CD REVIEW: Sondre Lerche "Heartbeat Radio"

Sondre Lerche's brand of pop music has always been unparalleled and on his latest album he spares no expense at bring us more of the same. There are a ton of new classics on this album including the title track which is signature Lerche. His singsong style coupled with his love for jazz and big band music make this album fun and catchy. Another standout track on the album is "Like Lazenby," where Sondre likens himself to the onetime James Bond actor George Lazenby. Sondre Lerche is an excellent wordsmith and never ceases to amaze with his unique take on a simple musical art form. On "Heartbeat Radio," Sondre Lerche shows us that it's no surprise that Lerche has continued to release outstanding albums filled with interesting and unique pop music.

CD REVIEW: Robert Francis "Before Nightfall"

Once in a while and artist comes along and wows listeners with their music. Robert Francis' major label debut is a wow kind of a record, and it makes a statement about his presence in the music industry. Robert Francis has embraced the recent rise of folk music and is now finding himself one of the artists at the forefront of this movement. "Nightfall" is a beautiful ballad that starts off quiet and crescendos into a soft folk gospel rocker that is one of the best songs Francis has written. More of an indie rock edge can be heard on "Junebug." Other standouts include "Darkness" and "One By One" which is a reboot of a song from Francis' independent debut. Robert Francis may have been an unknown once but his is now joining the likes of Ray LaMontagne, Josh Ritter, and Jakob Dylan as heroes of the new folk rock.

New Release Tuesday

New releases out today worth checking out:

• Aqualung - Magnetic North
• C-Money - Family Business
• Tyler Hilton - Ladies & Gentlemen EP
• Ozomatli - Fire Away
• Xavier Rudd - Koonyum Sun

CD REVIEW: C-Money "Family Business"

Side projects can come in all shapes and sizes, and this time, horn player from the band Slightly Stoopid takes us on a sonic adventure through jazz, funk, and reggae music. This, his second album, features a number of guest vocalists that really shape this eclectic release. The first single from the album features G. Love on vocals and harmonica is called "Arroz Con Pollo." G. Love brings his signature folk-meets-hip hop vibe, blends it with his own love for reggae and C-Money's urban-meets-coastal vibe for an incredible song. Other guest appearance's are made by Kyle from Slightly Stoopid and Elliot Martin from John Brown's Body. Both vocalists contribute their own signature style to the songs they sing on, but do not create a copy of their own bands' music. C-Money and all of the musicians have a ton of fun on this album, making it an incredibly awesome mix of music that is perfect for anywhere the sun is shining.

CD REVIEW: Angus & Julia Stone "Down The Way"

Folk music has never been this exciting. Well, that's except for the last time these two made an album. Angus & Julia Stone, a brother and sister duo from Australia, have managed to come very close to the quality and vibrancy of their debut. "Down The Way" has everything a great folk rock record needs: great lyrics, interesting and simple instrumentation, and stunning vocals. Sharing the vocal duties, Angus & Julia trade the lead roll practically every other song, throwing in some interesting harmonies and duet vocals here and there. "And The Boys" was the first taste the two let us in on and was just the appetizer for what was to come on the album. "Black Crow" and "Big Jet Plane" are two of the duo's finest recordings, showing off their great storytelling through clever lyrics. The most intriguing song on the album is "Yellow Brick Road" using childhood metaphors to convey their message during a recording that is over seven minutes long, channeling Bob Dylan the entire way. Angus & Julia Stone have a unique style of folk music that sets them apart from the masses, and have definitely avoided the dreaded sophomore slump.

CD REVIEW: Tyrone Wells "Metal & Wood"

Returning to his roots, Tyrone Wells strips down and provides us with an incredible new collection of music driven by his lyrics and his acoustic guitar. Wells, who has seen considerable success, but yet not too mainstream, has released his newest EP without the backing of Universal, who released his two previous albums. Wells teams with some creative partners on this one, most notably Jason Reeves who shares writing and vocal duties on the track "Give Me One Reason." Tyrone has definitely outdone himself on the title track, which is the most organic of the bunch. The song is all about things that we chose that overshadow the things that really mean something, such as going to war or removing the arts and music from our schools. A digital version of the album features two bonus tracks, one being an incredible cover of Kings Of Leon's hit "Use Somebody" which Wells removed all rock and roll from and makes it a slow acoustic ballad type song. Despite his excellent music, Tyrone Wells is certainly an under appreciated musician. However, regardless of where his music comes from or how the world gets to share in it with him, those who do hear it certainly appreciate it.

