I LOVE when a full developed artist arrives out the blue, flying totally under my radar until suddenly - BAM! - they land in my CD player and I fall in love with music that suprises, challenges, emotionally moves me and brings me out on the other side of joy. Michael Behm is one such artist and his two albums, the 2009 release "Saving America" and the 2004 "Love Songs For The Emotionally Impaired" are ones that I will pushing for many years to come. I review them here together, bundled in the hopes you just trust me and pick them both up as they are *that* pleasurable.
The signposts of the sounds here will be familiar to many Not Lamers - Jason Falkner, Owsley, The Grays, The Rembrandts, Mike Viola and The Candy Butchers, Bleu and Jim Boggia. LISTEN to the soundbites of both albums and the quality to should be self-evident. The production quality, the arrangements reach skyward and do not stint on low-ambition. Behm is not interested in writing cookie-cutter pop music but works of kaleidoscopic tapestries lasting value. Bless the man, he delivers.
"My partner in crime Par Winberg raved about Vancouver son Michael Behm earlier here on melodic.net but this is the first time I hear an album with Behm. It`s his 2005 album "Love songs for the emotionally impaired" but I`m glad I did because it`s such a classy piece of work for powerpop freaks like myself. Soundwise Behm stand somewhere between Owsley, Todd Rundgren and Jellyfish. I`m impressed by the production where the guitars are crystal clear and every other instrument lies perfect in the mix, Behm has a real nice voice that fits this sunny pop rock like a glove. " Melodic.net. This guy has been flying totally unknown by fans at places like Not Lame and I see very little written about him on Google, which is insanely perplexing, folks. Let us change that! This material not only merits investment on your shelves, but a bit of extra typing of letting the blogosphere and `net know that Michael Behm is an artist to savor.
Bruce Brodeen
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
MICHAEL BEHM "Saving America"
Michael Behm “Saving America”
The good times are rolling for Michael Behm four months after releasing “Saving America,” the first single off his forthcoming album of the same name. One major cause of celebration for the singer-songwriter and concerned citizen: Barak Obama has been elected to the White House and Americans have begun the job of saving their own bacon following eight years of the Bush presidency.
On a personal level, Behm is absolutely pumped over the response to the meticulously crafted “Saving America” – a stirring, guitar-fuelled call for change, renewed optimism and fresh hope from a Canadian to his friends and neighbours south of the border.
Positive reviews, on-line streaming via services like Australia’s mp3.com and Reverb Nation, and now a rush of adds from U.S. community radio stations are building momentum for a melodic original bristling with memorable hooks and a historic sample from one of John F. Kennedy landmark speeches.
“Bless the man, he delivers,” writes Notlame Music’s Bruce Brodeen in comparing Behm to such U.S. rock-pop icons as Jason Falkner and the Rembrandts. “Really smart power pop,” adds a reviewer for Sweden’s Melodic.net website. “Saving America takes the listener back to the heyday of E.L.O. (Behm) might not save America, but he could easily save your day!”
Radio promotion by Plug Music in Canada and the Sutton Music Group in the U.S. has produced spins. The latest reports reveal that stations in St. Louis, Olympia and Tucson, among others, are playing the song. GK Radio Europe has also added Behm’s music in recent weeks. The artist has tasted success over the years as a solo act and band leader, most recently with the 2007 single “The Art of Letting Go.”
Working in his state-of-the-art home studio on Vancouver Island off Canada’s west coast, Behm sang, played guitar, produced and handled the multi-tracked instrumentation on the Saving America album. The drummer for the sessions was Pat Steward (The New Odds, Bryan Adams).
“Saving America” was mixed in Vancouver by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Metallica, Sam Roberts) and mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles by the legendary Brian “Big Bass” Gardner. The latter has put the final touch on classics by Blondie, the Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas and Blink 182, and that’s just a few of the Bs on an awe-inspiring list of A to Z credits.
