Release date: June 17, 2020
Label: Self-Released
There must be something in the sand and dry air that covers southwestern American states like Arizona and New Mexico. For many alt-rock fans the proof lies in extraordinary music produced by Howe Gelb…

(((O))) Review: Guy Grogan – Same Morning Light

AS New Musical Express, (NME) reports, Apple Music has just introduced a bi-monthly program that is to showcase African musicians on all of its platforms. Titled ‘Africa Rising,’ the program is supposed to promote emerging African artists selected by…

Apple Music is to showcase African musicians

Toy masters LEGO, have just unveiled a new set in their recent “LEGO Art” line, formally titled “Art Mosaic.” The line, which also includes sets devoted to Star Wars, Iron Man and Andy Warhol, will have a set devoted to The Beatles, set for release…

The Beatles get their own ‘Art Mosaic’ LEGO set

Artists who have formal (classical) music training and express themselves mainly through electronic music can often take strange routes. Of course, those routes wouldn’t be called strange if they did not lead to some strange destinations, good or…

(((O))) Review: Chris Ianuzzi – Planeteria

Label: Self-Released
Incorporating the sounds of the sitar into modern music, of course, is not a new thing. It ranged from its use as a mood instrument (The Beatles, The Stones…) to the lead instrument combined with modern sounds and rhythms. The…

(((O))) Review: Mohamed Assani – Wayfinder

Lost and buried live recordings of jazz giants are recently seeing the light (and sound) of the day and the upcoming release of Thelonious Monk’s concert at a Palo Alto high school auditorium in 1968 (July 2020) is among them.
While, it might seem…

A re-discovered Thelonious Monk live recording has more behind its story

Julien’s Auctions, famous for its music events, is organizing another auction on September 9, 2020. This time, all the proceeds will go to MusiCares Relief Fund. As New Musical Express, NME notes, it comes after MusiCares teamed up with the Recording…

Billie Eilish, Cher, Ozzy Osbourne are donating iconic items for the MusiCares Relief Fund

There is no middle ground with tribute albums. They turn out either as a haphazard collection of fan musings with a lot of hits and even more misses, or as well-thought-out collected reflections on important genres. Too many of the former around, too…

Kai Clark “Silver Raven” (CD Baby, 2020)

Release date: June 19, 2020
Label: Self-Released
It is time for protest singers to be in focus again. While some artists joined in when the current social, political, and yes, medical events reached a boiling point. Others, were they’re practically…

(((O))) Review: Patrick Ames – Reawakened 2020 & Liveness EP

Even music fans who never had a chance to get their hands on a (hard) copy of Creem have at least heard the name of this iconic rock magazine that ran from 1969 to 1989. It was the writing and musing location for such rock critic luminaries as Lester…

CREEM – one of the most iconic rock magazines – is subject of a new documentary

“Penny Lane”, one of the most iconic songs by The Beatles is named after a street in the band’s hometown of Liverpool. Now, it has come into focus during the worldwide quest for racial justice.
The Line of Best Fit (LOBF) reports that in the second…

Penny Lane – made famous by The Beatles – could be facing a name change

Digital Music News (DMN) reports on the growing efforts in support of racial justice. The new entrants in establishing funds to that effect are YouTube and Apple.
YouTube’s plans were announced by its CEO Susan Wojciciki in as “mid-year update” blog.…

YouTube and Apple join efforts in support of racial justice

Many listeners who consider themselves serious fans will instantly disregard the new Norah Jones album Pick Me Up Off the Floor. The reasons – she has sold bundles of albums, particularly her debut Come Away with Me, and she is considered by many to…

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NORAH JONES – PICK ME UP OFF THE FLOOR

National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), recently conducted a new survey about the consequences of coronavirus shutdown.
According to the estimates in the survey by this Association which represents 2,000 members in all 50 US states, “90% of…

Independent music venues in serious danger due to COVID-19

Digital Music News (DMN) reports on three large donations from and to the music industry. Two of those, from Sony Music and Universal Music Group, are donations to racial justice causes. On the other hand, Germany will donate funds to help the music…

Sony and Universal donate millions to racial justice causes

Release date: May 22, 2020
Label: NNA Tapes
Natalie Chami is becoming quite a fixture on the Chicago electronic/experimental/post-rock music scene. Doubling as a musician and a music professor. She works at ChiArts—Chicago’s premier public high…

(((O))) Review: TALsounds – Acquiesce

The Americana music scene is getting crowded with new names. Getting a record deal is hard to come by, and in these hard times, it is even going to get harder. So it is no wonder that artists that are just arriving at the scene are resorting to…

Kieran Conaway “Your Ghosts” (Buoy58, 2020)

Most of the artists are donating these royalties to organizations fighting for racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests across the globe.
Many musicians and other artists like Bruce Springsteen and David Lynch…

Bandcamp continues its “100% Royalties for Artists” Day in support for racial justice

How do you get out of the shadow of a band you are most compared with? Washington D.C. trio Babbling April are doing just that. Those who heard their previous singles and two EPs as well as Days of Retreat, their debut album proper, will certainly…

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BABBLING APRIL – DAYS OF RETREAT

Release date: May 29, 2020
Label: Bella Union
When a band decides to come up with a self-titled album, and it is not their debut, it is a good sign that they are looking for some kind of a clean break, a change, a new beginning. This could definitely…