John Masino – In For The Night

John Masino – In For The Night
If one good thing is happening in this year of craziness for the music biz, it is that musicians and songwriters are producing music, often times organically and/or on their own. John Masino is well known and respected throughout the Midwest and beyond for his prowess on electric guitar, electric live performances, songwriting chops, and vocal work. The Madison, Wisconsin native has taken to his home studio to produce his latest gift to the music world, “In For The Night.” Performing all the instruments and vocal work on the CD, John showcases the many facets of his musical capabilities, particularly his songwriting talents. With both instrumental and vocal songs, there is a plethora of subtle genre influences here, weaved masterfully together into a signature sound that is both ear-catching and intriguing. John’s always-stunning guitar work invokes names like “Hendrix” and “Satriani,” while retaining a personality that is distinctly his own. His performances with other instruments goes beyond just background work with solid chops adding extra flavor to the songs. Some of the standout tracks include the ethereal yet hooky “Don’t Wake Me,” the mesmerizing prog-tinted instrumental “Space Walk,” the radio ready pop rock powerhouse “Love Lights”, and poignant ballad “It’s Just A Matter of Time.” John’s lyrics are intelligent without being pretentious, enticing the listener to experience the story or ideal he is portraying. This music is highly enjoyable to anyone, and for those still having it rough right now, John Masino has created an excellent repast that will cut through the darkness and brighten your day. – MW

https://www.facebook.com/john.masino

Bonsai Universe – Too Many Ghosts

Bonsai Universe  “Too Many Ghosts”

The sophomore effort from highly sought after vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Woody Aplanalp opens the envelope of his song crafting psyche even further, which is quite ear opening considering the innovation of his first CD. There are interjections of blues, rock, psychedelia, retro electronica, and many other styles, and, at times, it feels like a rugby scrum with Neil Young, the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, OMD, and a lot of their fringe friends. But it all works so well together and perhaps that is one of the greatest measure’s of Woody’s talent: that he can weave such diverse influences into songs that breathe incredible life while holding a comfortingly familiar feel. Individual song vibes range from ethereal soundscapes to bare bones folks, to power punch blues rock and jazzy jam fueled passage and other styles. Add to this Woody’s intoxicating vocal work and thought- provoking lyrics and you have a masterful pastiche capable of digging hard into the soul of any lover of innovative music. – MW

https://www.bonsaiuniversemusic.com

 

Ted Russell Kamp – Walkin’ Shoes

Ted Russell Kamp  – Walkin’ Shoes

Poetry Of The Moment Records – TRK-001

After taking a break from original writing to tribute the Beatles, stoic L.A. singer/songwriter/musician Ted Russell Kamp is back with another wonderful collection of originals. The journey blends country with rock, blues, jazz, and other styles with Ted’s wise, soulful and sometimes sharply witty lyrics. Ted’s vocal work shines brightly as always from the the haunting bare-bones of “Highway Whisper” to the barrelhouse growl of “We Don’t Have To Be Alone,” backed by excellent musicianship throughout.  Ted has proven to be a master of weaving diverse styles with intelligent songwriting and a down-home feeling, far better than a lot of what is emanating from Nashville or, for that matter, other cities these days. – MW

http://tedrussellkamp.com

RJ Chesney – Amateur Revolution

RJ Chesney – Amateur Revolution

I have often wondered what Hank Williams Sr’s songs would have sounded like if he were alive today. L.A. (by way of Macon and Biloxi) songsmith RJ Chesney channels those types of roots with his latest release. Vocally, it has a bit less twang and more grit than Hank, and the songs ,while strongly retro, have an earthy depth to them giving them a subtle modern kick. The lyrics tend to be introspective and occasionally dark with a touch of humor in the right places. With excellent production from highly-regarded Norwegian producer H.P. Gunderson, this music just feels like it came from the formative years of country and that is a very good thing these days. – MW

