No Shades Of Grey, The Green’s New LP Is One Of 2019’s Top New Reggae Records

Courtesy: Easy Star Records

Reggae outfit The Green released its latest full-length studio recording last week.  The Hawaiian-sextet’s new 15-song, hour-long record Black & White is one of the most welcome surprises from the reggae realm so far this year.  According to the band’s own members – Caleb Keolanui (vocals), Ikaika Antone (keyboards, lead vocals), JP Kennedy (guitar, lead vocals), Zion Thompson (guitar, lead vocals), Brad “BW” Watanabe (bass, vocals) and Jordan Espinoza (drums) – the album’s title is a reflection of the band’s minimalist approach to the record.  That simplistic approach to the album’s musical content is just one of the album’s most important elements.  Its lyrical themes couple with its musical content to add even more interest to its whole.  Together, they do plenty to make the album appealing from start to finish.  That is evidenced early on in the form of ‘Good Vibrations.’  It will be discussed shortly.  ‘Wake Up,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another way in which the album proves itself a surprisingly enjoyable offering from The Green.  It will be addressed a little later.  ‘Chocolate & Roses,’ which comes just past the album’s halfway mark, is yet another example of what makes Black & White stand out in this year’s reggae realm.  It will also be addressed a little later on.  When it is considered along with the two other songs noted here and the album’s remaining dozen songs, the whole of the record becomes a piece that is one of this year’s top new reggae records.

The Green’s new full-length studio recording Black & White is a strong new effort from the Hawaiian reggae band that will appeal to fans of performers, such as Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Gabby Pahinui.  That is evidenced through the minimalist approach taken by the band to the album both musically and lyrically.  One of the songs that serves to support that statement comes early on in the album’s run in the form of ‘Good Vibration.’  ‘Good Vibration’ opens with the band’s members singing a capella before bringing in a steady mid-tempo guitar riff that couples with a steady beat on the timbales from Espinoza.  As the song progresses, the rest of the band joins in, creating a three-part harmony that creates a positive, easy-going vibe that translates quite well to listeners.  That simple musical approach makes the song’s equally uplifting lyrical content to make the song in whole one of the record’s strongest additions.

Keolanui sings in the song’s lead verse, “I’ve been traveling for so long now, you know/Around these islands/Just to show/With a good meditation/Can cause a good vibration/Turn a bad situation/Into a fine afternoon.”  He goes on to sing in the song’s second verse, “So listen up, listen up/’Cause we’re gonna fill your cup/’Cause we like/The joy that it brings us/And yes, we take it everywhere that we go/To people we’ll throw/These big love grenades/And we’re on target almost every time…no we don’t care about things that bring us down/And we gotta let you know/That I’ve got that good vibration.”  Keloanui continues in the song’s final verse just as positive, stating he just wants positivity for others, encouraging support for others.  There really is no grey area here.  It is all…well…black and white.  The message is one of optimism and hope, and it is delivered with total clarity.  That positive message, coupled with the song’s equally uplifting musical arrangement, is certain to achieve its goal of empowering listeners and lifting them up.  That clear, simple message and equally simple, accessible musical arrangement makes the song in whole a clear example of what makes Black & White a strong new entry in this year’s reggae field.  It is just one of the album’s standout entries.  ‘Wake Up,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another positive addition to the album.

‘Wake Up’ stands out because its arrangement is another surprisingly enjoyable non-traditional reggae work.  The arrangement opens with an easygoing bluesy guitar riff that couples with Watanabe’s bass to form a solid foundation for the song.  Once Keolanui and the rest of the band joins in, the arrangement develops a slightly more traditional reggae sound that still is balanced well with that early bluesy sound.  The two sounds together create a unique sound that stands solidly on its own merits.  The positive vibes that the arrangement establishes in listeners’ minds is made even more encouraging by the song’s uplifting lyrical theme.  It is a theme that even the most devout Christians will appreciate.

Keolanui sings in the song’s lead verse, “As your times start to get rough/And you fear you’re losing love/It’s ‘cause you never took the time to trouble/The one and only man above/My friend, God.”  From there, he and his band mates sing in the song’s chorus, “You gotta wake up, brother/Open your eyes/You gotta wake up/It’s time you realize.”  The second verse continues in similar fashion, with Keolanui singing about a person spending so much time drinking and smoking, doing negative things, yet wondering why things are going badly.  He reminds people about having faith in God to make things better.  Again, the message is clear, even if some of the lyrics are not so clear without a lyrics sheet.  The message is clear enough that it is obvious what is being discussed in this case.  Keeping that in mind along with the subtleties of the song’s arrangement, the whole becomes a song that will appeal even to people who might not necessarily be the most devoted reggae fans.  When it is considered along with ‘Good Vibration,’ the optimism of both songs shows even more clearly just how much Black & White has to offer listeners.  It is still not the last of the album’s most notable entries.  ‘Chocolate & Roses,’ which comes just past the album’s midway point, is one more example of the album’s strength.

‘Chocolate & Roses’ stands out musically from its counterparts already discussed here as they do from each other and the rest of the album’s works in terms of its musical arrangement.  This song’s arrangement presents some of the strongest comparisons to Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz that the album exhibits.  It is a simple, laid back work that utilizes Keolanui’s vocals, Espinoza’s work on the bongos, Watanabe’s bass work and a steady, easygoing, tropical guitar riff to create a whole that is one of the album’s most memorable arrangements.  With summer only around the corner, one could imagine this playing during a couple’s romantic getaway at the beach.  Of course, as with the other songs noted here – and the rest of the album’s songs – that impressive musical arrangement is just one part of what makes the song work.  Its lyrical content is just as notable as its musical arrangement.

Keolanui sings in the song’s lead verse, “Fireworks going off on a new year’s day/Like a dozen roses on the fourteenth of February, yeah/Like a beautiful day in the start of spring/Like an April fool I watch the smile it brings/I’m all you need girl/I’m all you need/Like chocolate and roses…are all you need.”  He continues in the song’s second verse, “Like a cloudy day in May/I’ll be there/Like the sun, it shines on a summer day/Like a chocolate pie on the fourth of July/Like a cool breeze on an August night/I’m all you need.”  The similes don’t end here, with more refrains of the chorus and even more in the song’s third verse that are just as simplistic.  That simplistic approach to the song’s message once again leave no doubt about what’s being said.  This is a love song, and one that with the right support, could be the love song of this summer.  It, along with the other two songs noted here – and the rest of the album’s works – could be one of the year’s biggest surprises from the reggae realm with that same support.

