It’s All Pretend is a catchy effort that allows Maggie Anderson’s vocals and instrument to shine brightly. This track has hints of Yael Naim, Ingrid Michaelson, and She & Him, with some of the most tender and softly-stated acoustic guitar work. The track’s charm ensures that listeners will be singing along whenever the track comes up on their MP3 player. You’ll Be Around is a sea change from It’s All…
HELLO, HICKS. HOW ARE THINGS GOING OVER IN STOCKHOLM? Everything’s great here in Stockholm. Just got back from a well needed vacation in Greece with the family. So now the batteries are charged to the max and I’m ready to go back to work.
Stacy Burk makes a tremendous splash with his latest track, Mix a Little. This timeless country effort works perfectly alongside the works of Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley while staying honest to the nineties traditions of Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt. Mix a Little succeeds because of the front-forward vocals of Burk and epic arrangements on the track – each guitar line, punchy drum beat, and the sounds created by…
Crying on the Dancefloor, Parralox’s latest single is a track that touches upon a wide array of dance styles, ensuring that the track resounds loudly for anyone that has dug 1990s, 2002, or current dance music in the past. The vocals utilized in the track absolutely soar over the composition, while the arrangements keep the energy high. The dubstep-esque drops that demarcate the mid-point of the track provide a further…
Pin Me Up is a track that is built off of the work of mid-nineties Mariah Carey and It’s Not Right-era Whitney Houston and more contemporary influences (Carly Rae Jepsen). The track’s slower tempo is dreamy and represents a good love song. The slight hints of electronic music that are interspersed through the track firmly moor it to the cutting edge of music, while strong production values make it a…
Lifeline is a track that skillfully blends R&B with EDM, creating a track that shines no matter in which context listeners enjoy it. The production is immaculate, keeping the energy high while enrobing Elle’s vocals in a very current and contemporary format. The tempo ebbs and flows as Elle captures a very common set of feelings for anyone that has found love, with the track gradually gaining speed as…
Amanda Lamb has a new effort that straddles the line between pop and country, with her vocals fitting into a Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry type of groove. Unlike a great many pop tracks, there is a substantial focus on the instrumental arrangements during We Were Here. The guitars are emotive and thoughtful (and are reminiscent of The Eagles), while there is a chugging bass line and an…
Coming off the success of Noelz Vedere’s debut studio album, Bittersweet Victory, Noelz releases visuals for his sentimental single, “Censored Love,” featuring American Idol contestant Kiara Lanier. Noelz strays away from the braggadocio rap style heard in previous singles, “Out of Focus” with Freddie Gibbs and “High Class” alongside Sir Michael Rocks, and dabbles into his more introspective side. In doing so, he explains the purpose of the song in saying, “I’ve always wanted to make a great love…
Nicholas Cage and Danny Glover star in this film, which surrounds Paul Maguire’s (Cage) struggle to locate his daughter, and the violence that has to occur before he can realize this goal. Forced to resume a life that he thought was dead, Paul is forced to jump through dangerous and deadly hurdles to get back one of the individuals mooring him to a normal life.
Karim Baggili’s latest effort, Kali City, features Le Trio Joubran. The first few efforts of the album (Down Town, Ella & Jad, Dawn at Sea, Big Fish, and Silent Stories) provide listeners with a stellar introduction to Baggali’s unparalleled approach to world music. Arabic Circus is a stellar effort in terms of how taut the instrumentation is, while there is a fun and playful sound that is cultivated by the…
“Run The Jewels, the super dynamic duo of El-P and Killer Mike, two of the most distinctive and celebrated names in rap, have announced their sophomore album RTJ2 is set to drop on October 28th. Newly signed to Mass Appeal Records, the album will be released in a variety of formats, including free download, CD, LP, and digital.” The immensely anticipated album includes guests ranging from Zach de la Rocha to…
Michigan power pop trio Cheap Girls have announced a run of new North American tour dates today, adding to their previously announced September shows with The Hold Steady and their European dates with Joyce Manor (all tour dates below). The band recently released their fourth full-length Famous Graves via Xtra Mile Recordings.
My Religion is your latest album. What does it contribute to your story? The name of the album starts from the song “My Religion.” And the name for the song starts from this idea that my step-father had, that I shouldn’t watch these religious shows on TV, with those nonsense preachers. This was when I came to Canada at age 11. Which tracks off of My Religion are your favorites, and what…
It’s not easy being in Michael A Grammar. Faced with deportation, hard drive meltdowns and plucking bass players from life drawing classes, the band have somehow managed to battle against the odds and record their amazing self-titled debut released 29th September on Melodic Records.
Kevin Kern has imbued a number of his classic tracks with a vitality and vigor that allows Always Near to speak volumes to anyone listening in, whether it be long-term lovebirds or those that may be new to romantic relationships.
Sacred Earth have released a number of titles that have expanded what listeners can expect from world music. The Way Home’s Om Namah Shivaya is a thoughtful start to Real Music’s latest compilation, Breath of Life. The nearly nine-minute track allows listeners to meditate and get into a fruitful mindspace. The subtle shifts in styles that are present during this track will keep listeners focused for the entirety of the…
Evangeline is your latest album. What does it contribute to Blind Lemon Pledge’s story? “Evangeline” is the fourth album I have recorded under the Blind Lemon Pledge name. And in this album I come full circle back to the style of my first album – creating, recording, producing, and editing all the tracks and instrumentation myself. In 2008, I was able to devote myself “full-time” to my music. As part…
“Unbreakable” the first single off Dirty South’s highly-anticipated sophomore album “WITH YOU” is out now and available as an instant download to fans who pre-order the album, which is slated for release November 4th in the U.S. on Astralwerks.
Oakland-based vocalist/songwriter Thadeus Gonzalez will release his debut album, UTOPIAN SOCIETY, on September 9, 2014. The 11-track collection showcases influences from classic rock, metal, punk, and ‘90s alt.