Bad Flamingo - Frying Pan [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Despite the masks, the mysterious duo, Bad Flamingo are not strangers to our regular listeners. We have featured a number of tracks from this Indie Rock/Americana pair of talents. Quite often the track have a spaghetti western meets Rock seductress vibe and description certainly fits their latest offering, ‘Frying Pan.’

The lyrical nuance is matched byt he vibe and spot on performance to give this one the perfect balance of grit and seduction.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Criticals - Danish Eyes [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Two dudes from rural Tennessee wrote a Rock song called ‘Danish Eyes’ in LA, then went across the pond to record it in England. Yeah, you read that right and that’s the absolute beauty of Rock and Roll.

The Criticals are rock throwbacks ina way as they do things most pop stars and fame chasers are unwilling to do, and they do it to stay fresh and on the cutting edge. This isn’t a band that chases trends, but rather embraces who they are and works to create the best version of themselves on a constant basis.

If you’re not listening to The Criticals already, you should be!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Leo Sawikin - Am I Ever Going To Fly Again [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“We are all chasing something, happiness, contentment, a thrill maybe? Leo Sawiken is no different and his track, ‘Am I Ever Going To Fly Again’ is all about trying to recapture one of the life’s magic moments.

The song starts slow, with a melancholy vibe that replicates the disappointment we feel when we realize that despite our best efforts, this time we failed to find that sparkle and shine. This is a cerebral song that leaves you thinking about your own life and experiences in a meaningful way. Style wise it falls into the Indie Rock plate with a side of human angst. The emotions are real and tangible and highly applicable to most of us have shared the same sentiments. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ames Harding & the Mirage - The Governor's Dead (Official Music Video) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track might win the timeliness award, but hey is there ever a bad time for a good Murder Ballad with a nice Caribbean flair? I think not.

Add in the rising sense of rebellion given this countries current events and I this track is surely to resonate in a powerful, yet fun way. Macabre power at its best!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Illiterate Light - Montauk [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Illiterate Light gives us a languid, thinking man kind of track with ‘Montauk.’

Inspired by the theme of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the song takes on the emotional and mental game of attempting what you suspect will ultimately go down as a failure.

The track has what I’d called an organized chaos feel and vibe. Which is apt given that is pretty much how our brains function.

The song is long for modern music, and that, along with the deeper subject matter, will probably keep it from reaching hit status. Though it is the kind of Alternative/Indie Rock release that is likely to develop a cult following of very dedicated fans.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tamar Berk - That's Not a Lie [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Some songs simply grab hold and refuse to let go. Tamar Berk certainly has talent and a pleasing tone though I can’t fully explain why this one stuck to me so fiercely. The delivery and melody are nice, but the hook and lyrical refrain of the song is what grabbed me and refused to let go.

Like an ear worm in the best of ways!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

aedie - Bozeman Baby [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Sometimes the onlyw ay to feel free is to get outside and rediscover yourself via nature. ‘Bozeman Baby’ is an ode to aedie’s time in Montana and Big Sky Country.

Style wise, the track has an Indie Folk Rock kind of vibe and the result is a timeless sound that would have fit in the 80’s musical landscape as well as it does the current times. A fun easy track that I get something new out of with each listen.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Vilhelm Buchaus - My Mistake [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sometimes the painful truth is plain as day and yet we choose to ignore it. Vilhelm Buchaus is all about this dynamic on his new single, ‘My Mistake.’

The track has a 90’s Indie Rock vibe as it showcases a relationship that is doomed from the start even though he is diving in head first with the realization it won’t end well.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mt. Misery - Sunday Song [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Mt. Misery delivers a sound that harkens to a simpler time on their latest single ‘Sunday Song.’

Nostalgic is how I’d best describe this track that feels like a cross between an Indep Pop track and a theme song from a 80’s sitcom. It’s the kind of track that simply puts a smile on your lips and you can’t help but sing along to as soon as you know the words.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kylie Rothfield - Never Loved Somebody [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kylie Rothfield is one of those talented vocalists that transcends genre to simply deliver an emotive and powerful performance no matter the style they choose.

