Jingle Man, the second of Ozzie D.’s three Christmas-themed singles, has a bit of laid-back rockabilly and soul that plays at the bottom of the track. Hints of Elvis and rockabilly music generally are presnt during Jingle Man. Particularly savvy listeners will hear just a bit of psychedelic guitars that rise up at points. The song ends at the perfect time, giving Ozzie D. just enough time to set the…
Ozzie D.’s “Christmas Hustle” is the first holiday track we have covered so far this year. The track comes forth with a very traditional sort of sound, bringing listeners back to the days of their childhood. There are hints of 1990s country as well as 1960s pop in Ozzie D.’s track. The lyrics found on Christmas Hustle express behaviors that all will remember on Christmas morning. For those of you…
On Frank and the Rat Pack, the Staunch Moderates create an engrossing stream-of-consciousness style that is given a good amount of highlighting from the chill, laidback keys playing at the bottom of the track. The featured performers are able to stick within the framework while putting their own stamp onto the track. What results in “Frank and the Rat Pack” is something that skirts between genre conventions, a composition that is…
Mihiri Silva’s “I’m Outta Control” is a bold track that succeeds because Silva is able to bring in multiple genres and styles. Corralling synth-pop, dance, rock, and R&B into a cohesive statement is a huge effort, but Mihiri Silva is able to do this all while building a song that could easily garner serious radio and playlist attention. There are nods to mid-oughts Britney Spears and Madonna, even as the…
Just Like Me is a hopeful sort of pop track that would be perfectly placed alongside The Knox and AJR. Poppy-rock, keys, and super-charismatic vocals combine to make something that will get listeners singing along. The layers to Just Like Me’s instrumentation will withstand multiple spins, while the bit of fuzz on the track does a great job in gluing together the constituent parts into something cohesive. Lightlonglife’s Just Like…
Walk Through, the latest effort from Dave Luv, is a laid-back, silky-smooth sort of R&B track that is in the vein of 2000s performers like Ja Rule and Asher Roth. The story that Dave Luv tells on this song will be appreciated by anyone that’s tried to ply their game on someone at a bar or venue. The presence of Sagealina’s airy vox adds much to Walk Through, a true…
On Rain, Xavier Toscano starts things in a more delicate and slower fashion. Rain is repleate with the titular item and emotive synthesizers. The song is more R&B meets pop than straight dance. The instrumental interludes that are present at points during Rain do much to vary the overall feeling of this single. With both Rain’s arrangement as well as Xavier’s vocals being allowed to shine as singular entites as…
The City Said comes forth with meaty, 1980s-inspired synths and a percussive element that make for a solid beat. The atmospheric levels that Xavier is able to achieve with his vocals acts as the cherry on top of the sundae. Multiple instrumental layers provide further depth and replay value for The City Said. There’s a serious groove that Xavier achieves in the lead up to the song’s chorus that outpaces…
My Confession, the latest work by TT, is a song that is absolutely timeless in its execution. While the initial minute feels built off of a Bob Dylan chassis, the gradual ratcheting up of the tempo via Replacements-esque guitar work make it that listeners are firmly glued to their seats. The ability of TT to turn on a dime and adapt different guitar and drum lines to the overall spirit…
Hot Water is an exciting jolt of fire during these cold winter months. D-Shot’s rap flow is a bit E-40, a bit Twista, and intersperses rapid-fire delivery with a bit of finesse for Hot Water’s chorus. The presence of ample features during D-Shot’s latest keeps the song chugging along, with the work of Turf Talk, Cyda Lean, and Bleezo providing further depth to an already teeming track. The different approaches…
On their “City Of Thieves”, Forgottensong deftly establish desert rock in the vein of a Chris Isaak. Slinky vocals recall performers like early Tom Petty or Roy Orbison. The deliberate approach taken during City of Thieves’ first minute sets the stage nicely for what is to follow. Hints of surf rock are whipped into the mix, with just enough funky guitar line and shuffling drums to really induce fans to…
On Boom Boom (Goes My Heart), Xavier Toscano is able to provide fans with a track that will immediately draw them in. This single ties together dance, pop, and rock perfectly. Xavier’s charisma is hard to deny, both in telling the song’s story or further building upon the funkiness of the backing instrumentation. A similarly high-energy video is paired with Boom Boom (Goes My Heart), making sure that all of…
B.B. Cole’s Of Love and Loss doesn’t just sound like an album. It looks like one. In a bold move that places her among artists like MGMT, whose 2010 album Congratulations was accompanied by a vibrant visualizer, Cole favors a visual storytelling format that deepens the listener’s experience. Each of the 12 tracks on her sophomore album is paired with an illustration inspired by the Major Arcana of tarot cards, crafted by French illustrator Ariane Dudych.…
Michael Vincent Quattro’s “I Need Your Love” is a fun call back to the dance and new romantic styles. Michael’s vocals have some commonalities with Peter Gabriel and Dave Gahan. The presence of a driving dance beat on Quattro’s latest work will get people up and active, while the layered approach that the song takes is something that will keep things interesting from the song’s first beat all the way…
AMERICA is a track that is hard to define, based on Sorina Kiefer’s wide array of styles that are expertly weaved through the composition. The song is able to take up the batons of Madonna and Lady Gaga, all while Sorina amplifies political discourse during the effort’s main body. The backing instrumentation builds considerable urgency over AMERICA’s run time. Guitars and martial drums combine to really hammer home the majesty…
Innacence’s “In My Body” is the dance track this winter desparately needs. The song will immediately bring listeners in with haunting, ethereal vocals. As the song continues to play, the gradual increase in the tempo leads into some seriously heady synth work. The vibe that is generated in “In My Body” is pure esctasy. The single’s drop is something that would blow the lid off of a venue. This should…
Contageous Funk’s new track By Any Means establishes a very laid-back and chill flow. Intricate bars pepper listeners, while the single’s chorus will bounce around listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. Fans of 2000s rappers like Jadakiss will find a kindred spirit in Contageous Funk; the song hits hard while acting debonair. By Any Means is a wondrous call-back to a fun era of rap, all while…
With his new single “On Dat Brown”, YSN Hazel is able to create one of the sultriest vibes we’ve heard in a while. The sheer passion of his vocals, the lyrics that are dropped down here, and the visuals established by the video (below) combine to make for one killer track. On Dat Brown is a work that would succeed in 2008 just as it does today. YSN Hazel has…
I’m always with the artist who flies in the face of whatever the flavor of the month is and flouts business as usual. Tom DiCillo fits the bill. His new single “Shot of Blue” is an early aural peek at the title track of his forthcoming album. Early impressions based on this single suggest DiCillo may be hitting his stride as a songwriter/musician. The single holds up under repeated listens.…
On Winnipeg, Orit Shimoni is able to link together the North Americana of the 19th and early 20th centuries with a bit of the mid-20th century singer-songwriter style of Warren Zevon and Carole King. Little more is needed to succeed on Winnipeg than Shimoni’s vocals, guitars, and strings. The bit of secondary vocals that shadow Orit’s voice at points provide a bit more depth to an already voluminous track. The…
