It’s sometimes taken for granted just how brilliant a songwriter Tom Waits is. The sky is blue, water is wet, and Waits can write a truly heartbreaking song. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s been making music for more than four decades; Maybe it’s that some just can’t get past his graveled vocals, but sometime all it takes is listening to a fresh take on his songs to realize just…
“Nobody’s listening / Don’t know the world you’re in / You want someone to understand” croons David Leask in the first couple of lines of his new single “When You Think No One Loves You,” a sense of defenselessness trailing his every word. Leask has never been one to hold anything back from his audience in the music that he records, but he’s getting especially vulnerable with us in this…
Guttural in one track, smothered in a synth’s playful harmony in another, the guitar parts that adorn the material we hear on the new Parker Longbough LP Green and Gold/Drink the Hemlock are at times reminiscent of early White Stripes records, 80s Seattle sludge and even the noise-laden riffs of Sonic Youth all at once, and yet they rarely translate as being overly experimental in songs like “Avalanche Beacon,” “Bad Attitude” and…
Drugs, sex, Jesus and a telecaster’s twang. That’s pretty much the Beaumont formula and hell, if it isn’t enough to make your whole goddamn day. On their first live record, This Is Austin, recorded appropriately enough at Austin’s The White Horse, the five Lubbock cowboys turn in a monstrously hilarious best of compilation in front of a live audience. Whether it’s singing about Toby Keith (“Toby Keith is the…
Gryndin may just be our favorite Jae Mansa song out, as it is able to call back to the early days of Kanye and Styles P. Impressing Young Marco into throwing down some bars for this track is a genius-level decision, as the two distinct approaches taken by the performers makes Gryndin into an unmitigated banger. With smart use of samples and hints of mid-oughts acts (The Game, early Rick…
On Recognize, pineappleCITI is able to create an easy-going rap track that builds upon the framework of Young M.A. and A Boogie. With a backing beat that is more dreamy, accentuating rather than boldly countering PC’s bars, Recognize comes forth as utterly distinct from other rap tracks currently populating playlists. Delicate and replete with an infectious vocal hook, Recognize gradually increases in speed as one hurtles to the end of…
Touch It succeeds because of a haunting, Hypnotise Minds meets Migos sort of production. Intricate wordplay is spat at a bullet’s pace as PM beats fans over their head with the most ornate maul. Get It is a hard-hitting track that has PM spit lyrics that are cocksure and confident. Matched well with a booming bass and trap-inspired backing beat, Get It is the sort of track that will immediately…
Dan Ashley is a celebrity in his own right, but What Really Matters is an effort that will catapult him alongside such rock luminaries like Michael Stanley and Elvis Costello. The same charisma that bubbled through his news broadcasts comes through in droves during his latest single. Easy listening rock with musical chops to add more than a bit of oomph, What Really Matters is able to revive the style…
On Planet, The Phoenix Rose create a wholly unique effort that links together the taut pop-rock of later Genesis, a bit of 311-styled modern rock, and the orchestral pomp of Dream Theater. Throw in some huge jazz-infused bass and a bit of reggae wobble and one will have some semblance of what The Phoenix Rose is trying to do here. The band picks up speed at around the 3:25 mark,…
Jane N’ The Jungle create a technically amazing effort that blends together progressive rock instrumentation with emotive, impassioned vocals. With a set of influences as wide-ranging as Metallica, Jethro Tull, and Santana, Jane N’ The Jungle are continually evolving and refining their musical output. Few songs are able to be enjoyed in such a wide-reaching fashion. One can just take Beach On Fire on its surface or they can dig…
By The Throat is a powerful, introspective effort that refreshes the sound of Nick Cage, Chris Isaak, and Where The Streets Have No Name-era U2. Instrumental and vocal sides struggle for dominance here. The bit of electronic fuzz that the guitar / drum dynamic includes bring The Great Dictators a bit closer to NIN. Alluring and darkly emotional, By The Throat’s shuffling tempo will make fans out of anyone listening…
Zidiq is able to infuse African Mama with an infectious groove and an eye back towards traditional styles, even as he hits fans with some booming EDM beats. Insistent synths match nicely with smooth vocals; hints of Akon and Sean Kingston can be heard in this effort. African Mama turns on a time with slower and quicker sections. With so many things happening during ZIDIQ’s latest single, fans will be…
On Twenty Two, Danny Griego and KP Fitz create a timeless ballad that calls back to the days of Bruce Springsteen and post-1990s John Bon Jovi. Ample guitar work interacts with impassioned vocals to draw fans in, while a message of care issues forth. The usage of silence immediately following an instrumentally intense section provides enough of a switch-up to keep fans on their toes. Honest, earnest, and with a…
Shine From My Casket is a dreamy, emotionally intensive rap track that has an otherworldly sense of harmony to it. Kid Pullen is able to hit fans with a rapid-fire flow that is countered quite nicely with the contemplative backing instrumentation. Can’t Help has Kid Pullen immediately laying out a narrative that will keep fans involved in the single. The backing instrumentation bubbles up at the right points to provide…
Brynn Stanley is able to call back to the modern era of the 20th century with her take on a Christmas cut, Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me. Strong call and response plays at the top of the track, while a walking bass line and impeccable drums unite to make a solid backing instrumentation. The hint of jazz and doo-wop into Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me keeps…
On Slay, Eddie Grand’s latest, a deep and dark trap-infused backing beat provides a stellar canvas upon which Grand’s inimitable lyrical flow can rest. With nods to The Game, Riff Raff, and Three 6 Mafia scattered throughout Slay, Grand ensures the widest swath of listeners will find something that they can appreciate. The haunting melodies presented in Slay ride out the final 30 seconds or so, ensuring that they are…
On Damn, I’m Being Me Again, BREE is able to tie together the pop-rock of Avril Lavigne with Vixen and Bif Naked. Tons of charisma, a stripped-down rock approach, and lush production combine to make something special in this cut. The sort of narrative that is implanted into this composition is something that anyone that has continually messed things up will be able to understand. Few three-piece acts are able…
AERO calls back to the halcyon days of Yung Joc and the Duffel Bag Boys. With a bit of softly-stated vocals playing out over a whistle-heavy backing track. TisaKorean keeps things current and contemporary by joining the mid-oughts rap scene to mumble rap. What results with AERO is an effort that will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of anyone listening in, as well as drag any reluctant…
We Belong To The Night is a hopeful and fun track that effortlessly crosses over between pop to EDM. Jes’s vocals are in rare form here as they keep fans focused in with each lyric. The dynamic established between the vocal and synth sides of We Belong To The Night pushes each to a higher plateau. Smart increases to the track’s tempo ensure that no two moments are exactly the…
Ecliptic has just released Sedna, their imperial, tiramisu-flavored stout. The nose of Sedna is heavy on the toasted malt with just hints of a sweeter side evident before one cracks into the brew. The 8.5% ABV of Sedna is masterfully hidden. Hints of bitterness peek through at points, making this the perfect effort to quaff while eating strongly-flavored fare (Thai, Greek) or cheeses and charcuterie. Sedna does not move into…