“Assorted Chocolates”
Steve Grimes
(Lowfat Music)

Veteran luthier Steve Grimes has a well-deserved reputation for the archtop and double-sound-hole acoustic guitars he designs and builds. In recent years he has also made a name for himself as a versatile songwriter, singer and recording artist.

Grimes’ musical horizons extend to rock, country, blues and pop. He also is an imaginative lyricist. “Hand Brake” describes the plight of a man whose broken heart is a drag on his social skills. “Tweet Me Right” is a parade of internet-related puns and word games. “Baby Got a Buddha” is the humorous tale of a man who is jealous of the religious statue his girlfriend keeps in her bedroom.

Pianist Eric Verlinde joins the lineup when Grimes switches the format to a cocktail lounge vibe with “The Real Deal.” It is a great change of pace. So is “Pase Lo Que Pase,” an original Spanish-language song performed with a Santana-style guitar solo.

A 16-page liner notes booklet completes the CD by giving buyers the song lyrics and important background information.

Visit grimesguitars.com.

“Songs From the Cloud”
Good Foot Hawaii
(Self-published)

Good Foot Hawaii is officially an eight-piece group whose music fuses elements of classic soul, funk, Latin and Afro-beat music. Recording without using any electronic filler instruments gives the octet and their studio guests a clean, traditionalist sound throughout this collection of 10 original songs.

Melody Heidel is the voice of the group on several songs, Maria Ramos on others. Ramos stars on a seductive number titled “Dark Soul Whiskey.” The core musicians and their studio guests are tight from start to finish.

Several songs catch the eye with their titles. Consider “Dumb Funk” — the song isn’t dumb, but the eye-caching title must be said with care! The late Al Masini, creator of mega-shows such as “Entertainment Tonight” and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” often said that the best title for something is simple and descriptive. Masini would certainly approve of the group’s decision to name the final song on the CD, you guessed it, “The Final Song.”

It rocks!

Visit goodfoothawaii.com.