The Green’s new full-length studio recording Black & White is a work that is worth the green paid for the album.  Yes, that awful pun was intended.  Reggae fans and the band’s most devoted audiences alike will agree with that statement.  That is made evident through all three songs discussed here, as well as the rest of the album’s works.  From start to end, the album stands out as one of the year’s most surprisingly unique reggae offerings to date, and one of the year’s best in the genre.  More information on Black & White is available online now along with all of The Green’s latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.thegreen808.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheGreen808

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheGreen808

 

 

 

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Shout! Factory’s New Anime Import Will Generate Plenty Of Noise

Courtesy: Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory is bringing the Japanese coming-age-age story A Silent Voice to American audiences.  Set for release on Tuesday on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, the almost two-and-a-half-hour movie is a stirring tale of redemption that will engage and entertain anime fans just as much as it will those who might not typically be interested in the very niche genre.  That is due in part to that story, which will be discussed shortly.  While the story’s appeal is far-reaching, it does suffer from at least one problem in its pacing, which will be discussed a little later.  The movie’s average price point plays its own important part to its presentation, and will also be addressed later.  Each item noted here plays its own important part to the whole of A Silent Voice.  All things considered, A Silent Voice is certain to generate plenty of discussion among audiences.

Shout! Factory’s new anime import A Silent Voice is a cinematic offering that is certain to generate plenty of discussion among audiences.  That includes the most devoted anime fans and even those who are generally not as interested in the very niche genre.  That is due in part to the movie’s story, which follows a young high school student named Shoya Ishida as he tries to make amends for bullying a former classmate years earlier in their middle school.  Shoya bullied the girl, Shoko Nishimiya, along with a group of his friends just because she is deaf.  The end result is that Shoko’s mother ends up transferring her to another school, and Shoko ends up being ostracized by his own friends.  The result of what happens to Shoya leads him to have a revelation that at first turns him suicidal.  However, after his failed attempt to take his own life, he realizes that it is his mission to right the wrongs caused by him and his friends.  The story does have a happy ending.  As a matter of fact, one could almost make a biblical comparison of sorts to the story’s end and a certain story from the Bible interestingly enough.  However, along the way, the story’s progression is so emotionally heavy that audiences will definitely have to be in a certain frame of mind in order to watch through the whole thing.  That is not to say the story is unwatchable, but rather that it is simply that deep and heavy.  Staying on that track, coming-of-age stories and tales of redemption are nothing new to the movie industry in the Western and Eastern hemispheres.  However, the way in which the story’s writing team crafted those two interweaving story elements in this case is an intriguing new approach.  That in itself makes the movie worth the watch.  While the movie’s central story does plenty to keep viewers engaged and entertained, it does suffer from one problem – its pacing.

The run time of A Silent Voice is two hours and 10 minutes.  A lot of things happen over the course of that run time.  There is also a lot of jumping around in terms of time frame from one scene to the next.  There are points at which the story could have easily wrapped up, but instead, it keeps going. While these issues do not leave audiences checking their watches, it does create enough of a problem that viewers will recognize the noted issues and wonder when the nearly two-and-a-half-hour story will finally end.  Luckily, as much of an issue as the pacing is for the overall presentation of A Silent Voice, it is not so overly prominent that it makes the movie unwatchable either.  It is just another example of what often can and does happen when multiple people have their hands in the proverbial writing pot for any movie, whether Asian, American or from somewhere else.  Keeping all of this in mind, A Silent Voice is still worth an occasional watch when audiences are in the right mindset, especially considering the movie’s average price point.

The average price point for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack release of A Silent Voice is $20.69.  The average price for its DVD standalone release is $12.48.  Those prices were obtained using listings at Shout! Factory’s story and those of Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Booksellers.  The movie was not listed at Books-A-Million, but the book series on which the movie is based was listed there.  Neither price is a bank buster, so to speak.  What’s more, the story at the center of the movie actually stands out from so many anime movies.  What’s more, while it is emotionally deep and heavy, it is still relatively accessible for its target audiences.  That accessibility, coupled with the depth of the story, makes it a movie that is worth at least an occasional watch.  That being the case, whether one buys the movie on DVD or on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, the price paid is money well-spent.  Keeping all of this in mind, A Silent Voice proves itself to be itself a worthwhile investment among drama fans and anime fans alike.

Shout! Factory’s forthcoming home release of the anime import A Silent Voice is a work that is certain to generate plenty of discussion among its target audiences.  That is proven in part through a story that stands out among so many of its anime counterparts.  The dual coming-of-age/redemption story at the movie’s center is emotionally deep and heavy.  It is not a movie that one can simply sit down and watch.  It is one of those works that requires a proper mindset in order for audiences to fully appreciate.  While the story is certain to keep audiences engaged and entertained, its pacing is a little bit problematic, but not so much that it makes the movie unwatchable.  To that end, the movie’s relatively affordable price point on DVD and BD/DVD combo pack makes it a worthwhile investment among drama and anime fans.  It will be available Tuesday.  More information on this and other titles from Shout! Factory is available online now at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.shoutfactory.com

 

 

 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShoutFactory

 

 

 

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PBS Kids’ New ‘Ready Jet Go!’ DVD Is “Rocking” Fun For The Whole Family

Courtesy: PBS/PBS Distribution

PBS Distribution will release another new collection of Ready Jet Go! Episodes next month on DVD.  The new collection, Chasing The Sun, is set for release April 9.  While audiences wait for the DVD’s release, they have another collection of episodes from the hit series in the form of Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks.  Released this past January, the DVD features four episodes from the series’ first season that will both entertain and educate audiences of all ages.  Those episodes are themselves are just one of a group of reasons for any family to own this DVD.  The episodes’ secondary content plays its own critical role in the DVD’s presentation.  It will be discussed a little later.  When the DVD’s primary and secondary content is coupled with the DVD’s average price point, the whole of the single-disc presentation makes the collection a (space) rocking – yes, that awful pun was intentional – collection that the whole family will enjoy.

