BLUES KID CITYAbsofunkinlutelyIndie8-out-of-10
If you ever get to thinking Saskatchewan is devoid of diversity on music, then toss Blues Kid City by Absofunkinlutely (short-form AFL) a band out of Saskatoon which really has its roots a long way from the snow-covered Canadian Prairies.
The band tags its music as "stubble-funk, Prairie-disco, reggae-rock and northern soul" on its Facebook.com fan-page, and I would say yep, that about covers it.
Some American funk, is tossed in with disco - yes that horrid mistake in music made popular by the Bee Gees, although why that happened speaks more of a comatose decade of listeners than good music - then AFL adds a reggae undertone and you have it.
The music comes across most noticeably as funk, although the idea of northern soul works on some of the material, like the lyrics of Soul Sucker.
The group includes Geoff Assman on keyboards, Shaun Dyck on bass, Mike Pierce on drums, with Randy Woods the vocals and guitar.
On the disk the sound is enhanced with the likes of Sheldon Corbett on sax, Kevin Marsh on trombone and Adam Streisel on trumpet.
This is an excellent CD, made sweeter because it's sort of an unexpected effort to come out of Saskatchewan.
The best cut is Take Me Back, a slower-paced love song which brings the music and vocals together to best advantage.
What I Want has a bit more of the reggae-feel, at least in certain elements of the piece.Overall this would be a fun party band, with generally upbeat music, that has an infectious beat.For sure this is one to check out.Check the band out at http://afl.fm/- CALVIN DANIELS
SELF-TITLEDMichelle OwenIndie8.5-out-of-10
Amazing female vocalists and Canada are almost synonymous, regardless of the genre of music you like. Names from Chantal Kreviasuk, Sarah McLachlan, Celine Dion and K.D. Lang come to mind amid a long list.
Well Michelle Owen hails from Toronto, and if her debut self-titled disk is any indication, she may soon be pushing her way into a listing of top Canadian female vocalists.
This girl is only 18, but two things are clearly evident in this disk, one she can flat out sing. Owen has a voice beyond her years. She knows how to control her vocals, to make them carry the emotion of the music.
More remarkable is the maturity Owen shows in writing both the music and lyrics throughout the 10-cut disk. On many of the songs Douglas Romanow has co-writing credits, but on some she does solo. Impressive indeed.
Songs such as Who Made It So and Holding On are hits among a particularly strong debut disk.
The musicianship behind Owen is also top-drawer, including guitarist Sean Ashby, who has worked with McLachlan in the past, and has played 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer and the Yorkton Legion in the last couple of years.
This is a disk which should be sought out since it is going to be the launch of a very impressive career.Check her out at www.michelleowenmusic.com- CALVIN DANIELS
Past reviews are archived online at http://calmardan.blogspot.com/
