Category Archives: Single Reviews

Single Review: Madysin Hatter – “Wild & Strange”

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Madysin Hatter

photo courtesy of Madysin Hatter; photo by Brandon Ripley of Sleepless Pictures

Single Review of Madysin Hatter: “Wild & Strange”

Madysin Hatter is a classic hard rock vocalist, a singer whose powerful voice is fully fluent in hard rockin’ howls and screams. She uses her vocal tool to great effect on “Wild & Strange.” The musicianship is tight and interesting throughout, not surprising given the pedigree of the musicians joining Madysin on this recording: Tyler Bryant (Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown), Frank Ferrer (Guns N’ Roses), Rob Bailey (David Johansen), and Brett Bass (Gregg Allman).

Madysin Hatter – "Wild & Strange"

image courtesy of Madysin Hatter; photo by Brandon Ripley of Sleepless Pictures

“Wild & Strange” begins with an instrumental build. Not a slow build, per se, but first crunchy drum, then guitars, and then a relatively unadorned vocal line through the opening chorus before the vocals get a little meatier and the music bed gets a bit fuller. By the second verse, the occasional guitar flourish changes things up some more, and by the end of the second chorus, it’s time for a sassy vocal bridge (“I’d need a lobotomy just to give you a shot at me…”) that leads into some brief guitar shredding. From there, the song ends in power – vocals, guitars, drums.

Madysin Hatter

photo courtesy of Madysin Hatter; photo by Kamera Shoots NYC

In summary, “Wild & Strange” is a true, crunchy rock song with a bit of an updated ’80s swagger. Well-structured, catchy, memorable, with excellent musicianship. Of course, that’s how I would describe the song as a reviewer. As a music fan, I’d just say “Dude, this song rocks!”

More About Madysin Hatter

To find your way to any and all things Madysin Hatter – interviews, recordings, music videos, press releases, and more – you can start with her “link tree.” As for live shows, there aren’t any currently scheduled, but if any are added you’ll likely find them on the “live” page of Madysin’s website.

You’ll find the video for “Wild & Strange”  here on YouTube. If that’s not enough, there’s also a lyric video available.

Single Review: John Lodge – “The Sun Will Shine”

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John Lodge – The Sun Will Shine

image courtesy of Glass Onyon PR

Single Review of John Lodge: “The Sun Will Shine”

“The Sun Will Shine” was released in the spring of 2021 by John Lodge, bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues. The song was recorded remotely by John and his 10,000 Light Years Band during to the pandemic and also features Jon Davison from Yes on background vocals.

John Lodge

photo by Brian Aris; photo courtesy of Glass Onyon PR

Musically, “The Sun Will Shine” duplicates the rich harmonies of the Moody Blues, stylistically a potentially good pairing with The Moody Blues’ hit single “Your Wildest Dreams” from the band’s The Other Side of Life album. “The Sun Will Shine” has the same lush music bed, though perhaps a slightly more understated lushness – but only by comparison, of course. John’s voice remains full, smooth, and precise. Indeed, this song would seem to be a must-have for any fan of John Lodge or the band for which he’s famous.

In Addition

“The Sun Will Shine” was designed to be part of an On Reflection EP to be incorporated into John’s live album, The Royal Affair and After. However, neither John’s website listing nor the Amazon page for The Royal Affair and After mentions anything about an On Reflection EP, so your guess is as good as mine if one exists… unless you have a copy, of course. (Then please let me know in the comments.) However, you can find the song “The Sun Will Shine” available for purchase on John’s website. In addition, several other ways to purchase or stream the song are available at this link: https://lnk.to/TSWS.

Single Review: Jennifer Tefft – “A Little More”

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Jennifer Tefft

photo by Tim Rice; photo courtesy of Jennifer Tefft

Single Review of Jennifer Tefft: “A Little More”

Jennifer Tefft is one of Boston’s top rock ‘n roll voices, and she’s recognized for it. In 2021, she was recognized as the “Female Performer of the Year” by the New England Music Awards. “A Little More,” one of Jennifer’s 2021 singles, is a little bit of proof why.

