At first blush it could appear to be a tad bit sacrilege: taking a punk rock classic, the Dead Boys debut, “Young, Loud and Snotty,” and re-recording the album four decades later… with a new singer. But, in realty, the re-recorded version is actually a better product sonically.
From the tight jeans and mullets uniform of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the cringe-worthy hairspray and glitter era, to the burning churches and scary-as-fuck Norwegian Black Metal sect, Axl Rosenberg and Chris Krovatin have managed to break down just about every imaginable subgenre of Heavy Metal in their satisfyingly thorough Hellraisers. This massively heavy hardcover is crammed with hundreds of color photos, playlists and essays throughout.
Laust Sonne Sunday Morning’s immediate draw is built off of a strong foundation of synths and sequence drums. A light trapping of 1980s synthpop and dance brings Laust Sonne’s Sunday Morning into a fascinating mash-up of the Pet Shop Boys and Owl City. With a chorus that will bury itself deep into the psyche of listeners, Sunday Morning is a delectable effort. The switch-over between stanza and chorus brings in…
The Generationals’ Catahoula Man is our favorite track this October. The song is built off of a funky electronic sound that is pulled out of the 1980s. Hints of The Buggles, Yaz, and The Psychedelic Furs can all be heard during Catahoula Man. The bouncy style and otherworldly synth line distinguishes this song from everything on the radio, while the crooning style of the vocals exudes a coy, subtle sexuality.…
Adina E’s “Changing” has a lower style in the vein of Leonard Cohen or Bjork. The track has a deliberate placing to hammer home the tremendously poignant lyrical content. There are a number of distinct things that are occurring at any single point during Changing. The ability of Adina E to have such a timeless sound will ensure that listeners of musical styles of all stripes will find something that they…
Reggae Night’s a powerful track that effortlessly crosses over from reggae to EDM and pop styles. The nod that Morgan Heritage provides to acts like Sean Kingston and Diplo makes this single onto something that will be blasted out on the dance floors to stave off the coldness of winter. The bright sounds of Reggae Nights refreshes the sounds laid down by the Miami Sound Machine with a bit of…
Lucid Dreams is the newest single from Tin Tenn. The track is built off of flows that take up the standards of performers like Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Tin Tenn’s intricate vocal flaw is bolstered through the intense backing beat that ebbs and flows through the entirety of Lucid Dreams.
Nahko’s “Dragonfly” draws on the postmodern rock of Mumford & Sons and Of Monsters and Men. Dragonfly is a track that refreshes the singer-songwriter style of the 1970s (e.g. Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot) with a complex and intricate instrumental arrangement. Nahko’s vocals are touching, calming, and add considerably to both the narrative and the harmonious side of things on Dragonfly. Gradually growing in depth through its run time, Dragonfly is a…
Alvvays’ “Dreams Tonite” is a dreamy, trippy sort of track that blends together the synthpop of The Waitresses with the female-led pop of the 1970s. A bit of the synthwave sound blends in with an earler, almost psychedelic sort of sound. Alvvays come out with a wholly unique sound during their Dreams Tonight; the vocals and instrumentation take turns switching back and forth between narrative and harmony duties. I feel that…
Mba Shakoor’s “Our DJ Love and Remembrance” is a heartfelt song in the vein of classics like Master P’s I Miss My Homies or Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again. Mba Shakoor’s vocal style has hints of I-20, Mystikal, and the aforementioned Master P. There is a bit of grit that works well alongside the smoothed-out and chorus infused backdrop for the single. For anyone that has ever lost someone, Love…
DuShane Band’s “Alabama Rain” is a track that speaks well to the 1990s and 2000s style of country while having all the larger than life sounds of the current wave of country artists. The huge sound of the vocals during Alabama Rain will cause heads to turn; the DuShane Band here is able to call back to an earlier musical tradition that is headed up by performers like John Mellencamp.…
The Gore Boyz’ “Kisses For The Road” will immediately draw listeners in with a bouncy backing beat. The three-part vocals that issue forth are a refreshed version of boy bands like The Jackson 5. Heavenly vocals, a bit of swagger, and a downright rosy sound to the composition make it easy for the Kisses For The Road single to bounce around listeners’ minds for months afterwards. Each part of The…
Harp Samuels’ “Fire” is a beautiful song. Dreamy vocals and a folk-infused style create a very close and cozy sound for listeners. The presence of clapping further brings fans into a mind set that Samuels is performing in a coffee shop or other intimate place. As the track gradually increases in volume and tempo, fans will become converts to the Samuels cause. Secrets is a much slower track than Fire,…
Ben Lorentzen’s “Lay Down In The Dark” is an expansive indie track that builds off of the work of The Tea Party and Muse. The thoughtful instrumentation is reminiscent of performers like Pulp and The Verve Pipe. The tight production present at the three-minute mark makes this effort feel as if it would be a James Bond theme. There is an epic sound to Lay Down In The Dark that…
The NaveBlues’ “Sitting On Top Of The World” is a powerful, impassioned take on the Doc Watson classic. Little more is needed during this performance than a set of vocals and a piano. Together, these two elements combine to make something tremendously effecting. When the harmonica enters into the fray, everything is ratcheted up to ten. The ferocity and emotional content of the track is impressive – all parts here…
Alex Cuba’s “Piedad de Mi” is a touching mid-tempo track that showcases Alex’s narrative ability as well as his ability to add considerably to the overall harmonies of the track. This vocal-heavy track stands out as wholly unique from the rest of the pop fare being played on the radio. The timeless sound of Alex Cuba on Piedad de Mi ensures that fans of a wide swath of sunny, poppy…
The Dice’s “Streetlights” is a power-punk track that calls forth comparisons to MxPx, Mest, and Good Charlotte. Hard-hitting drums, a chorus that will have listeners singing along, and a punchy set of guitars make Streetlights tremendously catchy. The vocals are able to bring on hints of Matchbox 20 and Fuel into the mix; The Dice are able to make something new and fresh while drawing to a good degree on…
Brian Mackey’s “Underwater” is a tremendously honest and effecting track that needs little more than Brian’s vocals and hints of piano and a guitar. Taken together, these elements make for an effort that can be appreciated by anyone that has held out unrequited love. The gradual increase in the single’s tempo allows for a more full sound to take over; the rising and falling action of this single is nothing…
It’s been about six months since Willie Nelson last put out a record (a near eternity in Nelson time), so of course he’s got another one ready to release. Keeping in theme the first offering of “Willie’s Secret Stash” (a collection of duets with his older sister Bobbie), “Vol. 2” finds Nelson teaming up with his sons Micah and Lukas, both solid singers in their own right.
It takes less than a minute into Chris Barron’s latest album before you recognize where you’ve heard that voice before. Twenty-five years ago, The Spin Doctors were inescapable. You couldn’t turn on the radio, the TV or even go to the movies without hearing “Two Princes,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” or “Jimmy Olson’s Blues.” The jam band-lite songs connected with fans instantly and just as easily elicited vitriol from…