The February roundup of new local and regional albums boasts a resplendent mix, including punk, experimental rock, jazz, folk, rock, pop and more. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of the music.
Rambunctious, Charming Punk: The Lippies officially release their new album in March. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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The Lippies
“The Lippies”
There’s a ferocious independence propelling The Lippies’ music — something wonderfully rambunctious in its lyrics and music which is delightfully obvious in its live performances. Credit singer-frontwoman Tonia Broucek, who channels the best that punk has to offer with an infectious pop heart and a feminist attitude, whether she’s crooning a spare little relationship ditty over her ukulele or spewing rapid-fire, salty, social commentary over blazing guitars and drums, courtesy of guitarist Taylor Shupe, bassist Lawrence Kole and drummer David Sparks (most evident on “F— the Customer” on the band’s sophomore release on Red Scare Records). The band’s latest self-titled album is nothing less than a power-packed, punk thrill ride, from the opening strains of “As We Fall” to the bold assertiveness of “Friend Zone” (with the line, “My life is not inferior”) to the final, ultra-anthemic strains of “Sleeping.” It’s rebellion with charm, which means “The Lippies” is destined to become a Michigan punk classic. – John Sinkevics
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thelippies/
Upcoming Shows: March 5 at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids (album-release show); March 12 at Sanctuary Detroit in Detroit; March 26 at Louie’s Back Room in Kalamazoo
Listen: The Lippies, “302”
Public Access
“Public Access”
While so many solo artists and bands spend countless hours and sleepless nights worrying about finding the right lyrics for their songs, Public Access has decided to forgo them completely. The result is refreshing on the band’s debut album, which pays tribute to NPR announcers through its song titles. The all-star team of Midwest musicians let their instruments do the talking, implementing a mastery of space and striking precision to provide a lush sonic landscape. Portions of the album, such as the track, “Dave Mattingly,” offer a somewhat tropical vibe, with reggae-like beats by drummer Dan Rickabus and bright, melodic guitars dancing around the perimeter of the song (accompanied by the occasional violin and oboe). Other tracks like “Yuki Noguchi” maintain a rock-heavy backbone. The band — centered around Steve Leaf, Seth Bernard, Ben Zito and Rickabus — slows things down a bit on “Jack Speer,” with a warm electric guitar intro before eventually morphing into a swirl of ambient layers and swelling electric guitar solos. This is the kind of album that begs to be listened to in your room with the lights off and your best pair of headphones wrapped around your ears. And one thing for sure: Words are certainly not missed. — Ricky Olmos
Website: http://publicaccessmusic.net/
Upcoming Shows: 11 a.m. Friday on the air for Local Spins on WYCE (88.1 FM), 8 p.m. Saturday at InsideOut Gallery in Traverse City, 7 p.m. Sunday at The Avenue Cafe in Lansing
Listen: Public Access, “Niala Boodhoo”
K. Jones and the Benzie Playboys
“Morning Train”
On “Morning Train,” the inviting and repetitive sounds of the accordion, fiddle, triangle, drums, bass, guitar and vocals encompass everything a zydeco and Cajun album should sound like. K. Jones and the Benzie Playboys once again takes listeners on a journey through the South, bringing in the French roots of Louisiana with tracks such as “Bonsoir Moreau” and “Le Danse De Mardi Gras” sung in French. Halfway through the album, “Morning Train” and “I am Going Home” unfurl more of a rock and jazzy feel with strong bass lines and raspier voices, and “Went Down To the River” displays the vocal abilities of all members of the band, creating one smooth tone. As the tracks play on, the six-piece outfit from northern Michigan slows things down with a calmer tune in “Newport Waltz,” with “Grand Marais Two Step” right there to speed things back up again. The energizing sounds and occasional “heys” and grunts from all six vocalists keep the upbeat theme of the album right on track, finishing up with “Bernadette,” where harmonies are perfectly matched with the music, rounding out this fun and energetic album. – Molly Stephanak
Website: benzieplayboys.com
Listen: K. Jones and The Benzie Playboys, “Morning Train”
Alexander Lynch
“Love Lives”
Upper Peninsula native Alexander Lynch’s debut EP is powerfully evocative and leaves a chilling effect on the ears and mind. The unique electronic pop sound meshes with R&B soul, producing a dark and emotional record. The first track, “Living Alone,” previews the haunting ambience of the record with an eerie outro to the next track, “Snow White,” where the enigmatic tone puts the listener in a trance. Through a smooth transition, “Missing Me” provides relief from the ghostly, intriguing sound of the other two tracks with a catchy chorus: “I can’t think about you; I see you leaving. So I tell myself that you’ll still be there missing me. “ Meanwhile, the empowering track, “The Judge,” which closes the EP, oozes a heavy sound and conveys a sense of liberation. Lynch, who’s now based in Grand Rapids, carefully crafted these five songs into a manifestation of his own experiences while leaving plenty of room for interpretation and reflection for the listeners. – Libbie Voltz
Website: http://www.alexanderlynch.net
