Torrelodones, Spain’s Elefant Records recording artists, The Yearning, are all about retro vibes. They are unapologetic about using 50’s and 60’s styled rhythm and blues and pop to paint a musical picture that could easily have appeared on a radio station in 1955. Now if that all scares you a bit, it shouldn’t. The Yearning make the whole experience seem natural and it is more than a little bit pleasing. In preparing for a new long-player, The Yearning…
Read MoreBack in April (2014), I purchased the wonderful debut self-titled album from Fauna Flora. It is full of delightful pop gems like Happy Hour (video released May 2). There are orchestral flourishes and grand melodies coupled with great vocal harmonies. Fauna Flora formed the four piece really recently (2013). At the helm, singer/songwriter Steve Ward provides the foundation for what become majestic pieces. Instrumentation and other vocals are provided by long-time Ward collaborator and bassist Joe Pisapia, keyboardist Matt Thomas and drummer Paul…
Read MoreFrequent visitor to Vodka, Courtney Barnett, is a very talented songwriter and performer. She’s been getting some much deserved press recently from the likes of Rolling Stone and The New York Times. On top of that, she was recently a musical guest on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Her star is rising! Here, from the Double EP, A Sea Of Split Peas Courtney proves that she has a contemplative style as well, with the plaintive Anonymous Club. If you have not purchased this,…
Read MoreEliza Rickman’s provocative new video Start With Goodbye, Stop With Hello, from her 2012 long player, O You Sinners, is both dark and fun. It is a look into the complexities of ms. Rickman as well. Eliza has a beautiful voice and an enviable range. It can ring bell-like from above, or delve into a throaty alto. Like her voice, her music and message are full-ranged as well. As the video for Start With Goodbye, Stop With Hello hints,…
Read MoreFun loving retro-pop rockers Hey Geronimo return to Vodka with another top-notch fun track. You may remember Why Don’t We Do Something? from about a year ago, and Carbon Affair from just a few months back. Here, Hey Geronimo captures video footage from the road with a track that doesn’t necessarily fit the video, but is very fun anyway, The Girl Who Likes Me. The single is yet to be released in any form that I can find, but if…
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