Jennifer Tefft – "A Little More"

image courtesy of Jennifer Tefft

The song opens aggressively with a driving, slightly off-center guitar sound, supporting a kniving, edgy vocal akin to what you might have expected from Pat Benatar as she was rising to prominence decades ago – not the same sound, of course, but a similar vocal approach and attitude. It’s a timeless power that Jennifer maintains throughout the song, a power the song never relinquishes, even when her vocal isn’t present during late-song bridges that should feel less intense but don’t.

When the vocals aren’t aggressively edgy they’re still hauntingly so, while the guitar line and drums are practically incessant and unrelenting.

Jennifer Tefft

photo by Tim Rice; photo courtesy of Jennifer Tefft

If you don’t have this song on your playlist or in your collection, grab it now and make it a frequent listen. It has been a song I’ve looked forward to hearing during every trip through my review queue, even as I went through more than a year and a half without finding an opening in my daily schedule to pen a review. “A Little More” should be considered a staple of any music collection and can be expected to have staying power.

More from Jennifer

“Fade or Burn” and “Better Days” were also 2021 releases, and Jennifer’s website says to expect new music in 2023.

Live Shows

Check out the “Shows” tab of Jennifer’s website to see scheduled performances. There are a few shows already scheduled around Massachusetts this summer, so see if Jennifer will be performing near you and, of course, check the page again later to see new dates as they’re added.

Also follow Jennifer’s socials – her Instagram and Facebook accounts – to see schedule updates, such as this post about the recent storm-driven rescheduling of her Franklin Town Common, noting its make-up date of August 4th.

Single/Video Review: Stormstress – “Buried You in the Snow”

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Stormstress

photo by Fuel Heart Productions; photo courtesy of Stormstress

by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Video Review of Stormstress: “Buried You in the Snow”

Stormstress is a hard rock/heavy metal trio, with ties to Boston and Detroit. Mirror image sisters Tanya Venom (guitars/vocals) and Tia Mayhem (bass/vocals), along with Maddie May Scott (drums/vocals) are riding high off the success of their independent release Silver Lining in 2022. This is their first foray into new material since that album, and it presents a perfect balance of raw power and vocally orchestrated bliss. Amid a white background, the band erupts, with a scream and a swath of crunchy guitars, pummeling bass and sparse, meaty drums. Their hair and garb are a mix of black and white, fiery reds, icy blues and extreme face paint that all add to the drama of their message.

“Buried You in the Snow” takes on the demons and situations in life that haunt us, whether that be an addiction, a personal impasse, or just any barrier that stands in the way of you emerging as your best self. The song is all about letting go of that seemingly insurmountable albatross and finally finding vindication and freedom in one’s own skin. Here’s a taste of some of the lyrics that set the scene: “I could feel the bite of winter in the air. Not a single star to shine on my despair. By the candlelight, I drew the 13th card, the Reaper spoke I had to break your heart.” And the second verse really cinches a first person account of the loneliness one feels enmeshed in a problem, with “The bliss in your eyes, faded away… oh! Dusk beckoned while you begged me to stay. But when midnight struck, I made a vow I’ve gotta learn to be strong somehow… alone.” Cut from a similar cloth as Dio, Epica, and Heart, Stormstress delivers a powerful treatise on self-actualization, blended with supernatural and gothic imagery. It’s a combination that truly resonates, via Venom’s superb guitar work and the stunning call and response vocals of counterparts Mayhem and Scott.

Stormstress

photo by Fuel Heart Productions; photo courtesy of Stormstress

The song resolves as Venom’s imagery involving the darkness of night and the shimmering white of snow is culminated this way: “All I could see was shades of white, I swear it was the hardest night, but I let the dark take you away (I had to let you go)… I buried you in the snow… until you were gone!” And with that, mission accomplished in a heart-wrenching and poetic song destined for these modern times.

Kudos go to co-producer/engineer Doug Batchelder of the Den Studios for his masterful and meticulous handling of the delicate frequencies and elegant captures of the band’s multi-dimensional vocals. The overall sonic palette as well as, of course, the song itself is truly a work of art!

