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…
The sedate, touching opening to Owls & Lions’s new track, God Bless You & Protect You will immediately draw one in. The back and forth between the pair of vocalists pushes each to a higher plateau, as does the moment when the rest of the band kicks in (~1:20 mark). The second segment of this single has both vox intertwine in a beautiful fashion before shifting back to the close…
On In Silence, Grimass is able to blend together hard-edged rhymes in the vein of early Rick Ross and Freeway with a bit of more reggae-infused backing beat. The chorus is absolutely haunting, providing a nice counterpoint to the gritty backdrop of the main body of the single. The flow presented fans on In Silence will get fans heads bobbing while the shuffling, industrial-tinged synths and drums tattoo a melody…
With a visual element that matches the sweeping synths of Summertime is Here, Szandra Mayer is able to make an engrossing multi-media effort. Showcasing the carefree experience of youth, the videography of Mayer’s latest blends together sunflowers, horseplay, and verdant landscapes. With smart use of vibrant colors and an overall palette that just pops, Summertime is Here showcases well the considerable potential of every summer to be special. Ending the…
Make it Better is an alt-pop track that looks back to the halcyon days of the late 1990s. With hints of Bloodhound Gang, Hanson, and Smash Mouth interspersed with his own unique approach, Mark Ian is able to make a single that will have fans singing along after their first play-through. The chorus sufficiently changes things enough to keep fans’ interest levels high through the entirety of Make it Better.…
Terry Robb is able to call back to blues rock with his new single, How a Free Man Feels. By marrying a traditional music style with modern recording techniques, Robb is able to make a song that resounds loudly with a wide segment of listeners. Terry’s vocals are integral in both providing a narrative for the track while adding a further layer to the already intricate instrumental arrangement that plays…
Runnin’ Through My Mind is a mid-tempo track that is able to deftly tie together slower, more contemplative sections with a quick chorus that will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The vocals presented to fans here are particularly fun as they both compare nicely to other pop cuts and possess a tremendous pathos that will have one continue to play this cut long after they’ve…
On Que 9’s “Be Long”, a dark and brooding instrumentation is able to provide a compelling counterpoint to the richer, lighter word play that plays at the top of the track. Booming bass ensures that one is able to step out on the dance floor, while the rapid-fire flow that Que 9 spits at the 45-second mark will keep fans firmly stuck in their seats. Be Long is an effort…
Rollicking strings saturated in pristine white fuzz adorn the opening bars of “Discover,” but as we’ll soon discover, their measured strut is but one of the sensuous ingredients that Kazyak will employ in the sonic stew that this engrossing composition is. A powerful vocal harmony soars into the heavens from which it came in the climactic chorus, and believe it or not, its staggered catharsis is only a drop in…
Anxiety about retirement is a global phenomenon and not strictly linked to a country’s specifics, a recent study found out. Nearly 15,000 people from the US. Australia and Europe were questioned and the majority shared concerns about the availability of financial resources during their senior years. Of all people questioned in Spain, 69 percent shared such concerns. The situation was similar in France, Poland, the Czech Republic and the US…