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Category: Music Review

  • Jester: See Saw Review

    I hadn’t heard of these guys before so who are Jester? Well, they’re a Tipperary band who have had two previous Irish Top 40 singles, namely ‘Maria’ and ‘Scream’. Their upcoming single ‘See Saw’ is due for release in July 2010.

    ‘Scream’ is a hard rock track with a slight punky edge. Some slight effects on Colin Dempsey’s vocals add a professionalism to the overall sound and feel of the track. Good musicianship, clever all round production, good arrangements and a thumping drummer could make this track one of the ones to watch on Irish radio this summer.

    If the guys are like this when recorded: live, I’d say you’d want to hang on to your hair!

    Pumping!

    5 out of 6

    www.myspace.com/jestermusik

    This was written for MusicReviewUnsigned

  • Sandi Thom: Live at Whelan’s, Dublin

    Sandi Thom At Whelans
    Sandi Thom At Whelans

    As someone who really only knew Sandi Thom for ‘I was I was a Punk Rocker’, I was pleasantly surprised by what the night at Whelan’s had instore.

    Starting off we had an acoustic performance by local act The PW Sessions. Not bad, I like their use of percussion, mixing it with vocal harmonies.

    Next up was Marcus Bonfonti, a guy who plays a mixture of blues and southern rock. Entertaining and funny as well as being a really good guitarist and vocalist. Great to see him acoustically like this but for some reason I could also see him fronting a band like The Black Crowes. I’d go see him again.

    First things first ‘Punk Rocker’ is total not what Sandi Thom is about. Her live set kicked off and to my surprise Sandi Thom is country.  We’re not talking Daniel O’Donnell country here, were talking the equivalent of Rascall Flatts, new American country. What’s more she’s damn good at it.

    Thom and her impressive band of musician’s play songs from her new album ‘Merchants & Thieves’ and was quite simply breathtaking. Why Thom isn’t or hasn’t been mentioned in the same sentence as Miranda Lambert, Terri Clark and Carrie Underwood is beyond me.

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  • Froud: Open Up Your Mind Review

    FROUD

    Monaghan band Froud  have just released their new single ‘Open Up Your Mind’.

    First impressions: I really like Martin O’Neills vocals, great strong rock voice. This is a mid-tempo well structured rock song, really well produced and good arrangements throughout.

    Its not a million miles away from the Daughtry style of rock and should be totally at home on radio. I wouldn’t be surprised if this track took off for the band Stateside.

    They’ve also signed some licensing deals lately, this release should be another step up the ladder.

    http://www.myspace.com/froudmusic

  • Von Shakes: The Routine Album Review

    vonshakes cover

    Von Shakes have been knocking around the Irish Music scene for a few years now, they released the single and title track from their debut album The Routine earlier this year.

    The album starts with Deaf Emotion, a slow builder with a start stop pattern. The chorus/refrain has a great full sound that the rest of the track lacks a little. Pity.

    Beat Up, Beat Down has a fuller sound and each verse tells a story of drug dealings, domestic abuse. This could be a potential future single, at just over 3 minutes is a good time for radio.

    Jackit is the B -side to ‘The Routine’ single, an uptempo emo-ish track, not bad. Obsession and Shake are also worth a mention.

    Standout tracks are the single ‘The Routine’, and the Artic Monkeys-esque ‘Mind Your Head’. It’s not a bad album, a good debut, just going on the first single’ The Routine’, this reviewer was hoping for a bit more umfph!

    4.5 out of 6

    vonshakes.com

    This was written for MusicReviewUnsigned