The Rockstar Reviewer (Rambling Man's Reviews)

Words Written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Graylinglake is an Indie/Alternative rock band from Malmo, Sweden. They consist of former True Lies  member  Michael Harrsjo  ( Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards) and drummer Conny Stade. Graylinglake have been making inroads within the music scene in their native Sweden and has recently released a new album The Impossible Possible.    Runaway is the band's latest single; a pop-orientated bundle of feelgood music and a catchy chorus that will whisk the listener away. The opening bars follow a basic chord progression that lets the rhythm bounce along uninterrupted. The upbeat tempo is soft and melodic which engages the listener before the vocals enter. Harrsjo's voice is warm, as to sound easier over the harmonic guitar lines and gentle drumming. This allows the singer to sound soothing without intimidating the listener.  The lyrics are well balanced to match the optimistic tone. I feel the song i...

                                                                         Miss Velvet and The Blue Wolf  are a Funk/soul combo that hails from New York. They are led by the charismatic vocals of Miss Velvet, who is joined by Producer  Constance Hauman on Keyboards, Nick Carbone on Drums,  Henry Ott on Guitars, Trevor Neuman on Trumpet, and Trombonists Dan Levine and TJ Robinson. The bland is an eclectic variation of rock, soul, jazz, and funk that counts 70's funk pioneers  Parliament/ Funkadelic , as influencers, whom they have spent the past two years touring with.  The band recently released " Feed The Wolf, A follow-up to the debut album " Bad Get Some" . An album that notably features  George Clinton  of the aforementioned funksters. This release was recorded in ...

Words Were Written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Slant Six  are a five- piece from Edmonton founded in 2015. The band mix old-school southern rock with blues to create hard hitting music that focuses on lyrics such as  mental health. The band were named after an old car engine with the band riding high following the release of their EP " Amnesia". The self- titled single from that album is about losing your memory when you only know who you are. The track is a dark journey through realisation with many influences of differing styles. The song opens up with an intense passage that builds gradually towards its opening like a person scrambling to find themselves. Lead Singer Sascha Hubert enters the fray with his gravitione vocals , as each verse is expressed through reflection. The chugging guitar lines build through intensity to a standpoint, as the tone changes in the bridge. The clever use of the guitar pedals add depth to what Hubert is expressing...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Jimmy Lee Morris is a British Singer/songwriter I have had the pleasure of writing a review for before, as a publisher for The Old School Projec t Morris is originally from East Sussex but now resides in Devon. He has been entertaining audiences over the past 30 plus years at various Folk clubs and festivals across Europe and the UK. Morris had previously released “Last Of The Tall Ships” last year, and now returns with his latest album “ Run To The Sun”, an album full of heartfelt lyrics and feelgood tunes that this writer comes to expect from previous releases. Morris blends pop, hard rock, blues and folk to create ten telling tracks full of vigour and energy. I will be exploring the new release further in this review, which begins with the upbeat Take that Away. The album opens with a blues- fused groove fest that combines the colourful tones of keyboard with the ever-ascending guitar notes that reverber...

Words were written by Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Allan James  is a much-accomplished singer-songwriter, based in Northern Virginia, USA James is a self-taught musician, who began playing guitar and singing songs aged 8 and by the time he reached his early teens, James had started to record and perform his original music for school, dances, and charities. James returned to the US following a successful stint as host of his own guitar TV show in Iceland, whilst living over there. Allan James achieved critical acclaim following the release of his debut single on local radio stations, as well as releasing  6 albums to date. James has always been at the forefront of utilizing technologies and using the internet to build a fanbase.  He now returns with " Our Dreams", the latest single off his forthcoming new album. A beautifully structured track that captures the soul with its succinct guitar play and poetic lyrics. The track conjures feelings of serenity...

Words Written by Anselm Anderson  Rofo Audio is a three-piece power rock trio from Royersford, PA, which is where the band's name is derived from. The band has been gaining exposure across the tri-states, promoting their new album. The trio has featured regularly in European and US Radio, as well as publications. Their new album In the Between is a follow-up to their successful second album Reach ( 2016) They now release their latest single " Right Through Me", a tracking characteristic of power rock music full of guitar-orientated riffs and huge pop choruses. The song begins with an uptempo surge of one of those aforementioned riffs that go along like a glass of lemonade on a hot summer afternoon. The subtle textures create this vibe throughout with basslines that tumble along to every chord struck. Lead singer Raymond Short's saccharine vocals are joyous and catchy, as the trio plays simple harmonies that are easy on the ear. The nice guitar solo in the mid-e...

Words By Anselm Anderson for Rambling Man's Reviews Americana star JT Larsen returns with his latest single " Old Beat Down Train" . This is a star that Rambling Man's Reviews reviewed previously last month. Larsen is an Americana/country singer from Indianapolis, USA; who plays simple country music with nuances of Americana. "Old Beat Down Train " is another example of Larsen's penchant for writing songs that leave the listener feeling like they are on this journey too. I feel the lyrics this may be about Larsen's struggles of leaving loved ones behind to pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. The tonality and textures of this track convey a sense of isolation and anticipation, as Larsen boards the metaphorical train. The opening passage creates this feeling with the steel lap guitar, accompanied by a strong syncopated strumming pattern. Larsen's vocals are warm and enticing, whilst the lyrics are relatable. The mid-tempo builds towards...