Stormstress

photo by Fuel Heart Productions; photo courtesy of Stormstress

Looking Back

You can find the Blog‘s review of Stormstress’ Silver Lining here.

Looking Ahead

Keep an eye on the “Tour” page of Stormstress’ website for upcoming concert data. Currently, it lists two upcoming shows in Provincetown, MA: Friday, July 21st; and Friday, October 13th. The trio just rocked Detroit and Chicago a couple weeks ago – and Provincetown last weekend – so I’m sure more dates will be added to the calendar soon.

You can also follow Stormstress on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up-to-date.

Single Review: Anissa Lea – “Be My Baby”

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Anissa Leaby Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Single Review of Anissa Lea: “Be My Baby” (E & A Music Productions)

Anissa Lea is a talented and versatile young vocalist from Detroit, Michigan. As the world knows, the city of Detroit has an esteemed reputation for producing some of the greatest rock, jazz, pop and soul music of all time. And Anissa Lea embodies all of that and then some. She possesses vocal skills and a sense of music history that extends way beyond her years. With a love for everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington to Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday, she has an uncanny knack for stylistically borrowing from these musical legends while simultaneously evoking an approach that is all her own.

One artist, in particular, that really made an enormous impression on Lea early on has been the recently dear and departed Veronica “Ronnie” Spector. Spector, of course, was one of the progenitors of the “girl group” concept as frontwoman for The Ronettes. The Ronettes had a string of early ‘60s hits, including “Baby I Love You,” “(The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up,” “Walking in the Rain” and, unquestionably, one of Spector and The Ronettes’ biggest smashes “Be My Baby.” And that is the song in question here.

Anissa Lea puts her own spin on “Be My Baby” that blends a contemporary jazz-pop sensibility, with a funky spirit and groove. She’s joined on the song by some of the best side men and session artists in the biz, including Kurt Krahnke (bass), Rob Emanuel (drums), Adam Allen (guitar), Stefan Kukurugya (piano), Keith Kaminski (saxophone) and Justin Garrett Walter (trumpet).

The track sizzles with sincerity and respect to Spector’s original version. But, then, the song elevates to a surprising smooth and jazzy feel, as Lea’s dulcet Billie Holiday-meets-Peggy Lee-type phrasing thoughtfully delivers the song’s urgent message, Kaminski and Walter’s rich wall of sound envelopes your senses. The addition of Allen’s mid-song acoustic guitar solo is icing on the cake. Lea cleverly sings just a tad behind the beat, thereby not only giving the song a thoroughly fresh perspective, but adding to the danceable syncopation of the rhythm section. It’s a sweet and reverent tribute that deftly walks the line between contemporary and nostalgia.

Anissa Lea’s version of Ronnie Spector’s “Be My Baby” is now available on all streaming platforms. For more information just go to www.anissalea.com.

 

Single Review: Le Sonic feat. Robert Lee – “Any Moment”

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by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Single Review of Le Sonic feat. Robert Lee: “Any Moment” (Generic Records/The Orchard)

Guitarist Robert Lee Balderrama hails from Saginaw/Bay City in the “thumb area” of Michigan. It was there that he was instrumental in the launch of the seminal proto-punk/garage band Question Mark and The Mysterians in the early ‘60s. The teenage Mexican-American quintet scored a #1 hit with the organ-driven classic “96 Tears.” The song has been a staple in popular culture and on oldies radio and Sirius XM in perpetuity. And Rolling Stone magazine deemed it one of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”!

Le Sonic Feat. Robert Lee – Any MomentOver the years, Balderrama went on to play with Tex-Mex rocker Joe “King” Carassco and also fronted his own blues band and smooth jazz ensemble. Over the last decade or so Balderrama has partnered with Mysterians’ keyboardist Frank Rodriguez and has concentrated on the jazzy side of things. Under the moniker “Robert Lee Revue” he’s released two albums: For the Love of Smooth Jazz and City of Smooth Jazz. One of his compositions “Happy and Go Lucky” reached Top 30 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart.

