FOX MEDICINE: Greetings From Mars

Fox Medicine is a two-piece originally formed by Neezy Dynamite (Guitar/Vox) and Vanny Keeps (Drums). This two piece from Eugene, OR has just put out a noisy album of eight new songs for destroying eardrums everywhere.

The fuzz is laid on nice and thick, vocals that are a bit distorted and sometimes shouted and sometimes so blasé that you would think a mid-‘80s valley girl was singing, but that’s not an insult, it actually sounds cool. This has a fuller sound than you would think that only two people could pull off, especially how much power and raw emotion there is in these songs. Yes, the songs are dense, the fuzz and the effects are in your face, but it has warmth and a realness to it that makes you come back to it again and again. The band sounds like they are close to losing grips in what they are doing sometimes, especially at the beginning of “Stars,” but they add in some synth and pull it all together and you have a great track that is both insane and amazing.

Maybe not something for every day to listen to, but a definite keeper that you will put on to enjoy, and piss off the neighbors with. How can that be anything other than a glowing review?

Also posted at: http://ripplemusic.blogspot.com/2018/02/fox-medicine-greetings-from-mars.html

http://www.foxmedicine.net/

https://foxmedicine.bandcamp.com/

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MAXX THE MUFFIN MAN: Every Summer Since

Maxx the Muffin Man is an 18-year-old rapper and songwriter working out of his college dorm room in Portland, Oregon. This is his new mixtape that he said, “I really hope that whoever listens to this enjoys it, and if it helps anyone through a hard time, then I’d be extremely happy!”

This kind of reminds me of Canada’s rap band Organized Rhyme who put out the great track, “Check The O.R.” and was the group that had “comedian” Tom Green in it back in 1992. Lots of personal lyrics, some positive stuff and a bit of goofy stuff all makes for an interesting listen that will get your head bobbing and has a cool mix of beats. This is something to throw on and get into the flow and cruise along to. Pretty fresh sounding and actually holds up fairly well compared to a lot of the crap that’s out there.

Take a chance if you like hip hop and want something a bit different to listen to, something that has a positive message mixed in. Maxx said, “I almost gave up on life, and music is what allowed me to survive. I hope this mixtape can touch you in a way that music did for me.” If that isn’t a good enough reason to support someone, I don’t know what is.

Also posted on: http://ripplemusic.blogspot.com/2018/02/maxx-muffin-man-every-summer-since.html

https://www.facebook.com/maxxthemuffinman/

https://maxxthemuffinman.bandcamp.com/

THE GREEN DOOR: Wolf In The Fold

Formed in San Francisco in 2008, the band is composed of Mike Carnahan on lead vocals and guitar, Reese Abell on bass, guitarist Evan Wardell, drummer Vanessa Wolter, as well as Devin Triplett on keys. They mix up spaghetti western and psychedelic music to create their own Western Psychedelic on this new EP.

Sounding like a combination of Jefferson Airplane and Ennio Morricone on these six songs actually works really well and makes for a fun and interesting listen, one that you can go back to again and again. The riff-heavy “Wolf In The Fold” is a great opener that grabs your attention with its mix of styles and a thick sound. The acid alt-country of “Back to Houston” lays on the dirty playing and is a gritty song that has some “twang” in the guitar playing that really gives it that country feel. “You Won’t Hear That Anymore” comes closest to being a straight psychedelic track compared to the others. “Rivers” starts off with vocals that I can’t understand, almost native sounding and then goes quiet for a few seconds and then the band kicks things into gear with a twangy and peppy song that perfectly ends things off on this great EP.

A mix of styles that I never thought would work well together has just blown my expectations away and given me something thrilling to listen to, an original and unique band that will make your ears happy and make you look forward to their next release.

Also posted on: http://ripplemusic.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-green-door-wolf-in-fold.html

https://www.facebook.com/thegreendoorband

https://www.thegreendoorband.com/

https://thegreendoor.bandcamp.com/

ANDREW RIDGELEY: Son Of Albert

This is the first reissue for Andrew Ridgeley’s debut album Son Of Albert that was originally released in 1990, four years after the breakup of Wham! Andrew Ridgeley as one half of the 80’s Supergroup Wham! sold more than 28 million records worldwide between 1982 and 1986. This Special Expanded Edition includes the nine original album tracks from the vinyl release plus 7 related bonus tracks. This includes “Shake (Hardcore)” that was featured on the CD version of the album.

One day at the record store that I worked at, a label compilation was given to me be the rep and I took a look at it and saw that a solo song from Ridgely was on it and I was interested in hearing it. I cued it up on the old CD player and there it was, the first single, “Shake.”The song starts off with guitar and vocals, then the band kicks in with a catchy chorus and I was kind of shocked that it had nothing to do with the way that Wham! sounded. A lot more rock and not pop at all, so I was interested in hearing more from the album. For whatever reason, the album never seemed to appear in the store and I promptly forgot about it, until one day, Was in another record store and saw the CD in the used bin on sale for 3 for $10. I dug around and grabbed a couple more discs and headed home. When I put this on, was I ever surprised with what I heard! This was a hair metal CD, not a guy from Wham! I had thought that I got a mislabeled CD, until I heard “Shake” and realized that this truly was the real one. Starting off with “Red Dress,” I was shocked to hear a rocking song with more than a touch of hair metal, almost Poison-like in sound. Next was “Shake,” then “The Price Of Love” which is a more rockin’ out tune with an early Alice Cooper vocal sound. “Flame” is a dirty sounding track with ripping guitar playing. “Hangin'” is more pop-oriented, less hard rock and a ridiculously catchy chorus. “Mexico” sounds almost exactly like Poison and is really hair metal. “Big Machine,” “Kiss Me,” and “Baby Jane” all carry on the hard rock sound. I sat there and couldn’t believe that the guy who helped put out songs like “Wake Me Up,” and “Wham! Rap” was doing a metal album now! I can see why that this was not a hit because where would it have gotten air-play? Rock radio would not touch an album from a guy from Wham!, and pop radio wouldn’t play a metal album, so then what? Now, after a lot of years, we get a remastered version with bonus tracks and a chance to re-think the whole thing. This version contains a recent interview with Ridgeley and co-producer Gary Bromham, remastering from the original tapes, the single “Shake” in “Hardcore,” “Accapella,” and “Extended” mixes, second single “Red Dress” which features backing vocals by George Michael, with “12”” and an additional “Extended Mix,” and “Hangin,” with the “Extended” and “Alternative Extended Version.”

“Shake (Hardcore)” is mostly just music and effects added to it, “Acapella” really isn’t since it has a guitar in it, and “Extended” is not as dancey, more open sounding. “Red Dress (12″ Mix)” is a fairly rocking mix that sounds great, “Extended Version” is exactly that, an extended mix. “Hangin’ (Alternative Extended Version)” is more of a dancey track, and “Extended” is, even more, pop-oriented and dancey than the other mixes.

The sound is great, and listening to this again, with al the years between the first listen and today, this isn’t that bad of an album, kind of fun and definitely something that stands as his own statement. Take a chance and give it a listen for yourself.

https://twitter.com/ajridgeley?lang=en

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https://www.cherryred.co.uk/