Does the world really need another psychobilly supergroup? Turns out, that yeah, we kind of do. The Bats, a trio made up of members from Nekromantix, The Brains, Rezurez and Stellar Corpses, churn through 20 (20!) songs on their debut, Bat Music For Bat People and the music manages to be catchy enough that hardly a moment drags here. Yes, they dig up the old genre tropes (“Graveyard Girl,” “Cemetery Man,”), but with a…
A debut single can be the hardest track that an artist will ever record, but Dane Maxwell makes it look all too easy in his rookie release, the anti-bullying ballad “Where I’m Seen.” Maxwell steps up to the microphone with an unrehearsed confidence that could become a signature element in his sound if he learns to harness all of its multilayered potential. His words dance against the silky string section…
Over the course of the past four decades, Wreckless Eric has evolved from being that quirky Stiff Records signing – who managed to brilliantly bridge the distance between labelmates The Damned and Elvis Costello, with his punk rock ethos slathered in strong poppy hooks – to being a reliably poignant songwriter turning in one album after the next filled with smartly written-stories steeped in nostalgia and keen observations. Transience is…
Like a gentle breeze rustling the branches of an old willow tree, “The Long Way Home” has a way of dispelling all of the tension that would normally sully a perfect summer afternoon, and as I recently discovered, it isn’t the only song capable of such mysticism in W.C. Beck’s third album, First Flight, a deceptively titled record that sees its composer executing one flawless ascent into the sonic heavens…
Remember to Forget is a track that ties together the jam-band sound of Umphrey’s McGee and Gov’t Mule with a more contemplative, Collective Souls meets Wallflowers sort of sounds. The instrumentation that brings fans into Find Your Way stands up to repeat plays, while the passion and range of Chris’s vocals will keep fans firmly focused into the music that is to follow on the band’s latest, Find Your Way.…
On Nah, Zāna is able to blend equal parts Jennifer Lopez and Shakira into a song of female self empowerment, all while blending in an international flair to pop music. The track is able to establish a chiaroscuro of loud / quiet in a fashion to successfully capture the attention of listeners. The backing beat is on-point, providing a formidable canvas upon which Zāna is able to add her own…
On Worry, Val Emmich is able to insert some of the most intense and touching emotional content we’ve ever heard. The taut instrumentation that begins to rise up as Emmich moves towards the chorus is similarly strong. There are just so many layers at which listeners can enjoy the track. We like how the vocals / instrumentation insistently hurtle towards chaos before Worry pivots to an entirely different sound. Emmich…
On her new single Take It Back, Lila Drew is able to blend in equal amounts of pop, R&B and EDM into a sultry, intense track that will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Of particular note during this song has to be the thoughtful, trap / funk / dance backing instrumentation that provides highlighting to Lila’s vocals. Another high-water mark for this cut has to…
Immediately bringing the bouncy sound of The Pretenders and The Tide Is High-era Blondie, Jeremie Albino is able to whip in his own unique flair. Charismatic vocals do more than just tell a story; they are able to add considerably to the overall; harmony of the composition. With a production that allows each element to shine alone or as a contributing part to a greater whole, Hard Time is one…
There is a surprising depth to the 86-second 5, the lead cut from Orange Birthday’s a1x album. The track feels as if there’s not too much to it during a cursory listen, but there is a dual duty to the swirling synths and instrumental arrangements here. Th epresence of electronic sections and guitars make for something that is a bit new age, a bit atmospheric, and a cogent statement of…
Vortex is a catchy rock track that keeps one’s toes tapping while washing over fans with taut instrumentation and an eclectic, deep sound. Hints of Bryan Adams and Rush can be picked up here; a ropy bass line and charismatic vocals push this single to an entirely higher plateau. C’est la vie is our favorite of this pair as there is a bit more emotional heaviness to the composition. Listeners…
On Time To Live, Meddie Bloom is able to create a cohesive dance track that will immediately draw in listeners’ attentions. The hopeful synth lines, supersonic vocals, and driving beat combine to make for something that will bury itself deep into one’s psyche. There is a good amount of shifting through tempos and styles as Bloom touches upon Italo dance, trance, and mid-1990s techno before adopting a more contemporary EDM…
On Motivate Me, Drew Chale is able to blend together stark, New Wave-inspired backing synths with a touching, emotive set of vocals. Hints of Devo and Simply Red can be heard here. Motivate Me is one of those rare tracks where listeners will be able to pick up something considerably different when they decide to focus on the instrumental or vocal side of things. What Chale contributes to music generally…
John Roberts’ Looking calls back to the synth-pop of the mid-1980s. Hints of Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the Pet Shop Boys can be discerned here. Roberts whips in a bit of Mickie Avalon and MSI to Looking, keeping things fresh and vibrant. The usage of a dominant synth line to play at the bottom of the track provides the perfect counterpoint for Roberts’ sultry vox. The bright colors of…
Kat DeLuna’s Last Night in Miami is the first summer dance track we’ve heard. The song splits time between pop, EDM, and R&B. A synth line calls back to the mid-1980s, while DeLuna’s vocals refresh the approach of a Gloria Estefan or Ciara. The track gradually increases momentum as it moves to chorus, while smart repetition of the title ensures that listeners will have this tattooed into their minds. Adding…
On Today, K.O Styles is able to build up a contemplative rap track that melds together a taut flow, thoughtful instrumentation, and a beat that will have fans clamoring for more. Today has K.O Styles espouse some seriously heavy statements that anyone which has struggled to achieve some sort of success will understand. Whether it is about the distractions (drugs, alcohol) that a great many individuals crash their ships onto…
On Yaw Yaw, the collected F$O clan have made a track that will be blasted out across the United States. Establishing a cut with an infectious beat that links together modern trap music with the all-out sound of Soulja Boy and Trey Songz. Linking together a little bit of everything and infusing the finished result with their own inimitable style, it’s no surprise that F$O Dinero, F$O Kash, and F$O…
Richochet is a laid-back, electrofunk meets indie sort of track that soars on glorious synths and falsetto vocals. A bit of thicker, bassier synth lines add to the low end. The track builds off of the framework initially laid by acts like Passion Pit and MGMT, while ensuring that Nick Vivid’s vocals have ample room to shine. The insistence of the backing beat continues to grow over time, rising and…
Derek Davis’ third solo release, Resonator Blues, is a departure from the soul and funk leanings of his previous solo outing Revolutionary Soul and his history of releases and shows with Davis’ longtime band Babylon A.D. The dozen songs included on this release are drenched in blues, but never the paint by numbers variety that inspires big blues fans to sigh in despair. Instead, even on the album’s cover tunes, you get a…
On BAAD, MAAD is able to refresh the R&B sound of the late nineties and early 2000s. The robust beat, thick bass, and shifts between a quicker and slower approach ensure that listeners are kept at the edges of their seats. The vocal range that MAAD hits during her latest single is considerable, adding further depth to the composition. We’re particularly in love with the dynamic that is achieved between…