MUSIC REVIEW: LEAH MARTIN-BROWN – Love & Other Crimes

Label: Frontier Records s.r.l.

Release Date: October 24, 2025

Rating: 94%

Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

It’s as if Leah Martin-Brown has been lurking in the shadows for years.  Having worked through a Dirty Dozen interview with her in 2022 when she was fronting Evol Walks, I have been waiting for new music and it was delivered today in spades with the release of Love & Other Crimes.  Disc opener “Mr. X” kicks things off and instantly it is evident this is a project that will showcase Leah’s vocals.  The various style of vocals are fun and swirl different deliveries and it’s a good thing.  There isn’t much musically here, but with her voice the star of the show, that isn’t a bad thing.  “R U Chicken” is a funny title, a cool video, and a great tongue in cheek rocker that lets Martin-Brown voice run rampant across the musical landscape on this track and the disc in general.  The chorus is contagious and should go over well in a live situation.  There is a sultry slant to her vocal here, but it plays well with the song’s lyrics.  “Levitate” unfolds differently than other tracks here with a lush power ballad approach ripped straight out of 1987.  The instrumentation in the mix is the perfect pairing for the lyrics, and the powerful vocal Leah brings without washing out the song with her voice.  This one is a lighter in the air track that draws you in as the chorus rattles through your head.  “Shush” comes at you slow, sultry, and with a purpose all at the same time.  Martin-Brown’s vocals draped across the music is the perfect sexy partner to the lyrical content.  The chugging rhythm section anchors the track in the mix and keeps the song on pace to be the perfect bridge and halfway point for the collection.  The rap-like bridge is a cool twist.  “Light Show” unravels with a keyboard intro that morphs into another beautiful power ballad that benefits from the vocal delivery from Leah.  While the music sets the stage and its simple arrangement accentuates the track, her emotional vocals tell the tale of the song from deep within her head and heart.  “Hell No Kitty” is a fun track that rocks from the first note to the last.  This is one of Leah’s strongest vocals on the disc and it helps tie things together as the collection winds down to its end.  The lyrics are playful, and the layered lead and backup vocals give the track depth through the verses and pre-chorus.

“Clooney” is track that makes light of itself.  Producer Mutt Lange swirls some of his best history on this one, drawing a vocal out of Leah that is very reminiscent of some of his past hits.  She uses her voice to stamp her own style and attitude on the track between guitar riffs, verses, choruses, and bridge.  “Boys” is a chunky rocker that lets the guitar shine at times while her vocals and the bottom end form the rhythm section keep the song chugging down the track.  Not one of my favorites on the disc, it does show a slightly different side of Leah’s voice and delivery, helping her cut a wider path for more listeners.  “Rainbow” is a killer swirl of vocals, guitars, and rhythm section, especially on the contagious chorus that buries itself in your head and reverberates long after the track has ended.  What a way to kick off the second half of the disc.  Martin-Brown’s voice is strong and punches up the track, especially on the chorus and transition pieces.  This is slowly becoming my favorite as I listen to the disc more and more.  “Hysterical Love” comes rushing out the gate with grinding riffs and a layered vocal that lets you know this track means business without being overpowering.  This is another song that benefits from a catchy chorus and the cool background vocals that punch up the song from moment to moment.  This won’t light any guitarists up, but you can’t deny the power of the track.  Disc closer “Unscrew You” is one of my favorite song titles ever and this one swirls Leah’s basic rock quotient with some pop sensibility that shows flashes of another side of her without deviating from the rock path she has cut with all the songs that came before it… this one could have been placed anywhere on the disc and been just as strong.  This one makes me kick the disc back to the beginning time and time again.  I cannot wait until this disc gets out there and generates tour buzz so I can hear these tracks in a life situation.  It will be a rocking night of cool tracks and a killer vocal performance for sure.

Tracklisting: Mr X – R U Chicken – Clooney – Levitate – Boys – Shush – Rainbow – Light Show – Hysterical Love – Hell No Kitty – Unscrew You

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LOVE & OTHER CRIMES – APPLE MUSIC

Category: CD Reviews