Band Of Horses - Why Are You Ok

February 19, 2017

Band Of Horses - Why Are You Ok

Yep they did it again. BoH killed it again with this record. I did my Top 20 of 2016 at the end of last year and this album was in there so I was gonna review it eventually. This truly was one of my favorite albums of 2016. It's fun, it's catchy, and it's classic. There are too many songs for me to go through and review the songs like I normally do. However I will talk about some of them. The first song is a double song that is amazing through and through, but the following two songs are fantastic as well. "Hag" is one of my favorite songs on the album. It's soft and tender; the vocals mix in so well with the sound that is flowing out. "Casual Party" sounds just like what the song is titled. It sounds like a party song. It is upbeat and just a feel good jam song. "Throw My Mess" takes a different turn. This song almost sounds like classic country while still keeping the BoH charm. The last song "Even Still" is an earth shattering song full of emotion and thought. This in my opinion has been one of the best albums BoH has put out. Listen to it for yourself and tell me what you think! I give this album 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!

1. Hag
2. Casual Party
3. Even Still

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Band Of Horses, Insomniac/Interscope Records. 

http://www.bandofhorses.com/

https://www.interscope.com/

Paul Cauthen - My Gospel

February 15, 2017

Paul Cauthen - My Gospel

Paul Cauthen's My Gospel is one of the best albums I have heard. Not only is it one of the best albums I've heard recently, it's also one of the best albums I've heard ever! Paul really kills it on this album. From his fantastic song structure, to his great deep low classic voice. You will quickly fall in love I promise. I had never heard anything of Paul's before this album and boy let me tell you he made quite an entrance in my musical life. This album takes deep americana and country influences and he puts his own spin on it. The album starts with some of the best songs on the album "Still Drivin", "I'll Be The One", and "As Young As You'll Ever Be." Still Drivin starts out as a great "meat and potatoes" type of folk song. Nice twangy guitar that builds into a crescendo full of emotion and great builds. I'll Be The One is the most popular off the album it pulls you in with a nice slim guitar riff that leads to great lyrics and chorus. As Young As You'll Ever Be was the first song I had ever heard. It has a nice finger picking style guitar. It honestly is one of the best songs to try to get people to like him! The next two songs "Grand Central" and "Saddle" are nice songs, but aren't anywhere near as good as the first three. Grand Central has more of a country feel with a slow start and steel guitar. Saddle is a fun outlaw styled song. The next song is "Once Your Gone" this song is great lyrically written. It's every bit of deep while still being catchy and fun. "Marfa Lights" is the following song. This is the only song on the album I don't like. I don't know what Marfa Lights are or what the lyrics really are. I don't like the beat of the song the most. With all that said. It's not like I hate the song. I just like it the least. "Be There Soon" is a nice slow jam that really showcases Paul's voice. It has layer after layer of melodies and sound. He isolates his voice pretty well in this number. Ditching the guitar and adding the choir is a nice touch that adds to the complexity of this song. The next two songs are personally some of my favorites on the album. "Hanging Out On The Line" and "Let It Burn". Hanging Out On The Line continues the feel of the album. It is a song that will make you bob your head to a particular beat. It also has that choir feel and gospel trend. "Let It Burn is my favorite track on the whole album. The plucking guitar and the lyrics are superb. The best part of the song is with around one minute till the end. Paul unleashes his voice and it's magical. "My Gospel" is the last song on the album as well as the title track. It is a building song and almost sounds like a liberation of sorts, Like he finally conquers something and is proud of telling his story. It is a perfect cap to a very perfect record. I really recommend you listen to this album regardless what genre you like. I give this album 📻📻📻📻📻 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!

