Minimum Champion’s I Can’t Do This Forever is a welcome callback to the mid-2000s pop punk and emo genres. Building upon the framework of Blink 182 and Yellowcard, the act is able to incorporate some killer guitar work throughout. The band’s ability to start and stop on a dime showcases a familiarity among the band members that portends good things. The impassioned vox are something that fans will eagly sing…
On Jordan Seven’s Mercury, a special type of down and dirty rock issues forth. The vocal swagger that fronts the effort will immediately draw in fans, while the fuzz and distortion of the guitars pair perfectly with the booming drum work. Jordan Seven’s call back to rock’s sleaze heights is welcome, standing distinct from what is currently garning mainstream attention. The song’s melodies will bury themselves deeply into anyone tuned…
On Outdoor Shower, Ruby & Sasha call back to the 1990s for their inspiration. This is a very airy and light composition that showcases tremendous vocal skill, all while the instrumentation is enough to craft a solid foundation upon which they can shine. The lyrical content of Outdoor Shower will resonate loudly with anyone that’s had their fair share of life experience. What’s most surprising about this introductory single is…
On their latest album, The Toadies shack up with Steve Albini to craft some enthralling stuff. The Charmer begins with Ash’s Theme, a taut rock track that immediately sets the stage for what’s to follow on the album. By putting the instrumental side of things to the front during the first minute, The Toadies ensure that the vocal sections make a huge splash when they start. Come to Life blends…
Over the course of the last year or so, I’ve been increasingly getting into rogue-like titles. I started with Brotato and ended up putting a fair amount of time into the title until I found some livestreams of Megabonk. I progressed pretty far through that game before moving into the original Slay the Spire. For full disclosure, I am super cheap so Slay the Spire 2 has been wishlisted. Luckily,…
Ape Shall Not Kill Ape is the latest work from Tex Moonlight, a rock track that takes inspiration from Bloc Party, Frank Ferdinand, and the Kaiser Chiefs. The act’s able to bring in a much more traditional sound during the single’s chorus, a decision that will undoubtedly bring in fans of 1970s rock. The thick, ropy bassline is perfect here and offsets the bit of guitar fuzz that rises up…
Follow Me Home is one of those laidback tracks that works perfectly when one is lounging outside or doing chores around the house. The extended run time gives Circus Mind ample opportunity to set the stage for their latest work, replete with different movements. Each member is able to pairoff with another, giving listeners a number of distinct looks as the song continues to play. The one consistent that is…
On Silence, the Slow Burn Drifters are able to touch upon David Bowie, psychdelic rock, and even mid-1990s U2. The song is jam-packed with influences that will draw fans in, all while the band generates some impressive music. The single rises and swells, as the band continues to keep things fascinating. While the song rides out at the four-minute mark, Silence will remain in listeners’ brains long after that. This…
GALVEZTON’s Roll to G-Town is one truly fascinating effort. The song blends together Bob Dylan with Oliver Tree, creating something that is absolutely timeless while having enough quirky Beck and Chris Isaak nods to make the resulting work interesting. Hints of blues and gospel bubble up at points during this single’s chorus, giving the song legs for days. In fact, the overall composition of Roll to G-Town is intricate enough…
On Cold Country, Rob Bellamy & The Rebel Hearts are able to tie together 2000s country with a bit of rock instrumentation to craft something that speaks to a wide audience. The passion in which Bellamy is able to imbue each lyric on this single is impressive, showcasing a fire that in unable to be quenched during the work’s run time. The arrangement here is similarly strong. Splashy drums and…
On Hometown, Ben E. Davis is able to craft some seriously catchy music. Blending equal amounts 1990s R&B with pop, his charisma will convert anyone fortunate enough to listen along. The song’s cohesion is impressive as both the backing instrumentation and Ben’s vocal melodies combine seamlessly. Hometown is an earworm, an effort that will stick around in listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. Give the video a…
A visit to the Daintree Rainforest offers one of Australia’s most rewarding nature experiences. The rainforest lies just north of Cairns. It is the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest on Earth. Towering trees rise overhead. Rare wildlife moves through dense foliage. Landscapes that have remained unchanged for millions of years surround you at every turn. But the Daintree is more than a place you simply see. You experience it. You…
Before the Trip There were a numnber of times over the years that I have looked at the rates for a Great Wolf Lodge location and had been scared away. The rooms typically end up at around $300 a night during normal visits, and that’s to say nothing about the parking charge. Luckily for us, the newly redesigned Great Wolf Lodge location in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas and…
Over the course of the last few years, we have stopped by a few Bossier/Shreveport breweries. Flying Heart was particularly popping on the weekend, and we decided to settle in and try a few of their efforts. While they had just cashed their Milk Maid Stout, we had a chance to try our their porter, Barrel 52. Pouring with a dark brown to nearly-blackish coloration and little in the way…
On “Sigmund Freud’s Girlfriend”, Michael Gilas is able to make a soulful, pop-infused track that calls back to the easy listening style of the 1970s and early 1980s. Michael’s magnificent voice shines brightest here, but the bass and drums combine here to make for a tremendous palette upon which they can reside. The back and forth between Michael and the single’s backing female vocals add further depth to the track.…
Slow Burn Drifters’ The Divide is an emotionally intense effort that whips in Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother as influences, all while the dark charisma of the vocals here are reminiscent of The Tea Party and The Doors. The production of The Divide allows for the wind-swept guitars and jangly instrumentation to provide considerable depth to these vox. The insistent guitar work that bisects The Divide acts as…
Circus Mind’s “Viking Princess” is a bouncy rock track that calls back to the more sultry 1970s brand of rock music. Interspersing sizzling guitar work with vocals that run the gamut between Alice Cooper and James Hetfield, Circus Mind are able to establish something utterly unique. Each of the elements that fans will hear on Viking Princess are playing their heart out, contributing to a composition that will stick with…
Rev It Up is one of those hard-rocking track that fits perfectly alongside Van Halen or 38 Special. Divergent builds out this track with killer guitar riffs, Whitesnake-infused vocals, and a devil may care attitude. Incorporating an extended instrumental bridge to Rev It Up, Divergent is able to keep fans frothing at the mouth until they kick back into their main gear. Rev It Up has an eminently singable chorus,…
Coffeeshop x Ty Taylor’s “Hear The Call” is a super-sonic effort that straddles the line between rock and country. There is an intense guitar line that is matched well with a supersonic set of vocals. When the two elements combine at the single’s chorus, Hear The Call reaches new heights. The song is one of those that will have listeners singing along after their first listen. As the old adage…
M. Spano’s “Something Different” is a fun, engrossing effort that shines because of the performer’s unique style. To be sure, there are clear nods to emo and EDM music here, but the resulting track is able to transcend genre boundaries. I feel a bit of John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) in M. Spano’s vocal styling, further mooring Something Different into a deeper musical tradition. The overall arrangement is quite deep,…