Thursday, December 11, 2008

"Pictures Of You" by The Romeo Flynns (Rock Artist from Michigan(MI))

RadioIndy is pleased to present The Romeo Flynns with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Pictures Of You"

"Pictures Of You" is a brit rock influenced Detroit rock album brought to you by authentic Motor City rockers The Romeo Flynns. The combination of these styles is nothing less than electric. The sound is, of course, heavily guitar driven, with thick beats, big choruses and an arena mentality. This album is a definite party package, with 13 solid speaker pumping tracks - frills and overproduction not included. There is also a subtle element of 50's rebel rock present, which supports an already angst-filled sound. The album is well produced, sounds great, and really lends itself to the "loudness" of the sound. The title track "Pictures Of You" gets the album going with a bang and really defines the Brit/Detroit rock fusion. "Gonna Feel Alright" features that 50's element and will absolutely rock your world with a huge chorus and additional support from horns, keys and organ. "Just Fade Away" is another highlight, with a quirky 80's guitar riff and a strong melodic chorus that will most certainly drive the ladies wild. If you like Detroit Rock, Brit Rock and the huge sound that comes with it, give "Pictures Of You" a spin. You won't be disappointed.-William & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out The Romeo Flynns's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Karma Knows..." by Boz (Rock Artist from Florida(FL))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Boz with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Karma Knows..."

"Karma Knows..." is the adult contemporary solo debut from singer/songwriter Boz. Known throughout the music world as the frontman of progressive rock band Us, formerly known as The Chosen Few, Boz takes a different direction and delivers a positive, spiritual, and mature album. The arrangements and vocals are in the same vein as the career artists before him, including Peter Gabriel, Sting and Don Henley. The lyrics take on a variety of aspects of human life such as self-realization, lost love, and one's relationship with God. "Karma Knows..." is well-produced, sounds professional and is ready for radio play. "Reservation" has a unique arrangement with a great beat, nice vocals, and thoughtful lyrics. "Thank You (In So Many Ways)" is a piano-led song with soaring violins, a great vocal performance from Boz, and inspiring spiritual lyrics. Overall, "Karma Knows..." is an impressive solo debut from an experienced musician who has his sights set on taking his craft in an interesting new direction. Fans of Boz's career work and fans of modern adult contemporary are going to want to pick this one up.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Boz's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Call It Blue" by lyricroad (Rock Artist from Nevada(NV))

RadioIndy is pleased to present lyricroad with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Call It Blue"

"Call It Blue" is a great '80s influenced pop rock album from Las Vegas' Lyric Road. Lyric Road draws their influence from a variety of groups, ranging from '60s Beatles to '70s classic rock, and '80s new wave to the post modern rock of today. Led by exceptional guitar and keyboard work, "Call It Blue" is filled with great arrangements that are at once classic, fresh, retro and "here and now." The lead vocalist is reminiscent of Elvis Costello and Ric Ocasek, which is great for their fused sound. The lyrics are great as well, offering a broad range of emotions and uplifting songs about self-awareness and feeling alive. "Call It Blue" is well-produced and sounds excellent and professional. "Woman" is a fun and moving song with a great keyboard progression, a strong vocal performance and nice backing vocals; look for a more raw and moving version at the end of the album with "Woman Take 2." "Wake Me Up" features sound effects and retro keyboard styling over a nice guitar progression and great lyrical imagery. "Call It Blue" is a great album that uniquely blends together Lyric Road's influences from five decades of music into stylish, fresh, and memorable songs. Fans of pop rock and retro keyboards, check out Lyric Road.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out lyricroad's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Gone Astray" by Which Ways Quicker (Rock Artist from California(CA))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Which Ways Quicker with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Gone Astray"

