Transdreamer Records artist: Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs - Coulda Shoulda Woulda - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Coulda Shoulda Woulda, from Holly Golightly and the Brokoffs and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Heaven Buy and Buy, a catchy pumped up rocker with teammate Holly and Lawyer Dave on vocal and Jeff Walls on guitar. Super opener. Apartment 34 has a clever tango twist trademark lead vocals, with seductive piano, warm keys and backing acoustic guitar. Nicely done! Title track, Coulda Shoulda Woulda, has a pop/punk feel with a touch of surf. What's not to like...really! Lawyer Dave takes the lead vocal on Jump in the River with it's 3/4 time. This track is so well constructed with organ, tambourine, guitar, drums and vocals it has a solid life of it's own. With Holly's backing vocals and flailing guitar work, this track really sails. Jackhammer has a "waltz"/carousel feel and beautifully understated vocals by Holly make this one of my favorites on the release. Caressed by rich backing vocals and complimented by percussion, piano and guitar it's unmistakably cool! Marijuana, The Devil's Flower, recorded in the 50's by the mysterious Mr Sunshine has a gospel feel and tight bluegrass accompaniment including banjo and fiddle. With Holly on lead vocal, Little Mule has a nice rock swing with live farm animals for effects behind really loose guitar riffs and trembend vibrato. Excellent! Vocal ballad, What He Does, is really nice, featuring Holly on lead and acoustic guitar backing and acoustic slide guitar accents. This track has nice radio appeal across numerous genre. The Emperor's dance craze track, Karate, gets a straight up cover by Holly and Dave and will certainly get the audience jazzed when they perform it live. Loads of fun! Lonesome Grave is a particularly strong rural country duet featuring Holly and Dave. With pure country style instruments (banjo, washboard, fiddle) this track is simply cool! No Judgement Day has a distinct, rockin' country feel with ruggedly blended vocals and instrumentals. Not too flashy, just right! Wrapping the release is a smooth as silk, Christmas Is A Lie, with holiday theme, chimes and crushing lyrics. This is a solid finisher for a really strong release.

 

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VizzTone Label group artists: Andra Faye & Scott Ballantine - Coulda Woulda Shoulda - New release review

I just received the newest release, Coulda Woulda Shouda from Andra Faye & Scott Ballantine and it' clever and mature. Opening with Walkin' Home To You a 40's style country influenced blues track, Andra Faye, a multi instrumentalist leads on vocal, and fiddle backed by Ballantine who is actually quite fluid on guitar. Crackheaded Man has traditional blues styling and Faye finds the perfect venue for her vocals. Faye pairs up on mandolin with Ballantine on guitar for a very nice instrumental duet. Boogie track, It's A New Day has a more modern feel, Faye joined on vocal by Ballantine. Her mando work on this track is quite clean and Ballantine lays down dome fine guitar work. Liz Pennock penned, Take It Slow, sets up nicely for a bluesy ballad featuring Faye on vocal. Ballantine has a really nice opportunity to show his acoustic blues chops and he does a really fine job. Blues For A Crappy Day is a bit more uptempo with vocal duets and and a driving guitar rhythm. Faye's fiddle work coupled with Ballantine on guitar makes for a real nice toe tapper. Jazz influenced, Too Much Butt (For One Pair Of Jeans), has a sassy style reminiscent of early Maria Muldaur. Ballantine shows his acoustic chops again, taking a nice stylized guitar solo on this one. Piedmont style, One Dream At A Time, is driven by the tight guitar work of Ballantine. Faye adds a nice mandolin solo but it's the guitar rhythm that makes this track tick. Title track, Coulda Woulda Shoulda, is a quick little boogie with a swing flare. A woven play of mandolin and guitar and call and answer by Ballantine and Faye vocally sum up this track. Ballantine takes the vocal lead on traditional, Standing In The Need Of Prayer. Nice blending by Faye and expressive guitar work by Ballantine makes this one of the nicest tracks on the release. Working Mama Is Gone has a deliberate feel and bluesy tensions. Faye does some of her best vocal work on this track, complimented by mandolin and again Ballantine takes a real nice solo on guitar. John Hyatt's Feels Like Rain gets a really tender interpretation and Ballantine plays particularly expressive guitar riffs. Very nice! Mike Dowling's When You Gonna Stop Your Drinkin'? has a lot of spank making it one of the best tracks on the release. Faye really sells it vocally and Ballantine drives the train on guitar. A clever mandolin solo from Faye adds some additional spark getting ready for the conclusion. Bluesy, Clyde, is my favorite original track on the release with just the right tempo and style. Faye's vocals are solid and clear and Ballantine provides a tight bottom for another mandolin solo. Nice wrapper for a solid release.

   

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”