Mark Angels – Do It For Love
Mark Angels creates a bouncing, intense sort of dance track that takes up hints of drum & bass and R&B to create something wholly unique. Strong vocals punctuate the cut, while an on-point percussion fills out the track.
Category: Features
Battleground (Mantra Brewing)
Battleground is Mantra Brewing’s farmhouse ale, an effort that pours with a hazy dark-yellow to gold color. There is a solid amount of whitish head that laces its way down the glass. The head (and lacing) is tenacious, but does ultimately fade. The nose of Battleground has heavy amounts of grain and floral elements present, while the initial sip of the ale is surprisingly dense in terms of flavors. Bits of…
Dreamliner Travel Bassinet
A major cause for concern for parents that are out on the road is that their child will be intimated by their new surroundings. We were at the Glidden House Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio a few weeks ago and got little in the way of rest because our daughter did not feel comfortable and cozy enough to fall asleep. To combat this feeling of loneliness, Diono offers their Dreamliner Travel Bassinet.
Akron Ale Fest this Saturday, 6/25
Over the course of the last few years, the microbrewery scene in Akron has caught fire. It makes sense that Akron would have a celebration about these breweries, and on Saturday (6/25) at The Trolley Barn (47 N. Main Street), the first Akron Ale Fest will take place. A variety of long-time and newer microbreweries will be serving at the event. Thirsty Dog, Mucky Duck, Aqueduct Brewing, R. Shea, Hoppin’…
Shenanigans Summer Ale (Indeed)
Shenanigans Summer Ale is Indeed Brewing’s latest seasonal, and it looks to capture the lawnmower beer market. At the base level, there is no denying that Shenanigans is able to revamp the wheat ale format in a fashion that few beers can. The ale has a good amount of wheat and grain elements that are married to a small hint of bitterness at the conclusion of each sip.
Rod Melancon – “Perry”
Rod Melancon is able to create a smart sort of indie rock with his latest single “Perry” that builds off of a framework that utilizes hints of early Goo Goo Dolls, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and The Replacements. Strong guitar work and a dusty set of vocals make for something that works.
Joanna Wallfisch – Moons of Jupiter
Joanna Wallfisch’s Moons of Jupiter is a tender track, linking together a playful piano line with a dreamy set of vocals. The single is given further depth through the contributions of the The Sacconi String Quartet. While Moons of Jupiter is an effort that draws heavily on classical compositions, what results with the single is something that could easily find its way onto pop stations. Unlike many other poppy efforts, there is…
Majestic – Beast Mode / Fake Life
Fake Life starts with a deep and dark beat that calls comparisons to gangster music, 50 Cent, and Rick Ross singles. The energy brought the cut by Majestic’s vocals is reminiscent of artists like Tech N9ne and Brotha Lynch Hung. A bit of screwed and chopped lyrics provide further variety to the track, while the intensity of Majestic’s vocals keep the replay value of the song high.
Moon Phase (Fort Point Beer Co.)
Moon Phase, from Fort Point Beer Co (San Francisco, CA) pours with a bronze to moderately brown coloration with a fair amount of slightly off-white head. The nose of the brew is fairly mysterious; light hints of brown sugar and malt can be discerned. Individuals will not receive their first full experience with the brew until their first sip, which comes forth with hints of dark fruit, toasted malt, brown…
A few moments with Tara O’Brien, “Unchained”
Can you give us a little background information about yourself as a performer? Of course! I’ve been playing piano since the age of 4. Let me preface all of this with the following story: It all started when I would spend my afternoons at my neighbor’s house. She was a voice coach and I would watch every lesson as she would play the piano, do vocal exercises, and have…
Dire Wolf Canis Mexicanus (Wolf’s Ridge)
Canis Mexicanus is a spiced version of Wolf’s Ridge Russian Imperial Stout, Dire Wolf. The beer pours with a dark brown coloration and only the smallest in the way of head. The initial nose of Canis Mexicanus is heavy with chocolate and a hint of cayenne pepper. The first sip of the RIS will yield an assertive cinnamon, cayenne, and black coffee set of flavors. After a few moments to open…
Ultra Violent Rays “Wish”
“Wish” by the Ultra Violent Rays is an effort that ties together oughts-alternative with bits of The Waitresses and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The electronic tinge that is present here creates a organic-electronic dichotomy, making for a track that will kick around listeners’ heads long after Wish ceases to play.
Purplehed – Feel The Passion
Purplehed’s Feel the Passion is a mid-tempo track that has a tremendous upswing as one gets into the chorus. The lighter elements are part of a chiaroscuro that is completed with an authoritative percussion line that is threaded through the cut.
Smoke Season – Ouroboros EP
Loose is a scintillating alt-rock track that shines by virtue of a taut instrumentation and a set of vocals that link together the styles of Gwen Stefani and Bjork. Smoke Season is able to have a number of distinct threads running through the entirety of the track, but is ultimately talented enough to make everything work together in perfect harmony.
AV Super Sunshine “Baby Goodbye” (Hip Hop Remix)
AV Super Sunshine’s “Baby Goodbye” is a slinky, Compton-meets-trip hop track. The track has a powerful beat that will tattoo its melodies deep into the mind of listeners. The inclusion of the female vocals into the mix at points adds further depth to the composition.
Adam & the Ants (CD)
It’s been 36 years since the release of “Kings of the Wild Frontier,” Adam Ant’s comeback album after Malcolm McLaren lured away his entire backing band for his latest project Bow Wow Wow, and the sound is still revolutionary. It was the album that introduced the drum-heavy Brundi Beat to pop music listeners in the US, Europe and beyond and would come to best define Ant’s sound for the next…
Jordan Bennett – Outcasts and Untouchables
Stars at Night is a passionate pop-rock track that succeeds through Bennett’s emotive vocals and an instrumentation that provides highlighting at all the right points. The overall track is elegant in its design; drums, guitars, and Bennett’s vocals combine to tattoo a harmony deep into listeners’ minds. Nothing Without You continues to showcase the same raw emotion initially heard in Stars at Night. This single builds upon emotive rock, pop,…
Bucky Hayes and the Commonwealth – 100 Miles to Macon
Bucky Hayes and the Commonwealth begin their 100 Miles to Macon with I’ll Leave The Light On, a high-energy Southern-infused rock track. The arrangement shines due to vibrant vocals, sizzling guitar lines, and splashy drums that keep time impeccably. The slight grit of Hayes’ voice adds further complexity to an already deep introductory effort.
Michael Todd – Crashland
Crashland, Michael Todd’s latest album, is an eclectic album that succeeds upon Todd’s desire to craft something special. A different set of influences make their appearances known with each track, meaning that hints of Neil Diamond, John Mellencamp, James Taylor and Johnny Cash can all be discerned over the course of the release.
Chubna (Oskar Blues)
Chubna is one of the tastiest efforts that we have received so far in 2016. The brew links together a sharp alcoholic nose with hops and more sweet-forward elements into an incredibly complex and fulfilling effort. The linking together of Old Chub (Oskar Blues’ scotch ale) with Gubna (their Imperial IPA) is already an interesting proposition, but the brewery has placed the resulting brew in Buffalo Trace barrels to impart…