Album Name: La Violette
Artist: Michele Choiniere
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

This music makes me want to put on a party dress and twirl around my living room sloshing a glass of wine.

Since I don’t speak French (though I keep meaning to learn) I don’t know what she’s saying/singing, but it’s beautiful. She has a great, sexy voice that fits the lovely, French pop music perfectly.

Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes actually sounds a little country, if you can imagine that. Google says it’s translated as “When the sun says hello to the mountains”.

Padam Padam is probably my favorite.

This is really a great collection of songs from an interesting artist.

Track Listing
1. Fue a de lou
2. La violette
3. Quand le soleil dit bonjour aux montagnes
4. Tant mon mari
5. Padam Padam
6. Vive la rose
7. Sur le pont du Londres
8. Brind’amour
9. Par un samedi matin
10. Legerement, je veux m’en aller
11. La bergere encore
12. Tu es partout
13. Rame, rame, rame donc
14. Bonus track

[Michele Choiniere Official Site]

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The post Album Review: La Violette by Michele Choiniere first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Skeleton Arm
Artist: Angie Mattson
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I liked this right away. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my act together in time, and missed her playing in town the same week I this album arrived.

This album is filled with all sorts of haunting, dirgy, rhythmic songs.

Angie Mattson has a sexy cool voice that is a perfect match for the music.

Opening song, Bravery, reminds me of Milla (Jovovich)’s album [Divine Comedy].
It’s sort of messy and mystical with somewhat swoopy vocals.

Cool Water is definitely a stand out, with its touch of blues and twang. I know, I normally don’t care for things of that description but this is really very good.

It’s a little short, at only 7 songs, but they’re all good. A real find!

Track Listing
1. Bravery
2. Make This Real
3. Mississippi
4. Cool Water
5. Mary
6. Sunday Paper
7. Friends and Weapons

[Angie Mattson Official Site]

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The post Album Review: Skeleton Arm by Angie Mattson first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Brand New Day
Artist: Lindsey Ray
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]
[eMusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I first caught wind of Lindsey Ray on e music when I was just browsing. She had an EP up there at the time and I downloaded it. I only listened a few times before I was contacted by her people requesting a review. They sent me her full length album and I’m happy to say it’s one of my current favorites.

This is bright sunshiny happy music. You just can’t be in a bad mood listening to this. Well, unless you’re a big cynic, then this will probably just piss you off that someone can be this happy-sounding.

Lindsey Ray has a very sweet but strong voice that suits this musical style to a tee.

You have probably already heard the catchy title song, Brand New Day as it’s in a Target ad.

There are other similarly zippy skippy happy songs, such as You Make Me Happy (“cuz you-hoo-hoo-hoo…oh-h-h you-hoo-hoo-hoo… oh-h-h you-hoo-hoo-hoo…you make me happy”).

The lyrics are sometimes silly, but sweet. “I’ll always love you like a bumble loves a bee” from Monkey and the Tree. Cutely enough, she also has a song called The Honey and the Bee which is substantially more subdued than the monkey one.

This is a happy feel good record for those rainy days when you need to be cheered up, or on those sunshiny days you want to bask in.

Track Listing
1. Goodbye From California
2. Brand New Day
3. Uncover
4. Anchor of Love
5. Monkey and the Tree
6. Sun
7. Weight of the World
8. Where I Belong
9. You Make Me Happy
10. The Honey and the Bee
11. Better Off

[Lindsey Ray Official Site]

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The post Album Review: Brand New Day by Lindsey Ray first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long to write about this one. Because I knew from the art that I would like it. And ‘like it’ is putting it mildly. Here’s another thing, I didn’t realize until I was putting the finishing touches on this review that they’re Danish! They also share a record label with Bittersweet.

The name of the album as described by the lead singer, Erin Chapman: “To us, the meaning of ‘trenches’ was the idea of the spaces in between – small cracks and refuges from big emotions, but places that one must eventually leave to face battlefields of reality. ”
This reminds me of the recent Sheila Nichols album, bardo. Sort of the same idea.

