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Artist: Kate Russell
Title: Kicking Down the Door
Website:
http://www.katerussellonline.com
MySpace:
www.myspace.com/katerussellonline
Style: Country/ Rock
Label: Urunga Records
Rating: 8.9 out of 10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross
Kate Russell is a Sydney, Australia born multi-talented musician, composer, and singer/songwriter. Kicking Down the Door is the follow up to her successful debut release, Powerful Stuff.
Kate's music blends country, rock, and adult contemporary elements to achieve a sound that she describes as, 'Country Barbecue Music.'
She says, "It's the kind of fun, dancing, rocking music you want to hear while you're socializing at a barbecue."
Kate Russell list, Patsy Cline, Patty Loveless, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, and Bonnie Raitt as some of her musical influences.
This release doesn't take long to get the party started. The first two tracks ("Mr. Right", "Our Redneck Neighbor") are upbeat C&W meet rock songs that will have your toes tapping.
"Mr. Right" deals with all of the different guys and their flaws that you have to go through in search of 'Mr. Right.' Dating, relationships, and trying to find the right guy is a central theme that runs through many of the songs found on Kicking Down the Door.
"Our Redneck Neighbor" takes a Jeff Foxworthy like look at a redneck neighbor that I'm sure we've all had to deal with at one time in our life.
The next several tracks alternate between rockers and more melodic country/adult contemporary numbers.
Track-8 "Table32" is a nice song that deals with not being too quickly to judge a situation on appearance or first impressions.
It's the story of a waitress at the end of the night having pulled a double shift and just wanting to go home. A couple comes in though and sets down, as she's ready to go. The man is older looking in his mid-50's while the woman appears to only be in her 20's. They seem to be very affectionate towards each other so the waitress thinks that it's just a case of a dirty old man trying to relive his youth through this young woman.
As the waitress approaches and tells them the place is closing she finds out that the couple is a father and daughter that having been separated are meeting for the first time. This is a very poignant song that drives home the point to not judge others so quickly.
Track-9 "The Cell Phone Song" deals with one of my pet peeves cell phones. Yes-there great when used right but people give it a break. Some people are addicted to these things and never take a break from using them. That is the case in this humorous look at cell phone use.
The release wraps up nicely with track-10, "Kick Down the Door." It's an upbeat number that talks about waiting for that one special guy that will kick down the door to your heart. Meeting that one special person that you know immediately is your soul mate.
Kicking Down the Door showcases Kate Russell's talents. With its mix of styles this release should appeal to a wide variety of listeners.
Artist: Steve Richard
Title: Steve Richard
Website:
http://www.steverichardmusic.com/
Style: Country/ Southern Rock
Rating: 7.95 out of10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross
This is the self-titled debut album from Steve Richard. What you'll find on it is a country artist looking to push the genres boundaries with a significant southern rock musical flavor found on it.
When asked about the album's style Richard says, "The album is about that exciting place where country meets rock and roll, and it's a very 'LIVE' kind of record, with songs that come across very well onstage. The idea was to do songs that tell honest stories which reflect the way I feel whether I wrote the song or not."
"My style of music reflects the love I have for bands like Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, along with classic sounds of George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens, to the Cream, Who and The Stones...you've got the picture. It's very much a rocking record, but is completely steeped in country tradition."
Richard has also toured the Midwest and South as both a headliner and opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dickey Betts, .38 Special and Van Zant.
The releases first two tracks are all out driving southern rockers, "Faster, Faster" and "Stomp." It isn't until track-3"Everything Beautiful to Me" that the release lets the country side take the spotlight for a while.
Track-5 "Tried-and-True another rocker gets the blood pumping again. Quickly followed by the country bar-rock song, "We Ain't Saints."
Track-7 "Make it into Heaven" has a real Jimmy Buffet like tropical island music feel to it. Track-8, "I'll Never Leave You" is the releases only ballad.
From there it goes, track-9 pop country, track-10 southern rocker, track-11 country gospel and ends it with track-12 "Write This Song" with it's standard country sound.
This release hits most of the marks. The only thing that might turn some people off is the wide variety of different styles ( southern rock, traditional country, modern country, pop, gospel, and island music) found on it that does make it seem a bit schizophrenic at times.
Go ahead and get this release and enjoy the music, just be prepared to hit the next track button a time or two.
You can view a well done video for the first single, "Faster, Faster" from the album at:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=VQf_iSRiGBY
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