PBS Distribution’s new Ready Jet Go! DVD, Space Rocks is a collection that space enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy.  That is due in part to the episodes featured in the DVD and their primary content.  All four of the episodes featured in this latest RJG compilation are lifted from the series’ debut season, and are presented in exactly the same chronological order in which they were originally aired on television.  This is good in itself in that it means nothing is left out as audiences watch.  Instead of jumping around from one point to another, audiences can feel as if they are watching it on television instead of on DVD.  It’s a minor aesthetic element, sure, but in the bigger picture, that element goes a long way toward the DVD’s presentation.

The actual primary content presented in the episodes is just as important to note of the episodes as their sequencing.  Audiences of all ages will enjoy the lessons about the changing forms of space rocks in “Asteroids, Meteors and Meteorites” and the lessons about the compositions of meteorites and comets in the episodes.  Older audiences will enjoy the lessons because, honestly, plenty of adults forget the specifics of the noted topics very easily.  So for adults, the lessons would be learned for the first time again while for younger viewers, the lessons will be just as fresh, learning them for the first time ever.  As if this is not enough, the lessons tie into one another from the first to the last.  First is the lesson about the different terms used to classify space rocks as they make their way toward and onto Earth.  From there, audiences learn how to determine an average Earth rock from a space rock in terms of its composition and characteristics.  Immediately after that episode, audiences are taught about the composition of comets, which themselves are space rocks.  From there, Jet and his friends create their own asteroid patrol, a smaller version of what NASA already does.  They are then introduced to what the said scientists do every single day.  Again, older audiences will enjoy learning facts that they likely forgot over the years while younger viewers will enjoy just as much, learning those same lessons for the first time.  It makes for an enjoyable time for the whole family.  That is more than enough reason for audiences to check out this DVD, but most definitely not the only reason.  The secondary lessons incorporated into the episodes add even more reason for audiences to view the DVD.

Audiences learn how to make their own homemade comet in the secondary lesson in “Comet Fever.”  “Mindy’s Meteorite Stand” uses the lesson of how to tell the difference in an Earth and space rock as its primary AND secondary lesson.  The use of the magnets plays into the traits that determine if a rock is from space or Earth.  This is the starting point for families and even teachers to do their own lesson about how to spot Earth rocks and space rocks.  “Asteroid Patrol” helps viewers of all ages learn where to look for asteroids in the sky and what to look for.  Simply put, the lessons presented in each episode are just as valuable as the primary content because they take the information presented in the primary lessons and use them to continue that learning first hand.  When the two lessons are coupled, they give audiences more than enough to appreciate.  Keeping that in mind, the DVD’s average price point proves to be money well-spent.

The average price point of Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks is $5.17.  That price is obtained by averaging prices from PBS’ online store, from Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Books-A-Million.  The least expensive listing at the time of this review is at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart at $4.79.  The most expensive listing is at Books-A-Million and PBS’ online store.  Whether one purchases the DVD at the low end or high, neither price is very high.  Purchasing the DVD will not break any family’s budget, and will be enjoyed plenty of times at that one-time price.  Considering all that the DVD offers, that makes the disc’s average price point quite affordable.  Keeping everything in mind here, the DVD in whole proves itself a positive addition to any family’s home DVD library.

PBS Distribution’s most recent Ready Jet Go! DVD, Space Rocks is another enjoyable new offering from Craig Bartlett’s (Hey Arnold!, Dinosaur Train) hit science-based educational series.  That is thanks in part to the episodes featured in the DVD and their primary content, which will entertain and educate audiences of all ages.  The secondary content serves as a solid starting point for educators and families alike to try their own related experiments and experiences.  The disc’s average price point is money well-spent, considering all that the primary and secondary has to offer audiences.  Each item is important in its own way to the whole of Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks.  All things considered, they make the DVD another out of this world hit for the whole family.  More information on Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks is available online along with lots of games, activities and printables at:

 

 

 

Website: http://pbskids.org/readyjetgo

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialReadyJetGo

 

 

 

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Journey’s New Live Recording Is A Powerful New Musical Adventure

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

World-renowned rock band Journey released its brand new live recording this week.  The recording, Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan, was released Friday through Eagle Rock Entertainment.  While not the group’s first live recording ever – the group’s most recent live recording, Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour, was released in 2005 through Columbia Records – it is still a piece that audiences and the band’s more devoted fans alike will appreciate.  That is due in no small part to the recording’s set list, which will be discussed shortly.  The band’s performance of said set list is just as important to discuss as the set list itself, and will be addressed a little later on.  The companion booklet included with the set plays its own integral part to the recording’s overall presentation.  Together with the recording’s set list and the band’s performance thereof, the whole of the set becomes an early candidate for any critic’s list of the year’s top new live recordings.

Veteran rock band Journey’s latest live recording Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan is an offering that classic rock fans and Journey’s more devout fans alike will appreciate.  That is due in no small part to the recording’s set list.  An expansive two-hour-plus concert, the set list covers two of the band’s most well-known and beloved albums – Escape and Frontiers.  The concert, originally recorded in 2017 at the famed Budokan in Japan, covers both albums in full.  What’s more, the band performs each album in its original sequence from start to end in the exact same order as their original presentations.  The band wastes little time between the songs, filling time with pointless chatter.  Rather, the band collectively does its talking through its music.  That is not to say that the band’s members don’t talk at all between songs.  There are moments in which each member of the band offers some commentary, sharing stories of songs’ creation.  However, those moments are limited in their frequency.  That limit makes the noted all the more special, and at the same time, the rest of the concert just as enjoyable for audiences.  With all of this in mind, the set list proves to be an integral portion of this recording’s presentation.  It is just one of the most important of the recording’s whole.  The band’s performance of the set list is important in its own right to the recording’s presentation.