It’s really pretty, just like I thought it would be. Ambient, lush. But not really sleepy. It’s like Tresspassers William only with more of a rock edge. The songs are quite complex and there’s a lot of layers and a lot of things going on.

Erin Chapamn’s voice The female lead is also wonderful. Dreamy and comfortable sounding.
Also singing on the record is Michael Adler, who is the producer as well. His voice is also lovely and very soothing.

This is a great chill out record. Do people still say ‘chill out’? Well, you know what I mean. It’s really great and my apologies to the band and to you for not getting this out sooner. I’ve had it since April for sh*t sake.

So get it already.

Track Listing
1. Stone
2. Skin
3. R.I.D.
4. Crazy Burn
5. Sweet Pollution
6. Make This Easier
7. New Horizons
8. The Searchers
9. Prototype
10. Stars
11. In Your Eyes
12. Trenches

[Sepiamusic Official Site]

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The post Album Review: Trenches by Sepiamusic first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Knitting Songs
Artist: Savannah Jo Lack
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

This is another one that I knew I’d like judging by the cover art. I can’t even explain it, but there you are.

Savannah Jo Lack’s style is interesting. It’s a combination of pop, folk, electric, and I don’t know what else.

The songs have great melodies that will stick with you. Her voice is very appealing and easy on the ears.

I like how some of the songs are pretty straight up pop, such as Old Man Perry, which has some nice plucky string and is reminiscent of The Paper Raincoat.

But then she throws in some more off-center ones. Masked Man uses some minor keys making it a little haunting.

Then Bitch is also really cool. It reminded me of Katy Carr on at least one occasion.

I’ve been listening to this one for a few months now and all the songs sound like old friends to me. This is the sign of a great album.

Track Listing
1. Blank Page Day
2. Little Girl
3. Bitch
4. Dancer
5. Papa Don’t Go So Fast
6. Old Man Perry
7. Masked Man
8. Knitting Song
9. Ocean Dreams
10. Long Way To Go
11. Too Short, Too Beautiful

[Savannah Jo Lack Official Site]

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The post Album Review: Knitting Songs by Savannah Jo Lack first appeared on Collected Sounds.

[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Really like this. Seems like I’ve been getting a lot of male-dominated shouty rock material lately. So this is a welcome reprieve.

Sofie Livebrant is Swedish (no wonder I like her). Her website is in Swedish, but if you have Chrome it will translate it if you like. I should note, she sings in English.

Her voice is soft and sweet and it matches the piano-based lullaby-type music well. There are also some nice backing vocals that add to the sleepy effect. (From Here to Here and Helicopter most noticeably)

Mandy and Wanted both has a little twang to them and are a little more upbeat. But I still wouldn’t call it country. She has a nice lilt to her voice that shows on Mandy in particular. Some nice strings on Wanted as well (fiddle, I believe).

Really nice stuff by yet another good Scandinavian artist.

Track Listing
1. From Here to Here
2. Mandy
3. Helicopter
4. Wanted
5. Honey
6. No 976 Death is a Dialogue

[Sofie Livebrant Official Site]

The post Album Review: From Here to Here EP by Sofie Livebrant first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: My Star
Artist: Marina V
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
[Buy at Marina’s Site]
[eMusic]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I’ve reviewed Marina V several times in the past. I’ve had this one in my rotation for a few months now and perhaps I haven’t moved on it because I don’t want to have to remove it.

This is one of those albums that’s hard to review but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. I do. And I adore Marina in general. It’s just that I’m not sure what I can say that hasn’t been said by me or someone else. Her releases are always lovely.

She opens with You Make Me Beautiful which is classic Marina. Catchy and massively appealing while still having an edge.

Her voice is just so warm and comforting. It always makes me smile.

Unbalanced is almost orchestral. It’s upbeat, but there’s a lot going on.

Tonkaya Ryabina is in Russian as you may have guessed. It’s a capella so her voice really shines.

