Mackinaw‘s Hometown News Site

What does justice sound like when there’s no image to soften it and no silence to hide behind? REEVES CANYON commits to its identity as an audio drama, and this commitment is at once its greatest asset and its most vulnerable liability. There’s no visual shorthand here; no cinematic shortcut to rely upon. Every moment, every transition, every emotional shift must be carried solely by voice, pace, and sound design. The fact that it’s successful isn’t coincidental; it’s the result of a project that knows exactly which medium it is operating within, even when it occasionally pushes beyond those boundaries. Being my second audio project review in the last few months, I feel like the old-school radio drama is truly ready to make a resurgence!

There are reinterpretations — and then there are works that claim a legacy as their own. Edge of Paradise’s REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (AND THE ANGELS OF STATIC) belongs to the latter: a full-scale metamorphosis of Clint Mansell’s immortal composition into a new cinematic-like experience. Where the original thrives on restraint and creeping dread, this version detonates with emotion and a sense of dimensional scale. The band amplifies the theme’s darkness and wonder, forging a sound that feels equally suited for the stage and screen. This isn’t a homage — it’s an ascension, transforming a cultural touchstone into something fiercely personal, visual, and unmistakably their own.

THE QUIREBOYS – LIVE AT ROCKPALAST is less a live album and more a time capsule. Split across two concerts—one from 1990 at Cologne’s Live Music Hall and another from 2007 at Bonn’s Crossroads Festival—the release captures not just a band but an entire attitude that defined British sleaze rock. By presenting both eras back-to-back, the package highlights the hunger of a band still climbing and the seasoned grit of musicians who had weathered the ups and downs of two decades in the industry.

When a live performance DVD turns a first-time listener into a loyal follower, it’s not just good—it’s something special. That’s exactly what happened with THE BAND OF HEATHENS - LIVE AT ROCKPALAST 2009, a concert film that doesn’t just showcase musical talent—it makes a case for why this band should’ve been on your radar years ago. This 2009 set, now released on DVD/CD by MVD and Made In Germany Music, is more than just a blast from the past; it’s a lightning bolt of Americana that crackles with electricity.

With MUSIC FOR MICRODOSING, Steven Halpern delivers a sonic journey designed not for performance or background listening but for immersion, intention, and awareness. True to the spirit of its title, this album is deeply rooted in the wellness space, building a bridge between sound and state of mind. Whether or not you engage in literal microdosing, Halpern’s latest effort aims to elevate your experience of consciousness itself.

With SLEEP SOUNDLY VOL. 3, Steven Halpern returns to one of his most vital missions: guiding listeners into deep, restorative rest. In a world that never seems to power down, this album functions less as a musical statement and more as a subversive tool—one that actively supports sleep, recovery, and the emotional relief that so many of us struggle to achieve. It’s functional music in the best possible sense: designed with care, executed with precision, and gently insistent in its purpose.

CRASHBOX caught me completely off guard—in the best possible way. I wasn’t familiar with Monkey House before this, but after just one spin, I wondered how I’d gone this long without hearing them. This isn’t just background music for jazz-pop enthusiasts—it’s a fully realized, finely crafted record that blends brains, groove, and heart into something genuinely exciting. If this is your first impression of the band, like it was for me, you’re in for a treat.

Walking into a genre you’ve barely explored is like stepping into a world you’ve never seen—everything feels unfamiliar, yet there’s an undeniable sense of intrigue. That’s how it felt to experience HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY’s latest album, SCORCHED EARTH. My knowledge of metal has been limited primarily to mainstream acts, but this album invited me into a world that’s equal parts unrelenting and deeply emotional.

CLOSER TO MY HOME is an auditory experience from which I had no clue what to expect. It tells the story of rock virtuoso Mark Farner, whose musical journey is depicted through ten tracks that feel like scenes from his life. Each track is a vignette, etching Farner's ascent from humble beginnings to rock royalty. Farner directs each note with the precision of an orchestra leader, creating an album that plays out as a story come to life with heartfelt narratives and robust rock rhythms.

Irish post-rock titans God is an Astronaut's newest album, EMBERS, creates a soundtrack of emotional evolution. The nine songs on this latest collection from the Irish trio, lauded for its ever-changing mix of space rock and electronic music, dive deep into the heart of existential sounds to form an aural journey that mirrors (and transcends) their musical exploration since 2002.

As the streets of London fell silent, the voice of ironic singer Charlie Harper rose as this performance of THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF U.K. SUBS took over the 100 Club with raw punk energy and poignant finality that only comes once in a lifetime. This wasn't just a gig; it was a historical bookmark in the annals of punk, offering both a retrospective and a glimpse into the genre's future.

Immerse yourself in the new release, VINCE GUARALDI QUINTET - A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING. This blast from the past is a welcome addition to any fan of Charlie Brown or The Peanuts family. This album isn't just a compilation of tracks; it's a journey that revisits the Peanuts' world together and sounds better than ever for new audiences and die-hard fans alike.

Embarking on THE DWARVES CONCEPT ALBUM was like jumping into the unknown; having no familiarity before listening to the album, I enjoyed a proper blind listen and couldn’t be more thrilled! The Dwarves have delivered a performance where each chord, lyric, and beat comes alive with the energy that explodes off the vinyl. This isn't just an assembly of tracks; it's a punk rock odyssey.

Dive into a musical realm where the echoes of the 1960s ghostly garage rock intertwine with nostalgic and whimsical Halloween charm in MORE HALLOWEEN NUGGETS. Without surrendering to the conventional and expected, this collection successfully guides us through a dark, yet oddly comforting, forest of audio specters from a distant musical past. This compilation doesn't merely bring tunes to our ears; it presents us with a time-traveling pathway, fringed with the eerie and the forgotten, encouraging us to explore and appreciate musical history's obscure and shadowy corners.

The legendary Whisky A Go Go provides the ideal setting for a meaningful gathering of Megadeth veterans, such as David Ellefson, Jeff Young, Fred Leong, and Chaz Aching. Megadeth's own Chris Poland enriches the lineup, resulting in a formidable assembly responsible for crafting metal masterpieces.

With the band’s crowd interaction, upbeat energy, and a music catalogue that appeals to all age groups; it is easy to see why Highway J is continually invited back to the Vineyard. Highway J will be playing at various local venues throughout the winter, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to check them out for yourself. As far as the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, this concert marked the end of their Summer Concert Series for the year. However, keep an eye on The Mail’s “Local News” section. We will be sure to keep you up to date on scheduled events to come.