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GMI

Gotta Make It

I stumbled across these guys (Master B, Cassidy, Blaize, Shim and Luke Mac) on Twitter and was intrigued by the names of these guys. Hailing from East London the lads prove that English hip hop/grime is at its best. The lads have the slick beats that rhyme with lyrics that speak to the heart. From songs about a letter, to their dear friend who has passed away, to telling how life has changed for them. These guys are reaching out to a teenage audience and guiding them in the right direction with their lyrics. Their beats couldn't get anymore slicker and get better with every song on their track Gotta Make It, GMI have it all and it won't be long until they make it in my opinion.
Review by Jennifer Ormsby

4/6

GMI Face Book music page

Garret Baker & The Random Nouns

 

Songs for drunks and losers

The first song The ballad of three Dublin pubs was amazing. I can’t believe I just wrote that! But it was, it’s clever funny and it really makes you listen.
It’s a typical ballad but it has spunk. After that the songs run a bit dry until you hit number 5 “Three day week” the vocals change and a Jonny Cash vibe takes over. To summarize some songs were very dry old Ireland drunk songs and some songs were catchy and amusing, but all the lyrics were clever and well constructed.
I despise ballads in all shape and form. But sometimes during this album I wanted to tap my foot and swing my arms! good on ya boys.
Review by Sandra Nash

4/6

http://www.myspace.com/garretbaker

Gavin Mee

 

“Breech Birth”

Dublin, Singer songwriter Gavin Mee’s debut album, questionably titled “Breech Birth” has given Dublin yet another jewel in it’s already very well decorated crown, from the outset of the album Mee displays a fun alternative combination of instruments, together with Mee’s hypnotic husky voice entrancing the listener into a state of ultimate chill out.
With this album the Dublin born man is taking the road less traveled, with a collection of sounds that come so naturally to him. With vocal and instrumental assistance from Lucy Johnston and Michael Carass respectively, it is easy to tell that those involved in the making of these collections of songs especially Gavin Mee himself have spent a wealth of time immersing themselves in every note of each song, perfecting it every step of the way to bring to us not just a collection of great chill out tunes but songs that I consider a work of art! With songs such as “Betty Boop Shoop” and “not an Irish pub in sight” Gavin Mee’s music is not just something to listen to, but it is something everyone should experience!
Review by Declan O’ Toole

5/6

http://gavinmee.com

GypsyFly

 

Silver or lead.

Reading the insert before my first listen, I was impressed that “silver or lead” is produced, engineered and mixed by Gypsyfly. This was followed by disappointment on hearing the album.

The mix is not kind to the ears of the listener and certainly isn’t fair to the band as they’ve written some melodic and energetic tunes,there is a tendency for bands lacking funds, to try to do everything themselves and thus shooting themselves in the foot in the process, my instinct tells me though that Gypsyfly are a great live act and I’m hoping the lads can raise enough funds through gigging to be able to pay someone to remix “silver or lead”, so that justice can be done to some alright tunes.

Review by Tobye Hillier.

2/6

http://www.myspace.com/gypsyfly

Glenn Patrik

Nuthin’ but a thang

Ah the blues: precursor of rock n’ roll, the showman musician’s natural habitat
and the original soundtrack to heartbreak, depression and the seedier side of
life. Most of all though, the blues is damn fun!

Glenn Patrik is a straight-up bluesman. His album “Nuthin’ but a thang” has cool
and attitude oozing from every lick of his masterful guitar work. But thankfully
this isn’t a one man show and Mr. Patrik is no show boat. His band are well
versed in blues changes and melodies with the pianist and bass player getting
their share of the spotlight on slow-burner “Dontcha Know”.

Patrik’s songwriting is (as expected) blues by numbers. The downfall of this
music is that it is highly limited to simple formulaic structure which leads to
overfamiliarity. The solo is the only place where a blues player can really show
their talents, with the possibly exception of superb lyrics. Patrik knows this
and obliges gratefully with good-but-not-great solos which depending on your
mood or feelings towards blues in general may “drag on a bit”.