Magical Christmas is sort of cabaret-ish with heavy showcase on piano, it sounds like we should be in a lounge sipping a peppermint martini. And it’s a lovely way to end the album.

Track Listing
1. You Make Me Beautiful
2. Thursday Song
3. Blue for You
4. My Star
5. Killing My Dream
6. Don’t Cry
7. Unbalanced
8. Weight of the World
9. Tonkaya Ryabina
Bonus track
10. Magical Christmas

[Marina V Official Site]

The post Album Review: My Star by Marina V first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: This Kind of Life
Artist: The Mary Dream
Year/Label: 2010 / SuperUniverse Records

[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

The Mary Dream is Elise Bellew and Blake Ryan Dayton. They met through a classified ad in San Francisco. They’ve since moved to Nashville. While researching them I came upon a cover shot of their previous record, Beautiful World and thought it looked familiar. Sure enough, [I reviewed it] back in 2006 and loved that one too.

This album is, as you might expect, dreamy. With the slow, gorgeous vocals and an amazingly lush sound being made by two people. I’d describe them as sort of like a Tresspassers William but a touch edgier.

It’s hard for me to pick out favorite tracks, because they’re all great, but I will say that Sing really stands out to me.

This is a great album that I’m sure I’ll be listening to long after this is posted.

Track Listing
01. Deeper
02. Sing
03. This Kind of Life
04. Wrong Every Time
05. Below Zero
06. The Best of Me
07. Home
08. Lighten Up
09. Best Thing
10. Burning Bridges
11. Save You

[The Mary Dream Official Site]

The post Album Review: This Kind of Life by The Mary Dream first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Under the Skin of a Skeleton Zebra
Artist: Anna Rosenkilde
Year/Label: 2010 / Strange Ears Recordings
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Well, another Danish artist to add to my ever-growing list.

There’s something fantasy-like about the songs of Anna Rosenkilde. Especially Fix on My Spring Day. I don’t know why but it sounds ethereal and fantasy like to me. It’s got a kind of twirly piano that’s reminiscent of very early Tori Amos.

Her voice is lovely and suites the music nicely. It’s a little crackly. She hits high notes as well as giving a lot of emotion to the lower register.

The melody on parts of Civil War remind me of Sting’s ‘wrapped around your finger’. But it’s got a nice crescendo and some distortion that set it apart.

This is a short record, only 5 songs, and I’d like to hear more from Ms Rosenkilde. She’s got something beautiful going on.

Track Listing
1. Fix On My Spring Day
2. Civil War
3. Snow Angel
4. Not Nothing
5. Story

[Anna Rosenkilde Official Site]

The post Album Review: Under the Skin of a Skeleton Zebra by Anna Rosenkilde first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Bric-a-Brac A Collection Of Musical Stories, Sentences, And Half-Words
Artist: Kristi Michele
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I wasn’t sure what to make of this record when I first got it. I immediately liked the artwork and was anxious to hear it, but didn’t know what to expect. Which is good. Because I don’t think I would have guessed this.

The songs are rhythmic and spooky. The production is sorta lo-fi and echoey, which adds to the haunting effect. Her voice, clear and emotional, is a perfect match for the style.

Many of these songs are really short, as in under 2 minutes, so the mood switches often, but never strays far from its general feel, which is kinda circus-carnival-like and strange, but in a good way.

On Chirp, her voice actually sounds far away, like she’s singing from the next room.

Elf Man is like some wacky carnival ride.

If I heard And I Lock It alone, without any others I might have pegged her as simply folk. Eh, maybe edgy folk.

I think Castle over Me might be my favorite. That tinkly opening melody haunts my dreams. Literally.There is also a little theatrical vibe here, which is always welcome to my ears.

I honestly like every song on here, they’re all really cool in their own way. I’m excited about this new discovery.

This album is an odd one, no doubt, but I really like it.

