Author: Kim Muncie

Posted on: May 15, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Strange Company’s “Lois Lane”

Strange Company’s “Lois Lane” has timeless pop-rock qualities that make it an instant winner with me. The Memphis/Nashville outfit’s debut album, Eyes Wide Open, promises to be one of 2024’s best efforts in this vein based on the promise of this number alone. Vocalist Chris Burris and lead guitarist Aaron “Crash” Robinette lead the way for this outstanding young band, but it isn’t a glorified vehicle for their talents alone. Make no mistake – Strange Company plays as a cohesive and full-fledged band,…

Posted on: May 13, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

“Ghosts & Girls” by B.D. Gottfried

Let’s take a trip down the rabbit hole of moody ambient rock with b.d. Gottfried’s latest offering, “Ghosts and Girls.” This ain’t your typical album, folks. No sir, this is a sonic journey into the depths of emotion and existence, crafted by a true musical maverick who dances to the beat of his own drum. Now, if you’re expecting your run-of-the-mill rock album, you’re in for a surprise. b.d. Gottfried…

Posted on: May 6, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Universal Dice’s “Once Upon a Time”

I’m a steadfast admirer of Universal Dice’s past releases and expect that their pending release Misfit Memoirs matches or exceeds the standard set by Gerry Dantone and his bandmates. The forthcoming collection’s first two singles “Curse”, and “Once Upon a Time”, establishes a high bar. “Once Upon a Time” is the latest track from Universal Dice’s pending album and leaves a lasting effect on the listener. I applaud Dantone and his band’s faithful adherence to traditional songcraft and eschewing any bells and whistles abundant in many modern releases. It…

Posted on: May 1, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Jonathan Brenner’s “Instagram Success”

When you encounter the likes of “Ride That Money Train,” one of the more formidable excerpts from Jonathan Brenner’s Instagram Success, the first thing you’re going to hear is a powerful melodicism that only gets more potent as we drift further down the line with the arrangement. This opening salvo of play is searing and propellant of a textural melody that will be hard to get out of your head after indulging in its charisma for the…

Posted on: April 9, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Dorsten Duo releases New EP

From the striking tone beneath its title track to the more aggressive melody of the climax of “My Sweetheart,” the movement of the music is always playing an important part in telling us a story in the new EP from Phoenix-based Dorsten, To the River. It’s fairly common to try and pull different elements together within a mix to generate a vibe to match lyricism, but I would be lying if I…

Posted on: April 4, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

“Memory Lane” by Wilson Banjo Co.

Memory Lane is the third full-length release from Steve Wilson’s skilled bluegrass project Wilson Banjo Co. Wilson has built a reputation as one of the genre’s most formidable talents as a bandleader, producer, songwriter, and engineer for numerous recordings. He’s played alongside top-tier talents such as Deeper Shade of Blue, Dale Ann Bradley, Kim Robins, and Jesse Brock, among others. Wilson Banjo Co. enjoys two critically acclaimed prior releases titled Spirits in…

Posted on: April 4, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Vili V Releases “Constellation High”

Crossovers in rock, by nature, tend to be more emotional than straight-up rockabilly music is, but this genre provides a platform for contemporary balladry that is virtually unmatched in Western music today. Players like Vili V are giving audiences quite the revolution in melodic songwriting in 2024, and despite a plethora of synthesized content coming down the pipes from mainstream artists, the indie pulse is winning over listeners with purist…

Posted on: March 20, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

bd Gottfried’s “Live, Fight & Die”

With a sturdy foundation from the beat, bd Gottfried’s “Live, Fight & Die” kicks into gear on the back of a memorable string melody that is as glowing as it is effervescent. The rhythm is relaxed, but there’s an underlying sense of urgency in the music pouring out of our speakers so seamlessly. In this colorful, guitar-powered release, texture and tonality are as important as lush lyricism and a sensational…

Posted on: February 20, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Alice the G00n’s single “CYA”

Alice the G00n’s single “CYA” has enjoyed considerable chart success, and she’s poised it for even greater heights with the recent release of its accompanying music video. Directed and conceptualized by Alice, the action-packed clip reflects a full-on effort to capture realistic physical action balanced with her artistic ambitions in footage that has no clear equal. The video for “CYA” fleshes out the song’s story of one tough ass-kicker dispensing…

Posted on: January 27, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Nik:11’s New Single “Pillow Talk” Shines

I’m no EDM luddite, nor an adherent, but I believe I’ve heard enough music to know quality when I hear it. Nik:11’s new single “Pillow Talk” shines. The reasons are numerous. The Detroit native begins, however, with the song’s foundation. She plucked Sylvia Robinson’s 1973 R&B classic “Pillow Talk” from the past and refurbished it with producer Chicco Bennett. The results produce unfettered musical magic. She further displays her creativity…

