NYS Music 20​16

Tag: Album Review

  • Hearing Aide: The Phryg Self-Titled Debut

    ThePhrygBrooklyn-based progressive funk quartet The Phryg released their full-length self-titled debut album last month. The band formed in 2013 and released their debut EP Midnight Snack in 2014. They tour regularly in the New York and Pennsylvania areas.

    The Phryg kicks off with “Hello Miss,” a six minute progression that opens with a funk groove bringing the whole band into the mix. The song moves through variations of the opening groove to the bridge, which features a brief piano solo, before the song climaxes with a rocking solo from guitarist Collin Patierno. It finally comes to a close returning to the initial funk groove.

    The second track “Puddin’ Head,” which is also the shortest track clocking in just under four minutes, brings a nice slow funky groove throughout. “Turn You Out” is a keyboard-led tune that rounds out the start of the album. “Crispy Hat” is an instrumental tune that shows off the band’s capabilities. The final track “Tang Slayer” is a perfect cap to the album.

    The album is straight up funk grooves throughout and will keep those listening moving. Unfortunately, they don’t stray very much from a standard form with many of the songs feeling as though they were written off the same groove. The production quality of several tracks is lacking, leaving the listener wondering if they’re listening to a demo or a fully produced album. Overall, The Phryg’s debut album is a fun listen, if lacking in places.

    Keep updated on The Phryg at their website and on Facebook.

    Key Tracks: Hello Miss, Crispy Hat, Tang Slayer

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUuSq252aGo[/embedyt]

  • Hearing Aide: Jack and Amanda Palmer “You Got Me Singing”

    You Got Me Singing, Amanda Palmer’s first full-length album since 2012’s Theatre is Evil with the Grand Theft Orchestra, is a heart-felt tribute to both folk music and family. Along with her father, Jack Palmer, the album consists of twelve cover songs, spanning from Sinéad O’Connor’s “Black Boys on Mopeds” to Leonard Cohen’s “You Got Me Singing,” after which the album was titled.

    AmandaPalmer

    Funded entirely by Patreon, the album cover itself is a pastiche of Bob Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home. Recorded with a once-estranged father when Palmer was eight months pregnant, the simplicity of the songs reminds us of the power of music, and why we listen to it in the first place. They aren’t merely covers, but new versions of old favorites.

    The album opens with Leonard Cohen’s “You Got Me Singing,” with both Palmers sharing vocals, Jack’s bass (think: Johnny Cash) complimenting Amanda’s quieter tones. From there, covers include a nursery rhyme, Richard John Thompson’s “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” where both Palmers swap vocals, and particularly relevant in today’s political climate, Sinéad O’Connor’s “Black Boys on Mopeds.”

    As a complement to the O’Connor cover, Phil Och’s “In The Heat of the Summer,” soon follows. Written in 1963 about the Harlem riots, some of the lyrics have been changed in order to bring home the message. Jack Palmer sings, “Another black kid face down in the road, whose life did not seem to matter.”

    Other highlights include “Skye Boat Song,” a tribute to Palmer’s mother’s family who originate from Scotland. The song tells the story about the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie to the Isle of Skye after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Both Palmers again share vocals here.

    The album overall has unconcealed messages about unity and togetherness. Though the songs were chosen because of their meaning to Jack and Amanda personally, the themes of family and peace are ubiquitous.

    Amanda and Jack are currently on a short tour together now. Two New York dates remain:

    July 20 – Le Poisson Rouge, New York
    July 23 – Basilica Hudson, Hudson, New York

    Key Tracks:     Skye Boat Song, In The Heat of the Summer, 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

    [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9LlSYGM0Rg[/embedyt]

  • Hearing Aide: Dentist “Ceilings”

    Dentist is an Asbury Park-based indie rock band whose catchy sound blends the best of surf, punk and pop. Think: dreamy vocals, fuzzy guitars and beachy jangle. The band’s 2014 self-titled release received much positive attention, and the four-member group has shared the stage with a variety of national acts, including Jeff the Brotherhood, Laura Stevenson, Television, Screaming Females and many more. And on June 24, Dentist debuted their follow-up album, Ceilings.

