Lightscape: Circles

by Robin Ervolina
Sometimes the music you listen to influences the way you hear another band. You find yourself drawn to similar genres, or vocalists, or riffs and moods that invoke a sense of comfort, your musical home if you will. Other times you are drawn in by something that captivates on its own accord. Such is the case with Lightscape's new EP Circles, due for release tomorrow (12/1/17). This alt rock quintet from the UK have amassed a local following and positioned themselves to sail their music across the pond, having recently shared the stage with US headliners Black Stone Cherry on their European tour. The music Lightscape creates is personal and instantly relatable.
"By Design" leads off the EP and its intro beats move me closer. Will Overton's vocals draw me in, the melody hooks me, and I get a sense the lyrics 'get me' intimately.

Once you put out the fire, but now you fan the flames
And as you search through the ashes, a heart remains
A heart that's clouded your judgment, fighting with all of the warning signs

It seems to me on first listen that the gist of Lightscape is in spitting out stories woven into addictive melodies, delivering them with clear and appealing vocal tones. In fact, vocals like this could be the center piece of a review. Overton holds out notes in a way that draws something out of me, making room to assimilate the intent into my own emotional landscape.

Second song "Circles" has a techno intro, reminiscent of Enter Shikari. I'm getting this 80s alternative vibe slipping in and out of my consciousness as well. It's another yearn-inducing tune with an easy hook and that voice that's bigger than life. In the history of rock there have been some solid vocalists that stood strong decade after decade. Overton could stand with the best of them. "Circles" is a sing along song for certain.
Third song "More to Life" delivers on that British influence from bands like ES and even Mike + The Mechanics. The composition and structure of these songs are so tight; the musicianship is solid, and once again Overton blows me away. He could sing the phone book and I'd buy into it. "Press Rewind" follows, and based on the title I know this one will hurt. It crawls in with a gentle intro creating feelings of regret. The melody haunts me, pulling memories forth that were best left dead.

And when I look at your face
I learn a lesson that I don't want to
I think you need an escape
I hope it's not too late

Sometimes remorse is personal. If I could sing a love song to the parts of me that I've let down, "Press Rewind" would be it. There is no respite from the emotional throttle as the next track "Haven't Got The Time" feels like falling off a cliff. Circles closes with "Live in Fear" an anthemic tune about pulling yourself together with lyrics that fly like weapons of self-defense.

Lightscape self-releases Circles in less than 24 hours, and I urge you to pick up a copy and support these up and comers. I don't know about in the UK, but this is a rock sound that has been missing from America for a long time. Follow Lightscape on Facebook as well so you don't miss out on future live performances!

Dolly Parton: I Believe in You

By Robin Ervolina
Sure, Shockwave is a rock magazine. I'll give you that. Yes, Dolly Parton is not remotely near our genre, and I praise her for never trying to cross over. She knows what she does remarkably well, and regardless of your musical preferences, you've got to give her that as well. When her publicist offered to let Shockwave Magazine review Dolly Parton's new and first children's CD I Believe in You, there was zero hesitation on my part. Many of the songs were inspired by books given away through Dolly Parton's foundation, the Imagination Library, including the title track "I Believe in You" based on everyone's favorite go-getter, The Little Engine That Could. It's adorable as you might imagine with its choo-choo intro, and Dolly Parton's storytelling flare. Her personality has a way of breaking through the tough exterior of adulthood as well, making it a CD you can stand for your kids to play over and over.
I Believe in You also includes Parton's classic "Coat of Many Colors" as well as a bonus reading, by Dolly, of her book Coat of Many Colors. I admit without shame, "Together Forever" is catchy, and harkens the 9 to 5 years. Bedtime lullaby "I'm Here" almost made me cry, but then I toughened up, poured a strong glass of apple juice, and hugged my teddy. "Imagination" has little Caribbean flair to the melody, and try as I might to take this review seriously, I found myself grinning at Dolly's infectious and playful delivery. Speaking of delivery, it doesn't get any more precious than in "Chemo Hero," and "Brave Little Soldier." Yes, childhood illness may not be the happiest of subject matters, but Dolly Parton handles these unthinkable situations with levity by drawing out the inner strength inherent in baby warriors. It's the voice you want to hear when you're down. It's the voice of encouragement and love.
The lessons and messages in I Believe in You are ones you want your children to memorize, and they are clearly delivered in a way your kids can hear and understand. Yes, it's a children's' CD, but if they're going to listen to any music geared to them, you cannot go wrong with Dolly Parton's I Believe in You. Far more tolerable than Barney, far more talented than Beyoncé (compare the writing credits, for instance), you can hold your head high and gift this to every toddler on your Christmas list this year. All proceeds from the sale of I Believe in You go to support the Imagination Library, which to date has mailed 98,587,211 books to children from birth to age five, to encourage literacy as a pathway to the realization of their dreams.

