Young voice sings of love in new album

The topic of love often plagues the minds of young girls throughout their teenage years, but most cannot express it in such a delicate and soulful way as 17-year-old singer- songwriter Olivia Millerschin does in her new album, "Yes.No.Maybe So."

The Michigan songstress is set to open on a nation-wide tour opening for Teddy Geiger starting this April.

Millerschin has a soulful voice similar to some of her folk-acoustic predecessors like Sara Bareilles or Colbie Caillat.

Millerschin's songs have a light airy feel that is reminiscent of teenage summer days. She has a sound similar to that of acoustic group Garfunkel and Oates and, like the aforementioned, has a knack for humor with songs like "Screw Valentine's Day."

Her music isn't comedic, however. She has an ability to analyze love and look at life and success and the future; all things that kids on the brink of adulthood think about.

She doesn't approach these subjects like a normal teenager, however. She has a maturity about her, and her voice moves you away from images of teen troubles to seeing her lyrics as truly relevant to the transformation into adulthood.

Although only 17 years old, Millerschin has gotten critics to take notice. In her short career, she has been nominated for three Detroit Music Awards and performed at numerous festivals throughout the country.

The album hits its best moments early with her up-and-coming hit "Screw Valentine's Day" and is at its best on the fourth track "I Can Say." The song tackles the perils of letting others dictate your path and hold you back from your future.

"I was once a tree, rising from the ground," Millerschin sings. "Winter, spring, summer, or fall, I still grew tall till you cut me down. Are you really happy now?"

The album has a bit of an up and down feel to me. It isn't well-paced and jumps from fast to slow and deep to light hearted without much guidance for the listener.

This pace certainly doesn't take away from her talent. Millerschin is a well-versed songstress and the album has the ability to capture the attention of the listener for the duration.

To hear Olivia Millerschin's "Yes.No.Maybe So." tune into 90.3 KSLC or listen online at www.linfield.edu/kslcfm and look for her opening nationwide on the Teddy Geiger tour beginning this month.

 

Tyler Sedlacek/KSLC staff

Tyler Sedlacek can be reached at kslcmusic@gmail.com.

Funk band refreshes music scene

Made up of college kids who graduated with an appreciation of rock and punk, Guy Fox is a band of four Bates College graduates who then moved to San Francisco to produce their self-titled EP Guy Fox.

The unique thing about Guy Fox is that all four musicians sing on their tracks, even the drummer Peter Granquist. Even the story behind the name of the band is a story that Guy Fox tells at every performance.

Guy Fox was a 17th century assassin who tried to demolish the British Parliament. The band wanted to exhibit the same passion and drive as the legendary Guy Fox, thus the name of their passionate band.

The band reminds me a lot of a funk band I used to listen to back home call Mingo Fishtrap. Both bands incorporate a soul and electronic feel into their beats and rhythms. The college music grads were able to take everything they learned in their music program and bring it to life through funk sounds.

Rasputain's Music and Artist of the Month by San Francisco Deli Magazine labeled Guy Fox Buzz Band of the Week.
Guy Fox has now sold out shows all of San Francisco as it continues to host guest appearances and go on radio talk shows all across the Bay Area.

The second song on Guy Fox's self-named LP, "Live Forever," gives a jazzier recap of what it could be like to go to sleep and never get to wake up.

It connects with the listeners on a deeper level, which I think has to do with its attention to detail and lyrics throughout the EP.

Guy Fox just released a brand new single called "San Francisco" on Feb. 19. The new single can be streamed online through its website and is definitely worth a listen. The new track brings a newer sound that leans toward a more soul-pop sound.

Listen for Guy Fox, an alternative modern-day funk that will make you want to dance, on KSLC. To hear more songs and to check them out for yourself you can go to KSLC and listen. We are now streaming online so go to our website and listen to the Best in the Northwest Student Station, KSLC 90.3 FM, www.linfield.edu/kslcfm.

Haydn Nason

KSLC General Manager

Haydn Nason can be reached at kslcmusic@gmail.com

Del Rey leaves listeners lost in paradise

The self-proclaimed "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" releases the follow- up to her debut album, her much-anticipated EP "Paradise," just in time for the holiday season.

With the EP's nine tracks, "Paradise" is what you would expect from the 26-year-old singer, who shot to fame via YouTube videos.

Though I never heard Del Rey's debut album in full, her singles, such as "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans" offer an eerie sense of what type of musician Del Rey is and strives to be. It takes a lot of guts to call yourself the "Nancy Sinatra" of our generation.

Born and raised in New York, Del Rey suffered through a tough childhood and found solace in music.

Citing Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Janis Joplin as some of her inspirations, Del Rey wanted to create music that was reminiscent of '50s and '60s Americana.

"Paradise" includes direct references to pop culture icons, such as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe in "Body Electric" and Bruce Springsteen in "American."

The top three tracks to check out on "Paradise" are "Ride," "Gods & Monsters" and its closing song, "Burning Desire."