1. Let It Burn
2. As Young As You'll Ever Be
3. Hanging Out On The Line

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Paul Cauthen, and Lightning Rod Records.

http://www.paulcauthenmusic.com/

http://www.lightningrodrecords.com/

When Thieves Are About - Challenger

February 8, 2017

When Thieves Are About - Challenger

I just found these guys yesterday and talked to them for a little bit. They followed the Twitter account for the blog and I followed them back. I told them I would love to do a blog on some of their music and they were more than happy to let me do it! So here I am! I have done a lot of these blogs now and the thing I am starting to really love about them is when I cover "Local" artists. Like with Patrick, The Hollow, and now these guys. Those are all musicians that aren't super famous or huge and I have held conversations with them all. It's nice when you actually talk to a band or musician it makes you way more anxious to feature them so you can help grow them. With that said any body that follows me on the blog's Twitter account I will follow back and if you are a band or musician I will always give you a listen to. Well on to the actual review. This is the first time I heard any music from these guys so I didn't really know what to expect. I was surprised with what I got. Their music almost put me in a time machine. It took me back to the days when I was a teenager and listening to bands in this punk/rock music. I fell in love with this EP/Demo that they did. It has all the good elements of that genre of music. It's fast, it's punky, it's in your face, and its out there. I love the prominent bass tones in this album. A lot of bands don't let the bass stand out, but you can hear it in this album no problems. This album starts off in the best way. You have a short intro song that is just instrumentals that leads into the next song and matches right up and it just takes off. The second song Turning Pages is melodically sound and tight song that gives you that vintage punk feel, It has the contrast between the aggressive vocals and the softer vocals. It has the pounding drums and the frantic guitars. The third song Mezzaluna follows up the second song with the same qualities you would want in a punk song. It's more on the fast upbeat aggressive sounding side though which I personally enjoy more. The drums in this song are so in your face I'm surprised Josh's arms don't fall off after playing this song. The title track Challenger is next. It is a nice change of pace. This song is different than what we have heard so far it starts with a nice strum of an acoustic guitar. This song provides a more up close and personal feel to it. I do have to say even though it's a more stripped down song the bass is killer in this song. The runs Ryan the bassist  goes on are catchy and hook you in. The vocal melody is fast paced and catchy as well. The next song The Reason For The Wreckage is a nice in between song. It has a nice echo feel to it when it comes to the vocals. One part is sung then the whole band sings a part. It almost sounds like a whole crowd is singing vocals with them too. The vocal performance is what makes the song as good as it is. Like Tidal Waves is the last song on the album and one of the best in my opinion and again it has one of the nicest bass "solos." This song is a more calm and less all over the place song. Not that the all over the place is a negative thing at all, because it isn't. The all over the place is what makes this genre what it is and I love it! This song is just more of a mellow one than the rest were. I don't like to "compare" bands to other bands very often, because every band is their own band. They have their own sound. However I get a good feel of NOFX, Senses Fail, and The Fall Of Troy when I listen to theses guys. Those were all the bands I listened to back in the day and still love to this day. They did a great job with this album and when they finish their new album I will be looking forward to listening to it as well! I give this album 🌆🌆🌆🌆 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!

1. Mezzaluna
2. Like Tidal Waves
3. Challenger 

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to When Thieves Are About.

www.wtaaband.com

wtaa.bandcamp.com

Also Check them out on Twitter!

@wtaanjpoppunk

Also check the blogs Twitter! For any recommendations or anything else!

@tysmusicextrava

Joe Purdy - Julie Blue

February 5, 2017

Joe Purdy - Julie Blue

This was the first album I had heard from Joe Purdy and I only heard a few songs off that album. Some time later I finally am listening to the full album and I am liking it so far. One of the things that brings me to Joe is his simple deep guitar work and his stressed voice. He sings of what most singer songwriters and folk artist do. The lyrics aren't life changing, but they are well done. There is a few songs on this album that are short so it isn't hard to listen to the full album. The good thing is that none of the guitar really sounds the same on this album. His vocal melodies tend to overlap, but I believe that's just based on his voice. They aren't repetitive that they get annoying which is a positive. The sound of the album is soothing, and easy going. This album is certainly what I would show someone when trying to get them to listen to the artist more. I haven't heard any other of Joe's albums so I'll probably be doing just that. The thing I love the most about this album is it's stripped down just to guitar and simple other instruments and him. I prefer my music less big. I would much rather listen to a guy with just a guitar than I would a full band. This album gives you just that. So if you like folk singer songwriter music then give this one a go. I give this album 🐟🐟🐟.5 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!

