This is our place to review indie albums, review indie music and review indie artists
Cold November Rain : Sixx Digit
By: Mut Asheru
Sixx Digit's Cold November Rain is some bonafide good rap stuff coming out of Toledo. At once entertaining and instropective this emcee has the sing-song style of Bone Thugs. I don't know him personally so I'm not sure he's really street but damn if his lyrics don't depict em. Basically he serves the role as real time CNN.
Down side. I am tired of hearing bout drugs and hoes. But hey, Digit deftly crafts his tales with good wordplay bringing his world to vivid, raw and dirty life. There's no denying his skills. They can only get better.
Very infectious. The beats are minimalistic in a good way. They provide the perfect backdrop to Digit's lyrics and hooks while being able to stand on their own in rollin and livin in the hood scenarios. How do I know? Because I used to role through my hood and yes this is what I most likely would have listened to.
The production not being too glossy or polished lends credence to his lyrics and bolsters the urgency and sense of doom that this artist clearly rhymes about.
Last of the Ones : Laura Marie
By: Mut Asheru
Holy catharsis batman! Laura Marie’s album Last of the Ones is a musical medicinal that soothes and emboldens on the first listen. This album, produced by Mack Damon is strong and focused. We first met and fell for Laura on her Drawn album. That was ’07. Laura’s songwriting and voice while still touching and poignant have both grown in strength to reveal the lush and ripe angels that rest in her throat and mind. “What It’s Like” is an honest look into ones weaknesses mirrored in another strengths. She’s not
begrudgingly
comparing herself in a downward depressed motion. Instead she simply wonders what it would be like to be that wonderful, adventuresome person and by the end of the song you hope she gets the chance to find out. Laura and her trusty acoustic guitar infuses tracks “Find a Way” and “Love You Like Me” with a light and happy folk sheen that reminds you to take things one day at a time. Her title track “Last of the Ones” is already a classic in my book. Truly one of the best albums we’ve come across this year.
The Walk of Fame : The Walk of Fame
By: T. Mathenia
We like it. The guitars and drums are awesome. The vocals are nice but after a while we found ourselves wishing there was some base to the lead singers voice or at least some more complexity to the vocal arrangements would have been welcomed. Nevertheless, the vocals do fit nicely with the bands high energy style of play. The singer is in danger of being dwarfed by the huge sound of the band. We see good things in The Walk of Fame's future if they can learn to add some more dimension to the vocal delivery we propose that fame will be knocking on their door some day soon. Favorite track for me is "Who We Are" (blistering guitar riffs and killer drums on this).
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We Sail - Maggie Baird
By: T. Mathenia
We have singer/songwriters crowding our p.o box these days. Perhaps recession brings out the lyricism in people but Maggie Baird shows that she has been in the game of writing for a while on tracks "Middle of Nowhere", "I Wish You" and "We Sail". "Middle of Nowhere" tells the tale of a mother worried about her middle class status who's one paycheck away from being put out on their assets. Not a unique worry for a lower class writer like myself who makes it a point to always keep a good supply of candles because the lights are more often off than on, but I appreciate the look at life from another's viewpoint. Providing a view into the soul's honesty is what Baird does best and she does it without too much syrup. Her album is warm and intimate with a subdued power that is difficult to master for most but easy in her capable hands.
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Smile With Your Eyes 
- Max
By: Carolina Jones
At only 13 this kid is a vocal and instrumental powerhouse who already has a firm grasp on intellectual and catchy songwriting. His CD opens with a full and robust sound on track "Life is Real" that made me question the truth that he does it all himself. Do child prodigy's really exist? I think we've found one. Every track on this album is a treat and Max does not overreach himself not once on this album. Very clever.
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The Birth of Rock'n Soul - Steven Paul Drakes
By: Carolina Jones
Oh my damn! Thanks to whoever assigned this album to me to review. I didn't expect much being as jaded as I am. But Steven Paul Drakes Rock'n Soul album woke me up out of my music drenched fog. From the opening track to the finish Drakes silky strong vocals and production has redefined soul. Today's radio r&b is bullshit. Indie soul/rap crooner Drakes is that truth that's been missing from commercial soul music for a good while now. He is mature enough to be able to share space on my ipod with Eric Roberson, Pevern Everett and Raheem Devaughn. His vocals remind me of Carl Thomas and that's as close as I can get to a comparison. I would advise the world to look out for Mr. Drakes and as suggested by track 14 "Don't Get Too Comfortable" with mediocre. Demand better for your poor earholes and get yourself a copy of this album! Today.
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Ready Now - Zerby
By: Carolina Jones
I would be lying if I didn't say to myself WTF when I opened this cd and saw this caucasion chick on the cover claiming that she could dancehall it up with the best of them. But I gave it a listen anyway trying to dismiss from my mind all of the dancehall I've heard previously because I knew from her midwest upbringing that there was no way I would get an authentic listening experience . There is a lot of rambling and empty spaces on this album filled with sing/repeat type chants that serve to irriate rather than entertain. I can tell its a person doing a imitation of a music they like. But what else can she do but an imitation being that she's from the midwest. This album has elements of rock and rap in it alongside the dancehall and to tell the truth it's not something I can see myself listening to again. Ever.
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The Homeplace - Abby Parks
By: T. Mathenia
This album has some great songwriting. I can't claim to love the vocals on the album but they aren't that bad. Who wants to listen to a CD where the vocals don't really grab you? But like Mary J Blige...Abbey sings with strength and conviction. That conviction zeros in on your heart strings and makes you root for Abby. By track 5 "The Observer", I realized that her okay vocals were honest and true representations of her thoughts and feelings. She loves her craft and so therefore, this folk singer gets propers for delivering on her promise to make you feel at home while listening to her aptly titled cd The Homeplace.
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Being Awesome -
Amy Heffernan
By: Corbyn Bricie
This cd opens with promise. The title track "Being Awesome" is a real life look into how getting tipsy can make the grass a little greener on your side. This is a decent cd with quality production and snazzy songwriting. Heffernan offers up a fun and quick wit that infects the entire album with hope. After listening to her album I realized that except for the crappy parts like breaking up with someone like in tracks "Over Again" and "The Enemy" life is pretty darn cool. Her one sheet classifies the album as pop/rock so that's what we'll go with in describing her sound although she's a little more kick ass than the typical pop star. Heffernan has made a strong showing with her debut album Being Awesome. I can only hope there's more of what made this album fun to listen to up her musical sleeves.
