the411

UK artist and multi-instrumentalist, George Barnett, 25 is slated to blow up.  “Stone Cold Classic” serves as his break out track. George is ready to thrive after writing songs such as the melodic “2020” and the electronic beat heavy song "Give Your Heart a Gun" which landed him a minimal but loyal You Tube following. He did attain some early notice in 2015 and even headlined the Silverhayes stage at esteemed Glastonbury. Due to the fact that he played all the instruments on his cover of Pharrel’s “Get Lucky’” and promptly the mega star rapper (in his own mind) attempted to seduce him into a production deal. This young gun went to a few cheesy A%R meetings in slick offices only to decide this is not happening. So in true rebel form he took all of his content off the internet inciting a tiny mutiny among his online fans. Bring back George they were furiously messaging from their Smart Phones.  In 2017, he made a roaring com...

“ The mouth of a cannon is safer than the mouth of a woman scorned” Anon Women famously use their heartbreak for artistic fodder and gain Etta crooned that she would rather go blind than see her man with another. PJ questioned "Who the Fuck?" while dancing drunk in her underwear. This petite bad ass was proclaiming “Get out of here, man”. Liz Phair trashes every dude from her past in Guyville. A winning favorite of mine is “6’1” It's cold out there And rough And I kept standing six-feet-one Instead of five-feet-two And I loved my life And I hated you Aimee Mann’s wrath are usually found in her song titles such as “I’m With Stupid”, “Save Me”, & “That’s Just What You Are”. She is famous for skewering her exs - real & imagined. I randomly met the guy, sporting a Dad bod, who was the subject of “Amateur”. He was just a unassuming guitar player who did session work. He told me all these years later he still felt hurt. Words wound. The sh...

The Scientists The post punk psychedelic music of the late 60s spurred the Scientists, out of Perth, to create disjointed loud sounds.  Their sound is anything but smooth. Their 3 minutes and under songs feels like a dash of the Ramones and drip of The Church. This band has no trouble advertising tat they have no idea what the fuck they are dong. They are erratic, erroneous and elegiac  I sincerely love a band with no real agenda.  There is an organic rebellion to structure and form in their musical endeavors. Kim Salmon, the edgy front man of he Scientists, has been stood up and he's not going to take it. This under the radar gem is A jaunty song about getting jilted on date night is both comical and fucking true.  Ever stand around in your Friday night best waiting and checking the door of the place you were to meet only to slink out in dashed hopes and embarrassing defeat. You know people were wondering why you are sitting on the bar stool alone. Ouch. THe Sci...

“Anxious pre-and-post-student pop,” is how the Sydney band, Flowertruck, describes their signature sound. The band made up of Charles, Sarah and Will have been creating their unique blend of music since 2014. But I heard a late 80's peppy post punk vibe. Upon first listen I heard touches of the Church plus a drop of Ian Brown. This band hits on the shimmery sounds of the late 80s, early 90s while being housed in the climate changed 21st century. I chose "Enough for Now" because of the video and the message. I get it. Yes we are good enough for now. This band exudes late July sunshine and warmth. Jangly guitar riffs combined with boss baritone vocals make this a most charming track. It is perfect for a dank, windy Jersey afternoon in January.  The images in the video range from an outdated flip phone, a Frisbee, have a slug of milk jar, an imperfect high dive, a broken flip flop, kittens and the band wearing socks and sandals, high waisted Mom jeans, and pink polo...

7 holds a magical key as a number. Stella Ruze, the seven piece from Phiadelfay is rocking the luck This seven piece band is defying being pigeoned holed into a "genre". Stella Ruze bends and blends neo folk as well as indie and a fluttering of smile rock. This Philly band crackles with contained enthusiasm. The harmonizing as well as the welcome horn addition creates a distinct sound style. Stella Ruze is rousing fans out of inauthentic depression. You can't be that sad listening to these tracks. SR is bringng it wih a bevy of amici (Italian for Friend) zeal.  This band came to my distracted attention late in the year.  I enjoyed the appetizer. "Open" I stayed on for the appertif.  "Travel". Greater Dog is their full length LP (LPs are the key to this reviewer's heart) The tracks uplifts  with it's hold on nostalgia. "Open" possesses that come on you know you want to feel. Followed by the oddly yet aptly named "The Trol...

Email to Dan - Well you know me. Never A Phoebe fan. She has hooked up with Matt B of the National now. A mediocre tune, in my opinion. Wonder why? I am not touching that. We need David to do that one :) Peace & hugs   Dan to me -   Bet the National Guy is looking to make out with her. Hope he got to. Me to Dan - I am guessing it went further... Oh yeah he is married too.  Bleach blonde homewrecker.   Then I told him a story. I need to make out with someone lol. Now Keanu went and got a Silver Fox gf. I actually met him in Soho at an art gallery.  I Should have given him my #. We chatted for 20 mins.  He basically asked me to hang with him because these cougars were honing in on him. They owned the gallery. It was comical. He said I looked nice. The exhibit was for his ex-girlfriend’s photography show.   His ex was Amanda De Cadenet. She was badass. Her photos were lovely actually. I remember he and I stared at th...

Patti Smith was trending on the holy grail of misunderstood hashtags, Twitter. I took a breath. Please not Patti.  Nah. It's her birthday. It reminded me of Barney’s lush song that rides on nostalgia and retro centric grooves. The native Philadelphia musician is crafting music with late 70s ambiences and alternative bending styles.  He penned a song titled for an artist he admires, the one the only Patti. Barney is a raconteur of the highest order. He pulls you in with swirling lyrics like:   Do you know I think of you all the time?/ Someone wrote a song for me/ But I don't love her / Barely know her name/ I want the song to come from you / That cruel game   He also finger picks his acoustic Harmony guitar with practiced flair and panache without arrogant swagger. He takes on an almost Charlie Chaplin like humility as he saunters in to the garden area in the finely arranged video soaked in lush colors and a simple arrangement....