Currently, Balderrama has formed an alliance with multi-faceted songwriters/producers Mike Rogers and Gary Lefkowith. The duo call themselves Le Sonic and have created a legitimate modern jazz hit with the video and audio single “Any Moment.” The tune is based on a fairly simple two chord vamp that is hypnotic and seductive. Balderrama is a student of Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Carlos Santana, and he weaves the essential melodic elements of said mentors into his silky smooth guitar lines. Rodriguez lays down a billowy bed of velvety piano tones that are the foundation of the tune. Topping things off are vocalist Dennis Collins and trumpeter Jim Hynes. Collins, who sings the ethereal song title’s refrain, has worked with Roberta Flack, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Al Green, George Benson and Bob Dylan. And Hynes can be heard on themes for Masterpiece Theater, CBS This Morning, NBC Sunday Night Football, and CBS Evening News.

“Any Moment” is vying for #1 spot on the various music industry charts, including Billboard, Media Base Smooth Jazz and Smooth Jazz Network.com . For more information on Robert Lee Balderrama just go to www.facebook.com/robertleerevue.

Single Review: Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings – “Highways”

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Bridget Davis & the Viking Kings – "Highways"

image courtesy of Bridget Davis

Single Review of Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings: “Highways”

We at the Blog are big fans of the unique, original, memorable style of Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings. They have an easily identifiable, pleasant, rolling, laid-back Americana style but with a constantly-present, persistent rhythm that varies from song to song yet makes even the most mellow song seem energized. Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings are the perpetual motion machine of Americana. And their songwriting and delivery style is such that, if you heard them on the radio, you’d say to yourself, “Self, it’s Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings.”

Well, it has been a while since BD and the VKs graced our headphones with something new, nearly five and a half years between I Wasn’t Planning on the End and the new single “Highways,” released earlier this year. In all that time, the band hasn’t missed a beat.

Bridget Davis & the Viking Kings

photo courtesy of Bridget Davis

Opening with a warm texture and bass-guitar interplay (cool to listen to on headphones, since they reside in different ears), “Highways” utilizes many of the ingenuities in the band’s familiar, favorite bag of tricks to support Bridget’s soft, sweet, yet surprisingly dynamic vocal style. Those familiar with the band’s previous work will find the tempo most similar to that of “Transient,” as “Highways” differs from much of the band’s song catalog in that it’s actually as slow-tempoed as its music makes it seem, though it’s sonically more kindred to the faster-paced “Elizabeth” or the slower-paced “I Wasn’t Planning on the End.”

In the end, “Highways” is a welcome reintroduction to Bridget Davis and the Vikings Kings’ easily recognizable, original, trademark sound. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, let this be your introduction. There’s a hint of folk styling and country-leaning Americana energy in Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings’ music, an energy built on and originality, tempo, detailed songwriting, and deliberate performance structure that will appeal to a broad swath of musical tastes. To the band: Welcome back to our playlists. We’ve missed you.

Looking Back

Those who have been with us here at the Blog from the beginning will remember our other two Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings reviews. First, I reviewed one of their live Rockwood Music Hall shows as item #8 in my 9-part “Road Back to Music Journalism” series, in which I chronicled events that led me back to writing – and starting this blog – after a dozen years away. A few weeks later, I reviewed their album I Wasn’t Planning on the End. So if my review of this song interests you, be sure to check out the other words I’ve written about this talented ensemble.

Looking Ahead

Bridget Davis and the Viking Kings hinted in this Facebook post this spring and confirmed with me just recently via e-mail that there is more music coming; “Highways” was just one of several songs recorded live at the Figure 8 Recording studio in Brooklyn. They’ll likely be released one at a time in advance of an eventual EP release. Whether the songs are released individually or all at once, we can’t wait to hear them!

Single Review: Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band – “Secret Watering Hole”

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by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Single Review of Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band: “Secret Watering Hole”

Boston-area singer-songwriter Kristian Montgomery is not one to let grass grow under his feet. When the pandemic hit in full swing last year he dove into his inner psyche and soul, coming up with enough fresh material for an album’s worthy triumvirate of creative output. The result of that labor resulted in 2020’s The Gravel Church, 2021’s Prince of Poverty, and the soon-to-be-released A Heaven for Heretics in January 2022.

