Swami - Inertia

I'm a big fan of heavy metal, and hard rock. This is Swami's first CD, Inertia, and I thought it was going to be the same old heavy metal sound, but I was impressed that Swami has mastered their own unique style which they call psychedelic, organic, heavy metal. It's really a combination of complex melodies, intertwined with hard driving rock/metal and some of the best vocals for this genre (sultry and sexy singing, cold hard screaming, and deep growling). The band is Garth Waddups, vocals, Justin Jones on drums, Jeff Enger on guitar, and Dennis Heavy Perry on bass.

The CD contains five original songs. All containing music and lyrics that make you ponder the full meaning behind each song as you listen to them.

The first song, and my favorite of the CD, “Beltane” (which is Gaelic for the month of May, the last of the three spring fertility festivals) is a dark and haunting song with unforgettable lyrics “feels like blood dripping down my face, so black in the moonlight, take the sickness from my guts, chew it up and swallow” with a melody and chorus that you won't be able to stop from repeating over and over in your head, “ get out of my head, you are not welcome here, get out of my head, it's time to die!!”.

“Beautiful Mess” is a riveting song reflecting the pain of the personal experience of growing up watching the life of a heroin addict, and the “undying hours when demons co-exist”, until the end of days.

“Hero” a more melancholy song about how you never live up to what your hero in your life is and/or you will never be the hero other people want you to be

“Double 06 (006)” questions the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in all of us. How we struggle each day whether to answer to the good in us as Dr. Jekyll, or do we let the wild, untamed, Mr. Hyde take control over our every day uninspired lives and live up to what ever potential we are capable of. It's a question of the ages, good versus evil, and which will prevail.

“The Hallways of the Always (free Charlie)” is a song dedicated to Charlie Manson. I think that sums it all up with no further explanation needed.

Swami's music wakes you up and brings forth some things you've hidden in your life, experiences you and everyone has suffered or struggled through, and at times leaves a trail of tears.

All I can say is the music and lyrics are smooth, melodic, mesmerizing, and hard edged at the same time. The songs get inside of your head, and stay with you from the day and into the night. I find myself singing the chorus to the songs even when the music isn't playing, and of course, head banging along too. This is one of the best CDs of this genre of 2011.

Buy it here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/swami1

Tyler Stanfield – This Place

 Tyler Stanfield, who is known for his amazing bass playing in Lost Point, has embarked on a solo effort in the CD, This Place.

 I will be honest and say that I was skeptical at first, wondering if Tyler could successfully transition from the hard rock he's known for, to a softer rock/acoustic sound. When I put the CD in the first track “Leftovers” had me instantly dancing. It's got a great beat, and a chorus that keeps running through my head, “nothing more than a whisper to you”.

 Because I've usually heard Tyler sing back-up, I questioned whether his vocals would be strong enough to stand on their own. I should never have doubted it for a minute. His vocals are right on key, strong, smooth, and sexy!

 The three instrumentals “Proem”, which actually flows right into “Angel's Face”, the”Intro”, which is followed by “This Place”, showcase Tyler's amazing talent on the guitar.

 My favorite track of the entire CD is “The Pier” which has a haunting melody and lyrics that touched my soul. It's a song that's special to him because his father (who he credits for getting him started in music) plays the guitar solo at the end.

 His songs took me back to places in my past, feelings I've had (that we've all had), to places that I want to be, and emotions I want to feel. He spanned the past, the present, and the future. Something not many songwriters can do. This is, by far, one of the best CD's I've listened to in 2011. Buy it, and it will be one you'll listen to over and over, and find yourself singing/humming the songs when the CDs not even playing.
Buy it here

