Chrissie Romano Band ‘Photo’ Self-released chrissieromano.com Chrissie Romano’s voice rings out clarion-clear over her band’s smooth groove on the new album “Photo.” She doesn’t waste any time shouldering her unplugged guitar and getting to the heartbreak at the heart of it all. That’s not to say that Romano is just a young woman with a […]
Album Review
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Album review: ‘Simple Case of the Blues’
Rosie Flores ‘Simple Case of the Blues’ The Last Music Company roseieflores.com So they’re calling it a blues record, huh? Well I’m here to tell ya it’s so much more. Rosie Flores’ brand-new “Simple Case of the Blues” touches upon everything that makes us like the blues and love Flores. The epitome of it all […]
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Album review: ‘It’s Enough / Anyway’
Boy Jr. ‘It’s Enough’ / ‘Anyway’ Self-released boyjr.bandcamp.com There’s something infectious about Boy Jr: One-woman band Erica Allen-Lubman is all style, with no aimless filler. She has been making her mark on the Rochester music scene for over four years, and has recently released two singles that complement each other like salty and sweet. The […]
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Album review: ‘Old Fame’
Old Fame ‘Old Fame’ Self-released oldfame.bandcamp.com Has a Rochester band ever come up with a better post-rock opener than “No Pain”? For the first two minutes, the first track from Old Fame’s self-titled debut EP launches guitar, bass and drums into a trance-like, mid-tempo stride. Then, in the final two minutes, the song pushes to […]
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Album review: ‘Swingin’ in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (1966-1967)’
Cannonball Adderley ‘Swingin’ in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse (1966-1967)’ Reel to Real Recordings cannonball-adderley.com Julian “Cannonball” Adderley was not only one of the greatest alto saxophonists in jazz, he also led one of the greatest bands. That’s why the release of a newly discovered recording, culled from mid-1960’s radio broadcasts, is such a welcome […]
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Album review: ‘Hidden Treasure, Volume One: Monday Nights’
The Gil Evans Orchestra ‘Hidden Treasures, Volume One: Monday Nights’ Bopper Spock Suns Music pledgemusic.com/projects/gil-evans-orchestra The late, great arranger Gil Evans may be best known for “Sketches of Spain” and other albums he arranged for Miles Davis, but The Gil Evans Orchestra, broke new ground every Monday night at the Greenwich Village club Sweet Basil. […]
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Album review: ‘It’s Going Down’
Some Ska Band ‘It’s Going Down’ Self-released someskaband.com Here’s some real ska-jump-and-jive-soul for ya, sluggo. Think The Slackers, with a smirk. With ska-meister Charles Benoit – he of the poison pen and the savage saxophone – driving the bus and producer Sam Polizzi keeping said bus from driving over the cliff, tension runs high and […]
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Album review: ‘Schlock value’
Harmonica Lewinski ‘Schlock Value’ Self-released harmonicalewinski.bandcamp.com Cut the heart out of the Linkster’s “Jack The Ripper” and goose it with an Elvis Costello-esque, jackbooted march, and you’ve got the opening track to “Schlock Value,” Harmonica Lewinski’s new, most excellent seven-inch pleasure platter of colorfully psychedelic surf trash. Recorded in the bowels of Irondequoit, the band […]
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Album review: ‘SleepWalker’
Ryan Sutherland ‘SleepWalker’ Self-released ryansutherland.bandcamp.com Rochester’s Ryan Sutherland is a down-to-earth, folk singer-songwriter with ripping slide guitar skills. Switching between guitar and banjo, he blends elements of country with folk, blues, roots music, and old-timey Americana. He is currently celebrating the release of his second studio album, "SleepWalker," a lighthearted storybook dedicated to his partner, […]
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Album review: ‘Dream in Rhythm’
Soviet Dolls ‘Dream in Rhythm’ Self-released sovietdolls.com Since 2012, Soviet Dolls has pierced a hole in the Rochester music scene with its blend of trippy, electronic beats and cosmic songwriting style. Its debut, full-length album, "Dream in Rhythm," released November 2018, is a collection of new, previously unreleased tracks as well as remastered versions of […]
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Album review: ‘Doomed to Bloom’
Justin Roeland ‘Doomed to Bloom’ Self-released roeland.bandcamp.com With the release of his third full-length album “Doomed to Bloom”- out on January 18 – Ithaca multi-instrumentalist Justin Roeland has delivered a dazzling collection of folk rock gems that also satisfy the trend in indie music toward psychedelic pop. “Doomed to Bloom” is filled with slow-burning songs […]
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Album review: ‘Presence’
Brad Whiteley ‘Presence’ Destiny Records bradwhiteley.com Pianist Brad Whiteley has worked with a diverse array of artists from Regina Spektor to Dave Liebman, not to mention his role in the pit band of Broadway’s “Avenue Q.” Somehow, Whiteley has found the time to compose and arrange 11 superb tunes, and he wastes no time in […]