http://rjchesney.com

The Royal Hounds – Low Class Songs for High Class People

The Royal Hounds – Low Class Songs for High Class People 

If you have not checked out the latest from Nashville’s wild and crazy The Royal Hounds, you had better strap in. This is like driving down Monteagle with a load of nitro and no brakes. Not that you would expect any less from this band, and adding some serious extra spice to the already spicy stew is are the prodigious chops of Brazilian guitar slinger Matheus Canteri. Of course, there are a lot of madcap lyrics here with songs about “Chinese Buffets,” “Pizza Parties,” “Tweakers from Outer Space” and other bizarre subjects. Beyond the lyrical antis though are some seriously talented musicians ripping through songs fueled by honky tonk, rockabilly, glam punk, and other styles in often blistering fashion. If you have any doubts about the talent of Matheus Canteri, just listen to the instrumental  “Manteiga Braganca” and those doubts will be blown away with the force of a Great Plains tornado. They also do probably the most raucous version of “Ghost Riders In The Sky” I have ever heard (apologies to the Outlaws and the Man in Black.) If you love unbridled music with equally unbridled lyrics, you really need to check out The Royal Hounds. – MW

 https://theroyalhounds.com/home

Lasers Lasers Birmingham – Warning

Lasers Lasers Birmingham – Warning

The first full length release by the brainchild of L.A. singer-songwriter Alex Owen continues the current retro country renaissance with a winding road of quirky, mesmerizing, and heartfelt music. There is far more depth here than someone who listened to Waylon or Hank Sr. in his formative years. It is really difficult to get a handle on what that different vibe is, but that is a very good thing since the CD appears to be crafted with a comforting swagger. It is no doubt country at its purest with plenty of lyrics about heartache, simple living, and baring one’s soul, but as with the overall music mosaic, the words delve fully into the depths of Alex’s songwriting spirit. From the haunting title track to the sweetly potent ballad “Sugar Mamma” and the hook- driven but still edgy “Wild Animals,” Alex has a knack for channeling subtle extras into his songwriting that take even the barest bones track to a further level. With this CD, Lasers Lasers Birmingham could easily ride the crest of the next wave of bands washing the generic posers out of Nashville and letting real country take back over the town.  – MW

https://www.laserslasersbirmingham.com/home

Dominic Gaudious – AcousticElectric

Dominic Gaudious – AcousticElectric
Dominic Gaudious is undeniably an acoustic instrumental guitar maestro. He has released numerous albums over the years showcasing his prowess on the six and twelve strings, along with his other musical weapon of choice: the didgeridoo. Starting mostly in the new age realm, Dominic has never been afraid of exploring different directions of his songwriting soul, often pushing the envelope in the process. His latest release “AcousticElectric” is just that; a blend of both acoustic and electric stylings mostly in full-band sound configurations. An immediate astonishing factor is that Dominic handles all the instruments on this album, graduating to an ethereal multi-instrumentalist plane. The lively groove of “Downtown Springs” launches the CD with delectable fervor. Songs like “Mouse House” and “Inside The Trance” pulses with an electronica feel –  the latter sizzling with wicked but tempered electric guitar licks. After the whimsical ditty “The Happy Hobbitt,” you are treated to the frenetic, world-music kissed title track, the country-tinged rocker “Moonshine,” and “Satriani,” a wonderful tribute to one of Dominic’s influences. The final two songs actually feature some subtle vocal work by David Cagle with “1000 Years Alone” being a stunning prog-rock fueled composition. This is some of Dominic’s most innovative music releases yet, proving that even after being on the scene for a long time, he still has a massive and deep talent reservoir to draw from. His songwriting inventiveness seems limitless as he demonstrates multiple times on this phenomenal effort.  – MW
http://www.dominicgaudious.com