 

Tarja: From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)

By Robin Ervolina
It takes a lot for me to listen to Christmas music, and even more for me to address anything related to Christmas before Thanksgiving. I'm a scroogity Scrooge and the commercialism of the Christ child is only acceptable after Turkey Day has its due. That being said, I greedily and hypocritically devoured the new CD from ethereal vocalist Tarja, partly because of her unparalleled talent, and partly because it's titled From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) and the blackness of my jaded soul demanded it.
If you're unfamiliar with Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli let me briefly 411 you. This classically trained soprano hails from Finland and is the founder and former vocalist for the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Her elegant three range octave has earned her multiple awards and millions of fans world wide. Her first solo album post-Nightwish was Henkäys ikuisuudesta (2005), also a Christmas album. I suppose it's safe to say Tarja is not a scrooge, however the theme of this newest Christmas CD is not for the merry hearted.

On this album, I explored the other side of Christmas — the Christmas of the lonely people and the missing ones, the Christmas for those that do not find joy in the blinking lights and the jingle bells. -- Tarja

"O Come,  Come, Emmanuel" kicks off From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) quite deceptively. It's extremely dressed down, barren of effects, most likely and rightly to highlight the dark angelic voice of Tarja. Soon however, the orchestra kicks in. I hope you make room for a new set of goosebumps. Tarja's voice produces one set, the grand orchestration another ... you know, basically like every Nightwish song ever. The second track is the one original tune on the CD. "Together" has an intro that is part Danny Elfman and part American Horror Story (Coven) and it's the loneliest Christmas song I've ever heard. It's entirely possible that before this CD is over, I may look forward to the holidays if for no other reason than to torture my blinking-lights-loving relatives. "We Three Kings" presents like a possessed music box full of haunting memories, a desert of Christmases past for maudlin souls. "Deck The Halls" delivers on the promise of a dark score and its dissidence is bone chilling. Children singing "fa la la la la, la la la la " in such a way will not go over well at the mall, but it sure as hell puts a Jack Skeleton smile on my face. All that being said, even a dark intent can't cast a shadow over the beautiful "Pie Jesu." Tarja's treatment of this popular requiem does the song more than justice; she elevates it. I considered skipping over the over-done "Amazing Grace" but decided in fairness to give it a shot. Tarja surprised me. With a War of the Worlds tripod roar underlying the celtic orchestration, Tarja soars above expectations and takes this classic to new heights. I wouldn't call it dark, but I would call it unique.
"O Tannenbaum" calls to mind possessed sugar-plum fairies tip toeing through a Tim Burton forest, and Tarja sounds the most mischievous of them all. The score is a stunning masterpiece, from tiny little music box tones to massive orchestrations.  "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" ends this CD and it's sinister as hell. We wish you a merry Christmas? Do we? And do we have a different definition of "merry" or "wish?" And who exactly is "we?" My former goth self so very much wishes this had been in my life earlier. Honestly, "we won't go until we get some" scares the hell out of me. I don't know what figgy pudding is but I'm afraid if I don't have it in my house, bad things will happen, worse-than-mistletoe level bad things.
In the end, From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas) achieves its goal and this Grinch's heart grew larger and darker. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make some figgy pudding.
Track List

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel	4:57
Together	3:21
We Three Kings	3:54
Deck the Halls	2:45
Pie Jesu	3:28
Amazing Grace	4:43
O Tannenbaum	3:38
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas	3:40
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	4:14
Feliz Navidad	5:49
What Child is This	4:56
We Wish You a Merry Christmas	4:07