Other irons are burning bright for Behm this year. His U.S. publishers Rumblefish and Scorekeeper Music are actively promoting and exposing his deep catalogue of song titles in America. His bluesy original “Take Me Down to the River” is now the theme for Campbell River, B.C. adult contemporary radio station 99.7 The River. And Vancouver’s Rock 101 has selected a Behm original as the theme for the Bro Jake Show, the popular morning show hosted by Canadian DJ legend Jake Edwards.
The good times are rolling for Michael Behm four months after releasing “Saving America,” the first single off his forthcoming album of the same name. One major cause of celebration for the singer-songwriter and concerned citizen: Barak Obama has been elected to the White House and Americans have begun the job of saving their own bacon following eight years of the Bush presidency.
On a personal level, Behm is absolutely pumped over the response to the meticulously crafted “Saving America” – a stirring, guitar-fuelled call for change, renewed optimism and fresh hope from a Canadian to his friends and neighbours south of the border.
Positive reviews, on-line streaming via services like Australia’s mp3.com and Reverb Nation, and now a rush of adds from U.S. community radio stations are building momentum for a melodic original bristling with memorable hooks and a historic sample from one of John F. Kennedy landmark speeches.
“Bless the man, he delivers,” writes Notlame Music’s Bruce Brodeen in comparing Behm to such U.S. rock-pop icons as Jason Falkner and the Rembrandts. “Really smart power pop,” adds a reviewer for Sweden’s Melodic.net website. “Saving America takes the listener back to the heyday of E.L.O. (Behm) might not save America, but he could easily save your day!”
Radio promotion by Plug Music in Canada and the Sutton Music Group in the U.S. has produced spins. The latest reports reveal that stations in St. Louis, Olympia and Tucson, among others, are playing the song. GK Radio Europe has also added Behm’s music in recent weeks. The artist has tasted success over the years as a solo act and band leader, most recently with the 2007 single “The Art of Letting Go.”
Working in his state-of-the-art home studio on Vancouver Island off Canada’s west coast, Behm sang, played guitar, produced and handled the multi-tracked instrumentation on the Saving America album. The drummer for the sessions was Pat Steward (The New Odds, Bryan Adams).
“Saving America” was mixed in Vancouver by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Metallica, Sam Roberts) and mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles by the legendary Brian “Big Bass” Gardner. The latter has put the final touch on classics by Blondie, the Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas and Blink 182, and that’s just a few of the Bs on an awe-inspiring list of A to Z credits.
Other irons are burning bright for Behm this year. His U.S. publishers Rumblefish and Scorekeeper Music are actively promoting and exposing his deep catalogue of song titles in America. His bluesy original “Take Me Down to the River” is now the theme for Campbell River, B.C. adult contemporary radio station 99.7 The River. And Vancouver’s Rock 101 has selected a Behm original as the theme for the Bro Jake Show, the popular morning show hosted by Canadian DJ legend Jake Edwards.
MICHAEL BEHM "Saving America"
Michael Behm “Saving America”
The good times are rolling for Michael Behm four months after releasing “Saving America,” the first single off his forthcoming album of the same name. One major cause of celebration for the singer-songwriter and concerned citizen: Barak Obama has been elected to the White House and Americans have begun the job of saving their own bacon following eight years of the Bush presidency.
On a personal level, Behm is absolutely pumped over the response to the meticulously crafted “Saving America” – a stirring, guitar-fuelled call for change, renewed optimism and fresh hope from a Canadian to his friends and neighbours south of the border.
Positive reviews, on-line streaming via services like Australia’s mp3.com and Reverb Nation, and now a rush of adds from U.S. community radio stations are building momentum for a melodic original bristling with memorable hooks and a historic sample from one of John F. Kennedy landmark speeches.
“Bless the man, he delivers,” writes Notlame Music’s Bruce Brodeen in comparing Behm to such U.S. rock-pop icons as Jason Falkner and the Rembrandts. “Really smart power pop,” adds a reviewer for Sweden’s Melodic.net website. “Saving America takes the listener back to the heyday of E.L.O. (Behm) might not save America, but he could easily save your day!”
