Totally Biased Fan Review: Keeping Secrets – Ryan Daykin

Two of my favourite people in the Aussie country music industry are Tamara Stewart and the late Karl Broadie. If they both endorse this young Victorian (you can tell why I moved here…how many rippas are there in Victoria!) – then that is good enough for me. On top of this, if Allison Forbes tells me that I will love it and Brad Bergen produced it, then what more is there to say?  Both Hayley Marsten, on of our up and coming young artists and my country music daughter and fellow Tamworthian, Aleyce Simmonds do duets on this EEP.

Ryan has elements of Bryan Adams and Keith Urban in his voice and style. That ain’t shabby. With iTunes, you don’t get a lot of details, but I am told that Ryan is a songwriter, so I can guess that he wrote or co-wrote most of these tracks.

Ain’t Gonna Miss Me opens up the EEP with strong guitars and rambling bluesy licks. It is a shower song in the making and a stomp track. Great way to start.

Like Wildfire is a neat duet with Hayley who has been setting the country music world on fire. Polished production here and a very hummable track.

Ryan has a very strong voice, a little bit Judah as well as the previously mentioned guys and very soulful. The Way She Loved Me is probably one of my faves, here. A track that crosses a few music types.

Arms Length is sung with my little buddy, Country Music Daughter, Aleyce Simmonds, so you know that I am not going to say anything but beautiful stuff. Sounding very Keithy here, and there is nothing wrong with that. How can you go wrong with a duet with Aleyce. Super track.

War Fair is a clever play on words and a powerful track.

Great guitars on Waited Long Enough. Ryan sings his heart out on this track.

I love all the songs and hope to hear more from this young fella. he is a powerhouse. His voice is big and strong. Brad did well with producing this with polish and fire.

He is definitely one to watch. Glad to be an honorary Victorian when I hear young fellas like this. Thanks Forbesy for the tip.

 

 

Tracks:

Ain’t Gonna Miss Me

Like Wildfire – (with Hayley Marsten)

The Way She Loved Me

Arms Length (with Aleyce Simmonds)

War Fair

Waited Long Enough

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Totally Biased Fan Review: Something Worth Learning – Smith and Jones

I think that it is very apt that a Johnson reviews an album by Smith and Jones. Also, because I was raised in Tamworth and went to uni at Bathurst, it is apt too. The fact that two of my fave people, Michael Carpenter and Kylie had a wee bit to do with this album, and mainly because it is just bloody good.

My mate, Bruber and I downloaded this from iTunes last weekend and we listened to it and marvelled at it…so much that we played it about 3 times on the way to other gigs, and then we made sure that we were going to a certain gig next weekend at The Union Hotel in Brunswick:

I debated whether to do this review before or after, since I prefer to do reviews from a solid copy, but brother Michael Carpenter sent me the credits and I am much happier with that. The girls are also doing other gigs in Melbournetown and surrounds, so check on that as well.

I am a big Janis Ian fan, thus, as soon as I heard some songs on this, I said to Bruber, hey, this reminds me of someone. I went through Joan Armatrading, which is close, then thought, no, it is Janis Ian. If you plug into a Janis Ian album, you will get it. I am from that generation, so is producer, Michael, so he will understand. These songs, all written by Smith, are just amazing. Maybe folks wouldn’t think of Janis Ian as country, but she is folkish, and to me, Folk always came first, and is closely aligned with country. It is my fave kind of the 79 types of country.

There is not a bad song on this album. I love all of them, from the more tender songs to the upbeat ones.

It is great for a Sunday afternoon, mellowing and peaceful. I know that the girls are a lot younger than Michael and I, but they may know who I think that they are channelling. Michael always does an amazing job, and he covers so many kinds of music.

The musicianship is simple. There are no complicated or overdone musical instruments, the vocals are the most important thing.

Running from Something is slightly different to the other songs, it has a touch of Dylan to it…probably the harmonica, then it is turned into more of an upbeat track. The girls mix it up but keep it to the Janis Ian, Indigo Girls type of music. It is an album that you can play over and over again and reveal the levels of the songs but at the same time just relax and enjoy the vibe.

The quality of songwriting and vocals and harmonies on this album are pretty well second to none. Under the guiding light of one of the greatest in Aussie music, Michael Carpenter, these girls are just damn fine winners. It is hard to fault, and I am not in the business of faulting. Buy the album, go to the gigs, you will not be disappointed. You will be enlightened.

Breathe it in folks. This is music at its finest.

 

 

Tracks:

As I Am

Runaway

Secondhand Heart

One Last Time

Last Night I Saw Jesus

Running From Something

Every Year Around This Time

In the Middle of the Night

Right Into the Heart

The Train Song

Love Lives in darkness

 

Totally Biased Fan Review – Holy Smoke – Ingrid Mae

On the recommendation of some country musos, I ordered a single of Ingrid’s and liked it so much, I pre-ordered the album. As most people know, I prefer the hard copy cd, which I will get eventually, but when you get an iTunes download, they top up the songs as they become available and eventually send you the whole album. I had just received all the tracks yesterday morning but had to go to work so I had planned to review it in full yesterday afternoon on this morning. I had Leonie McClure’s 2RRR show on the radio and who should pop in to the studio but Ingrid Mae. Coincidence? Omen? Maybe. She had her album launch last night in Annandale in Sydney.  With her talking about some of the tracks (until I had to open up at work) – it helped with writing this review, as there is not that much information around and without having the details from an album cover, the interviews help. If you look through the titles of  some of the tracks, you will see that some of them are quite quirky. That comes across in her personality (similar to Susan Lily and Melissa Robertson). These three girls have big, fun personalities but they also write songs to think about.