The band’s performance is important to address in the bigger picture of the recording because it is so engaging and entertaining throughout the show.  Lead guitarist Neal Schon shows time and again with his work, why he is such a respected musician.  From his work on the soaring show opener that is ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ to his more subtle performance in ‘Who’s Crying Now’ to the driving riffs of ‘Chain Reaction’ and more, Schon shows that he is still at the top of his game even so many decades after first picking up a guitar.  Drummer Steve Smith’s timing in each song is impeccable. His fills, his control of his drum kit and stamina are just as impressive.  Drummers will note his stamina and creative performance is due to obvious classical training.  He uses his wrists instead of his arms to play.  He also uses plenty of rudiments throughout each song, utilizing every inch of his kit.  At no point does he ever show any sign of drained energy, nor does he lose any ability to keep the songs interesting in his own right.  Again, here is a clear example of the band’s talents throughout the show.  Keyboardist/guitarist and bassist Jonathan Cain and Ross Valory help maintain each song’s foundation in their own way, too, giving just as much positive energy as their band mates.  Front man Arnel Pineda, while maybe not as tall as his band mates, proves big things can and do come in small packages.  He delivers a nonstop powerhouse vocal performance, displaying time and again, an impressive control over his voice.  That includes not just in terms of dynamics, but also his ability to properly convey the feeling of each song.  When His vocal prowess is coupled with the talents of his band mates, all of which have been noted here, the whole of the band’s performance becomes a spectacle that shows how a live concert is done right.  As noted in the recording’s companion booklet, which itself will be discussed shortly, there is no pyro in this show.  There are no giant video screens behind the band.  There are no special effects other than lighting.  That puts the full attention on the band, and the band makes the most of that attention in every song.  That less is more approach makes the band’s performance more than enough reason for audiences to watch this show.  It will be two hours-plus well-spent.

The band’s performance in whole gives audiences more than enough to appreciate in this recording.  It would be unfair, of course, to ignore the work of those behind the cameras, lenses and computers in the production and post.  It is thanks to those individuals’ efforts, that the energy of that performance is heightened even more for home viewers.  The timing of the shots, the shots’ angles and the sound are top quality.  Given, Eagle Rock Entertainment would not release a recording whose production values are any less.  It is the standard for which Eagle Rock has come to be known.  Even with that in mind, it would be wrong it ignore the part of those who captured the band’s performance and prepared it for its presentation.  Those individuals did just as much to make this show enjoyable for audiences as the band itself.

Having noted the set list featured in this recording and the band’s performance thereof, it is obvious that the recording offers plenty of appeal.  They are only a portion of what makes the recording another positive offering from Journey and Eagle Rock Entertainment.  The recording’s companion booklet adds its own share of interest to the recording’s whole.  As already noted, the recording’s booklet notes the simplicity of the show’s stage setup.  There’s no pyro, no giant video screens behind the band, no other special effects.  There are some steel structures behind the band, but they are really more cosmetic than anything else. They don’t really serve any other purpose than to add to the stage’s look.  The liner notes, crafted by journalist Matt Wardlaw, gives audiences insight into the importance of Escape and Frontiers, noting that the two albums collectively spawned eight Top 40 singles and sold no less than 20 million copies worldwide.  The liner notes also note that Journey’s 2017 Budokan performance was not the first time the band performed at the famed venue.  The full story on that will be left for audiences to discover on their own.  There is even a mention about Smith’s technical prowess by Valory included in the liner notes, going back to the previous discussion on Smith’s talents.  If that is not enough for audiences, Wardlaw cites Pineda as he talks about his nerves before going on stage with his band mates because of his own lifelong view of the Budokan.  Everything noted here is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg that is the liner notes in the recording’s companion booklet.  Between these notes and many others featured in the booklet, audiences get a rich, thorough setup on the concert before they ever take in the concert.  At the same time, the notes give an equally rich examination of the albums performed in whole in the concert.  In other words, the liner notes offer audiences just as much appeal as the concert contained in the two CDs and one DVD/BD (One set is 2 CD/DVD and the other 2 CD/BD) that make up the recording’s packaging.  When that concert is considered alongside the liner notes,  the whole becomes a presentation that classic rock and Journey fans alike will appreciate.

Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan is a strong new offering from veteran rock band Journey.  The recording presents the band as a unit that is still going strong decades after its formation.  It also gives longtime fans a full performance of two of the band’s most iconic albums in exactly the same sequence as their presentation in those noted albums.  The liner notes featured in the recording’s companion booklet put the finishing touch to the recording’s presentation.  Each item is important in its own right to the whole of this recording.  All things considered, they make Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan a work that proves itself worthy of a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new live recordings.  It is available now.  More information on the recording is available online now along with all of Journey’s latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.journeymusic.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/journey

Twitter: http://twitter.com/journeyofficial

 

 

 

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

 

 

 

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Hyro The Hero Announces Summer Tour Schedule

Courtesy: Century Media

Hyro The Hero has announced a new slate of live dates.

The rap-rock artist announced a new jam-packed summer tour schedule on Wednesday.  The three-month-long-plus tour schedule is set to launch May 3 in Jacksonville, Fla and to run through Aug. 25 in Brooklyn, NY.

The tour will feature performances at the Epicenter Festival in Rockingham, NC, Dreamhack Dallas Convention and Rocklahoma festival as well as performances in cities nationwide.  The tour’s current schedule is noted below.

