Category: Album Reviews

Tracey Yarad Brings Her Musical Memoir of Heartbreak to NYC Stage in July

What do you do when your husband and musical partner of many years runs off with your teenage goddaughter? You write a boatload of wonderful songs, dye your wedding dress black and make it into a dynamic, emotional rollercoaster of a musical stage show. That’s how the soulful Australian-born, New York-based singer-songwriter-pianist Tracey Yarad coped with heartbreak by crafting an emotionally raw and sometimes even humorous blend of memoir and song entitled All These Pretty Things.

New Yorkers will get a chance to experience this unique fusion of song and monologue when it comes to the 59E59 Theater in New York City, July 13, 14 and 16. Yarad’s Big Apple run is a part of 59E59’s East to Edinburgh 2024, a showcase of 16 shows, including Yarad’s, which will be heading to the famed Edinburgh Fringe Fest in August 2024.

This confessional and cathartic one-woman show is a classic illustration of when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. A phoenix rising from the ashes story, it takes the audience from the fallout of a devastating divorce in Australia, following her husband’s affair with their goddaughter, to an inspiring new life and musical career in New York City. Tracey Yarad plays both the damsel in distress and the heroine who saves the day in this dramatic sound play.

“I started writing these songs to keep myself from going insane,” explains Yarad. “I didn’t realize that it would ever be recorded or performed. It was just my healing process. But the audience reactions so far have shown me it’s something that touches and helps other people to move through their struggles and challenges too.”

Yarad’s sprawling All These Pretty Things began life as an album. It features contributions from some of New York’s finest jazz musicians including guitarist Luca Benedetti (Jim Campilongo), bassist Tony Scherr (Norah Jones, Bill Frisell), violinist Zach Brock (Snarky Puppy, Stanley Clarke), drummer Josh Dion (Chuck Loeb, Bob James) and organist Jon Cowherd (Brian Blade Fellowship, Joni Mitchell). An accompanying illustrated book will be available for purchase at the show and online at her Yarad’s website. Acclaimed jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux has called All These Pretty Things “an emotional roller coaster ride from thoughtful resignation to heartbreak, rage, acceptance and back again. I like it when I hear her roar!” BroadwayWorld.com labels it “a beautiful alchemy, breathtakingly honest and gorgeously sung songs on the themes of loss and abandonment and the restorative power of music and love.”

Tracey developed this evocative portrayal of one woman’s capacity to come back stronger than ever with the help of her co-writer and director, the acclaimed jazz songstress Tessa Souter. The work also serves as Souter’s directorial debut. Yarad names “heart-on-sleeve” songwriters like Laura Nyro, Rickie Lee Jones, Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt as some of her primary influences for the piece. Her music reflects her diverse experience as a performer – from classical pianist to singing German lieder, from leading a jazz fusion trio to fronting funk bands. All these stylistic variants blend to create Yarad’s singular style.

All These Pretty Things showcases Yarad’s strength as an instrumentalist and vocalist. With only a piano and her powerful voice, she communicates a wide range of human emotions, ones that come with the burgeoning of new love through to its inevitable and uniquely tragic unraveling to her rebirth as both a woman and an artist. Her musical and lyrical acumen are showcased in the spoken word passages which are the connective tissue to the musical pieces. They are a testament to another of her unique talent as a dramatist.

Yarad’s musical life has been varied and globe-trotting. A pianist and singer-songwriter with jazz sensibilities, her career has taken her from touring her native Australia with her original music and having a Top 40 single in the 1990s, to a seven-year residency singing in 5-star hotels in Japan, to running her own music school for 18 years in the Blue Mountains of Australia and, finally, to New York City.

Since relocating to the Big Apple in 2017, she has added jazz photographer to her list of professional accomplishments, specializing in portraits of leading names in jazz. Her work has appeared in Downbeat, Guitar Player and Drum Scene magazines to name a few.

New York serves as an inspiring backdrop that has greatly fueled Tracey’s creative musical spirit. In the relatively short time since moving here, Tracey has produced two original music projects—one with her all-female group featuring Claudia Acuña, Jennifer Vincent, Elsa Nilsson and Rosa Avila and this one-woman version of All These Pretty Things. Another musical memoir, Lost in Translation, featured stories and songs from her days as a hotel singer in Japan and was performed with virtuoso jazz pianist Jim Ridl.

