Slow Wine is the new track from Ohio’s D. Watkins, providing a tremendous introduction to the performer. The cool beat is filled out with a bit of an island sound, while the smooth voice of Watkins is able to achieve a considerable range over the song’s run time. The bit of echo that is placed on these aforementioned vocals do well in tattooing them deeply into the minds and hearts…
Michael V. Doane’s Let’s Go is a hooky track that crosses over a variety of genres and styles during its three-minute run time. There are hints of 2000s country, rock, and even the lightest trappings of pop music that all bubble through at points. Doane’s current single is able to appease music fans through thoughtful compositions, a bombastic production, and a charismatic set of vocals that tie these elements together.…
If You See Eulene is the latest track from NYC’s Porter Block, who creates a timeless composition that links togethers 1960s pop in the vein of The Beach Boys, 1970s album-oriented rock, and alternative acts like Elvis Costello and Weezer. The resulting single will bury its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Straight-forward in its composition, If You See Eulene is one of those efforts that ends…
AMF is an amazing refreshing of the Silkk the Shocker classic, all while giving Flau’jae ample opportunity to shine. She’s able to both build upon the melody crafted by the single’s backing beat while incorporating some emphatic bars. The track is a head-banger, and takes a strong step forward when NLE Choppa lends his imitable style to things. What results in AMF is a song that could both hit the…
The Earthly Frames’ Cicatrise Dud is a funk-infused track that builds on the discography of Parliament while whipping in hints of Radiohead and early-oughts Chicago emo. Simply put, this is one of the most eclectic compositions we’ve heard. The deft production of Cicatrise Dud ensures that each element is given ample time to shine while building towards a wonderful conclusion. The dynamic between guitar, drums, and electronically-distorted vocals reaches a…
When you encounter the likes of “Ride That Money Train,” one of the more formidable excerpts from Jonathan Brenner’s Instagram Success, the first thing you’re going to hear is a powerful melodicism that only gets more potent as we drift further down the line with the arrangement. This opening salvo of play is searing and propellant of a textural melody that will be hard to get out of your head after indulging in its charisma for the…
From the striking tone beneath its title track to the more aggressive melody of the climax of “My Sweetheart,” the movement of the music is always playing an important part in telling us a story in the new EP from Phoenix-based Dorsten, To the River. It’s fairly common to try and pull different elements together within a mix to generate a vibe to match lyricism, but I would be lying if I…
Memory Lane is the third full-length release from Steve Wilson’s skilled bluegrass project Wilson Banjo Co. Wilson has built a reputation as one of the genre’s most formidable talents as a bandleader, producer, songwriter, and engineer for numerous recordings. He’s played alongside top-tier talents such as Deeper Shade of Blue, Dale Ann Bradley, Kim Robins, and Jesse Brock, among others. Wilson Banjo Co. enjoys two critically acclaimed prior releases titled Spirits in…
The sick guitar line that starts out My Baby is something to behold. The call-and-response that starts up a few seconds later is the perfect next step for Duprai Marcel. Adding bass and insistent drums to the mix further hammers home the inimitable melodies deep into a listener’s soul. Every performer executes their role perfectly, making for one of the most cohesive songs we’ve delved into this spring. There’s a…
Somebody is the latest track from Karen Atkins, coming forth in a poppy style that contains some smart instrumental arrangements. The track comes out as something decidedly different from the rest of the music currently choking up the radio charts, a welcome change from the average. The song has hints of pop, world music, EDM, and folk. No two moments of Somebody sound the same, a fact that keeps the…
The Infamous HER’s “Make You Mine” builds off of the framework of performers like The Breeders and The Cardigans. The charismatic vocals bring me back to Ray of Light-era Madonna, albeit done with a much more organic style than Madge. The single’s chorus will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners, while the slinky bass line that plays at the bottom end of the track keeps things funky.…
Rough Sex is the new single from Cheflodezzy, representing a strong step forward for the performer. From the single’s onset, fans will be hit with an intense backing beat, supreme confidence in the lyrical content, and a back-and-forth between the lead and Marcy Chin’s feature. This is a booming, engrossing effort that will get fans out on the dance floor. Reggae, drill and rap have never sounded as good as…
Hands On Me has one of the hookiest choruses that we’ve heard so far this year. On the track, Mike Teezy is able to infuse traditional gospel with smooth, silky vocals in the vein of a Trey Songz or Jason Derulo. The production of Hands on Me ensures that each beat contributes to a cohesive and coherent effort, all wrapping up a very faithful and honest subject material. The addition…
With a sturdy foundation from the beat, bd Gottfried’s “Live, Fight & Die” kicks into gear on the back of a memorable string melody that is as glowing as it is effervescent. The rhythm is relaxed, but there’s an underlying sense of urgency in the music pouring out of our speakers so seamlessly. In this colorful, guitar-powered release, texture and tonality are as important as lush lyricism and a sensational…
Mi Festa has rapid-fire flow with a bit of party-infused backing beat. What results in this track is something that will get people on the dance floor while having their attention drawn in entirely to what is being presented here. The trio of Nemesis, Niclasz, and Rapsodika provides further depth to the effort, keeping things just as fresh during Mi Fiesta’s final seconds as it was when the song began.…
Half of You, the latest track from Rob Eberle, builds upon the vocal tradition of performers like Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen. The single gradually brings in percussive eleemnts and keys to further ramp up the emotional intensity. The ample highlighting given to both Rob’s vox and the accompanying instrumentation ensures that both elements are able to shine alone or as parts of a much greater whole. Half of You…
ViennaCC’s “Gold Is What The Girls Want” is an interesting synth-rock track that links together Roxy Music, Devo, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood to make for a tremendously hooky track. The oodles of charisma that ViennaCC’s vocals insert into the single is hard to deny. The dynamic between the vocals and drums push each to a special place, while the dynamic approach to the song’s arrangement ensure that listeners are…
The collaborative effort from Pure Order and Abstract Rude is one of the most intense and engrossing singles that we’ve heard so far this year. There are so many things occurring with each and every second of the single, whether it be the rapid-fire lyrical flow or the more psych-tinged backing instrumentation. The unification between the guitars and drums make for a backing beat that will continue to remain fresh…
Love Yourself is an important track of self-empowerment. The latest single from Selah Soul, Love Yourself affirms the worth and utility of everyone that’s fortunate enough to listen in. I appreciate that the production allows the vocals space enough to shine and impart that ,message, all while allowing the instrumentation to rise up at all the right times. The bit of more reggae-infused bars at the middle point of Love…
Selah Soul’s Keeper Of My Way is a timeless R&B track that is stellar in its execution. Each of the constituent members are able to add their own unique take on things while building the single’s cohesion up mightily. The vocals are both able to establish a narrative for the track while working with the synth, bass, and drums to make for a dense and fulling arrangement. Keeper Of My…