It was refreshing to hear her say that “We have enough songs for another album but we want to see how this one goes first.” That is a great sign for us fans. Ingrid Mae’s voice is like if you put Rose Carleo, Bonnie Raitt and Pam Tillis in a blender. That’s a good thing, by the way folks.

Her songs are honest, relatable and range from easy ballads to soulful, bluesy and rock chick tracks. Well written, polished and well produced.  I can imagine her performing these songs LIVE.  I reckon that she would be funny and energetic and entertaining.

Leonie sent me a message yesterday, asking if I was still listening. I was until the moment that I had to open up the doors at work. I really didn’t want to turn it off. You will feel the same way when you play the album. I have now played it 8 times.

There is something for everybody on this album. Paul Mac produced it, and no doubt played some drums on it, and he does a great job. Unfortunately, I don’t have all the credits, so I can’t tell you who played what, but I do know that Ingrid wrote all the songs, maybe some of them were co-writes.

She has a voice that changes according to the song that she sings. There are 14 songs on this album, something that is virtually unheard of these days. They are all different and all winners.

Some are big and ballsy, others are laid back and require a merlot and a box of tissues. The last song is a heartbreaker and probably my favourite. This is definitely one of my favourite albums of the year so far and there are a few shower songs and toe tappers on here as well as more mellow tracks.

Holy Smoke, Batman, this is a rippa. Listen to it, you won’t be disappointed.

 

Tracks:

Choosy

Magnetic

Undoin’ the good

45

The way you leave me

As the Crow Files

I love the bends

Bring i

Saloons N’ Outlaws

New Squeeze

Hell Bent

Holy Smoke

Mason Breakin’

An Angel Said Hello

Totally Biased Fan Review: Man on the Moon – Written by Billy Bridge Illustrated by Leigh Brown

   

In July, 1969, a man named Armstrong walked upon the moon. I know that because Reg Lindsay sang it to me. My father played it once or one thousand times on the stereo. Also, I know that because I watched the moon landing on our old black and white tv when I was 6 and a half. 1969 was a fairly big year….music wise, for an old hippy like me, Woodstock happened. About a year later, Pa took us to Parkes and I sat at the Dish in a big leather reclining chair and listened to the moon landing again. So I do have some history of The Dish myself.  Also, it is one of my favourite Aussie movies, but we digress.

I met Billy long after a lot of other people in country music fandom did. I have reviewed both Billy and his wife’s (Bec) albums. I have met them a few times now and we are friends via music, our love for the Carlton AFL team and I live now where Billy grew up. We both have a love of this big, crazy land of ours and all of the unsung heroes. We also love children, so as a former Children’s Librarian and still someone who works in a library with kids and Billy as a Dad who has just written a children’s book…..the connections go on.

This book is based on Billy’s song From the Stories Through Time album.  I have included a link to the song on here. (Get the album though and you will hear lots of other stories)

The book is a good size for little hands. The pictures are how a child would see it all unfold. The words are the song that Billy wrote with an extra verse as an intro and an extra verse as a conclusion. The extra verses are great for the story, as they set it up and round it off. They also say what the book is about in many ways. Dreams that seem impossible but dreams that come true with determination and imagination.

It is a great little book for a parent or grandparent to read to the little ones, as a snapshot of Aussie history, world history or the promise that dreams can come true if you have a go.

I know this story because I lived in the days that it happened. It was a pretty cool memory. Kids today don’t necessarily know the story or Australia’s part in it. They should know it and they should be proud.

Dream on kids and well done Billy. Never give up on your dreams.

 

Check out my older blogs!

If you want to read my old blogs and reviews, there are links on this blog – A Country Hattitude,  Countryas and also, I do a blog post each week called Downunder Beats for Bluesandrootsradio.com.

Enjoy!

You’d be surprised at the albums that I have reviewed over the years.

Cheers,

Kaz

Totally Biased Fan Review: Replay – Sophia Chesworth

Despite reports to the contrary by so-called “experts”, the hills (and valleys) of Australia are alive with the sound of female country music. We are blessed at the moment with wonderful female singer/songwriters between the ages of 15 and 95. There are even some as young as 13 writing songs…..good songs.

Sophia is one of the young gunnettes (Kazism), and she is on her way. What a big voice from someone so young. This EEP contains five very strong songs, which some could brand country pop, but I think that it has more substance than that.

Someone dared to compare her to Taylor Swift. May they not rest in peace. This young lady makes Taylor Swift look like Minnie Mouse singing with the Chipmunks. Good grief, what an insult.

The songs range from catchy to heartfelt. This young lady is only about 17. She won some awards at 14. If she is this good at this young age, what are we in for? If I was going to compare her to any big American Songstress, it would be more like early Shania Twain.

Crushed is going to feature in my shower for sure. I love all the songs but probably my favourite is You’re A Thief.

This young lady is a powerhouse. I am sure that this EEP will be on Replay a few times on my stereo.

 

Tracks:

Crushed

Replay

Navigate

One Way Ticket

You’re a Thief

Testing kj