Red Hymns: Vol. 2

Written by Robin Ervolina
When an opening track is your straight-out-of-the-gate introduction to a band, it requires a few things to be effective: lyrical intent, passionate delivery, and a gripping melody. Red Hymns' "Callisto" nails it and then some, and the rest of their new EP Vol. 2 follows suit magnificently.
Red Hymns' first EP Vol. 1 was released August of 2016. Vol. 2 hit October 2017 and is part of a four-EP collection (no release dates have been announced for Vol. 3 and 4). The first two EPs are well worth a listen, the last two worth the wait, I'd guarantee it. New Jersey raised up Red Hymns in 2015, but Jeremy Hernandez (vocals), Alexander Grullon (guitar), Robert Piccininni Jr. (bass) and Michael Cipriano (drums) play as cohesively as bands ten times their "age." There are no missteps here, no sorting out of sound to be detected. Red Hymns clearly knows who they are, and their handshake hello is groove-heavy rock. Their calling card is etched with melodic determination. Something this good should make me feel guilty. It fails to do so, though it does succeed in making me feel dirty, in a very, very good way.
Opening track "Callisto" seduces in an instant with a guitar-driven melody and compelling vocals. It's an intro that doesn't rely on one facet of Red Hymns but rather showcases their cohesion. Hernandez' vocals are sharp and clean, pulling you into the sway-inducing verse, then coaxing you through a sweet chorus before dropping you back into an undeniably enchanting tone. A tune of 4 minutes and 33 seconds with so many twists and turns takes masterful precision to pull off, and Red Hymns demonstrates they have just that. Side note: Red Hymns recently collaborated with Barrier Brewing Company and released a beer titled Endless Sky IPA, inspired by the lyrics in "Callisto." If it's as rich and complex as this track, it begs to be imbibed.
"Callisto" fades out with Hernandez calling "What do you want?" Try as I might I still can't answer that question on a grand scale, but in the moment, I want more of Red Hymns complicated melodic rock, and they satisfy with "Vultures" and "Terra Preta." "Vultures" gives me a drum-driven desire to move through the room like a predator stalking every word and note, and "Terra Preta," Portuguese for "black earth," closes out Vol. 2 (too soon) in the way every last song should; compelling the listener to listen again.
While there is a definitive sound to Red Hymns, it's unique and not remotely repetitive. Vol. 2, though only three-songs long, can be played in rotation endlessly. If you love this first song, you'll continue loving Vol. 2 and like me, stream Vol. 1 alongside it on Spotify. This is a collective I can happily and confidently stake my reputation on. The songs are crafted with care and delivered with intensity. It's a moody, solid, emotive pure rock offering. If you're lucky enough to live near Teaneck, NJ., you can catch Red Hymns in concert with He Is Legend at Debonair Music Hall on December 14. If not, do like me and follow Red Hymns on Facebook to keep track of future tour dates.

Barenaked Ladies: Fake Nudes

By Robin Ervolina
It's been One Week since I received the advance copy of Barenaked Ladies new CD Fake Nudes. There is something so homey about the first few strums of one of their well-crafted tunes, something so satisfying about the first lines, or any line, of any one of their songs. Whether you're a long-time fan, or you're Falling for the First Time, If I Had 1,000,000 dollars I'd wager to bet the new Barenaked Ladies CD Fake Nudes will surprise and delight you. All the BNL character and talent is intact, but this is not entirely the BNL you'd expect; Fake Nudes illustrates that it has, in fact NOT, All Been Done yet.
Opening track "Canada Dry" is everything I love about Barenaked Ladies. The lyrics are strokes on the canvas of song, placed carefully and effortlessly by a master of his craft. If you've ever returned to the scene of a great love affair and found yourself stranded by the memories, this is your tune. Following is "Bringing It Home." The message is inspiring; bust out a life worth living. However in retrospect, what makes it really special is the little bit of island flare in the intro providing the first glimpse that BNL is here to play. Another great anthem of dealing with life like a champ is "Lookin' Up." It's unbelievably peppy, and upholds a message of positivity. It's textbook BNL and it's going to be a communal singalong live. I'm serious. Bring your lighter app for your phone. This will end a set and bring down a house.
Here's where things start to get interesting. For Fake Nudes, Barenaked Ladies 15th studio album, the guys seem to have thrown a ton of caution into a headstrong wind. There are influences that are obvious: Simon and Garfunkle in "Dusty Rooms" and "Flying Dreams," some 90s smooth groove in "We Took The Night," and even some Beach Boys Meets Zappa in "Bag of Bones." The eclectic nature of Fake Nudes is intoxicating. There are comfort zones and surprises along the way, but one thing is certain; the storytellers are alive and well.
There are a fair amount of turned down tunes in Fake Nudes. "Sunshine" drops the mood with a steady rim shot and a gorgeous melody that guides you into Ed Robertson's prose. An intro like this begs the listener to pay attention to lyrics like these:

