Distant flickering lights give way to black and white images of a small, intimate club and the band that has taken its stage tonight. The bass marches forward with a hesitant hustle, the guitar follows suit in a harmonious groove. The rhythm that the drums are conjuring up frames a passionate vocal from the one and only Francine Honey, who enters the spotlight and immediately commands the attention of everyone…
There have been numerous books written about Athens-based R.E.M. dating back to the mid-1990s, but few seem as personal as the latest entry from former Athenian Robert Dean Lurie. The book strength is also, at times, its biggest weakness. The author, who moved to Athens, GA in the ‘90s, in part thanks to its burgeoning music scene, inserts his own narrative into some of the book. And while it can…
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/richardlynchbnd?lang=en Gently, with a pendulous groove underpinning its immaculate melody, a guitar paints us a picture of a black and white world with kaleidoscopic colors in “Back in 1953,” one of the more patient ballads to behold in Richard Lynch’s Think I’ll Carry It On. It isn’t the lone example of the strings telling us a story of their own in this most recent release from the critically-acclaimed country…
Christopher Hill & The Stardust Crush are a band out of Seattle, Washington, with a unique take on the current state of United States politics. Rather than taking the traditional dystopian approach – this four-piece rock band combines folk, disjointed rhythms and harmonies to create a sometimes wistful, but trippy collection of songs in their seven-track album, MAABA (Making America All Better Again). ᐧ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thestardustcrush/ Out of the gate…
On Fervent Devise, Plants are able to call back to the rock of the 1960s and 1970s. Infectious guitar lines, charismatic vocals, and shuffling drums laid down by Alex unite to make something tremendously cohesive. With just a hint of 1990s alternative included in the mix, Plants are able to make an effort wholly unique while reverent of influences preceding the act. With the swagger of 1970s-Steven Tyler or Emotional…
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…