Upcoming Shows: March 25 at Keweenawesomefest in Houghton; April 15 at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids
Listen: Alexander Lynch, “Living Alone”
Justin “Stovepipe” Stover
“Love in the Time of Satanic Panic, Ch. 1”
“Love in the Time of Satanic Panic, Ch. 1” displays anything but a satanic sound. The first of three concept albums by Michigan indie-folk/punk’s Justin “Stovepipe” Stover centers around “weird, spooky stuff, but with a heart.” Stover’s voice has a unique country twang that gives depth and a unique, appealing texture to the album, with lyrics that provide hopeful optimism. “We’ll be much better in the years ahead of us; kick the ass of the thought of a boring day; the past it will be nothin’ but somethin’ we can live without,” he sings at one point. The five-song album opens with “Downfall of Family Values” a song where Stover’s raspy voice is accompanied by a guitar and a smooth piano melody, with the track delivering a religious and harmonious sound. And after songs such as “The Years Ahead of Us,” which speeds up the rock/folk album, Stover wraps thing up with a slower song, “Evicted from a Haunted House on Haloween,” displaying the singer’s country twang – and his softer, smoother side. As the electric guitar fades out at the end of the song, a subtle nostalgic feeling sets in, leaving the listener aching for more. – Molly Stephanak
Website: https://stovepipestover.bandcamp.com
Listen: Justin “Stovepipe” Stover, “Love in the Time of Satanic Panic, Ch. 1”
Martyr for Madison
“Connections”
The debut album from Grand Rapids’ Martyr for Madison displays the emotional messages a listener would expect from a post-hardcore group. “Lonely Homes & Dial Tones” starts with Tyler Proctor on guitar, and within seconds, the listener is met with the soaring vocals of singer Tom Soupal who can slide from singing to screaming in a matter of seconds. “Familiar Distance” introduces softer background voices and spoken-singing to give the song more depth. The thrashing drums and bass line work together to wrap things up with a mellower ending. “Tuebor” slows down the entire album, with a strong guitar and softer voice. The song conveys a tough long-distance love ballad about a man and girl, which turns sour as time goes on. The eight-track album closes with more spoken singing with “There & Back Again,” unfurling a bevy of different sounds, coming together at each verse and slowing down the entire song — with group vocals shouting, “This is the end,” in powerful fashion to wrap it all up. “Connections” has screaming and softness in all the right places, making this a killer debut album with the perfect mixture of hard-core sounds and and thoughtful, deep lyrics. – Molly Stephanak
Website: https://martyrformadison.bandcamp.com/releases
Upcoming show: March 26 at The Loft in Lansing
Listen: Martyr for Madison, “Lonely Homes & Dial Tones”
Connell-Brewer Jazz Band
“Eddie’s Here”
On “Eddie’s Here,” the Connell-Brewer Jazz Band creates the sort of music that audiences have come to expect from these familiar jazz musicians who’ve been brought together here as a Michigan super-group. The band led by pianist Robin Connell and trombonist Paul Brewer turns out jazz that occupies a rare musical space: a mix of familiar traditional tunes and classic-sounding originals that are at once relaxing and showcasing musical virtuosity at the same time. Connell and Brewer are joined by a who’s who lineup — Laurie Sears, Warren Jones, Scott Veenstra, David Hay, Randy Marsh, Elgin Vines and Evan Hyde — on this album recorded in several different locations. In addition to “sharing their love of the Great American Songbook” and jazz standards (including “Day by Day” and “I Ain’t Got Nothing But the Blues”), the CD’s title track is a snazzy Connell original that pays tribute to her first piano teacher, Eddie Russ. Connell and Brewer share ead vocal duties on this 13-track album, and all of it resonates with real, vintage-sounding charm. – John Sinkevics
Website: https://www.reverbnation.com/robinconnell
Upcoming show: Robin Connell Trio (with special guest James Sawyer) plays the Harris Building in Grand Rapids at 8 p.m. Wednesday
Listen: Robin Connell, “Eddie’s Here”
Paddy’s Cure
“Paddy’s Cure”
With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, Paddy’s Cure has released its self-titled CD just in time to satisfy fans who appreciate the band’s entertaining mix of traditional Irish folk tunes and engaging originals. Through nine tracks, Rob Leonard, Stan Dec, Brian Hauenstein, Lindsay Bredin and Eric Bredin create an evening at the pub, so to speak, with favorites such as “The Leaving of Liverpool,” “Red is the Rose” and “I’ll Tell Me Ma” intertwined with Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl” and a couple of originals — “Throwdown at Larkin’s” and “April McGuire” — “inspired by real people and events in Lowell” over the past few years. It’s an impressive collection, especially because proceeds from sale of the CD will benefit the Hauenstein Neuroscience Center at Mercy Health. – John Sinkevics
Website: http://www.paddyscure.com/
Upcoming Shows: 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Dow Event Center in Saginaw; 11 a.m. March 9 on Local Spins Live on News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW); March 12 at New Holland Brewing and The Curragh in Holland; March 17 at Dublin Square in East Lansing and Larkin’s in Lowell
Listen: Paddy’s Cure, “Leaving of Liverpool”
https://www.facebook.com/PaddysCure/app/2405167945/
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
