Well-traveled and educated by her worldly experiences, indie pop singer/songwriter Xuan emerges as one of 2018’s standout performers with her debut Have Some Fun, a 12-track treasure chest of modest ballads and striking melodies that will affect even the most discriminating of music fans among us. Xuan utilizes every bit of sonic space she’s afforded in her rookie LP, and whether we’re jamming out to the minimalist rock of “Big Blue…
A furious drumming comes out of the darkness. It wants our attention and it will stop at nothing until it captures it. Synthesizers join in the volley, bouncing up and down as we near some sort of echoing hook that is teasing us off in the distance. Like a distress signal, a melody is crying out for us to notice it, even as we grind and grate in textures that…
“The Girl With the Rattlesnake Heart,” the new single by Steve Bonham and the Long Roads, is not a recreation of the British folk rock of yesteryear. In this song, audiences and critics alike are brought front and center to witness the deconstruction and reassembly of a band in real time. We listen as the strings find each other and connect within a single verse to form a structure for…
Simply Rayne’s “Don’t Stop” features the inimitable style of Baby Bash, making for a track that successfully blends together the present with the recent past. The rich vocal style of Simply Rayne calls back to the days of Destiny’s Child, while the island beats that comprise the back of Don’t Stop does a lot to counter one’s SAD. Listeners cannot help but have a smile on their face by the…
NODe’s “S.O.D.A.” establishes itself firmly in the synth-pop and darkwave styles. With just a hint of Lou Reed, goth, and industrial styles present, NODe is able to make something utterly unique. The doubled vocals on S.O.D.A. swings the track slightly into the vein of The Cure and (paradoxically) M.S.I.. NODe makes something utterly bizarre in this single, which will have listeners eagerly lining up and clamoring for more. The vocal-heavy section…
Joshua Israel’s “You’re Not Alone 2.0″ is a gospel-touched effort that builds upon the work of Bryan McKnight and the Winans family. With a tremendously soulful set of vocals representing the focal point here, Joshua is able to provide further emphasis with the presence of a choir at all of the right places on the single. You’re Not Alone is the rare example of a track that has a stellar…
Danii Roundtree’s “Crave” is an effort firmly ensconced in the pop of the 1960s. With timeless instrumentation and an easy-going set of vocals pulling from the early Motown sound, Crave is something that the widest swath of listeners can appreciate. Roundtree does a tremendous service to these well-trod genres, infusing them with current sensibilities and an energy that they’ve not seen for the better part of fifty years. Crave is an…
Fr Eazzy’s “The Weekend” is a sunny track that links together Chris Brown, T-Pain, and Akon in a fashion that will have listeners wishing it was the weekend. Island-infused synths and big, booming bass are precisely what is needed during this rapidly-cooling autumn. Fr Eazzy is able to immediately make a track that should be slotted in to rotation. We’re hoping that he is able to further the sounds and…
Julia Othmer’s “Purple and Gray” is a sultry, deliberate track that links together Adele with the mid-1990s alternative scene. Introspective guitars, punctual drums, and a haunting chorus-infused echo ensures that Purple and Gray stands out from the crowd.
“Choke ’em Up” by the Earthquake Lights has a power retro-rock vibe that calls back to the 1970s Detroit scene as well as The White Stripes. Deliberate, intense guitar lines represent the backdrop upon which assertive vocals can build off of. The sizzling guitar work and extended instrumental section which presents themselves at the two-minute mark gradually spin the effort into its final minute. This is traditional hard rock done…
Broke Royals’s new single “Bad Chemicals” will immediately draw listeners with passionate vocals and a set of guitars that blend together Maroon 5 and Mumford and Sons. The mid-tempo track is immense, with emphatic drum beats and gradual upticks in the momentum. The result of Broke Royals’ work here is that Bad Chemicals will stick with listeners long after the effort ceases to play. Particular kudos has to be given…
Heart On Fire is an interesting blend of styles. The sheer vocal range of Morrison touches upon high registers and low notes equally, with the unifying feature being her unmatched authority. The dramatic, epic backing beat presented to fans during Heart on Fire establishes a soundscape that is as rich as any vocal line. Together, these two sections unite to make for a single in Heart on Fire that will…
12:00 AM is an infectious track building upon the works of the Jonas Brothers and Jason DeRulo. Electronic-tinged and with a heavy bass beat at the bottom of the effort, 12:00 AM ensures that listeners will be out on the dance floor. The track twinkles due to the raw passion and intensity of LeGrand’s vocals; there is a charisma that is hard to deny interspersed throughout the entirety of the…
Elvyn Rhud’s new single Orange is for Love skillfully takes up the standards of jangly Doors/Tea Party psychedelic rock with the haunting goth style of Bauhaus and Joy Division. The tambourine works to provide further depth to the echoing vocals. Orange Is For Love is a track like an onion; listeners will continue to find new layers with subsequent plays. Even with the track ending before the 2:30 mark, the song…
There’s probably no place better to embrace the warm, loving feeling of Christmas than beside a crackling fireplace decorated with stockings awaiting Santa’s arrival. Many an artist have tried to capture this exact moment, this unexplainable happiness that comes with basking in the glow of the holidays, but only a select few have even come close. R&B songsters Norm Adams and Julia Robertson join those exclusive ranks with their new…
Bill Abernathy’s new album Crossing Willow Creek is a diverse fusion of styles that all share something in common with the fabric of Americana, and fans of his last LP Find A Way will be more than pleased to find the themes of that record greatly expanded upon in this one. Abernathy touches on a lot of ground with this release – from old fashioned country swing to electrified blues rock – but…
In an exploding Mexico City music scene that is developing a lot of really amazing talent right now, Labán sets himself apart as an old fashioned R&B singer in his new single “Dueños de Aquí,” the first from his upcoming album Todos Somos Dueños de Aquí. Designed as a protest song but outfitted with a classy, effervescent groove in the style of light funk, “Dueños de Aquí” isn’t a particularly detailed…
“Depression” figuratively gets the better of Jade Massentoff on the single of the same title, as she eloquently defines it in her own terms on this finely written, arranged and marvelously produced gem. The magnitude of emotions alone is off the charts on what is sure to be a hit song if I were to claim that about any this year. To say I was blown away by it wouldn’t…
Driving through traffic and maneuvering through tight, packed lanes can be a test of anyone’s patience. Have you ever looked out your stuck-in-traffic car’s window and watched cyclists zoom past your cars and swerve their way through traffic easily? You might consider the possibility and convenience of owning one of the standard city bikes. Or maybe you already own one and you have just begun to give it a consideration…
Angelo David’s “This Place” is an EDM-infused pop track that showcases tremendous vocal ability. The raw passion and charisma that David brings to his new single will immediately impress itself upon listeners. The twinkling, trap-threaded backing beat allows for a stark sound to resonate loudly. Catching listeners’ attention, David is able to create a dreamy effort that effortlessly straddles the border between pop superstardom and Weeknd-esque R&B. The breakdown that…