TOUR DATES

DATE		CITY	VENUE
Fri	5/3	Jacksonville, FL	Welcome To Rockville
Fri	5/10	Rockingham, NC	Epicenter
Fri	5/10	Rockingham, NC	Epicenter After Show
Sun	5/12	Chicago, IL	Bottom Lounge ^
Tue	5/14	Chesterfield, MI	Diesel Concert Lounge ^
Wed	5/15	Lexington, KY	Manchester Music Hall ^
Fri	5/17	Virginia Beach, VA	Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater ^
Sat	5/18	Lynchburg, VA	Phase2 Dining and Entertainment Club ^
Sun	5/19	Poughkeepsie, NY	The Chance ^
Tue	5/21	Sayreville, NJ	Starland Ballroom ^
Thu	5/23	Nashville, TN	The Cowan ^
Fri	5/24	Springfield, MO	The Complex ^
Sun	5/26	Pryor, OK	Rocklahoma
Sat	6/1	Dallas, TX	Dreamhack Dallas Convention
Fri	6/21	Dallas, TX	Dos Equis Pavillion #
Sat	6/22	Austin, TX	Austin 360 Amphitheatre #
Sun	6/23	The Woodlands, TX	Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion #
Tue	6/25	West Palm Beach, FL	Coral Sky Amphitheatre #
Wed	6/26	Tampa, FL	MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre #
Fri	6/28	Atlanta, GA	Lakewood Amphitheater #
Sat	6/29	Charlotte, NC	PNC Music Pavillion #
Sun	6/30	Atlantic City, NJ	The Beach at Atlantic City #
Tue	7/2	Syracuse, NY	Lakeview Amphitheater – Syracuse #
Wed	7/3	Toronto, ON	Budweiser Stage #
Fri	7/5	Mansfield, MA	Xfinity Center #
Sat	7/6	Holmdel, NJ	PNC Bank Arts Center #
Sun	7/7	Hartford, CT	The Xfinity Theatre #
Tue	7/9	Bristow, VA	Jiffy Lube Live #
Wed	7/10	Clarkston, MI	DTE Energy Music Theatre #
Fri	7/12	Tinley Park, IL	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre #
Sat	7/13	Thornville, OH	Legend Valley #
Sun	7/14	Noblesville, IN	Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center #
Mon	7/15	Maryland Heights, MO	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre #
Wed	7/17	Englewood, CO	Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre #
Sat	7/20	Irvine, CA	Starland Ballroom #
Sun	7/21	Mountain View, CA	Shoreline Amphitheater #
Tue	7/23	Auburn, WA	White River Amphitheatre #
Wed	7/24	Boise, ID	Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
Fri	7/26	Chula Vista, CA	North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre #
Sat	7/27	Phoenix, AZ	Ak-Chin Pavillion #
Sun	7/28	Albuquerque, NM	Isleta Amphitheater #
Sat/Sun	8/24-25	Brooklyn, NY	Afropunk Festival

^ with P.O.D. & Nonpoint & Islander
# with Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival Tour

Hyro The Hero’s upcoming tour schedule is in support of his most recent full-length studio recording Flagged Channel.  The album was released Aug. 31, 2018 on Century Media Records/Red Music.  The album has spawned the singles ‘Never Back  Down,’ ‘Bullet‘ and ‘Live Your F**** Life‘ since its release.

Along with those singles, Hyro The Hero is also featured on EDM artist Crankdat’s new single ‘Monster.’

More information on that single is available along with all of Hyro The Hero’s latest tour news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.hyrothehero.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HyroTheHero

Twitter: http://twitter.com/hyrothehero

 

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Set It Off Announces Summer Tour Schedule

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Set It Off announced its summer tour schedule this week.

The band announced on Monday, that just as the weather warms up, so will its tour schedule.  The band will launch the tour, which runs a little more than a month, is scheduled to launch June 11 in Colorado Springs, CO and to run through July 20 in Mountainview, CA.

The tour’s schedule features performances in cities, such as Poughkeepsie, NY; Charlotte, NC and Milwaukee, WI.  Its schedule is noted below.

SET IT OFF ON TOUR:
THE MIDNIGHT WORLD TOUR PART 3:
WITH EMAROSA, BROADSIDE, + LIZZY FARRALL:
6/11 — Colorado Springs, CO — Black Sheep
6/12 — Lawrence, KS — The Bottleneck
6/14 — Burnsville, MN — The Garage
6/15 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
6/16 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly’s
6/18 — St. Louis, MO — Fubar
6/19 — Nashville, TN — The Basement East
6/21 — Indianapolis, IN — The Citadel
6/22 — Columbus, OH — Newport Music Hall
6/23 — Grand Rapids, MI — Elevation
6/25 — Buffalo, NY — Rec Room
6/26 — Poughkeepsie, NY — The Chance Theater
6/28 — Hartford, CT — The Webster
6/29 — Richmond, VA — The Canal Club
6/30 — Atlantic City, NJ — Atlantic City Beach*
7/2 — Pawtucket, RI — The Met
7/3 — Amityville, NY — Revolution
7/5 — Reading, PA — Reverb
7/6 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore
7/7 — Charlotte, NC — Amo’s Southend
7/8 — Orlando, FL — Sad Summer*
7/9 — Lake Park, FL — The Kelsey Theater
7/12 — Pensacola, FL — Vinyl Music Hall
7/13 — Austin, TX — Empire Garage
7/16 — Tucson, AZ — 191 Toole
7/18 — Los Angeles, CA — El Rey
7/20 — Mountainview, CA — Shoreline Amphitheatre*
*Festival Dates

Set It Off’s upcoming summer tour schedule is in support of its latest album Midnight, which was released Feb. 1.  The album spawned the singles ‘Midnight Thoughts,’ ‘For You Forever, ‘Dancing With The Devil,’ ‘Lonely Dance‘ and ‘Killer in the Mirror.’ Midnight‘s full track listing is noted below.

MIDNIGHT TRACK LISTING:
1. “Killer In The Mirror”
2. “Hourglass”
3. “Lonely Dance”
4. “Different Songs”
5. “For You Forever”
6. “Dancing With The Devil”
7. “Go To Bed Angry” [feat. Wayfarers]
8. “Midnight Thoughts”
9. “Criminal Minds”
10. “No Disrespect”
11. “Stitch Me Up”
12. “Raise No Fool”
13. “I Want You (Gone)” [feat. Matt Appleton]
14. “Unopened Windows”
15. “Happy All The Time” [feat. Skyler Acord]

More information on Set It Off’s upcoming tour, its new album and latest news is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.setitoffband.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/setitoffband

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SetItOff

 

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Reign Of Z Debuts ‘Reflections’ Video

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Alt-rock metal band Reign of Z debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band debuted the video for its single ‘Reflections’ on Tuesday via PureGrainAudio.com and YouTube.  The single is taken from the band’s debut EP Mirrors and Memoirs.  The record, produced by Steve Sopchak (Ice Nine Kills), is scheduled for April 19.

Vocalist Zosia West talked about the EP in a recent interview.

