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: Jesse Terry's 'Empty Seat On A Plane'

Jesse Terry
Empty Seat On A Plane
Self-Release

Jesse Terry's latest release of contemporary American folk-pop, Empty Seat On A Plane, traverses nostalgic folk styles of Ryan Adams and James Taylor, while forging his own path of light, roots-inspired folk-pop. There are also blues-tinged elements on some of the tracks. The bluesy, gospel-tinged "Bitterroot Valley," sets the standard for folk-blues with reverberating B3, grungy, sauntering electric guitars, strings, and soulful vocals. The folk-pop styles and vocals reflect a perfect male equivalent of Shawn Colvin's music. The scintillating "Scared Of Nothing," contains superb folk guitar leanings and alternative percussion that is dreamy and compelling. "Grace On A Train" contains tapping percussion, crystalline acoustic guitar strumming, and a few cymbal clangs near the end of the song. The entire song is rather reserved and slow in tempo. Nevertheless, the twelve songs represent a solid mix of acoustic folk-pop and Americana music in the vein of Shawn Colvin, Ryan Adams, Venice, and James Taylor. There would not be an empty seat anywhere Jesse Terry performs. ~ Matthew Forss