Track Listing
1. Intro (everywhere)
2. Chirp
3. Taming A Lion
4. Elf Man
5. And I Lock It
6. Castle Over Me
7. A Girl (leaves Her House And Wanders Through The Night Alone)
8. Rain Is Falling
9. So Soon
10. See, It’s Easy!
11. Juliet’s Lament
12. Jonny’s Suite (wild Things Are Not Here)
13. Outro (candy Shop)

[Kristi Michele Official Site]

The post Album Review: Bric-a-Brac… by Kristi Michele first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Wicked Ways
Artist: Lily Holbrook
Year/Label: 2008 / Alive Experience
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

This is a super cool record. As I was writing the review I thought, ‘why do I know that name?’ so I search my own site for her thinking maybe Anna maria reviewed her. [Sure enough she did!] Only she went by just “Lily” then.

Comparing the cover art from that release to this one I have to say that this one’s a little edgier. I think it is musically too. Anna mentioned a similarity to Jewel, vocally. But I didn’t hear that on this one until I really thought ‘Jewel’ when I listened. But at any rate I think she’s changed a bit. For the better (and the album cover was changed as well).

Her voice is sweet and a little crackly. The music is at times, sort of new agey, Kin Za Za -ish, lots of layers and multiple instruments. Other times it’s edgy pop with cool beats.

Running into Walls is kinda ear-wormy (gets stuck in my head) in a good way. I guess I could go on naming songs I like, but after awhile I’d just be mentioning them all. I really like this.

Track Listing
1. Apocalypse Kiss
2. Welcome to the Slaughterhouse
3. Better Left Unsaid
4. It’s a Sin
5. Smoke Screen
6. Cold Day in Hell
7. Running Into Walls
8. Wicked Ways
9. Cowboys and Indians
10. Sweet Little Girl

[Lily Holbrook Official Site]

The post Album Review: Wicked Ways by Lily Holbrook first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Seeds, Shells and Stones
Artist: Kristilyn Robertson
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I’ve been a fan of Kristilyn for some time now, first as a musician and then as a person as I’ve gotten to know her in Cyberland. So it’s always nice to hear new stuff from her.

If you’re a regular reader you know I love piano. So this is just my style. Not only is Kristilyn a great piano player, but she has a very lovely soothing vocal style.

Waiting for the Change reminds me of Jill Tracy.

Track 7, is an instrumental interlude which for some reason sounds like spring to me. Maybe I’m just wishful thinking.

I Did Not Invite You is really nice. It’s got a little bit of an (early) Tori-ish melody. This might be my favorite.

Lovely new album from genuinely great artist.

Track Listing
1. The Night is Mine
2. How it Goes
3. Little Earth
4. After All
5. Sound (Live at the Uptown Folk Club)
6. Waiting for the Change
7. (Interlude)
8. I Did Not invite You
9. Hunters
10. Just for Show
11. The Final Cute (Live at the Uptown Folk Club)
12. Step Back

[Kristilyn Robertson Official Site]

The post Album Review: Seeds, Shells and Stones by Kristilyn Robertson first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: What a Lovely Surprise to Wake up Here
Artist: Curtains for You
Year/Label: 2009 / Spark & Shine Records
[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Wow, I really like this record! It’s a little theatrical, piano, sometimes cabaret. Sometimes ambient swooping vocals. It’s even kind of beachy, but cooler.

They even have been reminding me me of Muse at times, especially on Dead World. it’s too poppy to be true Muse, but the lead singer does that falsetto thing with his voice.

This album has a little bit of a Muppet/’Free to Be You and Me’ vibe. And I mean that in the best possible way. It’s kinda sunshiny 70s. Which is totally cool by me, being a kid of the 70s. But it also rocks out a bit.

There’s some nice harmonies and layered singing as well as fun piano. I like this more the more times I play it. I can see this being a big summer album for me.

