Album Reviews

This section includes a running list of the music reviews we publish. We also publish a lot of interviews, curate playlists, and podcast. Want to submit your music?

Find Mad Hugs Hiding In The Illuminated Shadow, New Album Now Available!

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 14, 2020 9:28 am Tagged With: Electronic, Instrumental, New York, trip hop, United States

Mad Hugs first learned to record using a tape deck at the tender age of 4. By age 16, he was fully immersed in punk music. He soon moved onto piano and began producing music electronically in 2000. Now working as producer for the group Mad Osc as well as releasing music solo, Mad Hugs […]

Prepare for a Garage-Glam-Power-Pop-Punk Extravaganza, Dead Freddie’s Self-Titled New Album is Now Available!

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 11, 2020 9:49 am Tagged With: Chicago, garage rock, Illinois, indie rock, power pop, Punk, punk rock, United States

Chicago Punk Pop Phenomenon Dead Freddie originated in the year 1966 when a group of Cub Scouts organized to raise funds for the Lithuanian Scout Movement. As a result of that experience, Donatas Ramanauskas and Vainis Aleksa became lifelong friends. The band, Dead Freddie, formed in 1980 after a 1978 epiphany brought about by the […]

Interview with Woven Green – Turn Back Around

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 11, 2020 8:46 am Tagged With: Folk, new age, Pop, Rock, singer, songwriter, United States, Washington DC, World

Singer/songwriter and creative power duo Woven Green create folk-pop-rockin’ jams with an infusion of New Age and World music for a truly transcendent listening experience. Turn Back Around is the group’s newest single and is an emotionally powerful song with an evocative vocal performance, soaring lead guitars, and a driving rhythm that grabs you and […]

Chainflower Unleash Hard Rockin’ Jam Expressing Empowerment, Listen to Brave!

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 6, 2020 6:09 am Tagged With: alternative rock, California, hard rock, Los Angeles, Rock, United States

Talented creatives Kelly Wheeler and Syd Duran are the writing force behind Chainflower‘s new single Brave. Before Syd joined the band, Kelly had created, arrangement and produced the instrumentation but was unhappy with how the vocals were coming along. Once Kelly and Syd joined forces, the song was finished very quickly. The duo then tapped […]

Marius Billgobenson Unites Music and Culture To Help Disenfranchised Communities, Tribes In Mind Is Now Available

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 6, 2020 5:46 am Tagged With: Africa, Europe, jazz, R&B, songwriter, Sweden, World

Marius Billgobenson is an award winning anthropologist, somewhat of an ethnomusicologist, a curator of cultures, and a creator of jazz-infused, R&B-esque, World music aimed at bringing awareness to disenfranchised communities. Using music to bridge cultural divides, Marius has become a powerful voice in the Congolese community who has been recognized for his humanitarian work by the ACNU […]

Prolific Songwriter Todd Warner Moore Returns with Overnight Flight (My favorite TWM album yet.)

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 5, 2020 11:29 am Tagged With: acoustic pop, acoustic rock, Americana, Asia, China, folk pop, folk rock, indie pop, Pop, pop rock, Psychedelic, singer, songwriter

Todd Warner Moore has reached veteran or “diamond member” status on these pages at this point. Originally from the Midwest US, Todd has been in Hong Kong for several years. His prolific level of songwriting has helped him create and release six albums in the past two years! Encapsulating everything from the aesthetic of 60-70s […]

Quit Yourself Delivers Excellent Songcrafting, Emo-Infused Punk Rock Vibes on For Those Who Cared

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman May 5, 2020 10:02 am Tagged With: alternative rock, New York, punk rock, Rock, singer, songwriter, United States

Ann Arbor, Michigan native, Buffalo, NY resident singer/songwriter Travis Matheny was gifted his first guitar during a Christmas visit to his grandparents’ home in Ithacha, New York. That gift set Travis on a path that has led him through several punk and emo bands across the Midwest and in NY. Between 2006-2014, Travis was a […]

Parry Adams Releases New Album! Listen to Whiskey Aftermath

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman April 25, 2020 2:10 pm Tagged With: Acoustic, Folk, folk rock, indie pop, New York, New York City, Pop, singer, songwriter, United States

New York based singer/songwriter/vocalist Parry Adams has delivered a delightful new album titled Whiskey Aftermath (which happens to be an appropriate listening experience pre-whiskey, during whiskey and even post-whiskey). No matter the musical style, the instrumentation or the atmosphere, Parry is a tride and true vocalist with a powerful set of vocal chords. Her control […]

Eric Selby Releases Debut Album as Solo Artist, Listen to Do, Baby.

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman April 23, 2020 12:34 pm Tagged With: alternative rock, indie rock, pop rock, Rock, singer, songwriter

Singer, songwriter and master song crafter Eric Selby has a long list of awards, accolades, accomplishments and performances in his portfolio. In other words, his veteran status as a musician and creative talent can not be denied. With his latest album, Do, Baby., Eric steps out on his own as an independent artist for his […]

Matty Ride Delivers Infectious Sweet Treat with New Single, Listen to Sugar On The Side

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman April 23, 2020 11:45 am Tagged With: indie pop, jazz, Nashville, Pop, singer, songwriter, Tennessee, United States

Nashville based master song crafter Matty Ride has delivered a sweet treat in the form of a jazz-infused, swing driven, vintage pop single titled Sugar On The Side. Memorable melodies, infectious frequencies, and body moving grooves combine in this jazzy jam that is guaranteed to not only boost your mood and energy but also leave […]