justinlevinson.com


ANGELICA MUSIC This Side of me This Side of You doesn’t have any boring parts. The slower stuff is pretty and the fast stuff hits line drives down the center of this playing field. Sit up and take notice, as anyone who likes the mingling of indie credentials with pop materials will find Justin and the Valcours highly entertaining…and heartfelt. Read full review HERE.
HIGHER PLAIN MUSIC Justin Levinson & The Valcours is a rather fantastic ensemble album from singer/songwriter Justin Levinson and a full crew of musicians backing him up. It’s a step up from his previous efforts as he moves into a Wainwright territory for the future. Read full review HERE.
SNOBS MUSIC There is little doubt that Burlington, VT's Justin Levinson can write a great song. One listen through his new album, This Side of Me, This Side of You, with The Valcours, proves this. Levinson cobbles together a compelling and highly enjoyable combination of pop, rock, and roots music. The arrangements are reliably organic with big fat hooks galore. The male/female vocal back-and-forth on "You Became a Ghost" being a shining example. Read full review HERE.
THE VERMONT CYNIC Vermont native singer/songwriter Justin Levinson is on a roll, and he's rocking hard. His third album, featuring his band The Valcours, is quick to get stuck in your head and even quicker to cause reflection on every single one of your past relationships in a shockingly positive way for an album so somber. Read full review HERE.
ABSOLUTE POWERPOP Boston-area piano popper Justin Levinson has been around about as long as this site, going to back to his impressive 2006 debut 1175 Boylston. Back then, he sounded like he wanted to be Ben Folds but with each subsequent release he veered into Ryan Adams territory, with mixed results. Now he's back with a backing band and seems to have found a happy medium with his strongest release since the debut. Read full review HERE.
EXAMINER To welcome in 2012 in a big way, I decided to introduce you to a singer/songwriter you are sure to love for many years to come. Justin Levinson hails from Burlington, Vermont and is a master at what he describes as “feel-good heartbreak.” With poppy vocals, upbeat melodies and killer lyrics - his new record This Side Of Me, This Side Of You is sure to appeal to a broad range of music lovers. Read full review HERE.
JP'S MUSIC BLOG Right from the opening track, "Water Wears The Rock" you feel like this should be a "Top 40" album. The up-tempo combination of a dance, rock sound is a great backdrop for Levinson's lyrics. Levinson's backing band, The Valcours, do a great job "fleshing out" the sound of songs like "You Became A Ghost" and "I'll Be Ok." Justin also invites fellow acclaimed singer/songwriters Will Dailey, Gregory Douglass, and Liz Longley to lend a hand (or voice) to a few songs. Levinson handles heartbreak with "Million Tears" and "If You're Happier," while the Jason Mraz sounding "Say What You're Gonna Say" gets sandwiched between the two songs. Read full review HERE.
POWER POPAHOLIC Boston based Levinson has been exploring other sounds since his debut years ago, and this new album really showcases that growth. Wtih his new band The Valcours he opens things up with a strong piano melody and punchy beat on "Water Wears the Rock" remind me of Ben Wilkins. Next up, "You Became a Ghost" is a very tight arrangement wtih great harmonies that will appeal to fans of Ben Folds. Read full review HERE. THE NOISE: ROCK AROUND BOSTON The tracks that shine are the ones that find Levinson stepping out of his piano-man comfort zone. Songs like “You Became a Ghost,” which rounds out the mix with guitars and “I’ll Be OK,” replete with its horn section are fully realized songs, whereas other tracks sound like little more than journal entries transcribed directly to piano-ballad. The album’s standout is “Million Tears” which mashes the best of Levinson’s piano skills some fine guitar works and a melody lifted from John Lennon’s “(Just Like) Starting Over.” The result is a fine song that would make a great single. Read full review HERE.