Every once in a while, a game comes along that transcends its medium. It stops being just a pastime and instead becomes a testament to ingenuity, persistence, and the human spirit. Q-Less, the crossword solitaire game from 80-something-year-old inventor and TikTok savant Tom Sturdevant, is one such game. This isn’t Sturdevant’s first foray into the world of games—he’s been crafting brainy diversions for decades, including the wildly successful Blockbuster Movie…
Don’t Forget Me is a haunting, ethereal track from Me And My Nightmare. The song is able to tie in late-1990s goth to the overall dance/pop styling that dominant the track. Shifting between vocal-heavy to instrumental sections, Don’t Forget Me is the sort of track that is dynamic enough to remain fresh through multiple plays. The vocals set leisurely on top of the synth sequences and the drums, imbuing Don’t…
Strong synth lines are immediately presented to listeners on May Fall’s new single, Plan D. Hints of Nine Inch Nails (particularly Pretty Hate Machine) can be picked up here. The emphatic beat that punctuates this song gradually moves into a funkier, Chromeo meets Zapp Band sort of sound for Plan D’s chorus. By incorporating new wave, funk, and even emo into the brew, May Fall’s output here shines due to…
On Wrong, Hudson Thames starts things in a very sedate fashion. Gradually increasing the tempo, Thames is able to create something absolutely resonant to a wide array of fans. The level of charisma that is presented during Wrong is hard to quantify, but it puts him into the same strata as James Bay or George Ezra. Gradually incorporating drums and strings into the mix, Hudson Thames makes the second half…
On the remix to Greater Than Infinity, Makenzie Reilly’s vox absolutely soar above the track. When the vocals step back, the tremendous arrangements by Coffeeshop are given one’s full attention. The two elements play well together, with the bright EDM fare of Coffeeshop both calling back to the highwater 2010s mark of the genre while Reilly’s voice operates at a level that one could easily imagine be placed on playlists…
Club Mirage is the latest effort from ViennaCC, a shuffling blend of rock, new wave, and dance music that always defies genre conventions. At the top of the track, ViennaCC’s vocals punctuate things in an emphatic way. The vocals cede territory at points to allow different instruments time in the spot. The numerous layers that comprise Club Mirage at any point are a boon for fans, as they will have…
Yafania’s “Don’t You Want To Be With Me?” is a high-energy track that deftly stradles the line between pop and rock. There are hints of performers like Avril Lavigne, Natalie Cole, and Ashlee Simpson here. The thoughtful guitar work that plays at the bottom of “Don’t You Want To Be With Me?” ensures that Yafania has something to build off of. A quicker tempo during the single’s second half adds…
It’s Not Your Life is MattO’s latest single. This acoustic track needs little more to it than MattO’s vox and guitar. MattO’s inspirations are on his sleeve, with nods to Michael Stipe and Bob Dylan shining through the brightest. If you listen closely, a bit of John Denver and Jimmy Buffett can be discerned. It’s Not Your Life is so honest and touching, a single that showcases a chapter from…
On Some Kind Of Purgatory, Mark Ciani is able to craft a beautiful lo-fi alternative rock track that showcases his love for early The Flaming Lips and Cake. There’s a wall of fuzz, a whimiscal approach to the single’s arrangement, and some serious charisma that all interacts during the single’s run time. We’re particularly big fans of the ropy bass lines that precede Some Kind of Purgatory’s chorus. This is…
Timothy Rogers’s “For My Good” is a positively-themed track that will inspire anyone fortunate enough to listen in. By tying in this message of faith with a catchy as all get out instrumentation, Rogers is able to spread his message as widely as possible. The call and response that is present during For My Good moors the single into the larger gospel genre. The production of For My Good is…
Wonder is a powerful track, showcasing the vocal strengths of Emoni Wilkins from the onset. The presence of amazing guitar work, thoughtful drums, and an enlightened chorus combine to make a single that will stick around listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. The utilization of different time signatures sets Wonder off from other gospel and contemporary Christian music. Even with all of its experimentation, Emoni Wilkins’ Wonder…
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…