"Gone Astray" by California duo Which Ways Quicker is the the band's debut acoustic rock EP that features elements of alternative pop, reggae, and country . The only instruments on this album are guitar – acoustic for the majority, but electric for the reggae tracks – and drums. The resulting arrangements emit a simple, full sound. Lyrically, the entire EP centers around the theme of finding one's self, and Which Ways Quicker offers heartfelt and positive lyrics about having a sense of belonging and finding one's way back home. These songs are fueled by an upbeat sound and extremely catchy choruses. The vocals are unique, though in a poppy rock vein similar to Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz. "Gone Astray" is well-recorded, polished, and ready for college radio play. "Lost" opens the EP out with a song about forgetting where home is and slowly finding your way back, and features a nice acoustic arrangement and a catchy chorus. "New Diddy" is a reggae rock track with nice guitar work and fun lyrics about life in a small town. Overall, "Gone Astray" is a great debut from Which Ways Quicker that leaves the listener thirsting for more. Fans of acoustic and reggae rock, pick up this EP.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Which Ways Quicker's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Hey Revolution Now!" by Home Groan (Rock Artist from Norway)

RadioIndy is pleased to present Home Groan with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Hey Revolution Now!"

"Hey Revolution Now!" is an excellent alt-country/folk rock album from Norwegian outfit Home Groan. This is the tenth release from singer/songwriter Martin Hagfors' band, and the toe-tapping Americana and folk arrangements and eclectic lyrics highlight Home Groan's musical maturity. Though occasionally coupled with an excellent female vocalist, Hagfors is the lead vocalist and, true to the fusion of genres, sounds like a mixture of Tom Petty, The Weakerthans, and Wilco. The song titles infer a certain witty humor in the lyrics and do not disappoint. Showing his musical maturity, Hagfors is capable of juxtaposing the humorous with the serious, from biting heads off of microphones to falling off a cliff at Big Sur. "Hey Revolution Now!" is well-recorded with an overall sound great for the genres. "Jfk Loved Volvos Too" is a well-composed acoustic song about Hagfors' 1961 Volvo with a humorous chorus and great male/female duo vocals. "Bring You Back With a Song" is a sadder love song and a ballad of sorts with great hopeful lyrics. The title track, "Hey Revolution Now!" follows this up with a fun political track with the group chorus, "Hey revolution now/ Make peace with the holy cow." With "Hey Revolution Now!" Home Groan has crafted an excellent, musically mature album with intelligent, memorable lyrics and wonderful backing arrangements. Fans of alt-country and folk rock, pick up this album now!-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Home Groan's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Raising the Roof!" by Tom Principato (Rock Artist from Virginia(VA))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Tom Principato with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Raising the Roof!"

"Raising the Roof!" is an excellent, guitar-driven blues rock album with elements of funk, r&b, and New Orleans blues/jazz stylings from Tom Principato Band. Principato has been playing guitar for over forty years, and he shows his mastery of the instrument with unbelievable guitar work on every track. A few of the songs are instrumental, allowing Principato and his guitar to take center stage in bluesy jams accompanied by Hammond organ, great bass lines, drums, and occasional horns. Principato's vocals are reminiscent of the blues rock gods before him, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and his overall musicianship is just as incredible. His songwriting skills are also admirable, as he can write fun lyrics about creole queens and other New Orleans themes, or blues-oriented songs about lost love and lies. "Raising the Roof!" is well-recorded and has a clean and professional sound. "Lock and Key" introduces the album nicely with a New Orleans style track with great guitar work and horns. "Bo Bo's Groove" is a fun jam track with a great funk bass line, excellent guitar solos, and an overall grooving arrangement. Tom Principato and his backing band have delivered with astonishing guitar work, great blues jams, and a nice meshing of lyrics. Fans of blues rock, whether you've been listening to Principato for forty years or you just heard of him today, "Raising the Roof!" will not disappoint.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Tom Principato's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"RSG-1" by Random Song Generator (Rock Artist from Boston, Massachusetts(MA))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Random Song Generator with a GrIndie Award for the CD "RSG-1"