“This is the most exposed songwriting I’ve written up to this point,” West said.  “Each song was written at different ages in my life and reformatted for listeners.  Experiences from 8, 16, 24 and present.”

West added, “Our experiences have allowed us to create a world where we find solace and comfort, and allows us to be who we are and whoever listens and follows.”

The video for the new song presents vocalist Zosia West being restrained on a table by her band mates — Steven Lords (guitar), Zach Cunningham (guitar) and Stephen Berg (bass) — as she struggles to be released.  Meanwhile, her band mates work to hold her back so that an unidentified fluid can be pumped into her.  That footage is crossed with footage of the band performing its new single against a darkly lit backdrop.

Musically, the song’s arrangement lends itself to thoughts of Halestorm, Amy Lee and even Otep to a slightly lesser degree.  Lyrically, the song comes across as a commentary about an emotional battle that West at one time fought with herself.

‘Reflections’ can be purchased now via Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon.

Reign of Z is scheduled to perform live Apr. 27 in Millvale, PA in support of Mirrors and Memoirs.  More information on the show is available along with information on the band’s new video, EP and more at:

 

Website: http://www.reignofz.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReignofZ

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

 

 

One In The Chamber Debuts ‘Itchin’ Back’ Video

Courtesy: One In The Chamber

One in The Chamber debuted its latest music video last week.

The band debuted the video for its new single ‘Itchin’ Back‘ March 21. The video for the almost five-minute bluesy-rock style song, directed by Diego del Rio, crosses footage of the band’s members performing the song in a rather tight space with front man Mike Biase trying to make his way through the day.

The band explained the purpose of the visualization in a recent interview.

“The video explores the often internal conflict between chasing one’s passion while balancing regular, conforming responsibilities,” the band noted in its collective statement. “It’s a juxtaposing collision that hits all aspiring musicians, but just like Bon Scott said, ‘It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock & roll.’ There is a dangerous sense of liberation in being an artist; it’s a risk not all are willing to take.”

‘Itchin’ Back’ is taken from One In The Chamber’s EP I’ve Got Something To Say….  The record was released Sept. 22, 2018.

More information on One In The Chamber’s new video is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.oitcband.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oitcband

Twitter: http://twitter.com/oitcband

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

 

 

 

All Americans Will Enjoy Grupo Fantasma’s Latest LP

Courtesy: Blue Corn Music

Veteran Latin music act Grupo Fantasma is set to release its latest full-length studio recording next week.  The album, entitled American Music Vol. VII is in fact the band’s seventh full-length studio recording.  Despite what the album’s title might seem to infer, the band’s past six album – the first of which was released in 2002 – are not entitled American Music.  Rather, the title is a hint to the fact that Latin music is part of the American musical community in whole.  The 13-song, 55 minute album is another solid collection of songs that will appeal just as much to Latin music fans as it will to the most devoted fans of Grupo Fantasma.  That is despite the fact that the album’s vocals are presented almost entirely in Spanish.  One of the songs featured in the album, that serves to show what makes this record so appealing comes slightly past the album’s halfway point in the form of ‘Let Me Be.’  It will be addressed shortly.  When considered alongside the clear sociopolitical commentary and Latin vibes of ‘The Wall,’ the two songs together show even more what makes this record such an interesting new offering from the veteran Latin-Funk act.  ‘LT,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is yet another notable addition to the album’s body.  It will be addressed later.  Between this work, the other two noted here and the rest of the album’s offerings, the whole of American Music Vol. VII shows itself to be a record that will appeal to every American.

Grupo Fantasma’s forthcoming full-length studio recording American Music Vol. VII is a positive mew musical statement from the veteran Latin-funk outfit.  That is because it is a record that shows from start to finish, Latin music is part of the overall American musical community.  ‘Let Me Be,’ which comes a little more than halfway through the record’s almost hour-long run, is just one of the songs featured in the album that serves to support that statement.  That is evident in part through the song’s musical arrangement, which crosses the band’s standard Latin elements with a very 1960’s-era style funk sound, complete with horns, guitars and vocals.  Not having liner notes to refer to, one cannot identify the vocalists featured in this song, but their talent and style is undeniable.  That aside, the use of the vocals, saxophones, trumpets and guitars lends itself collectively to a comparison with some of Carlos Santana’s greatest works.  As the song enters its bridge, a little more than halfway through its almost four-minute run time, it features a moment that can easily be liked to Ken Barry’s timeless hit, ‘One, Two, Three.’  The overall production is an engaging and enjoyable musical arrangement that is just one part of what makes this song stand out among the LP’s offerings.  Its lyrical content is just as important to note.

The vocalists presented in this song sing proudly of being comfortable in themselves, not caring what others say and do.  They sing in the song’s lead verse, “I don’t need the people who always think they’re right/They always feel the need to tell me/How well I should be/I always take you with a grain of salt/And I come back to tell them/Mind your own business/Just let me be.”  They go on to sing in the song’s second verse, “You may know me a little or you don’t know me at all/You feel the need to tell me your unwanted opinions/I can only take it and try to be polite/So just you keep your judgment to yourself.”  The group leaves zero doubt by this point as to the statement being made in these words.  This is a proud, self-confident musical middle finger of sorts to people who feel the need to interject themselves into everyone’s business except for their own.  Every person in this country knows and knows of someone of that nature, including this critic.  In other words, this is a statement to which any listener can relate in terms of its lyrical theme.  At the same time, the infectious groove presented in the song’s musical arrangement will leave listeners with a smile on their faces just as much.  The combination of the elements’ pairing makes the song a work that is sure to be a fan favorite, and just one of the album’s best songs.  As previously noted, the seriousness and urgency of ‘The Wall,’ which is obviously a statement about events going on in the news at this moment, is another of AMVS’ body.

