Regular Columnists

Artist: Band:Alwood Sisters
Album: Black Falcon and The Forest Spirit
Website: http://www.alwoodsisters.com
Genre: Indie alternative pop/rock
Technical Grade: 9/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 9/10
Best Songs: Like The Rest Of Us, Get Up Get Out, Perfect Day
CD Review: Ohio Indie band, Alwood Sisters has a very interesting new release called Black Falcon and The Forest Spirit. This ‘famban” consisting of sisters, Amy and Meagan Alwood, and brothers, Jovan and Milan Karcic combine an Americana rootsy sound with Beatle-esque harmonies and arrangements. The result is delightful. Liner notes and song credits are rare but the band’s website lists Amy, Meagan, and Milan as providing vocals, guitar and bass. Meagan also plays Wurlitzer and Jovan is the percussionist. The songs are all original and presumably band creations. There are some very nice cuts here but my favorite is the last song on the CD, Like The Rest Of Us. Ethereal, swirling, and beautiful, it really grabbed my attention. But from the opening acoustic guitar on Summer Winds, the band makes interesting and entertaining musical choices. Summer Winds melds into the very Beatle-esque and very pleasant Our Time. Get Up Get Out starts out with some beautifully distorted electric guitar before morphing into an up-tempo pop tune. Nice but I would have liked more of that guitar and suddenly it’s back as the song changes tempo and tone again. Good choices. Black Falcon and The Forest Spirit is an entertaining collection of songs well played. The arrangements are solid and the vocals are very nice. Altogether, it’s a very pleasant and listenable CD and one I can easily recommend.