This reviewer and music fan does get many friends that walk up and tell me that there is a new artist for me that I have to listen to. Usually I enjoy it as it is something that I am used too. This month we are going to look at one of the artists in one of those conversations except this suggestion was a little different. Com with this music reviewer as we look and discover gospel artist, Kim Walker-Smith and her recent release "Still Believe (Live)".

Eric Beasley one of the owners of the self pioneered heavy weighted battle rap league formerly known as Smack but now titles itself Ultimate Rap League sat down with Tonya Love to share his views on the impact of “Battle Rap in the Hip Hop culture and its history present and future….

Tonya Love: How, when, why and did Smack come into existence?

For those looking for new artists and music, the internet has become a place to find this and to learn more about musicians world wide. With this in mind, this month CD Reviewer, Andrew Scott, introduces you to the newly discovered country music styling of Shannon Selig and the 2013 release "Perfectly Imperfect".

There are collections out there the encompass the entire career of all time greats. In these collections, the listeners get to hear the beginnings of an artist's output and what brought them to be found by million. This is the case with this month’s selection straight from the music collection of reviewer, Andrew Scott, as he presents to you, John Lee Hooker's "Gold".

This month music reviewer, Andrew Scott, digs through the shelves of his own collection to present one of the most perfect examples of combining classical and hard rock music with the group Apocalyptica and their 2010 release “7^th Symphony”. 

Apocalyptica is primary made up of Perttu Kivilaakso (Cello, Additional Vocals), Paavo Lötjönen (Cello, Additional Vocals), Mikko Sirén  (Drums, Percussion,  Additional Vocals) and Eicca Toppinen (Cello, Additional Vocals).  Their collection “7^th Symphony” was this Finnish band’s seventh studio release.

“7^th Symphony” not only features these great classical musician but many guests sharing their talents on track vocals.  There is Joseph DuPlantier (Gojria) on the extremely aggressive “Bring Them To Light”, Gavin Rossdale (Bush) and Brent Smith (Shinedown) in the passionate pieces of music “End of Me” and “Not Strong Enough” respectively.  Not to be outdone but these guest is Lacey (Flyleaf) in the bittersweet, empowering “Broken Pieces”.  Slayer’s Dave Lombardo takes a turn on the drums for the suspenseful “2010”.  Each guest only adds to already strong pieces of music.

This foursome really take flight on the instrumentals throughout such as the intense “At The Gates Of Manala”, the epics “Rage of Poseidon” and “The Shadow Of Venus”.  With each of these pieces of music, all of the instruments being played are showcased without taking anything away from the song.  A highlight of this is the majestic and beautiful piece, “Beautiful”.

For fans of classical and hard music this is an excellent collection as the “7^th Symphony” showcases this an excellent blending of both

To find out more about this artist:

http://www.apocalyptica.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Apocalyptica?fref=ts

Four guitar picks out of Five.

Andrew Scott is an internationally published writer, reviewer and radio personality.

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While visiting one of his favorite sites to find new artists and different music, Mr. Moods and his collection of electronic jazz, “The String of Life” was discovered. So come and find out what reviewer, Andrew Scott, thought about his latest find as we discover Mr. Mood’s “The Strings of Life”.

When artists move along in their career and are no longer considered mainstream, their creativity takes an upward to a lot of times as they do not have the constraints thrust upon them by outside influences. This can lead to the artist’s best work in several years. This is the case with this month’s selection straight from the music collection of reviewer, Andrew Scott, as he presents to you, Alice Cooper’s “Dragontown”.

There are always ways to discover musicians and bands in your own backyard and there are many times this is a discovery you must share with all in the outside world also.  This is the case with New Brunswick, Canada’s own Black Steel Lace and their release “My Music”. 

While surfing the internet for new music to listen to the reviewer stumbled upon an artist that has been under our collective noses for almost two decades. This month music reviewer, Andrew Scott, gives to you the discovery of the jazz fused collection “Hot Wire” by Hue and Cry.