    A first listen through the 10-track record might leave listeners not knowing what to think — but, after a few additional run-throughs, the album certainly comes to life. Vocalist Emily Bornemann can be compared to Stevie Nicks, and the rest of the band (Justin Bornemann, Nick Kaelbein, Rudy Meier) nicely gels with her signature styling.

    There are a few standout tracks on Dentist’s new full-length album. The opening song, “Climbed Too Many Trees,” kicks the record off with a sense of what is to come ahead, offering a great blend of vocals and driving guitar and drums — this song really sets the pace. The second noticeable track, “Over and Over,” slows the album down to an almost complete stop, but after how driving the first few songs are this one is perfectly placed for a nice mid-record breather; and the sheer brilliance of this song coupled with its beautiful melodies might bring on the tears for some. The third ear-catcher is “Joel,” and it seems that this song details a bad breakup with a long-term boyfriend; but, it ends up being more of a feel-good piece once the beat picks up.

    Ceilings is definitely worth a listen, as this band has a lot of potential and upside, and any chance to see Dentist live now in intimate hometown settings would be highly recommended before this group bursts through to bigger venues — plus, their tunes provide a perfect soundtrack for summertime escape.

    Key Tracks: Climbed Too Many Trees, Over and Over, Joel

  • Hearing Aide: Darling Valley “Crooked Orchards”

    As the latest album from the newly re-imagined folk quartet, Darling Valley, falls into our laps, there is quite a bit of substance undetermined. With this double wife-husband duo, we get all the warm feelings of family and hospitality, even in the freezing climates of Upstate New York, where the four band mates first originated. From their distant years under the name Accents, this group has numerously reshaped their genre, band members and multi-instrumental capabilities to land them where they are now —releasing Crooked Orchards on June 24 through Sounds and Tones Records. The real question is, where, in their transition from Accents to Darling Valley, was their musical peak as an ensemble? To some, it may not be in this new release.

    Featuring a plethora of emotional roller coasters, instruments and vocal timbres, this 11-track record was the first step in pulling together what is now Darling Valley. They made their first appearance online competing in the NPR Tiny Desk Competition, where they performed “Widows and Revolutionaries,” which eventually made its way to this album. Their other hit singles are featured on this album as well, including the adorable “Graces” and the uplifting ode to growing pains, “You’ll Go Far, Kid.”

    Multi-instrumentalists TJ Foster, Ashleigh Whitfield, Lauren Foster and Jordan Stewart are testaments to a premier ensemble. Their songs are uplifting, while featuring an array of instruments, from mandolin to trumpet. They have the most warming videos, including their newest video release of “You’ll Go Far, Kid,” which was directed by an 8 year old and features the bandmates dressed as animals.

    With the stories they portray through songs like “Widows and Revolutionaries,” there is no doubt that the 1,186 likes they have on Facebook are truly devoted fans. However, there is still something missing from Crooked Orchards. One theory would be its overall lack of contrast, featuring nothing new enough to bring to the table of 2016’s top charts. That being said, there is a market for folk-pop lovers on the Internet, and there is no doubt that they will eventually find Darling Valley, and that will be all the fans they need. Listening to Darling Valley will also provide three things you didn’t know you needed: tight vocal harmony, a variety of instruments and an overwhelming mix of heartbreak, encouragement and joy. And for that, we are grateful for Crooked Orchards. 

    Top Tracks: Graces, Widows and Revolutionaries, You’ll Go Far, Kid

  • Hearing Aide: Devon Allman ‘Ragged and Dirty’

    Life on the road, the sights in the rearview mirror and the hard lessons learned along the way, Devon Allman and his latest album Ragged and Dirty is the perfect soundtrack to crank on the speakers over a nice long summer road trip, perhaps one marked with a few stops at some biker bars and dives.

    Devon Allman’s latest album “Ragged & Dirty” debuted at #4 on the Billboard Blues Charts upon its release on Ruf Recording last October.

    Raised in Texas by his mother, Shelley, he did not meet his famous father, Gregg Allman, until he was 16 years old. Now 43, he’s been touring nationally and has released eight albums with bands including Honeytribe and Royal Southern Band.

