DEAD AIRWAVESDustin Ritter BandIndie7-out-of-10
There is nothing more satisfying as a reviewer than cracking the seal on a disk from a Saskatchewan band and truly enjoying what I hear.
Thanks to the Dustin Ritter Band that was the reaction I had from Dead Airwaves.
The three piece unit, Ritter on guitar and vocals, Travis Reshaur on bass and Judd Stachoski, hail from Regina, and their indie rock music immediately caught my attention.
The opening song, No Avoiding This was an excellent intro into the CD and certainly set the scene for the rest of a very fine debut effort.
As you might realize by now, I thoroughly enjoyed this disk.
Not every song is a gem. Let's Pretend, Ltd. and Stuck in the Psych Ward, are not the best, but they are all right.
Broke Feet, Do This Thing and Swing for the Fence by contrast are the better cuts and show the potential of this trio.
Now the DRB is not likely to break huge, but they have a sound that would make them fun live, and will likely get them some university radio play.
The disk might not be on a must buy list, but when you factor in the Saskatchewan connection, I'd suggest you give them a listen.
Check it out at www.myspace.com/dustinritterband- CALVIN DANIELS
MAV'RIKDonna GreenbergIndie8-out-of-10
Donna Greenberg hails from Toronto, and Mav'rik is her sophomore effort.
Those not familiar with Greenberg, myself included until the arrival of this disk, she has a sound somewhere in the realm between jazz and Broadway show turns.
I love the old 1920's gravely male vocal opening on You're My Summer Peach. It is a nice counterbalance to Greenberg's own smooth vocals. There is some sweet horn work on the number too.In terms of older influence, Old Country Road takes the listener back a few decades for its influence as well.
Greenberg likes to add mood with the opening arrangements of her songs. She does it with a sort of Medieval feel opening to the beautiful Nature's Glory. It is the prettiest number here, and the tin flute by Tom Skublics is a memorable aspect of this CD which will stay with the listener for a long time after the CD is put away.
Greenberg switches things up within the broad realm of jazz too, including the Latin La Nina de Rosa, which might seem a tad out of place, but stands as a counterpoint to the rest of the CD.
There is a gospel-inspired piece mixed in as well, with the song Praise Be.
You know how some voices seem ideally suited to a style of music? Well Greenberg's seems to be have been born to jazz. She sells all 12 songs via crystal clear vocals.
Jazz fans will like this, and the music is accessible enough, and Greenberg's vocals pleasing enough to satisfy a broader audience too.
Check her out at www.donnagreenberg.com- CALVIN DANIELS
Past reviews are archived online at http://calmardan.blogspot.com/