Track Listing
1. The Nuclear Age
2. Dead World
3. Dumb Angel
4. Title Bout
5. Chain Link Fence
6. Road Trip To Disaster
7. Changing of the Masses
8. Small Change
9. Red Red Rose
10. Licorice Skies

[Curtains for You Official Site]

The post Album Review: What a Lovely Surprise to Wake Up Here by Curtains for You first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Believer
Artist: Emily Maguire
Year/Label: 2009 / Shaktu Records

[Buy at Amazon] but it’s pricy for the physical version
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

As soon as I opened this CD I remembered reviewing Emily Maguire before. Strangely what I remember the most is that she lived in a the countryside and made her own cheese. Well, that and that I really dug her music.

This album is great and I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to actually put pen to paper and write about it.

Emily’s style is in the vein of Sarah McLachlan (Autumn Leaves), but I’d also say that there are times when she reminds me of Beth Orton (Brave New World), or Thea Gilmore (Lighthouse Man).

Lighthouse Man is the single and I can see why, it’s pretty catchy.

I also like the title track, Believer. But honestly the whole album is really good. If you like one song chances are you’ll like them all.

Track Listing
1. Free
2. I’d Rather Be
3. Wanting Time
4. Lighthouse Man
5. Autumn Leaves
6. Anything You Do
7. Believer
8. Woke Up
9. Brave New World
10. Start Over Again

[Emily Maguire Official Site]

The post Album Review: Believer by Emily Maguire first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: The Helpless EP
Artist: Bend
Year/Label: 2009 / Independent

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I struggled with this one at first. Very first impression, I liked the piano, but didn’t like the vocals. I thought his voice was too nasal.

Then the next time I thought the vocals were similar to Ben Folds (whom I adore). I hoped it would grow on me. It has.

I now totally hear Ben Folds, especially when he goes into falsetto voice.

It’s fun, up-tempo piano pop with interesting melodies and frenzied piano playing. I mean that in a good way, trust me. Fast and intricate playing with good rhythms.

A fun record of peppy happy-sounding songs.

Track Listing
1. Unpredictable
2. Stronger than Me
3. Helpless
4. Without a Clue
5. Changing of Tides
6. See it Clear
7. Do it With You

[Bend Official Site]

The post Album Review: The Helpless EP by Bend first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: When Everything Breaks Open
Artist: Matt Morris
Year/Label: 2010 / Tennman Records
[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I first heard of Matt Morris when I got an email telling me that he’d be on Letterman and I should watch. I did watch and I really liked what I heard. So I was happy to receive his CD in my mailbox just a couple of days later.

It’s nice to hear someone do something different, stylistically, for a change. He’s not rock, he’s not jazz, he’s not emo or country(thank god) he’s just good. But he’s also kind of a mixture of all those things. Then add a little Connick or Bublé and you’ve got the idea.

He’s got a soulful voice that’s brimming with emotion. He can sound sweet and plaintive and can also wail and quake. He reminds me vocally at times, of Gregory Douglas. Especially on the track, Bloodline. (not the vocals so much, but the style of the song).

Let it Go strays into Jeff Buckley territory. I was very happy to see him do the fabulous Hallelujah on the Hope for Haiti Special (with Justin Timberlake whom I like more every time he graces my television). As I’m sure you know that song is Jeff Buckley’s sort of claim to fame and while no one can even come close to touching what he did with that song, their version was gorgeous.

The songs here are well written and interesting in a way where they go where you don’t expect. That’s always a welcome thing. I love the key changes and use of minor keys.

The instrumentation is just as intricate and interesting as the songwriting and draws me in even though I’m not a musician.

Money is the song he did on Letterman. Really cool and maybe even my favorite. Though I hate to site my favorite track as the “single”.

Well, either way, this is a great album, and you should get it.

* as luck would have it, it’s on sale cheap on Amazon right now.

[Watch on Letterman]

Track Listing
1. Don’t You Dare
2. Money
3. Love
4. Bloodline
5. Live Forever
6. The Un-American
7. Let it Go
8. You Do it For Me
9. Just Before the Morning
10. In This House
11. Forgiveness
12. Someone to Love You
13. Eternity
14. 100,000 Strong

[Matt Morris Official Site]

The post Album Review: When Everything Breaks Open by Matt Morris first appeared on Collected Sounds.