    Ragged and Dirty, Allman’s third solo work, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Blues Charts upon its release on Ruf Records last October. It’s produced by Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, who also co-wrote three songs on the album. Allman shakes the dust off his father’s signature style of guitar-driven blues and rock and infuses it with his own modern, hard-hitting licks and powerful lyrics in this latest incarnation.

    You can almost feel the grit in your teeth throughout this professional, polished album, which runs the gamut of styles from country roots in track one, “Half the Truth,” to blues and rock n’ roll with a slight edge of funkiness in the album’s title track 11, “Ragged and Dirty.” Get lost in the soulful, sultry steam guitar-laden sixth track, “Midnight Lake Michigan,” and then find yourself in the honky-tonk stylings of track 10, “Times Have Changed.”

    A highlight for me was track number three, “Leavin’,” which reminds me of a mix of Joe Cocker and the Allman Brothers Band in a song about running away from the same old problems and falling into old routines. A solid rock n’ roll journey with heartfelt lyrics, it’s a great song for a road trip without a destination.

    The seventh tune, “Ten Million Slaves,” a song about the journey and trials faced by millions of slaves as they were ripped from their homeland and brought to America to be sold, came as a timely surprise as the original A&E mini-series “Roots” recently aired on television.

    Track 10, “Times Have Changed,” is a good reminder to stay relevant and not get caught up in looking back on the past and making up your mind to change things. As the lyrics note, “I’d do anything you say, and now there ain’t no way/ That was yesterday, and times have changed/You’ve got to pick and choose, and I was bound to lose, but I’ve got some news for you, times have changed.”

    Track 12, “Leave the City,” is the perfect way to wrap up this album, with Allman’s soothingly familiar voice gently commingled with sounds of a resonator guitar seeping through to wash you clean, as you leave the dirty city for land of riversides and mountain tops.

    It’s clear this an album inspired by life on the road. To steal a line from the fifth song, “a road runner baby, Citadel platinum frequent flier,” Allman brings his tour to New York with a June 15 show at Iron Works in Buffalo, at the Wescott Theater in Syracuse on June 16 and Albany’s Empire State Plaza on June 29. Catch him before he travels on.

    Key Tracks: Times Have Changed, Midnight Lake Michigan, Leave the City

  • Hearing Aide: Assembly of Dust ‘Tales from the Oregon Trail’

    Tales-From-the-Oregon-Trail_AssemblyofDust-980x980In December 2014, Reid Genauer took Assembly of Dust on a tour of the West. They made a stop in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 12 where they were joined by Mark Karan, of RatDog and the Other Ones. Ten songs were picked from this show, mastered and included on Tales from the Oregon Trail.

    Reviewing a live album can be difficult, especially when it’s short and every song is a highlight, as is the case with Tales from the Oregon Trail. The 10 tracks on the album contain Assembly of Dust fan favorites with full band and a couple solo acoustic songs performed by Genauer, including a cover of Neil Young’s “Comes a Time,” which is sure to delight. Genauer’s warm, folksy vocals give the song a different feel from Young’s original. The other acoustic song, “Crest of my Wing,” gives a soft, but powerful close to the album.

    The full band songs are equally enjoyable. “All That I am Now” is the longest track on the album, clocking in at just over 10 minutes with some great soloing by Karan. The very next track, “Filter,” will have listeners dancing in their seats, cars, or wherever they choose to listen to the album. The jazz/funk jam is upbeat and will leave everyone with an ear-to-ear smile. The album also contains fan-favorites “Mama” and “Rachel” that always delight.

    All-in-all Tales from the Oregon Trail is a fantastic album from start to finish. It is sure to provide an enjoyable listen for Assembly of Dust fans, old and new alike. It’s currently available for free streaming at the band’s SoundCloud page or for download at the band’s website.

    Key Tracks: Filter, Rachel, Samuel Aging, Comes a Time

  • Hearing Aide: The DuPont Brothers ‘A Riddle for You’

    The DuPont Brothers, a sibling duo from Burlington, VT, have the gift of being both poets and musicians, a rarity these days. It’s always refreshing to hear sibling duos, because you can sense the true bond felt between them. Whether they’re harmonizing or singing in unison, Sam and Zack hit every note head on and flawlessly, while at the same time giving each other the space to shine individually. Joined on their latest album by several Burlington-based stars, A Riddle for You showcases just what this corner of the world has to offer in the way of talent.

