Single Review - Way Past Words - Jesse Lopez

 

This is a love song, it’s a dedication to a girl that he really likes, to him, she already holds his heart in her hands.  However, he finds it easier to show his love than talk about it. His feelings are way past words

Way Past Words is the new single from Jesse Lopez.

Opening with a slow acoustic guitar and gorgeous soaring steel, Jesse’s vocals have a unique sound, reflecting his Mexican-Italian heritage as he tells his own love song.  While the underlying style is country, this isn’t chewin’ tobacco country, it’s a softer, more gentle song but very much in the storytelling style that we expect from Country music.

Its love song from personal experience, it’s his truth and perhaps it might be yours too.  In Jesse’s own words

I was in love with my girl long before we had ever even kissed. I’m such a physical touch type of person, that sometimes expressing my love comes down to an intimate setting... cause I guess from my perspective, nothing says I love you like a little physical attention.

Jesse’s vocals very much carry the whole song, the instrumentation doesn’t overpower but provides a background melody allowing the focus to be on the words and the story.

Its not big night out music, but easy listening, one to relax to and share with someone you like…

Way Past Words, the new single from Jesse Lopez is available to download and stream from all major platforms

You can find and follow Jesse on Facebook  on his website and on Spotify

Single Review - Better Days - Backwoods Creek

 

Despite all living in different places, the Creeker boys have kept on making music during lockdown and have released a series of videos of them performing covers of some quite diverse songs.  The great thing about these videos is that they show the contribution that each individual member of the band makes – a good reminder of everyone’s musical skill and showmanship in case you are normally focussed on just one or two of the boys. These lockdown performances have also helped to showcase that Backwoods Creek performance style – they are hardly the shy and retiring type but always ready to make you sing, laugh and cry!

Regardless of the quality of the covers they perform, it is refreshing to hear new music coming from the Creek Cave, and this Friday we are treated to their new single Better Days. 

As the title itself suggests, this is all those people reminiscing about the world before the pandemic hit, the better days. The quintet hope that the song will become a unifying singalong anthem.

Better Days tells a deep story of hardship and overcoming, ending with an uplifting & very relevant sentiment "I’ll see you again” Reflecting on choices made and steps taken, our storyteller wants to be taken back to when things were different, back to better days. It has a feel of looking backwards to look forward.

The pounding drums, the almost fanfare of combined instruments before Jamie’s gruff vocals and long notes define it as a Backwoods Creek song. This song leans more towards rock.

It’s loud with punchy statements that you cannot argue with. The dramatic instrumental section after Jamie’s long note,  leads to a softer vocal that creates a picture of the day, with the rain and the smoke, it is depressing and a good comparison to our storyteller’s and our hopes for the future.

The last quivering note from the electric guitar (Yannick) will not  let you walk away feeling blue, it will fire you up to take on the challenges and get through the next however long, or at least to their next release.

Better Days, the new single from Backwoods Creek is available now to download and stream on all major platforms

Find and follow Backwoods Creek on Facebook, on their website and on Spotify

 

 

 

 

 

Single Review - Come On Over - Kyle Elliott

Not to be confused with the Shania Twain hit, Come on Over is a tale of romancing the girl and regretting missed chances.  Opening with drums and a very Country electric guitar riff, Kyle has a gruff Southern accent telling us about the pretty girl he is longing for – in fact   he’s made a real effort by arranging “a bottle of wine and candlelight”.

Whatever went wrong, he admits to being “same old me, same old fool” but he’s hopeful, almost pleading, that she will come on over, particularly as he drives by her house. There aren’t many alternatives in a small town.

It’s not just about the romance though, as Kyle reminds us that you can’t turn back the hands on the clock, and in fact he’s thinking back to the past and wishing he could have a second chance.  We aren’t told what went wrong, but “the old bottle of wine’s empty and the candles burned down too”.

It’s an all too recognisable tale and maybe you are rooting for him – Kyle says: 

Come On Over’ describes a scenario that I think a lot of us can put ourselves in. Wishing we could go back and get a second chance. This was an easy song to write and I must admit that songs that are true and come from within are typically the ones that write themselves like ‘Come On Over’ did.

Kyle is influenced from the likes of Randy Travis, Chris Stapleton & Eric Church, but this song reminds me of Jake Owen – The One That Got Away

It is smoother than Love hangover released earlier this year but on the same topic.

Despite the regret and loss, the song has a strong beat, drive for driving along to bit also worth a spin on the dance floor.

Truth, lost love and an old Ford; sure sounds like a winning Country song!

Can he come on over to the UK soon please?

Come On Over, the new single from Kyle Elliott is available on all major platforms from Friday 7 August

Find and follow Kyle on Facebook, his website and on spotify

Single Review - Chapel On The Hill - Savannah Jaine

Many Country singers will cite that they have had a variety of influences, but few can claim as many as Savannah Jaine – hailing from Florida via New York, Nashville, Chicago, Texas, Cruises, Abu Dhabi and Ibiza, Savannah now finds herself in Lancashire with guitarist Lee Meadows.

With her new single Chapel On The Hill you can detect that range of influence and experience.  Whilst the DNA may be Country it certainly features a rocky edge, some pop, some outlaw country, and Spanish/gypsy style guitar (although played on Electric) and an ethereal, folksy set of backing vocals in the song.  Other artistes can cross genres, but not normally within a single song!

Don’t be put off though!  The song is far from a mish-mash of styles, rather it is a combination of them that come together to make a bouncy, up tempo and very enjoyable song, with a sing-along chorus even on first listen.

There is a sassy edge to the song and to the story in it.  The guitar seems to punctuate her statements, this girl means action: “I’m gonna find me a brand new thrill”  and  “There’s a whole lot of fire left in me still”.

This girl is going to find her own life and she’s not afraid to try different paths, she will be true to herself.

You will be toe tapping throughout, her energy is infectious.

Could she be your new thrill?

Chapel On The Hill, the new single from Savannah Jaine, is available to stream and download from Friday 7 July

Find and follow Savannah Jaine on Facebook, on her website and on spotify

Single Review - Pick Me Up - Halle Kearns

Nashville based Halle Kearns releases her debut single at one of the strangest times for music, but with its fresh, summery sound Pick Me Up is the smile we all need right now.

Opening with a strummed acoustic guitar and a touch of electric in the background, the instrumentation suits Halle’s vocal as she sets out the feel of the song. “Its been a long week”, OMG isn’t that true, the nine to five, seems so much longer at the moment, especially for those working from home; “I’m in need of some TLC” is probably how most of us feel, or at less give us something to look forward to. Especially given that we recognise that Monday is just a short time away. The increase in tempo nicely reflects, the energy that is hoping the pick me up can provide.

There is a double meaning to pick me up, both the needed boost but the car ride too.

“Getting drunk on cheap champagne, forget about the world while we listen to the rain” is her request, what’s yours?

It seems that Halle has identified not just the weekend feel but the way many of us feel at the moment and a bouncy song certainly helps as a Pick Me Up

Whilst this is her debut single release, Halle has been busy supporting many artists including one of our favourites William Michael Morgan, and with her modern country style and song writing ability  it may not be long before Halle is crossing the Atlantic to perform at UK based festivals.

Wouldn’t that be a Pick Me Up!

Pick Me Up, the debut single from Halle Kearns is available now to download and stream on all major platforms

Find and follow Halle on facebook, her website and on spotify

Single review - Thrill - Biddy Ronelle

While plans are changing, work rearranged, Biddy Ronelle has taken the opportunity of this enforced lockdown to pick up an unfinished song from 2018 and finish it off as her latest (third) single release – and she, along with bandmate & producer Stu Magru have done a fantastic job of it!

Telling a cheeky tale of hook ups and one-night stands Thrill is one for the adults!  Its not a love song, nor even a cautionary tale.  Whilst our storyteller is questioning her choices, she knows it’s inevitable, she knows “You never loved me” and she is “just for tonight” but she can’t help waiting for him to call and there’s no doubt she will open the door. “What is a girl meant to do?” he has a hold over her, and she can’t deny him.

Biddy has a strong, clear vocal, very much of the powerful modern female country style and that matches the power of the song, backed by some great guitar and steel work, and with a solid guitar opening to the track.

Biddy herself describes the song as

...definitely one of my lighter hearted songs but we think it's catchy and hopefully will appeal to a wide range of country, rock and pop fans.

Light-hearted it may be, but light it isn’t, and it is definitely Country.  Catchy, passionate, and powerful, Biddy and Stu have proved what is possible during lockdown creating a song that will have you singing along as has already been our single of the week – even before its release!

“Just for tonight I’m here for your thrill”

Thrill, the new single from Biddy Ronelle is available to stream and download from all major platforms from Friday 31 July

Find and follow Biddy on facebook, her website  and on spotify

Single Review - Now Or Never - Jessica Lynn

It has not been a great summer for anyone with Lockdown and very unseasonal weather, and that is also true for Jessica Lynn and her band who have had to postpone not only their European Tour but now also their American dates.  

Rather than let this get them down, the whole team have been back in the studio recording new material and taking advantage of the extra time to record a full album which should be out later this year.

The latest single from this work is Now Or Never.  The song launches straight into an instrumental melody with the whole band getting involved before we get to Jess singing over a drumbeat and some of husband Steve’s guitar magic.  The whole song has a bit of an 80s vibe to it, storytelling with some real theatre to it!

The bouncy feel of the song reflects the feel of the first love that the whole song is about – looking back it always seems to be associated with sunshine and long days, the subject of a million 80s movies!  It makes you think of leaning on your crushes car in high school parking lot chatting about summer plans!

The track is upbeat and feelgood – which we all need right now.  It is hard to pin Jessica Lynn down to one genre, she likes to push at the edges of Country/Rock/pop – but if this song veers towards pop it is well written, well crafted pop and you can picture Jessica bouncing around on stage with her trademark wonderful hair. 

Now Or Never, the new single from Jessica Lynn is available now to download and stream from all major platfoms

You can find and follow Jessica on facebook, her website and on spotify - or falling in love in the sunshine