Emmy Law’s “Fairyland” is a modern pop / alternative track that builds upon the framework of performers like Natalie Cole, Paramore, and Natalia Imbruglia. Law’s vocals pull double duty in that their breathy vocals weave a rich narrative while the overall harmonies laid down by the vox work perfectly with the larger instrumental complex. By adding her own unique style into the mid-1990s approach that is taken here, Emmy Law…
Water District’s “Dream With Your Eyes Open” is an engrossing emo / rock effort that builds off of Alkaline Trio, Taking Back Sundae, and Brookside. Wistful, hopeful, and absolutely beautiful in its execution, Dream With Your Eyes Open is able to showcase the technical side of the guitars, bass, and drums.
David Haerle’s “Do You Know Surrender?” is an effort that immediately adopts interesting time signatures and additional instruments beyond the traditional guitar/drum dynamics. A waltz-like set of strings immediately varies things, while Haerle’s vocals brings up hints of prog-rock. There is considerable charisma to each lyric in Do you Know Surrender?, while the middle bridge is perhaps the song’s high-water mark. The dynamic between both guitars, bass, drums, and strings is…
Brandon Tory’s “Seriously” is a soulful composition. Dreamy vocals and echoing production make for a thoughtful track that exists at the nexus between R&B, rap, and EDM. Tory is able to exude raw sex with his vocals, while the booming synths and drums do a tremendous job as simultaneously mimicking a heartbeat and raw passion. Seriously is a track that fits in perfectly on modern radio; this is not the…
Rhys Tranter’s Sometimes is a slower, more pensive effort that ties together Morrissey with Mick Jagger.
My Silent Bravery’s “Everyday Is The Weekend” is an effort that ties together the rock of Bon Jovi with hints of surf rock and a bit of alternative. A sunny sound, ample bass riffs, and a charismatic set of vocals work together to make for a single that will stick with listeners long after the effort has ceased to play. We like the wide array of styles that are broached…
Markus Schulz’s “Upon My Shoulders”is an effort that builds upon the synth pop of the 1980s while having an assertive beat that is interlaid amongst the effort. Together with Sebu (from Capital Cities), Schulz is able to make a track that will keep listeners focused in until the final note. Masterful synth work flutters at the top of the track, acting as a perfect counterpoint for the booming percussive elements.…
Beartooth’s “Disease” immediately starts in high gear with insane guitars, intricate drum fills, and a catchiness that callas back to the tradition of Trapt, Nine Inch Nails, and Hawthorne Heights. Never fitting into one specific genre or sound, Beartooth is able to make in Disease an effort that is wholly unique while ready for rock radio rotation. A stellar production allows each of the elements – guitar, vox, bass, and…
The Get Up Kids are back with I’m Sorry, an infectious pop-punk track that immediately draws listeners in with taut bass lines and the inimitable vocals that have marked the band’s output these last twenty years. Timeless while adding enough in the way of contemplative guitar work, I’m Sorry is one of those sunny tracks that will have listeners singing along long after the single has ceased to play. A…
I’ve had the chance to listen to some pretty awesome music this year, not just as a member of the indie music media but as a fan in general. Of course there’s plenty of trash that we have to wade through to discover the real studs amongst the duds, but overall I feel like 2018 has been a winner in terms of productivity and increased exposure for the new, up…
Fresh off their relocation to New York City, space rockers Water and Man return with their new full-length LP Phantasie, the much anticipated follow up to 2014’s Into the Infinite. I’ve been closely following Water and Man’s journey since their inception almost five years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I can assure fans of the group that Phantasie lives up to all the high expectations everyone had for their sophomore effort. What…
The Drought, by Ryan Chernin, is tremendously engaging from its onset. A deliberate guitar line, a set of strings that rise and fall, and spades of passion keeps fans interested throughout. Chernin’s ability to bolster the overall harmonies of The Drought is unmatched; together, the instrumental and vocal sides combine to make a seamless track. Ryan is able to meld together an orchestral, 1960s rock sound a bit before the…
Bright Colors is the current single by Montauk, New York’s Liquid Phase. The track has a dreamy style that links together They Might Be Giants and Out of Time-era R.E.M.. Laid back and sunny in its disposition, this effort allows each of the constituent elements of Liquid Phase to shine. The bongos and bass combine with chunky guitars. Countless styles are broached during this cut – there is a hint…
Mariel Darling’s debut single No Mirrors builds upon the foundation of Jess Glynne, Taylor Swift, and Halsey. A shining 1980s new-wave meets Owl City backdrop provides a resounding highlight to Darling’s vocals. There is a richness to Darling’s vocals that ensures that pop aficiados are able to find something beautiful in this track. We particularly like the ability of Mariel to add more than lyrical content. At a great many…
Keep in Touch is the lead single off of All Types of Kinds’ new EP, Love Songs (Or Songs for Your Ex). The effort blends intricate guitars and a unified blast of the band as the track moves towards its single. Keep In Touch has a chorus that will tattoo itself on listeners’ hearts. The narrative quality of the track is further bolstered through the sizzling lick of the guitars.…
There’s a strong hint of Leonard Cohen in Darren Jessee’s songwriting on The Jane Room 217. You can hear it from the first tune “Anything You Need” and it never relents. He has a strong connection with the love song tradition, in some ways, but brings an uniquely well-written power to this type of song. The song has light keyboard work in the background and Jessee’s guitar up front, but…
On I Believe, Cowboy Mouth is able to blend together 1990s alternative and country-infused rock into a track that will get listeners singing along. Rich vocals and smart arrangements between the vocals / guitars and guitars/drums make a melody that will be tattooed deep into fans’ psyches. While I Believe only makes it to the three-minute mark, the band is able to make a massive track that is deep, engrossing,…
Michael Pinder’s “So Confused” is a perfectly polished piece of pop rock that brings together hints of Weezer, Mr. Mister, and Journey. The mastering of this single allows each element to shine on its own while contributing to a cohesive whole. We’re particular fans of Pinder’s vocals, the ropy bass lines, and the on-point drumming that fans will encounter during this effort. Keep focused on the two-minute-mark of So Confused,…
Pacific’s “Life In Short” is an engrossing, emotionally intense effort that builds off of the framework of Muse, mid-1990s Rush, and Coheed and Cambria. The guitar / vocals dynamic that is presented to fans during the single’s chorus ratchets up the momentum nicely. The band is taut as all get out, too – there is a complexity to Life In Short that ensures the song is fresh five or ten…
ash.ØK’s “Holding Sand”is an intricate and heady composition that blends together natural and electronic sections. With nods made to traditional / classical arrangements and more modern styles (e.g. drum and bass, trap), the resulting track stands out boldly. Holding Sand’s haunting strings do more than contribute to the overall melody of the song, but provide fans with a narrative as rich as any vocal-heavy effort. The song is like an…