“Nuthin’ but a thang” is a good blues album especially in this day and age where
it is rare enough to find a blues recording artist at all (its all live
nowadays). However it is a blues album for fans of blues and is unlikely to
convert the unconverted.
Review by Kevin McCabe

3/6
http://www.myspace.com/glennpatrik

Gavin Mulhall

 

Magpie's Nest

Rock with an eastern vibe coming from the rhythm can be heard on Gavin's new Single Magpie's Nest, even though he uses some electronic effects to harbour the sound this is a catchy number with some abstract guitar riffs. the B side Perpetual Motion is far away sounding from the first song, it's a laid back rock tune with some nice vocals, backed up with catchy riffs on the guitar that really rock out in parts.

Review by T.Halpin

5/6

http://www.myspace.com/gavinmulhallmusic

Grades of Shade
EP Launch Tower Records Dublin

Dublin Band Grades of Shade entertained the customers at Tower Records with an hour of Urban Electronic indie sounds they have a real nice laid back attitude and the lead singer Hazel Peters has a very soulful voice that blends into the electronic feel that the music gives off, New sounds is what bands try to make and originality is what most musicians set out to achieve but Grades of Shade have nailed it with a sound of their own this could be the key to future success, The band got a real urban mood to it when rapper JMC jumps in to mc to the beat and electronic indie flavor coming from the rhythm section keeps the hole sound just right for the ear, There are two tracks on the new EP the first song is "Reality" kicking in with 80's style pop guitar and electronic grooves, Hazel Peters voice taunts the rhythm with wailing catchy lyrics, excellent stuff! The second song on the EP is called "Ejector Seat" JMC leads this song with his hip hop styled vocals and Hazel Peters joins in with a great catchy promo lyrics very clever from the band on this song short but sweet perfect for a B side track and good one to spin to radio Dj's.
Review by T.Halpin

Rank:***** 5 out of 6

www.myspace.com/gradesofshade

Glen Baker

"My Blood" Album review

Dublin Man Glen Baker has put together this fine debut album of eleven tracks that bring you on a journey of Glen's inner soul both blues and the love and passion to play, Glen has a very laid back and soulful tone coming from his voice on this album, track three "My Blood" is the highlight on the album for me, but not excluding the other ten tracks as they have the same high quality and production, the lyrics and arrangement are both very enjoyable this album has radio potential and even greater things.

Review by T.Halpin

RANK:***** 5 out of 6

www.myspace.com/glenbaker

GERRY TULLY

LEAVES FLOAT DOWN

Gerry Tully from Meath in Ireland has put together fantastic piece of work, 13 tracks of pure entertainment.. you can hear heavy blues influences but Gerry hides it well with his Irish folk vocal and country blues riffs. “In Your Eyes” is the first track on the album it got the impression it could be a stunning tune to hit the Irish airwaves capping the likes of Paddy Casey and Declan O’Rourke.. Very catchy and superb lyrics. “News For You” with the special appearance of Don Baker on harmonica kicks and moves like a blue frog on a winter morning, lyrics are great and Don sounds fantastic on harp. great tune. “Thank You For Calling” has a nice balance a feel to the song it sounds a bit like Mundy "July".. but better… guitar sounds great and the lick adds a nice spiller to the track excellent stuff. like many songwriters of Gerry’s style in Ireland which is a cul de sac for this kind of sound I feel the USA would open arms to this guy and he may even get a hit or two over there.

Review by T.Halpin

RANK: ****** 6 out of 6

http://www.myspace.com/gerrytully1

GARDEN BLUE

 

Here is an Irish outfit with melodramatic vocals with deep tones and fantastic lyrics, you can hear deep Irish roots but very grunge in some parts of the music with slight hints of Garbage….. maybe Cardigans. The vocals are very well mixed in each track leaving me an inclusion to believe they are on to something big….

Review by T.Halpin

RANK: ***** 5 out of 6

http://www.myspace.com/gardenblueband

GOOD GRIEF

 

