Long after the media and major labels finally left Seattle alone, the music scene there continued to flourish without the spotlight, branching out from the one or two assigned genres they were shouldered with thanks to lazy journalism. The result is a slew of amazing, inventive bands that still call Seattle home. And among them is Ephrata.
On their new track Hey, Soulspan call back to the storied days of the middle 1990s and adopt hints of Jane’s Addiction and Pearl Jam. The bit of jam-band meets indie-rock that the band crafts is unique but builds upon a rich tradition. Taut instrumentation and catchy, dreamy vocals will draw listeners in while the overall arrangement of Hey is something that will continue new twists and turns each and…
Zack Buchanan, playing under the moniker The Outdoor Type, may just have one official EP to be judged on at the moment, but in those four tracks he shows immense promise. Sounding like a slightly more laid-back Frank Turner, there are hints at folk, pop and Americana, all vying for attention on Perspectives, the Australian natives Netwerk debut.
Hints of They Might Be Giants and 1980s indie rock in the vein of The Talking Heads. Of particular note during Pushing Up has to be the robust musicianship; the complex arrangement that play in the background here add so much to the earnest and honest vocals laid down by Mr. Flannery and His Feelings. The video for Pushing Up has all of the whimsy present in the song adding…
Ace Harper’s “Neon Heart” is a strong blend of indie rock and pop styles, making for an absolutely dreamy sort of track that will tattoo its melodies deep into listeners’ hearts. The tremendous instrumentation present during Neon Heart deserves additional spins; there is a dark, rich, and absolutely brooding backing beat that provides additional complexity to the lyrics that Ace Harper is laying down here. There are hints of Echosmith and…
Who Let the Bullets Fly is a rock track that has a hopeful sound that builds off of the style of performers like John Mellencamp and U2; the drums and guitar dynamic that represent the backing instrumentation for this first effort set the stage for the music and overall approach that is to follow. Kris’ vocals are dynamic, unique, and take all of the best parts of 1970s rock and…
Many (most?) bands are quick to point out just how hard their music is to classify, but to be honest you can usually ascribe a tag to just about any group just a few songs in, regardless of how long they have managed to convince themselves they are genre agnostic. The Michigan trio, The Accidentals, may just be one of the few exceptions, though.
World War IX’s “Thank God It’s Monday” a direct call back to the late seventies and early eighties punk of acts like The Dickies and Black Flag. The snotty vocals, direct guitar lines, and splashy drum fills make for a track that will have fans singing along even after a few listens. The track is not long – a bit under three minutes – but the confidence that World War…
Sarah Ragsdale’s “Ferris Wheel” is a slinky, fun track that looks back to the days of strong female pop-alternative rock. The sequenced percussion meshes well with the strong guitar riffs. The repetition of specific words and phrases during Ferris Wheel ensures rthat the track will be tattooed deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. While relatively short in terms of run time (a hair under three minutes), the song…
Blame is the first track off of Harmful If Swallowed’s current EP, Sleepless. The track ties together Blink 182 and Rise Against. There is a high energy, smart guitar work, and multiple part harmonies that unite to create a melody that buries itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The bass line is prominent here, adding a nice chunkiness to the effort that counters the sizzling guitar work…