    While guitars are the most prominent instrument on this album, interjections from the occasional fiddle, banjo and pedal steel are certainly welcome throughout. The musical influences of Neil Young come through strongly, perhaps most obviously on “Trespassers,” which sounds a lot like “Harvest Moon,” while hints of the musical stylings of Ray LaMontagne can be heard on songs such as “The Arbor.” Then there are songs like “The Positives of Ten Degrees” that offer a more unique and individual style, while staying true to the folk element that seems to prevalent to varying degrees.

    In terms of the vocals, each brother has his own distinctive and divine voice, both being particularly easy on the ears. Zack’s strong vocals seem to come effortlessly, giving the sense that he must share his voice and music-writing talents with the world. With Sam taking over the vocal leads on the album’s fourth song, “Ben’s Song,” one can sense a heavy vocal influence from Nick Drake, with an almost otherworldly tone.

    It would be fair to say that this album would be perfect for a stay-at-home date night, having it playing in the background, while eating a romantic dinner, providing background music during periods of conversation with its mellow under-spoken tone and intelligent lyrics to ponder upon during moments of silence. A Riddle For You has a way of really tugging on your heartstrings, having the quality of sounding familiar while at the same time offering a fresh twist on traditional folk music. The DuPont Brothers’ second album will be available in stores this June, so be sure to pick up a copy.

    Key Tracks: Something to Write About, The Positives of Ten Degrees, Fuse

  • Hearing Aide: The Honeycutters “On the Ropes”

    HoneycuttersOnTheRopesBigCov

    A follow-up to the chart-topping breakout album Me Oh My (2015), the Honeycutters’ latest release, On the Ropes, brings a breezy soundtrack for Sunday driving down that lonely country mile.

    Frontwoman Amanda Anne Platt (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) comes on strong in the record’s opening title track, before lulling listeners along in “Blue Besides.” It’s the third song, “Golden Child,” that demands full attention, with its bluesy vocals, relatable lyrics and soul-bending composition.

    Throughout 12 original songs, Platt shares personal stories from the battlefield that cover the spectrum of love, loss and learning, writing “I’ve been a stranger here before, I’ve been a soldier, I’ve been the war, and I’ve done my time on the wrong side of the door, I’ve been peaceful, I’ve been wild, I’ve been a Golden Child.” She’s down-to-earth in her delivery of tell-it-like-it-is advice (“hang up that halo and get by with the rest of us, let those wings go to rust…you’re not taking any chances, you’re looking for that easy answer”) from one strong-headed woman who’s “not hanging up my spurs, I’m just telling you I’ve learned.”

    Although not as mountain as Gillian Welch, the Hastings-On-Hudson native and Skidmore College graduate’s sweet, natural vibrato is a refreshing sound coming out of the songstress’ current base of Asheville, NC. And accompanying bandmates, Rick Cooper (upright, electric bass), Josh Milligan (drums, vocals), Matt Smith (pedal steel, electric guitar, dobro) and Tal Taylor (mandolin), are the perfect mixer for a polished concoction of rock and country elements with a sprig of rural Appalachia.

    From swingy, borderline pop-twang in “The Handbook” to steady rock in “Back Row,” highlighted by harmonica (played by Platt’s father, Mark) and electric guitar, to the slouchier slide and mandolin in “Useless Memories” to the trimmer distortion in “Ache” that makes the raw emotion feel real, and a jaunty, shimmery cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” it’s all here, before the record is capped off with a dusty picture of gunslingers and barroom girls in “Barmaid’s Blues.”

    The Honeycutters have surely made something out of nothing with their fourth studio album, On the Ropes (out now through Organic Records); it’s alternative Americana at its finest, and Platt’s sincere songwriting is the gravy on the biscuits.

