Connect with us

Album Review

Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number: Lolly Lee Delivers Debut Self-Titled LP

Lolly Lee’s self-titled LP kicks off with an energetic and infectious anthem, “Satellite,” setting the stage for what’s to come on this vibrant and dynamic album. With its driving guitar riffs, pulsating percussion, and Lee’s spirited vocals, the song immediately captures listeners’ attention and leaves them hungry for more.

Throughout the album’s 11 tracks, Lee showcases her incredible musicality and unwavering passion for storytelling through music. Her songs are a vibrant tapestry of rock ‘n’ roll infused with light Americana elements, creating a sound that is uniquely her own. From the upbeat and catchy “Great Crusade” to  “Ave Mario Grotto,” each track on the album stands out on its own while still maintaining a cohesive sound.

Advertisement

What makes this album truly special is Lee’s ability to craft compelling narratives through her lyrics. It’s evident that each song is deeply personal to her, drawing on her own experiences of love, loss, and life in rural Alabama. In “Shot at the Devil,” the album’s closing track, Lee reflects on the uncertainties of life and the struggle to find inner peace. With her emotive vocals and haunting melody, she captures the bittersweet feeling of acceptance and letting go. As a listener, it’s hard not to be deeply moved by her vulnerability and honesty.

Collaborating with long-time friend and producer Anthony Crawford, Lee has created a mesmerizing sound that perfectly complements her songwriting. Crawford’s production expertise shines through on each track, adding layers of depth and texture to Lee’s already dynamic songs. Lee’s decision to also enlist the vocal powerhouse Savana Lee, Crawford’s wife and bandmate in Sugarcane Jane, adds an extra layer of richness and diversity to the album.

Advertisement

The standout single, “Great Crusade,” is a perfect example of the magic that happens when Lee and Crawford collaborate. The song is a rousing anthem that is equal parts fun and inspiring, with its kickass riffs and battle-inspired lyrics. It’s impossible not to feel empowered and ready to conquer the world after listening to this song.

Recorded at the renowned Admiral Bean Studio, the production on this album is top-notch. Each instrument and vocal is expertly mixed, creating a balanced and polished sound that perfectly captures the energy of Lee’s live performances. As a listener, it’s easy to get lost in the music and feel like you’re right there in the studio with Lee and her band.

Advertisement

In conclusion, Lolly Lee’s self-titled LP is a must-listen for fans of rock ‘n’ roll, Americana, and great music in general. Lee’s talent and creativity shine through on every track, making this album a true gem in the world of independent music. With its infectious energy, inspiring melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics, this album is sure to leave a lasting impression on listeners and solidify Lolly Lee as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

http://www.lollyleemusic.com

Advertisement

-Chuck Rainey

Advertisement

Album Review

Gitkin unveils an afro-latin blues with sonic psychedelia in his recent Album “Golden Age”

Gitkin

The undisputed king of modern cumbia and master of genre fusion, Brian J. Gitkin, unveils his latest 10-track masterpiece, “Golden Age,” released under Wonderwheel Recordings. This wordless sonic adventure transcends borders, featuring a guest appearance by multi-instrumentalist and producer Assaf Spector, delivering thrilling depths of Afro-Latin, desert rock, and blues with heavy doses of psychedelia. Rooted in the musical heartbeat of New Orleans, “Golden Age” offers a mesmerizing exploration of culture, rhythm, and electric guitar brilliance. This primarily instrumental experience enthralls audiences from start to finish.

Gitkin, a New Orleans-based multi-instrumentalist, channels the rhythmic soul of the Crescent City through the hypnotic twang of his signature Silvertone guitar. The album commences with the dynamic title track, “High Noon,” setting the tone for its adventurous spirit, a far-reaching sound exploration. Fans are treated to a dazzling mix of intoxicating African and Latin American influences, spiced with the desert rock of Mali and the electrified chicha style of Peru.

Advertisement

The second track, “Cumbia-ya,” exudes celebration with its infectious beats as the album continues to break boundaries with “Delta Mystic,” along with “Iced Coffee” and “Go Time,” the 5th composition featuring the expertise of Simon Moushabeck on the keyboard and Washington Duke on drums, which seamlessly blends jazz, funk, and Afro-American Mardi Gras roots into a jubilant groove.

