Quinn Henry Mulligan is able to create a compelling pop-rock sound that draws upon the tradition of Donovan and early Jethro Tull. Contemplative instrumentation and hauntingly beautiful vocals gradually incorporate sweeping synths. The narrative laid down by Mulligan on Older is something that all can appreciate, while the taut bass line that plays at the bottom of the track provides further depth to the composition. With each layer that is…
As many of our long-time readers know, we love any sort of Belgian-styled beer that one can put in front of us. The tripel may be tied with a Belgian strong for our favorite. Pennsylvania’s Weyerbacher has made their own riff on the Belgian style with their Funky Monks, a soured tripel. The 9.3% ABV of the brew is hidden masterfully, with the trio of phenolic bite, sour tartness, and…
Chloe Tang’s Hype is a pop track that builds on the tradition of Christina Aguilera, Lana Del Rey, and Kelly Clarkson. The backing beat of Hype keeps things fresh and current with an electronic-heavy bass and synth line. The vocal range of Tang is what separates her from other performers. We’re particular fans of the extended instrumental section that leads up to the final few seconds of Tang’s vocals. An…
Foot On The Gas is a surprisingly hard-hitting trap-infused rap track from a pair of younger performers. With a distinctive rap flow ensuring that listeners know precisely who is spitting, Foot On The Gas will have fans’ heads bobbing half-way through their first listen. Smart use of repetition throughout this single further tattoos the cut’s melodies deep into one’s mind. The booming bass of the backing beat ensures that the…
Wraith is an effort that will immediately draw in listeners. The bit of worldly sound that represents the opening instrumentation. What is most impressive to us on Wraith has to be the flow that comes forth in a fashion that is similar to Kevin Gates and I-20. The presence of Money Man along the main focus of Momoh adds further variety to the composition. Taken together, Wraith is the perfect…
Chris James and the Showdowns call back to the mid-nineties for their track Somewhere out in California. Coming forth with nods to Tesla, Cinderella, and Jane’s Addiction, the act is able to make a song that will dig its hooks deep into listeners’ minds. There is just enough Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blues Traveler whipped into the single to really impart an air of authenticity to this composition. Somewhere out in…
Imma Youngstar has an epic sound that touches upon trap, R&B, and late-oughts rap to make a track that slaps. The sheer range that graces the first minute of the track provides a tremendous introduction to the rapid-fire flow that comes forth shortly after. With the softer and harder sides of rap represented well during Imma Youngstar, it would not be surprising to see the single garner crossover airplay. Hitting…
On Falling Star, A Bad Think is able to build upon the framework of U2, The Pixies, and Coldplay. An intense, driving beat represents the backing upon which a cogent narrative is imprinted. Solid bass, emotive guitars, and a contemplative blend of synths and drums set the effort apart from other singles. The interplay between these instruments further increases the replay value of Falling Star, while the gradual increase in…
The eclectic blend of styles that Jameson & The Conditionals adopt during their new single Wasting Your Love will appease a wide swath of fans. This means that there are nods to funk, early-nineties jam band (e.g. Dave Matthews), and the passionate rock of The Wallflowers and Maroon 5. Uniting these distinct elements is a taut instrumentation that has each member contributing to a cohesive entity. The band can change…
The capital city of Ireland has bounced back from the 11th to the 9th place for comfortable living for EU citizens. It’s far from being number one, but it’s a great choice for any European and non-European alike. Here’s why. Security Security is probably one of the main factors for any person who wants to move to the city. While Dublin is not the safest city on Earth, it’s among…
Cellophane is a modern epic; the latest single from FKA twigs gradually grows into something that will have fans hanging on to every note. A sedate opening, drawing on minimalist artists like Massive Attack and Bjork, ever so gradually moves into something bold and engrossing. On FKA twigs’ newest contribution to music, the performer adds considerably to the instrumentation while telling a rich and varied tale. While the song may…
On Psycho Killer, RAINNE is able to refresh the pop style of Britney Spears and Gwen Sefani, adding a bit of industrial and hard EDM style to the mix. A strong set of vocals is interlaced through the effort, acting as a counterpoint to the booming bass lines and insistent synths. With a momentum that gradually increases to the chorus, RAINNE is able to draw fans in until the track’s…
Read My Hips is a sultry, alluring R&B-infused track that refreshes the sound of performers like Aaliyah and TLC for the current era. A bit of New Jack Swing’s inimitable backing instrumentation is included here to further separate Lulise’s latest from the rest of today’s music. Another strong suit, Lulise’s vocals are able to rise and fall to provide additional emphasis to the track. Ready My Hips is a song…
On No Turning Back, KiSMiT is able to blend together 1990s popular forms of music with a world-meets-funk backdrop. The eclectic style that is presented to listeners during this single may touch upon a variety of genres, but there is a cohesiveness to the composition that ensures that No Turning Back will remain with listeners long after the cut continues to play. The dual vocals presented here provide a further…
Wes Mason is able to infuse a fair amount of reggae into pop music. With the additional assistance of Kofi Black, Mason is able to craft a track that will bury its melodies deep into listeners’ minds. The deliberate beat and insistent vocals ensure that fans will make it out onto the dance floor, while the backing instrumentation keeps the momentum of I Want Your Love high. Keeping things bouncy…
Charline Arthur is a refreshing take by David Anderson on traditional rock and country & western styles. While the song itself is an easy-going effort, sharp-eared listeners will be able to hear considerable depth in the composition. The guitars, drums, and vocals combine to make something deep and detailed, continually providing further layers as listeners continue to play the track. Mystic Knights of the Folk-Rock Wars is a tremendously introspective…
Hard Pass is a perfect blend of intense synth beats and sultry vocals laid down by Ryann. Together, the track will get listeners out on the dance floor while having just enough complexity to it to appease even the most jaded of music fans. Fat beats work as a great backdrop for Ryann’s inimitable style. Diamonds is the second new effort from Tritonal. In this cut, Rosie Darling provides the…
Zero Gravity is an effort that pushes pop music into a bold new direction. While there is a strong, sensual set of vocals that sits at the front of the track, the backing instrumentation is considerably beyond what is typically present. Ebbing and flowing, this synth-infused composition is part Linkin Park, part Avicii, and is punctuated quite nicely through a set of lightly-distorted vocals. Taken together, these disparate elements combine…
What Is Anything is a track that defies convention. It has the vocals adding considerably to the overall harmonies achieved by the track, and the sweeping synths do a heck of a job approximating a narrative. A complex dynamic is established over the course of three minutes, one that feels considerably more engrossing than the song’s run time may indicate. Mixing in hints of 1990s EDM, industrial, alternative, and even…
Millennial is a powerful pop-punk track that calls back to acts as diverse as Plus-44, Taking Back Sunday, and The Rocket Summer. With synths layered over Cure-infused guitars, The Stolen carves out their own unique place in music. The extended instrumental interlude that hits fans at about the 2:15 mark refreshes things, allowing the act the ability to start a-new. Millennial ends in as emphatic of a fashion as it…