Posted on: January 5, 2024 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

“1/6: The Graphic Novel (Second Edition)” by Alan Jenkins/Gan Golan

Harvard Law Professor, and veteran comic book artist Will Rosado are a formidable team. Together, they’re much like Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins, and their pivotal work on Watchmen. Their latest work,1/6: The Graphic Novel, is probably the literal equivalent for Jenkins, Golan, and Rosado – something pretty darn seminal to the times we’re in, and may be in if we’re not careful. This week marks a significant milestone for the trio,…

Posted on: December 29, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Impact of Personal Injuries on Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma

In our high-speed culture, people tend to give more attention to physical good health than to the damage that personal injuries can inflict on the mind. This is a battle in which few survive without going unnoticed. This introduction is a search for areas of darkness–physical injuries and the mental illnesses that they bring with them. If we consider injuries, what most readily comes to mind is physical suffering, medical…

Posted on: December 22, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

James Robert Webb’s Latest Single “I Just Wanna Be Your Santa Claus”

I’m betting that nearly everyone who hears and enjoys James Robert Webb’s new song “I Just Wanna Be Your Santa Claus” will agree its big payoff moment arrives with the track’s chorus. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has proven his mettle for crafting memorable refrains and I’m certain that, when we’re looking back on Webb’s musical output, his propensity for such hook-laden moments will shine especially bright when replaying this track.…

Posted on: December 15, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

“Alone on Christmas Day” by The High Plains Drifters

“Alone on Christmas Day” is the new single from New York City’s The High Plains Drifters and it’s a winner. This charming, unassuming tune brims with compelling melodic strengths and a sleek arrangement that never bites off more than it can chew. It comes across as the result of a band who began recording the song knowing exactly what aims they looked to achieve and sounds like they tossed off…

Posted on: December 6, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Brooke Josephson Releases “Live & Let Live” EP

Pastoral guitar strings are ready and willing to wash a bit of optimism over anything within earshot as we listen to the opening bars of “Good Kind of Tired,” the first song in Josephson’s new EP Live & Let Live. Slowly but surely, an electric melody creeps out from behind the strumming and imparts a thunderous emotional power chord that will reappear later on in the song in a much more…

Posted on: November 29, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Adrian Sutherland Releases “Precious” / “Diamonds”

Adrian Sutherland, the indie rocker hailing from Canada’s Far North, emerges as a formidable force in the musical landscape, and his latest singles, “Precious” and “Diamonds,” provide a captivating glimpse into his upcoming album, “Precious Diamonds.” What sets Sutherland apart is not only his musical prowess but also his distinct identity as an Indigenous artist, a facet that draws intriguing parallels with other established Native American musical luminaries. Sutherland’s journey…

Posted on: November 29, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Cody Coyote Drops New Single

Cody Coyote is blazing his own trail through the modern music landscape and there’s no signs of slowing down. His new single “There Tonight” proves that Coyote continues gaining momentum with each new release. “There Tonight” comes off as aggressive, yet controlled, intelligent and serious, yet wildly entertaining. It likewise illustrates how Coyote is likely capable of tackling any sort of material. “There Tonight” makes his mastery of contemporary pop…

Posted on: November 20, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

Peter Gural’s “Birdy’s World”

Philadelphia’s Peter Gural is the primary author of one of the year’s best releases with his collection Birdy’s World. The Berklee School of Music graduate has chops galore, that’s obvious, but his technical skills never undercut the immediate authenticity of his songwriting art. The unabashed autobiographical nature of Gural’s writing never limits its ability to connect with a wide swath of the Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter’s target audience. The bright bounce of the…

Posted on: October 22, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 0

“Significance” by Blueburst

Alternative rock – despite the irony of the name in present times – is hardy dead, and if you’re looking for hard evidence of this, I seriously recommend giving Blueburst a listen sometime. In their rookie album Significance, this band comprised of Craig Douglas Miller and Marty Willson-Piper of All About Eve/Noctorum/The Church fame, doesn’t just try their hand at the modern alternative rock model; they try to redefine the…

Posted on: October 16, 2023 Posted by: Kim Muncie Comments: 1

A few moments with ViennaCC

How does the city of Vienna speak to you in your creative musical pursuits? Cobblestone streets echo whispers from the big history of a former empire. The timeless morbid flair of Vienna forms the typical Viennese with his grumpy mood, pessimism and cynicism. But there is also another side of Vienna. Eat Schnitzel and cake and dance waltz – likely at a funeral party. Who knows, maybe tomorrow we are…