‘The Wall’ is not the first time that Grupo Fantasma has delved into the world of Latin rap.  Even with that in mind, it shows itself to be another work of Latin musical elements (and even again some old school funk) that will especially reach some of the band’s younger listeners who might be less familiar with the organization.  The vocalist – again who cannot be identified here being that no liner notes were sent to this critic with the album – raps, “Everybody listen up/’Cause this is happening now/the moment is so critical/I set it to loud/If you can hear me in your ear…Life or liberty/the justice for publicity/When it comes to everybody/Please come and get me/Oh history/Don’t even live to see/That can of worms/Digging holes in your legacy/Walls are bound to fall/Expose treachery/My pot is melting/Best with your recipe.”  It’s a brief statement, but a powerful one nonetheless.  The reference to the wall at America’s Mexican border that Donald Trump keeps demanding is clear and present, as is the virtual indictment of Trump’s character.  The vocalist even directly addresses the immigration issue connected with the wall, which has been just as prevalent in the news.  Considering the energy in the song’s arrangement and the fire in that energy, the message sent in the song’s lyrical content is illustrated and delivered clearly and expertly.  The combination of the elements makes the song in whole another important standout addition to AMVS, and more proof of what makes the record such a strong new offering from the band.  It still is not the last of the album’s most notable works.  ‘LT,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is one more key song to discuss.

‘LT’ stands out because of its musical and lyrical content alike.  The song’s musical arrangement is another familiar Latin-tinged piece that wastes no time getting listeners on their feet and moving with its combination of horns and percussion.  Lyrically, it is just as certain to get listeners’ attention, as the vocalist here sings, “There she lays/Looking sexy/there’s nowhere else I’d rather be/Pressed myself against her gently/But she pushed me off and said to me…I want you to take me to my fantasy/slow down now/Stay away from the kiss.”  There’s also a mention here of a dance floor, and trying to seduce the woman with some dance moves.  This is hardly the first time that any musical act has gone down this road.  However, in the case of Grupo Fantasma, the group’s approach to the topic, both musically and lyrically gives the topic a new take, and one that is certain to keep listeners engaged and certainly entertained, if not more.  When it is considered along with the previously discussed songs and the rest of the record, the whole of the LP becomes a work that every American will enjoy.

Grupo Fantasma’s forthcoming seventh full-length studio recording American Music Volume VII is another stirring success for the veteran Latin music act.  That is because from start to finish, as has been evidenced in the songs discussed here.  Those songs, together with the album’s other eight tracks – especially the likes of ‘Yo Quisiera,’ the very Santana-esque ‘Nosotros’ and rather Cuban style ‘Que mas Quieres de Mi’ – make this record a record that any of the band’s longtime fans will enjoy.  The same can be said of those who might be less familiar with the band’s work.  From start to end, the band mixes its Latin roots with plenty of other elements that are all their own unique part of America’s musical consciousness.  Keeping that in mind, the album in whole proves to be another work from Grupo Fantasma that every American will enjoy.  American Music Volume VII will be released March 29 on Blue Corn Music.  More information on the record, the band’s current live schedule and all of the group’s latest news is available online now at:

 

 

Website: http://www.grupofantasma.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grupofantasmamusic

Twitter: http://twitter.com/grupofantasma

 

 

 

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Lullwater Works Great Musical Magic With ‘Voodoo’

Courtesy: TAG Publicity/The Label Group

Independent hard rock act Lullwater has made quite the name for itself since its founding in 2007 in its home state of Georgia.  The band has released two full-length studio recordings, an EP and toured the nation with even more well-known acts, such as Sevendust, Theory of a Deadman and Amaranthe, spreading its music to countless thousands of fans.  The band – John Strickland (vocals, guitar), Daniel Binnie (lead guitar), Roy “Ray” Beatty (bass) and Joseph Wilson (drums) – has done it all largely without major label backing, growing its fame largely organically.  Late this past February, the band continued that course with the release of its third full-length studio recording (and fourth overall recording) Voodoo.  The 11-song record puts the band members’ talents on full display from start to end while also presenting some equally interesting lyrical content.  The album’s latest single ‘Empty Chamber’ is one of the songs that puts both elements on display.  It will be addressed shortly.  ‘Similar Skin,’ another of the songs featured in the album, does just as much to put those abilities on display.  ‘Fight of Your Life,’ which comes late in the album’s 50-minute run, is yet another of the album’s most notable entries.  It is hardly the last example of the band members’ abilities.  The album’s opener, ‘Curtain Call,’ ‘Into The Sun’ and the album’s closer, ‘Suffer Not’ are just as notable as the previous trio of noted songs.  Together with the rest of the album’s works, the whole of Voodoo proves clearly why Lullwater has been so successful for such a long time and why this album could be the one that breaks Lullwater into the mainstream, support providing.

Lullwater’s recently released third full-length studio recording Voodoo is a strong new offering from the Athens, GA-based band.  Given the right support, it could potentially be the record that breaks this band – which has done everything largely without major label backing – into the mainstream.  It is a record that shows without doubt, that the band deserves such acclaim.  That is proven in part through the album’s latest single, ‘Empty Chamber.’  In regards to its musical arrangement, the song will appeal to fans of bands, such as Buckcherry and Small Town Titans with its energy and catchy hooks.  The dual guitar approach of Strickland and Binnie couples with Wilson’s powerhouse drumming, Beatty’s low end and Strickland’s vocal delivery, to make an overall arrangement that is an immediately radio-ready work.  What is interesting here is the while the hooks are so catchy and the musicians’ talent undeniable, the song, as Strickland recently discussed, is actually quite a deep work. Strickland said of the song’s lyrical content, that the song centers on the issue of dealing with personal emotional struggles.

“We all have experienced, and been in, a moment of excruciating emotional pain, and ‘Empty Chamber’ was written during one of those moments,” Strickland said.  “The son has an upbeat tempo and happy melodic vibe, but the lyrics are depressing and filled with anxiety.  Sometimes everything in life can be going great, but you still struggle with emotional pain and confusion.  I feel ‘Empty Chamber’ embodies that emotion.”

