REVIEW: The Aviation Orange - Self-Titled

Brooklyn’s Indie/Synth Rock band, The Aviation Orange brings to the stage a brilliantly executed work of art with their self-titled debut. Seemingly influenced by bands such as The Police, The Shins and Franz Ferdinand, these musical super heroes have created nothing less than a masterpiece.

Opening up with CCSS, the male/female vocal harmonies gracefully drift into the listener’s mind in an epic sea of guitars and synthesizers with a break down that puts one in an almost dream-like trance.

A memorable track, Chemical Reaction is full of powerful bass lines and more wonderfully melodic vocals. This song combines the attitude of The Cure with the complexity of Incubus.

Seattle Slide, the last track on the album, has flavors of The Doors or Radiohead, and no doubt gives a strong finish with a pleasant psychedelic send-off.

Much of the album is very complex in instrumentation and lyrics. By layering parts to create a full sound that captures your attention, The Aviation Orange has proven themselves as true masters of their craft.

The Aviation Orange has got it from start to finish and every song on this album will leave you hanging on for the next. This is the kind of album you can just let play over and over again.

5 out of 5 stars

You can learn more about The Aviation Orange at www.myspace.com/theaviationorange

REVIEW: Ricko Donovan - Lucky Sevens

Ricko Donovan “puts all his cards out on the table” with his new album Lucky Sevens. Donovan, who spent the better part of the last five years busking the streets of Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, Madrid, Brussels, Barcelona, Dublin, London, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, brings to the stage traditional Irish folk music with a twist.

Ricko is a fabulous instrumentalist, including the hammer dulcimer, mandocello, mandolin and violin in his performances, he provides a rich and cultural experience bringing Irish music into the spotlight. He has sold thousands of his previous three CDs worldwide.

Lucky Sevens is an album full of jaunting tunes that transport from the Irish countryside to sitting behind the poker table. As a lyricist, Donovan has a poetic flare for story telling and artistic descriptions of life - in Esperanza he even sings a little in Spanish. The album also features a traditional Irish song, My Darling Asleep, performed with Donovan’s lyrics.

Lucky Sevens is a great album for all those who delve into Irish folk and maybe some that don’t. Ricko Donovan has proven himself as an Americeltic artist to remember.

3.5 out of 5 stars

You can learn more about Ricko Donovan at www.myspace.com/rickodonovan

REVIEW: Clint Lawrence - Arrows From a Warrior's Quiver

Clint Lawrence of Atlanta, GA recorded his debut album Arrows from a Warrior’s Quiver in Austin, TX. Clint has been writing songs for years and with the help of his son, Craig, he has created a wonderful collection of country/folk songs for the whole family. With an insight into life and the ability to express himself through song, he has captured true emotions in the style of Gordon Lightfoot, Jimmy Buffet, and Peter, Paul and Mary.

From the Sands of Iwo Jima to the Cliffs of Normandy is an epic tale and a similar listen to Gordon Lightfoot’s Legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Lawrence’s songs are definitely heartfelt and well written. His style is one that will be very familiar to all who delve into folk music and remember the great country folk legends.

Montana Brown Eyed Girl, a personal favorite, is a slow folk ballad about love lost and realization of love found through the Montana brown eyed girl. Clint chronicles relationships with girls of all eye colors and cleverly states that “brown eyes may comfort you tonight.”

While for most listeners this album may seem outdated in the modern music scene, Arrows from a Warrior’s Quiver is a diamond in the rough for all who enjoy the genre.

3.5 out of 5 stars

You can learn more about Clint Lawrence at www.myspace.com/clintlawrencemusic

REVIEW: Sinem Saniye - When I Don't Sleep

For all you fans of pop music out there, the genre is being redefined. Pop artist Sinem Saniye combines pop music with Bossa Nova, Jazz, Latin and Turkish influences with her debut album When I Don't Sleep.. Sinem has won numerous awards including 2008 Billboard World Song Contest and 2006 John Lennon Songwriting competition. She has showcased and performed at numerous venues in front of thousands of eager ears.

Sinem Saniye has had radio play in many countries over the globe and its easy to understand why. With a multicultural take on pop music, she portrays truckloads of creativity and originality. Comparatively, you might say Sinem is a German/Turkish Shakira with songs you can either dance to or lose yourself in their thoughtfulness and meaning.

