On Motivated, Leph Louie is able to weave a tremendous narrative of self-improvement. By providing his own story, Leph Louie is trying to showcase that uplift is possible. There’s a whole heap of help that is provided here for individuals that want to try to improve their own lot. The track itself is understated, providing a drum beat with skillful keys. Where many rappers are more than happy to just…
Shadow Puppet Theatre’s SETIA is a fun track that builds upon the style of performers like Van Morrison and Weezer. The band is able to establish a very deliberate bass / drum dynamic that acts as a backdrop upon which the soulful vocals lay perfectly on. The bit of introspective and alluring guitar work adds further differentiation to SETIA. There’s no two seconds during Shadow Puppet Theatre’s latest that sound…
Cokah’s “Boom Boom Boom” immediately hits listeners with intense vocals and a catchy tagline that will be bouncing around listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. The rapper is able to build upon the tradition of performers like Trina and Nicki Minaj, all while imbuing Boom Boom Boom with her own unique flow. The vibrant visuals that are utilized in the video for the single will get viewers…
Lesibu Grand’s “Hot Glue Gun” calls back to the stripped-down punk style of The Donnas or the X-Ray Spex. There’s a bit of Shirley Manson that can be picked up in Lesibu Grand’s vocal delivery, ensuring that the intense guitars, bit of synths, and punchy drums are given a bit more urgency. The song’s chorus will tattoo itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners, while the ascending scales…
Griffith Frank’s “You’ll Be There” has all of the trappings that listeners desire from pop music. There is an impassioned, passionate set of vocals that sits at the top of the track, bolstered with twinkling keys. There’s a gradual increase to You’ll Be There’s momentum, keeping fans firmly entranced by what Griffith Frank is trying to do here. The two distinct elements to You’ll Be There combine at the middle…
Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls’s For What It’s Worth blends together the singer-songwriter traditional with traditional country music. By putting their own unique take on the Buffalo Springfield classic, they simultaneously show their ability to keep things faithful and their ability to impart this composition with their own unique flair. The dynamic between the vocals and instrumentation pushes each to an entirely higher plateau, while the arrangement itself will…
James Cole’s “Live Forever” is a vibrant and fun track that showcases the dedication and drive of Cole, all while being tied up in a nice bow linking together charismatic vocals, sweeping instrumentation, and punchy percussion. The song builds up some serious speed, nary giving listeners a second to breathe before Cole concludes things. Live Forever’s video does well in matching the same brightness and airy sound of Cole’s voice…
Pierre Bless’s “Right On Time” is centered around a backing beat that pokes through a laid-back, gritty lyrical flow. The track is easily able to catch the minds and attentions of listeners, while the video (attached below) blends together surreal visuals with the inimitable approach adopted by Bless here. The track is able to work well with oughts and early-tens rappers, all while the rapper carefully crafts his own style…
Eddie Cohn creates something amazing with his latest track, Freedom. The track is able to call back to the wind-swept singer-songwriters of the 1980s (e.g. Peter Gabriel, Michael Hutchence) all while having an instrumentation that has enough versatility to ferry his lyrical content while getting fans out onto the dance floor. The groove that is achieved during Freedom is fantastic. It is a rare sight today to find music that…
On Dragon Eye Girl, the Slammin’ Gladys are able to link together the funk-rock of acts like the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the post-grunge of Stone Temple Pilots and Jane’s Addiction. Bluesy guitar lines and charismatic vocals will have fans tapping their feet as the drums keep things perfectly on time. The production on Slammin’ Gladys’ latest is luxurious, allowing each note to sound perfect no matter whether an…
Islands is an intimate and catchy track that has vocals and a bouncy beat link together to really set off the rap flow brought to bear by Chow Mane. Shifting back and forth between the sultry vocals of Lanza and the tropical feel of the composition, Islands is one of those tracks that stays invigorating until its final notes. While there’s an easy play for this composition to make it…
Tolu A.’s “My Talents” covers a considerable amount of ground. The sheer amount of narrative quality that is present in the instrumental arrangements – pianos working alongside rich bass lines and punchy drums – is considerable. When the sax enters into the equation, the track is able to reach a higher plateau. Listeners will find themselves planted firmly on the edges of their seats for the entirety of the composition.…
Ty Breezzyy’s “TRUE” has a hopeful message present. There’s a lot of introspection had during this track, but Ty Breezzyy is able to show his indomitable spirit. While there’s a bit of reluctance that listeners will hear during TRUE, TB is able to take that bold step forward and find exactly what he needs to do in the future. With a booming backing beat and a hooky overall groove that…
CHACE’s “Wrecklyss” is a dreamy, otherworldly sort of track that effortlessly shifts through styles and genres. While there are nods to modern R&B, funk, and even electronic that can be easily discerned here, CHACE is able to whip in things and make the resulting effort stick. The track is engrossing, the production immaculate, and the result is a track that would easily garner attention on pop and collegiate stations alike.…
I’m Paintin’ has a mid-1990s sound to it with a luxurious backing beat that include some synth sweeps and thick, bass keys. Couple that amazing backdrop with a pair of rappers in SugaKane and TooTone and one ends up having an effort that will stay fresh through the entirety of 2020. The different approaches that SugaKane and TooTone take with their flow on this single makes this a must listen.…
Mason Embers’s “Rush” is a hopeful, timeless sort of track that succeeds not only because of the carefree vocals but also because of the emotive guitar lines and on-point drums. There’s a bit of mid-1990s alternative here alongside a bit of the richness of Say Anything and Jack Johnson. With there being so many twists and turns present here, Rush is one of those efforts that fans will really need…
Ready Steady Die!’s “Vent” showcases a soulful, passionate set of vocals. Add a bit of slinky instrumentation and the smallest amount of synths, and the bnad ultimately is able to create something that builds upon the alt and goth sounds of the 1990. A robust production has each of the single’s sides able to shine on its own as well as easily contributing to the overall whole of Vent. The…
Marathon Domm’s new single “Stamped Up” (which includes a feature by Philthy Rich) is a powerful refreshing of mid-oughts rap. There’s a very matter of fact flow that issues forth during Stamped Up’s first minutes, as Marathon Domm is able to link together 50 Cent, The Game and even Chamillionaire into something special. The beat is matched masterfully to MD and Philthy Rich’s contributions to the single. Stamped Up is…
DaŹaY’s “Quarantine” has a haunting backing beat that will stick around with listeners long after the song ceases to play. The sly lyrical content and patois of DaŹaY ensures that the song stands out boldly from the rest of the music that’s currently present on rap rotation and radio. The insistent beat playing at the bottom of the track adds a bit of a groove to the laser-like focus of…
Terri Bannister’s Little Is Much has a truly timeless feel to it. Terri’s vocals play at the top of the composition, wile the keys and drums create a memorable instrumentation. The dynamic between Terri’s voice and the instruments pushes each to an entirely higher plateau, while the message that is espoused here is one that will hopefully spark the light of faith deep in listeners’ hearts. Little Is Much is…