Back in the day (the early 70's and onwards) a family tree of blues oriented rock flourished in the singles and album charts with the likes of Free/Bad Company, Badfinger, Clapton, Steve Winwood, Alman Brothers et al - picking up the mantle of The Doors and Hendrix and making a sound more commercial, more muscular in approach, but still with earthy electric power. Some of these guys are still winding their way round the live circuit. I saw a rather well-wearing Paul Rodgers myself, only last year.
Good Grief lovingly recreate the sound of that golden age of hair and flare as only true fans of a genre could. They do it with reverence and without resorting to actually copying their forebears songs. There is absolutely no question, all concerned are clearly accomplished musicians and have created an excellent series of faithfully recreated blues-rock. You will find breadth and depth of quality musicianship on tracks such as 'All night long' (think Free's 'Alright now') and the Eagles-esque 'Tell me'. Luscious, soulful lead and backing vocals, and everything clinically and expertly put together, but here's the rub... Despite bold claims in the bio of "grit" "foot stomping" and "air guitar" I can't help being left with the impression that maybe, unless you are a fan of Californian soft rock say, it all sounds a bit anodyne and more Easy Listening than Easy Rider to me. My recollection of the Kossof, Rodgers era and the rest of British end of the deal was far more in your face, heavy and barnstorming. They were, after all, the early steps of heavy metal with some bare chests and whiskey soaked guitar solos... where as, Good Grief come across as extremely polite and clean cut in their homage. But don't get me wrong here, GG are a very pro band and do what they do extremely well. Maybe its me, maybe its the lightweight production or maybe the promise of big Hammond organs in the bio that strangely, get swamped in the mix, but the end result is much more Radio 2 than Radio Ga Ga. For my money, a remix of GG's current tracks with perhaps a large dose of added testicular fortitude and a little less polite veneer would really make me sit up and listen again, but for now its all a bit "Volvo" - that is to say, you know its good, but its just a wee bit bland.

Review by Drumhead

RANK: **** 4 out of 6

www.myspace.com/goodgriefonline

GRASSHOPPER

 

At the forefront of the current indie scene are NME darlings such as The View, The Pidgeon Detectives and several other bands with "The" in the name that are following in The Libertines shambling wake. They play 'mash-it-up' style of jingly guitar rock which often sounds almost ragged and has a 'recorded-in-one-take' vibe about it. Grasshopper are right in there with this particular sound and early listens shout The View at me. Songs such as 'Hey hey' and 'Made man'and 'Talk of the town' are eclectic bashy, trashy pieces of indie that are held together by some imaginative guitar interplay (sometimes in the face of some pretty noticeable and glaring timing issues) producing uptempo, 'of the moment' NME-like songs.
I will say right here and now that its not a style I'm a particular fan of (I think there's an element in this genre of style over substance but thats a debate for another day) but Grasshopper have the basics of some very, very good songs, however some of the recordings available to the public are woeful. Regardless of keeping your 'indie' credentials real, details like keeping in time and tune are actually quite important. If you play well together and the songs are good, it doesn't matter how its recorded if you're unsigned - but if you skimp on the basics it is self defeating. Interesting but very ragged.

Review by Drumhead

RANK:*** 3 out of 6

www.myspace.com/grasshopperbray

GRAEME CAMPBELL

Another singer/songwriter? Yes sirree Bob. The one good thing about singer/songwiters is that you will always get a passion and honesty about what they do, and in most cases they're not following any particular herd. So it can be said of Graeme Campbell a guitar teacher by day and all round fine performer.
He has compiled an album 'Breaking out the blue day' (available on iTunes) a collection of personal soft rock songs that are well worth checking out. But wait, what's this, despite being a self proclaimed solo artist, apart from the guitar, there appears to be a decent little band and an awesome array of instruments appearing behind Mr Campbell... mysteriously, the only thing I can find on tinterweb is that Graeme is ''..entirely self produced and performed". If thats the case then you have to say, quite the man of many talents (although I'm guessing the female vocal on the excellent, Eastern style, 'Blue', might not be him). So, what do we have here. Graeme's voice gives a big nod in the direction to Springsteen and a series of excellently produced songs that ooze personailty and albeit it they are heavily influenced by the 70's/80's California stylings of say Neil Young or Creedance, they have a stamp all of their own. I
Graeme is a self confessed American-ophile from Essex, who is a worshipper at the altar of the country rock. There's no slavish following of trends, hairstyles, or trying to be a clone of someone else here. Despite that approach being a potential minefield of unfashionable areas, Graeme unapologetically makes his own, genuinely listenable and personal interpretation of what he loves to do, succesfully managing to avoid the potential pitfalls of over egging the 'Dad-Rock' pudding, if you want some good, honest home-cooked music, dive in and have try. Keep it you, Graeme
Personal faves; 'Blue', 'Picture

Review by Drumhead

RANK:***** 5 out of 6

www.myspace.com/graemecampbell