Portland, Oregon’s Fox And Bones, create indie-folk that is smart and full of surprises. In their second full-length offering in just three years, the duo creates magical images with words and music. Enter Love Me Like A River, from the latest long-player, Better Land (October 2018), and the story of a passionate love demand, with lead vocals here provided by the male half of the duo, Scott Gilmore. Throughout Better Land, lead vocal duties switch up, with magnificent performances by the female half (Sarah Vitort) just…
Read MoreMackenzie Shivers writes some very pretty music and lyrics and delivers a convincing performance. I would have only one small complaint: Mix the vocals just a little higher so that the lyrics are more audible. The vocals are only marginally under mixed, so it isn’t a big complaint. There’s plenty to like about Mackenzie Shivers and with only two EP’s currently available, plenty of time to tweak things up in the production department. Musically, Shivers melody on Names (seen/heard here) from her first EP, Living In My Head (September 2016), feels…
Read MoreFive years ago and change, Vodka posted a wonderful one-off by singer/songwriter Helen Austin, called Perfect Girl. Just recently, I took a trip back through the archives, landed on that track, and wondered what happened to Helen. Thankfully, she is still out there, making music, as part of a duo now called Big Little Lions. Enter Find Your Tribe (seen/heard here), the lead-off single to that wonderful new collection of songs titled Alive And Well (February 2018). Paul Otten, a singer/songwriter in his own right, joins…
Read MoreKelly Oliver has been making excellent folk music for a couple of years now with the focus being on folk stories and a decidedly indie-pop delivery. It is an inspired sound and worthy of anyone’s turntable/CD player or digital list. You be the judge. Here is Rio from Kelly’s second full-length, Bedlam (March 2016) to give you a taste of that style. In the past, Ms. Oliver has written mostly her own material, but later this year (in September) she will release her junior effort, Botany Bay, which will…
Read MoreBack in October of last year, the Philadelphia, PA folk-rock band, Stella Ruze, released their self-titled EP. It’s glorious! Bide The Time was the first single off of that EP and you can judge for yourself. Even though this was a self-titled EP, Stella Ruze actually released their first full-length recording in June 2016, So Here. Stella Ruze is made up of bandleader Brendan Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Katie Burke (vocals, mandolin, percussion), Mason Wallack (keyboards, vocals), Alex Styer (trumpet, percussion, vocals), Vince Gleason (saxophone), and Sean McIntyre…
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