Album Reviews

Chris Ross: The Steady Stumble

Details
Published on Wednesday, August 01 2012 09:16
Written by East Chapman

Review by East Chapman chrisross

I met Chris Ross briefly after a benefit concert in Bangor, Maine, on the Fourth of July 2012.  It was well worth the wait in a hard seat and enduring the other acts to see him play.  Suffice it to say, that my first listen made me want to hear more. 

Ross is a singer-songwriter from Coastal Maine with a voice made for acoustic guitar, more dirt road than gravel,  never sliding off to twang, and sharply honest .  The studio arrangements on The Steady Stumble are often sparse, showcasing his writing talent.  In a very informal email exchange, I asked Ross how he writes.  He shared, “I've done almost all of my writing in the winter months, after dark, by the woodstove.  I wrote The Steady Stumble in a 3 month period in the winter of 09/10 after an extra shitty breakup.”  I had to smile – all that heartache was over one breakup? 

When asked about musical influences, he listed several, including Springsteen, The Band, James Taylor, Gregg Allman, as well as contemporaries Jason Isbell and Dawes.   Often compared to Ray LaMontange, Ross shared “Ray LaMontagne changed my life the first time I heard him. I was already a lifetime fan before I ever knew he had Maine connections. He's my John Lennon.”

I saved the CDs Ross gave me for a few days until I could sit down and really listen and let them seep in.   I knew I’d want to squeeze the ache out of them. If you like an artist capable of singing to your memories, your sensibilities, and taking you along a journey of vignettes, listen up.  

Add a comment Add a comment

Read more: Chris Ross: The Steady Stumble

Paul Simon: The 25th Anniversary of Graceland, Collector's Edition.

Details
Published on Friday, July 27 2012 09:19
Written by Bluebird

Co-written by Carolyn Bryant.

Paul Simon: The Graceland 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Box Set cover

The long history of Paul Simon's music career continues. From Queens, NY, there is no other singer-songwriter like him. His warm smooth voice has been unique and recognizable since the 1950's. With his friend Art Garfunkel, they took on the music world at age 16. From note one in "Hey Schoolgirl," (1957), to the lyrical hymn, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," (1970), and the street anthem, "Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard," Simon and Garfunkel became icons of folk-rock music world.

Add a comment Add a comment

Read more: Paul Simon: The 25th Anniversary of Graceland, Collector's Edition.

Jason Anderson, Summer Style

Details
Published on Sunday, July 08 2012 22:53
Written by Bluebird

Jason Anderson

I came across Jason Anderson's music three years ago. My best music friend made me a mix tape of his favorite indie and pop songs for that year. I was driving from NYC to New England, and it started snowing along the NYS Thruway. On this January day, I was listening to the CD, track by track, when suddenly the opening riffs of Jason Anderson's, July 4, 2004 (From The Hopeful and The Unafraid) came on. The song's direct guitar work, descriptive imagery in the lyrics, and real to life story evolution was nothing like I'd ever heard. I kept replaying the song, bellowing loudly to "Oh Ja-son are you still wai-ting..." and "WHOA-Oh-Oh!" Three listens via repeat and I was skidding toward the guardrail ...

 

Add a comment Add a comment

Read more: Jason Anderson, Summer Style

Counting Crows: Underwater Sunshine

Details
Published on Thursday, July 12 2012 14:29
Written by Bluebird

Counting Crows

Album Review: Underwater Sunshinecountingcrows

Berkeley, CA

Underwater Sunshine is a timeless record that connects current and past music history through the favorite listens of the band. The Counting Crows are so skilled that they've made good song choices to evolve these tracks into their own. They've also challenged themselves and raised the bar a bit on some attempts, which is great for an experienced Counting Crows listener, and a fun jaunt for a newcomer. With tracks originally from The Faces, The Pure Prairie League, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Big Star and others, this is a great addition to any acoustic rock fans' collection and an interesting walk down obscure memory lane for a record collector. ~Bluebird

Add a comment Add a comment

Read more: Counting Crows: Underwater Sunshine

Doug Ratner and The Watchmen: Lessons Well Learned

Details
Published on Monday, June 25 2012 09:01
Written by Bluebird
My first listen to this band was live, when they opened for the Spin Doctors at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA this May (2012). This group of musicians were loud, proud and dynamic. Bigger than life, they made the small club stage flash into arena rock. I knew nothing about them when I first caught their show, but after I saw them, I started asking my music friends and colleagues, 'Do You Know Doug Ratner?' Their performance energy was the height of AC/DC. The tradition of nuance and originality, spiced with a rebellious spirit, was that of the Who. And the impact of their show was definitely quality classic rock.
 
Hearing Lessons Well Learned, and watching them on video however, brings to mind a more punk style and influence. On researching this band, their sense of social justice and willingness to get into some trouble to get people to stop and pay attention to their points, brings their work to a whole different level. They are not just singing about teenage love and heartache, they are speaking to the lives of youth on a broader, yet deeper, scale. Taking on topics such as bullying, rage and societal destruction, their music message is positioned to be startling.
 
 
Do You Know Doug Ratner?
Add a comment Add a comment

Read more: Doug Ratner and The Watchmen: Lessons Well Learned

More Articles...

  1. Omar and The Howlers: Essential Collection
  2. The Bigfoot Legend Rocks On.
  3. Frank Palangi
  4. The Cult: Choice of Weapon
  5. Radioactive Grandma, Debut LP
  6. Old English: (Progressive Rock) Debut EP
  7. Tail Dragger and Bob Corritore: Longtime Friends in the Blues
  8. Green Line Inbound (GLi): EP
  9. Dan Waldman via Made of Wood: Chill Funk Trip
  10. Joey Pratt of Card Stock: Heavy Things With Strings

Out On The Tiles

Doug Ratner and The Watchmen

Do you know Doug Ratner and The Watchmen?

thumb dougrattner6allweb

 

From Springfield, MA, I caught this live classic rock band at Pearl Street in Northampton. In the line-up to support the Spin Doctors, it might as well have been a double bill. Stocked with the bands' own fans and massive amounts of loyal energy, Doug Ratner and The Watchmen put on a great show.

Add a comment Read more...

 

Follow Bluebirdreviews for daily song posts, music reviews,

feature articles and interviews. 

LIKE US on Facebook. 

Find us on Google+

~ Follow the birdie on TWITTER ~

Remember to support your favorite artists through buying their products.

A good place to start is searching BestBuy.com and Amazon.com.

 

Maine Music News

Maine Concert News, Reviews and Photography
  • Motley Crue Kickstart Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

    It had to start somewhere, and start it did. Kickstarted, in fact. First in the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion 2013 line up, headliners Motley Crue shattered Bangor’s night sky May 16 with a show only this band can get away with. With amazingly bright lights, stripper poles – yes, full of girls, girls, girls – heavy [...]

  • Hinder – Live Review and Photos – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

    Hinder – May 16th, 2013.  Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion. Opening for Motley Crue, Hinder put on a solid show for an audience geared up for an evening of music celebrating all the sins we attribute to rock and roll.  Hinder started something good here in the heart of Maine.  They were the first band to officially [...]

  • Madlife – “21st Century Megalomaniac” Review

    Madlife – “21st Century Megalomaniac” Released May 14th, 2013. Exhilarating and wild. This isn’t a freak show, it’s smart and naughty. God knows there’s plenty little of that in this world. Madlife’s newest offering, EP, “21st Century Megalomaniac” is not for the faint of heart. Looking for some mood music, a little lull-you-to-sleep-action? Yeah, this [...]

Member Login