Never Too Late is a solid rock track from Canada’s Garrett. The track is able to link together the heavier styles of mid-1990s Ozzy Osbourne with the more introspective hair rock of acts like Enuff Z’nuff. The vocal harmonies, thoughtful guitar work, and splashy drums unite to make a catchy track.
King in the Belly’s latest single Magic Town is a funky sort of 1970s-infused rock music that draws upon the blues rock of The Rolling Stones with the vocal charisma of Frank Zappa. Emphatic guitar lines and ropy bass lines unite to create a robust, lush backdrop for the lyrics.
Matt LeGrand’s soulful cover of the Stevie Wonder classic What Christmas Means To Me further showcases Matt’s ability as a performer. The robust piano and bass line that plays at the bottom of the track further increases the replay value of LeGrand’s latest, while the inclusion of additional voices at points during What Christmas Means To Me provides a robustness to the composition that ensures that it will stay fresh…
Passion is a supremely confident track, ensuring that AWOLNATION can come forth with a considerably different approach from their last few singles. There are hints of The Killers and the same frenetic energy crafted in the late-nineties by acts like The Offspring. The falsetto of the vocals make for a nice counterpoint to the crunchy, intense tempo achieved by the drums and guitars. Together, these elements combine to make for a…
DYK creates a retro-sounding rock track with their latest single “The Procrastinator”. This single links together mid-eighties Genesis, Velvet Revolver, and Saliva into a funky, intense, and ultimately taut sound. The charismatic vocals will draw fans in while the slinkiness of the bass lines and additional synths provide a reason for fans to stay. The Procrastinator is surprisingly deep; listeners will continue to find new twists and turns each time…
We were lucky enough to be invited in for a tasting at Houston’s Platypus Brewing, where I had a few moments to speak with Kerry Embertson, the head brewer and Sean, the owner. While there, we were treated to a number of their year-round and seasonal offerings.
Monique Barry’s Open Road is a powerfully-sang effort that blends together traditional vocal-heavy compositions with a hint of classical and more modern (e.g. U2, Mumford & Sons) style. This unique sound makes for an expansive and engrossing effort. Fans will need to play Open Road numerous times before hearing every twist and turn that Barry has included here. We were particularly impressed at the range that Monique reaches during this…
Alexa Friedman’s Meant to Be is a track that fills me with hope. Friedman puts her own indelible mark on the single with a voice that captures the low and high ends equally well. The track takes a bold new direction at the three-minute mark; this shift differentiates itself from the rest of Meant To Be and ensures that when Alexa’s vocals kick back in, they are given a whole…
Myles Marcus’ “Crazy” is a touching track that builds up momentum nicely from its first note. The track is able to work equally well in the pop and EDM traditions. With a gradually increasing tempo, Crazy ensures that fans will be sitting on the edges of their seats. Marcus’ vocals are supersonic and are able to both impart a certain sort of emotional intensity while contributing well to the overall…
Five Drexler’s “Smokers Section (Where It At)” is a catchy rap track. The rapid-fire delivery of Five Drexler’s flow is highlighted by a backing beat that draws upon the mid-2000s NYC scene, Hypnotize Minds, and trap producers.
Shane Palko’s Staring Out The Window is a telling piece of indie rock. Emotive guitar work, wide-reaching strings and a dreamy set of vocals join together to immediately draw in listeners. The narrative presented to fans during Staring out The Window is engrossing, matching well the richness of the instrumentation. Pegged at the four-minute mark, Palko’s latest single feels much larger – there’s a depth to this cut that few…
Oro’s latest single Escape features China Fox; a powerful arrangement rises and swells to keep listeners on the edges of their seats, while fans will be impressed with the sheer vocal range that is achieved by Fox. Taken together, what one will hear in Escape is an effort that touches upon EDM, pop, and singer-songwriter styles. It is this eclectic sound that distinguishes Oro from the rest of the performers…
Today, we were excited to hear a holiday single, “We’re Going Caroling” from two timeless comedians – Dick Van Dyke and Jane Lynch. The duo is able to craft a track that will work equally well no matter whether one loves the standards from the 1960s, 1980s, or today.
Laust Sonne’s ode to the holiday seasoning, X-mas Morning adds just enough in the way of festiveness to keep fans focused on in to the tremendous instrumentation and earnest sound crafted by the performers. We’re in love with the vocals – they are so smooth and proper – while the sweeping instrumentation is something that will stick with listeners long after the effort ceases to play.
Beaux Cheveux’s “Free Love” is an interesting composition that effortlessly move through electronic, indie rock, and slinky nineties alternative music. The track’s alluring vocals match well with a crunchy election section and a sizzling guitar line that is interlaced through the cut. Free Love is funky, engrossing, and will keep fans interested from the first note all the way until the final gasp from Beaux Cheveux. While Free Love exceeds…
Imaní Scott’s “Throwing Glitter” is a fun and funky R&B track that brings in hints of EDM music to make for a wholly different track that what is typically present on radio rotation.
Collins and Streiss’ Free is a powerful rock track that builds off of the AOR / rock sound of acts like Foreigner, Queen, and Journey. There are a number of distinct sections to Free that listeners will have to unfold on subsequent listens. With rising and falling actions, Collins and Streiss ensure that fans will be on the edges of their seats. A powerful narrative quality ties everything together with…
Peter Adole’s My God You Good is a hopeful sort of track that is built off of a bouncy instrumentation that unites electronic and vocal elements. The track will find fans in anyone that likes Akon, Omi, Nico & Vinz, or T-Pain. The faith espoused in My God You Good will firm up the beliefs of anyone that may be a bit down.
Idealism’s Virgo Alive is a funky, jazzy track that builds off of the work of the early nineties for inspiration. The sultry sound of the track is perfect for slow dancing, while the percussion and synths are able to highlight the dual vocals that go back and forth.
Stars and Chandeliers is the latest album from Steve McCormick. Say a Prayer for New York City, the album’s first track, does well to approximate the city. There are sizzling horns, a rapid tempo, and a tremendous amount of narrative that is inserted within this instrumental composition. Say the Word is a touching and deep effort, with McCormick’s vocals pulling double duty. More than just providing lyrical content, Steve’s softly-stated…