Higher Love is one of my favorite tracks of all time, and it is great to see that there’s a new cover that does more than just hit the high notes of the original. Kamoken’s take on this (with Malou Beauvoir laying down the vocals) is one of those rare examples where a cover is absolutely able to hang with the source material. There’re hints of island melodies with just…
Kevin Phillips’s Order My Steps is a powerful composition that showcases the importance of keeping your faith. The struggle that believers have with all of the ills of the world are addressed here, as Phillips identifies the only way to truly be successful is to follow Jesus. The track has Kevin’s vocals at the forefront, but the instrumentation is nothing to sneeze at. A funky bass line is perfectly punctuated…
X File 8675309 is the evolutionary step forward for AV Super Sunshine. The track comes forth with a dreamy, Wallflowers meets Goo Goo Dolls vocal approach and just enough synth to provide an otherworldly feel to the composition. The narrative – an alien race picking up radio transmissions of Tommy Tutone and crashing to earth – is fascinating. Science fiction and the most human of feelings (love) are matched by…
Dancehall Hallelujah is a tremendous reimagining of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah with Mr. Vegas’s tried and timeless approach to dancehall music. Vocals are front and center during this track, while booming synths immediately tattoo a beat into fans’ minds. There’s double duty being pulled by Mr. Vegas here, as his vocal delivery adds mightily to the song’s overall melody. The track can easily be slipped into holiday rotations as well; it…
Greg Hoy has released Can You Take It, a hard-edged track that calls back to the days of power-rock bands like ELO and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Charismatic vocals unite with a chugging guitar and on-point drums to make for something that will have listeners tapping their toes. Without giving fans a moment to spare, Greg’s approach will appease fans of any variety of rock. Hints of the Foo Fighters and The…
Jae Mansa has hot fire on his hands with his new track Swan In My Pond. Immediately smacking fans with a tremendously catchy chorus, Mansa’s decision to have Riff Raff throw up some bars is fantastic. While RR is always a good get for your track, Jae Mansa’s flow is able to match blow for blow. Couple the hook with a sweeping, screwed-and-chopped backdrop and one has a track that…
Rich Dance is one of those tracks that will immediately get people out on the bar floor. Confident and assertive vocal flows lay on top of a booming, bassy synth / percussive beat. The chorus is perhaps the highwater mark for GoodLook’s latest. Three minutes is all that Rich Dance needs to bury itself deep into the cardiac muscles of anyone fortunate to listen in. There’s a good shot for…
The Tennessee Werewolves’s new single American Dream blends together very traditional country instrumentation (replete with a lap steel) with a more modern (think 1990s-onward) pop / country vocal approach. The booming instrumentation on American Dream will have fans on the edges of their seats, all while the considerable vocal range of Angel Mary firmly places the track into the stratosphere. The dynamic established between the guitars and drums during American…
Show Me You has a very confident set of vocals linked with a pop-rock backing beat. Dynamyte is able to vary things up considerably over the course of this single, with multiple approaches and genres making their appearance felt before the track’s conclusion. The production on Show Me You allows these disparate sounds to collaborate, ultimately creating something unique and alluring. Very few artists today can so successfully imprint themselves…
donSMITH comes forth with one of the most engrossing and interesting rap efforts that we’ve covered so far this year. The track may start and end before three minutes is up, but the wordplay is knotty and deep. Fans will have to listen to the single multiple times before hearing everything that has been secreted within. The production of Table is integral in making the track stand above similar releases;…
Paul Maged’s new single Culture War has hints of Judas Priest and Tenacious D present within its heavy riffs, solid drum work, and supersonic vocals. With an all-in approach to the song’s instrumental sides, Paul is able to lay down some seriously focused vocals. Multiple vocal layers are utilized here to add a further bit of gravity to the composition. A rapid switch to a killer instrumental section ensures that…
Stars In Their Eyes on SSRIs is a track that seems like a letter explaining bipolar disorder. From the bouncy beginning to the track to the more despondent second half of the track, the narrative component seems to identify some of the issue present with the titular class of medication. The video (presented below) showcases a bit of the quirkiness that is expressed in the lyrical and instrumental side of…
Fuego & Hielo is an inspirational track. Passionate in his delivery, Stokoff is able to reach high registers and rich lows. Thwe dynamics established between Stokoff’s vocals, the country-tinged guitars, and the traditional rock styling of the drums virtually ensures that fans of all stripes will be able to find something to sink their teeth into. The guitar work is the highwater mark for the song’s instrumentation as it does…
WFS is a high-energy track that calls back to the stripped-down rock of the MC5 all while wrapping up the proto-punk style with synths. The song only needs 2 minutes to do everything that it seeks to do. Pointed, political, and with considerable fury, Lesibu Grand is able to insert attitude alongside intense guitar lines and splashy drums. Adding a video to the mix, Lesibu Grand is able to leverage…
Replace Me has Nas coming forth with a crossover track that brings a bit of hard-0edge bars into an R&B track. The keys and twinkling production bouncing in the backdrop calls back to the late nineties. Big Sean’s guest bars act as the yin to Nas’s yang, while the smooth, silky sounds of Don Toliver represent the glue that unites the two big hitters of rap. What results in Replace…
Started has a slow, emotionally-charged plea to one’s lover. The track is stripped-down and bare, mirroring the message espoused in the effort. The members of Final Draft are able to keep this sexual energy high through out. Changing up the track to best bolster the strengths of each performers, Started is able to stay fresh and invigorating from the onset until the last assertive note. It’s not too much of…
Fall has MkX use a hard-hitting synth and drum backdrop to highlight his considerable vocal range. Deftly blending rap, R&B and pop, MkX makes a play for considerable crossover opportunities. The hint of EDM that makes its way into Fall provides further nuance to this effort. No two seconds end up the same on Fall, granting the single ample replay value. The ability of MkX to turn on a dime…
Quarantine Dream is one dreamy track. Hints of surf, indie, and performers as wide-reaching as Rufus Wainwright and Nick Cave can be picked up here. Heck, the beginning of the track shares the same psychic space as “The Joker”. No matter how compelling and radio-friendly Quarantine Dream may be, Papi Shiitake has ensured that the instrumentation that plays behind his vocals is thoughtful and immaculately arranged. Few artists are able…
A Little Bit of Love has Kate Tucker call back to the nineties with nods to both Sheryl Crow and The Breeders. An infectious vocal harmony is boosted up through a clap / snap backing beat. Synths peek through the backdrop at points, adding a bit off 1980s mall to the mix. Funky, fun, and with just enough edge to differentiate itself from the rest of the pop fare on…
Bustle and Flow is some of the most polished music we’ve ever received from The Dead Daisies. With a style this time around that blends together the supersonic vocals of Scott Weiland with confident instrumentation of a Whitesnake or Winger, The Dead Daisies know precisely how to make a perfect rock track. Of particular note during Bustle and Flow have to be the sizzling guitar work, with riffs that act…