Vermillon - Ryan David Orr

You know that feeling you get in when you're driving a scenic highway in the summer? There's a feeling of renewal, freshness, ease, and simplicity. That's the feeling you get from Ryan David Orr's album, Vermillon. Its a simple album, easily performed and finds its place to your heart the same way.

Right In Tow has an incredibly singable chorus. Its falsetto glides into pop perfection. On Right in Tow, the syncopated acoustic guitar strum and tambourine backs clear vocals met with harmonies.

Bottle Rocket does a nice job of harnessing what's hot in pop-mainstream, but remains true to the acoustic/americana sound Orr has established. If you could imagine a band like Snow Patrol composing a rootsy acoustic track, you have Bottle Rocket.

Finally, on Snow Globe Ballerina, his voice lilts and rises to a beautifully simple lullaby. Its lyrics succinct and instrumentation perfectly in place - not overdone, but everything in its right place.

Ryan David Orr understands his genre and succeeds within it!

RATING: 4 of 5 stars

Phoenix Rising - Double Helix

If you're a fan of tasty jazz, then Canada's Double Helix will please. Album opener, Bluesoph, is an easy listen with a great tremolo lead line. It pans back and forth and really keeps your attention. On Silver Mountain Temple, the acoustic guitar plays lead role in a more new age piece. Its complete with woodblocks and rain sticks (you can't go wrong there).

Zoloph Spaceman kicks off the track with harmonics galore. The guitar work is impressive and angular. Its songs like these that show an artists ability to play what's needed and leave out the extra. John Scofield would have a smile on this one - its truly a great work.

But perhaps their best work is on River Song. The acoustic interplay is intoxicating and is reminiscent of Tim Reynolds. The tones and playability earn serious bragging rights!

Pick up a copy of Phoenix Rising by Double Helix!

RATING: 4 of 5 stars

The Grass is Always Greener - Max and the Wild Things

Max and the Wild Things weave a sonic quality of raw textured sounds that brings you to the front of the stage. Their groove oriented and open mixing gives the feel of a live show. On Without A Sound, the band accompanies a free floating vocal lead line that feels like its leading everyone in a rockin' party. Its full and showcases a belting trumpet.

The next track, Saturday in May, steps back from the in your face party groove and acts as a more subtle track altogether. The vocals again harness a leadership quality and call the listener to attention. On You Got Your, the band steps back in time to a sound more reminiscent of the past (think oldies circa 50's & 60's).

All in all, I would have a hard time believing anyone not enjoying themselves with this album. The instrumentation harnesses a nice live quality. I would prefer more attention to the vocals, but to each their own.

RATING: 3 of 5 stars

Voice in the Dark

Voice in the Dark is the San Diego pop/rock band that writes, writes, and writes some more. They have a huge catalog of songs that are selective and poignant to certain topics and issues. I've chosen to focus my review on their 2009 release, Gaia.

Voice in the Dark says this about Gaia, "The inspiration driving the creation of Gaia comes from a calling to love our mother earth, remember that it is our responsibility to help others in need, and how vital it is for us to believe in ourselves."

It has elements of Depeche Mode and Morrissey combined with edgy, New Age, instrumentation. It comes out strong on Let's not Forget. Layers of synths and groove to ambient vocals, sets the mood.

On Stop, they employ the acoustic guitar to shine through the mix, as they sing of getting home. Its more angular, but works well. The band is longing and convincing; and it shows in the performance.

Finally on, Can You Believe, the band really shines. The song is set in a clearer and stronger vocal range. The band excels as it works in tandem to create a soundscape any fan of Euro-pop would grab hold of quickly.

To hear more from Voice in the Dark, check out their webiste: www.voiceinthedarkmusic.com

RATING: 3.5 of 5 stars

Dreams That Aren't Mine - David Forest

David Forest is a fresh sound. This LA songwriter has some talent and I imagine i'm not the first to notice it. His album's opener, Dreams That Aren't Mine spans piano pop, rock alternative, and vocal perfection. Forest can go from a strong lead to soft floating falsetto in a note or two - a real success.

Just as Satisfied begins like a dream; eerie music boxes swirling, and abruptly moves to a more pulsing tune. On this song, Forest utilizes a lower voicing on the verses and offers more dynamic on the chorus. Its reminiscent of David Gray.

Keep on Climbing is a more layered song. It begins with strings oozing from the corners. The acoustic strum combines with a tasty ambient-percussion loop and sits in between his softer vocals nicely.

David Forest is an uber-solid talent, writer, and performer!
RATING: 5 of 5 stars

Knitting Songs - Savannah Jo Lack

Its a great feeling when one of your last reviews of the year hits home in such nicety that all you want to do is play it over and over again. Savannah Jo Lack's, Knitting Songs, is exactly that album! Its a pure mix of pop, americana, folk, and authenticity that's lacking in today's scene.

The opening Track, Blank Page Day, is a great testament to her writing and song sculpture. It's simple and fun, but has an anthemic quality like something you'd expect from the likes of Elbow. Little Girl is a beautifully sad story dealing with race, abuse, fear, and more. It takes critical talent to mix beauty like this one with cringing lyrics/story. Her writing is poignant and powerful!

On Old Man Perry, her violin loop provides an excellent backdrop for the folksy-alterna-newgrass tune. She really displays an exquisite fresh talent with this instrumentation. Finally, Ocean Dreams escapes the speakers like a dark composition by the Kronos String Quartet. Its rich with pizzicato and honesty.

All in all, her album is top notch. The writing, instrumentation, and production are all stellar. I'd be very interested to see the live show - to witness these songs take shape, layer after layer.

(Truly one of the top 3 albums I've reviewed all year long!)

RATING: 5 of 5 stars

Strange Part of the Country - Conil

Coming at us from the UK is a great rock-singer/songwriter, Conil. On his debut album, Strange Part of the Country, he's worked with an all star engineer and mixer, Tchad Blake (Tom Waits, Pearl Jam). Conil's voice has an interesting quality to it that's hard to label. Its not overly raspy, not overly pop, and has the ability to go from scream to lilting falsetto in one or two bars.

Strange Part of the Country is an acoustic rock piece with great instrumentation. Imagine Alice in Chains and Elbow writing a song together - that's what you get here. Years Between is a light track with easy percussion and instrumentation that surrounds his passionate voice.

On a later track, Grapevine, the verses are reminiscent of Depeche Mode (minus the layered synths), and the chorus' pull out the stops and really deliver. But perhaps his best track is Bonediggers. Its go great instrumental work - tasty use of perc and bass and just enough axillary to really sell the song. Overall, the writing and production are working well together. Its by no surprise that Conil has been receiving stellar reviews throughout the UK.

RATING: 4.5 of 5 stars