 -Tara
Los Angeles via New York and Maine, singer-songwriter Elijah Ocean’s self-titled fourth release is a sun-drenched slice of Laurel Canyon Country that will feel good in your ears and warm your musical soul. The ten-track self-penned collection begins with the spirited, encouraging “Bad Dreams” before heading into songs of lost love and disappointment. The lovely harmonies and airy feel of “Chain Of Gold” support a wistful nostalgia that flows into the waltz, “Malibu Moon,” and the sweeping “Desert Rain.” Ocean takes the tempo up a notch with the bouncy road tune “Highway” before circling back to the “Barricade,” a tune of struggling romance that emits a sad warmth and “Still Where You Left Me” a lonely a mid-tempo two-stepper. The album is rounded out with the realistic, yet hopeful “Time Passes Slow” and the shuffling harmonica and keys-laden closer “Days Are Long,” making it easy to hit repeat for another go-round.
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 -Adrian
Until now, Arkansas native Erin Enderlin has mainly been known as a songwriter, penning tunes for the likes of Alan Jackson's (“Monday Morning Church”), Lee Ann Womack (“Last Call”), and Luke Bryan (“You Don't Know Jack”) - as well as for Randy Travis, Terri Clark, Joey + Rory, and more. Enderlin is set to release her upcoming album, Whiskey Town Crier, on Friday, September 1. The record was produced by Jamey Johnson and Jim “Moose” Brown and features artists such as Chris Stapleton, Randy Houser, Ricky Skaggs, and Jon Randall. Whiskey Town Crier puts all the sad souls Enderlin has become known for singing and writing about in the same tiny, fictional city. The result is a unique concept album devoted to women’s experiences in small town America. “Intro” sets the scene for the album, explaining the ‘concept’ behind it - a concept that would make a great film. The slow-burning “Caroline” has a ‘down home’ bluesy feel, and “Ain’t It Just Like a Cowboy” is a beautiful tear-jerker with some wonderful steel guitar, while “The Blues Are Alive and Well” - with its gloriously heartfelt lyrical refrain: “as long as there’s whiskey, a song by Keith Whitley and my baby loves somebody else, blues are alive and well” - is for me what country music is all about. “Home Sweet Home” is a further slice of brilliance and Enderlin’s voice truly shines on it. “Till It’s Gone” and the Randy Houser duet “The Coldest in Town” are yet more high points on an album that’s packed full of them. Whiskey Town Crier follows the artist’s self-titled EP from 2011 and a 2013 LP, I Let Her Talk. For more information visit HERE.  Hailing from Illinois, The Joe Stamm Band (JSB) - Joe Stamm (guitar & lead vocals), Danny Greuter (lead guitar), Jon Byler Dann (bass & backup vocals), Bruce Moser (drums) and Dave Glover (guitar) - plays a soulful, pumping brand of southern rock that is laced with rural American imagery, hard-driving guitar, and songwriting that invites listeners into deeply personal life experiences. Currently in the studio working on a full-length album, JSB released their new single, "Crow Creek" in June, 2017.
Based around a heavy rain that caused Crow Creek in Illinois to swell and cause destruction, "Crow Creek" uses "brown water" as a metaphor to tell the story of alcohol abuse and love at a crossroads. Led by electric guitars and Stamm's somber vocals, the desolate feel of "Cold Creek" offers a powerful message, and warning, about the damage that "brown water" can cause in one's life. "Woke up today to a goodbye note Between a bottle of whiskey and a pack of smokes It said, ya know, I’ll always love you Joe But I’d think by now that you’d know Stay outta that brown water It’ll pull you in, it’ll drag you under That current is stronger than you think Brown water will carry your life away" Joe Stamm Band has opened for acts such as Parmalee, the Kentucky Headhunters, and JT Hodges, even sharing a bill with personal heroes Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson this past summer at the Tailgates & Tallboys Music Festival. For more information visit HERE.  Hailing from Dallas, singer-songwriter Joseph Wayne Miller will release his third album, Pacey, in September. Recorded at Cloudland Recording Studios in Forth Worth and produced by Peter Wierenga, the confessional eleven-song project deals with the death of his sister and the meeting of his wife, both of which occurred within a year of each other (2014-2015). The self-penned tunes were written from June-September 2016, between his marriage proposal and the first day of recording and result in a project that is personal, immediate, and raw.