    Key Tracks: Golden Child, Back Row, Ache, Hallelujah

    https://soundcloud.com/user-123099651/sets/on-the-ropes

  • Local Limelight: Seymour – Indie Rock from New Paltz

    Anyone whose life revolves around music, seeks out new ear candy as often as possible. The most difficult thing is to find something that really piques your interest, especially a complete album. During my third listen through the new self-titled album by Seymour, my interest was certainly piqued.

    seymourIn a recent phone conversation with Steve Geary (rhythm guitar, bass, vocals), who co-founded the band with Avery Maracek (rhythm guitar, bass, vocals), I was able to learn quite a bit about the up-and-coming band from New Paltz. Steve and Avery met their bandmates, John Morrison (lead guitar) and Brandon Bera (drums), while they all attended SUNY New Paltz. As is common among college friends, they all hail from different places around New York State; Steve and John grew up in the Capital Region, Avery is from Western NY and Brandon is from the Westchester area.

    They came together and melded their influences, which range from Avery’s exposure to jazz guitar via his father, to Steve’s adoration of ’90s indie rock and mixed it all with John and Brandon’s love of jam bands. The final product? A mixed sound of Weezer and Fountains of Wayne (circa Utopia Parkway) pumped into your ears from headphones, reminding you of your teenage years. Steve explained that he and Avery share the songwriting duties. He feels that with both of them writing they are able to create a symbiotic relationship, which generates a more than gratifying result.

    seymourWhen you press play to listen to the new album, you are instantly hit with the meta tune “Seymour,” their self-titled song off of their latest release. Although this is their first full-length album, these boys have an arrangement that shows just how much work they’ve put into the last two years since forming April 2014. While listening through the record, other earworms present themselves; the somber love song “Bleeding Heart” shows how there isn’t just surface feelings built into Seymour’s music, and this depth is further accentuated in their short but introspective song, “Tethered.” As mentioned before, this first Seymour album is truly easy to listen to on repeat.

    To check out Seymour’s new self-titled album, you can visit their Bandcamp page. Also, be sure to check out their Facebook page and website. You can also catch them live at their upcoming show at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, on June 18.

  • Hearing Aide: The Macpodz “Underwater Encounters”

    The MacpodzThe jazz-fusion, disco-funk band from Michigan, the Macpodz, recently dropped their latest release, Underwater Encounter, and this album will light up a room. “Leijah’s Victory Lap I” eases listeners in with a breezy jazz tempo, while introducing the album via electronic voice. “Cities, Highways” is the perfect song to listen to while stuck in traffic, as it gives the feeling of moving beyond the bottleneck at that one exit, only to proceed to step on the pedal and floor it to 70. This jam is not sorry about bringing the funk with a continuous build.

    The jazzy “Until the Next Time Around” is filled with smooth moves, organ slams and bursts of trumpet that demand attention. Between tracks, a quick “Quiz” from a children’s electronic toy is in store; listen carefully, and see if you can decode the answer. “$5s & $10s” is crammed with sexy tones that aren’t afraid to let loose during the slow and easy flow of this track.

    A groovy “Bouncin’ Off Satellites” creates an infectious tone, and dancing is the side effect. There’s no avoiding the need to get up and bounce around the room to this track. With intense energy exerted from dancing, “Hitchhikers Love Song” is the breather halfway through the album. Sleepy trumpet notes dance through this relaxed tune before sliding into the jazzified “Put Some Stank On It.”

    “No Dead Air” keeps the chill vibe rolling with hints of Frank Zappa, while “N Congress” brings a supercool rhythmic flow. “Sammy’s Reprise” is heavy on organ and spoken word, a spiritual nod to the musical influence on life. The soulful “Temesgen’s Homies”  is packed with slapping guitar strokes and down and dirty brass, coupled with keys that aren’t afraid to dance around the other instruments.  The album wraps up with the outro of “Leijah’s Victory Lap II,” bringing a clean close to Underwater Encounter.

    Overall, this record is the perfect playlist addition to an evening with friends, when attempting to capture the heart of a woman, or when in need of something funkadelic. Crammed with musical surprises, beats that take you way up high and then back down for a cool break, Underwater Encounter will surprise and delight even the most discriminate music fan.

    Key Tracks: Cities, Highways, Put Some Stank On It, N Congress