’Never Loved Somebody’ is an Indie Rock Singer/songwriter vibe, but it would be a huge stretch to compare the song to some of the big hits delivered by women that dominated 90s Country.

And in the end, genre doesn’t matter much when the audience connect in a meaningful way. Genre is the market the business side, but good music is about art and emotion and that can’t be put in a box.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Richard Tyler Epperson - Dream [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The wordplay is cleverly and intelligently rendered on this Indie Rock gem from Richard Tyler Epperson. ‘Dream’ is an ode to taking care of you own mental space, the dance between reality and escapism because let’s face it we all need a break from all that life hits us with. But of course you can’t let the mind wander to far or you never really get where you want to go.”

— Quote Source

Party Nails - Same Old Song [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“PArty Nails conjured memories of vintage Sheryl Crow for me on this track. Warm glowing vocals tell the story of looking for your former self out among the treesa nd coming to grips with who you are in the here and now.

The track rides the line between Indie Rock and more of a Songwriter/Americana vibe. The emion is nostalgic and poignant enough to hold the listener from the first listen, but there is certainly the depth to keep them coming back time and time again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Dillon - Winner [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Raw and emotional, Jake Dillon delivers this track alongside talented vocalists Giavanna. This track has an Indie Rock Singer/Songwriter vibe, but is also right at home in the the world of Americana. Well-written and delivered by both parties with an emotive force, ‘Winner’ is indeed exactly that.

Stripped down and spare in the best of ways, this is a song to both feel and listen to over and over again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

sixten - Atlantic [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Unresolved emotions and unrequited love are the earmarks of sixten’s latest release, ‘Atlantic.’ There is a touch of Stevie nicks in the vocal emotion thought he tone has more of a Miley vibe for me but really the sound the unique and stands on its own so comparison are not as apt in this case.

The lyrics convey the emotional distance and longing and the performance brings all of that home in a very digestible way making this an easy track to feel and experience. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bad Flamingo - Parked in the Lot [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“I have shared a nu7mber of tracks fromt he talented Bad Flamingo duo and they always bring that spaghetti western air of mystery to their tracks. This one starts out slow with a deep gravel and slowly grows into more of a simmering bit of attitude that grabs the listener by the throat.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bob Gemmell - Lesson Number Two [Review]

Rating: 2 out of 5

“The song had a rough start. It sounded off key but slowly started to sound better. The guitar sound is there which makes it interesting. However, the pause and switch in tempo didn’t really help. Overall the vocal delivery and the length of the song could be what is messing with the overall cadence of the song. I would try to stay more consistent with the vocal delivery and not hit certain notes as hard.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Born Runner - A Long Time [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“By his own admission Born Runner is surprisingly bad at running, but lucky for all of us he can sing and entertain. ‘A long Time’ is a Indie Rock track that simply feels like the soundtrack for a fun Saturday night out on the town. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Kulak - Animals [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This guitar heavy track from Jake Kulak brings the timeless INdir Rock sound that could be from any recent decade. ‘Animals’ is the kind of song music lovers can dig in on and feel to the core. Simply a rock solid track musically, vocally, and in the lyrical build. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Fake Dad - Crybaby [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Fake Dad is an LA based Pop Synth duo that has an Indie Rock vibe with just enough Pop Punk influence to add a razor edge to the sound.

’Crybaby’ is about the pursuit of fleeting fame and how desperate society has become to snatch their fifteen minutes. The track delivers a nice energy and spark and I can’t wait to hear more from this talented duo. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tyler Jarvis -Goodbye [Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“The song has a randomly rocky start. It sounds like the guitar is off key in the intro but leads into the artists. Around the 40 sec mark there is a shift in the artist’s tone which makes the song more engaging. I must agree the chorus hits hard and the artist’s vocal tone as well. These two things is what saves the song”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]