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                                                       Shawn Lidster
                                            The Burning Album Review
                       www.shawnlidster.com & www.myspace.com/shawnlidster

Location:

NFLD Canada / NSW, Australia

Genre:

Roots / Folk

Recorded:

Bill Chambers Music Studio

Kariong, NSW Australia

Produced by:

Off The Rock Music

Bill Chambers

Michael Muchow

Mixed by:

Michael Muchow

Mastered by:

Jeff McCormack at Music Cellar

Cover Design:

Mark Withington

Graphic By Design , Erina, NSW

Musicians Who Worked On All Or Part of The Burning:

Shawn Lidster

Michael Muchow

Bill Chambers

The Burning Album track list:

The Burning

Sacrificed

Just A Number

Someday

Pay The Fiddler

I'm From Newfoundland

Knock On Wood

Not Forgotten

Angel Comfort Me

Home

In The End

　
                                                The Burning

Shawn Lidster carries the heart and soul of his beloved homeland, Cupids Crossing, Newfoundland, Canada. His pride and love for home is evident. The level of expertise is astounding from this gifted singer/songwriter and musician. He blends the history of a proud people with his own stories of life, love and experiences in his lyrics. He has the skill to record a song in one crack, reaching perfection right off the hop. Shawn creates his music from the heart. Surprisingly, even recorded "The Burning" and "Angel Comfort Me" on the full moon, which is an old Neil Young trick. Not that this man needs
any help in that department.

"The Burning" is Shawn's second album, "Legends on the Baccalieu Trail" being the first. That was a hard album to beat, but Shawn Lidster has done it. "The Burning" has all the charm, lyrics and instrumentation to make anyone who hears it hooked for life.

Bill Chambers, who plays dobro, electric guitar, weisenborn , banjo, mandolin, irish bazooky, harmonica as well as harmony in "I'm From Newfoundland" is brilliant on this album. Michael Muchow who plays bass, percussion, stomp, and electric guitar is also magnificent.

But it is Shawn's strong and compelling voice that captures your imagination and seals the deal. His voice is pitch perfect and totally enticing. He is a skilled guitarist who knows how to make those strings bend to his every wish. Shawn's desire for
perfection shines through and he has certainly accomplished that and more on "The Burning". It is a generous album with 11 tracks. One just as mesmerising as
the one before it. "The Burning" has all the makings of an all time favorite album. It has something for everyone in it. From young to old, no matter what your
favorite genre is you will be swept away by this album.

Hard as it was, these are the 3 tracks I have chosen for this review:

1)  The Burning - This is a treasure that has all the markings of a folk/roots hit. Shawn sings of a burning passed down to him from his grandparents. It is a
song of perseverance in life. His ability to sweep you away into the lyrics is impeccable. Shawn's voice lulls you, while his acoustic guitar moves into your soul.
I love that Shawn brings to life his family in his songs. You can feel the strong family connection and his dreams for the future for his children. It is simply
a gorgeous song.

2)  Angel Comfort Me - Shawn's lyrics for "Angel Comfort Me" are stunning. The instrumentation on this track is exceptional. Shawn's vocals bring the song to life. This is one of those songs everyone dreams of writing.It has stayed with me all day. That says alot in this home full of music. See for yourself.
This is outstanding. Shawn is a gifted musician and singer. I believe he could be successful at whatever he chooses to do in this life.
"Angel Comfort Me" is timeless and touches everyone.

3)  Not Forgotten - This is a folk /rock track with a hook! The sound of the banjo seeping through the harder edged tones keeps it in check. This is toe tapping, head bopping success. Instrumentation is fantastic with a Neil Young feel to it. Close your eyes and be swept back into the seventies folk rock scene.
One of my favorites for sure.

Shawn Lidster has absolutely won me over with "The Burning". He has such a gift for songwriting and singing. His music is pure and honest. It is pleasing to the ear and heart. Shawn knows his guitar inside and out and he proves it on this album.

"The Burning" needs to be a part of your music collection. It is the album to time stamp your life by. The entire album is excellent, track after track, all wonderful. It is definitely my favorite in this genre this year!! See for yourself.

                                     And that's just how I see it

                                           Shashona McCall

                                           Indie Showcase

                                      www.indieshowcase.net

 

                                               Crawpuppies

                                     World's Much Bigger Review

        www.reverbnation.com/crawpuppies & www.facebook.com/crawpuppies

                                 www.myspace.com/crawpuppies

Location : Chicago land USA

Genre : Pop Rock

Album : World's Much Bigger

Crawpuppies Band Members:

Chad Clifford - Lead Singer & Acoustic Guitar

Aaron Hedges - Bass & Backing Vocals

Mike Curtis - Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals

Chris Karp - Drummer, Percussion & Backing Vocals

World's Much Bigger track list:

World's Much Bigger

She Comes Lovely

We

Owe it all to you

Mental Demons

My Wife

The Way

Sunflower Girl

Here We Go Again

I Wanna Know

3 Little Things

Some Divine

So Mundane

Masquerade

Crawpuppies have released their long awaited album called "World's Much Bigger". They have completely astounded music lovers everywhere. Compiling 14 beautifully arranged tracks, Crawpuppies takes us on a musical journey.

The production and instrumentation on "Worlds Much Bigger", have been masterfully presented throughout the entire album. Lyrics are absolutely brilliant, giving the songwriting skills a stage to shine.

Chad Clifford and Mike Curtis have nailed the vocals, with Aaron Hedges and Chris Karp joining in on backup vocals, they just couldn't do any better. This entire album will take you away to another place in time. A time when music was about honest to goodness talent and expertise. Each song has a polished feel, leaving you with the urge to play them again and again. We thought that the previously released "Peacefull Amnesty" was exceptional, but Crawpuppies have shown us how much experience and growth they have taken under their belts with "World's Much Bigger". This is definitely one of my personal favorites this year.

Though it was a difficult task, these are the 3 tracks I have singled out from this album:

1)  I Wanna Know

This is a guitar lead rock tune will have your feet tapping and head bopping! I loved the lyrics and vocals in this track. The instrumentation is well thought out and meticulously delivered. It touches on life moments that we the listeners can all relate to. It is a hard hitting rock track filled with wonderful vocal surprises. Love the owww!

2)  World's Much Bigger

The title track called World's much bigger opens with electric guitar hailing the arrival of a brilliant song. It delivers some guitars riffs that will leave you weak at the knees. Between the lyrics and the hard hitting vocals they capture your attention and keep it! Crawpuppies are setting themselves up as a Band to remember!!

3)  Owe It All To You

This song has a British invasion 60's feel. Harmonies are perfection! This is definitely old school pop/rock. The instrumentation is well tailored to the songwriting, which again is exceptional. The vocals are delivered with such a high level of expertise, it opens the heart and speaks to our soul. It is nice to hear some honest to goodness songwriting that speaks about life, love and feelings. I love this track. It has an honesty.

**** Honorable mention *****

3 Little Things

This Crawpuppies song has a real Blues/Rock feel. It will make you close your eyes and breathe through the music. Instrumentation once again has surpassed expectations. The vocals are absolutely gorgeous! You will be fast to relate to the lyrics and be completely bought in. Signed Sealed and Delivered!

*** I have to say that I am impressed with this entire album. It is a complete knockout!! Crawpuppies will make you want to scream like you did with The Beatles. Get your heart pumping today.. get this album!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been too long since we had a Band that got our blood flowing. Crawpuppies - World's Much Bigger does that, double fold!!! If you liked The Beatles, Kinks, Herman's Hermits, your going to LOVE this album.

World's Much Bigger has something for everyone. From hard hitting Rock to Pop and back into heartfelt Ballads. This is definitely the "GO"!

That's just how I see it

Yours in the music

Wendy Shashona McCall

Indie Showcase