Short Bits

The Apprentice
Artist:  The Apprentice
Label:  Future Destination Records 
I wanted to like this album.  Its almost something of a success. Almost.  At least, it goes in that direction.  Unfortunately, what may seem loose, easy and ragged, does not always yield the brilliance of an artist like Neil Young, who specializes in wayward melodies and harmonic chaos.   It seems The Apprentice is moving in this direction and there are certainly some beginnings here.    But, the songwriting lacks distinction, the musicianship is just too laid back, the lead vocal is dull and poorly mixed and the production values detract from the lyrical themes.  In Americana music so much depends on the clarity of vocal and instrumentation.  This production is muddy and the vocal is mixed too far down.  The lyrics are mostly inaudible.   Since they seem to carry a solid Christian perspective, this is a double loss for the listener.     They seem to strive for an acoustic REM kind of style, but too much is underdeveloped.  They are not without talent, and I hear what they are going for in terms of the vision of their style.  Maybe a bit more time spent developing that vision and working up a stronger approach to their material would go along way toward its realization.  With three releases under their belt, this one should have been much stronger.   (Terry Roland)

Tales from the Fence Line
Artist:  Fontaine Brown
Label: Manatee Records
Fontaine Brown is an artist lodged somewhere between obscurity and legend.  He's one of those artists who should've been a household name.  Should've been that is if there was any form of justice in the music business.  With a history of recording and performing that began in 1962, he worked with Bob Seger on the Detroit R&B, Rock fusion sound of the late 60's, fronted an innovative country, rock, and soul band called Southwind and developed his own unique sound for the last four decades.   Tales from the Fence Line is a worthy effort from this unpretentious, talented artist who has mastered the integration of rock and soul in a way that is remarkably seamless.  Drawing from original material, it rocks, it funks, it moves and leaves the audience ready for just one more track. (Terry Roland) 

Tin Roof Sky
Artist:  The Get-Rites
Label: Magnolia Recording Company
There's  a certain Midwestern feel on The Get-Rites album,Tin Roof Sky,  intended as it may be, that captures the listener with a feeling of comfort and reflectiveness. .  The music is subtle and direct in support of beautifully rugged lead vocals from Tom Feldmann and a distant off-in-the-prairie feeling pedal steel.  The songs are slow and somewhat hypnotic as the chord progressions dance usually between two-chord exchanges.  A bit of stylistic stretching may be in order for variety and to make the contemplative, lyrical songs more compelling.   This is a fine freshman effort from a band working in the Americana Folk medium holding forth a strong Christian world view.  (Terry Roland)

Electron Drive
Artist:  Kerns and the Hemisphere
Label: Independent
Classic Rock Made Fresh, Alive and New.  Kerns and the Hemisphere manages to succeed where many other fail.  This young band have put together a CD of original and distinctive mainstream rock from the old school balancing a Christian worldview with a strong influence from their elders, who appear to be Led Zepplin, The Beatles and Guns and Roses among others.  But, they hold their own in the strength of the blend of style and original material.  "Baptized on New Years Eve," is worth the price of admission to this party.  (Terry Roland)

An Office Job In a Time of War
Artist: My Migrant Soul
Label: ©2007 Independent
http://www.mymigrantsoul.com
http://www.myspace.com/mymigrantsoul.com
A husband and wife outfit from Tilton, New Hampshire, My Migrant Soul has an honesty about them that hearkens back to the late Mark Heard and reminds me a little of Bill Mallonee. Though Mark Heard had a gritty, somewhat cynical bent on Christendom, and while Bill Mallonee’s style is generally a heart-to-sleeve mantra, there is authenticity embedded in the mix of both artists. The writing style is not like these aforementioned artists, but fits well in a cup of java in a coffeehouse atmosphere. Folk rock-meets-Americana is what pipes through the speakers, with a wisp of Van Morrison at times.  A solid debut release that is as independent as it gets, the slightly tongue in cheek songs here fair well in one’s consciousness compared to the rest of the project. “The Day Johnny Damon Left Town,” “Dr. Phil, Can You Help Me?,” “Poor, Poor Pluto,” and the title track are standouts to this reviewer. Having spent some time in a coffeehouse myself, My Migrant Soul goes down smooth. (thecannyshark)

Just Like the Others
Artist  Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl 
Label  727 Records
A debut album from independent artists can be a risky thing.  It demands bringing something new to songs already brought to flesh by the original artists.   It also involves a careful selection of material, staying away from over familiar songs.  Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl's _Just Like the Others_, has paid off remarkably well in all of these areas.  A spare, stripped down production of guitar, piano and some sparse pedal steel guitar brings songs by Tori Amos, Gillian Welch and Edie Brickell into focus thanks to this approach and the fine vocals of Amy Ross.  Matt Wiser backs her with a simple taste and grace.  If you enjoy introspective Americana, you'll find much to enjoy here.  (Terry  Roland)