1. Whiskey And Fish
2. Abbie's Song
3. Mary

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to Joe Purdy.

http://www.joepurdy.com/

The Hollow - The Hollow EP

February 2, 2017

The Hollow - The Hollow EP

Okay first off, I know these guys. I have talked to them they are solid dudes and they care about their fans and music. I have talked to these guys, and I think I will be setting up some great things coming soon so I won't you all to get familiar with them! All I have is this EP. They are an alt rock band from Colorado and they rock. Spencer's voice is fantastic and the back and forth guitar work draws you in. This album though is fantastic in many ways. The first song. An Open Letter To Kim K they are tackling pop culture at least with the title. It's fantastic. The album only gets better from there though. Paid In Full is next and is also one of my favorite songs. The female vocals added into the song are a fantastic touch. It adds up the song like a big crescendo. It builds up just to drop it all on you. Cages is next in the fold and it comes at you with some intriguing lyrics. The instrumentals are fantastic as well. It mixes well with the rest of what the band is doing and again Spence kills it in the vocal department. Butcher Or The Surgeon is the next and last song. This song is my favorite off the album. It seems to start with a nice groovy bass line and a creepy back tone to the song. The guitars come in as almost an echo sound that just adds to the build up of the song. The instruments in this song are what I think of when I think about how I want rock to sound like. This is the right equation. These guys have such potential and I am excited to support them and continue to work with them hand in hand. I promise you guys won't regret listening to this so please please please check it out. This EP isn't long so it won't take you long to listen to it. Just check it out! I give this album 🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!

1. Butcher Or The Surgeon
2. Cages
3. Paid In Full

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to The Hollow.

http://www.thehollow.com/

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

February 2, 2017

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

The Avett Brothers are one of my favorite bands/groups when it comes to folk music. They have the best of both worlds if you ask me. They have a rock sound with heavy amounts of folk mixed in. This album is full of variety and spice. This album goes all the way down to the roots of The Avett Brothers. Let's be honest though the main reason I love this album is because of two songs. Those two songs are The Ballad Of Love And Hate, and I Would Be Sad. They can't describe me any better. The Ballad Of Love And Hate is to me a song of how love is so much better than hate and how it is great. The difference of love and hate and how love fills you with joy. I Would Be Sad is the complete opposite. It to me is a song about how a women wronged him and how it all is ending. That can't be more relevant in my life. Ten months I've spent trying to give everything I am and everything I could ever be to a woman. Just to have all my feelings returned and find out she felt the same way. We are in love. Ha foolish. Just like the songs they take a drastic turn. Ten months later here I am left alone while the woman I thought loved me takes back her ex boyfriend after all the bad things. I Would Be Sad fits everything so perfectly. The line "I meant what I said when I said I would settle down with you." I was willing to live with this girl. I loved her for years. Things were going my way. It was all working out. "I can tell by watching you, that there's no chance of pushing through." That describes the progression our relationship took. The next chunk of lines are the most relatable lines of them all. "I could live on without loving you. I was bluffing then, but it seems that just might have been the truth. My dad told me one day son this girl will think of what she's done and hurting you will be the first of many more regrets to come. And he said if she doesn't call then its her fault and its her loss I say it's not that simple see, but then again it just may be." A few lines later it says "I would be sad because I got left by a girl that I adore." It all describes my situation. Don't be sad. Don't worry and don't let anyone control your happiness. I am glad it's over. I am glad I learned what I deserve. You know what I wish I would learn? That this isn't a relationship blog. Jeez Ty stick to music. Music is emotion so it is easy to mix the two together. Regardless! I give this album 🐦🐦🐦🐦 out of five! Extravagant!

Favorite Tracks!

1. The Ballad Of Love And Hate
2. I Would Be Sad
3. Hand-Me-Down Tune

I do not own any of the pictures or songs associated with this review. All rights belong to The Avett Brothers, and Ramseur Records.

http://www.theavettbrothers.com/

http://www.ramseurrecords.com/