“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…
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…