Again, Eric Anders and Mark O’Bitz are great players-songwriters-musicians; no doubt about it, I just feel with Variant Blues they may have gone to the same well too many times.

The sly slinky “Common Mistake” shows off Mathur’s more wry side; it’s a good jazzy rockin’ tune (I love the “yodee yoyos”), “Comedian” sounds cool but might be a little too hung up on how odd it sounds, although Toni Nesler’s and Stevie Blackie’s insane sounding strings are wicked.

The original iteration of The Color of Cyan was formed at the beginning of the century in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Agape, recorded between Puerto Rico, Chicago, California, and Mexico City, is the quartet’s first full-length album.

The band; Draughn, Michael McKinney guitarist and keyboardist, Gabe McKinney on bass, and drummer Mike Kaloudis on the tunes where Michael Mc isn’t playing drums, do have a cool style of putting these concoctions together

How can you not love an EP this audacious, a musician having this much fun, and a sound delivered up to make you smile?

Although most of these eleven groove well for me, when Sydnor gets popping on “4_20,” I have to say the trio had me more than ever (and they had me throughout the six before). This one just gives rise to all the players here on top of their kinetic game, again with Sydnor’s bass providing the glue.

Pearsall’s bass is as front and center as it ever gets on any of these eleven, pumping the ender “The Hammer,” along with Bernal snapping his snare. Again, Leadbetter gives it his best here, and the band manages another singable chorus, heavy verses, and solid drive

This brand new Chawa Lilith EP is not going to be for everybody. It’s a particular type of singing/songwriting that might be bordering on ambient, tipping slightly into acapella, but is all specific, created and delivered by a lady who seems to have something to say, in her unique way of saying it.

This first one sets us up for the lots the duo has to say (and do) across the ten that follow.

Ellis, a rather strong EP offering, showcases what I feel are the strengths of the men behind it.