Kristian Montgomery & the Winterkill Band – "Secret Watering Hole"

photo courtesy of Kristian Montgomery

Surely, Montgomery’s blend of reflective blues and country rock songs combined with his rich, slightly worn and emotive voice is starting to catch fire with fans and critics alike. Montgomery was recently nominated by the prestigious New England Music Awards on the strength of his Prince of Poverty release. “Secret Watering Hole” is a brand new single from the aforementioned upcoming A Heaven for Heretics and continues his blend of an Americana aesthetic, mixed with vivid imagery and detailed storytelling. The song is draped in southern gothic charm and Cajun-laced magic. References to New Orleans and Mardi Gras are supported by a soothing bed of layered guitars and a relaxed, swampy back beat. It’s kind of a meeting of classic styles that match the melodic poetry of The Band, with the groovy laid back sounds of The Allman Brothers Band.

“Another crawling out of the American gutter record” is a quote, found on Montgomery’s own bandcamp page, in response to his last full-length release. Other references to his current single and his previous catalog suggest the slightly outsider world view of like-minded compadres such as The Highwaymen, Sturgill Simpson, Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt, and Chris Stapleton.

The current single “Secret Watering Hole” was produced by Joe Clapp at Ultrasound Studios and captures a sound and mood that is contemporary, yet intimate and timeless.

Looking Ahead

Of course, the album A Heaven for Heretics, which contains “Secret Watering Hole,” is scheduled for a January release. [I’ll be writing that review on or after the album’s release date. -GW] Also keep an eye on the “Events” page of the band’s website for future performances and on the band’s Facebook page for the latest news about Kristian Montgomery & the Winterkill Band.

Single Review: Eliza Neals – “Sugar Daddy”

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Eliza Neals w King Solomon Hicks

photo courtesy of E-H Records LLC

by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Single Review of Eliza Neals: “Sugar Daddy” feat. King Solomon Hicks (E-H Records)

They call her the “Detroit Diva.” And, indeed, blues rock singer-songwriter/keyboardist Eliza Neals proudly wears that title as a badge of honor. The opera-trained blonde bombshell has been on the international music scene for more than two decades. She is a true independent artist, with a series of critically-acclaimed R&B-flavored albums to her credit. Neals has shared the stage and collaborated with such luminaries as Buddy Guy, Kenny Olson, Joe Louis Walker, Popa Chubby, Howard Glazer, and a host of blues and rock greats.

No doubt, however, perhaps her biggest influence can be found in frequent co-writer and mentor Barrett Strong. Strong, of course, is a legendary singer-songwriter that made his mark, first at Berry Gordy’s Tamla Records. His iconic “Money (That’s What I Want)” was the company’s first big breakout hit. The prolific tunesmith went on to write a series of songs for Gordy’s subsequent landmark enterprise Motown Records. “ I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “War,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)” are just some of the chart toppers he and fellow composer/producer Norman Whitfield conceived within those hallowed studio walls.

Eliza Neals – "Sugar Daddy" feat. King Solomon Hicks

image courtesy of E-H Records LLC

That little history lesson brings us to today’s single at hand; the feel good summer of 2021 smash entitled “Sugar Daddy.” The tune was originally written by Strong, but re-arranged, with additional lyrics by Neals herself. The song features young NYC jazz/blues guitar sensation King Solomon Hicks on backing vocals. Michael Puwal (tremolo guitar/additional drums), Chris Vega (bass), Michael Galante (drums), and Tyrone Smith (Hammond B3/saxophone) round out this first rate band. It’s a light-hearted kind of tale that focuses on a relationship from an, appropriately, female perspective. In it Neals sings: “Well, I’m just a girl, and you know that I look real fine. But I love that man, he drive me outta my mind. He puts his lips to my ear, said what I love to hear… I’ll be your sugar daddy, you’s my man!” It carries on with that pseudo-romantic track for a minute, but then, when Neals finds her man fooling around with someone else, the tables get turned quickly in the bridge. She exudes gritty comeuppance, with the lines, “I take his money and I go and I play the town, and he knows my love ain’t true. People all say he should put me down. He’s a fool, he’s a fool, he’s a doggone fool!”