July 2, 2024
Hudson Valley Band AM Gold Releases Self-Titled Album

The two-piece rock band, AM Gold, just released their long awaited, self-titled album on all streaming platforms.

Today, Aaron Magram and Dana Fasano make up the rock band. When the project first started, AM Gold was Magram’s solo work. Between 2017 and 2020 he released three albums, Fuckin’ A, Love Pharmaceuticals & Smooth Jazz and SuperUltraMegaMediocre along with their two EPs, Xanax and Aww Yeah!

In late 2022, the project was re-born and Magram and Fasano started to perform together. Originally, the two wanted to find other bandmates to fill out their sound more, but with the help of music technology, they no longer have that need.

With octave and vocal pedals along with guitar looping, AM Gold sounded like a full band. Recordings for this new album started in early 2024 at Magram’s home studio with the help of Bob Hershberger, who professionally mastered the album.

In preparation for the new album they’ve released three singles, “Unto You,” “Use Your Delusions I” and “Tell Me.”

Listening to AM Gold is like taking a journey through rock history. You can find the resemblance to 80’s hair rock with the opening track “Word of God” as well as “About Me.” Their intense guitar instrumentations and harsh vocals speak to the inspiration. “Sleight of Hand” is a more easy-going carefree 70’s style song.

Although this grunge punk album has clear inspiration, it is original and unique to AM Gold’s style. Their mixing and instrumentation is exactly the modern touch rock music needs in 2024.

AM Gold also has some performance dates in the Hudson Valley and you can find more information about it on their website.

AM Gold Tour Dates

July 18: Green Hill, Kingston, NY

Aug 8: Keegan Ales, Kingston, NY

Aug 24: Rushing Duck Brewing Company, Chester, NY

Sept 7: Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock, NY

June 29, 2024
Hearing Aide: Buggy Jive “Hurry Up Please It’s Time”

Buggy Jive, the reclusive but momentum building groovester out of Upstate New York, is dripping with originality. Coming off of a white hot 2023 (Including an NPR shoutout, two Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards, a Macy Gray opening slot, and much more),

Mr. Jive has cooked up a 12 song showcase worthy of a glance from a wider audience, titled, Hurry Up Please It’s Time”

Opening with “Monsters Write Pretty Songs,” Buggy immediately announces “Good luck,” with a thickly stacked vocal on top of the meandering rhythm guitar that jolts and grabs attention. The crispy blend of gospel and Doobie-esque backing vocals weave a soft takeoff before eventually punching the opening notes of “Scheherazade of Schenectady.” The first single off the record is appropriately verbose, as it touches on principles of fiction writing and brings up the heat after the smooth opener.

Relaxedly defiant, “Don’t Quit Your Day Job,” hints of the prog influence to come later in both “The Music is Beside the Point,” and “The Calendar is a Liar.” Distorted and stanky, the song that garnered the NPR shoutout from Bob Boilen and Bobby Carter somehow still gives front porch rocking chair vibes while hiding a middle finger attitude behind a content and fulfilled smile.

In “Another Song I Ain’t Allowed to Sing,” Buggy Jive offers reminders of his emotional range and musical intent while slowing down the pace, but featuring right-up-front lead vocals and an ocean of harmonies that keep the energy flowing. This range and intent returns in spades on “Autumn Is Burning.” The mid-album walking groove breaks out major key on a bridge change that feels like a full breath after the intentionally dark verse progression. While “Old Man Screams at Sky,” hits more like a barnhouse dance party than gospel groove, those dynamic controls and natural chord voicings remain steady and present.

“Ignore Them Fools,” and “Alpha the Beta,” both ooze confidence, with the former feeling like a class in session and the latter like a player on the field in action. “Alien Robot Love Song About Love,” and “Hurry Up Please It’s Time,” the final two tracks of the album, lay heavy wet grooves that drag the listener deep into the songwriters’ pocket lyrically and musically.

The entire work displays an adventurous attitude as a musician and a deep sensibility surrounding vocals that act as an homage to his influences, both perceived and expressed. Buggy Jive took a big swing on this record, and his dedication and emotion are both easily seen and felt throughout.

June 22, 2024
Buffalo Based Artist Evan Anstey Releases New EP “Alternates II”
On Friday, June 21, Buffalo-based alt-folk artist Evan Anstey released his latest EP, Alternates II. As the second installment of Anstey’s “Alternates” series, this EP explores a wide range of genres and musical styles. With Alternates II, audiences can expect an awesome mix of hard rock, techno, and of course, a bit of bluegrass.