Advertisement

Subsequently, “The One,” the eighth track, presents a hypnotic blend of classic Sudanese influences, Tuareg-style guitars, and Black Sabbath-inspired heaviness. The composition is propelled forward by a Giorgio Moroder-esque bassline, combining ’70s disco energy with soulful guitar motifs, showcasing Gitkin’s versatility and fearless approach to creating fresh, boundary-pushing music. The album’s standout track, “Tall Oaks Drive,” takes listeners on a cosmic ride with its psychedelic sitar riffs and melodic cinematic atmosphere reminiscent of a vintage spy thriller. The album concludes with the soul-stirring final track, “Golden Age,” providing a sense of closure and triumph.

Throughout “Golden Age,” Gitkin’s guitar melodies convey stories without words, evoking emotions of contemplation, joy, and spiritual upliftment. His ability to weave together global sounds with New Orleans’ rich musical heritage establishes him as a visionary in the global music scene. This album is essential for fans seeking adventurous, deeply reflective, and genre-defying sonic experiences.

Advertisement

 

For more information about Gitkin, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Gitkin’s Album Golden Age on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Gitkin | Instagram | Facebook |

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Album Review

Never Heavy Releases “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light”

Steve Alex’s new album is Never Heavy Is One Full of Light. The former frontman of the nineties alt-rock band Four Star Riot has forgone excess production value for a simpler, much more acoustic touch. The album skews the distinctly modern with the excess throwback, something decidedly in for the last couple of years because of romanticization of the past.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/neverheavy

Advertisement

It could be the sixties, with the sexual revolution fashion and counter-cultural zeist, the seventies being the era of the singer-songwriter juggernauts, when the maestro of the excess confessional was sexiest person of the year. “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light” skews the latter excessively, literally starting with the title, down to the lyrics Alex has written for each track. The album also reflects the era because of the fact each song is a story, all thematically linked, with beginnings middles and ends. The other thing very much a welcome throwback is how personal Alex makes each song, feeling like a vulnerable creative expression.

What makes the album as a whole compete aside from nostalgia is the assuredness with which Alex performs each track. It’s unusual to feel like an artist has their own material on lock, there naturally being hits and misses throughout the course of their career, even their own, individual releases. I’m pleased to say Mr. Alex never falls into any traps on that front. The album is insanely consistent, maddeningly so. I would have liked to see a few cracks here and there, but all in all it’s a solid and entirely immersive achievement.

Advertisement

There’s a visceral quality to each of the tracks, something deeply gripping not just about the music itself but the stories it tells. Storytelling is the lost art of songwriting, much like poetry it’s about speaking to the heart in addition to the mind, conjuring immersive emotive experiences not easily dismissible even when it ends. A lot of this in Alex’s case likely points back to his experiences as rock frontman for Four Star Riot. It’s clear he’s carried this over to “Never Heavy Is One Full of Light,” once stating in an article with V13 Media: “The stage is a great leveler. It is the true yard-stick by which an artist can be measured.”

In the same article, Alex was quoted as saying, “The only reason to be in a rock band is to play live, period…The energy that is given during the show between the band and the audience is the most exhilarating thing I know. It’s fun as well as emotional, but I guess the best part is the danger. My Pseudo-dance and swagger has in the past, produced sprained ankles and bloody puncture wounds. Y’know, the possibility that at any moment the whole thing can fall apart, but that is the beauty of live performances, it’s here, then it’s gone and on to the next song.”

Advertisement

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/never-heavy/1492197159

He carries this mentality to the soft rock nature of his independent release. In many ways, the aforementioned sentiments have never proven more relevant. People crave connectivity in this era, with polls regularly pointing out depression, isolation, and a lack of social cohesion are at record highs. It’s nice to see someone turn back the hands of time on that front, if just a little bit, reminding us about everything that works outside of the corporate-controlled, digitally enhanced world of the top forty still has it.

Advertisement

Loren Sperry

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Video Of The Week

Trending