"RSG-1" is the eclectic and truly original do-it-yourself debut from Random Song Generator. Random Song Generator is Neil Santos, a multi-instrumentalist that has his head around a variety of musical styles and proves it by playing all of the instruments on the album himself. The arrangements are solid and bass heavy, ranging in genre from hip-hop to pop to funk to techno to metal to folk to stoner rock. By sampling all of these genres, Santos goes against the grain and embraces every genre he finds aurally pleasing instead of limiting himself musically. The result is a mixtape of musical diversity, a Random Song Generator, which is entirely enjoyable and musically impressive. His vocals change with the genre, such as quicker deliveries similar to Beck during the "Mellow Gold" and "Odelay" days, rock ballads similar to Ryan Adams, and the distorted rock somewhere between Blur and Foo Fighters. "RSG-1" is well-produced; raw when it sounds better raw, clean when it sounds better clean, and bringing fully to life this incredibly imaginative album. "Just In Love" has a heavy rock sound with a catchy guitar line and backing bass, hip-hop deliveries on the verses and rock vocals on the chorus. "Addicted to Funk" is an impressive funk track with its splashy bass line, good use of synthesizers, and a group vocal on the chorus: "We're addicted to funk/ And we're looking to party, yeah!" With "RSG-1," Neil Santos has really put something interesting together by audibly displaying his knowledge of a variety of genres and laying down the foundation for many "RSG" releases to come. Eclectic music fans in need of a new mixtape should definitely look into Random Song Generator.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Random Song Generator's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

"The Black Letter" by Eve's Burden (Rock Artist from California(CA))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Eve's Burden with a GrIndie Award for the CD "The Black Letter"

"The Black Letter" is the impressive alternative rock debut from California outfit Eve's Burden. This album is fueled by two things: firstly, an incredibly powerful vocal performance highlighted by an astounding vocal range from Sharon "Phox" Jordan, with a vocal quality like a favorable combination of Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, Amy Winehouse and Melissa Etheridge. and secondly, the awesome guitar licks throughout the album crafted by Jerry "The Matrix" Leal. There is something severely '80s about the overall sound, with keyboard, bass, and drums rounding out the backing instrumentation and creating a solid and full rock sound. The songs are quite lyrical, melodic, and catchy, with introspective and sociological lyrics. "The Black Letter" is well-produced and ready for extensive radio play. "Candy Girl" is filled with catchy lyrics, nice guitar work, and hand claps to boot. "The Fame Game" is a song about the life of a breakthrough musician that features memorable lyrics, a catchy chorus, a harmonica, and more great guitar work. "Euphoria" closes the album out with a '70s rock inspired guitar riff and a stellar vocal performance from the "Phox." "The Black Letter" is a solid debut from an up-and-coming group that you'll be sure to hear much more from in the years to come. Fans of powerful female vocals and guitar-driven alternative rock, check out Eve's Burden.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Eve's Burden's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Skippin' Stones" by Darin Seldes (Rock Artist from Atlanta, Georgia(GA))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Darin Seldes with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Skippin' Stones"

"Skippin' Stones" by Darin Seldes is a great funky jazz/reggae album that can be compared to Van Morrison, Blues Traveler and The Dave Matthews Band. The album features excellent arrangements highlighted by powerful horns and a fantastic rhythm section. That combined with wonderful song writing ability and fantastic production value really makes this album stand out both creatively and technically. The vibe is such that it makes it a great chill album to have in the background while you drive, work or just hang out with good friends. The stand out track happens to be the title track "Skipping Stones" which sounds exactly how you would imagine. A very relaxed, chilled out melody along with soothing vocals search inside and find the child within. "Something New" is the leadoff track and blasts you right into it with a big full arrangement that is worthy of an arena. "Take A Deep Breath" touches on the reggae side of things, with a slick sound and nice work in the rhythm section. This is a great album by a talented artist. A great blend of many genres is difficult to achieve and Darin Seldes succeeds.-Ross
Check out Darin Seldes's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes" by Jesper Eriksson & Wedell (Rock Artist from Sweden)

RadioIndy is pleased to present Jesper Eriksson & Wedell with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes"

"Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes" is an excellent and truly original Swedish Americana album from Jesper Eriksson & Wedell. A talented singer/songwriter, Eriksson places the most value in his lyrics, and delivers with attention getting, thought provoking, flowing lyrics about life and love, with a great storytelling quality to them. Eriksson's vocals are weathered and perfect for this genre. He draws from one of his main influences, Bob Dylan, and the end result is a vocal styling quite similar to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. While the lyrics may be key, the arrangements are also solid, combining pop, rock, country, and folk to create that unique Swedish Americana sound, superbly complimenting Eriksson's great lyricism. "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes" is a low budget production, most of it recorded in Eriksson's home studio. After a year of Andreas Granath's careful mixing and producing, the album sounds great, with a slight raw quality great for the genre. "Hey Hey Hey" introduces the album nicely with an Americana track featuring great lyrics, a catchy chorus, and a solid backing arrangement. "Are We Waiting for You?" is a sweet piano ballad with pleasant dueling female and male vocals, some nice vocal layering, and more great lyrics. With "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes," Jesper Eriksson & Wedell have delivered nine solid and excellently crafted songs and proved that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a great album. Fans of Americana, do yourself a favor and see how well these Scandinavians approach the genre.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Jesper Eriksson & Wedell's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

'Flood Waters Rising" by Tucker Carr (Rock Artist from Pennsylvania(PA))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Tucker Carr with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Flood Waters Rising"

"Flood Waters Rising" is a promising, three-track rock & roll EP from talented rock musician Tucker Carr. With this EP, Carr has crafted three songs of rock & roll magic, drawing heavily from influential classic rock artists like Van Halen, AC/DC, and early Aerosmith. "FWR" is full of great rock anthem arrangements, catchy lyrics, and rhyming lyrics about life in the fast lane that are sung with pride,excitement, and heart. The recording quality is excellent, and the tracks are ready to go to eleven. "Take Me to the Show" is a song about fast cars, high heels, black leather, sex, drugs, alcohol, and living the rock & roll lifestyle. The title track, "Flood Waters Rising," has some blues and southern rock elements to it, as Carr reflects on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, including the lyrics, "Oh, I've got nowhere to call my home/Whoa, flood waters rising." Carr feels such a connection with the region and respect for those who protect our nation that half of the proceeds from the sale of this EP will go to Habitat for Humanity and to the Gulf Coast. If great rock & roll music for a great cause isn't enough of a reason to pick up this EP, I don't know what is.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Tucker Carr's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Hits The Spot" by Gregg Koval (Rock Artist from Canada)

RadioIndy is pleased to present Gregg Koval with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Hits The Spot"

"Hits The Spot" is a fun, guitar-driven rock album from do-it-yourself musician Gregg Koval and his backing band, The Toastmen. This album is actually two seven track albums in one - "Hits The Spot" and "On Ice". The combination results in fourteen '70s rock-influenced anthems with plenty of jam sessions, guitar solos, and distortion. Combine this sound with Koval's vocal performances and the outfit as a whole creates a sound reminiscent of Joe Walsh and Dire Straits. The lyrics are fun and catchy, as Koval sings about love, parking cars, shortcuts, and winking, subjects you'll be singing along to in no time. Koval has a history of self-producing four-track recordings, so it should come as no surprise that he did the same with "Hits The Spot." That said, the album sounds great and has an endearing quality that preserves the fun sound Koval is going for. "Telekinetic" begins with a great guitar solo intro, soon after matched note for note in the bass line and has a great overall arrangement and lyrics throughout. "Passing Time" is an instrumental track with great acoustic work and layering with electric guitar, bass, and drums. "On Ice" is filled with a haunting wind effect, excellent guitar riffs, and a great catchy rhyming chorus. "Hits The Spot" is a well-crafted double album with memorable lyrics and a fun rock sound. Fans of '70s rock and songs about the little things in life should certainly add this album to your collection.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Gregg Koval's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Save Yourself" by Riviera (Rock Artist from Colorado(CO))

RadioIndy is pleased to present RIVIERA with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Save Yourself"

"Save Yourself" is the impressive debut EP from alternative pop rock / shoegaze outfit Riviera. Riviera advertises themselves as "classy music for classy people," and it's hard to disagree with this concept. This EP is filled with good rock music, with a great pop vocal performance that is at once familiar and distinct and great arrangements that breech typical rock expectations. Riviera's lyrics are strong, poetic, and often direct, offering outlooks on life in general from a down-but-not-out perspective. "Hollywood" opens with the lyrics, "Leave your old life behind, this is your new world," and the listener at once knows the direction and meaning of the song. "Save Yourself" is well-produced, and the vocals and arrangements both sound great. The title track, "Save Yourself," has good lyrics, a lo-fi arrangement, and the simple chorus, "Save yourself/From yourself/Save yourself/From yourself." "Division" features a great arrangement that is layered with a horn section and a fantastic guitar solo, while also supplying strong emotional lyrics and vocals. Riviera has created a promising debut EP that leaves the listener on the edge of their seat in anticipation of a full-length release. If you are a fan of classy alternative pop and shoegaze, pick up this EP.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out RIVIERA's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Monday, December 1, 2008