"Ride" references Del Rey's dark days as an adolescent, regarding her alcohol abuse, parental problems and depression.

"I don't really wanna know what's good for me," Del Rey sings in "Gods & Monsters," which may also parallel the criticism she has received since she's been under the spotlight.

What's intriguing about Del Rey is her ability to be a breath of fresh air for the music industry. Her voice is unique and distinguished, which allows listeners to emotionally connect to her lyrics, as well as the cinematic sound she has embodied.

With lyrical content regarding Americana, love and lust, loneliness, and suffering, Del Rey's "Paradise" creates an atmosphere for listeners to get swept away due to her deep, sultry soulful voice. In other words, listeners will find themselves 'lost in paradise' and enchanted by Del Rey's refreshing sound that the indie/pop industry is now lacking.

While "Paradise" contains some explicit content, it's worth a listen. Del Rey takes some risks on her follow-up to "Born to Die," and though it's not an extreme departure from the latter, her musical experimentations are certainly appreciated.

Tune into KSLC 90.3 FM to hear Lana Del Rey: "Paradise." You can also listen online at www.linfield.edu/kslcfm or stream the station on iTunes.

Vanessa So

Assistant Music Director

Band combines catchy beats and bluegrass sound

The unique sounds of bluegrass and country-rock collide to bring you Boston native band Comanchero.

This five-member band works together to bring catchy yet rhythmic music to Linfield's radio station, KSLC.

Comanchero is defined as western Hispanic traders who were known for being the best customers of trading in that region, which inspired the western sounds found in the band's music.

The band has performed together all across the United States for more than seven years. They have opened and worked with bands like Passion Pit and The Mother Truckers.

They have continued to travel after playing in more than 100 shows from coast to coast.

One of the tracks, titled "Jimmy Carter," brings bongos and eclectic guitar sounds together to create a lively, foot-stomping beat. Clever lyrics are guaranteed when you listen to any of Comanchero's songs.

Many different bands and artists, such as Wilco, Mumford and Sons and Led Zeppelin, influence Comanchero's unique sounds. It is easy to pick up on these important contributors when you listen to this bluegrass and funk music.

Comanchero is continuing to grow in number of followers on the East coast after releasing its third album, "The Undeserved," which can be found on its website.

Listen for Comanchero, a fun bluegrass band that will make you want to dance, on KSLC.

To hear more songs and to check them out for yourself, you can go to KSLC and listen.

We are now streaming online so go to our website and listen to the Best in the Northwest Student Station, KSLC 90.3 FM, www.linfield.edu/kslcfm.



Haydn Nason/For the Review
Haydn Nason can be reached at kslcmusic@gmail.com.

Oregon artist plays inspiration

The smooth acoustic vibes of Tyler Stenson that filled the air this summer, opening for famed rocker Chris Isaak at the Oregon Zoo, will now be filling the radio waves of KSLC.

Born in Lander, Wyo., but raised in Oregon, this bold singer/songwriter mixes acoustic melodies, similar to Jack Johnson, with authentic folk-style lyrics like that of a western Bob Dylan.

Deriving influences from his humble roots in the Beaver State, Stenson's album, Bittersweet Parade, provides tracks of wholesome, inspiring music that begs listeners to find themselves within his words.

Stenson's early career saw him as the front man/songwriter for the bands Lander and Rhetoric Tuesday in the early 2000s. Filling beer-soaked bars proved to not be enough for the artist and he pursued a solo career in Portland by 2007.

His authentic music has been well received around the Portland-Metro area ever since Stenson was honored as "Best Male Artist" at the 2011 Portland Music Awards.

The opening track, "Welcome the Change," personifies the artist's philosophy of constant growth as a human to better understand oneself. The track sets up the motivating, feel-good music that comprises the rest of the album with clean acoustic guitars providing the only instruments used in the song. The simplicity of this song seems to illuminate Stenson's words as great Western poetry that is well-received in the Pacific Northwest.

A track title "A Great Man's Funeral" gives even more support to Stenson's ability to combine humble music with fantastic lyrics that tell a story that draws the listener in. The use of more Country-style instruments (lap steel-guitars, fiddles, etc.) shows the diversity and reach of Stenson's music and his capabilities of becoming a prominent music figure even beyond his homeland of the Northwest.

"Push That River" is a slow moving ballad that may be the best example of Stenson's "Poetry to Music" style that makes him so appealing. His acoustic riff throughout the song gives a soothing flow to the track and lets his words come through to the listener in clear fashion. An echoing steel-guitar in the background adds depth in a modest way that perfectly fits the style of the song.

In an industry in which authenticity is hit or miss, Stenson gives his followers musical motivation to "welcome change" and never forget to find the good within the world.

His music can be found on iTunes as well as www.tylerstenson.com, and is definitely worth a listen or two.

Look for Stenson's tracks to hit the KSLC rotation with great potential for staying-power.



James Testa/KSLC 90.3 FM
James Testa can be reached at kslcmusic@gmail.com.