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 Tiny Cities, The Melancholy Kings, Jay Ingstrup, Bamberdost, furiousBall, Evil6, Steam Enginess, Jason Didner and the Drive, Jon Caspi & The First Gun, and Bruce Tunkel. Plus a look back at "M.L. King" by Jon Caspi.
Tiny Cities - "Beginning of the End". Tiny Cities (Melissa Anthony & Dennis King) keep getting more awesome with each release. Their latest EP, "Beginning of the End", is 3 songs of warm, harmonious, folk rock, with an old-timey vibe. It is a medicinal balm for your ears and soul.
And do yourself a favor and get the vinyl, which not only gives the songs an even warmer sound, but includes a cover of the Skeeter Davis hit, "The End of the World", beautifully sung by Melissa.
'I want to get lost, I want to get high' on this EP.
The Melancholy Kings - "Her Favorite Disguise". I love me some good garage-power-pop, and The Melancholy Kings' album "Her Favorite Disguise" is some electrifying garage-power-pop!
Jay Ingstrup - "Guitar". I've found in doing BlowUpRadio.com for over 25 years, that some people really dislike instrumentals, and it seems like it may be simply because they want songs with vocals.
So what if we stopped calling them instrumentals and call them "audio abstract expressionism", as Jay Ingstrup describes the improvised guitar songs on his new release, "Guitar", then would you give this a chance?
You should, as the music is relaxing and hypnotic.
Bamberdost - "Dharmageddon". Oh hell yes! 13 songs of infectious, high energy, pop punk. That is "Dharmageddon", the new album from Bamberdost.
furiousBall - "Sunday Stubble". My understanding is the 4 songs on "Sunday Stubble" are leftovers from furiousBall's last album, "I'll Be Your Arsonist", but these don't sound like cold leftovers that have been hiding in the back of a freezer for over a year. Now, these alternative songs sound fresh baked and oh so good.
Evil6 - "S.O.S.". The first new original song in awhile from former Six To Eight Mathematics' Alana Q, comes in the form of her new band Evil6's, "S.O.S." It rocks! Hoping more songs are on the way soon.
Steam Enginess - "Through You". It has been over 3 years since Steam Enginess' "Lady of the Lake" album, but if "Though You", the first single from their new album "Say Your Name", due out in March, is foreshadowing of the rest of the album, then the time has been to good use. Hunter Guzenski's songwriting has always been strong, but the production on this song makes "Lady of the Lake" (an album I love) sound lo-fi by comparison. I am stoked to hear the rest of this album, and you should be too!
Jason Didner and the Drive - "Come Across the Tracks (feat. ROSTAFA)". The first studio recording from Jason Didner with his band the Drive is also a powerful song.
Their Bandcamp song description explains: "In 1964, a young, white newcomer to Asbury Park, brought his love of soul music in from out of town, so he crossed the railroad tracks that divide the white and Black populations, to play the music he loved with the musicians he admired. This heartland rock song honors that illuminating moment."
ROSTAFA's vocals duetting with Jason feels so natural I kind of hope they find other songs to collaborate on.
Jon Caspi & The First Gun - "Airport Plaza II". Jon Caspi & The First Gun's second new EP, the aptly titled, "Airport Plaza II", features 5 more songs from this Americana/Punk band with some special guests (Peter Holsapple (the dB's), Tommy Womack (Government Cheese), Derek Cruz (Jesse Malin)). The songs on this EP mostly have a more serious lyrical content, but to me none more so then the final 2 tracks (that have no special guests). "Broken", which has the lyrics up on their Bandcamp page (so I will let you determine for yourself what the song means), and "America Calling", which does not have the lyrics up but does say, "America is broken and continues to move into darkness." Indeed it is...
Bruce Tunkel - The Death of Renee Good". I wish this song never needed to be written...
Not New, But Memorable Corner
Jon Caspi - "M.L. King". I raved about Jon Caspi & The First Gun's new EP above, but let's go back almost 20 years when Jon Caspi released, "I'm Not Angry...Anymore", and this perfectly apt song for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, "M.L. King".
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)