Beginning with the "Open Door," Miller's familiar vocals draw you in with a gentle tale about the one who he can't get off his mind, then amps up the tempo with the dark undercurrent of "Turn On All The Lights" and the solemn "Words So Strange." Miller keeps things sonically varied, and fresh, with the rocker "Scrambled Eggs" and pulls at your heart strings with "No Smoking" and the ballad "Wasting Time." Pacey is rounded out with the spacious "Window Plant," and two songs that tell stories via home ("Yard Sale" and "Garage Mess") before closing out with the reflective "Yellow Sky." While generally somber, Pacey is filled with meaningful lyrics and melodies that grow with each listen. For more information visit HERE.  Courtesy of the Artist -Tara
Boston-based four piece, The Novel Ideas have earned a reputation for their stirring four part harmonies, rich melodic folk-country sound, and deeply personal songwriting - all of which are front and center on their new single,"I'll Try." The superb first single from their forthcoming album due in September, "I'll Try" emanates warmth while expressing an intimate, honest look at that difficult experience of letting go, and moving on, from a previous relationship. "I'm finally looking for love/And I'm finally feeling alright/I think that it's about time." Website: http://www.thenovelideas.com/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/thenovelideas Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenovelideas Instagram: http://instagram.com/thenovelideas  -Tara
Recently voted Best Band in Austin Monthly, Cowboy Diplomacy - Ian Cochran (guitar, vocals), Brad Bentley (Bass), Zac Walden (lead guitar), and Matt Leslie (drums) - delivered their second single, "No Alibi," on August 25th. Recorded at 601 Studios in Austin and mastered by Howie Weinberg (The Wild Feathers, Wilco), "No Alibi" is a driving blues rock scorcher led by a dirty groove, fiery guitar work, and Cochran's gritty vocals, that finds the foursome celebrating the dog days of youth, freedom, and young love. “So the question is will you cruise on by So the question is will you take a drive So the question is will you get so high, So the question is will you deny 'cause it's no alibi” Check it out HERE  -Kelli
Alt-Country songstress Caroline Reese has returned with a new EP, Two Horses. The four songs reflect a traveling theme, every one saturated with Reese's country/folk vocals and lush instruments. "(I'm Not Selling) The Telecaster" kicks off the EP and sounds autobiographical in nature. Reese made the move from Pennsylvania to Montana and channels the hardships of relocating in this bouncy number. The melancholy filled title cut delves into a past relationship, driven by metaphors and Reese's powerhouse vocals. Meanwhile, "Ease My Mind" touches on the history of the Centralia, PA ghost town before seamlessly transitioning into the singer's past ramblings. It's the standout track, buoyed by Reese's fabulous storytelling and the fine guitar licks. Closing out the EP is "Nicotine," a youthful nod to the past. The pedal steel wraps around the nostalgic lyrics "...I just thought thought 10 years would be long enough...But now I'm right back where you left me...left me..." leaving the listener revelling in the storyline. With this EP, Reese has captured the ears of new listeners and no doubt, leaves them wanting more from this Pennsylvania native. Two Horses is out September 8.  Jericho Woods wind down those last lazy days of Summer with their surprise acoustic EP, Bonfire Songs, which was released August 18th. Led by Jory Hutchens' fiddle and Josh Mitcham's welcoming, warm vocals, the EP kicks off with the romantic "Sinkin Creek" (a real creek that runs throughout Breckinridge County) which conjures images of being with the one you love under the clear evening skies.
That's followed by the tender story of "Gonna Be Alright" which chronicles the emotions of getting married, starting a family, and watching children grow to adults; "Smalltown Jimmy" a song that relays the challenges one encounters living in a small town and (personal favorite) "Anna Wait for Me," a heartwarming shuffler about watching your kids grow and wanting time to slow down just a bit. The Kentucky-based quintet close things out with the emotional "Weep No More," which relates the push and pull of the road and family. Whether it's a warm summer night around the bonfire, sitting on the porch with friends, or taking a leisurely drive, Bonfire Songs is the perfect companion.  Having found success as a pop/rock artist touring with Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Kip Moore, and Counting Crows, among others, Bowen, is ready to pave a different path with new single, "All I Ever Do."
A bright, yet thoughtful radio ready tune that's imbued with modern sonic flourishes, "All I Ever Do" captures the sweetly romantic feelings (and sacrifices) that accompany being with that special someone. Watch the lyric video HERE. "Everybody wanna be this, wanna be that Wanna go here, wanna go there Me, I don;t care if I ever go anywhere, but Right here white sheets, sun in your hair, bare feet I never get tired of waking up next to you"  Nashville by way of Napa Valley, newcomer Shelby Darrall recently released her debut single, "Swim." A mid-tempo easy flowing ballad backed by guitar and banjo, "Swim" features Darrall's airy, earnest vocals on a tune about the ebb and flow of a relationship. Follow the links to hear the track and for more information on Darrall who will release her EP September 1st.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5EuFSF0WkNdx3a0fbKQKOv Listen on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lostharbormusic/shelby-darrall-swim-lhm Buy on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/swim-single/id1263768296 Shelby social links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbydarrallmusic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbydarrall/?hl=en |
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