Most tracks on her debut album When I Don't Sleep.. seem to be geared a little more toward American pop which is excellent for radio play and listener appeal, but tracks such as Boom Sheke Nana and Baba Bossa show her cultural influence and understanding of music around the world.

Unlike Shakira, however, Sinem Saniye is able to perform all of these styles without alienating any of her audience. When I Don't Sleep.. crosses the lines of music classification and just makes you want to move with the beat and get lost in the outstanding vocals that Sinem brings to the world of music.

4 out of 5 stars

You can learn more about Sinem Saniye at www.sinem.net

REVIEW: Bud Buckley - It's About Time

Bud Buckley, of Florida, with his acoustic guitar and songwriting finesse, has been renowned by numerous publications and has performed numerous live shows including some of the larger festivals on the scene. While acoustic artists have somewhat smothered the music scene, Buckley sticks out from the sea of folk and classic rock with jamming grooves and multi-genre masterpieces.

Influenced by legends like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer, Bud Buckley creates his own style with It's About Time, mixing in some great leads and poetic lyrics that genuinely leave you bobbing your head with every track.

Let Me Go, a track that gives rise to images of an early Eric Clapton, captures the feeling of pushing away the world to go somewhere deep inside where time is non-existent.

Elevator takes a different approach than most tracks on this album. With kind of a funky almost 80s style, this track describes the similarities between time and an elevator with a mind of its own. Elevator has the feel of the Police mixed with a little Peter Gabriel.

There's no way this album will be lost in the mix as Bud Buckley has proven himself as timeless musician whose songs, although maybe not fit for mainstream radio at the moment, may very well take music back to its roots of genuine songs and lyrics that people can relate to. Its only appropriate that It's About Time has the theme of timelessness as the listener can easily be lost in the music and enter into a place where time is meaningless.

4.5 out of 5 stars

You can learn more about Bud Buckley at www.myspace.com/budbuckley1

REVIEW: Silverbird - Silverbird

Silverbird adds yet another great collection of songs to the folk rock genre. Southerners David Leinweber, Bob McMillan, Billy Gewin and George Sandler capture the style in its truest form. With well thought out lyrics and classic rock instrumentation Silverbird's self titled album takes the listener on a journey through the mind of the musicians to a time when folk and rock music ruled the world.

Thursday Ride, the opening track, has a classic rock feel similar to the songs of Tom Petty where lyricist David Leinweber takes a trip to the past and illustrates a ride down the highway listening to Rod Stewart reminiscing on good times past.

Rain Keeps Falling Down is a ballad similar in sound to Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers describing, poetically, another rainy day and the good feelings of a new day crisp in dew.

The Musicians Prayer is a clever take on a kind of folk gospel request of god to bless the band's instruments, friends, family, the guy at the bar and of course musical legends The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Band and the Grateful Dead.


Silverbird is an enjoyable listen especially for fans of classic rock and folk music, but with performances from such seasoned musicians as these (and this album does include a couple of stellar live performances from Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA), most could probably find at least a track or two to listen to over and over again.

4 stars out of 5

You can learn more about Silverbird at www.myspace.com/silverbirdduo

REVIEW: Kathryn Caine - Down Home Girl

Kathryn Caine began performing years ago in Charlottesville, North Carolina. She instantly captured listeners with her authentic vocals and passionate songwriting. As her fan base began to expand, Kathryn departed the music scene after releasing two albums to take care of her family. Caine, however, never let the spirit of music wane in her heart. After eight years, she's made a return to performing with the release of her new album Down Home Girl. All who are lucky enough to get their hands on this one will, no doubt, be glad she's back.

With a voice that rivals such acts as Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton, Caine delivers an awesome performance throughout her new album.

Wheels, the opening track on Down Home Girl, is a good representation of Caine's bluegrass influence. Using the imagery of a wheel, Caine ponders through the cycle of all good and bad in life. The instrumentation on this track stands out with the outstanding guitar performance of Andy Thacker.

Honey Hill is a rockin' country song that sticks to the roots of country music and refuses to give way to modern pop influence in most country music today. This is a breath of fresh air for those who enjoy the genre in its most authentic form.

From Caine's the perspective of small town life comes an album full of wonderful lyricism and bluegrass rock that's sure to capture audience of all ages. As an avid painter and performer Kathryn takes a break from painting when songwriting ideas take form. Let's all hope she continues to trade brush for pen.

4.5 stars out of 5

You can learn more about Kathryn Caine at www.myspace.com/kathryncaine