Safaree’s “NFL” is a hard-hitting track in the vein of mid-oughts NYC rappers. Hints of Cam’ron and Jim Jones can be picked up here, but Safaree’s flow during NFL is all his own. The backing beat is straight-forward and to the point; a bit of strings and a set of percussive noises are coupled with booming bass to make this a track that will bury its bars deep into the…
Sarah Ragsdale’s “Paranoia” begins with little more than Sarah’s vocals, a piano, and drums. With these elements, Ragsdale is able to draw upon the rich musical traditions of 1960s pop and refresh it in such a way that today’s listeners will hang onto each word. The deliberate sound of Paranoia ensures that more is done with less; this track is wonderfully effecting in the same sort of way as a…
Kevin Tiah’s “Who We Want To Be” calls back to the late 1990s / early 2000s with this hard rock-infused track. On Who We Want To Be, Tiah is able to blend together supersonic vocals, splashy drums, and intense vocals in a fashion that draws upon POD, Linkin Park, and Skillet. The boroding style of this single hammers listeners over their head, while an immaculate production allows each note to…
Deen Anthony’s “Over You” is a powerful EDM track that will get listeners out on the dance floor. The subject matter is something that all can understand – the impact that certain people can have on your life while the insistent tempo and vocal contributions of Dylan Russell add a tremendously touching and personal side to the single. The harmonies of Russell do well with the sweeping synths of Deen…
Dwight & Nicole’s “Hi-Lo” is an eclectic song that draws upon the guitar work of Stevie Ray Vaughn, blues rock, and the 1990s modern troubadour style of performers like Chris Isaak. The honky tonk approach of the guitars and drums set Hi-Lo from the rest of current country and rock tracks. Listeners will be introduced to something new and exciting with this effort, which is made all the strong through an…
Higher Education’s “Gift Called Life” is a ska/reggae-fueled effort that ties together 311, Sublime, and Incubus into a catchy and intense bundle. The charisma of the vocals and tautness of the band immediately draws fans in, while the dynamics established through Gift Called Life makes converts to the Higher Education cause. This single is hooky, draws upon the mid to late 1990s while having a current and contemporary sound, and…
Beaux Cheveux are able to make a funky and downright sultry approach to their fans with their new single, “Rio Grande”. The track blends the bass-heavy funk lines of the early 1990s Compton scene with a cool, calm, and collected indie-rock sound inspired by Bjork and Portishead. Rio Grande is musically compelling, adding a further level of depth than laid down by the hauntingly beautiful vocals. Together, the instrumental and…
Karen Atkins’ “High On Love (Can’t Get Too)” is a funky, slinky effort that refuses to fit into any one specific era or musical style. Splashy drums, knotty bass lines, and sizzling guitar work combine here to establish a robust backdrop upon which Atkins’ vocals can shine. A two-part harmony between the male and female vox adds further complexity to an already-heady effort. High On Love is an effort that…
Joe Lington’s Remember is a song that will bury its melodies deep into listeners’ minds and hearts. The high energy of the song’s beat works well to highlight Joe’s vocals, which build themselves upon the example of performers like Flo Rida and Jason DeRulo. The thick, lush bass line and infectious chorus will ensure that listeners continue to play Remember through the end of the winter and well into the…
While we had driven by the Chuy’s in Columbus, Ohio a number of times over the last few years, it was not until we moved to Arkansas to have a chance to stop in and see what the restaurant had to offer. We were immediately seated and given a run through about the menus. Our basket of tortilla chips was refreshed with fresh fare a few times through the meal.
“Bitcoin”, the latest single from Atlanta transplant ZanMan Trippin, is an effor that will hang on current rap stations even as the effort draws upon the performances of mid-oughts Soulja Boy and Gorilla Zoe. The boming bass line is the perfect counterpoint for ZanMan Trippin’s flow. As the single moves into the chorus, listeners will be picked up by an infectious set of vocals. Bitcoin is timely and it provides fans with…
Jasmine Crowe’s “Breaking Things” immediately showcases the vocal ability of Crowe while the instrumentation pulls back to the synth-pop of the mid-1980s. The driving tempo and intricate bass lines are bolstered through the additional harmonies laid down by Jasmine make Breaking Things into a must-listen. An infectious harmony is laid down, tattooing itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. We covered a Crowe track – Skeleton – a…
AWOLNATION’s “Handyman” is an engrossing and musically complex effort that will continue to give up more of itself with each subsequent listen. The ebbing and flowing of the instrumentation and the alluring vocals pull well from 1970s rock, U2, and the current generation of performers. AWOLNATION are able to add to the corpus of modern rock as laid down by performers like Of Mice And Men and Coldplay while imbuing…
Captain of Sorrow is a pretty apt moniker for Danish singer Hans-Christian’s latest project. “Racetrack Babies” – appropriately enough the name of his band that initially started work on this album before they imploded – is a soaring, ambitious, though certainly moody collection of songs.
Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist/composer, Severine is a lot of things but one thing she wasn’t until now; a solo artist. “Down the Rivers” is her second single after a life filled with travel (both national and international), touring and recording with bands and finally deciding that she was ready to take the next step as a musician. With so much recording software out there, it’s empowering because everyone can take steps to record…
Ashley Delima’s debut single “Stay in America” enlists some heavyweight songwriting, production, and musical talent to make the biggest possible splash. Producer Marc Swersky teams with Delima and songwriter Brielle Brown and some of the best accompanying musicians working in popular music today strengthening her efforts here. The burning heart of the song, her words and voice, is what matters most and it gains immense luster from the surrounding virtues.…
The debut single from C.K. and the Rising Tide, “Friends”, comes from an uniquely magical configuration of musicians. Brother C.K. and Wayne Flach have played together before in an earlier band named The Kindness and C.K. released his first solo recording Empty Mansions following the band’s disbandment. The well-received album promised to be the first of many for C.K. Flach and he definitely demonstrated the needed songwriting skills to sustain…
We were fortunate enough to receive a trio of cans from Michigan’s Perrin Brwing a few weeks back. One of their brews – their N.E.-inspired IPA, Peach Bellini, will be covered shortly. This time out, we had a chance to crack in to their draft-only Blonde Porter. The brew pours with a small amount of head and a yellow to gold coloration. This porter’s initial nose is sweet up front…
National Margarita Day is this Thursday (2/22) – and Bahama Breeze Island Grille is bringing the cocktails right to your fingertips with an exclusive, limited edition margarita-inspired nail polish collection.
Texas-based indie label Saustex Records has put out a wildly eclectic mix of punk rock and country albums and just about everything in between over the years. So, it seems rather fitting then that they would be the label to put out the equally eclectic solo debut from San Antonio’s Harvey McLaughlin. Tabloid News is ‘70s-inspired piano jamming at it’s best, pulling in influences like “Closing Time”-era Tom Waits, Randy…