Feed The Need"

"Feed the Need" is an enjoyable self-titled rock album with surf rock and jazz elements from Feed the Need. Though all four band members are still in high school, Feed the Need has crafted an album that displays their strong musical capabilities on guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. The vocals are youthful and the lyrics are full of angst, as many of the songs are undoubtedly about the girls they obsess over at their schools. Nevertheless, you'll find yourself bobbing your head to the beat and singing along with the catchy choruses, agreeing that "Weirdness makes the world go 'round." The title track "Feed the Need" is well recorded and allows these youngsters to be heard to their full potential. "Light Up My World" has great keyboard and guitar progressions at the introduction and a catchy chorus to boot. The highlight of the album is "Without Words," which is an instrumental jam session with great bass and keyboard lines and an impressive guitar solo showcasing the band's musical finesse. Anyone who enjoys quirky, youthful surf rock should check out this fine album.

-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Feed The Need's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

RadioIndy is pleased to present Smooth4Lyfe with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Education of Life"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Smooth4Lyfe with a GrIndie Award for the CD"Education of Life"

"Education of Life" by Smooth4Lyfe is an upbeat hip-hop album based on positivity and catchy hooks. This album is a breath of fresh air and takes you back to the days of Tribe Called Quest and DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. The lyrics are very clever, the flow is great, and the vocal performances are fantastic. Behind the words, you get great production; so the songs are polished and radio ready. The arrangements are top-notch, with great variance in the beats and accompaniment that really brings the sound to life, pulling you out of your La-Z-Boy and getting you bumpin' and grinnin'. Highlights include "Drop That," with a classic beat, fresh lyrics, and a nice hook. The title track, "Education of Life," features conversational breaks, introduces a bit of a dark side to Smooth4Lyfe, and has a great hypnotic quality. "Summertime Baby" lives up to its title and delivers a classic rolling-with-the-top-down flow. With "Education of Life," Smooth4Lyfe has created an upbeat hip-hop sound with great hooks and an overall good time. If you enjoy positive rap with a touch of real life experience, give "Education of Life" a listen.

-William and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Smooth4Lyfe's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present The Lily Pond Orchestra with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Pluto’s Melancholy…Music From a Dismissed Planet – Volume 1"

RadioIndy is pleased to present The Lily Pond Orchestra with a GrIndie Award for the CD"Pluto's Melancholy…Music From a Dismissed Planet – Volume 1"

"Pluto's Melancholy…Music From a Dismissed Planet – Volume 1" is an ambient new age instrumental EP from The Lily Pond Orchestra. The Lily Pond Orchestra is comprised of one man, Douglas J.P. Lee, who is the mind behind every aspect related to the making of this album. The album title should suggest a concept, and Lee embraces and well-achieves this concept by creating an interpretation of what Plutonian music sounds like. The result is a thoroughly haunting, drifting, meditative, contemplative, and peaceful ambient sound. Through the mediums of synthesizer and keyboard, Lee paints a picture that truly shows what it means to be a digital musical artist. The recording quality is also very good and succeeds in allowing the listener to drift off as carelessly and as happily as possible. "Of Myth and Mystery" has a very new age-y feel as Lee turns up the synthesizers for our listening pleasure and makes you feel as though you are drifting between stars. With "Silver Wind," Lee uses the synths to create a howling, fire engine-like wind that hovers and makes you wonder how Pluto got such a strong atmosphere. "Pluto's Melancholy…Music From a Dismissed Planet – Volume 1" is a unique, creative, and imaginative album that truly embraces music as an art form. If you enjoy ambient new age and electronic music and miss Pluto being the ninth planet of our solar system, check out The Lily Pond Orchestra.

-Chris and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out The Lily Pond Orchestra's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present O.L.P.B. with a GrIndie Award for the CD "The Big Fat Pet Clams From Outer Space"

RadioIndy is pleased to present O.L.P.B. with a GrIndie Award for the CD"The Big Fat Pet Clams From Outer Space"

"The Big Fat Pet Clams From Outer Space" is a classic east coast punk album with lots of humor and creativity, from O.L.P.B., or Oldest Living Punk Band. With their raw, powerful, dirty and angst-ridden sound, O.L.P.B. belongs inside CBGB, New York's famous punk club. The vocals are gritty and nonchalant and remind the listener of The Ramones while the humorous lyrics are reminiscent of The Vandals. The recording quality of this album is true to its east coast punk roots, so don't expect a slick, overproduced sound. "The Big Fat Pet Clams From Outer Space" opens with "I Used to Listen to the Radio," a quirky little reggae number filled with self-destructive humor and pleasant humming. "Queen Latifah" does not disappoint as O.L.P.B. makes a hilarious attempt to be with the times while incorporating an interesting musical arrangement. "God and Dr. Hawking," recorded live at CBGB in 2006, is another winner as it showcases the band's great performance ability and gives you a great taste of what they're like live. If you enjoy humorous punk and a Jersey sound, give the Oldest Living Punk Band a try.

-William and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out O.L.P.B. 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Sunday, January 11, 2009

"Parent Rapsody" by Charlie Appelstein & The No Bad Kid Band (Kids/Family Artist from Boston, Massachusetts (MA))

National prominent youth care specialist Charlie Appelstein has released his latest educational album entitled "Parent Rapsody." This album is a fresh and innovative avenue in guiding parents through the growing years of their young children. Since music is a form of communication, Appelstein has taken his words of guidance and translated them into rhythm and rhyme. His lyrics reinforce to parents to praise children, have patience, and give them a direction in life. The entire album is composed of different musical genres and each track is unique in the message it brings. "Kids Need Attention" kicks off with a drum beat, funky guitar chords, and a solid bass line. In a change of musical style, "Keep Things Neat" is a bouncy little tune with vocals sung in reggae style. "Parent Rapsody" is a musical approach to child rearing issues for parents and should definitely be given a listen.

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Charlie Appelstein's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Saturday, January 10, 2009

"Falling Up" by Allen Hinds Group (Blues/Jazz Artist from California (CA))

Guitarist/composer Allen Hinds performs an anthology of blues/jazz mixed with world fusion on his latest album, titled "Falling Up." With guitar being the main focal point, Hinds executes stinging rhythmic complexities. Creative melodies and the colorful chord structure bring this album to life. "Come Together" is a tried and true standard that Hinds injects his own bluesy spin into. His vocals have strong tonality and spill out with soulful emotions. Brilliance and speed highlight "Rat Scat" as guitar and organ run with a musical pattern that is sizzling hot. Relax and enjoy Allen Hinds' work of art entitled "Falling Up" that is sure to please fans of blues, jazz, and the style of Chris Whitley.

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Allen Hinds Group 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites