You’d be hard pressed to find a recent musical genre that’s been dissected more in the past two decades than Grunge. Countless books, articles, documentaries, and radio and TV interviews dig into the Seattle-based phenomenon and just about every single discussion on the topic eventually comes around to the ground-breaking indie label Sub Pop. So, it’s surprising there was any new material left to report about the label, let alone…
Hemhora and the Glass Band deliver an exhibition in surrealist rock for the ages in their new record Helix Pattern Blues, which is available everywhere that indie music is sold and streamed this coming December 7 through Greyday Records. Endlessly eccentric and riddled with enigmatic prose that is buried beneath a smorgasbord of colorful and unforgiving textures, Helix Pattern Blues borrows only slightly from contemporary pop construction and willfully dabbles in the sort…
The rock genre has gotten a little soft according to some critics, and I’m rather inclined to agree with them when I scan my local FM dial browsing for new music. There isn’t a lot to be excited about in the little bit of rock that does manage to penetrate the Top 40, but if we take a look underground and see what acts like New York’s The Danbees have…
Philadelphia’s Hughie Mac shines new life and charm into the classic “Let’s Get Away from it All” from the album Hughie Mac Sings Some Great Songs Pt. 3. It is a great song, and Mac is a great singer. Drawing experience from his live shows in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Mac is a crooner with plenty of charisma and smooth delivery in this Frank Sinatra staple.
The Germs may have only released one proper studio album before frontman Darby Crash died, but you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a handful of more influential hardcore/punk rock bands to come out of that era. Everyone from the Minutemen and L7 to Soul Asylum and Pennywise owe a debt of gratitude to that Southern California band of nonconformists. So, it’s frustrating just how few songs the band managed…
The absence of the one that got away is hard for even the most gifted of poets to describe, but country rockers The American Revival come pretty close in their all new single “Whiskey Kisses.” The second glimpse into their forthcoming debut album, “Whiskey Kisses” digs deep with its lyrics, illustrating the feeling of yearning through a series of mammoth melodies that intertwine and create an evocative, unforgettable tour de…
Dawg Gone Davis’ 2018 emergence as one of the funnier hip hop influenced performers working today is quite a story. The technology professional made her first splash on the scene with the improbably titled “Middle Aged Woman – Hip Hop Style”, a comical and musically rewarding single facing the idea of a middle aged woman from Kansas City tackling a style you’d never expect. The song is included on her…
The sun peers through the trees and onto a spectacular patch of uncorrupted farmland as we enter the music video for Madelyn Victoria’s “Right Here With You.” Horses, cattle, turkeys and an inviting house dot the landscape in the lingering moments of daylight, but as Victoria starts to sing and darkness overtakes the sky we’re transported to a dimly lit saloon adorned with the single starred flag of Texas. Friends…
In his brand new single “I’ll Never Be Alone Again,” Christian powerhouse Michael Rainwood takes playful acoustic guitars, pendulous percussion, smoky vocals and an endearing message about giving up earthly fears in favor of heavenly support to forge a song that will put a smile on anyone’s face this autumn. To claim that there’s been a shortage of love in the world lately might be the biggest understatement of our…
Mark Kingswood’s “Shine On” is one of those special tracks that draws upon the rich male singer-songwriter style of performers like Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli. The tremendous range of Kingswood works quite nicely with the robust bass line an on-point drumming that comprising the backing instrumentation. Spanish-style guitar lines are interspersed at points during this single, providing a bit more timeless sound to the composition. Shine On moves into…
Rachael Cain’s “I Am House” is a hard-hitting EDM track that is able to tie together a booming bass line with a debonair style that pulls back to the halycon days of dance music. The rising and falling of the main synth line will keep listeners out on the dance floor. There are shifts and changes made to the overall style of I Am House that keeps fans listening in…
“Dream About Nothing” is a powerful alt-rock track that takes the dreamy vocals of OMD or Depeche Mode and puts a taut instrumentation behind it. The result is a song that will tattoo itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners, all while containing some of the most heady music we’ve heard. With deft use of fuzz, the Glorybots make something as catchy as Don’t Fear the Reaper in…
Proper Einstein’s “Light Bulbs” is a fascinating track. It is an effort that ties together a hard rock / industrial-tinged backing beat with a contemplative, slower rap-like style. Light Bulbs is a tremendously introspective track that will provide listeners with an education into Proper Einstein and his own experience. The different sections of this single are able to each showcase various section of Proper Einstein’s unique constellation of influences. Whether…
Troy Ave’s “Ice Cream” bangs hard, mixing up braggadocio with a unique rap style that builds off of early Kanye and Kendrick. The backing beat is a callback to the mid-oughts, providing ample highlighting of Troy Ave’s flow at all the right points. A head-banger, Ice Cream is the perfect example of a cut that will continue to show new twists and turns even five or ten plays in. The…
Malou Beauvoir’s alluring vocals on “Rasenbleman” are provided with a tremendously bouncy beat that blends traditional sounds with a lush production. The complimentary vocals laid down by Paul Beaubrun here ensure that the same vibe is built up throughout the entirety of the track. We’re in love with the track’s all-too-brief bridge. After this interlude, Beautvoir kicks her vocals into high gear, whipping “Rasenbleman” into a frenzy that takes over the concluding…
“Sogni” immediately shows the vocal register which Sarah Brightman has made a name for herself. The additional vocals of Vincent Niclo are used to great effect in Sogni, providing a much more fulfilling and dense interplay between voice and instrumentation. The prim and proper sound of the pianos and percussion ensure that one will have to listen in multiple times before hearing each and every interaction painstakingly placed into the composition. Rising and…
Ryan And Pony’s “Fast As I Can” blends together mid-oughts alternative with a musically complex set of arrangement that runs the gamut between Franz Ferdinand and MGMT. The two vocals intertwine quite nicely with each other, pushing the resulting vocal side of Fast As I Can to an entirely higher plateau. A deep bass line, a jangly guitar riff, and the complex vocal interactions turn Fast As I Can into…
Amo Amo’s “Closer To You” Calls back to early Blondie with dreamy vocals and a backing instrumentation that brings in a bit of reggae and ska. The slower tempo keeps listeners focused while echoing guitars and thick, chuggy bass lines build up a tremendous amount of goodwill. The track is able to make some subtle changes throughout its run time, ensuring a high replay value. Amo Amo are able to whip…
Paul Kelly is a national treasure in his native Australia, but like Colin Hay or Graham Parker, he’s perpetually on a list of woefully under-appreciated musicians here in the States.
In the gallop of “Those Happy Days,” one of eleven amazing new songs found on Rebecca Blasband’s album Here, we follow a bubbly beat that is determined to get us on our feet and swinging to its affectionate rhythm. Bouncing back and forth off of a glowing melody, the grooves get more and more rebellious as we approach the chorus, which explodes in sonic fireworks once given the room. On the…