Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Mike Herz, Jacob Tremont and Lauren Rosato, Erika Sherger, Greg Bullock, Fear Of Falling, Miss Ohio, Surfing For Daisy, and Deena. Plus a look back at the Banding Together compilations from 2012-2024.

Mike Herz - "Fine Stories (EP)". Mike Herz is not a braggart, which is why he called his new EP "Fine Stories". He could have called have called it "Amazing Heartfelt Stories About Life". The songs are all intimate, and feel like they may have started as contemplations on life that he had to get out of his head and onto paper, and ultimately into a song. The sparse instrumentation of Mike's acoustic guitar and Loni Bach's cello pair so perfectly with these songs (and Mike's harmonica on the closing song, "Circle Back") that this EP is something special.

Jacob Tremont and Lauren Rosato - "This Time Around". "This Time Around" is made up of 6 songs, 3 from Lauren Rosato, followed by 3 from Jacob Tremont. They each have their own style of acoustic music, Rosato having a melancholy feel, melodic and personal, Tremont more uptempo, less intimate, but equally warm. The songs together, side by side, make for one really great collection.

Erika Sherger - "Wrap Me Up In Colored Feathers". Wrap me up in Erika Sherger's new album, "Wrap Me Up In Colored Feathers". It is a very comforting  Singer-Songwriter/Americana/Folk-Rock album. I really like it!

Greg Bullock  - Best Of... If you've somehow never heard Greg Bullock or his band, Cyborg Amok, "Best Of..." is a great primer. 15 songs of alternative-synth-goth-rock.

Fear Of Falling - "Long Shadows Echo". When Alt-Rock band Fear Of Falling reunited a few years ago, I was thrilled. Even more so when they started releasing new singles. Their new album "Long Shadows Echo", combines those singles, along with several more new songs. The collection is magnificent, and for record enthusiasts, available on red colored vinyl.

Miss Ohio - "Songs from Another Wasted Summer". Five of the eight songs on Miss Ohio's "Songs from Another Wasted Summer", are newly recorded versions of songs on Miss Ohio's first album, "Another Wasted Summer", which came out 20 years ago. Re-recording songs can sometimes be a mixed bag. The energy on the original version can't usually be matched, so if you don't have something else creative to bring to it, then it can be disappointing. Thankfully, time has allowed Miss Ohio to look at these songs differently. these versions are not trying to be note for note recreations, nor are they trying to completely reinvent the song. Somewhere in between they have found that sweet spot, of having the feel of the original, with the types of flourishes and changes that can only come with playing the songs, as they have, for 20 years.

Deena - "This is the Time". the world’s gone weary / tangled up and bleary

but it keeps on spinning round / drowning in the tragic

looking for the magic / so everyone could just calm down

- from "You Took the Cake" (track 3 on "This is the Time")

"This is the Time" is three songs Deena wrote with her friend, lyricist David Graham. As you can see in the lyric above these are songs for the times we are living through. The sort of title track, "This is the Time For Love", even more perfectly sums up what we could all use more of right now.

Surfing For Daisy - "Live at Wonderbar 9/13/24". Regular readers of this column know I am a big fan of Surfing For Daisy. Their Alt-Folk/Americana sound gives me the feels ever time I hear them, and their live show is something really special. "Live at Wonderbar 9/13/24" captures one of those special nights with Danny Clinch sitting in on three of the six songs.

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Shameless plug alert, but it is for a good cause that I happen to be associated with.

Last week we announced the massive 233 song "big box of music" that you'll be able to download next month during BlowUpRadio.com's annual Banding Together benefit for the Spondylitis Association of America by donating $20 or more.

But right now you can download previous Banding Together compilations from 2012-2024 at https://spondy.bandcamp.com

All money raised there still goes to the Spondylitis Association of America, so you can download some great music and help a good cause to find a cure for this genetic rheumatoid arthritic condition that causes inflammation and fusion in the vertebrae of the spine.

And check out BlowUpRadio.com as we continue to update information on this year's benefit, happening in October.

That's all for this week.

Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon (and bridged on BlueSky)