ReverbNation Sweep #2

Cole Stacey
Suggested Track: "Walk to Midnight"

Upon first listening to "Walk to Midnight," I was struck by the range of expression that Cole Stacey achieves with his voice. He shifts effortlessly from a low, subtle half-whisper to a full-bodied tenor vibrating with emotion and back again over a backdrop of interlaced guitar, piano, and vocal harmony. It all serves to create a very visual musical experience, and in turn each song seems to tap directly into the listener's imagination. Relaxing, fascinating, and deep: this is just great music to listen to, plain and simple.

51/50s
Suggested Track: "Lies"

This music is downright Fun, the kind of sound that would pull me in off the street if I were walking by, and it's no accident. Each song is a wonderfully crafted, high-energy thrill ride propelled on a wave of soaring guitar, undulating bass, driving drums, and thick backing vocals that compels the listener to sing along, and dance while they're at it. The more I listen to these songs, the more I hope there's a US tour in store for these guys sometime in the near future.


CT MUSIC SPOTLIGHT:
Rod Washburn
Suggested Track: "Might Turn Around"

As many of those who know me are aware of, I am traditionally not a fan of country music. However, every now and then a particular artist will catch my ear and turn that opinion around for little while; Rod Washburn happens to be one of those artists. His voice is rich and passionate, and it meshes easily with beautiful guitar melodies and a variety of accompanying instruments. Harmonies come wafting up in just the right places, and the songs balance delicately between an overlying sense of down to earth simplicity and a substructure of finely crafted complexity.