Of every genre in modern music, R&B is arguably the most eclectic in its body of artists. From soul crooners to the furious high tech beats of club DJs, R&B has become a blanket term for virtually every kind of music that incorporates smooth, dance-inspired rhythms with the sizzle and brooding tinge of the blues. Mikey See, a rising star in the west coast indie pop scene, has often been…
The smoldering reverse echo of a guitar rises from the ethers in the opening bars of Opposite Day’s “Day of the Triffids” as if to warn us that there’s an ocean of chaotic discord just waiting to be unleashed behind this fragile dam. A bass with the legs of a spider dexterously wanders between the strut of the riffs that are literally growing around us, and before we know it…
Becky Warren’s semi-autobiographical debut drew a lot of attention for the intriguing story of the relationship between an Iraqi War vet and his girlfriend. But, not to take away from the beauty and brutality of War Surplus, on her follow up, Warren uses a much larger canvas and turns in a wonderful, genre-stretching album for her effort.
It’s been seven years since R.E.M. officially walked away, but thankfully folks are still digging into their vaults to pull out some remarkable, unreleased music. The MTV Unplugged series last year was a nice surprise, but this latest from the BBBC is an even more impressive find.
If you’d asked me whether or not I knew who Jared Finck was just a little over a week ago, I would have had to tell you that I had never heard of him or his truly profound musical catalogue. But recently I came into contact with “New Kids (SEAWAVES remix)” while exploring for new music, and I couldn’t help but be taken by the charmingly relevant nature of both the lyrics and…
Last Chance Riders are able to call back to the hair metal of the 1980s and the southern rock of the late 1970s on their latest effort, Downright Disgusted. A special brand of female-fronted rock and roll draws from performers like Vixen and Heart during the band’s latest. The down and dirty sound of the guitars and drums during this single will have listeners bobbing their head while the band…
Kellie-Anne’s “Unlived Dreams” is truly a transformation effort. The dynamism of this single is considerable. Utilizing a slower tempo, the track is able to showcase Kellie-Anne’s vocals and piano lines equally well. The track includes hints of guitars during the lead up to the chorus, which whips into something that draws upon the rich musical tradition of Evanescence and Avril Lavigne. Unlived Dreams has a hopeful, inspiring message and backs up…
Modern Geaisha’s “Hey Hey Hey” is a hard-hitting rap track that links together performers as diverse as Princess and Nicki Minaj with a wokeness that is reminiscent of performers like Common or Kendrick. What’s most impressive about Hey Hey Hey has to be the sheer range that Modern Geaisha exhibits during this effort. Softer elements work with a vicious flow to make for something that will be playing in listeners’ minds…
Hugh James’ “My Brother’s Shoes” is an effort that ties together country & western with gospel styles. James is able to weave together an intricate narrative with a backing chorus. My Brother’s Shoes has an instrumentation that rises and falls, to provide considerable gravitas to the effort when it needs it while dropping out and allowing Hugh’s vocals ample opportunity to impress. The production allows the drums, voices, and piano…
Belle VEX’s “Something New” has a bouncy beat and nods to R&B and EDM styles. The vocals on Something New stand boldly above the chill synths and assertive dance beat. The track could easily be slotted onto pop, dance, or college radio stations and playlist. Belle VEX is able to create something familiar but is done at such a high standard that it contributes to the overall corpus of the…
Osaka Popstar’s cover of “Fish Heads” is a sea change from the original. Adding a bit of stripped-down Ramones styled punk into the mix, Osaka Popstar energize and spin the effort into something that will bury itself as deep into the minds and hearts of listeners as it did about 40 years back. The video throws a bit of John K-esque art into the mix, making for a full multimedia…
Josh Collins is able to make a heart-felt and touching effort in “Hold You Back”. The track needs little more than Josh’s vocals and guitars. There is an honest and organic feel that is cultivated during this track that gradually is spun out into a wholly engrossing bit of pop-rock. The rough-hewn approach to the track’s production makes each line and each note resound long after Hold You Back ceases.…
“Heart Shape Pill” is a funky track that brings together a jam band style with hints of funk and soul. The taut instrumentation that represents the backdrop of this single deserves one’s focus. So much is happening behind the vox; fans should strap on their favorite pair of headphones to hear everything that has been included within. “Night-Stepper” is our favorite of the pair. In this effort, the drums, bass,…
Angela Josephine has just cut a pair of tracks. On “Go Easy”, the careful aesthetic of guitars and drums makes for an engrossing opening. Different sections provide further expansion on the initial theme; the more deliberate and higher velocity during the track’s lead out stokes the interest of fans. Josephine includes a male vocal during “40 Days” that changes things up considerably. The back and forth between guitar and…
The Cutthroat Brothers’ “Kill 4 U” is an interesting track, built off of influences as wide-reaching as Motorhead and the Nekromantix. With a set of vocals that pull a bit from the Butthole Surfers and Nine Inch Nails, Kill 4 U is a track that would be at home in a Tarentino flick. Dirty, grungy, and performed with raw orgiastic fury, the vocals on the single push it to an…
Christmas Is A Time For Everyone is the latest effort by Velinski. The track is able to present the traditional side of Christmas while having a modern and contemporary sound weaved in. Sleigh bells and choral efforts unite with a robust bass line. The vocals are able to pull double duty here in both furthering the single’s narrative while bolstering the harmonies laid down by the instrumental side of things.…
Because It Hurts, the latest from GOODING, has some tremendous instrumentation to go along with a slinky, sexy pair of vocals. The interplay of female and male elements during GOODING’s latest ensures that listeners will get out on the dance floor. A dirty, funky bass line adds considerable depth to the single. The bit of brooding and darker elements whipped into Because It Hurts ensures that one should be able…
Nadia Lanfranconi’s “Italian Country Song” is one of those country tracks that is able to shine in the current musical climate while still drawing on a rich precedent tradition. Lanfranconi is able to have a bit of the honky tonk and the trapping of 1980s and early 1990s country (e.g. Martina McBride, Wynonna Judd) in her latest effort. The bit of current pop that gets weaved into Italian Country Song…
Jesus Honcho’s intricate flow on “Infatuated” will take fans a few plays to properly unpack. It’s truly a testament to his ability that he’s able to put down such a heady set of bars while further contributing to the overall harmony of Infatuated. The production here is smart, utilizing a minimal amount of sequenced beats to properly highlight what Jesus Honcho is trying to express. Infatuated ends before the 2:45…
Interpol’s “If You Really Love Nothing” has all constituent elements of the band working together to craft something special. The dynamic between the bass and drums is a bouncy back and forth that is punctuated by the on-point drumming and splashy cymbals that are laid down. Haunting guitars work to provide a second voice with the dreamy vox that blink in and out of existence. The depth of If You…