Starfish Memories is the new release by the UK’s Chris Lewington (The Bicycle Thieves and The Silence), which can be streamed on Lewington’s Bandcamp. This extended play begins with The Bridge At Midnight, a 5:54 track which reaches through countless styles and approaches. There’s a good amount of 1960s rock, whether it the more experimentasl fare of The Beatles or something a bit more psych-tinged. The vocals that rise up…
Jenny Bruce is the mastermind behind Ghoste, who has just released a new extended play (and self-titled) album. The Ghoste EP begins with Slow Motion, an effort which showcases a dreamy pop approach. The dynamic that is established here stands boldly out among the masses of performers currently occupying spots on radio and playlists. The track does well to provide listeners with some sort of information about Ghoste as she…
Josh Fiend immediately brings together a number of distinct approaches with the first song on his new EP. The Last Time unites traditional country music, a bit of blues, and a whole heck of a lot of the singer-songwriter style. The inimitable vocal tack that Field takes here has a bit of the grittiness of a Waylon Jennings or John Mellencamp. The production of The Last Time ensures that the…
Jojo Engelbert’s “Sweet n Sour” is a high-energy track that will bury its hooky chorus deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Both the supersonic vox of Engelbert and the synth/drum backdrop combine to make for something that could easily make it onto pop rotation and radio playlists. There’s a timeless sound to Sweet n Sour that ensures that a wide swath of fans will be able to find…
Ricci Bamboo’s “Papa” is an impactful track. The vocals laid down here are effervescent, telling a story as each subsequent utterance adds mightily to the overall harmonies established by the drums and keys. The track twinkles in its runtime, moving ever closer to the end. The song itself eats, shoots and leaves but listeners are never quite the same. Check out the video (below) for Ricci Bamboo’s Papa and let…
Where do you draw inspiration from as an artist? Who would you consider to be your greatest musical role models? I believe all gifts, talents, inspiration, and creativity come from God, our Creator. So, I draw inspiration as an artist from my faith in Christ. I am inspired when I look at God’s creation, the universe, the earth, and humanity. Growing up, my most significant musical role models were gospel greats like…
The Ballad Of Elvis Presley has such a timeless sound to it that listeners will be shocked that the track was released in the current era. From the immaculate walking guitar line or the crystal-clear vocals laid down by Cotton and Preston, the song will check all the boxes for fans of classic 1960s country. The Ballad Of Elvis Presley’s product serves two masters – aside from keeping things sounding…
Rob Eberle’s doubtful is a track that effortlessly joins together pop, R&B and EDM in a fashion that will be appreciated by anyone that listens to the song. The vocals here are emotive and impacting, taking inspiration from Panic at the Disco and BTS while the dynamism of the track’s instrumentation keeps things fresh throughout. The second movement of doubtful acts as a soft reset, shining a spotlight on Rob’s…
I’ll Be The One, Le Sonic’s latest has a timeless sound to it that ensures that the song could easily hang alongside the work of The Carpenters and Carole King, all while having snazzy instrumentation leading the song to glory. The bit of brass that swells up at points plus the perfectly-timed percussion combine to make for something eminently enjoyable. Le Sonic’s decision to feature Lauran Beluzo on lead vocals…
Elektragaaz’s Behind The Final Veil is an interesting composition, blending together 1990s electronica with hints of industrial and goth. There’s a narrative that weaves its way through the song, gradually shifting and changing as the song brings in guitars and bass lines. The track will have listeners firmly planted on the edges of their seats. The infectious beat that plays throughout Behind The Final Veil provides the baseline upon which…
Sergio Napoletano’s Kids In The Hall calls back to the indie-rock of the early-to-mid 1990s. There’s subtle nods to Sebadoh’s fuzziness and the assertive vocals of Perry Ferrell. The addition Napoletano brings to this genre of music comes in the richness of the composition. The plinking of the keys, the alluring guitar work, and an ear not only for radio-friendly music but for arrangements that are complex and fulfilling ensures…
On The Eighty Six Seas’s new single “The Insomniac’s Lament”, an immense arrangement will take listeners through countless musical styles and approaches. There’s a bit of mid-2000s emo rock, hints of Great Big Sea-esque celtic, hints of pitch-shifting and even keys that would seem at home in the most cozy singer-songwriter fare. Somehow, The Eighty Six Seas are able to combine these disparate styles to make something alluring – if…
On Pidgie’s They Took You Away, there’s an engrossing instrumental dynamic that ties together guitar and drums. This creates the perfect backdrop for her vocals, as they are able to immediately pull at listeners’ heart strings. The song itself builds off the more wind-swept performers of the 1980s, a laundry list of who’s who including Stevie Nicks and The Go-Gos. What Pidgie does to put her own spin on things…
Hoodie Rob’s “No Stress” is an emotive rap track that showcases an engrossing narrative with dreamy instrumentation. The charisma that is presented here by Hoodie Rob ensures that he can garner attention by radio programmers and Spotify curators alike. The bars and arrangements combine to make something that will stick with listeners long after the song ceases to play. “Perky in My Fiji” intersperses a quicker patter with booming bass…
Take Me Home is the first track on The Vrbs’ self-titled album, and it immediately has the act craft a high-energy sort of rock that draws upon the Chicago emo scene of the early 2000s. Emotion drips off each and every facet of the composition whether it be the wistful guitars, the tight bass line, or the splashy drums. The Vrbs have a hit on their hands with this opening…
Star Trek: Discovery has had one of the craziest rides of any of the Star Trek shows. While other efforts in the Star Trek franchise have remained consistent from season to season for the most part (with the notable exception of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, the Xindi arc in Enterprise or the Dominion war seasons in Deep Space 9), Discovery has continually innovated and changed up the…
IZ.M.B.’s “Recover” is an effort that takes up hard rock and pop standards, making for a track that a wide swath of fans will be able to pick up. The production gives ample time to both the lyrical and instrumental sides of the track. As a result, there’s a fullness to Recover that few radio tracks will be able to achieve. Incorporating the horns into a more focal role during…
Sp8ce Owl’s “And So It Begins” has a truly epic flare, moving between 1970s prog rock and My Morning Jacket. There’re soundscapes approximating a dusty desert and a future metropolis. Engrossing in how narrative-based this composition can be sans vocals, And So It Begins will keep fans on the edges of their seats from the track’s opening all the way out until its final notes. The insistence of the keys…
Nya’s “Closer Than Close” calls back to the stellar radio hits of the 1980s (eg Mr. Mister, Marvin Gaye, Atlantic Starr) all while pushing absolutely angelic vocals. There’s a bit of Nelly Furtado and Corinne Bailey Rae but with even more brightness. Nya’s new song simultaneously stays reverent to earlier musicians while creating something that will easily slot into playlists. The groove that is skillfully crafted during Closer Than Close’s…
Dude Reppin Knowhere’s “Airplane Mode” is one of those tracks that you’ll have to listen to to properly hear everything that has been secreted inside. There’s a bit of vaporwave, hints of screwed and chopped, and just enough in the way of pop to keep fans sticking around. Airplane Mode’s titular phrase and the funky instrumentation that followed will have toes tapping. The track effortlessly adopts these styles and more,…