Radio promotion by Plug Music in Canada and the Sutton Music Group in the U.S. has produced spins. The latest reports reveal that stations in St. Louis, Olympia and Tucson, among others, are playing the song. GK Radio Europe has also added Behm’s music in recent weeks. The artist has tasted success over the years as a solo act and band leader, most recently with the 2007 single “The Art of Letting Go.”
Working in his state-of-the-art home studio on Vancouver Island off Canada’s west coast, Behm sang, played guitar, produced and handled the multi-tracked instrumentation on the Saving America album. The drummer for the sessions was Pat Steward (The New Odds, Bryan Adams).
“Saving America” was mixed in Vancouver by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Metallica, Sam Roberts) and mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles by the legendary Brian “Big Bass” Gardner. The latter has put the final touch on classics by Blondie, the Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas and Blink 182, and that’s just a few of the Bs on an awe-inspiring list of A to Z credits.
Other irons are burning bright for Behm this year. His U.S. publishers Rumblefish and Scorekeeper Music are actively promoting and exposing his deep catalogue of song titles in America. His bluesy original “Take Me Down to the River” is now the theme for Campbell River, B.C. adult contemporary radio station 99.7 The River. And Vancouver’s Rock 101 has selected a Behm original as the theme for the Bro Jake Show, the popular morning show hosted by Canadian DJ legend Jake Edwards.
The good times are rolling for Michael Behm four months after releasing “Saving America,” the first single off his forthcoming album of the same name. One major cause of celebration for the singer-songwriter and concerned citizen: Barak Obama has been elected to the White House and Americans have begun the job of saving their own bacon following eight years of the Bush presidency.
On a personal level, Behm is absolutely pumped over the response to the meticulously crafted “Saving America” – a stirring, guitar-fuelled call for change, renewed optimism and fresh hope from a Canadian to his friends and neighbours south of the border.
Positive reviews, on-line streaming via services like Australia’s mp3.com and Reverb Nation, and now a rush of adds from U.S. community radio stations are building momentum for a melodic original bristling with memorable hooks and a historic sample from one of John F. Kennedy landmark speeches.
“Bless the man, he delivers,” writes Notlame Music’s Bruce Brodeen in comparing Behm to such U.S. rock-pop icons as Jason Falkner and the Rembrandts. “Really smart power pop,” adds a reviewer for Sweden’s Melodic.net website. “Saving America takes the listener back to the heyday of E.L.O. (Behm) might not save America, but he could easily save your day!”
Radio promotion by Plug Music in Canada and the Sutton Music Group in the U.S. has produced spins. The latest reports reveal that stations in St. Louis, Olympia and Tucson, among others, are playing the song. GK Radio Europe has also added Behm’s music in recent weeks. The artist has tasted success over the years as a solo act and band leader, most recently with the 2007 single “The Art of Letting Go.”
Working in his state-of-the-art home studio on Vancouver Island off Canada’s west coast, Behm sang, played guitar, produced and handled the multi-tracked instrumentation on the Saving America album. The drummer for the sessions was Pat Steward (The New Odds, Bryan Adams).
“Saving America” was mixed in Vancouver by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Metallica, Sam Roberts) and mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles by the legendary Brian “Big Bass” Gardner. The latter has put the final touch on classics by Blondie, the Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas and Blink 182, and that’s just a few of the Bs on an awe-inspiring list of A to Z credits.
