I have been a fan of Laura Veirs from the first time I heard her on CMJ New Music Monthly’s 2005 sampler CD with the tune Galaxies. She has a captivating compositional style that keeps you listening. That hasn’t changed after 20 years of making great alternative flavored pop music. Veirs has just released her 10th solo long-player, The Lookout (April 2018), from which Everybody Needs You (seen/heard here) comes. Laura Veirs has been uncompromising in being true to her musical visions, regardless of remaining unknown to many after…
Read MoreThea Gilmore’s brand of in-your-face pop anthem often feature a fast pace and a melody that is infinitely singable. In fact, this song, New (seen/heard here) one of 17 and change from the new LP Counterweight (June 2017), nearly commands that you sing along-it’s just that infectious. In some respects, Thea Gilmore might be described as this era’s Joan Baez. Her songs are often riddled with political and social commentary and contain anger at the status quo that lies just at the surface. That the tunes are so accessible is a…
Read MoreTaos, New Mexico duo, Trummors, recently released their 3rd long-player, Headlands (May 2017), and the opening track is the sun-baked psychedelic folk-pop of Spanish Peaks (seen/heard here). It’s the kind of song that makes Vodka wish we had discovered these two earlier-their first long-player was released in July 2012. The next three tracks, Desert City Gold, Mendocino, and Hollis Tornado are steeped in Americana with touches of country. Psychedelic pop returns on L.A. River, a meandering piece of work that is more than a bit pleasing. That’s just the first…
Read MoreNew Venusians (self-titled long-player March 2017) combine alternative sensibilities with funky beats and a hip-hop soul to create a truly fresh sound, fronted for the most part by the beautiful high soprano vocals of talented Meklit Kibret. On their debut release, the beats and bass are a powerful influence, providing an ever-present metronome to the infectious melodies here. Present, too, are elements of vocal and instrumental jazz, making the overall sound complex but very accessible. You can find information on New Venusians from their Facebook about page. They do…
Read MoreLet us make this clear: This is not a new video. It does not come from a new long-player. Furthermore, there is no new long-player for which this video is a stepping-off point for a new review. In fact, Orenda Fink has not made a new long-player since Blue Dream, from which Ace Of Cups hails, back in August of 2014. This long player came to light from what looks like a label dump by Saddle Creek into bandcamp.com, though it could just as easily have come…
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