May 26, 2010

SoundStage - In House

2010 Harmony Sweeps Los Angeles Regional Winner SoundStage is a talented mixed voice (4 men, 2 women) Contemporary a cappella sextet who drew a huge ovation with great harmonies and lead at the recent Sweeps Finals in San Rafael. "In House" has 15 excellent covers of Pop, Rock, Show, Jazz and Soul tunes, all arranged by group member Bradley Hampton. Some favorites are the Spencer Davis Group hit "Gimme Some Lovin'," Lennon/McCartney's "Good Day Sunshine," a jazzy rendition of the classic "Route 66," Harold Arlen's "Over the Rainbow," Slocum's "Kiss Me," and a pair of originals, Hampton's "On Your Way Back Home" and (with group member Kyle Bowen) "Everybody Needs Some Love." Other favorites are Aretha Franklin's R&B anthem "Respect," Yancy/Jackson's "This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)" and McNaughton's "Love at Home." SoundStage's live show is as dynamic and exciting as they come, and "In House" is an impressive, finely-crafted debut CD. We loved it, and are expecting big things from fast-rising SoundStage! 1370 CD 14.95
Listen to "Put A Little Love In Your Heart

Posted by acapnews at 12:05 AM

May 25, 2010

Home Free - Kickin’ it Old School

We just caught Home Free's live show at the 2010 Harmony Sweeps Finals in San Rafael, CA, and we loved this Minnesota-based group! "Kickin' It Old School" takes the format of a live top-40 radio show in the late 50s-early 60s–in other words, it's a sweet Doo-Wop/Pop/Show Tunes/Crossover Country collection that really shows off the vocal chops of this entertaining, sweet-sounding group! Our favorites are all here: The Diamonds' "Silhouettes," The Clovers' "Love Potion Number Nine," Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," The Drifters' "Under The Boardwalk," "Tonight, Tonight" from "West Side Story," a yummy lead by Elliott on Roger Miller's "King of the Road," a Doo-Wop cover of the Beatles' "Saw Her Standing There" (which, although we never thought of it that way, is clearly a Doo-Wop tune); The Marcels' "Blue Moon," and a Beach Boys Medley that includes "Kokomo," "Surfin' USA" and "I Get Around;" and finishing with a strong cover of James Brown's "I Feel Good." Listening to any of these tunes, especially the the falsetto leads on the Beach Boys Medley, we realize that Home Free is on an equal or better vocal level with all of these classic accompanied groups, with only their microphones, rock-solid vocal percussion, wonderful arrangements and pitch-perfect harmonies. Home Free is a total joy, on "Kickin'" and live! 1368 CD 14.95
Listen to "Love Potion Number Nine

Posted by acapnews at 12:00 AM