Thomas Arsenault, known by his stage name “Mas Ysa” (pronounced “Maas Ee-sa”), is one of the most interesting and exciting presences to come through the world of pop music in recent memory. His songs are densely packed affairs, brimmed with production and instrumentation while still holding an emotional center. Originally from Montreal, Arsenault also spent time growing up in São Paulo. Based on his music, he seems like someone who…
Russ Hewitt’s latest album ‘Cielo Nocturno’ immediately draws listeners in with engrossing and emotive arrangements. A guitar / bass / drum dynamic ties together Spanish guitar, new age music, and hints of desert rock. While this first track (Presidio) is instrumental, Hewitt is able to tell a story as rich and varied as any vocal-led effort. The funky sound that will wash over listeners during Samba Sao Paulo is timeless, with…
Leslie Nuchow is a strong signer-songwriter that opens up to tell listeners a wholly engrossing story on her latest album, Balm for Gilead. Hints of Sheryl Crow and Natalie Cole can be discerned on tracks like Rivers. The equal time that Nuchow gives to the instrumental and vocal sides on her latest album is a bold move. There is just so much that the piano contributes in term of Nuchow’s…
Over the course of the last three years, we have been fortunate enough to delve into Deborah Henriksson’s music. On Breakers’ Roar, Deborah is able to create an engrossing song because of sweeping instrumentation and cogent narration. Hints of Great Big Sea and This Is Your Time-era Michael W. Smith can be heard here, but Henriksson’s vocals imbue the composition with a sound that is unique. While the track itself is catchy,…
Meridian Incident’s “Yellow Wings” is a powerful hard rock track that builds off of the work of Papa Roach and Seether. The emotion that is brought by the guitars, bass, and drums on Yellow Wings is substantial.
Daniel Correa’s “Fold It Back” is a unique-sounding track as the track successfully blends New Jack Swing, jazz, and Britpop into a tremendous effort. Instrumental and vocal sides are given highlighting variously through Fold It Back, but the track’s backbone relies on a thick and assertive bass line, futuristic synths and a heavenly set of pipes on Daniel.
J-Wonn’s 24/7 is a R&B track that builds off of funk and gospel genres. The vocal ability of J-Wonn is impressive, reaching highs and lows that would be nigh-impossible for the average singer. A ropy bass line and sizzling horns and synth create a stellar backdrop upon which J-Wonn can shine. The dynamic that is created between the vocal and instrumental sides pushes each to a higher plateau.
Dylan Bernard’s Flames is a passionate ode to love that captures a popular sentiment. The dual duty of Dylan – showcasing a narrative and contributing to the harmony of Flames – is impressive. Little more is present on Flames besides a piano and Dylan’s voice, but the track is fulfilling, engrossing, and easily keeps fans on the edges of their seats until the final note.
Assimilating and arranging pieces of a story to give way to newer clues or a happy ending – jigsaw puzzles say it all. A simple board game which engages and entices the player for a long duration of time. The thrill and thrust to accomplish a task pave the way to excellent team building and team leading skills as a grown up adult. It also sharpens your problem-solving abilities and…
Almost as a rule, musician autobiographies are a chance to settle scores, name names, spew vitriol; essentially an exercise in one-sided venting. Obviously, someone forgot to mention that to Johnny Marr. And while this revelation may turn off some of the realty TV-warped Smith out there, for those looking to get an honest sense of who Marr is as a person, Set The Boy Free makes for a fascinating read.
Ingelik Moods are currently working on their full-length album, slated to be released in 2017. The band has graciously let us check out a few of their demos. Arsenic is a warmly emotive, slow-paced track that tells more with a synthesizer than bands can hope to convey with vocals. When the guitars kick into the mix, Arsenic is given a fullness that hearkens back to the mid-1990s alternative rock scene. I personally…
“Survivorman” Les Stroud has released Arctic Mistress, an engrossing track that blends together equal amounts rock and late-nineties alternative music. Listeners will immediately be struck by the tautness of the song. The guitar’s strumming meshes nicely with the robust bass line and perfectly-placed drum lines.
So We Go is Alex Di Leo’s latest single, a retro-eighties sort of song that works well in current alternative circles. Alex’s vocals are passionate and fun, while So We Go’s instrumentation sparkles brightly. Despite the track ceasing at the four minute mark, there is a fullness and robustness to So We Go that will stick with listeners long after the track’s final note plays.
Vama’s Ghosts At War is an inspirational sort of rock that builds off of the framework of artists like the Foo Fighters and U2. The band’s instrumentation on Ghosts At War is impressive, with the dynamic of guitar, bass, and drum making for the perfect backdrop for the vocals.
KING ROPES begin their album DIRT with Dogleg Boy, a track that skillfully blends together 1990s alt-rock with the grungy, dirty theatric rock of Alice Cooper. Strong guitars, echoing vocals, and a taut instrumentation immediately draw listeners in. Lurch on Sister is a deliberate sounding track that bounces back and forth with ropy bass line and passionate, emotive vocals. The hook that KING ROPES craft during this track will tattoo itself deeply,…
Champion Ground is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, brewed with coffee, by Athens, Ohio’s Jackie O’s. Light amount of coffee flavor. The lacing on the glass is light tan to very moderate brown. The overall nose of Champion Ground has a good amount of coffee that is mingled with brown sugar and toasted malt elements. Perhaps most surprising about Champion Ground is how little of a head the stout pours with;…
Midwest-based group The Legal Matters is the power pop supergroup made up of members from bands you’ve likely never heard of (Hippodrome, anyone? The Phenomenal Cats? An American Underdog?). Regardless their collaboration in The Legal Matters is bound to bring the attention these guys clearly deserve.
Aaron Lee Tasjan may be prolific, but he is anything but easy to categorize. He’s played guitar with the New York Dolls and Drivin N’ Cryin, started his own Glam Indie rock band and can still manage to pay homage to some of the great acoustic singer/songwriters of the ‘70s on his solo efforts. His latest, “Silver Tears,” tips a hat to everyone from Harry Nilsson to John Prine, in…
The titular effort from Burlington Vermont’s Switchback pours with a hazy dark yellow/orange coloration. There is a fair amount of offwhite head that sticks around for a while. A little bit of malt on the initial nose of the beer. Toasted malts, grains, and a smaller amount of bitterness come up next. As one continues along with Switchback, the beer shifts to allow for more in the way of sweeter…
Fire To The Stars’ “Wholesale Slaughter” is a trancy piece of indie-rock that takes listeners on a journey. Careful instrumentation and haunting vocals unite to make an engrossing effort. The 4:30 of the single provides ample opportunity for Fire To The Stars to show off powerful guitar chops and a musical tautness that resounds loudly after the track ceases. There is a very natural ebbing and flowing to Wholesale Slaughter…