Songs of the Night is a new EP from Rhett Repko. Rhett’s appreciation for the authenticity of classic rock manifests itself in these songs, which favor precision craftmanship and genuine emotion over the plasticity of excess in contemporary pop production. That being said, this EP is very well produced, as good as any label quality recodng, while retaining its organic sound. Tracks like A Broken Song exemplify the album’s intimate feel, with minimalist guitars and heartfelt vocals giving the listener the sense of listening to a dedicated performance in ones living room. Other jams like Out of My Head feature a heavier, rockin ambiance with stylish arrangements and powerful melodic choruses. The vocals are pretty impressive. Rhett can hit some high notes, and his voice is really pleasant to listen to tonewise. I’ve reviewed releases by Rhett Repko a couple years ago and definitely saw a lot of potential. It’s good to see Rhett and the band continuing to progress and make a name for themselves.

Fore more info:

http://www.rhettrepko.com/home
https://open.spotify.com/album/545zyvTnBtkDijqPW5klQY
https://twitter.com/RhettRepko

Holy Prophet Elijah is another fun filled, action packed electronic track from Jamit, this time a collaborative effort with fellow artist Kætäwi. The jam is a groovin’ retro-futuristic dance track with synths stylistically reminiscent of those of the fictitious group “Andromeda” from the television show, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. One definitely gets some post-disco vibes from this track. It’s positively galactic. The subject matter is the prophet Elijah, and the listener is left with intrigue as to the significance, whether a religious statement is being made or whether the usage is more abstract, conveying a manner of the song’s spirit and vitality. One thing is certain, this jam is poppin’ and makes me want to install a light-up dance floor in my living room.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/jamitjames/kaetawi-jamit-holy-prophet-elijah

https://jamitjames.bandcamp.com/track/holy-prophet-elijah

Friction is the debut EP from Django Riders, a soul/funk band from Portland, TN. They managed to pack a lot of vitality in this 4 song release. The guitars stand out here as especially phenomenal. I’m not sure what kind of gear setup these guys work with, but they really do capture that authentic vintage tone. Some musicians will spend thousands of dollars experimenting with vacuum tubes and never come close to achieving this kind of tone. The guitar performance on these jams is dynamic and elaborately groovin. It’s funky rock’n’roll with a little bit of swinging country flavor.

Each track is lively as all get out from start to finish. I would have never guessed that the EP was recorded in three different studios over a year period, since everything sounds cohesive, and the songs all vibe as if they’re part of the same set. The vocals are a thrill a minute. The singer does more than just croon. He puts on a wild show with his voice, and you can just tell this dude loves to perform. This style of music is hard to sing well given the exotic voice changes and delivery dynamics necessary, so I have to give props to the lead and backup vocalists for pulling it off. My favorite song on this EP is probably Musky Funk, which has a sweet 70’s style intro, a catchy chorus and memorably quirky lyrics. Don’t be fooled by the fact this is their debut EP. These guys are all pro musicians, and this release punches well above its weight.

For more info:

http://www.thedjangoriders.com/

Keys To The M.O.E is a new album from ex-bodybuilder and longtime music artiste, Kilo M.O.E It doesn’t take long when listening to this record to realize Kilo M.O.E. (real name Maurice Jones) has a talent for writing catchy songs. The title track Keys To The M.O.E is attention grabbing, with Kilo’s deep and commanding vocal presence leading the way. A lot of indie rappers and hip hop artists are unorganized and simply bust rhymes into the void, just throwing stuff at a wall and hoping it sticks. Kilo on the other hand demonstrates impressive songwriting craftsmanship. Whether its through innate intuition or just the fact that he’s a seasoned veteran who has been at this game a long time, I have no idea. The songs have clever hooks, strong verses, and memorable chorus phrasing all structured within a complex musical framework.

There’s a substantial variety of beats and instrumentals on this album. Usually it’s synths or some kind of piano and samples, setting a mood and ambiance that’s a little on the darkly mischievous / diabolical side. The track In Em is probably my favorite in terms of musical backing. It has a kind of 80’s Sci-Fi synth and is just all around badass. Though Feel Inside gets an honorable mention with its melodic disco vibes. Something must be said for Kilo’s delivery. He doesn’t just go through the motions. He’s never content to just spit out lyrics. Rather, like an actor he delivers his lines with a performative pizazz that enhances the songs in ways which less creative people would be incapable of. The song which really stands out on this album is still the title track, Keys to the M.O.E It’s just so damn catchy, and it was still in my head hours later after only hearing it one time.

For more info:

https://www.kilomoemusic.com

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l9yW0zOIzN-FnhySZNXeUtFPgzMaalWU0