CD Review: Mark Lassiter's 'Endlessly'

Mark Lassiter
Endlessly
Self-Release

Georgia-native and North Carolina-based, Mark Lassiter, brings us an exciting and upbeat EP that promises to be enthralling, refreshing, and contemporary. The opener, "Endlessly," is a crooner's special with heady pop/folk/rock confections that is simply great overall. The remix to the title track provides a little more diversity with down-tempo, electronic, and dance-type elements that are anything but boring. "Life's Like That" opens with a pensive piano melody, atmospheric washes, and a female back-up singer. Mark's pop vocals are slightly husky, but generally clear throughout. The influence is not particularly rock or country. "You're My Favorite" contains throbbing B3 sounds, rock percussion, and scintillating guitars with vocals to match. Vocally, Mark is in a category all his own. However, Mark tends to resemble Sister Hazel with a bit of Venice. At any rate, the four-track release is much too short, but thankfully, we can replay each song over and over - guaranteed, you will. ~ Matthew Forss    

CD Review: Imani Uzuri's 'The Gypsy Diaries'

Imani Uzuri
The Gypsy Diaries
Self-Release

The opening sitar sounds on the first track, 'Beautiful,' followed by the bluesy, gospel vocals of Imani Uzuri, offers a glimmer of what brilliant--and varied--delicacies are found on The Gypsy Diaries. The multi-influential work encompasses Indian, blues, gospel, Afro-pop, Eastern European, and East Asian elements that bring a sense of class, soul, and dignity to the world of music. The diverse vocals match the diverse instrumentation. The English vocals are a little lower in tone than Zero 7's earlier work. Still, the album features a good mix of melodies, instruments, rhythms, and Afro-pop magnificence for audiences of all ages and locations. This is world music at its best! ~ Matthew Forss