Greg Felden – Made Of Strings

Greg Felden – Made Of Strings
New Neighborhood
L.A. (by way of Oregon) singer/songwriter Greg Felden creates music that carves its own unique niche into the world of folk and Americana. Perhaps it is the subtle influences of other musical styles or his intoxicating voice that feels like a blend of Jim Croce and Cat Stevens. Sometimes when you can’t quite put your finger on what the true vibe is, that is what makes incredible music and that is what is happening here. From the smoky bar-room romp of “Every Time,” to the haunting “Bad Guy’ that burns like a prairie fire to the avant-gard blues of “Tell Me What’s Broken”, you have an ear-opening mosaic with a plethora of “whoa” moments around many corners. The lyrics are intelligent, feeling both home-spun and soul bearing, and throughout the CD you find musicianship that is stunning in just the proper doses. When the journey concludes with the thought-provoking bare-bones “Ghosts,” it is somewhat hard to fathom that this is Greg’s very first release. It is nowhere near cliche to say that he is a musical force to be reckoned with.  – MW
https://www.gregfelden.com

Grant Ferguson – Power and Beauty

Grant Ferguson has once again graced us with with a fantastic CD of instrumental music. in “Power and Beauty,” his fourth release.  Known for his guitar playing prowess and songwriting talents, they are on full display here – albeit avoiding the trap of being too overly zealous that many instrumentalists can fall into. On the contrary: what you have here is various levels of subtlety blended masterfully into the overall mosaic. The lead track “Blowback” is a perfect example – powerful with a backdrop of intricate yet comforting prog hooks. “Present Tense” unleashes a bit more of talent on all fronts but a deft touch with the song crafting thoroughly ensnares the listener. “The Beauty of Her” produces a jazzier tilt in a lush but crisp fashion. The juxtaposing of the emotive piano graced ballad “Petite Mort” and the driving rocker “Playing With Fire” are quite stunning. If you have not yet checked out this Scottish-born Arizona resident, this CD is an excellent introduction to his vast array of talent, musical emotions, and songwriting quirks. – MW

https://www.grantfergusonmusic.com/

Carmine Appice – Guitar Zeus

Carmine Appice – Guitar Zeus
Rocker Records
Legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice has reissued his Guitar Zeus project, and album recorded over ten years ago that if you did not know about then, you really need to check it out now. Created with the help of co-writing cohorts Kelly Keeling (vocals, rhythm guitars, keys) and Tony Franklin (bass), Guitar Zeus brought in some of the world’s greatest guitarists to rip loose some seriously powerful rock music. Just to peak your interest a bit more he kicks off the CD with an unreleased track, “ Mothers Space,” an intense burner featuring the shredding of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal. From there, Carmine chooses a delectable feast of eleven tracks from the original recording. “Gonna Rain” has a subtle funk groove with powerful licks from Bon Jovi axeman Richie Sambora. The mix of radio hooks and grunge edginess are fueled by the the undeniable snarl of Queen’s Brian May in “Nobody New.” “Where You Belong” takes blues to a sonic level beyond 11 on the dial, with maniacally twisted licks by Slash, and some of Keeling’s most intense vocal work on the disc. “Code 19” explodes in the high megaton range with fiery solos and fat cords by Zakk Wylde, and also is one of the many great examples of why Tony Franklin is called the the “Fretless Monster.” The who’s who list of guitarists on the rest of the tracks is impressive; Steve Morse, Neal Schon, Yngwie Mamlsteen, the Nuge, Vivian Campbell, Mick Mars, John Norum, with further guest slots by Dug Pinnick and Edgar Winter. Yeah, there are tons of stars here, including of course the guy behind the double bass drum kit thrashing the thundering beats and intense fills he has always been famous for. But the star power definitely matches the power of the music. There are copious amounts of talent and passion that went into every second of this work. If you did not get a chance to check out Guitar Zeus when it was first released, there is absolutely no reason to miss it now if you love rock guitar playing, singing, bass work, and drumming at its absolute best. Also available as a digital release with even more of the original GZ songs. -MW

https://www.facebook.com/Carmine-Appices-Guitar-Zeus-140445489010/

http://www.carmineappice.com/
http://carmineappice.com