Music of the World

BANDCAMP: https://shofar.bandcamp.com/releases BROADJAM: http://www.broadjam.com/shofar Written by Larry Robertson, posted by blog admin Shofar’s journey back into the world of active recording has been a long time coming, but their self-titled six song EP doesn’t disappoint. The band’s lyrical message, courtesy of main songwriter Larry Hagner, has broadened some with the intervening years out of the studio, but they remain much of the same creative unit they were before their layoff. These are engaging songs cast in an alt-rock setting, but there’s definitely plenty of classic guitar-driven song motifs worked into these compositions. The lyrics are accessible and easy to follow, but there’s no question that Hagner is a writer of rare distinction whose able to push his language into listener’s consciousness without relying on a bevy of poetic flourishes. Shofar’s self-titled re-emergence is one of 2017’s most satisfying releases and definitely positions the band for an...

OFFICIAL: http://blueapollomusic.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/blueapollomusic/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BlueApolloMusic Written by Larry Robertson, posted by blog admin Formed by the core trio of Luke Nassar (guitars/vocals), Jeremiah Jensen (drums) and Rodman Steele on bass, Texan indie-groovers Blue Apollo got their start back in the summer of 2014.   Nassar and Jensen composed the songs that occupy Light-Footed Hours , Blue Apollo’s official debut release that summer and what began as a home recorded demo turned into a full band within a couple of years and the addition of Steele on bass. The band’s 6-song debut was finally born into the world and released in the summer of 2017.   What we have here is a very ranged and dynamic collection of tunes that somehow feels unified at the same time.   Maybe the circumstances in which the original demos were recorded influenced how the project later came together, I’m not sure, but these ...

OFFICIAL: http://mancallednoon.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mancallednoon/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ManCalledNoon Written by Frank McClure, posted by blog admin Taking their sound to the next level, Chicago’s Man Called Noon add new members and unique directions to their latest EP, Everybody Move .   Heightening their attention to melody and meticulous vocal arrangements the band explore fresh ground and further their experimental sonic approach on the three tracks all told here.   While the feelings communicated on the album are good natured, fun and positive they never dip into the realm of cheese and because the instrumentation flat out rocks Man Called Noon manage to transcend the bad karma that sometimes comes with getting labelled as “pop” or “indie rock.”   The band works up a noteworthy sonic sweat across the title track’s frolicking 4+ minutes of engaging happy go lucky rock music.   Swift, agile drumming pumps plenty...

OFFICIAL: http://www.slowburningcar.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SlowBurningCar/ Written by Laura Dodero, posted by blog admin Hailing from Los Angeles, CA; Slow Burning Car are a quirky quartet that mesh various different hard rock influences into an album that delivers an experience that’s best heard as an uninterrupted whole.   The band’s fourth disc Defection may start off textbook enough with “Alpha Duplicor’s” teeth-gnashing, hard rock guitar riffs, angst-ridden yet melodic vocals and throbbing percussion that’s a storm of snare/tom fill transitions but Slow Burning Car switches style on a dime and never lingers on the same musical turf for too long.   A smorgasbord of sound awaits the listener at Defection’s every corner turn.   Whirling dervish guitar leads, crisp punk riffing, steadfast drumming and smooth vocal melodies/harmonies are “Soul Crimes’” bread n’ butter from the first note to the last.   They toy with this basi...

OFFICIAL: http://www.jbriozo.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jbriozo/ Written by Larry Robertson, posted by blog admin Vocalist Jeff Crandall of Swallows debuts as his solo alter-ego J. Briozo and drops a varied, exciting debut with Deep in the Waves .   Featuring an eclectic mixture of upbeat, rocking tunes heavy on the guitar to more ambient, contemplative compositions, there’s something for everybody here.   Though featuring some of his Swallows’ band mates; Jeff still takes his music into several new directions throughout and comes up with a winner of a record that gets in your head and stays there.   Opener “Blind” is a layered dream-pop piece with mellow guitar work, a heavy emphasis on keyboards textures and rhythmic restraint while Crandall croons in a breathy, vibrato-rich voice that works up some superb hooks.   The end result reminds of Radiohead’s trippiest work and gently flows into the acoustic strum of the title track. ...