Well this is Jack Burton and the Pork Chop Express and I am clearly talkin’ to whoever is listening. I am a reasonable man that is proud to be a patron of this good ole U….S….of A. Recently in my highway adventures I have found myself hooked in the talented grasps of the Mile High Music Scene. A long story short is a hard type of concept for myself to be able to grasp but here it goes…
With these past words said I will let you folks know I am honored to announce the great people of “RockonColorado.com” have invited me to supply CD reviews for all the amazing talent here in Colorado.
Now please know I am a fair man and some might even say an accidentally righteous man, so please avoid gathering an army of undead Samuri soldiers to lynch me in the valleys of your chosen sun and rip my good sometimes tax paying American skull from the non-yellow spine of my PBR drinking body if you do not agree with my fair opinion.
For that is just what it is folks a conscious opinion from a confident yet humble man. My reviews will be placed into your God fearing mind like this:
Three ten point levels….
1. Song writing, Sound Marketability etc…
2. Highway listening (Can the CD control an area the size of a jail cell and get all patrons to forget a long road trip?)
3. Originality, Originality, Originality
There will be bonus points for songs that are just out of this world or hidden factors that will be brought to the surface. Same goes in the negative manner for super bad songs or other variables.
26-30 Points = “They are really shakin’ the pillars of heaven Wang.”
22-25 Points = “Is it getting hot in here or is it just me?”
18-24 Points = “It’s all in the reflexes”
10-17 Points = “I’m a reasonable man, but I just experienced some very unreasonable music.”
0-9 Points = “Black blood of the earth is spewing from the bowels of this CD.”

Howdy Do Here We go!

The Whiskey Bottles “Ain’t no Crime.” www.theWhiskeyBottles.com
Management: BoCo Management
Recorded at Brown Note Digital Recording


1. Song writing and marketability are very raw and in line for what this genre calls for. The beautiful vocals of Miss Molly Orlando can easily take you away in a Wyoming second. Solid all around honky tonk music that I know I could hear all across this great U….S….of A‘s Honky Tonk‘s. A taste of Americana and that Whiskey lore help things out as well. There are a few songs that don’t fit the bill and could be dropped from the album one of which is BlackJack Betty. I can see where they are trying the traditional fun song writing, but it just doesn’t hang.
7/10

2. Highway listening would be moderate on this CD. Not sure if I would want to listen to the whole album thru more than once. I would for sure hit the skip button on a few of the fillers. Now don’t lynch me just yet, I already explained they would be an easy fit for many honky tonks across this great nation so I am not completely bashing em just wouldn’t be very dang happy if my CD player broke with this particular Compact Disc occupying the inside’s.
6/10


3. Now as always here is my strictest table of musical guideline’s. Originality is not a strong point on this album sadly. I feel a mix between Honky Tonk, Swing, Americana and Modern Country. Not a mix that makes the music their own, but rather a mix between genres that fall into chorus’s that take control of the songs.
“Foolish Woman” if you speed it up is almost the same beat as the new Monday Night Football jam heard 18 weeks a year on ESPN by Miss Faith Hill.
I know my words my seem a bit harsh, but Originality is very important for me. For I have traveled many miles in the Pork Chop Express and have heard all genres of music and truly love all genre’s so I am begging for bands to prove that original and unique music can still be made. Very easy to back up against a well loved genre and fall into a comfortable place.

5/10
Final Grade 18/30 - “It’s all in the reflexes…”


Overview:
My final grade may seem very low and harsh, but if you read my review’s you will quickly learn I am very strict because music is my love and now the Mile High Music scene has landed me a set home which is weird being a traveling man.
“Ain’t no Crime” is very worth a look at and know if you like the above referenced genre’s I mentioned they may be right up your corral. One of the beauties of music is we all have different tastes. My job is not to hurt Colorado musicians, rather give constructive critiscm that is MY sole opinion.
I for sure wanna see the “Whiskey Bottle’s” live because that is really where you can get a feel. Studio CD’s can so falsely represent a band. Sometimes for the worse. I bet their live energy is very strong!