Debuting in 2016 with his EP Recent Time, Evan Anstey has played a role in the Western New York music scene. Born and raised in the area, Anstey began playing music at the age of 8. As he grew older, he began writing and performing his own music, both as a solo and group artist. Anstey co-founded, played guitar, and sang with rock bands Arrowdrive and The Moon Hunters. Since he was 17, Evan has served as a vocalist, guitarist, and occasional bassist in the indie-prog outfit Meat Raffle.

Evan Anstey’s alt-folk sound draws inspiration ranging from classic artists like Flatt & Scruggs to the progressive bluegrass of Nickel Creek and modern folk stylings of Aoife O’Donovan, John Paul White and Declan O’Rourke. His last EP, Alternates I, stayed true to his inspirations in folk and indie music. The instrumentation of the EP was mostly acoustic. However, its sequel is quite different.

For years, Evan Anstey gained traction as a folk artist. But with this EP, Anstey explored elements of other genres like hard rock and techno. The blend of these genres may come as a surprise to some, but the experimentation had been expertly handled. Like his last album, however, each track was a creative retelling of past songs he had performed live or co-wrote with his other groups. Anstey had the help of guest musicians to fully compose his vision.

Anstey played various instruments on Alternates II, including guitar, violin, bass, mandolin, keyboards, and ukulele. Guests artists Darryl Tonemah, LP Tonemah, Kris Brayley, Ernest “E.C.” Palmer, Alex Feig, and James Robert Kibby all feature on the six-track EP, each providing their own instrumentation and elements to the work.

I wanted to step out of the box on this one. Plans changed along
the way, but that’s one of my favorite parts about making a
record — the fluidity of art.
Evan Anstey
Alternates II is available on all streaming and download platforms. For more information on Evan Anstey, visit here.
June 21, 2024
Hearing Aide: Organ Fairchild release new LP “Songs We Didn’t Write”
Buffalo based band Organ Fairchild officially released their third studio record, Songs We Didn’t Write on June 7th. The 44 minute, 9 track collection of instrumental covers follows the 2023 release of Leisure Suit.

The trio is made up of Joe Bellanti on organ and keyboards, Corey Kertzie on drums and percussion, and Dave Ruch on guitar. According to Ruch, it was his son’s idea for the band to record and release an entire album of covers. He says “being a completely instrumental band, we’ve always loved the challenge of rearranging some of our favorite music in the organ trio format, and since our live shows always include some choice covers, this felt like a super fun project and a bit of a no-brainer!”

Left to Right: Kertzie, Ruch, Bellanti (Photo by Joe Cascio)

Songs We Didn’t Write was recorded and mixed by grammy award winning Justin Guip at Milan Hill Studios, and mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive. The record notably features grammy award winning and rock & roll hall-of-famer Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) on guitar for Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” and The Brass Machine’s horn section on Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”. The album features a wide variety of artists and influences, from Harry Styles to Bob Marley and Grateful Dead.

“Hard to Handle” features electric (pun intended) guitar work by both Jorma and Ruch. The guitar-led track explodes into solos, before coming to a peak with both Jorma and Ruch trading solos with each other. The rhythm section of Bellanti and Kertzie hold it down together so well here and across the entire record.

“I Wish”, which features The Brass Machine, is a high-energy, freshly arranged take on the classic Stevie Wonder tune. The trombone, trumpet and saxophone additions elevate the song to new heights, and their solos end the song with a bang.

Photo by Matt Shotwell

The band goes back to their roots with songs like “Lazy River Road” and “Lost Sailor.” They were all members of “Wild Knights”, a Grateful Dead tribute based in Buffalo where they first met in 1983. The influence the Dead has in their playing and style is apparent, noticeably in Ruch’s guitar playing and his phrasing. The band does an excellent job at making these songs their own while paying their respect to the originals. Their arrangements are fresh, and they give these covers the space that allows for the song to breathe and come to life in their unique organ trio instrumentation.

Songs We Didn’t Write is currently available on all streaming services [here].

