Corina Bartra begins her latest album Takunde with El Tamalito, a song that provides listeners with a solid introduction to a performer that deftly ties together traditional forms of music with a vibrant, current, and contemporary sound. Bartra’s backing band is able to build a rich musical tapestry, whether it be the intricate guitar arrangements of Seth Johnson, the soulful saxophones of Jay Rodriguez, or the emotive piano lines by…
One of the most interesting phases in the life of one of music’s most interesting talents was Bob Dylan’s conversion from a Jewish liberal to an Evangelical Christian. Although the phase seemingly lasted only a few years, it’s a spiritual move that’s still being dissected more than 30 years later.
In August, we moved down to Arkansas where it remained warm through November. It is only finally now starting to be a bit on the cold side, so we were quite happy when a box containing a pair of Mad River’s annual barleyines – John Barleycorn – dropped down at our house. This California-crafted barleywine is incredibly deep, immediately starting out a bit on the sweeter side before hints of molasses,…
Today, we are speaking with Auckland, New Zealand’s own Alphamax. Can you give us a little background information about yourselves? How did you get into music? We love to dance to every kind of dance. One day it just felt right to dance to our own tunes and we started to create them.
No band in the U.S. is more responsible for keeping Oi music alive for the past couple of decades than Rancid. By blending their love of everything from the Clash and ska to a slew of ‘70s street punk bands like Cock Sparrer and Stiff Little Fingers, they have managed to remind the world that punk rock is so much more than pop music with a distortion pedal. It’s rather…
2018 has just begun, and we’re excited to see some of the new performers that will be releasing music this year. One of the first we’ve encountered this year is Eliza Arnone. The introductory video (below the jump) provides a bit of biographical information, but I feel that her take on pop music is particularly refreshing. A spontaneity is present on efforts like Porcelain Doll and Shadows (both off of her…
The APX’s “Right On Time” is a track that has a retro/1980s sort of funk sound to it. This means that fans of The Gap Band or Zapp will find something to love with the lush bass line and ample synth lines. The female vocals that are presented during Right on Time is reminiscent of the 1980s pop scene, making for a catchy track that works well no matter in…
Jane N’ The Jungle’s “One Time” is an impassioned plea that needs little more to tell its story than a set of vocals and a guitar. Together, these elements combine to make for an engrossing single. Listeners will hang onto every word, while the guitars are able to shift into a quicker sound to properly highlight the new-found intensity of the vocals. One Time is an effort that works equally…
Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’s “Late Nights & Heartbreak” is a soulful track that matches the vocal style of performers like Adele and Susan Boyle with a cool, jazz-infused instrumentation. Each instrumental effort – the horns, a robust bass line, and on-point drums – unite to make a must-listen track. Late Nights & Heartbreak is a taut single, one that will continue to yield new twists and turns each and…
Cosmic Gate & JES’ “Fall Into You” begins with a heavenly set of vocals, while the instrumentation teases listeners with more intense sections as the single continues to play. It is this rising and falling action that will have fans on the edges of their seats. Fall Into You kicks into high gear a hair before the two-minute mark. When the booming synths and huge drums kick in, the cut…
Michael Fang & Chigo Ace’s “Now” is a laid-back rap track that will impress with a smooth production and a robust backing beat that provides ample highlighting to the flow. The track is able to have both performers put forth their own unique sounds, while still coming forth with sound that will garner a good amount of radio play. Now is a track that stands up to repeat plays because…
The Rotten Mangos are able to infuse the sounds of psychedelic and pop-rock from the 960s with a current and contemporary sound. The band is able to make a fuzzy, alluring step forward with their new single “In Love with the Afternoon”. Hints of Dick Dale can be heard with the guitars, while higher register of the vocals is reminiscent of the Merseyside sound. Punchy drums and bass influenced by…
Janey Street’s “Undone” is a calm and confident piece of pop-rock that is influenced by performers like The Eagles and Neil Young. The tight instrumentation of the guitars, bass, and drums ensures that Janey’s vocals are highlighted at all the right moments. The guitar’s licks bolster Street’s lyrical content while providing the lighter side alongside the richer, fuller sound of the bass. The gradual increase in speed during Undone will…
Throughout all of our journeys on the east of the Mississippi, we can honestly say that we were never lucky enough to visit Nashville, Tennessee. The Loews Vanderbilt invited us in for a stay before Christmas, and we were astonished at the level of service and amenities that the property and its employees provided. The hotel offers a number of distinct suites as well of rooms which all include free WiFi…
Theo Czuk’s The Black Bottom is an impressively diverse twelve song collection that does a more than adequate job of surveying the stylistic range of jazz music. Czuk and his musical partners are obviously master musicians capable of assuming a variety of sonic and melodic voices without showing even a hint of hesitation and their playing is further served by Czuk’s near impeccable instincts for writing material in this idiom.…
Shane Palko’s “Don’t Fall In Love While Time Traveling” is a touching bit of indie rock that draws upon the American folk tradition. There is a resounding sound to this single that will stick with listeners long after the effort ceases to play. The instrumentation rises and falls, providing highlighting to Palko’s vocals. Each element – the drums, guitars, and vocals – is absolutely integral in making this single into…
Those Damn Eyes’ “Give and Take” is an intense and richly emotional hard-rock / emo / hardcore track that showcases an intense set of vocals and smart instrumentation. The brooding sound of the track is established with assertive guitars that draw upon the tradition of performers like At The Drive-In and Taking Back Sunday. The vocals here build off of the tradition of Paramore and Brand New. With a solid…
NYA’s “Mania” is a powerful pop track that will immediately draw listeners in with a strong, emphatic guitar line and an inimitable set of vocals. NYA is able to tell a story while adding to the overall harmony of the composition with each line. This radio-ready effort will interest a wide swath of fans, from those liking the traditional pop of Kelly Clarkson to even more alternative-pop performers like Elle…
Shadow of Whales’ “Runaway” is a tremendously catchy single, with nods not only to the Brit-pop of acts like Blur, but to current punk/power-pop acts like Walk The Moon and late Good Charlotte.
Strange Land Brewery (Austin, TX) was nice enough to send over a sample bottle of The Headless Gentleman, a bourbon barrel aged-pumpkin porter. The beer pours with a dark brown, almost blackish coloration and virtually nothing in the way of a head of which to speak. There is a hint of sharp, oaked bourbon to the nose of this beer after it is poured, but the initial nose is a…