Ben Folds is well known, so it may seem strange to see a review for an artist that is not in one of those dark corners that Vodka is always talking about. He hasn’t had an LP since 2015’s So There but has nonetheless been very busy, and it is this lack of an LP in 8 years that makes this a milestone moment for music lovers, particularly for Ben Folds lovers. Winslow Gardens (heard here) is the first…
Read MoreJuliana Riccardi is an American singer/songwriter with a flair for combining the best influences of pop, rock, Americana, blues, and more. She has a beautiful voice, and she uses it in top form on Right On Time (seen/heard here), keeping the lyrics up-front and personal. The artist graduated from City College of New York with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Vocal Performance. From her New York roots, Juliana shifted gears, transplanting herself to sunny California, residing now in Los Angeles….
Read MoreHailing from North London, indie-pop artist Natalie Shay may not break a lot of new ground with The Edge (seen/heard here), but she makes up for it by sounding fresh in her delivery. The Edge is about reaching the end of a close friendship. Since the song is based on a real-life experience, it is cathartic for Shay: “This is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever released, and as the feelings are still very raw, I’m hoping to find closure…
Read MoreSteeped in historical rock, gently tossed with pop melody goodness, and carefully served with attention to detail, Steve Stoeckel’s debut LP, The Power Of And (February 2023), is a careful look at what rock music can be in the age of overproduction. From the lead-off track, Laura Lynn, to the finale, Whistling Past Graveyards, each song is crafted with a simple story, a good melody, Stoeckel’s imperfect but infectious vocals, and instrumentation that offers just enough, without being too much. From start to finish, The Power Of…
Read MoreFormer Beatle and solo-artist Paul McCartney had a lot to say about the benefits of “Silly Love Songs” and artist Kian Blume is right there with him. Blume sings about the girl that he can’t get out of his head on Daphne (seen/heard here). There’s no new ground covered here and Blume proves that sometimes that just isn’t important. Kian Blume is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. His music can be delightful, infectious, upbeat, raucous, and more. To get a better feel…
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