The amount of 1980s/1990s funk finesse that is dripping off of the new Benjamin Race single Memories is intense. The vocals (laid down here by Donna Odain) are rich and warm, the perfect counterpoint for the synths and perfectly-placed percussion acting as the song’s instrumental back drop. Everything feels period-accurate while possessing an immediacy tthat will keep listener interest in the single high. We love every new element we’re exposed…
Blackstate’s The Arsonist immediately tattoos its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners; one can here a bit of Plastikman and Benny Bennassi in the song’s opening minute. The ability of the act to tell a story without having to dip into vocals too often showcases the act’s ability. The Arsonist is one of those songs that you’ll have to strap on your earphones and really focus on,…
At first blush, the new single from the Autumn Kings, Sleep When I’m Dead, builds upon the tradition of performers like Bring Me The Horizon, Tom McDonald, and Imagine Dragons. Assertive drums, synths, and a perfect blend of metal and pop-tinged hard rock turn Sleep When I’m Dead into one of those songs that listeners will be singing along with long after the song ceases to play. The Autumn Kings…
Somehow is a slinky and sultry track that will immediately draw in listeners with haunting instrumentation and smooth vocals. There’s a deceptively deep dynamic that is achieved between the vox and the instrumentation, virtually ensuring that one will need to play the single multiple times before hearing each and every nuance that Johnny PE has placed within. We’re particularly digging the chorus to Somehow, which both changes up the overall…
Cookie Delicious’s Broken Connection begins with a fun, funky groove that differentiates itself from much of modern EDM with its look back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. The vocals (laid down here by Natalie Bohrn) stand out boldly among the drums and the slinky synths. Broken Connection is one of those tracks that will have listeners going out on the dance floor, but the most interesting side of…
Summit Brewing (St. Paul, Minnesota)’s Sága Imperial IPA pours with a rich brownish-red coloration and a good amount of tenacious white head. The effort ends up very well-balanced, tying together bold, piney hop presence with a dollop of wheat (the brewery’s mentions a honey malt base). While this imperial India Pale Ale is fairly heady (it clocks in at 9.0%) ABV, the constellation of flavors flows nicely. In fact, Sága…
Eddie Cohn’s Who Or What I Was Before has hints of U2 and Erasure, albeit with a much more emotive and engrossing instrumentation playing at the bottom of the track. Synths, wind-swept guitars, and on-point drumming combine to make for an eclectic backdrop. There’s a confidence to Cohn’s vocals that will strike anyone fortunate enough to listen in. The song concludes before the three-minute mark. It is a testament to…
Michael Little’s “Yesterday” calls back to the late 1990s with the smooth, silky and sultry R&B style that it achieves. There’s tremendous passion that Michael incorporates into every line of the track, while the song’s instrumentation is able to add a backdrop to Little’s vox while acting as an equal partner in establishing’s the song’s inimitable melodies. The song could easily garner radio rotation at any point in the last…
Reeling is MattO’s first track of 2024, and the song builds upon some of the trends that he presented fans in 2023 as well as draw upon different musical traditions during the single’s run time. The performer’s Americana approach hints to Neil Young and John Melloncamp, all while the guitar work seems a bit Bakersfield and a dollop of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The timeless sound of Reeling will stick with listeners…
Forever Alone: Peacharine is a very hazy India Pale Ale from Charlotte, NC’s Resident Culture Brewing Company, pouring with a good amount of white head. In fact, FA: Peacharine may be the most opaque beer that we have covered so far over the course of NeuFutur’s beer review section. Forever Alone: Peacharine’s nose has a small amount of frutiness with the briefest amount of hop bitterness at the end. The…
I drove a few hours just this last Sunday. The temperature was fantastic. The sky was clear, but after a few hours of being on the road, I started to get a massive headache. This seems to happen once every year or so. What happens is that I get enough sun that I start getting a day-long, severe sort of migraine. Surprisingly, it’s due to all the sun that gets…
Show You is a hard-hitting track with beautiful samples that provide a brief break from the main meat and potatoes of the song. There’s a bit more Atlanta in Lateef’s lyrical approach here, but with enough edge to appease even the most wizened of rap fans. Together, vibrant samples and big bass lines make for the perfect backdrop upon which Jelani’s inimitable style can truly shine. Settling down at a…
Can’t Stop Now has a focused groove to start things off; Jelani Lateef sets the stage with the sequenced beats before laying down his inimitable flow. There’s a number of influences that are jockeying for dominance here. There’s a bit of 1990s NYC rap (e.g. Jaz-O, Nas) mixing with a bit of California rap (E-40, Too Short). Lateef makes a big splash with one of the catchiest choruses that we’ve…
Voodoo Nights has a wonder anime video associated with the song, an homage to the late 1990s and early 2000s dance bangers with just enough in the way of dubstep elements to keep things more current. The different vocal elements are able to keep things continually interested, while the numerous syllables/elements that comprise the lead-out from the chorus act as a palette cleanser for the rest of the track. This…
Climbing To The Top, the latest effort from Ragga Lox, is one of our favorite tracks that we’ve dug into early in 2024. The song is able to succeed due to a bouncy backing beat and a set of vox that are able to both tell a story and contribute to the overall harmonies presented in the cut. There’s a timeless sound that ensures that Climbing To The Top could…
On Sconnie Girl, Joyann Parker is able to create a slice of country music that is tremendously reverent of what was released back in the 1990s. There’s a very downhome sort of instrumentation that is at home no matter where one resides – the song’s message of being proud of where you come from is something that individuals can appreciate. The tautness of the single’s guitar and drums ensure that…
Cheflodeezy’s “Ecstacy” has an assertive tempo and a strong blend of reggae and EDM music. Together, these styles combine to create something that will bring fans out onto the dance floor. The rapid-fire patter of Cheflodeezy ensures further complexity to an already-heady effort. The song works in so many distinct situations that we’re sure that we will be hearing it on DJ playlists, Spotify lineups, and everywhere inbetween. Adding TeeJay…
Perfect Timing has an airy sound that will immediately draw listeners in, while the charisma of Flau’jae’s vocals will keep them interested until the song’s last few seconds. The blend of pop and rap elements during her latest track ensures that a wide collection of fans will be accumulated. The booming bass and drum beat punctuate the track, giving a further level of depth for one to delve into. Flau’jae…
We were fortunate to receive a package of Big Grove Brewery (Solon, Iowa) offerings. Citrus Wheat was one of our favorite offerings, pouring with a golden colration and a small amount of white head. It is an eminently crushable beer, providing ample amounts in a style that oftentimes is discounted by beer aficionados. There’s a careful balance between the grain and wheat flavors comprising the main body of Citrus Surfer…
There are a lot of fun things coming out from Durango, Colorado’s own Ska Brewing. A new effort from the brewery is their Prickly Pear Sour. Available in cans, the brew pours with a brownish-pinkish coloration and just the lightest in the white of light head. The depth of the flavors here provide Ska’s Prickly Pear Sour with a leg up on a great many other sours we’ve had the…