Review: Anderson East – Encore

Wednesday, January 24th, 2018 by WLOY Staff

Artist: Anderson East 

Album: Encore 

Released: 01/12/2018 

RIYL: James Morrison, Passenger, John Mayer, Ray LaMontagne 

Rate: 10/10 

As the boyfriend of one of my favorite country artists, Miranda Lambert, Anderson East is a person of my special interest. There’s something about this soulful singer’s voice that makes it clear why Lambert swoons over him—it’s downright gorgeous with just a touch of a rocker’s raspy-ness. From the beginning, Encore has a funkier and more upbeat and in-your-face sound than East’s previous album, Delilah. Still, Encore is not without a few of Anderson East’s signature style consisting of slower love songs. A lot of different (and great) components of the album remind me of the 60s and 70s funk-rock and The Temptations. With co-writers such as pop artist Ed Sheeran, country artist Chris Stapleton, and Nashville songwriter Aaron Raitiere, this album is pure beauty. In this way, Anderson East takes southern soul and twists it making his music accessible to listeners of many different genres.   (more…)

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Review: Spice Boys – Glade

Wednesday, January 17th, 2018 by WLOY Staff

Artist: Spice Boys 

Album: Glade 

Label: Punk Slime Recordings 

Released: 01/12/2018 

RIYL: FIDLAR, WAVVES, Together PANGEA 

Rate: 9/10 

When I first heard of the band Spice Boys, I was immediately intrigued and “Wannabe” by Spice Girls starting playing in my head. To my surprise, the Spice Boys are nothing like their flavorful, female, predecessors. Spice Boys released their first EP in 2016. After signing to Punk Slime Recordings shortly after this, Spice Boys have blessed us with their newest album, Glade. The whole album is full of distortion of all aspects of the songs—the vocals, the guitar, even the drums sound more static-y than normal. This Swedish garage rock band’s sound makes me think of kicking up some trouble with my friends on the beach in the summer. The use of echoes and wa-wa-like effects in all of the tracks just gives the album a really fun-inspiring. The fast-paced and upbeat songs make you want to dance like a fool. (more…)

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Album Review (New Release): John Mayer – The Search for Everything – Wave One

Friday, February 10th, 2017 by WLOY Staff

Review by: William O’Connor ’20

John Mayer – [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/moving-on-and-getting-over/id1195111784?i=1195111863&uo=4″ title=”The Search for Everything – John Mayer” text=”The Search for Everything – Wave One”]

Released: January 20^th, 2017

Rate: 8.5/10

LIYL: Train, Ed Sheeran, and the John Mayer Trio

This first “wave” had a lot of hype leading up to its release and it’s finally here. This is his first release since [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dear-marie/id672720304?i=672720308&uo=4″ title=”Paradise Valley – John Mayer” text=”Paradise Valley”] and [itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/something-like-olivia/id516701586?i=516701811&uo=4″ title=”Born and Raised – John Mayer” text=”Born and Raised”],  those two albums being very different compared to what he has put out in the past. They were definitely not his best, and in anticipation of this new release we were all hoping for a huge improvement, something different from the singer-songwriter. For one thing, his trio band members who have made some of John Mayer’s best music with him, Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino, are backing in the drums and bass. They played songs with him such as “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gravity-live/id388127285?i=388127511&uo=4″ title=”Gravity – John Mayer” text=”Gravity”]”, “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/who-did-you-think-i-was-new/id295970158?uo=4″ title=”Who Did You Think I Was – John Mayer” text=”Who Did You Think I Was”]”, “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/daughters/id322697981?i=322697997&uo=4″ title=”Daughters – John Mayer” text=”Daughters”]”, and “[itunes link=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/try-live/id159527304?i=159528791&uo=4″ title=”Try – John Mayer” text=”Try”]”. (more…)

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Album Review: Fractal Cats – The Tower

Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 by WLOY Staff

Review by: Claire Riley

Fractal Cat – The Tower

Rate: 8.5/10

LIYL: Brooks Long and the MadDogNoGood, Pink Floyd, Stanley Roots

Local Baltimore band Fractal Cat released their third album “The Tower” on the 26th of this month. It can now be streamed online via Spotify and Apple music and purchased on iTunes and CD as well.  Previous albums include “Loving Kind” released in 2014 and “The Eye in The Dawn” released in 2012. All three albums have a similar musical style, so if you liked “The Tower,” check the other two! As a band inspired by the golden age of rock n roll when legends like Buddy Holly and Smokey Robinson dominated the music world, Fractal Cat is known for their personal twist of trippy, psychedelic rock. (more…)

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Album Review: Buenos Diaz – Buenos Diaz

Tuesday, January 24th, 2017 by WLOY Staff

Review by: William O’Connor

Buenos Diaz– Buenos Diaz

Rate: 7.2/10

LIYL: Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, and Jack White

This is a band I’ve never heard before, and I was not only surprised but impressed. The first song, Hem Haw, is a short intro that opens up the album and shows off its instrumentals. After hearing this intro you can know what to expect for the rest of the album. (more…)

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Album Review: Daniel Champagne – The heartland Hurricanes

Friday, April 8th, 2016 by WLOY Staff

Daniel Champagne-The Heartland Hurricanes (a live studio recording)

Released: March 4, 2016

Rate: 10/10

Daniel Champagne, an accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist, released his sixth album The Heartland Hurricanes and it is absolutely amazing. Originally from Australia, Champagne is a master of the acoustic guitar. Giving off vibes of a young John Mayer, old Mumford and Sons and especially, Australian mate, “John Butler”. (more…)

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