Other irons are burning bright for Behm this year. His U.S. publishers Rumblefish and Scorekeeper Music are actively promoting and exposing his deep catalogue of song titles in America. His bluesy original “Take Me Down to the River” is now the theme for Campbell River, B.C. adult contemporary radio station 99.7 The River. And Vancouver’s Rock 101 has selected a Behm original as the theme for the Bro Jake Show, the popular morning show hosted by Canadian DJ legend Jake Edwards.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Check out Sky Rats, one of RadioIndy's favorite Alternative artists
Radioindy Artist Spotlight for Sky Rats
Band Name: Sky Rats
Band Location: England
Sounds Like: Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Chris Rea, Stereophonics, Greenday
Visit Band's Website: click here
Monday, March 16, 2009
RadioIndy is pleased to present Lullaby Babies with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Acoustic Lullabies to Soothe the Soul"
RadioIndy is pleased to present Lullaby Babies with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Acoustic Lullabies to Soothe the Soul" "Acoustic Lullabies to Soothe the Soul" is an exceptional acoustic, sleep-inducing soundtrack from UK company Lullaby Babies. The owner of Lullaby Babies and mastermind of the album, Richard Jenkinson, is responsible for all of the sounds on this album, and the product is extraordinary. Jenkinson took what he considered to be the world's finest lullabies and formulated them into modern acoustic songs with wind chimes, piano, and acoustic guitar that maintain their classic lullaby quality. The result is ten lullaby gems great for putting children to sleep and highly enjoyable for parents and children alike. Jenkinson's vocal performance is also excellent, warm, gentle, and lulling in and of itself. "Acoustic Lullabies to Soothe the Soul" is well-produced, and the acoustic instrumentation and vocal performances sound beautiful and pure. The album features American lullaby classics like "Rock-a-bye Baby," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and "Hush Little Baby (Mockingbird)." In addition, it also features acoustically reoriented classical tracks like "Ava Maria" and "Pachelbel's Canon in D," ancient world lullabies, and non-traditional-lullabies-turned-lullabies. "Scarborough Fair" is one of the latter case, as Jenkinson creates a beautiful and soothing rendition of the Simon & Garfunkel classic with great vocals and limited acoustic guitar instrumentation. "The Castle of Dromore (October Winds)" is a great modernization of the ancient Irish folk lullaby that features a great vocal performance. Overall, "Acoustic Lullabies to Soothe the Soul" is rather aptly titled, musically and vocally excellent, and great for the whole family. Parents having trouble getting their kids to bed at night are going to want to pick this one up.
-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Lullaby Babies's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites
RadioIndy is pleased to present Roger and the Rockets with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Unknown Man"
RadioIndy is pleased to present Roger and the Rockets with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Unknown Man" "Unknown Man" is a great upbeat, eighteen track alt-country album from Swedish outfit Roger and the Rockets. Led by phenomenal singer/songwriter Roger Häggström, Roger and the Rockets have created a solid album that draws from the roots Americana, Irish folk, blues, and bluegrass genres. The arrangements are driven by toe-tapping drum beats, nice bass lines, soaring guitars, and great musical additions including violin, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, hand claps, and group vocals. Roger's delivery is with a unique country vocal, refreshing and a great match for the arrangements. The songs are fun and upbeat featuring imaginative and meaningful lyrics about trying to understand women, hope, lonesomeness, and politics. "Unknown Man" is well-produced and sounds nothing but clean and professional. "Out of This Place" has a nice arrangement with a great drum beat and exceptional mandolin and acoustic guitar work and a great group vocal on the catchy chorus. "I Got Hope" is a political track about "hope for a better world" with a great arrangement, thought-provoking lyrics, and more great group vocals. "What a Ride" is a bluesy track featuring harmonica, a classic blues arrangement, and more great lyrics. With "Unknown Man," singer/songwriter Roger Häggström and his backing band, the Rockets, have composed an excellent and original album sure to be met with worldwide acclaim. Fans of upbeat country-lenient alt-country should definitely give Roger and the Rockets a listen.
-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Roger and the Rockets's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites
RadioIndy is pleased to present Home Groan with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Hey Revolution Now!"