As 2012 comes to a close and 2013 starts, we need to take a look and listen to one of the stronger musical releases that occurred in 2012.  This month music reviewer, Andrew Scott, goes to his personal CD shelf to bring you Lisa Marie Presley and her release “Storm and Grace”.

What we have been given hear is a rich recording of an underappreciated artist and “Storm and Grace” has so many moments that let us just enjoy this musical collection.  There is honesty in Lisa Marie Presley’s voice that would lead you to believe every word she is singing.  There is the self proclamation in the feisty “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and the defiant “So Long”, where Lisa Marie Presley let us know she is moving on from the wrong side of town. One cannot ignore the passion in “Stick and Stones” or the autobiographical sounding “So Long”.

“Strom and Grace” has so many moments that take you back to a jazz fused lounge singing such as “Close To The Edge”, the gentile sounding “Soften The Blows” and the sultry “Heartless”.

Lisa Marie Presley’s voice is the true instrument being shown to us here throughout this collection.  Her grace can be really felt in “Storm & Grace”, “Just A Dream” and the really slowed down “Weary”.

“Storm and Grace” is recommended for anyone that truly loves this type of music and Lisa Marie Presley does come into her own as a singer realizing their potential. 

For more information on this artist:

http://lisamariepresley.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lisamariepresley?fref=ts

Reviewer’s Rating: Four Strings out of Five

Andrew Scott is a published international author, reviewer and radio show host. 

This month CD Reviewer, Andrew Scott, introduces you to the newly discovered bluegrass music of the band Della Mae and their 2011 release “I Built This Heart”. 

This month reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes you on a musical journey with a man that was never afraid to speak or sing his mind.  From his own personal collection, he introduces you to a modern classic in John Cougar Mellencamp’s “The Lonesome Jubilee”.  This tour de force was given to us at the height of his popularity in 1987.

This month’s musical discovery is a blast from the past with The Paul Winter Sextet and their collection “Count Me In 1962 & 1963”.  This collection was recorded 50 years ago at the Kennedy White House and now has been given to us again for today’s music world.  So join this music reviewer, Andrew Scott, as we discover the swing jazz of yesteryear.

This month reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes you on a musical journey with a selection from his very own shelves in this month’s From The Collection.  This music reviewer introduces you to the 2006 release from legends JJ Cale and Eric Clapton and their collection “The Road to Escondido”.  While everyone knows the musical contributions of Eric Clapton to this world not many are aware of the excellent song writing skills of JJ Cale.  This musician is responsible for the creation of many of Eric Clapton’s earlier works.  On “The Road to Escondido” they decided to share the billing and present to us this gift of music.

This month CD Reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes on a musical journey through R&B Soul while we discover Lisa Banton and her 2012 release, “Mirror Mirror Vol. 2 R&B Mixtape”.

This month reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes you on a musical journey with the legendary, English metal band, Judas Priest, and their 2008 release, “Nostradamus”. In this collection of music, Judas Priest had decided release an ambitious concept CD based on the controversial life of the 16^th century prophet, Nostradamus.

This month reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes you on a musical journey with a legendary East Coast Canadian Band, Great Big Sea and their 2006 release “Courage & Patience & Grit (In Concert)”.  This selection is from his very own personal collection. Great Big Sea is made of Sean McCann, Bob Hallett and Allan Doyle and supported by Murray Foster and Kris MacFarlane.  Each member were multi instrumentalists all through this live recording, interchanging at any time.   

This month music reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes on a musical journey through the industrial, gothic music of Rebel Son Rise and the September, 2012 release, “Sunshine On Daemon Land”. When trying to discover new music, this reviewer like to search the site bandcamp.com for independent artists and this was how Rebel Son Rise was found. You are invited to take this walk through this musical release and perhaps discover a new artist for yourself.

This month reviewer, Andrew Scott, takes you into a journey through his own personal CD collection with an introduction to the vocal styling’s of Kelly Clarkson and her collections of music, “My December”.

This month the world of spoken word will be discovered and further explored with the collection given to us in ““I AM WRITTENINPAIN” by Writteninpain (Carlos Lavezzari).