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Artist: Human Project II
Title: Humanized
Website:
http://www.humanrocks.net
MySpace:
www.myspace.com/thehumanprojectband
Style: Blues/Rock
Rating: 9.4 out of 10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross
Putting in long hours for no pay working on the site it's CD's like Humanized that makes it all worth it. This release is one of those rare gems that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.
The Human in the Human Project is Loyd Vandergriff a singer songwriter from Visalia, California. Loyd was big into music playing in several rock bands during his high school years. He stopped though taking 30 years off until 5 years ago when he decided to pick his trusty Stratocaster back up.
His musical influences include, Elvin Bishop, Bob Seger, Wet Willie, The Rascals, ZZ Top, Delbert McClinton, Tommy Castro, Steve Earle, Moon Martin, and Marshall Crenshaw.
His first CD, The Real Stuff, was released in 2006. Humanized is his latest effort and it really shines brightly. What a loss for the music community it would have been if he hadn't gotten back into his music.
Joining the Human on this release is longtime friend, Dana Long, along with, John Dees, Tom Scott, Rocky Boosalis, Rudy Parris, Cole Fonseca, Gina Taylor, Dina P, and John King.
The music found on Humanized is a bluesy rock filled with great guitar work. The release grabs you right from the start with track-1, "Goin South," an island rock song filled with soaring keyboards, congas, and saxophone parts. The song talk about a magical journey that goes throughout the south ending up on famed Beal St. in Memphis, Tennessee listening to BB King play in his nightclub.
From there the southern rock and gritty blues join the party. Track-2, "Drive, Drive, Drive" is an up-tempo blues rocker filled with steady drumbeats. Track-3 "Bad Momma," is another up-tempo track that deals with drug and alcohol substance abuse set against a wailing saxophone.
Track-4, "Creepers," slows it down with its melodic blues flow that talks about dogs barking, a full moon, and not getting caught in the wrong part of town at night.
Track-5, "My V8 Ford" pumps it up with fast drumbeats. The song reminds me of a mix between the drum work found in the song "Wipe Out" meets Chuck Berry's song about his hot rod Lincoln.
Track-6, "High Anxiety," takes a trip down to the Deep South for some Mississippi Delta Blues filled with slide guitar, and harmonica. The song is about the way towns have expanded everywhere and how hard it is these days to just get away from the hustle and bustle to a peaceful place to relax.
Track-7, "Deep River," a medium rock song is about broken relationships. Track-8, "Taxman II," is one for the blue collar working man. It laments about the plight of the workingman being taxed to death by a government budget filled with pork barrel projects.
Track-9, "Modern Day Folksong," is about the mess the worlds in today with the terrorists looking to kill anyone that doesn't agree with them.
Track-10, "Goin Downtown," is an all out party rocker. It's all about heading to the bar putting on the jukebox and letting go and releasing all of the stress that's built up in you.
If you want to hear Loyd's music you'll have to get one of his CD's because he rarely performs live, which is a shame. His style of music really lends itself to a live show atmosphere and I'm sure that he would tear down the house.
Whether you like, southern rock, the blues, or just good music Humanized needs to be on your next shopping list!
Loyd dedicated this release to his deceased mother, Marie. I'm sure she's smiling down on him.
Artist: Sean Costello
Title: We Can Get Together
Website:
http://www.seancostello.com
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/seancostello
Style: Blues/ Roots Rock
Label: Delta Groove Music
Rating: 9 out of 10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross
Sean started out playing the guitar at the age of nine. Self-taught it didn't take long before his playing got noticed when at age 14 he won the Beal's Street Blues Society's, 'New Talent Award.'
Sean released his debut album, Call the Cops in 1996 when he was only 16. Since then he's both released several more of his own albums along with appearing on other artist releases.
Sean's latest release, We Can Get Together is jammed pack with the blues along with his signature soul and touches of rock ala classic artist such as, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Here's some of what Sean has to say about his music, "I'll never play the old blues better than the people who invented it...I'm 28 years old, and I need to make my own statement."
Sean tries to walk the fine line of being true to the past while still adding in some modern elements to keep the music fresh sounding.
This release takes you on a journey of musical tempos from upbeat hard driving tracks like, "Anytime You Want", "Same Old Game," and "How in the Devil," to the Gospel inspired "Going Home", along with the ballad, "Have You No Shame."
Those of you who read my reviews regularly know that I like it when a release has that little something different andWe Can Get Together didn't disappoint me. On the song, "Told Me a Lie" they use a chicken coop to provide a percussion element. I also liked the not often heard outside of a full band instrument the sousaphone.
If you're a fan of the blues you need to checkout Sean Costello's music. For me the sign of a good blues guitarist is if they can make the guitar almost come to life and talk to me. On We Can Get Together Sean's guitar speaks loud and clear with a soulful heart.
Artist: Oneway-Up
Title: On Our Way
Website:
http://www.myspace.com/chitownonewayup
CDBaby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/onewayup
Style: Blues/Rock
Rating: 8.4 out of 10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross
This band got its start in 2005 when two different bands came together to form Oneway-Up. Their big lineup includes, Mike Kackos (bass), Gilbert Keller (guitar), Jim Johansen (vocals, keys, guitar), Mike Mackey (harp, vocals, guitar), Lee Medina (lead guitar, vocals), Charlie Watson (drums) and Doug Frazier (guitar).
The band's music is a smorgasbord of styles including rock and blues from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's to present day. They pull on a wide variety of musical influences that includes, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Santana, The Doors , Allman Bros., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pearl Jam, James Cotton, and Blues Traveler.
The songs found on this CD are guitar driven with deep steady drumbeats, spicy harp parts along with booming vocals. The song's subjects are built upon dealing with real life situations and experiences.
The songs also vary in tempo with most of them being more upbeat in the blues-rock vain. You'll also find a few melodic ballad tracks.
The one song that seemed a little bit out of place is, "In Our Love." I liked the song but it had a 50's slow dance love song feel to it.
My favorite song off of the release is track-6, "Oneway-Up." This song is a southern rocker with deep drumbeats, wailing guitars and great harp action.
Overall if your a fan of The Blues (Chicago style) and Rock n' Roll then Oneway-Up's On Our Way will have you dancing with joy.
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Indie Music
