CD Review: Passafire's 'Vines'

Passafire
Vines
Easy Star

The Savannah, Georgia-based quartet, Passafire, presents a new album with surf-rock and reggae-tinged songs with chart-topping qualities and catchy characteristics. Passafire is Ted Bowne on guitar/vocals, Will Kubley on bass/vocals, Mike DeGuzman on keys/guitar, and Nick Kubley on drums. The up-beat songs are rock, pop, and reggae-based without any clear genre distinctions. The vocals take on a little reggae influences, but there is some dance, electronica, rock, and pop concoctions that help the music move in different ways. There are some extended instrumentals that are especially engaging and diverse. In addition, there seems to be a fluid transition between rock, folk, and reggae throughout. Just when you think you've put your finger on the specific genre in question, they surprise us with something seemingly indefinable. At any rate, Passafire is on fire with this catchy release. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: R. Michael Rhodes' 'Please Remember Me'

R. Michael Rhodes
Please Remember Me
Self-Release

R. Michael Rhodes is a Colorado-based singer and songwriter armed with a Southern voice and guitar in hand. The six-track album is only about twenty-minutes long, but the sounds emanate long after the tunes stop. The heartfelt, "Please Remember Me," is a classy, country song with a touch of folk and pop. "Special Place For Me" is more of a ballad than a folk or country song, but there are still these aforementioned elements that permeate the music. "A Little Bit Tighter" is a roots-driven folk song seemingly taken out of The Wallflowers' line-up with distinct B3 and rougher vocals. The dreamy, "Where Are You Now," is a soulful ballad with droning guitar sounds and ballad-esque vocal arrangements. "You'll Never Know" is a catchy folk song with both male and female vocals in a guitar-driven track. Please Remember Me does not plead for acceptance, nor is it egotistical. R. Michael Rhodes knows how to get your attention with every repeated listen. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Brian Larney's 'At The Starting Line'

Brian Larney
At The Starting Line
Nunya Records

Connecticut-based singer, guitarist, and composer, Brian Larney, takes the spotlight on At The Starting Line. The folk music-based material contains a bit of Southern rock, contemporary pop, and nostalgic Americana. The eleven song release contains catchy melodies and rhythmic textures that are pure pop gold. The pop/rock anthem, "Closed Door," is a perfect song with a little Southern rock influences and lush harmonies. "Solace" is a little classic ditty with jangly guitars and an uppity tune that is highly-reminiscent of the late-Owsley. "Never Argue With The Devil" opens with jingly guitar lines and soft vocals in the vein of Fountains Of Wayne and the late-Owsley. "You Me And Allison" is an upbeat, jingly, pop-focused tune with swishy percussion and full guitar sounds. The classic folk tunes are more rock-inspired than folk, but there is an element of nostalgia inherent in similar songs from America's folk explosion in 1960's and 70's. Still, Brian puts a more modern spin on the music with a little Southern rock and contemporary folk. Each song gives us something to remember and that is definitely a positive quality. ~ Matthew Forss  

CD Review: Jeff Clark's 'Just Visiting'

Jeff Clark
Just Visiting
Self-Release

The Texas-based vocalist and guitarist, Jeff Clark, brings us groovy Southern tunes with gritty guitars and crystalline pop melodies that are reminiscent of classic folk-rock anthems. The dozen tunes represent a catchy musical masterpiece echoing America's hey-day of easy listening magnificence. "You Are My Life" is a classy vocal and guitar tune with great percussion and sparkling sounds. "Mamie Mama" is a grungy and squawky-guitar driven track that represents a solid rock base with some electronic additions. "25 Years Later" is a classic 1970's American folk song made for today. The light percussion and slightly giddy melody combine with male and female vocals to make a memorable tune come alive with creative charm. The mix of grungy and gritty guitars with classy folk vocals and Southern spunk make Just Visiting something that will be around for a long time. There is a nice balance of gritty rock with classic American folk fusion that is sure to be a hit with adventurous Southern rock fans everywhere. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Jason Sinay's 'Ape & The Wall Of Questions'

