Behold the Light brings together world music with hints of reggae and the singer-songwriter tradition. The beautiful vocals which listeners encounter shortly after the song’s beginning reverberate long after the song ceases to play. A male / female dichotomy pushes each side to a tremendous high, while the touching guitars do the same for the vocal / instrumental duality. Fans can strap on a pair of headphones and enjoy Behold…
Flaunting the wide reach of Americana in 2020, the latest, next best shot at growing the genre into a much deservedly wider following is based in Liverpool. On his third album, Robert Vincent puts forth a collection of songs that would make Guy Clark proud. Thankfully ignoring the advice that musicians should avoid politics, In This Town Your Owned is 10 deeply personal songs reacting to everything from the state…
The Seattle-based four-piece punk band The Drowns manage to somehow sound both assuredly nostalgic and contemporary at the same time. On their latest LP, Under Tension, the band brings to mind everyone from The Street Dogs and the first few Dropkick Murphys albums (sans bagpipes) to Swingin’ Utters. The fact that Ted Hutt, one of the best punk producers to come around in decades, oversaw this latest probably didn’t hurt. But…
Two of the biggest bands in heavy metal – Megadeth and LAMB OF GOD – will be joining forces on a co-headline tour across North America this year, presented by SiriusXM. And to add to the firepower of this already formidable tour, Trivium and In Flames are joining, making this THE must-see heavy music package of the year. Tickets will go on general sale Friday, February 14 from Livenation. Megadeth, fueled by…
Meridian begins with hints of wheat and toasted malt on its nose, with a fair amount of tannish head and considerable lacing as one starts into their first sip. The toastiness of this malt expands as one takes that first quaff, with subsequent pulls bringing a bit more bitterness into the mix. There is a rich body and a thicker mouthfeel to Meridian than other similar dry / irish stouts…
On Hollywood, Olya K is able to create a robust dance track with an infectious beat. The song does well in refreshing dance music from the 1970s onwards. The bit of pop that bubbles through with Olya K’s vocals ensures that the single can garner replay value. Synths and insistent percussion will draw listeners out to the dance floor, while the song’s chorus will reside in one’s brains for months,…
During Tune Me In, AM Clouds are able to refresh the alternative rock sounds of acts like Soul Asylum and the Goo Goo Dolls into a vibrant and taut experience. The band is able to link together fuzzy guitars, thick bass, and charismatic vocals into a song that will stick with fans long after the song ceases to play. Particular kudos have to be given to the extended instrumental section…
Woebetide, the new effort from Ready, Steady, Die! is glorious in how it captures listeners’ attention. Beautiful vocals play at the front of the track while the instrumentation gradually reaches a creschendo. Breaking over the song like a weave, the synths and guitars push the aforementioned vocals into a higher plateau. Working towards the same goals, these distinct elements combine into a perfectly-polished piece of drama. The track’s final minute…
On Half Of It, Lila Blue is able to call back to the days of performers like Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Strong vocals are matched through confident pianos. While there is a passing nod to the pop of the 1960s and 1970s, a look forward to the work of Fiona Apple and Ani DiFranco will draw fans in by the barrelful. Fans will be on the edges of their…
On Radical Change, A Permanent Shadow is able to blend together new wave and 1980s ska styles into something bold and refreshing. Assertive vocals hand off the reins to Flock of Seagulls-inspired guitar work and luxurious synths. Most stunning of this composition has to be the masterful use of tempo; the slower section in the song’s middle allows for A Permanent Shadow to gradually build things back up into a…
Pouring with a orange-brown to mahogany coloration, Seedstock (Denver)’s Fredersdorker immediately yields hints of grain and wheat in its initial bouquet. The Fredersdorfer style is a call back to the first half of the 19th century; this German style links together sweetness (from molasses) with a bit of a spicy, peppery hop bite. Hitting at a 7.5% ABV, this brew will keep one warm during the last vestiges of winter…
To A First Love is the first track from Thomas Charlie Pedersen’s new album, Daylight Saving Hours. The track needs little more than Thomas’s vocals and a piano to immediately draw listeners in. Calling back to Ben Folds and early Beatles, TCP is able to make something timeless while sounding perfect in the modern era. Fans are taken on a journey with this first salvo as Thomas keeps the narrative…
During Wake Me Up, Ryan Black is able to call back to the alt-rock of the 1990s. With nods to the Goo Goo Dolls and The Wallflowers, Black will interest listeners; a fuzzy guitar lays bold strokes down while the on-point drumming keeps the composition moving at a solid pace. Ryan’s voice is special here in that it tells an emotion-packed narrative while blending in well with the guitar lines.…
Roses From Blood is an effort that looks back to the high-water mark of 1990s-goth, with hints of Black Tape for a Blue Girl and Apocalyptica meshing well alongisde breakneck industrial / electronic composition. This track hurtles along in a deceptively fast fashion. Smart usage of similar string lines establish a soundscape that could easily fill in for your favrotie cyberpunk novel. By linking these styles to a traditional /…
On Magic, Keldamuzik is able to blend together a bit of funk and 1990s R&B into a modern form of EDM. These calls to disparate musical styles are coordinated into a cohesive entity, ensuring that fans are out representing the performer on the dance floor. Keldamuzik is able to pull double duty in telling a cogent story as well as bolstering the sequenced beats and authoritative percussion that peek through…
World is Burning is a fun blend of styles. Hints of reggae and drum n bass unite to make something eclectic. The number of distinct shifts in tempo and genres incorporated here will immediately draw attention to both the musical and lyrical sides of the track. The number of current events that spell doom for the world – global warming and pollution are but a few – are given bold…
On Green, Greg Hoy & The Boys create a straight-forward rock track that incorporates hints of 1960s Merseybeat, The Descendents, and Franz Ferdinand Vocals echo boldly out at the top of the song, while the chorus brings infectious vocals alongside taut instrumentation. The bass / drum interactions are punctuated quite nicely through sizzling guitar work. These instruments are able to ratchet up the song’s momentum, ensuring that listeners are firmly…
Go For It is a timeless rock track that takes up hints of U2, 1990s British alternative rock, and hints of acts like The Black Crowes for inspiration. Tying together these disparate elements are Hollis’s inimitable vocals, exuding charisma while pulling double duty as another source of harmony for this track. Holistic in its approach, Go For It is one of those efforts that will have listeners singing along long…
Soul Sister Revolution, the latest effort from Rockie Brown has a solid blend of 1990s-infused rock and assertive vocals. A rich emotion is weaved through this composition; the guitar / drum dynamic lays a solid foundation upon which Rockie’s vocals can soar. The bit of gospel chorus that is presented here adds further replay value to the composition. Rockie Brown’s bright sound and confidence separates Soul Sister Revolution from other…
Joe, the first track on Mike Bertini’s new extended play Thing Called Life is a fun effort that calls back to the college rock of the middle 1990s. This means that there are hints of Keller Williams and Dave Matthews that can be discerned here; tremendously amount of soul and positive vibes issue forth here as Mike creates a thoughtful composition. There’s a bit of material here for those that…