Sunshine burns your skin / sometimes the things we love so much just eat us up from the outside in / oceans' blue will drown / I could find a way to live with your ghost but I won't be happy until I leave this town

"Navigate" is a gentle ballad with a melody that floats in space and lyrics that ground you to your dreams. It's one of my favorite respite tunes on this CD. "You And Me" is a soulmate love song that pays homage to one of my favorite movies with the line "I'll be your Wesley and you'll be my Buttercup." This is why I love Barenaked Ladies. They get me. They just get me. "The Township of King" wraps Fake Nudes up like the snow white bow on a Tiffany blue box. It's a beautiful fairy tale style story at the outset that quickly turns gloomy as a yellow bird warns our protagonist that paradise is paveable.
There's some bizarre stuff going on in Fake Nudes no doubt, but I posture they can get away with it. Their content is engaging, introspective, and the delivery is both everything you expect and nothing you were prepared for. Barenaked Ladies will be touring with Better Than Ezra and KT Tunstall as celebrated guests on their “Last Summer on Earth 2018” tour kicking off on June 1st  and wrapping up on July 15th.  With each ticket purchased, fans receive a download of BNL’s new album Fake Nudes. Tour dates are listed below, but if you can't wait, Fake Nudes can be pre-ordered now and releases for purchase at all major music retailers on November 17th, 2017.
Last Summer on Earth 2018 Tour Dates

Friday, June 1st	Prior Lake, MN	Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
Saturday, June 2nd	Kansas City, MO	Starlight Theatre
Sunday, June 3rd	Council Bluffs, IA	Stir Cove at Harrah's Casino
Wednesday, June 6th	Missoula, MT	Big Sky Brewing Company
Thursday, June 7th	Boise, ID	Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden
Friday, June 8th	Troutdale, OR	Edgefield
Saturday, June 9th	Redmond, WA	Marymoor Park
Tuesday, June 12th	Saratoga, CA	The Mountain Winery* - On sale TBD
Friday, June 15th	Los Angeles, CA	Greek Theatre
Saturday, June 16th	Las Vegas, NV	Red Rock Resort Spa & Casino - Sandbar
Tuesday, June 19th	Morrison, CO	Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Thursday, June 21st	Indianapolis, IN	Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park
Friday, June 22nd	Milwaukee, WI	Riverside Theater
Saturday, June 23rd	Cincinnati, OH	PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Sunday, June 24th	Toledo, OH	Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
Tuesday, June 26th	Philadelphia, PA	Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, June 27th	Brooklyn, NY	Ford Amphitheatre at Coney Island
Friday, June 29th	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun
Saturday, June 30th	Gilford, NH	Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Sunday, July 1st	Boston, MA	Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Monday, July 2nd	Vienna, VA	The Filene Center – Wolf Trap
Wednesday, July 4th	Raleigh, NC	The Red Hat Amphitheater
Thursday, July 5th	Charlotte, NC	Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
Friday, July 6th	St. Augustine, FL	Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
Monday, July 9th	Baltimore, MD	Pier Six Pavilion** - On sale December 8th
Tuesday, July 10th	Lewiston, NY	Artpark
Wednesday, July 11th	Columbus, OH	Express Live!
Friday, July 13th	Chicago, IL	Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Saturday, July 14th	Clarkston, MI	DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sunday, July 15th	Cleveland, OH	Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica