Month: September 2016

Posted on: September 18, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Miss Eaves – Hump Day

Hump Day has a downright evil sounding backbeat that is interspersed behind Miss Eaves’ ode to female self-pleasure. Hints of EDM, industrial, and trap can be heard bubbling through the effort with nods made to both 8Ball & MJG (think “Armed Robbery”) along with Hypnotize Minds artists.

Posted on: September 18, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

overlord – Mission To Mars

overlord create a form of alternative rock that builds off of the foundations laid by early Flaming Lips, Tal Bachman and Jellyfish. Mission to Mars’s magnificent sound shifts to a more resounding and authoritative sounds, where bits of Rush and The Who can be discerned.

Posted on: September 17, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sultan + Shepard feat. Gia – Love Me Crazy

Sultan + Shepard create an engrossing tropical-themed track with their Love Me Crazy. Gia’s vocals are featured here, providing a perfect counterpoint to the horns and shuffling backbeat. Sweeping synths provide the glue to unite these elements.

Posted on: September 17, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Nina Sky “Champion Lover”

Champion Lover, the latest from Nina Sky, is an unparalleled pop single. Inserting just enough reggae (think Rihanna meets Bebe Rexha) to an EDM style that sits in perfectly with the chill sound of SeeB or Major Lazer’s “Cold Water”.

Posted on: September 17, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Xavier Toscano “Runaway”

Runaway is a high-energy effort from Xavier Toscano, impressive to fans of current EDM as well as 1990s Italo-dance. The instrumental and vocal sections of Runaway are impressive enough to shine on their own, but combine to make something considerably greater than the constituent parts would indicate. 

Posted on: September 16, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Front End – Growing Pains

The Front End create an honest, earnest form of indie-rock in the vein of The Anniversary and early Alkaline Trio with their new release, the Growing Pains EP. The fuzzy guitar work, splashy drums, and vocals that turn on a dime will ensure that fans are on the edges of their seats by the end of Mandingo. 

Posted on: September 16, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Soles of Passion – Bump Me Up CD Review

The new Soles of Passion EP starts out with Hold On, a track that links together the powerful female-led rock of acts like Heart and Fleetwood Mac with a taut instrumentation. Bump Me Up has a bit more pop influence present, with vocals building off of the tradition of The Cranberries and Liz Phair. The bass, guitars, and drums here have a little 1990s-alternative flair to them, making for a…

Posted on: September 15, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Yamma Jamma Harvest Ale (Indeed)

Minneapolis Brewing Company Indeed has released their fall seasonal Yamma Jamma during a period when many of the breweries are coming forth with pumpkin efforts. The decision by Indeed to utilize sweet potatoes and spices (allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg) into their beer seems to be a hit. The overall flavor profile is a bit more moderate than the pumpkin bombs that are littering store shelves throughout autumn. For those imbibers…

Posted on: September 11, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

The Phoenix Rose – Is This Luv

The Phoenix Rose create a taut type of reggae with their latest single, Is This Luv. An intricate bass and emotive guitar unite with sterling vocals to make for something that is upbeat, fun, and able to stand up to repeat listens. Hints of EDM and R&B can be discerned at the periphery of this track. The Phoenix Rose is able to create something wholly unique with Is This Luv…

Posted on: September 11, 2016 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Taking a trip down memory lane with Beth Marlin

Today, we are speaking with San Francisco’s Beth Marlin. How did you get into music? My professional music career began in Columbia Missouri in the mid-70’s. I was playing at a small cafe when a producer from A&M Records came in to hear me, and invited me to Los Angeles to make a demo. I stayed in L.A. until 2010, when I moved to San Francisco. During my years in…