Okay, so I’m a bit biased … so far, the Romano Paoletti album Story of a Lifetime is my favorite Americana release of 2010 … and NOT because he’s a client …
… and Westword’s Jason Heller apparently digs it too.
MMMM – May 17, 2010
Good morning. Sorry I’m late to the meeting this morning. I was almost on time, but I received the new Kinetix album overnight and I wanted to make sure I got it in this morning. The theme this week appears to be springtime and/or love — funny that! Even us old married goats fall prey to that annual spring-thing 😉
Kinetix – Let Me In (Steel Giant)
Genre/Style: Rock, pop
Website: kinetix.com
Notes: I just got this album this morning. The notes from Steel Giant management indicated that the lead track is Let Me In. Off the bat this album sounds great. Kinetix is a band with an eye on the target of sustainable professional future, and to that end the record and everything I’ve heard about their show is highly professional, cut and polished.
Something Underground – Intention & Release (self)
Genre/Style: Pop, adult contemporary
Website: www.somethingunderground.com/
Notes: Seth & Josh Larson have produced one of those tracks you’d expect to hear as part of the soundtrack to a lovity lovely spring time chick-flick…. or a commercial filled with flower-power. Nicely done fellas!
The Gromet – Captain Colorado (self)
Genre/style: Rock, jamband
Website: www.myspace.com/thegrometmusic
Notes: I love the artwork for this album! It just fits; ya know? This up and coming local bands shows some real promise on this release… hope they continue swimming upstream 😉
Greg Harris Vibe Quintet featuring Venus Cruz – Glass Gold (self)
Genre/style: Jazz
Website: http://vibequintet.blogspot.com/
Notes: Okay … up front … Venus Cruz was great back in the 90s when she appeared as the lead vocalist with the pre-hip hop era Yo, Flaco! Then several months ago I heard she was fronting Future Jazz Project, which I also knew Greg Harris to be a part of. I didn’t expect this release… Venus is stellar here… and while I haven’t fully digested the entire album, this is a local modern jazz release that seems to have what it takes to get all of us who write about and air local music talking jazz record of the year cred. Free download available so git yours today!
Lisa Bell – Dancing On the Moon (self)
Genre/Style: smooth jazz vocals
Website: http://lisabellmusic.com/
Notes: this is an interesting recording (notice I did not say it’s an interesting album). It was produced using A424 RA Music tuning as opposed to the far more conventional A440 standard we’re used to. This was done on purpose as the producers believe that the A424 tuning brings “mental and physical healing benefits.” Musically, Lisa draws upon what many would call the smooth jazz sound of vocal pop – and rightly so in this case. The recording features some of the region’s top session players, including Christian Teele (Etown, drums), Chris Engleman (bass), Eric Moon (keyboards), Mark Oblinger (guitar, mandolin, vocals), and others … for those of us who enjoy great wine and artists like Dave Koz, this fits in nicely with our Sunday brunch on the deck.
The Colorado Sound – VOl. 2, Episode 18 2010
Lion Vibes “Spider Monkey” from Go Judge Yourself (2007)
J.D. Feighner “Mellow Ride” from Sundays at 1620 (2008)
Apples in Stereo “Dream About the Future” from Travellers in Space and Time (2010)
The Motet “Push” from Dig Deep (2009)
Juno What?! “Body Double” from Late Night (2009)
Drag the River “I Remember Now” from Bad At Breaking Up (2009)
The Congress “Loretta” from The Congress (2010)
Bill McKay “Good Man Gone” from Bill McKay (2010)
The Autumn Film “Mended” from The Ship and the Sea (2010)
Pretty Lights “Ask Your Friends” from Passing By Behind Your Eyes (2009)
Trace Bundy “Sweet Child O’ Mine” from Missile Bell (2008)
NEW The Mighty Jivesters “Sailing On” from Side One (2010)
NEW Greg Harris Vibe Quintet “Simplexity” from Glass Gold (2010)
NEW Otis Taylor “Harry, Turn the Music Up” from Clovis People, Vol. 3 (2010)
Lionel Young “Going to Have My Fun” from Beautiful Day (2009)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “This Is How We Do Things in the Country” from Blovdy Tenent Trvth Peace (2004)
The Railbenders “Sweet Caroline” from Segundo (2003)
GT and the Sidewinders “Lonesome Cowboy” from Across America (2009)
Grant Gordy “Digging Hargreaves” from Grant Gordy (2010)
Great American Taxi “New Millennium Blues” from Reckless Habits (2010)
NEW The Gromet “Time Rains” from Colorado Captain (2010)
Scott Von “Stop and Stare” from The Age of Plenty (2009)
NEW Something Underground “Lovity Love” from Intention & Release (2010)
Shel “The Latest and Greatest Blueberry Rubber Band” from Try to Scream (2009)
Chuck Pyle “Dream Song” from The Spaces In Between (2010)
Dave Beegle “Monsters” from Clear the Tracks (2000)
Kim Stone “Bop Bop” from More Often Than Not (1999)
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 