Sound Advice: This week's CD releases

Heart Pressure/Independent

It has been an interesting few years for musician Luke Cunningham. The former frontman for the Rock Hill band Part Time Heroes crisscrossed the Southeast with the band before its breakup in 2009. Cunningham then found himself composing music for film under the band name Kentucky Shine before starting to gather ideas for a solo album.

The results of his latest project can be heard on "Heart Pressure," and fans of the singer-songwriter will be happy to know that time seems only to have enhanced Cunningham's musical talent.

Produced by Crowfield guitarist Micah Nichols (who also plays on the album), "Heart Pressure" is an album full of songs that obviously come from deep within Cunningham. The emotions range from upbeat, as on "For the Best" and "January Air," to melancholy -- "Give This Up" and "Amnesia." The best moment on the album, though, comes when Cunningham joins forces with Cary Ann Hearst for the song "Songs About California." I could listen to the two of them sing that particular track all day.

For fans of Americana music, Cunningham's compositions will go down easy. And if there was any question as to whether Cunningham could go it alone, "Heart Pressure" should quiet that nonsense.

Key Tracks: "For the Best," "I Speak the Lingo," "Give This Up"

True Love/Independent

Anyone who followed the local music scene in the 1980s will remember the Killer Whales. In addition to getting a shot at bigger stardom when they appeared on "Star Search" (sort of the '80's equivalent of "American Idol"), the band released a great album, "Emotional Geography," and enjoyed a bit of fame before real life loomed large and broke up the band.

Killer Whales frontman David Bethany has continued to write and perform music, and on his new CD, "True Love," the artist shows that time has not dulled his creative ability, from the Caribbean-infused title track that opens the album to other great songs such as "Scotch for Supper, Cigarettes for Dessert" and "She Doesn't Want to Say."

The CD, produced by Bethany and Jay Miley and recorded at Miley's Charleston Recording Studio, has a variety of sounds and styles contained within its 11 tracks. It never sounds dated, and Bethany should get a lot of credit for moving forward with his music three decades past that initial success.

As one listens to the songs on this album, it's the small touches that begin to stand out. The beautiful trumpet, played by none other than Bethany, on "Can't Hold On" and Andy Jennings' subtle accordion on the lovely "If I Count the Ways" are some of the better examples. Even Bethany's pseudo-rapping on "I Speak the Lingo" actually works in its context.

It's nice to see that time hasn't diminished Bethany's passion for writing accessible and engaging music.

Key Tracks: "True Love," "Can't Hold On," "If I Count the Ways"