Tracklist:
1. Them Belly Full (Bob Marley)
2. Lost Sailor (Grateful Dead)
3. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
4. Canyon Moon (Harry Styles)
5. Hard to Handle (Otis Redding)
6. Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles)
7. Lazy River Road (Grateful Dead)
8. I Wish (Stevie Wonder)
9. Redemption Song (Bob Marley)
Organ Fairchild 2024 New York Tour Dates:

July 13th – ADK Brew & Chew – Peru, NY

July 18th-21st – Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival – Trumansburg, NY

July 31st – Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY

August 3rd – Cobblestoned Vibes – Buffalo, NY

September 5th – Party on the Patio – Saranac Lake, NY

November 6th – Foothills Performing Arts Center – Oneonta, NY

Visit organfairchild.com for more information.
June 20, 2024
Albany Funk Rock Band Lake Effect Releases First EP

A new face in the Albany Music scene, Lake Effect, released their first six-song EP, Drifting on May 17.

The band formed in 2022 with Lenore Aldi-Snow, who writes all the original music. The other three members come from the funk band, NoLaNauts, also based in Albany. Ben Moss is on Guitar, Brian Brancato is on drums and background vocals and Matt Girtler is on bass and backing vocals. The group played for what they thought was just one performance on New Year’s Eve 2022 at Jive Hive Live, a small venue in Albany.

Lake Effect came together again at Christ’s Church in Albany in April 2023 as an official band this time. They played 23 of their original songs including the tracks from Drifting. The EP was mixed and produced by Alec Lewis at his studio, Honey Home.

The EP is full of Aldi-Snow on the keys playing classic funk rhythms. “Trouble” has an uncanny resemblance to Bill Wither’s “Use Me.” The band uses neo-soul and funk sounds but mixes them with Aldi-Snow’s crisp jazz vocals. “EDGE,” the last track on the EP features Brancato’s and Girtler’s vocals with a blues-rock end to Drifting.

Although Lake Effect is currently on a break due to other musical commitments, they plan on recording more music in the future – listen to their EP Drifting on any streaming site.

June 15, 2024
Rochester Artist Sarah De Vallière Releases New Concept Album

Singer-songwriter Sarah De Vallière’s deeply personal concept album, The Healing, was released on June 7.

The album is a genre blending, ten song project that explores De Vallière’s grief and trauma during a harsh time in her life, including divorce and Covid-19 lockdown. Members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra collaborated on the album giving its unique blend of classical and Jazz, paying homage to De Vallière’s background in music. The Healing is jazz-inflected Americana.

De Vallière is a classically trained pianist and graduate of Berklee college of music. Although she moved to Rochester in 2018, she grew up in Providence, RI, always surrounded by music. Her father was a pastor and therefore her upbringing in the church had a big impact on her musical development. She played piano in the congregation multiple times a week and she was writing her own compositions by the time she was a teenager.

In 2024, De Vallière released four singles, all of which will appear on the upcoming album. “All is Not Lost,” her most recent single is more upbeat and uplifting than her earlier repertoire. As the title suggests, the song depicts the confidence she regains through her trauma. The Healing exposes De Vallière’s beautiful piano compositions as well as sharp vocals. Her voice has a light feminine sound that can be compared to that of Karen Carpenter or a Disney Princess.

On May 31, the album premiered at Tones Studios, a new recording studio outside of Rochester, NY, which gave fans an opportunity to meet the artist herself and be the first to hear The Healing.

After The Healing is released, Sarah De Vallière will perform in small venues around the greater Rochester area. You can find her music on all streaming platforms.

Aug 9 – Webster Jazz Fest (Webster, NY)

Sept 26 – Iron Smoke Distillery (Fairport, NY)

Sept 28 – Grape Fest (Naples, NY)

Oct 9 – Record Archive (Rochester, NY)

Nov 2 – Little Theatre Concert Series (Rochester, NY)

Dec 20 – Lovin’ Cup (Rochester, NY)

June 11, 2024
McKinley James Debuts With ‘Working Class Blues’

Rochester-born McKinley James released his debut album, Working Class Blues, on June 7. With classic sounds reminiscent of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly, the album takes us back to the first days of modern rock’n’roll.

Through stories of love and heartbreak, McKinley James celebrates the early days of soul and rock while simultaneously giving it a modern, personal twist.

