a roundup of local releases

‘The Lonely Mans Waltz’
by Tim Cahill

The opening line on multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Tim Cahill’s first independent release sets the tone for this 12-track album, which eloquently documents the artist’s lifelong musical journey.

“I spend most of my time chasin’ dreams and drinkin’ wine / I’ve been stuck spinning tires in stormy weather,” he sings.

Cahill’s got his own brand of indie Americana that feeds off a diverse set of past and present inspirations. His voice sounds at times a bit like Tom Petty, at others like a not so hoarse version of John Mellencamp. Most of the songs are upbeat, though some dwell on life’s assorted sorrows.

“Alone, alone is not just a word / Alone is like being the last man on earth,” Cahill sings in the title track. But the song ends with a large chorus repeating that same line, implying that we are all united in our loneliness.

Also a member of indie rock band The Babymakers, Cahill has been on the local music scene for many years. The CD features an extensive collection of area musicians, including all three members of The Screen, plus backup vocals from The Yard Sailors Chorus Ensemble.

A fun surprise on the CD is the tongue-in-cheek gangsta rap of “Halo Master,” an ode to Cahill’s favorite alien blasting video game. “Smoke another one and I’m goin’ kill-tastic,” he repeatedly raps.

The album was recorded at BB3 Audio in Hampton and co-produced by Cahill and BB3 owner Bob Beal. Visit www.myspace.com/timcahillandtherougeregime.

‘Werewolves & Red Lights’
by The Cold Goodnight

The Dover-based foursome responsible for this debut EP are especially excited about the recording because its five songs will be available for purchase to play on the video game “Rock Band” this fall. And it’s not difficult to imagine fans singing along Karaoke style to front woman Meri Cartmill’s lush vocals.

“I got pennies in my pocket-et-et / I got nothing left but pain and sorrow,” Cartmill sings at the beginning of the disc’s opening track, “Give.”

Her voice immediately summons visions of Pat Benatar, a commanding mezzo-soprano with flashes of wider vocal range. The other band members build a hard rock cathedral around Cartmill’s voice, with Damian Boyar on bass, Sean Joncas on guitar and Matt Cartmill on drums.

The album begins with rapid guitar and heavy drums on “Give,” then moves to the scornful lyrics of “Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow.” “She’s so, so hip / Nobody’s as cool as she is / And I can’t stand it, ’cause she’s so cool,” Cartmill sings. The band follows with the dramatic intensity of “Hurricane” and “Revenants.”
The EP ends powerfully with “The Ballad of Emily Rose,” the title of which refers to the demonically possessed girl in the 2005 film “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.” It’s a rather dark subject but makes for good hard rock theatrics.

The Cold Goodnight will play a CD release show at Hennessey’s in Boston on Thursday, July 30 at 8 p.m. Visit www.myspace.com/thecoldgoodnight. 

‘Forever 29’
by Luscious Digs

Singer-songwriter Christy Hobin started gigging around her hometown of Portsmouth several years ago, but soon decided she needed a full band to fill out her pop-folk sound. She assembled a five-piece group called Luscious Digs, who spent seven months recording this debut full-length CD, “Forever 29.”

Hobin is the band’s centerpiece, singing lead vocals and playing acoustic guitar on all 10 original songs. She also wrote all the music and lyrics, mostly revolving around the requisite topics of challenged love and relationships. As its title suggests, the album also reflects on the inevitable loss of youth.

“Look in the mirror and it doesn’t lie / ’cause you’re no longer forever 29,” Hobin sings in the title track.

The band is rounded out by Mark Sciascia on guitar, Mike Groove on guitar and keys, Reid Johnson on bass and Shawn Roussin on drums. They’re all able musicians, grounding their semi-acoustic tunes with understated instrumental support.

It’s a sentimental pop style vaguely reminiscent of the Indigo Girls, adding folk sensibility to a mainstream radio sound. The best songs come toward the end, with Hobin half whispering the lyrics on the title track and finishing strong with the drama of “Worth Your Life.”

Luscious Digs will play a CD release show at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $10 and includes a copy of the CD. Visit www.lusciousdigs.com.

‘Phase IV’
by The Project Seven

At a swift 22 minutes in length, this debut disc packs a satisfying dose of progressive metal into a small package. It marks the formal arrival of The Project Seven into Maine’s surprisingly rich rock scene.

The Biddeford-based quartet is composed of Ian Robbins on guitar, vocals and synth; Zack Fisher on guitar and synth; Terry Williams on drums and vocals; and Nicholas McIntyre (by day, an employee of Daddy’s Junky Music in Newington) on bass. From the opening track, “All the Holy Ones,” the album sets a heavy, power-chord tone. Still, it comes as a bit of a shock when the singer erupts into a raucous death metal roar during the refrain of the second track, “Cycles.”

“New Sea” features inventive time changes that give the band a more intellectual appeal, beckoning to mind prog-rock pioneers like King Crimson and Yes. This compositional complexity continues on “Rigel,” which features a slick opening guitar riff and continual melodic shifts throughout its five-minute length. The five-song album fades out with a soft and brief outro called “Proximity.”

Short as it may be, “Phase IV” is pretty awesome, and the musicians behind it are worth keeping an eye on. The album was recorded at Noseeum Studios in Biddeford and mixed by the Seacoast’s own Bob Beal at BB3 Audio in Hampton.

The Project Seven will play a free, all-ages, acoustic show at Hot Topics in Newington’s Fox Run Mall on Friday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. Visit www.theprojectseven.com or www.myspace.com/theprojectseven.