RadioIndy is pleased to present Home Groan with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Hey Revolution Now!" "Hey Revolution Now!" is an excellent alt-country/folk rock album from Norwegian outfit Home Groan. This is the tenth release from singer/songwriter Martin Hagfors' band, and the toe-tapping Americana and folk arrangements and eclectic lyrics highlight Home Groan's musical maturity. Though occasionally coupled with an excellent female vocalist, Hagfors is the lead vocalist and, true to the fusion of genres, sounds like a mixture of Tom Petty, The Weakerthans, and Wilco. The song titles infer a certain witty humor in the lyrics and do not disappoint. Showing his musical maturity, Hagfors is capable of juxtaposing the humorous with the serious, from biting heads off of microphones to falling off a cliff at Big Sur. "Hey Revolution Now!" is well-recorded with an overall sound great for the genres. "Jfk Loved Volvos Too" is a well-composed acoustic song about Hagfors' 1961 Volvo with a humorous chorus and great male/female duo vocals. "Bring You Back With a Song" is a sadder love song and a ballad of sorts with great hopeful lyrics. The title track, "Hey Revolution Now!" follows this up with a fun political track with the group chorus, "Hey revolution now/ Make peace with the holy cow." With "Hey Revolution Now!" Home Groan has crafted an excellent, musically mature album with intelligent, memorable lyrics and wonderful backing arrangements. Fans of alt-country and folk rock, pick up this album now!
-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Home Groan's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites
RadioIndy is pleased to present Rockadoodledoo with a GrIndie Award for the CD "That'll Be The Day"
RadioIndy is pleased to present Rockadoodledoo with a GrIndie Award for the CD "That'll Be The Day" "That'll Be The Day" is a twenty-seven song party mix of '50s and '60s rock & roll classics as interpreted by Rock A Doodle Doo. Rock A Doodle Doo is Terry Webster, a premier pop impressionist from Britain, and though they are sung forty to fifty years later, each song maintains the timeless quality with which it was originally sung and highlight Webster's excellent vocal imitation skills. Webster digs deep into the '50s and '60s rock & roll archive and pays tribute to anthems popularized by the likes of Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Del Shannon, and The Ronnettes. The recording quality of "That'll Be The Day" is also quite good. It sounds clean while maintaining the timeless quality. This party mix features classic rock & roll staples, including "Stand By Me," "Wonderful World," "It's My Party," and "Teenager In Love". Along with classics that have been dazzling our ears for years, the collection also features many tracks that may be a first introduction to audiences born in the last thirty years. "Halfway to Paradise" is a great imitation of a Bill Fury classic that maintains its original dreamy quality and great vocals. "Walk Right Back" is a great song popularized by The Everly Brothers that features great guitar work and catchy lyrics. "That'll Be The Day" is a great tribute to a great era in music that brings twenty-seven classics together to both pay respect to and provide a new twist on a classic tracks. Fans of '50s and '60s rock & roll, be sure to pick this one up.
-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Rockadoodledoo's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites
RadioIndy is pleased to present Jesper Eriksson & Wedell with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes"
RadioIndy is pleased to present Jesper Eriksson & Wedell with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes" "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes" is an excellent and truly original Swedish Americana album from Jesper Eriksson & Wedell. A talented singer/songwriter, Eriksson places the most value in his lyrics, and delivers with attention getting, thought provoking, flowing lyrics about life and love, with a great storytelling quality to them. Eriksson's vocals are weathered and perfect for this genre. He draws from one of his main influences, Bob Dylan, and the end result is a vocal styling quite similar to Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. While the lyrics may be key, the arrangements are also solid, combining pop, rock, country, and folk to create that unique Swedish Americana sound, superbly complimenting Eriksson's great lyricism. "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes" is a low budget production, most of it recorded in Eriksson's home studio. After a year of Andreas Granath's careful mixing and producing, the album sounds great, with a slight raw quality great for the genre. "Hey Hey Hey" introduces the album nicely with an Americana track featuring great lyrics, a catchy chorus, and a solid backing arrangement. "Are We Waiting for You?" is a sweet piano ballad with pleasant dueling female and male vocals, some nice vocal layering, and more great lyrics. With "Stay with me sweetheart, don't close your eyes," Jesper Eriksson & Wedell have delivered nine solid and excellently crafted songs and proved that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a great album. Fans of Americana, do yourself a favor and see how well these Scandinavians approach the genre.
-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Review Team
Check out Jesper Eriksson & Wedell's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites
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