McKinley James – Official website

Since 2015, James has been making a name for himself in the soul and blues scene. At the age of 13, he appeared on the cover of the platinum-selling Eric Church album Mr. Misunderstood. In the two years between the album’s release and James’ arrival in Nashville, he had gained enormous amounts of popularity and recognition. Nine years later, at only 22 years old, James has headlined gigs and events all across North America and Europe. Although this is only his debut, Working Class Blues paves the way for up-and-coming McKinley James‘ inevitable soul stardom.

Originally from Rochester, McKinley James has been making music with his father and fellow bandmate, Jason Smay, since he was a child. Inspired by nearly every genre, from country to R&B, James became a guitar prodigy as a child. The father-son duo shared an admirable passion for the vintage sounds, and were committed to recreating them themselves. The two were so dedicated to the genre, that the album was recorded with older instruments and technology. Jason played a vintage Ludwig drum set from 1970. McKinley played a vintage ’54 Stratocaster through a Peavey Pacer. Neither band member wore headphones, and microphones were minimal.

The “archaic” methods of recording were an essential part of the album’s production. Without it, replications of the old-fashioned sound would be artificial and inauthentic. There is a sense of originality to the production, especially when juxtaposed against the modern music scene and genres, that this kind of recording gives to the album.

When your band is only two people, there’s no hiding. It keeps you honest, and that was the goal with this album, tooâto be as honest as possible about who we are and what we do.
McKinley James

However, the method of production is not the only element of this album that gives it its key sound. James’ vocals, instrumentation, and singing style all emulate key figures of the era. With his gritty tone, calming guitar grooves, and swing-style approach, the album is not just a tribute to what rock was built on. In fact, Working Class Blues is an original, deeply personal piece that gives us a perspective as to how the genre has progressed. Its outreach to younger generations ignites a passion for music and storytelling previously unthought of.

Many of the tracks on Working Class Blues are stories of falling in love, heartbreak, and dealing with the aftermath. James’ melancholy about his own loneliness, captured in tracks like “Call Me Lonesome” and “Movin,” is something every listener can relate to. Yet, there is an undeniably personal tone to these tracks. James has shown, through each track, that this album is not just a collection of songs, but a story that he wants us to listen to. Despite his age, the voice James uses reminds us of tales as old as time.

Following the release of his album, McKinley James has announced upcoming shows. Tour dates are listed below.

JUN 8 – Orpheum Theater @ 7:30 PM, Madison, WI

JUN 9 – Rialto Square Theater @ 6:00 PM, Joliet, IL

JUN 13 – Cleekwood Botanical Gardens & Estate @ 6:00 PM, Nashville, TN

JUN 25 – Club Cafe @ 8:00 PM, Pittsburgh, PA

JUN 27 – Syracuse Jazz Festival 2024 @ 8:00 PM, Syracuse, NY

JUN 28 – Record Archive @ 6:00 PM, Rochester, NY

JUN 29 – Point of the Bluff Vineyards @ 3:30 PM, Hammondsport, NY

JUN 30 – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern @ 7:00 PM, Cleveland, OH

JUL 19 – The Ledge Amphitheater @ 7:00 PM, Waite Park, MN

JUL 20 – Vetter Stone Amphitheater @ 7:00 PM, Mankato, MN

JUL 25 – Robinson Center @ 7:00 PM, Little Rock, AR

AUG 1 – Brown County Music Center @ 7:30 PM, Nashville, IN

AUG 15 – Cleekwood @ 6:30 PM, Nashville, TN

AUG 24 – Minnesota State Fair 2024 @ 7:00 PM, St. Paul, MN

AUG 27 – KEMBA Live! @ 7:00 PM, Columbus, OH

SEP 29 – Amphitheater at Quarry Park @ 7:00 PM, Rocklin, CA

Fans can listen to Working Class Blues on all streaming platforms, as well as with this link, on June 7th. For more information, songs, albums, or tour announcements, visit here.

June 9, 2024
Hearing Aide: Tony Trischka ‘Earl Jam’

Syracuse native and bluegrass banjoist Tony Trischka has just released his new album, Earl Jam. The 15-song album is a tribute to the late Earl Scruggs, a pioneer of modern bluegrass and a friend of Trischka’s.

Tony Trischka, born in 1949, has been a major influence on bluegrass and banjo music throughout his career. With over 15 albums under his belt and countless collaborations with industry legends over the past four decades, Trischka is no newcomer. The fact that he was once labeled “the father of modern bluegrass” by The New York Times speaks for itself.

