Joh Chase - Avalanche [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“The video here did not add much for me, but then again it didn’t need to because the songwriting and performance is though evoking and provocative enough to carry me forward.

Some things just hit hard instantly, and that was the case for me. on this song. For those needing a comparison, there is a hint of Brandi Carlile, more in the talented defiance and writing than the vocal tone. ‘Avalanche’ is a track that will bury you in the best possible ways. The emotions, the nuance, the strong vocals and emotive power.

If I had to label this one I’d call it Americana, but good, no great, music transcends genre and this track did that for me.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dover Lynn Fox - Winter Son [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Winter is a time of darkness both literallya nd figuratively with seasonal depression gripping many. But all dark times pass and Dover Lynn Fox gives a track of transition to take us fromt he dark bleakness to a time of light and understanding with her track ‘Winter Son.’

The emotive vocals soar and carryt he emotional burden of a lifetime as well as a season of darkness, but in the end this track is one of hope and brightness.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mary Middlefield - Atlantis [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Mary Middlefield has that deep bottomless kind of emotive voice that hooks a listener without theattrics or tricks. Like a deep inviting pool of cool blue water on a hot summer day, you can’t help but want to jump right in.

”Atlantis’ is a quiet, yet powerful track with well-written lyrics and the straightforward delivery of a confident songwriter. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

DIN NYC - Crooked Line [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“DIN NYC reminded me of a blend of Tom Petty and Wilco. ‘Crooked Line’ rides that line of Indie Rock/ Americana and has a classic timeless ound. There is a bit of vintage Springsteen to the style as well. Simply a good classic sound with a engaging set of lyrics.

Perfectly timeless!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock

Indecent Proposal - Behind Her Eyes [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“My closest comparison to the sound and vibe of this track from new band Indecent Proposal is the Black Crowes. ‘Behind Her Eys’ has a rock ballad feel but hints of Americana lurk in the sound and the result is an emotionally-fueled track that is the perfect accompaniment to a psychedelic trip or a calming jam session for that cross-country road trip.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The HawtThorns - All the Right Reasons [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The HawtThorns are led by the musical talent of wife and husband duo of KP and Johnny Hawthorn. The sound is tough to put in any one genre. Americana probably works best though there are hints of 90’s Country, West Coast singer/songwriter vibes, and even a touch of acoustic Pop.

’All The Right Reasons’ is about looking back and realizing that person you badly wanted and needed isn’t right for you so it is a blessing that things didn’t work out.” ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Andi Jane - Hide the Key [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“knowing when to walk away is important but few of us have that kind of self awareness. Andi Jane delivers this soulful Pop Ballad about that very thing. ‘Hide The Key’ utilizes her emotive vocals and a piano heavy melody to draw the listener into the right frame of mind for this track about moving on, despite nostalgia and a strong lingering love that isn’t quite meeting all the needs.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Josh Rabenold - Easy Money [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Everyone is searching for that easy life ... easy job, easy love, and of course ‘Easy Money.’ But usually, none of it is all that easy to come by, and when it appears to be so, there is always a hidden fee that might cost you even more in the end.

Josh Rabenold unleashes that very dynamic on this well-written, and haunting song that falls between Americana and Alt Country, with just a hint of pop vocals added to the mix.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Landon Keller - Bloom [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Landon Keller brings the roadhouse gospel to yo your ears with ‘Bloom.’ Singer/Songwriter, Blues, Americana ... no matter what you call it the sound here is timeless and emotive and simply sings to the human condition.

You can draw comparisons to Nathaniel Rateliff or Charley Crocket perhaps if you need a musical reference but Keller infuses a bit of the deep South that makes me crave a Mint Julep and a plate of fried shrimp to ingest while I contemplate the emotions of life.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bad Flamingo - White T-Shirt [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Bad Flamingo are so masterful at making you see a moment through their eyes. They make you smell the room, ear the background noise and most importantly feel that exact feeling they were feeling. This song is dripping in fresh country swagger with production that never overpowers the sultry vocals. With lyrics like “you still fit me like the best damn blue jeans”, this record is poetic in the best ways. Now excuse me whilst I order a pack of white tees.”

