Ground UP artist Michelle Willis succeeds with Trigger (seen/heard here), not only creating a marvelous song but proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that David Crosby can still carry a beautiful high tenor harmony and provide more than adequate backup vocals. Sure, he’s aided here with a nice group of female backup singers, but I’ve always loved David Crosby’s voice. To be clear, this review is not about David Crosby. Michelle Willis is a consummate singer, songwriter, and…
Read MoreAJ Wander may just be getting started at releasing music, but he’s been at this since childhood when he was surrounded by his pianist father’s works and multiple instruments. These were the influences that got AJ interested in playing and eventually creating music. Take It All (seen/heard here) is from his forthcoming EP, due out in late 2022. The subjects of the EP explore the events and chaotic aftermath of an explosive breakup. As an example of this,…
Read MoreNiagara Moon falls into that perfect Vodka category: “Music that isn’t the same old thing, mostly.” Who Needs Who? (seen/heard here), is a bouncy little melody that is very singable. Niagara Moon is Thomas Erwin, his singing partner that often provides harmonies for Erwin’s creations, Huimin Wan, and a veritable card hand of collaborators. What better way to introduce a new LP, than to release a single that plays over and over in your head? I love this! That…
Read MoreInstrumental music does not play a huge part on Vodka. Not unless it really stands out as something different and fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love instrumental music, but it has to be really something special to appear here. Enter Intro To Music Theory, and It’s An Attitude (heard here). I love this funky little bit of fun! Not only is it easy to dance to (Yeah, go ahead. Try to quit moving your feet and your head. I dare you!) but…
Read MoreThe beautiful voice of Julie Fowlis with RURA singing the wonderful melodic folk song, Dh’èirich Mi Moch Madainn Cheòthar (Scottish Gaelic)(English translation: I arose early, would that I hadn’t), from RURA’s brand new LP, Our Voices Echo (February 2022). As a mono-linguistic person, with English being my only language, I can’t pretend to know the meaning of this song. However, Julie Fowlis explains this song this way: “This is a very moving song which is interesting as…
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