Motor Club
Artist: Sheltershed
Label: ©2008 Independent
URL: http://www.sheltershed.comhttp://www.myspace.com/sheltershed
As a musician myself, I am relative newcomer to the dance/trance/electronic fold. Admittedly, if nuances and intricacies of the genre did not appeal to a deeper yearning within, my senses would have remained unaffected. I am affected, however. Sheltershed is in their 10th year, this being their 9th release, and I am only mad at myself for not discovering them sooner. The trio of Rob Tippey, Craig White, and Shane Yoho comprise this “electro core” sound, as some DJ’s have dubbed, which is a mix of heavy industrial sound with persistent hooks and grooves. “Motor Club”, featuring tracks from Shane and Dan’s side project, Research Division, pulsates deep into one’s consciousness. The swelling of this constant music is enough to keep you moving for hours. (thecannyshark)

Cipher
Artist: Slim Cessna's Auto Club
Label: Alternative Tentacles
With material as unusual as their name, Slim Cessna's Auto Club has been around for a while.  In the tradition of The Drive-By Truckers---though darker, edgier and certainly not an imitation, this band refuses to fit into any easy mould.  SCAC is a self-described Gothic Country band, a genre new to this reviewer, described as a sub-genre of Americana.  Please, we're being categorized into ad nauseum these days.   Cipher runs like a fuse through gothic, end-of-times themes into several astonishing explosions.  The songs are distinctive, original and express songs of stories, both dark with hints of light throughout.  Indeed, they don't play like your typical Alternative Country or Contemporary Christian band.  They seem to have a emerged from some snake-handling Pentecostal church in the middle of a hanging-vine swamp land.  This is possibly the best representation of apocalyptic themes in country music since Cash's masterful, "When The Man Comes Around."   (Terry Roland)

s/t EP 
Artist: Teith 
Label: Indie
I generally love the sort of discs that have instrumentals with daft titles. Brand X’s “Why Should I Lend You Mine When You’ve Broken Yours Off Already?” followed by “Maybe I’ll Lend You Mine After All” is not just a great pairing of titles but some excellent jazz-rock fusion. Teith’s first track (“Coffee Is a Cruel Mistress”) is encouraging, with a mild electro-theme rising from some low distorted guitar. It breaks off for some white noise and wobbly random top end synth sounds before the theme returns. To return to the Collins comparison, Genesis did it far better on every level with their powerful “Waiting Room” but if this were the average standard of Teith’s tracks I could enjoy it.  Unfortunately, the other three tracks are just having a laugh and I don’t intend to assess the textiles on the emperor’s new clothes. The tracks are so disjointed, unengaging and pointless, sounding like a pre-jam noodle, that they can only be a prank project to wind up reviewers.  (Derek Walker)

This is My Life
Artist: Tha GIM The God in Me
Label: Life-Line Records
Tha GIM (the gem) bursts on the national hip-hop scene with a solid 15-track album and music video with a tough, muscular style that will remind rap fans of Nas, Tupac, and Scarface. Chunky bursts stridently paper the spare production and the lyrics let his heart shine through. This is one dedicated Christina brother who is finding wide recognition and success and nationwide recognition through touring with Kurtis Blow. The album's title This is my Life, practices truth in advertising as it touches on a wide range of topics but always centers around the salvation and freedom found in Jesus Christ. ( Linda LaFianza)

This Reporter
Title: This Reporter
Label: Independent 
This is a remarkable debut from a up and coming singer/songwriter, Jennifer Curtis.  She has rooted herself in folk-rock, in the most modern of definitions, and expanded much of her style to soft ballads, flowing jazz and anthem rock.  The production work on this CD is stunning.   The interesting choice was made to keep lead guitar and vocals at a higher frequency resulting in a retro, near Pink Floyd sound.   Ms. Curtis is off to a good start. (Terry Roland) 

P is for Panda - Mix Tape Vol. 1 
Artists:  Discover America, Mike Dunn and the Kings of New England, Gasoline Heart, Josh Moore, Pasadena, J.R. Rund and the Hold Up, Andy Shauf,Damion Suomi
Label: P is for Panda
P is for Panda is a record company for the new millennium---they started in T-shirts. This is the first compilation that will probably see many editions; it's an outstanding platform to showcase new talent, and they split the merch revenue three ways--to the artist, a charity and P is for Panda. Nicely packaged with great artwork, each artist presents two selections with a similar enough vibe that the inattentive may think they are enjoying an eclectic project by a single entity. Thorough credits & links are a plus. Attention, major label A & R people--are you still out there? P is for Panda is making it easy for you. (Linda LaFianza)