I’m not a gamer, so the second thing I had to do when I decided to review Still Alive (seen/heard here) from The 8-Bit Big Band’s latest sophomore long-player, Choose Your Character! (June 2019), was to look up what the game, Portal, is. For non-gamer types like myself, here is how Wikipedia describes Portal’s gameplay: “Portal consists primarily of a series of puzzles that must be solved by teleporting the player’s character and simple objects using “the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device”, a device that can create inter-spatial…
Read MoreWhat happens when you mix pop smarts with a wall of sound beach party music and a flair for Alice In Chains minor / major key shifts? La Luz is what happens, and it’s a whole lot of fun! Mean Dream is from the band’s latest long-player, Floating Features (May 2018), a dream-themed long-player. There’s plenty of camp and pretense in La Luz’s video staging. While the music is compelling enough on its own, these young ladies know enough about having fun to not take themselves too seriously, and that’s…
Read MoreAustralian drummer turned band front man, JP (a.k.a. John Milton), and Losing My Mind from the debut four-song EP, Part 1 (November 2015) is a study in bass-driven, melodic, genre blending styles. This rehearsal video, isn’t necessarily studio quality in all respects, but it certainly gives you a hint at what the EP sounds like. If you have any doubt, click over to the bandcamp.com link and listen. JP’s vocals are unpretentious and perfect for sharing a lyric. He has a pleasing…
Read MoreDolores makes pop rock for the masses. You can tap your toe, find a dance floor or sing along easily. Enter Mary from the band’s first long-player, Peach Fuzz (May 2015), which is a follow-up to their pretty awesome EP, Nectar, from August 2014. These gentleman seem uncomfortable with their skins when they aren’t playing/singing, but when they start the latter, they are in their element and their sound is simply wonderful! Dolores’ music owes much to the styles of the late 60′s and early…
Read MoreThis is not the first visit to Vodka for Pokey LaFarge (see reviews for Central Time and So Long Honeybee, Goodbye), but his fortunes continue to rise so it seems a good time to revisit this great artist. Something in the Water is a humorous look at love in Pokey LaFarge’s unique style. It is from the long-player by the same name that should be available for purchase as you read this. For more on Pokey LaFarge, be sure to check…
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