Strickland’s explanation makes the song that much more powerful, when considering the juxtaposition of that upbeat musical arrangement and the depth of the song’s lyrics.  The contrast shows what is going on in life on the surface, while the lyrics show what is going on just beneath the surface.  That is very good thinking on the band’s part.  Strickland sings in the song’s lead verse, “How your heart beats now/The strain, the pain/Confusion on your face/Where are you now/Who’s your higher place/A beautiful soul once told me/Happiness is like a butterfly/Gently lands down once before it dies.”  He goes on to sing in the song’s second verse, “Here I am again/Strung out/And my mind’s a loaded gun/Empty chambers all except for one/You’ll be the death of me/I said I swore/I know it’s coming true/Goodbye death…and to all of you.”  The mixed emotions are just as prevalent as the song enters its bridge and final chorus refrain.  Strickland’s statements about the song’s lyrical concept in understanding these verses.  Here is someone who is dealing with some very strong emotions despite everything around him/her seeming to go so well.  That contrast displayed through the song’s musical and lyrical content makes this song one of the record’s most notable additions, but hardly the only of the album’s best entries.  ‘Similar Skin’ is another of the album’s high points.

‘Similar Skin’ stands out in part through its southern sludge rock-tinged musical arrangement.  The heavy, trudging guitars immediately lend themselves to comparisons to bands, such as Corrosion of Conformity, Clutch and Brand New Sin.  Even more interesting to note of the arrangement is the addition of the horns to the arrangement.  The addition of the horns to the arrangement is subtle, as they are used solely to flesh out the song’s choruses.  That subtle use goes a long way toward making the song’s arrangement that much more engaging and entertaining, because of its subtlety.  Add in the familiar yet still strong finish for the four-minute-plus work, and the song proves musically from start to finish to be a certain fan favorite if only for that reason.  Of course, the song’s musical arrangement is not its only element.  Its lyrical content is also worth addressing.

The song’s lyrical content comes across as a statement from a subject, telling another figure that he/she needs to get his/her act together and stop feeling sorry for himself/herself. This inferred right from the song’s lead verse, as Strickland sings, “Who would have thought/You were the quiet type at all/Couple things that I need from you/Get up, get out/Make some moves/Look down/Follow your soul/Eyes on the prize/Now get ready to roll/Dial back/All the saturation/A little less talk about the same conversation/Get up, get out, get out/Get up, get out, get out/Get up, get out, get out/I don’t owe you anything.”  Here in this verse, we get an individual telling someone else to move forward and push on.  This message is advanced even more as Strickland sings in the song’s second verse, “Slow down/Quiet your mind/Notice the things that you’re willing to find/If it feels like you’re stuck in a loop/Breathe in, breathe out/try to regroup/Stand tall/Pull from within/Nothing to lose/Just similar skin/Dial back all the saturation/Tired of this talk/Tired of this saturation/Get up, get out, get out/Get up, get out, get out/get up, get out, get out/I don’t owe you anything.”  The reminder by the song’s subject once more that “I don’t owe you anything” is really what leads to the supposition that this subject is telling someone else that he/she needs to get his/her life in order.  Considering the statements made in the verses, the argument in favor of that message is strengthened even more.  Going back to the song’s musical arrangement, the force in that arrangement adds to the strength in the argument about the song’s lyrical content.  It adds to that sense of someone who is frustrated with another person.  When both elements are joined as one, the whole is a strong statement to which plenty of listeners will find themselves able to relate.  That in turn makes the song yet another high point of Voodoo.  It is just one more way in which Voodoo shows its strengths.  ‘Fight of your Life’ is yet another example of Voodoo’s strengths.

Where ‘Empty Chamber’ deals with a person’s inner emotional turmoil and where ‘Similar Skin’ seemingly features someone wanting to knock some sense into someone else, ‘Fight of Your Life’ comes across as a much more encouraging and positive work.  The song’s catchy, up-tempo musical arrangement is just as viable as a radio work as the other noted songs (and others not noted here).  It lends itself easily to comparisons to any number of the band’s more well-known counterparts with its solid time keeping, driving guitars and harmonies crafted through its low-end.  The positive vibes created through the song’s musical arrangement carry through to its lyrical content, which is just as certain to put a smile on listeners’ faces with allegorical nature.

Strickland sings here, “Boy/More of a man than most of us/Too young to know the dreadful truth inside/The joy/It slips away/Begins to rust/Relentlessly restrain the need to cry…Hang on/It’ll be alright/Stand strong through the darkest of your nights…It won’t be long till vision clears/Find your eyes/They will dry with tears.”  Some of the content is difficult to decipher here without a lyrics sheet to resource.  That aside, it is relatively clear as to what Strickland is singing about in this case.  This is someone addressing a young man who has been through hell, but who is at the same time reminding that young man, that things can and do get better.  The subject is telling that person that it is okay to let out the pain held inside.  Strickland goes on to sing in the song’s second verse, “Love/Mother you have given all your blood/The years you’re never wavering/you/The innocent/The warrior child/Brave your way to take this world apart/So surreal/these fragile battle lines/Questions…through my mind/How can this unwind…”  The song’s subject once again goes on to remind the noted figure that things will be okay even as bad as things might seem at the moment.  Again, it is that reminder to listeners that while things might be bad in their lives.  It is a positive, uplifting message that, when coupled with the song’s upbeat arrangement, is sure to become yet another favorite among listeners from this record.  When it is considered along with the two other works discussed here, other strong points, such as ‘Curtain Call,’ ‘Into The Sun’ and the album’s closer, ‘Suffer Not,’ and the other songs not directly noted here, the whole of the album becomes a work that proves the third may in fact be the charm for Lullwater, support provided.

Lullwater’s third full-length studio recording Voodoo works plenty of positive magic on listeners from the beginning to the end of its 11-song, 50-minute run.  It is a work that proves — thanks to its multitude of radio-ready musical arrangements and thought-provoking lyrical content – that the third time may be the charm for this Georgia-based band.  The album’s most recent single ‘Empty Chamber’ is one of the songs that serves to support those statements.  The same can be said of ‘Similar Skin,’ ‘Fight of Your Life,’ ‘Curtain Call,’ ‘Into The Sun,’ ‘Suffer Not’ and the rest of the album’s works.  The songs directly discussed here and those not immediately addressed all support that statement in their own way.  All things considered, they make Voodoo the record that could be that lucky charm that breaks the band into the mainstream.  More information is available online Voodoo along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.lullwatermusic.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lullwatermusic

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lullwatermusic

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.