The Handcuffs, Electroluv

"The Handcuffs embody the spirit of rock music's uninhibited, sexy and overbearing appeal. A perfect blend of style and energy. They do not sound like anyone else, but at the same time they seem very familiar."

Their online bio puts it just about right. I have been doing this on ReviewPoint since '06, and with a widely varied interest and result I might add, I actually got death threats and a lawsuit threatened after my take on Morning 40, great fan base guys, but I digress. Every once in a great while...I actually add the CD to my personal collection, this is one of those times.

I didn't even have these guys on the radar, and it is a very big radar!!! I went to the website to do some research, surfed over to the Facebook and MySpace sites, listened to some old stuff mixed with the new...3 hours later! She has a very hot voice, Chloe that is. Chloe F. Orwell, drummer Brad Elvis, with the addition of newcomers, bassist Emily Tagni and the multi-talented instrumentalist Ellis Clark, make up this sassy surprise.

This being their "sophomore record", leads me to believe my radar just might get dialed into them very, very soon! Right from the very start, Electroluv, the title track, showcases Chloe's use of a velvet hammer followed by crystal chandeliers, stunning style range to be subtle about it. Brad's pounding beat to begin the third track, I just Wanna Be Free, Man , highlight a hint of The B-52's or Blondie on steroids, very powerful beat, very nice bass line, as well as a little psychedelics...

Turn It Up, not even one of the disc's so-called "focus tracks", is an excellent break from the sometimes repetitive sounds of a few other songs, and really shows a different side of Chloe's range. Fake Friends begins with an almost Beatles sound on the side, Chloe slides in some very nice tones along with a great piano sound from Ellis, I presume, I really could see this song as one to reflect on, it gave me a feel of the late '70s with a refinement of the millennium...hey this would be a great James Bond movie theme song!! (remember me if you get the nod guys?)

God Is Sure One Funny Girl has to be my favorite on this disc, "pussy on a leash about, five foot long", wow!! I love that line, what an imagination, brilliant! A trashy but sexy tune, it is a very fun addition to this great collection of juxtapositions. Wonderful Life, no not the movie, track 9 is another wonderful innocent sound from Chloe, yet another turn of the corner from a voice that is very elusive to capture or define.

Hell, all this typing is keeping me from enjoying my latest addition to my somewhat over sized collection, move over Blondie, Chloe and the guys are moving in. Enjoy this CD from OOFL Records, check out the links to their MySpace and Facebook sites, buy the CD and see how good it really is, I would be glad to loan you mine, but...not so much. I'm outta here.

Danny Green's Debut CD, "With You In Mind"

Award winning pianist, Danny Green, has definitely hit green with his new album With You In Mind from the very first song Doctor Pasta, Danny shows his signature multi-cultural flavorings. The Brazilian/Island flare dances well with a typical taste of mainstream jazz.

Panic Nap soon follows with a sexy, guttural bass beat backing the familiar sound of his Melodica. a native of SoCal, Danny's love of world music rhythms transcend the usual West Coast feel. As I sat there and listened, I could feel a rush of enjoyment at the diversity of sounds.

"Danny Green is an emerging young jazz artist who has a pulse on keeping the tradition of jazz piano alive while stepping boldly into the future through the use of cultural sounds and world music rhythms. His musical sound comes across to listeners as a pianistic mixture of Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, Danilo Perez, and Ravel with original compositions emerging from the sincerity of his soul."

Balao Pra Voce has an almost Scott Joplin gone South twist, one of my favorites on the disc, it really showcases his classical and traditional training as well as his interpretive skills of Brazilian style and substance he learned at the CA Brazil Camp in 2006.

Songs like Off The Streets, and the title track With You In Mind, are grounded in that very sensual, sultry, speakeasy jazz sound that has had me listening and loving this genre for years. I can almost picture a perfect piano duet and vocal cameo with Diana Krall, wow...what a thought!

Since beginning his studies at age five, Danny has obviously bloomed under the influences and training of such masters as Rick Helzer, Kamau Kenyatta, Otmara Ruiz, Marcos Silva and Jovino Santos-Neto. Classical studies with the likes of John Mark Harris and Luciane Cardassi are more than evident, and greatly appreciated in Lullaby For A Poet.

Gigi, The Last Minute, and Suite For The Americas are the wonderful toe tapping real thing that makes a sound like jazz transcend into so many different musical sounds across the board, overall...not a bad track in sight on this disc. Danny's sound is still in the making, yet this debut album from this brilliant young artist is yet a tease of what is sure to come in the future. A definite hit on the new 'Jazz Parade', enjoy this one folks, I am.