“Sugar Daddy” has a lot of bite and bluesy bravado, thanks to Neals’ raw, soulful vocals and Hicks’ stinging Robert Cray-like riffs. He lays the groundwork for the song’s balance of good-natured free-spirited fun and serious house rockin’ street cred. The tune has been a staple on Sirius XM’s BB King’s Bluesville channel since this past July. But that’s nothing new for the “Detroit Diva.” She’s been in consistent rotation on that pivotal blues network since her seminal Breaking and Entering album hit the charts in 2015. “Sugar Daddy” simply continues that groovy path of excellence for the incomparable Eliza Neals!

Looking Ahead

Eliza has a few upcoming shows listed on the “Shows” page of her website. On Saturday, December 18th, she’ll be at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in South Orange, NJ. On Saturday, February 12th, she’ll be performing at the Cincinnati Winter Blues Experience II in Cincinnati, OH. On Tuesday, April 26th, she’s scheduled to perform at the iconic 100 Club in London [where I saw Bob Malone in 2015 – GW]. And on Saturday, April 30th, she’s be at Jamey’s House of Music in Lansdowne, PA. Be sure to check Eliza’s website for more details on those shows and others as they’re scheduled.

Single Review: Lina Cooper – “What I Gave to You”

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Lina Cooper

photo by Joe Welkie; photo courtesy of Lina Cooper

Backstory

Lina Cooper initially reached out to me back in the summer of 2020 during a period when I wasn’t writing many reviews (and had a years-long backlog) in advance of the release of her single “This Time,” and I was blown away by her vocals and songwriting. It was a catchy, poppy, memorable song structured much like you’d expect from Taylor Swift, well-suited to Lina’s sweet, high vocals. Of course, I didn’t review that song, but when I was on a bit of a writing spree and was churning through my review backlog this spring, I reached out to inquire about what she was working on now (at the time). The answer was, of course, “What I Gave to You.”

Single Review of Lina Cooper: “What I Gave to You”

Lina Cooper – What I Gave to You

image courtesy of Lina Cooper

Lina’s exceptional talent shines again on “What I Gave to You.” Softer than the song that initially hooked me, “What I Gave to You” leans into Lina’s high, emotionally expressive voice. Storytelling verses serve as a tempo-changing, volume-varying canvas, all leading to “What you gonna do when all you have is what I gave to you.”

Simple guitar-picking and thin vocals open the song, with additional orchestration and a fuller music bed joining as the vocals and lyrics intensify. For the vocal structure, well-placed, emotionally cracking lead vocals are paired with full background harmonies as the music soars. The song is a musical journey with a key, memorable line for listeners to sing along with during the chorus. That’s the formula for a sneaky earworm of a song, one that’ll grow on you more and more with each successive listen.

Lina Cooper

photo by Joe Welkie; photo courtesy of Lina Cooper

Other Singles

“What I Gave to You” was preceded by “Ethereal,” more stylistically similar to “This Time,” and the rather more disturbing, musically aggressive, almost noir-ish “If You Ever Leave Me” (which has an accompanying horror-style music video).

Other 2021 releases have been an acoustic version of Lina’s “Here to Stay” and the latest single, groovy, punkish, garage rockin’ “AFANASY.” You’ll find a long-form “short musical film” featuring/leading into “AFANASY” here on YouTube.

Lina’s a versatile talent. A good singer and songwriter whose range covers a lot of musical ground, tying it well to her very specific, mainstream radio-friendly voice. It’s time to climb aboard the Lina Cooper bandwagon now while there are still a few prime seats available.

Looking Ahead

There are currently no upcoming shows listed on the “Shows” page of Lina’s website, but check back periodically to find out when you can catch a live performance.