In 2020, Trischka received some mail with a mysterious thumb drive. To his surprise, the drive contained hours of never-publicly-heard music from friend of Trischka and fellow bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs. Scruggs passed away in 2012 at the age of 88, making the surprise thumb drive particularly valuable and sentimental.

Trischka soon began to transcribe all of the solos, tones, and tricks on the drive and gathered a group of bluegrass veterans like Stuart Duncan and Ronnie McCoury to give Scruggs’ music the highest quality of reproduction. Now a few years later, Trischka’s tribute album to Earl Scruggs, Earl Jam, is complete.

“Whether or not you’re a banjo player, if you play bluegrass, you’re influenced by Earl,” Trischka said about the Scruggs and the album.

Earl Jam is a true classic bluegrass album. All of the lively, chipper and traditional elements that one would expect from a great bluegrass album are present. Guests like Sierra Ferrel, Vince Gill and Molly Tuttle all provide wonderful vocal switch-ups to their respective tracks as well.

One of the highlights has to be the three-minute track featuring Molly Tuttle and Sam Bush, Dooley. The song begins with a hypnotizing rock-steady 9-second-held note by Tuttle and jumps into a soulful tune with crafty work from seasoned bluegrass mandolinist Sam Bush.

With a runtime of only 46 minutes, Earl Jam is the perfect pick-me-up album to take in on a road trip or at a barbecue. But don’t forget the significance behind this record. This may very well be the last original music created by Earl Scruggs that we ever hear, and for that, it should have a special place in the hearts of all bluegrass fans.

Key Tracks: Brown’s Ferry Blues, Dooley, Bury Me Beneath the Willow

Trischka will be playing two shows in New York City on June 13 and December 14, and one show at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill on July 20. Tickets and information can be found here.

June 8, 2024
Hearing Aide: Fantastic Cat ‘Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat’

NYC-based indie and folk-rock supergroup Fantastic Cat released their sophomore album, Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat, on June 7. The 11-song record sees the band dialing into the soulful and intimate sound they built on their 2022 debut.

Fantastic Cat gets its supergroup moniker from the fact that all four members, Anthony D’Amato, Don Dilego, Brian Dunne and Mike Montali, are all experienced singer-songwriters in their own right. The name Fantastic Cat comes from a night when Montali and Dilego were at a NYC club trying to figure out what to name the band, and they asked the waitress for a suggestion. The waitress suggested “Fantastic Cat,” and the name was set.

The band’s first record, ironically named The Very Best of Fantastic Cat, was released in 2022 and garnered very positive reviews from publications.

On the band’s website, it’s hilariously written that “The Very Best of Fantastic Cat garnered the kind of press you simply can’t make up. USA Today proclaimed, “We don’t have a music writer anymore,” while NPR received multiple copies of the album in the mail, and The New York Times’ Jon Pareles declared, “I’m currently out of the office and will respond when I return.”

So it’s clear that Fantastic Cat has a sense of humor. But what’s their music like?

All the classic elements of indie and folk Americana are present. The steady drums, the tight acoustic and electric guitars and the heartfelt vocals all shine through. But beyond this, Fantastic Cat’s extremely tight instrumentation and powerful yet controlled vocals make them sound like a band celebrating its 20th album, not its second.

You know the feeling of running across a country field? Or staring longingly out of a window after a hard day? Listening feels strangely impactful. It makes you think about those moments in your life where you feel the most in touch with your soul, and you can take it all in.

The hooks are where the band often shines the brightest, especially on goosebump-inducing songs like “Later On” and “So Glad You Made It.”

Fantastic Cat is also wonderful at balancing their natural comedy with the serious nature of their songs. “The Hammer & The Nail” comes to mind, where part of the hook goes, “Sometimes you’re the hammer. Sometimes you’re the nail. Lately, I just keep on getting screwed.” It’s impossible not to crack a smile hearing that for the first time, yet it’s deeply relatable.

The Very Best of Fantastic Cat is one of those albums that, if you want to understand, you just have to listen to it. The words in this article can’t touch your soul like the songs on the album do. And lucky for you, The Very Best of Fantastic Cat just came out and is available on all streaming platforms, so go take a listen.

Key Tracks: Little Bit Broken, So Glad You Made It, Edinburgh

Fantastic Cat will be playing in Katonah, NY on June 29 and Saratoga Springs on August 10. Information and tickets can be found on the band’s website.

June 7, 2024