— Andrew Amoah (LA on lock blogger)

Bad Flamingo - Oh My My [Review]

Rating 4 out of 5

“Bad Flamingo just sauntered into town oozing swagger and attitude. ‘Oh My My’ is dripping with cool in the boldest shade of the blues. Razor sharp lyrics, drawn out deliveries that seduce and intimidate with equal measure “Leave marks on each other like souvenirs”... I MEAN!!. This record is sexy and cold-blooded.”

— Andrew Amoah (LA on Lock blogger)

Diane Gentile and the Gentle Men - Walk With Me featuring Alejandro Escovedo [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Americana can be a tough genre to pin down but this track from Diane Gentile and Austin songwriting stalwart, Alejandro Escoveda might very well set the bar for the genre. Poetic and emotional lyrics over a steady heartfelt delivery that hook the listener in every way. ‘Walk with Me’ offers timeless sound and talent with perfectly matched imagery for the video.

The track offers hints of Emmylou and Springsteen with an ode to Dylan on the side.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Sweeplings - Just Like That [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Light airy vocals deliver The Sweeplings ode to love, ‘Just Like That.’ The duo delivers tangible emotion both vocally and with a carefully created arrangement that pairs perfectly. The track has a slight theatrical edge that adds an almost brooding haunting quality and instills the intensity and fragility of love to the mix. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Starpainter "Let It Pass"

Rating: 3 out of 5

“Taken from his sophomore LP ‘Rattlesnake Dream”, Starpainter brings us along for this ride of letting go and growing pains. Love is sometimes a tug of war and ‘Let It Go’ paints the perfect picture of the push and pull of love.”

— Andrew Amoah (LA On Lock Blogger)

Leroy From The North - Push [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Leroy From The North gives us a track that feels a bit like sitting on a bar stool and having a beer while listening to your buddy tell you about the girl he just met. You could call this Southern Rock or Americana as it has both Petty and Sturgill vibes for sure. Easy to listen to and find your own emotional relevance ‘Push’ is a track I will be adding to several of my personal playlists. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Locksmiths - 2Handz [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This husband and wife duo, deliver a passionate and funky little groove. The Locksmiths have a sound that reminded me of Nathanial Rateliff brand of Americana Soul a bit. ‘2 Handz’ also has some classic rock elements from a bygone era but still manages to sound and feel contemporary because of the artful songwriting and playful back and forth between them. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Will Solomon - Crazy Kid [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track is an ode the dreamers, the chasers, the ones that defy the odds and achieve their goals despite the odds and the critics.

Will Solomon hails from Kentucky, but now calls Seattle home, and you can almost hear the influence of both places. There is a rustic Americana vibe that John Prine would be proud of, as well as an attitude and defiance that could be found in the 90s in the grunge sound. This track certainly isn’t grunge, but there is a subtle edge and bold resistance to what others say that is certainly Rock and Roll at its heart. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Amelie Patterson - The War [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I suppose it is rather ironic, but there is a lot of great Americana music being created by Canadians these days, and Amelie Patterson certainly joins that select group. ‘The War’ has Folk and Indie Rock elements and is tough to categorize like a lot of Americana.

No doubt there will Brandi Carlile comparisons, and that is an apt similarity, but no mistake, no matter what artists served as her inspiration, Patterson is a talented and capable artist creating her own sound. Deeply emotional and brooding in the build, this is a track that I will listen to over and over again to extract every last drop of nuance and meaning.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kate Thornbury - Napkins [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kate Thornbury’s vocals have a hint of Stevie Nicks thought he delivery style is a bit more Phoebe Bridgers or Brandi Carlile with an sound that falls between Indie Rock and Americana.

’Napkins’ starts with a bit of sunny nostalgia but takes a deeper darker turn as the track progress and the dreams that were once written on disposable napkins are long gone but the emotions of heartbreak linger on.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jon Tyler Wiley & His Virginia Choir - Full-Handed [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written from the perspective of a child, watching his parents’ marriage fall apart, ‘Full-Handed’ is a slow burn. A sad track that gave me modern Johnny Cash vibes. There are Country elements here but the track has an edge that better fits Rock. Maybe that lands it squarely int he Americana category but trying to pigeon-hole such a track is a waste of time. The emotions is relatable to all and the slow build here sneakily punches you in the gut. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger