Album Name: Right on Time
Artist: Ellis
Year/Label: 2010 / Rubberneck

[Buy at Amazon]

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

Well, I’ve sure known about Ellis for years. I think every single person who’s come to my house to do a living room concert has asked me if I know her, and I, myself, am surprised I don’t. But alas, I never heard her music until this album showed up in my mailbox.

Now I’m bummed that I’ve been missing out. I didn’t realize how sweet her music was. Maybe that’s a bad description, but I guess I was expecting more Melissa Ferrick (whose music I should like, but I just can’t connect with). But this is just somehow, I don’t know, just more appealing. She actually reminds me at times, of Brandi Carlile.

The songwriting is superb and her voice is a lovely blend of folksy and pop.

Coming Home to You is wonderful. It’s catchy and feels very comfortable.

I also really like Without a Compass, and Close to You. But in going through this album again to pick my favorites I realize I really do like them all.

Since I’ve not heard her other stuff I am unable to compare this release to her others. Maybe you, reader, can help out with that. But I’ll just say this is a great album and I’m really enjoying it.

PS sorry this review is so late. You have no idea how long it takes to find “Ellis” music/buy links on my various affiliate pages. Search engines are for sh*t and bring up every conceivable “Ellis” except her. Plus nothing was available online until today.

Track Listing

[Ellis Official Site]

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The post Album Review: Right on Time by Ellis first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I first heard of Lissie when I found out she’d be playing the Cayamo Cruise. The very first song I heard sounded a little like she was singing off-key so I didn’t really give her a whole lot of ear time. Well, she ended up being my favorite new artist on the cruise. She has an amazing voice (not at all off-key and now I have no idea what song I heard when I thought that) and fantastic energy.

During one of her shows on the boat (I’m proud to say I saw every one) she mentioned that she was going to England after the cruise to work on her new record which would be released there first. For some reason this made perfect sense to me. I know some of the ladies that have done well over there and just knew it would be a good fit for her.

Even though her shows were solo, just her and her electric guitar, I just knew she’d sound great with a band. She did a lot of (bare)foot stomping and swinging that great head of hair around and I just pictured her with a band.

Anyway, back to the record. I can’t stop listening to it! It’s been in my car for weeks and every once in awhile I put a new CD in, listen to a few songs, then it’s right back to Lissie.

When I’m Alone is one I remember well from the live shows. But this version feels too produced and feels like they sucked all the soul out of it. I like it better live.

In Sleep is one of my favorites. It is reminiscent of some older (think 80s) songs I loved. But it’s still fresh. Look Away has this quality too.

Little Lovin’ might be my favorite. It starts out with pretty guitar and her lovely voice singing, “Appalachian farmer…” then by the end it’s foot stomping, clapping, whooping gloriousness.

Loosen the Knot allows her to rock out and really show her wilder side as well as her ‘ooooh-oh-oh’ vocalizations she does so well.

This is a great car CD where I can sing along at the top of my lungs while driving home from work. I just love this.

I’ll end with a song that’s not on the record, it’s a cover of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance

Track Listing
1. Record Collector
2. When I’m Alone
3. In Sleep
4. Bully
5. Little Lovin’
6. Stranger
7. Loosen the Knot
8. Cuckoo
9. Everywhere I Go
10. Worried About
11. Look Away
12. Oh Mississippi

[Lissie Official Site]

The post Album Review: Catching a Tiger by Lissie first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Heavy Rotation Vol. 7 – Dorm Sessions
Artist: Various Artists
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent

Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds

I’ve reviewed Heavy Rotations’ compilations before and it always seems like a mix tape a cool kid would make for me. Some of it I really like and some of it I really….don’t. It’s made by music school students at Berklee.

In an attempt to be kind I will refrain from talking about ones I didn’t care for and just concentrate on a few that I did.

Each artist on this project gets two songs each.

I really like Ann Driscoll’s two songs, I Wanna Be Your Zombie gets a tad goofy (as you may guess by the title). But Ringmaster is really cool and quirky with some echoey vocals and interesting melodies.

I really like Julia Eassterlin’s Mild Response. And Render is even better. She does some cool vocalizing at the end.

Black Kettle’s I Don’t Want to Know is nice.

In all, it’s a fun record to have with some real gems on it.

Track Listing
1. I Wanna Be Your Zombie – Ann Driscoll
2. Ringmaster – Ann Driscoll
3. 64 Dollars – Jordan Tarrant
4. Im A Loser (But You Love Me)- Jordan Tarrant
5. When I See Your Face – Liz Longley
6. AnnaBelle- Liz Longley
7. October – Tin Soldier
8. Hat Song- Tin Soldier
9. A Mild Responce – Julia Easterlin
10. Render – Julia Easterlin
11. Dangerous – Liptease
12. Ooh Al – Liptease
13. King And All His Horses, The – Black Kettle
14. I Don’t Want To Know – Black Kettle
15. Trafego – Tais Alvarenga
16. Nem La Nem Ca- Tais Alvarenga
17. Homicide – KR & the Future
18. Figure It Out – (featuring Tay Montana)- KR & the Future

[Heavy Rotation Official Site]

The post Album Review:Heavy Rotation Vol. 7 – Dorm Sessions by Various Artists first appeared on Collected Sounds.

Album Name: Turning Point
Artist: Side FX
Year/Label: 2010 / Realize Records
[Buy at Amazon]
[Download at Amazon]

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell

I’ve reviewed Side Fx’s previous album recently, and am pleased that their new offering is just as good. Kim Cameron’s in fine voice and the band support her well.

Are You Thinking of Me? sees her sounding both vulnerable and tough as the band play a rockin’ backing. Her assertiveness as a frontperson is very sympathetic and easy to hear.

Stories is a soft, yet urgent tune that allows Cameron’s vocals to shine. The guitar parts by Marco Delmar are sensitively played. It’s a neat jazzy tune that appeals greatly.

Rainy Days and Mondays is a Carpenters cover that works really well and shows the band’s playful side. Cameron adopts a kittenish coo that really works for the song.

It’s Not My Time is an atmospheric, slightly mystical song that they do really well.

It’s another great album by Side FX.

Track Listing
1. Timeless
2. Are You Thinking of Me
3. Magic Lands
4. Stories
5. Simple Touch
6. Rainy Days and Mondays
7. Let’s Paint This Town
8. Amazing Dreams
9. It’s Not My Time
10. Broken Heart
11. Contradictions
12. Stories (dance)
13. Are You Thinking of Me (country)

[Side FX Official Site]

The post Album Review: Turning Point by Side FX first appeared on Collected Sounds.