Jason Sinay
Ape & The Wall Of Questions

California-based, Jason Sinay, brings us six new songs and a few covers by Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead. The music is steeped in keyboards, guitars, drums, and bass. The ballad-esque, "I'll Bring You Diamonds," is a soulful little tune with acoustic guitars, percolating keyboards, and cinematic qualities and harmonies. "Hey Mama" contains piano tones, Southern rock elements, and grungy guitars. "Gimme The Time" contains a soulful, swaying melody that is rich with slide guitar sounds, jingly guitars, and bluesy percussion. "Santa Rosa" is a moving, rock song with a good beat that is road trippin' rock at its finest. The music is good without any faults. Anyone with an interest in good music will love Jason Sinay's latest release. You will have many more answers than questions with this release. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Debbi Walton's 'Sweet State of Mind'

Debbi Walton
Sweet State of Mind
Ultra Sound Records

The smooth, folk-rock concoctions of Texas-based singer/songwriter/guitarist, Debbi Walton, brings us a Southern charm with warm words and kind melodies. The sunny rhythms and arrangements contain a little blues elements. The instrumental repertoire consists chiefly of acoustic guitar, bass, electric guitar, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion, and harmonica. Debbi is a great singer with a voice a little more earthy than Shawn Colvin's voice. The melodies are gentle, sweet, and folksy. There are elements of Texan folk and country, but the resulting sound is largely contemporary folk with a dash of blues and a touch of soul. Overall, Debbi's eleven songs represent a good cross-section of her abilities to make music entertaining. There is also a nostalgic element from the 60s or 70s in the vocal and instrumental deliveries. Folk fans rejoice with this one! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Chemako's Self-Titled Release from Italy

Chemako
Chemako
Ultra Sound Records

The gritty folk-rock stylings of Italy's Chemako is surprisingly similar in tone and arrangement to America's Southern folk, rock, and blues music. Moreover, the vocals are in English and the instrumentation is largely based in the Deep South. The slide guitar, piano, banjo, dobro, acoustic guitar, mandoguitar, drums, harp, ukulele, sax, and flugelhorn round out the instrumental repertoire. A few of the songs contain female lead singers, including "Maintenance Free," "Let It Burn Wild," "Save The Moon," "The Ocean Song," "Tears For Breakfast," and "George Harrison's cover, "All Things Must Pass." The Sarah MacLachlan-esque "The Ocean Song" contains a little Shawn Colvin-esque vocals and guitar playing with bass, drums, and flugelhorn. The music is bluesy, Western, and Southern rock with a folk twist. The music is unlike anything heard, because it does not sound 'Italian.' At any rate, listeners enthralled by folk rock and blues will love Chemako. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Caroline Herring's 'Camilla'

Caroline Herring
Camilla
Signature Sounds

The Southern folk/blues/pop style of Mississippi-native and Georgia resident, Caroline Herring, is nostalgic, historical, and thought-provoking. The folk repertoire consists of acoustic guitar and vocals by Caroline, as well as Steven Sheehan on acoustic guitar, Fats Kaplin on pedal steel, fiddle, and banjo, Bryan Owings on drums and chains, and Bryn Davies on upright bass. The serene fiddle and sweet vocals on "Black Mountain Lullaby" are especially inviting. Though, the banjo really gets a workout on "Fireflies." The vocals are reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Heidi Talbot, and Karine Polwart. The vocal "Traveling Shoes" is void of any instrumentation.  The album art represents an artistic presence of simplistic domesticity and equality issues commonplace in the 1960s. At any rate, the scintillating folk guitar and instrumentation is full of good things. Fans of the aforementioned artists will add Caroline Herring's new release to their collection without any reservations. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Daniel Levi Goans' 'Brother Stranger'

Daniel Levi Goans
Brother Stranger
Self-Release

The Southern folk tunes of Daniel Levi Goans are exceptionally-intimate and classy. Daniel's folk voice dabbles in rootsy music with light doses of percussion, strings, piano, guitar, and aural soundscapes. The eerie "Arcana Echoes" features ghostly whistles, otherworldly sounds, sparse guitars, and instrumental magnificence for a lo-fi composition. The laid-back, "Blue To Black" and "My Mind Became My Home," echos the ambiance of Ben Folds--another Southern music maestro. The songs are poetic, languid, and memorable. Overall, Daniel's cafe or coffee shop-esque vocal and instrumental delivery is sincere, simplistic, and slightly bluesy. The twelve songs possess an inherent quality that is quite magical. The pensive guitar stylings are also meditative and reflective. At any rate, Brother Stranger is a harmonic delight with an uncanny ability to stir up pleasant emotions, child-like memories, and good 'ol Southern fun. ~ Matthew Forss