Category: Reviews

Tom Keifer #keiferband – ‘RISE’ And ‘The Death of Me’

May 12, 2020

#kieferband is the latest project of hard rock heavyweight Tom Keifer, who until he suffered a paralysed vocal chord in the 90s, was the singer with bluesy no BS stadium shakers, Cinderella. Several operations later, Keifer’s voice looked like it would never be the same, but he managed, through years of rehab, to recover, and bring back just as much power to his voice as before. Latest singles, ‘RISE’, and ‘The Death Of Me’, together with their accompanying music videos, show that you can never keep a good man down.

Christina Morgan-Diaz – ‘I Need More’

May 12, 2020

Christina Morgan-Diaz has dedicated her life to Christ, and rather than fall into hopelessness when facing times of trouble – such as the current global situation, she has always found solace in the adage, “with that strength, remember that there is always hope”. She has been given many opportunities through her life to share her musical talent, and her new single, ‘I Need More’, written by Pastor Thomas Johnson, is not just a showcase of her voice, but also her love for God.

Snuttock – ‘Stay’

May 11, 2020

A band with an odd sounding name will stick hard and fast in your memory. If their music is incredible as well, then that stickiness will be even more so. Snuttock are one of those sorts of bands. They’ve been around for two decades, and during that time they’ve endlessly experimented, and been inventive with their style. They’ve explored dark industrial sounds, wigged-out experiments, synth meltdowns, and the bleakest of mechanical imaginings, that nearly take you over the edge into madness. Their latest single, ‘Stay’, which is the first and title track from their upcoming album, is one part super-lavish Depeche Mode, and one part OMDs passion. The other parts are all the property of Snuttock alone.

David Haerle – ‘Go Do That With Sharon’ And ‘Romy and Michele’

May 11, 2020

We’ve written about David Haerle a lot here on Essentially Pop, reviewing the releases from his 2018 debut album, ‘Garden Of Edendale’. Now he returns with his second album, ‘Death Valley’, which is a glistening blend of So-Cal sound with classic British Rock. The first two singles, ‘Go Do That With Sharon’, and ‘Romy And Michele’, are just a taste of what’s to come from the rest of the album, which tracks his search for a renewal of his spirit, and finding beauty in the minutiae of everyday life.

Alex Sparrow – ‘Let’s Stay Home Tonight’

May 6, 2020

It’s that time of year when we would ordinarily be gearing up to watch European music’s night of nights, The Eurovision Song Contest. Alex Sparrow competed for his native Russia in the contest in 2011, when it was held in Dusseldorf, finishing in 16th position. There’s no Eurovision this year because of Covid-19, but there’s an Alex Sparrow song – the singer, composer, actor and producer, now based in Los Angeles, has released his most recent single, ‘Let’s Stay Home Tonight’, and although it’s no compensation for the Eurovision, it’s a fun song with an equally upbeat music video.

lotusbliss – ‘Carpet’

May 6, 2020

The music of lotusbliss, comprising brothers Seth, Josh, and Adam Gauton, from Canterbury, Kent, comes at you like a speeding train: unwavering, insistent, determinedly powerful. They grew up making music together, but formed as lotusbliss in 2018 while tossing around band names in a lighthearted conversation. Debut single, ‘Beautiful Monotone’, was released in November last year, while new single, ‘Carpet’, is the second and final release from their EP, ‘A Good Death Is A Beautiful Thing’.

Kailey Nicole – ‘Change My Ways’

May 6, 2020

Looking back on relationships we tend to see things not as they really happened, but rather as a series of memories. We don’t necessarily remember the truth of it, but we try hard to work out how to do it better next time. Nashville-based artist, Kailey Nicole, knows how it goes, and with her song, ‘Change My Ways’, and its accompanying video, she takes us through all the stages of lost love and what we all go through.