Lockerbie is primed and ready for that outstanding debut full length album. This, however, is yet another pleasant tease, as his second EP contains only 4 songs. Lockerbie's style, reminiscent of artists such as Ari Hest and Mat Kearney, is subtle pop folk that borders on true alternative. Though this EP is subtle and mellow, it shows growth and strength compared to his debut which seemed more like just a single than a full EP. Comparatively, it seems that Lockerbie has found himself as a truly sophisticated songwriter, transcending typical pop tunes and putting together music that is hearty and tells a story. "Tacoma" is a killer track, showing off Lockerbie's lighter folk side while "Moving To Montauk" shows us that he's still a pop artist at heart, but with a bit more substance than the masses. Trey Lockerbie is a gem waiting to be discovered, and although these four songs are superb, when he finally releases a full length album, the artist as a whole will truly be realized by the world.
Jessica Sonner is an amazingly talented singer songwriter from Denver that is making waves each time she makes music. This, her second album, is a huge leap forward from her first, which although incredibly well written, sounded like a demo in comparison to this one. She fuses pop rock with folk in a way that not many artists can do seamlessly. Fans of Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, and Norah Jones will all find something in her music. The title track and "Still Be Here" are standouts on an album that, from an independent artist, is incredibly impressive.
Bleu is a warrior. After having been on hiatus for some time (as a solo artist - he wrote songs for tons of other musicians) he cranks out his second album in as many years. Aptly titled, this is his fourth album and brings us back to the time when he was embraced by the world after the release of "Redhead." This album featured Bleu once again doing what he does best: quirky power pop rock song with substance, quality, and grace. "B.O.S.T.O.N." is an instant classic, with its clever lyrics and Weezer-esque delivery, showing why we fell in love with Bleu and why we should all over again. Other standouts include "Evil Twin" and "Singin' In Tongues." Some surprises on the album are "In Love With My Lover" and "Dead In The Mornin'" which showcase sides of Bleu that have been few and far between in other recordings, with lyrical content and musical delivery that he has usually given away to other musicians and not kept for himself. Needless to say it's one of the best of the year, and quite possibly the best independently released power pop record of the last five years.
As the Colorado music scene grows, The Heyday stand tall in the front of the line with two incredible independent releases as their resume. The latest of the two is a six song collection that further builds on the straightforward lyrical rock music that their debut album was filled with. There are two major standout tracks on the album, "Midnight Cold" and "Good Old Days." The second of those two stands to be the band's breakout hit, if radio gets smart and decides to play it. It's lyrically and musically accessible, as well as an organic composition showcasing the many talents of the band members. The Heyday are not to be underestimated, and in a few years time, if their songwriting continues to rock this much, they'll be selling out arenas and amphitheaters all over the USA.