April 2016 Reviews
Posted: 11 May 2016, 15:37
From out of the mists of the British Isles I received a well crafted and mostly entertaining mix.
1. Solid opening, a girl singer/songwriter with a good band, nice fiddle, altogether very pleasant and contemporary sounding. Good start.
2. A rollicking driving song with a male lead this time. I don't like this as well but it has more to do with the production I think than the performance.
3. I do like this. Soul with a New Orleans flavor or is it Memphis? My only complaint is that it's too short.
4. This one sets a nice mood, the squeaky acoustic strings are always a nice touch. I'm guessing this is Randy Newman. I've haven't heard a lot of his music but this is the best I've ever heard his voice sound. I guess he sounds younger. I like this, there's a lot going on musically and the lyrics are clever.
5. I know this song but not this version. The Vogues had a hit with this in the late 60s and I've always liked that. This version pales in comparison but it's not bad. I know that Glen Campbell recorded this as an early single so I'm guessing it's him. Interesting to hear this.
6. Country, Americana, genres I like a lot and this one tries hard. It's just too long and there's not enough going on musically or lyrically.
7. Nice gear change here. The first time I listened to this I was thinking it is classic merseybeat complete with jangly guitar, tasteful drums, a horn solo, sounding retro. About the third or fourth play I decided that the voices sound like the Hollies. Clarke's lead and he and Nash doing harmony. Probably not but in any case I like this a lot.
8. This is nice, the vocals are too far back in the mix for me but it's a pleasant folkish ditty.
9. I like this. It's a real highlight, well played, nice guitar. The voice seems so familiar.
10. This is interesting - funk meets pink panther. Nice instrumental with great drums and guitar with a Booker T hot organ. A tasty workout.
11. Another genre I like, Rockabilly. Fairly generic but enjoyable. Sounds too clean and produced to be vintage.
12. This is also good, an old timey instrumental. Jazzy workouts complete with a walking bass line. I'm guessing it's retro but in any case I like it.
13. Another nice gear change. I like mixes with multiple genres. This is pretty good. A fine singer, another voice I swear I know. I would bet I own something by this guy. It's enjoyable but a little bombastic in the arrangement.
14. This is a voice I can identify. Or rather one of them. This sounds like Curtis and the Impressions. I don't remember this song but it's a good one. Love the band too especially the horns.
15. We switch gears again to bluegrass. The singer sounds like Lester Flatt but it's probably not. The song name checks all the greats appearing at the "Grand Ole Opry on Saturday Night." A fun tribute.
16. A country girl singer/songwriter. A solid, well performed song. Once again I think I know the voice. Doesn't overstay it's welcome.
17. This is great, what country music should sound like. Is this Dwight Yoakum? Great band, banjo, steel guitar, piano, good selection.
18. Another gear shift, this time to Electronica. My mixer noticed I like the occasional Electronica song. I sent a few to Sgt. Pepper on the mixes for him. Whatever happened to him? Anyway, this is a clever electronica version of Born To Be Wild. Nice finish.
Thanks so much mixer! You hit several of my favorite genres, well done. I am looking forward to the reveal.
1. Solid opening, a girl singer/songwriter with a good band, nice fiddle, altogether very pleasant and contemporary sounding. Good start.
2. A rollicking driving song with a male lead this time. I don't like this as well but it has more to do with the production I think than the performance.
3. I do like this. Soul with a New Orleans flavor or is it Memphis? My only complaint is that it's too short.
4. This one sets a nice mood, the squeaky acoustic strings are always a nice touch. I'm guessing this is Randy Newman. I've haven't heard a lot of his music but this is the best I've ever heard his voice sound. I guess he sounds younger. I like this, there's a lot going on musically and the lyrics are clever.
5. I know this song but not this version. The Vogues had a hit with this in the late 60s and I've always liked that. This version pales in comparison but it's not bad. I know that Glen Campbell recorded this as an early single so I'm guessing it's him. Interesting to hear this.
6. Country, Americana, genres I like a lot and this one tries hard. It's just too long and there's not enough going on musically or lyrically.
7. Nice gear change here. The first time I listened to this I was thinking it is classic merseybeat complete with jangly guitar, tasteful drums, a horn solo, sounding retro. About the third or fourth play I decided that the voices sound like the Hollies. Clarke's lead and he and Nash doing harmony. Probably not but in any case I like this a lot.
8. This is nice, the vocals are too far back in the mix for me but it's a pleasant folkish ditty.
9. I like this. It's a real highlight, well played, nice guitar. The voice seems so familiar.
10. This is interesting - funk meets pink panther. Nice instrumental with great drums and guitar with a Booker T hot organ. A tasty workout.
11. Another genre I like, Rockabilly. Fairly generic but enjoyable. Sounds too clean and produced to be vintage.
12. This is also good, an old timey instrumental. Jazzy workouts complete with a walking bass line. I'm guessing it's retro but in any case I like it.
13. Another nice gear change. I like mixes with multiple genres. This is pretty good. A fine singer, another voice I swear I know. I would bet I own something by this guy. It's enjoyable but a little bombastic in the arrangement.
14. This is a voice I can identify. Or rather one of them. This sounds like Curtis and the Impressions. I don't remember this song but it's a good one. Love the band too especially the horns.
15. We switch gears again to bluegrass. The singer sounds like Lester Flatt but it's probably not. The song name checks all the greats appearing at the "Grand Ole Opry on Saturday Night." A fun tribute.
16. A country girl singer/songwriter. A solid, well performed song. Once again I think I know the voice. Doesn't overstay it's welcome.
17. This is great, what country music should sound like. Is this Dwight Yoakum? Great band, banjo, steel guitar, piano, good selection.
18. Another gear shift, this time to Electronica. My mixer noticed I like the occasional Electronica song. I sent a few to Sgt. Pepper on the mixes for him. Whatever happened to him? Anyway, this is a clever electronica version of Born To Be Wild. Nice finish.
Thanks so much mixer! You hit several of my favorite genres, well done. I am looking forward to the reveal.