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…
Dami’s J’s is a fast-paced rap track that showcases a tremendous dedication by the performer. While there are hints of artists like Rick Ross and Kid Cudi here, the path that Dami takes on his latest single is purely his own.
Anana Kaye’s Carolina is a crossover track that touches upon the work of performers like Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow. The soft-spoken vocals of Kaye have a perfect counterpoint in emotive guitars and on-point drumming. The multiple layers of Carolina mean that fans will continue to find new twists and turns even a few listens in.
Trevor Wesley’s In This World is a unique pop track that takes up hints of rap and sixties soul to ensnare listeners. Strong, authoritative drums and intelligent arrangements keep the replay value of In This World high. The narrative of In This World is clear and will be appreciated by anyone that has been fond of another.
Tripods, monopods, and portable stands for one’s phone have been all the rage in our Snap and selfie-based world. However, the sheer difference in quality makes it difficult to quickly find a product that can cover all the bases. iKlip has released their Grip Pro, an iPhone/Camera stand that is multi-functional while keeping the overall quality of the design high. The overall fit of an iPhone into the Grip Pro…
Ninkasi’s Tricerahops, a dry-hopped double IPA pours with an amber coloration and a bit of lacing. A bit of sweet note on the edge, much more of a West Coast IPA with bold flavors of pine and floral elements that immediately present themselves when one opens the 22-ounce bottle.
Perrin released two new offerings to their sour series, an Apricot Sour and an Amber Saison Sour. After a few months aging in their bottle,w e decided to crack open a bottle of their Apricot Sour. The beer pours with a dark orange coloration and a fair amount of white head that reluctantly dissipates. With the initial and early sips, imbibers will be impressed with the good amount of wheat notes that…
There’s certainly no dearth of Bob Dylan live records out there. Thanks to the Bootleg series, just about every Dylan concert ever put to tape has found its way to the public (or likely will soon). “The Real Royal Albert Hall 1966 Concert” is the latest and one of the most curious in Dylan lore. It also happens to be a fantastic set.
There have been a slew of great stories around the Rolling Stones for generations now, maybe more so than any band, so you’d be forgiven if you’re sporting a tattoo of the Tongue logo, but can’t exactly recall the short-lived band, The New Barbarians. Thankfully, rock journalist Rob Chapman’s got you covered.
How have your compositions changed since your first release? I think that there has been an evolution, good or bad I do not know ,but a lot of things happened in my personal life ,in the world around me since my first album that I voluntarily or involuntarily incorporated in my music, my lyrics.
Amir Higher creates an inspirational EDM/dance track (featuring EVS) that immediately cranks it into high gear from the single’s onset. A particularly robust backing beat and nice pause before the vocals kick back in add a further boost to I Am Ready’s energy.
Tremble’s cover of Jason Derulo’s “Want To Want Me” infuses the single with a sultry, slinky sound. Below that, there is a trap/industrial beat that further separates this version from the original. The vocals and instrumentation open into a twinkling, contemplative chorus; Tremble is able to give this single an ethereal, otherworldly sort of sound.
Nik Salazar’s Who Am I Kidding is a tremendously emotional track, with Nik’s vocals keeping listeners focused on the composition. Hints of Justin Bieber and Zayn can be heard here, but Salazar does well in incorporating hints of earlier pop performers like Usher and Justin Timberlake.
Christina Rubino’s “Godspeed and Guns” a powerful rock track. Rubino is able to link together Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell. The backing instrumentation does well in creating a framework upon which Rubino’s vocals can shine. A bit of Mexican influence can be heard in the horns and maraca inclusions that come into view at points.
Carolyn Marie’s Shelter Me is a pop/EDM track that from its onset will tattoo its melodies deep into the minds of fans. The backing instrumentation ebbs and flows into something intense. Synths and an authoritative beat make this single ready for large amounts of radio rotation.
In the 11-year span of their first run, Australia’s Crowded House could simply do no wrong, churning out one brilliant album after the next at a rate of just about an album every other year until their split in 1996. The band has since reunited two times – between 2006 – 2011 and again in 2016 – but it’s hard to find a period as creatively solid as their first…