-Jack Burton “Pork Chop Express”

Well this is Jack Burton and the Pork Chop Express and I am clearly talkin’ to whoever is listening. I am a reasonable man that is proud to be a patron of this good ole U….S….of A. Recently in my highway adventures I have found myself hooked in the talented grasps of the Mile High Music Scene. A long story short is a hard type of concept for myself to be able to grasp but here it goes…
With these past words said I will let you folks know I am honored to announce the great people of “RockonColorado.com” have invited me to supply CD reviews for all the amazing talent here in Colorado.
Now please know I am a fair man and some might even say an accidentally righteous man, so please avoid gathering an army of undead Samuri soldiers to lynch me in the valleys of your chosen sun and rip my good sometimes tax paying American skull from the non-yellow spine of my PBR drinking body if you do not agree with my fair opinion.
For that is just what it is folks a conscious opinion from a confident yet humble man. My reviews will be placed into your God fearing mind like this:
Three ten point levels….
1. Song writing, Sound Marketability etc…
2. Highway listening (Can the CD control an area the size of a jail cell and get all patrons to forget a long road trip?)
3. Originality, Originality, Originality
There will be bonus points for songs that are just out of this world or hidden factors that will be brought to the surface. Same goes in the negative manner for super bad songs or other variables.
26-30 Points = “They are really shakin’ the pillars of heaven Wang.”
22-25 Points = “Is it getting hot in here or is it just me?”
18-24 Points = “It’s all in the reflexes”
10-17 Points = “I’m a reasonable man, but I just experienced some unreasonable music.”
0-9 Points = “Black blood of the earth is spewing from the bowels of this CD.”

So here goes folks!

Apex Vibe “Elevate” Release date 2010

Full details available at www.ApexVibe.com . As well you can Google or Youtube them and find them all over.

Apex Vibe has been rockin’ Colorado for many years and have recently released a much anticipated CD that is for hopefully worthy of the shelves of your collection.

Level 1:

Song writing and Sound Marketability is very strong. I have had the honor of seeing this group live and they know how to control a crowd and keep em jumping and this CD is a great representation of that. Right from the start they hook you with “Set it Right”. Although this is an older song of theirs they added the funky sound of DJ Unison and beefed it up right.
From there their travels of music take you thru a unique realm of sounds…
8/10

Level 2:
The highway sounds are perfect. You can easily see yourself driving across the country and pumping this CD over and over. It wouldn’t be to hard to pick up a couple of beautiful American girls along the way with the modern reggae/funk taste. A commonly loved sound.

9/10


Level 3:

This is the hardest part of my review, but it is also the most important. Originality is a very hard thing in music and especially in this genre of music. It is very easy to get into that comfortable realm of reggae strumming and singing. It all sounds good and usually really good, but after listening to ten reggae/ska bands over and over you will here many similarities. Apex again does a good job of changing up their sound, but the fact remains the same it’s a hard genre to sound different in.
“Let it Ride” is almost an exact 311 sound. If it’s a cover I apologize, but it for sure sounds like it should be. Also “Makin’ Love” has that electronic voice that makes me wanna drive my truck off the highway into a fiery disaster.
On a positive note “Saturday Morning” is a great story and sound and “In the moment” is a great house party jam. All in all things are good, but this is the Level that is rough on all my reviews…

6/10

Overall Review:
23/30 = “Is it getting hot in here or is it just me”

I for sure recommend this CD to any and all Colorado fans and I assure if you are a reggae/ska/rock fan you will immediately fall in love. As well their live sets are always well worth the showing so keep your eyes peeled for them.


As I end my written ramble of musical written jamboree I again thank the amazing folks of “RockOnColorado.com”. They are such an amazing outfit that has been a HUGE supporter of Colorado Music for a longtime. Their timeless pictures will be just that.

Ryan Chrys - The Ambivalent Justice of....

This is the first solo recording from Ryan Chrys of the Demon Funkies. The first track of the CD, "Promises" has the familiar sound of the Demon Funkies, but that's where it ends. Of course, the highlight of this CD is Ryan's distinctive guitar. His signature sound is what this CD is all about, from the hard driving rock of "Right on Time," the mix of soft and hard rock in "Night Again," to the soothing ballad, "Saviour." This CD is a mixture of many styles of music, and includes a hip hop tune called "Good Energy" with guest Azma Holiday. Ryan is backed by a multitude of talented local musicians such as Seth and Josh Larson on back-up vocals, Brent Loveday doing lead vocals on Right On Time, Pete Lamborne on sax, Jeremy Berberich on keyboards, Kailin Yong on violin, and Paul “Prom King” Lanier, just to name a few. Give this CD a try.

For more info: http://ryanchrys.com

Review by Shirley Wheeler