"Moon in the Afternoon" by Bo Blider (Rock Artist from Illinois(IL))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Bo Blider with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Moon in the Afternoon"

"Moon in the Afternoon" is a guitar-driven pop rock album from talented singer/songwriter Bo Blider and the Bo Blider Band. In crafting his sound, Blider draws from a number of genres, from '70s rock to blues to folk to reggae to '90s pop. The result is twelve timeless tracks with poppy lyrics, catchy choruses, and a great melodic sound. The Bo Blider Band's arrangements are tight and skillfully done, with great guitar work, including great acoustic progressions, electric solos, and funky basslines. Blider clearly draws from his experience in John Lennon and The Beatles tribute bands for both his sound and vocal performances. As a result, he sounds similar to Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Billy Joel. "Moon in the Afternoon" also has a great production quality and a clean, polished sound. "Chit Chat Chum" begins with a great guitar lick that quickly becomes the underlying rhythm of the entire song, coupled with quirky and memorable lyrics. "Shame On You" is a finger-snapping blues track with great piano, bass, and guitar arrangements and more great lyrics. "Moon in the Afternoon" is an album that really puts Bo Blider on display as a talented, true-to-his-roots singer/songwriter. Fans of Beatles-influenced '70s rock fused with '90s pop, check out the Bo Blider Band.-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Bo Blider's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Fagan & Payne" by Fagan and Payne (Rock Artist from London, England)

RadioIndy is pleased to present Fagan and Payne with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Fagan and Payne"

"Fagan & Payne" is the self-titled debut featuring a well-crafted collection of songs that are classically upbeat with a touch of broodiness from UK artists Fagan & Payne. Kelly Fagan's voice wraps itself beautifully around Lucho Payne's wonderful and diverse acoustic guitar work. Their relationship leaves little need for trickery; rather, Fagan & Payne are all about great melodies, a naturally distinct sound, and great performances. Although they have their own styles, the two incorporate several genres into their act, including alternative and pop rock, lounge, and jazz, and they do it with ease. This album is well-recorded with an intimate quality that makes you feel as though you could hear a pin drop. Highlights include the opener, "The Story of Me and You," which sets the tone right off the bat, creating an immediate window into the concept, and includes some cool hand claps, a lovely guitar progression, and a crisp vocal. "Dear Dear Me" features a great lounge jazz progression and a warm vocal performance. "Started Thinking (Stuart Boldt Remix)" wraps up the album with a great layering of vocals, thumping beat, and a simple acoustic progression and extreme danceability. If you enjoy acoustic acts with a dark swagger and style, you will enjoy Fagan & Payne. -William
Check out Fagan and Payne's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Family Affair" by Garfan (Rock Artist from Nebraska(NE))

RadioIndy is pleased to present Garfan with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Family Affair"

Garfan's "Family Affair" is a high energy alternative rock album highlighted with the impressive female vocals of Katie Preston. This album is a nice throwback for those who remember when rock & roll meant something. The clean production on this album works well for this genre, and allows the driving rhythm section, which makes your head nod and foot tap, cut through the mix. The songs on "Family Affair" all have a great rock feel and are carried by catchy lyrics you'll be singing along to in no time. The heavy drum pattern and melodic guitar work on "Dwell" is reminiscent of such female fronted rock bands as Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane. "Had to Die" takes a much different approach than most of the rest of the album, with a heavy Rage Against the Machine kind of guitar riff and soulful lyrics. Overall this is a great effort from an up-and-coming band, especially for fans of bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Blind Melon and newer alternative rock bands such as Flyleaf.-Ross
Check out Garfan's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites