BlowUpRadio.com’s New & Notable NJ Music 11/27/23



Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Ziggy Grover, Solo For Dolo, Jake Thistle, Turnpike Gates, Fairmont, and Roadside Graves. Plus a look back at “Demonspit” by Funch.

Ziggy Grover – “Love & Pop, Volume 1”. I first became aware of Emile Hsu, aka Ziggy Grover,’s music in 2016. Their music has grown from lo-fi singer-songwriter songs with a lovely falsetto voice, to fully produced, lush music, that fits so well with the voice. “Love & Pop, Volume 1” is just beautiful and outstanding, and you should stop whatever you are doing (reading this, I suppose) and spend 28 minutes with this album.

Solo For Dolo – “WINDOWS IN PURGATORY”. BlowUpRadio.com has played a lot of Solo For Dolo (and side projects like Boogie Down Apocalypse), over the years. The latest single, “WINDOWS IN PURGATORY”, just blew my mind. I’m not entirely sure why, but I found myself hypnotized by this song and had to immediately play it a second time. If there was some subliminal message embedded in the song that caused that… well played.

Jake Thistle – “The Half Left Out”. At just 19 years old Jake Thistle has put out 2 incredible albums of music that rides that line between singer/songwriter, classic rock, and mellow pop rock. His new album, “The Half Left Out”, is even more compelling than his debut. Upon first listen it already sounded like an old friend, an album I expect i will be coming back to for years to come.

Turnpike Gates – “Blackout”. Turnpike Gates returns with their first offering from their forthcoming new album (due in February 2024). “Blackout” is a Punk infused Americana Anthem that has me primed to hear the rest of the new album. The B-Side, “I Can’t Stop Drinking”, is an even more melancholy sounding cover than the Menziners original, but that is part of the beauty of it. The song also plays as a great companion to “Blackout”.

Fairmont – “Recluse Jamboree”. Fairmont has been a band almost as long as BlowUpRadio.com has been around, but their sound really solidified 15 years ago when Christian Kisala (keyboards & drums) joined the band. The pairing of him with original member Neil Sabatino (lead guitar & vocals), is when this indie rock band went from being good, to being a real tour de force, putting out album after album of indie-art-pop songs. There are a host of guests on this album from artists on Sabatino’s Mint400 Records label, but the reason you need to check this album out are the songs themselves. Full of hooks to draw you in, but with artistic flourishes that keep you entertained and wanting more.

Roadside Graves – “I Won’t Cry Alone”. Getting a new album from Roadside Graves is like getting a nice warm blanket to wrap yourself in on a cold day. “I Won’t Cry Alone” is another outstanding release combining Rock, Americana, and Folk, while again drawing about the literary works of S.E. Hinton (“Rumblefish” for this album), in their lyrical content. The album is a masterpiece, but I would expect nothing less from Roadside Graves.

Not New, But Memorable Corner

Funch – “Demonspit”. While Funch formed back in 1994, I don’t remember coming into contact with their music until the early 2000’s. With their influences from 1950’s rockabilly and rock, combining with punk and metal from the 70’s & 80’s, I was instantly a fan. While the band has been broken up for some time now (after briefly changing their name to Nerve Tonic), I still immensely enjoy listening to their songs. “Demonspit”, is but one example. Click here to listen to the track.

That’s all for this week.

Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic – If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to part of BlowUpRadio.com’s New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We’re also on Mastodon at https://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio