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…
The dynamic between the tremendous emotional intensity of Dave Luv’s vocals and the synths that begin Some Days is collaborative, pushing the resulting track deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. There are hints of MGK, Juice Wrld, and Oliver Tree that can be discerned throughout this effort. The honesty that is presented at all points of Some Days separates Dave Luv from the other performers attempting to rocket…
More Time will immediately draw listeners in with deliberate and strong piano arrangements. The allure of Pete’s vocals here keep fans hanging off of every word. These vocals draw upon the tradition of performers as wide-ranging as Billy Corgan and Billy Joel. With each subsequent lyric, Muller is able to insert more of his own inimitable approach. As the song continues to progress, More Time’s intensity grows. The dynamic between…
Talkin’ Ugly Truth, Tellin’ Pretty Lies, the latest effort by Bruce Sudano, has a ropy, thick bass line and a call-back to the high-water mark of 1970’s soul. The call-and-response presented here pushes the track into rarified air. The inclusion of gospel-esque organ at the back of the track makes the effort even more heady. Listeners will have to put Talkin’ Ugly Truth, Tellin’ Pretty Lies on multiple times before…
On Don’t Be Yourself, The Rocket Summer is able to emote tremendous emotion and build upon a very close and cozy sound to craft something utterly brilliant. As additional pieces are added to the mix, listeners will find themselves engrossed in the composition. What we’re particularly impressed by are the different feelings that Bryce are able to establish without much more than his inimitable voice. Don’t Be Yourself is a…
The Art of Letting Go is a hopeful, sunny track that links together fun. with Sublime to make for something that simultaneously works well with modern pop-rock as well as mid-oughts rock. The production of the track allows for sunny vocals, punchy drums, and a hooky chorus to all be highlighted. With the collab cutting off at a hair above the three-minute mark, fans will be left wanting more. Everything…
Better is one of those dance tracks that we will be hearing for years around clubs. That is because Meresha is able to create something that is tremendously reverential of the electronic music of the 1990s while having a crispness to Better’s production that allows it to hang with other modern EDM tracks. Everything’s working at a high level here, whether it be the silky-smooth vox or the infectious dance…