You can put reissues on your year end list even if it’s for a record that’s two years old, right? Because we didn’t get the opportunity to review the regular edition of Blue Hour when it originally arrived in November of 2021 and kinda wanna make it known that it is undeniably tops. Also, we’re going to review the SHIT out of Blue Hour Deluxe from Rum Bar Records and A Diamond Heart Production to make up for our flub which means there’s a whole lotta Carissa Johnson music to talk about with this bigger, bolder edition featuring the album’s original 10 tracks plus 12 tracks collecting previously released The Good EP and the debut of the tunes that make up L’Heure Bleue, After Dark for a walloping 22 new to some, old but differently structured songs from the formerly Boston-based musician.
[Read more…]Swivel Grinds Out The Nu-Grunge, Goes Gigantic on Glowing Self-Titled Release
If you’re a child of the ’90’s… or at least had your musical awakening around the middle of that decade, how can you not love the recent resurgence of Grunge? Especially when it’s got artists like Swivel leading the new revolution.
[Read more…]Singles! Max Boras, “I Do”
Ready for some Powerful Prog that Packs a Punch… and a band that look cool doing it to boot? Then get on board the Max Boras express with the release of latest single “I Do” and a video accompaniment shot and edited by the one and only Carissa Johnson.
[Read more…]A Rock And Roll Fables Premiere: Carissa Johnson & Steph Curran, “99 Luftballons”
Remember when it was okay to smile…or when something just made you feel really happy? Music does that for me constantly even through all of the current lunacy in the world and it’s artists like Carissa Johnson who keep giving me reasons to turn that perennial frown upside down.
[Read more…]Carissa Johnson Unplugs And Unpacks For Earnest Acoustic Album A Hundred Restless Thoughts
I can’t think of a better way to end the year than with a brand new album from Carissa Johnson. After a slew of new singles in 2019 featuring the full band, Johnson goes it alone and strips it all away with an earnest, introspective new full-length to close out a stellar year.
[Read more…]Singles! Carissa Johnson & The Cure-Alls, “The Upside”
Fans can thank The Cure-Alls’ guitarist Steph Curran and Johnson’s own cat, Ginger, for this rockin’ little ditty that’s just the latest in a slew of excellent new singles released since Talk Talk Talk dropped in 2018. Originally slated to be on an upcoming acoustic album by Johnson, the track was reconstructed after Curran heard it and recommended an alternate version for the full band. Ginger comes into play as the content of the song delves into life on the road and a yearning for stability.
[Read more…]Vanessa Silberman Kicks Off Fall With Lush Modern Alt Classic Brighter in Bloom
As a fan of Carissa Johnson, we were immediately intrigued when new music from Vanessa Silberman, who took Johnson out on the road last year, came across our desk. And we were even more excited that her new EP, Brighter In Bloom, is just the kind of rawk that we dig on the regular. As will you!
[Read more…]Singles! Carissa Johnson & The Cure-Alls, “Something Good”
There are artists out there that, whenever they put anything new out, immediately bring a smile to listeners faces…not necessarily because the music itself is feel good or happy go lucky but because of a sense of pride that this given artist is continually putting out compelling and exciting new music.
[Read more…]18 for ’18: An Exhaustive Look At All The Albums You Should’ve Already Heard In The Year 2018
It’s here! The moment you’ve all be waiting for! And instead of splitting it in half this year I decided to bombard you with one huge pile of word vomit featuring everything that got our goat in 2018. Enjoy! Because we definitely did (Links to reviews highlighted where applicable):
But first! [Read more…]
Circus Trees Ready “Impermanence” For Mass Release, Preview Song With Mini-Documentary Available Now
Three sisters. All under the age of 18. Putting every other musician out there to shame with the musicality and songwriting prowess that they display at such a young age. Which begs the question: If they sound this good now, how incredible are they going to sound going forward? [Read more…]