With “Next Time”, Sarah Ragsdale is able to make a very current and contemporary sort of pop track in the vein of Jess Glynne and Meghan Trainor. With a bit of the rye humor of a Shania Twain, Ragsdale is able to make her Next Time into something that a wide swath of fans can appreciate. Particular care has to be taken when focusing on this track as the spirited piano line…
Ori Dagan’s “Sting of The Cactus” draws upon a much earlier form of twentieth century jazz. The inclusion of vocals is a bold choice, but Dagan’s vocals and bit of scatting here add an entirely new level to this composition. The robust piano and breakneck bass line that comprise Sting of the Cactus have this track going at 100 miles an hour. While each constituent element feels as if it…
Laust Sonne’s “On The Radio” is a catchy pop track that will have listeners singing along after a precious few spins. The bit of echo and electronic infused backing instrumentation for Laust Sonne’s latest distinguishes it from the rest of the fare typically encountered on the radio. Strong vocals, thoughtful instrumentation, and a tempo that gradually increases into a shuffling, intense dance. On The Radio is one of those tracks…
The Naveblues’ “Possess You” comes forth with a tremendously powerful take on 1970s rock. Imagine the work of bands like Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues. Sections during Possess You will slow things up and make each note resound with fans, while the tempo picks up at other points to whip fans into a frenzy. The guitar and drums are high-water marks for The Naveblues here, while the rapid uptick…
REMZ’ Where You Belong is a power-pop track that deftly ties together synth pop with strong instrumentation. The inimitable vocals which are laid down here soar out over the air, while the synthesizer / guitar dynamic is surprisingly deep. REMZ create a unique style during this single that will resound loudly with listeners long after the single ceases to play.
Boasting probably the best album title since someone decided to name Paul Westerberg’s best of album Besterberg, Carmaig de Forest’s I Shall Be Released (christened I Shall Be Re-Released for this collection) gets the full re-release treatment from Omnivore for its 30th anniversary. While de Forest may never have been as popular as the acts he was always grouped with (Violent Femmes, They Might Be Giants), he was one of the smartest,…
We’ve been fortunate to review Bend, Oregon’s own Worthy Brewing a number of times over the last few years, and have been uniformly impressed by their offerings. We received a few bottles of their Peace Pipe Porter and loved the fact that the beer was able to have a middle of the road ABV (5.4%) while packing every sip with a tremendously deep set of flavors.
After a brief Intro, Seconds Before Landing begin their new album Now That I Have Your Attention with 4 A.M.. This effort brings a tremendous amount of atmosphere to listeners’ ears all while including trapping of 1980s prog metal and thrash genres. The track is something that listeners should focus on multiple times so they may hear every nuance and wrinkle that Seconds Before Landing have included within. The booming…
As most of our readers know, we embarked on a journey southward. We moved to the southern sector of Arkansas and are equidistant to places like Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Jackson, Mississippi. As a result, there are a number of new chains that we simply did not have (or were not close to us) when we still lived in Ohio. On the Border is one of these. About fifty…
Today, we are speaking with Antherius. Can you give us a little background information about yourself? How did you get into music? I’ve always been fond of music, all kinds but mostly Pop. When I was in grade school my parents bought me a Hammond Organ, and I banged away on that (and the occasional piano outside of home), playing mostly by ear. In my adult life I learned how…
While technically not a new album from the storied Athens dance post-punk band Pylon, “Part Time Punk Sessions EP” is probably the next best thing. Pylon Reenactment Society started three years ago and is comprised of Pylon’s Vanessa Briscoe Hay and a supergroup of other Athens Indie bands, including members of Big Atomic, Casper & The Cookies, and The Glands.
In what hopefully kicks off the first of several expanded edition albums from Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, Island and UMe have just re-released “Mystery Road” (on vinyl and CD), with seven demos tacked onto the classic record. Curiously, the re-release started with the band’s third album, though arguable one of their best. Criminally underrated as a group during their initial run in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, “Mystery Road’s” “Honeysuckle Blue”…
The last time that we covered Ontario’s own Specyal T, it was 2016. Over the course of the next two years, Specyal T has made considerably strides forward in the evolution of her own music. The Tionne EP has tremendous emotional content to it, and the EP’s first single, Side Effects, immediately catches long-time listeners up. The echoing, booming sound of the chorus will ensure that listeners are firmly on the edges of…
Dynamos’ “Shake, Rattle and Roll” has a powerful heavy rock sound that is reminiscent of Vixen. The assertive vocals laid down are matched well through technically proficient instrumentation. Everything has its place here and establishes the overall mood for the single. I feel that the inclusion of a very prominent bass line is a stellar decision here; one is able to imagine the activity that made it difficult “to get…
Shauna Burns’ take on the traditional song “Scarborough Fair” is haunting, with nods to performers like Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco. The sheer emotion and passion that is brought to the timeless original by Shauna’s vocals is impressive. There is little more instrumentally to this composition than a piano and a harp, but Burns is able to make tremendously deep interactions between the instrumental arrangements and her inimitable vocals. The…
A. Billi Free’s Love, Music & Salad is a short track (it does not hit the 2:30 mark) but contains so much in the course of its run time that it has a much more epic feel than one may feel is possible with songs of this length. The track immediately draws fans in with a backing beat that calls back to the horrorcore and gangster rap of the 1990s,…
My Hands is a fantastic track by Phantom Phunk, a song that ties together emocore with the taut goth music of The Cramps. Bits of Muse and Dick Dale can be heard here. The vocals are bolstered considerably through a robust instrumentation that uses a wall of sound to create something that is echoing, emphatic, and pulls just as much from Motorhead as it does Fugazi. There are a number of…
Peter Hostage has released his own take on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. This laid-back cover links together big band, lounge, and 1950s/60s crooners in a fashion that completely transforms the source material. Hostage’s vocals show considerable range, while the sizzling guitar work and immaculate piano lines presented here make the resulting effort as catchy as the original.
Sonali’s Forever is a hopeful pop track that brings a bit of EDM styling to the mix. The track has a thoughtful electronic sound that builds off of La Roux and Walk The Moon. Sonali’s vocals are the cherry on top of this sundae, but the brooding instrumentation that leads up to the chorus deserve attention.
High Park Society’s On Your Mind takes up a number of standards. There are nods to performers like They Might Be Giants and The Las during this track. The strong instrumentation – a splashy set of drums, a ropy bass line, and cutting guitar lines – ensure that the sing will bury its way deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. This effort builds off of 1990s alternative rock…