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…
Dungeons and Dragons have seen a massive rise in the popularity of this game since the Fifth Edition launched in 2014. The game’s mechanics were simplified to the extent feasible to appeal to new audiences. And guess what? It was successful. In 2020, Wizards of the Coast and D&D announced that more than 50 million players are playing the game, and the number is growing. But, if this is your…
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,…
I Am Legend’s “Top Of The World” has a bouncing beat and tremendous vocal charisma immediately presented to listeners. With I Am Legend’s vocals pulling double duty in ferrying lyrical content as well as providing fans with further harmonies, there’s every chance in the world that the song will make it onto playlist. What results in Top Of The World is one of those tracks that would easily make it…
V ROY has Pesh Milli lay down some bars with tremendous quickness. There’s a harmony here that is established through the backing beat and contributed to by Pesh Milli. While the song itself is short, it has just enough time to showcase all sides of this performer. The song is able to stand head and shoulders above other rap music that’s currently garnering popular attention. Check out the video for…
The Dead Daisies’s “Radiance” has a slinky, Velvet Revolver means Seether approach. While the band has continually innovated their style with previous efforts we’ve covered, there’s a confidence with their latest track that far outstrips anything that we have heard before. Each element is able to work together, whether it be those supersonic vocals, the booming drums, or the RATM-infused guitar line that cuts wide swaths through the song. The…
On “They Don’t Love You”, 8Ball and MJG show they’re still producing hard-hitting music. The song is a missive for anyone that has had someone sneak into their life with ill intentions. There’re always individuals that will glom onto individuals the second they gain any hype, and this track lays out how the plan works. The kernel of They Don’t Love You is one of self-improvement. Individuals need to have…
Teenear’s “Ain’t Mine” is an airy R&B track that is utterly cohesive in its execution. This means that Teenear’s vocals mesh flawlessly with the booming bass beat and drumline. There’s a slower tempo that provides ample time to let each lyric shine. Ain’t Mine is an effort that will be appreciated by anyone that has had to navigate dating and love-based relationships. Timeless in how it sounds, Ain’t Mine is…
Raybans In The Rain begins with confident guitar work and drums, showing a spotlight on Rebecca DawgGoneDavis’s vocals. With the contributions of Chago Williams, DGD is able to make a song that both catches attention while keeping fans focused in. The dynamic here is interesting, with both DGD and Williams providing their own special sound. What results is engrossing and ultimately something that shines amongst the mass of music being…
On Million Dollar Space, Nonstop to Cairo cover a considerable space between rock, reggae, and funk. There’re nods here to acts like Sublime and Jane’s Addiction, but the richness of the band’s sound here separate them from other acts attempting to garner airplay. The horns that take over after the vocals step back allow the single to be spun off in a bold fashion. The rapid-fire twists and turns that…
Nate Paladino’s “Problems In Bed” is a timeless alt-rock track that links together Death Cab For Cutie and Bright Eyes with the modern rock styles of Bruce Hornsby. There’s such a compelling set of vocals that immediately issue further during the single’s first thirty seconds. The instrumentation of Problems in Bed is robust, with each constituent elements able to shine separately as they generate a coherent, booming entity as the…
Paul Nourigat has released his third album Slightly Serious. Couth and Truth is a powerful piece of Americana-tinged rock, replete with wind-swept guitars mixing in their lot with splashy drums. The tautness of this single’s instrumentation is matched by Paul’s vox here. With nods to artists as widely-flung as Roy Orbison, Warren Zevon, and Chris Isaac, Nourigat’s voice will be able to bring in a slew of listeners. We’re particularly…