KMFDM comes forth with a ferocity that links together industrial and metal in a vibrant way. The sequenced section mesh well with the tortured, screamed-out vocals. A slinkier set of vocals provides the perfect counterpoint for the bold, brash, and in your face styles that bubble up throughout the track. Few acts are able to continually bring the same intensity over 30+ years, but KMFDM are able to cut through…
My Best Please is a bouncy track that showcases a wonderful melange of 1990s alternative with sunny late 1960s rock. The two styles work well together, with emotionally dense guitars and a powerful, front-forward set of vocals keeping fans’ interest high. Mother Yeti are able to create a cohesive instrumentation that is surprisingly deep. The arrangement that corresponds to the backdrop of My Best Please will stand up to repeat…
Too Much immediately hits listeners over their heads with a flow that builds upon the tradition of Schoolboy Q, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. The backing beat rises and falls, smartly utilizing repetition to further highlight ND’s lyrical flow. There are a few distinct sections to Too Much; the hard-hitting beginning bounces over to a more laid-back interlude before resuming the intelligent, contemplative approach to lyricism. By weaving the distinct threads…
On Deliriously Good, Rat City is able to create a sultry R&B track that has hints of 1980s funk and electronic music studded into the mix. Soulful vocals build upon the tradition of Trey Songz and Cee-Lo, while there’s a thick, luxurious bass line playing in the background. While the two elements would seem a bit far afield from one another, a taut production ensures that each element is able…
State Line Diner is Kristina Stykos’s first song on her new release, River of Light. Stykos is able to blend together Melissa Etheridge and Patti Smith, with a catchiness to this introductory track that is reminiscent of Tom Petty’s early nineties output. The guitar work crackles with electricity during this first cut, a trend that Stykos continues through the whole of River of Light. I Like A Hard Hearted Man…
Blue Roses has Katrina Stuart come forth with a touching composition that anyone that has been through relationship or love issues will be able to identify with. The vocal range achieved here by Stuart is considerable, further highlighted through a bit of EDM-influenced synth and a clap track. The resulting effort is something that could easily be blared out to a crowd as part of a DJ’s set this autumn.…
The Noolands have just released a video that matches Grenadine’s tendency to expertly float through genres. A crisp (black and white) video moves through scenes, paralleling the band’s ability to quickly switch from an instrumental-heavy interlude to a vocal-led section. Grenadine’s video is tremendously engaging in that its highlights the band’s spontaneity. The Noolands are able to indelibly imprint their own unique style upon listeners and watchers alike. Silent-film cards…
4 Leaf Clover is our introduction to Penelope Robin’s vocals, showcasing considerable ability alongside Major Lazer-styled backing beats. The confidence that exudes from Robin’s vocals sell 4 Leaf Clover for us. During this track, Penelope is both able to showcase considerable emotional gravity and imbue an additional level of depth to the harmonies of the single. Proficient, engaging, and ultimately able to slot in nicely with modern pop music, 4…
Swimming in My Sleep is a contemplative song that ties together 1960s psychedelic with 1970s progressive. The resulting effort is able to immediately gain listeners’ attentions. Squaring The Circle has a bit of political content to add some gravity to the overall album, while Pirate Jane changes the whole formula by bringing a bit of blues and the bayou into the mix. The one element that is weaved through the…
While a mainstay in the “Best Original Screenplay” category, Quentin Tarantino has yet to win an Oscar for “Best Director” or “Best Picture” in his career. Could this year finally be his chance? Oddsmakers seem to think so in early predictions. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is currently the favorite to win the big Oscar at the 2020 award ceremony. And while a lot of the Oscar bait is…
The future is already here and it’s sweeping everything in its path. The theory of exponential growth – or accelerating returns, as it’s sometimes known – posits that technology will change in a faster and more profound way than we humans can actually keep up with. That means society and culture are always going to be racing to keep up as technology drags us kicking and screaming into the future.…
Talon’s talent is on display during his newest single, Unique. More than just stringing together lyrics, this performer pulls double duty without breaking a sweat. Where rappers are typically able to be bolstered by their backing flow, Talon’s able to add a further complexity to the laid-back beat that is strung through Unique; having that bit of harmony present during his bars is able to make a more comprehensive overall…
Janine The Machine’s Snatched is a tongue in cheek blend of pop in the vein of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, albeit with a bit more of Taylor Swift and Halsey whipped in. Riding the workout leitmotif to its logical extreme, Janine The Machine is able to work in an infectious melody and booming bass beats deep into one’s cardiac muscle. Vibrant visuals are utilized to tremendous effect on Snatched,…
All That I Got Tonight is a fantastic EDM/pop effort that showcases the struggle of addiction and the potential for a rosier outlook after one gives up the stuff. The sentiment shared here by Judah Holiday is something that anyone that has struggled with any sort of addiction will be able to understand. At a surface level, the track is a banger. From a slower start to the absolutely sick…
On FÊTE, Triple Island is able to call back to the late nineties rap style with a synth and clap-heavy backing beat. Upon that canvas, the trio is able to keep things interesting. With a more pop-focused hook, the song is able to whip in a bit of reggae and mid-1990s NYC rap. Taken together, these distinct sides to Triple Island make for a track that is chill and distinct…
Ghost In The Midnight is a delightful pop track that is able to refresh the mall-pop approach of Tiffany and Tevin Campbell for 2019 and beyond. A cute set of vocals is seconded by a bouncy instrumentation. A gritty guitar line inspired by Jackson’s Dirty Diana is highlighted when compared to sweeping synths and a bit of 1980s funk (e.g. Dazz). Mychael Gabriel inserts a bit of himself into the…
On Keep Smiling, Swimming With Bears are able to craft a charismatic and catchy brand of alt-pop. Taut instrumentation ensures that distinct sections can be masterfully weaved into a cogent narrative. Down and dirty guitars act as the perfect counterpoint for smooth vocals, while the sweeping synths at the top of the song are matched through punctual drum work. There are a surprisingly large amount of things occurring at any…
Drew Chale’s latest EP begins with Can’t Stop, a song that deftly ties together the sweeping synths of 1980s rock acts like Rush and Journey. The single defies all preconceptions about what music can be. There’s a tightly-wound, funky bass line that plays nicely with Drew’s darkly emotional vocals, a snap and clap track out of 1980s Miami dance music, and the aforementioned nod to arena rock. Where the distinct…
The titular track for Forever starts things off with a solid momentum and a good amount of dsponaneity. The number of twists and turns that R3NN includes during this introductory track will keep fans interested through a nearly five-minute run time. This effort is vital as it showcases the number of twists and turns listeners will encounter as they move further into the disc. We dig the last minute or…
Everything I Ever Wanted showcases David Haerle’s ability to weave a compelling story with his instrumentation. Nary a vocal is needed during his latest single to craft a varied and detailed narrative. A focal point to the composition, David’s guitar riffs gradually rise in technical skill and speed before giving the punctual drums and robust bass line ample time to shine. Together, this trio of tools combine to make some…