CD REVIEW: matt pond PA "The Dark Leaves"

These guys have managed to stay just below the radar for some time while other indie rock bands have their day in the sun. Rogue Wave, Death Cab For Cutie, and the Shins all have become household names and have embraced the alternative rock community that has embraced the. Well, for matt pond PA, where they are is just fine. They are as big as those bands, but they are not yet so well know that everyone who listens to radio gets into their hit singles and disregards their history and their entire catalogue. This album, their best since their career defining "Several Arrows Later," is an excellent addition to their extensive catalogue and showcases their signature sound. Each song emphasized their interesting instrumentation and their incredibly creative and clever lyrics. The album is not dark, it is not emo, and it is not a novelty recording that is trying to ride the wave of mainstream indie success. Rather, it is a straightforward collection of some of matt pond PA's finest songs, reminding us that you don't need major label backing or hit radio singles to prove you are a great band.

CD REVIEW: Jason Castro "Jason Castro"

Finally releasing his first album since leaving American Idol season 7 in 2008, Jason Castro has really outshone expectations. It's probably a good idea that Castro didn't actually win during his season, because his music wouldn't have grown and fermented in order to create this album. The entire album is not exactly new, as four of the eight songs on it have been previously released. "Let's Just Fall In Love Again" was Castro's debut single and is the lead track on his album. "Love Uncompromised" and "You Can Always Come Home" which features guest vocals by Serena Ryder were both released digitally earlier this year on the "Love Uncompromised" EP. Finally "Hallelujah," a cover of the Leonard Cohen song made famous by Jeff Buckley which Castro wowed judged on Idol with, closes out the album reminding us at the end exactly why Jason Castro needed to be discovered. The entire album, although short, is excellent and showcased Castro's ability to make excellent mellow pop rock, staying true to himself and his craft. Jason Castro surely is a great talent, and now has proven that he didn't need a television show to tell us that.

CD REVIEW: She & Him "Volume Two"

"Volume One" was awesome. "Volume Two" is equally awesome. She & Him are one of the most intesting musical groups to come around in a while, and they are creating some of the best and most unique indie music around. Zooey Deschanel, who is the "She" in the band, is not only a great actress but also a great singer, with an incredibly crisp and beautiful voice. M. Ward, the "He," is a very musical guitarist and vocalist. This whole thing is just a side project to their day jobs (Deschanel has her superb performances on the big screen while Ward has his solo career and his time with Monsters Of Folk). Regardless of where this project came from, the fact remains that it's amazing. The disc sounds like a throwback to american folk music from the 50's and 60's, with an amazing AM radio vibe throughout. "In The Sun," "Thieves," and "Ridin' In My Car" are all outstanding songs. There is no band out there making this type of music this good, and to think that both Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are doing all of this on the side is incredible. Hopefully She & Him will continue to make beautiful music, and if their other careers don't work out, this one will always be there. And who knows, someday we might get a "Volume Ten."

CD REVIEW: Akiva "If I Didn't Work Nights/The Daylight"

Akiva is one of the most underrated independent musicians out there today. His latest effort is a big bold step in the right direction, a double disc dual album featuring a handful of his best songs. Originally released as singles on MySpace, many of the songs on the album took on a life of there own even before the two discs became a reality. "I Keep Calling You," the track that starts the collection off, is quite possible Akiva's best song from any of his releases. "Junk In The Trunk" really shows off his lyrical genius, which is another reason to love this album. He has definitely mastered the fine art of the simple yet catchy pop song, but hasn't yet unleashed his full potential on the world. After hearing songs like "Allison" and "Lips On The Microphone" fans and music industry professionals are sure to stand up and take notice to this incredible talent. Any independent musician that takes a leap like releasing a double album without the backing of a label is daring, but when you have this level of talent, you don't need any extra help.