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…
Mechanical Heart is a tremendous introduction to Natasha Jane Julian. THe song will immediate capture one’s attention due to the linkages that the backing instrumentation has with the rock of the late 1980s (e.g. U2) and female singer-songwriters of the early to mid 1990s (Sinead O’Connor, Natalie Cole). Natasha’s voice is wholly unique when one focuses in; it is this considerable charisma that is given a further veneer with lush…
Velvet Code calls back to the new wave genre of the mid-1980s with his latest track. Deliberate synthesizers and considerable vocal range unite to make a track that gradually gains speed. By the time Mary Offered Ladybugs and Love Yous hits its chorus, it has fans enthralled through a driving beat and heavenly vox. There are so many styles and approaches that are weaved through Velvet Code’s latest; part of…
On You Should Know, Vita Chambers is able to tie together ambient, EDM, and dubstep into a shuffling, bass-thumping track. Vocals call back to Madonna’s early-nineties output. We’re in love with the dynamic established between the vocal and electronic segments of this composition. Where the main body of You Should Know has these working in lockstep, some of the most interesting sections of Vita Chambers’ latest occur when the synths…
One Giant Farm is the newest effort from Les Stroud. With impressive guitar work laid down here from Slash, One Giant Farm soars. Impassioned vocals in the vein of Jethro Tull meld perfectly with some of the most taut instrumentation you’ve ever heard. Both vocal and instrumental sides are able to turn on a dime, moving the track through emotive guitar licks, intricate drum / bass dynamics, and a melding…
On Ukrainian Cowboy, Josie Cotton is able to craft a track that calls back to the strong female country & western tradition of performers like Patsy Cline and Nancy Sinatra. On-point guitars and additional vocal layers make this track dense; fans will be able to find different twists and turns even after they have spun this single multiple times. The walking bass line is matched with a bit of oompah-like…
Cool is an infectious pop song that has just enough of EDM-infused synths playing at the bottom of the single that fans can’t help but to be swept onto the dance floor. The blending of vox and keys during the chorus is reminiscent of Owl City and The Rocket Summer. Considerable charisma is brought to bear here; the rising and falling of Belle Vex’s voice here will have fans sitting…
Antiseptic Heart begins with a dark and brooding guitar line before incorporating mournful vocals shortly after. With a nod made to OK Computer-era Radiohead complete, the band is able to boldly forge forward with their own taut blend of alternative and rock styles. Pulling double duty, the voice is able to weave a cogent narrative while providing further depth to the song’s instrumentation. Antiseptic Heart shifts to a heavy, chunky…
On Retrospective Outlook, Chris Mardini is able to blend easy-going pop vocals with a musically intricate, intense sort of composition. With assertive guitars, booming drums, and a spotless production, Retrospective Outlook’s arrangement will stick with listeners long after the song ceases to play. Mardini’s vocals are a part Asher Roth, a part Cake, and (during the chorus) a bit Jonas. With this eclectic approach, Chris is able to make a…
On All Because of You, Michael Costantini is able to recreate the crunchy alt-rock sound of the 1990s. The song succeeds with charismatic lead vocals forged out of the Rivers Cuomo mold and a fuzzy set of guitars that will appease fans of Soul Asylum and Belly. Michael hits some high notes during his latest single, a move that further increases the depth of the track while showcasing some serious…
Mike Bertini’s Those Nights immediately begins with a soulful set of vocals that links together Jake Owen and Dave Matthews. With a chorus that equally draw from modern country and 1990s jam bands, Mike is able to give a little something to everyone. The track’s inclusion of female vocals towards its half-way mark spins the song in a bold new direction. The dynamism of Those Nights ensures that no two…
Plants’ Life Until Death begins with a contemplative effort, Life, that provides listeners with a sedate introduction that gradually leads in to the rest of their disc. Cruze is a taut track that blends together a ropy bass line with ska / psychedelic horns. What ultimately results is a trippy soundscape that is further set to new territories when the vox kick in. Alex’s vocals will set fans upon a…
Sunny Weather is a hooky, guitar-dominant track that has Proper Einstein draw upon the alt-rock of the 1990s (e.g. Weezer, Sunny Day Real Estate) and pop-punk (e.g. Sum 41, Blink). We love the deceptive simplicity of Sunny Weather. Where it sounds outwardly straightforward with vox, guitars, and drums, a deeper play showcases some brilliant dynamics established between the instrumental and vocal sides of things. This track has a lo-fi, gritty…
Hola Bonita is a perfect track for the early fall. There is still an ample amount of the island vibes and Latinx styles that will get the dance floor popping, but there’s a bit of chill that is inserted into the track that will get fans vibin’. While the vocal side of things is given a focal point during Hola Bonita, the instrumentation is able to spend a bit of…
JTruthPA comes forth with a bright effort that straddles the line between pop, R&B and rap music. The production on this single ensures that the lyrical flow is crisp and clear, while the bouncy beat will bury itself deep into one’s psyche. Sunflower will get one out to the dance floor, while JTruthPA’s flow continues to shift and change throughout the cut’s runtime. All together, Sunflower is a perfect introduction…
On Goodie Two Shoes, Sayed Sabrina is able to put forth some serious vocals with a robust instrumentation replete with sizzling horns and a taut output that will stick with fans long after the song ceases to play. The bass / vocal dynamic is something to behold here, as together they push each other to a higher plateau. The arrangements are deep and thrushy, ensuring that one will continually find…
High Key is able to blend together the last 40 years of R&B into a cohesive sound that is present throughout the entirety of their new song, Ain’t Cool No More. This three-part act is able to infuse blues, funk, and soul into a three-minute space like no one’s business. The piano / vocal dynamic that bubbles forth in the middle of the song is a sight to behold, as…