IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
Aaron Pritchett
Awesome Music
9-out-of-10
Aaron Pritchett might be the poster boy for how influx the big recording companies are today as they try to figure out how to make a dollar in the face of Internet downloads.
Give In The Driver's Seat a listen and the question you are left asking is how this guy isn't signed to a big label deal. That talent like this is having to forge indie careers speaks volumes as to how lost the big companies are.
They have lost sight of talent as they flounder toward a CD-less future.
All right enough of a sermon on the music industry in flux. This is a review of Aaron Pritchett's latest, and I guess it might simply be summed up as WOW!
There are 12-songs on this, Pritchett's fifth release, and there is not a soft spot among the dozen.
It starts out with a radio-hit-in-the-making in Walk All Over Me, and follows it up with Light It Up, a great summer party song.
Shifting down a notch Pritchett offers up Coming Clean, and it is the best of the opening trio of songs.
She's Going Somewhere is song four, and it equals Coming Clean. That the first four songs of a CD are so solid is impressive to say the least.
From there Pritchett keeps tossing what is a near perfect game. You and Me drops to the level of ordinary, likely in-part because the rest of the CD is so good.
Now this isn't really a surprise. Pritchett has a growing resume for his music, including a Canadian Country Music Association for Independent Male Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year in 2007 for 'Hold My Beer'.
And based on In The Driver's Seat Pritchett is a nominee at this year's Western Canadian Music Awards; one of six finalists for Country Recording of the Year. It is a well-deserved accolade given the strength of this disk.
Mark this one must-have modern country.
Check it out at www.aaron-pritchett.com
- CALVIN DANIELS
LUCKY TONIGHT
Romi Mayes
Indie
8.5-out-of-10
Romi Mayes is one of those artists out there I have had the pleasure to review before, the most recent being her disk Achin In Yes Bones, which garnered a 9-out-of-10 back in the summer of 2009.
Before that it was the fine 2006 release Sweet Somethin' Steady.
It is too bad it has taken this very talented lady two years to release another effort, but I can add the wait was worth it.
Lucky Tonight is a rootsy, bluesy, generally slow-paced gem which highlights Mayes' fine vocals over a 10-song effort.
Make You Love Me is the best of this CD which by the way, was recorded live ay The West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Mayes home city. Those in attendance at the show were treated to an amazing night of music.
When Mayes swings into After The Show you just have to pause and listen. I even stopped typing this review just to enjoy this one. Simply great, down and dirty blues.
As Mayes' career has progressed she has moved from what I would have termed folk in 2006, to where Lucky Tonight is very blues-influenced, with just a hint of roots still showing. Of course it remains 'rootsy' enough that Lucky Tonight is among this year's Western Canadian Music Awards finalists for Roots Solo Recording of the Year, and deservedly so.
You won't go wrong adding this, or any other Mayes offering, to your collection.
Check it out at www.romimayes.com
- CALVIN DANIELS
Past reviews are archived online at http://calmardan.blogspot.com/
