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…
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 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.
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 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…
Nadia Kali is the latest seasonal from Great Divide, and showcases a bright, crisp, and dry set of flavors. The beer pours with a moderate brown color with a slight hint of reddish coloration. An initial nose yields floral hints along with a small amount of sweet smell. When one has their first sip of Nadia Kali, they will be greeting with citrus hints along with strong wheat / grain…
Unchained is the fourth album by Tara O’Brien. The release begins with Holiday Love, a tremendously dense and detailed composition that has O’Brien weave a narrative as alluring as that created by any vocal-heavy artist. The tender piano compositions that comprise the effort will immediately pique listeners’ interests, keeping them on the edges of their seats. On Cloud 9 is a track that stands up to repeat listening.
We do not nearly make it to Korean restaurants often enough, but I always make it a point to pick up a bowl of bibimbap when we do visit. A new chain – BiBiBop Asian Grill – came to our attention a few months back that seeks to make the dish (and Korean cuisine) more known to the dining public of the Columbus, Ohio area. We were invited to evaluate their Henderson (1836…
Many times, individuals are locked into a specific beer for four or six bottles. It was surprising to us that Summit Brewing offered two distinct threads of beers in their Unchained 21. This means that one is given a shot at a unique session IPA and an India Pale Ale.
Rosenblum creates a compelling narrative during her latest title, Good Neighbors : The Democracy of Everyday Life.The importance of those individuals that live near us has been decreased in importance over the course of the last thirty years. There have been a number of titles that have dealt with the ramifications that this lack of community has had (most prominently, Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone), but this Rosenblum text showcases the importance of…
Leave It All Behind is the initial track from Miles East’s Ghosts of Hope. The track is tender, touching, and succeeds based on the dynamic that is created between the Spartan instrumentation and soft-spoken vocals. A yin to Leave It All Behind’s yang is The Hard Part. The track comes together to provide listeners with an alternative rock approach that touches upon The Wallflowers and Fuel.
Fly is an energetic rock track that shines through nods to the B-52s and powerful, angular rock like Franz Ferdinand and The Stranglers. The taut arrangements present during this single will tattoo themselves deeply into the minds of listeners.
Ramonda Hammer begin their latest album Whatever That Means with a stellar introduction to the band. The alternative rock presented here refreshes the sound of acts like Bif Naked and The Anniversary. Sizzling guitar works perfectly with supersonic vocals to ensure that listeners are on the edges of their seats as they move into If, Then. The slower and more contemplative tack taken by Ramonda Hammer here allows listeners to see…
Yes, that’s the band name and no, I have no idea about the meaning or origin of the quirky moniker. But 2/3 Goat does play an impressive mix of folk and Americana on Let it Rise (the New York-based band has dubbed their sound metrobilly).
Beth Macari’s Voodoo is a rich, funky track that is able to reach a high plateau with Beth’s vocals. The sultry, slightly smoky sound of Macari during this track is reminiscent of Sheryl Crow, Pink, and even an earlier sixties tradition (Shirley Bassey) of singing.
Purplehed’s Burn Like the Sun is a distinct pop track that touches upon a wide variety of styles to make something catchy as all get out. There are hints of U2, Maroon 5, OneRepublic along with enough of an electronic tinge to keep EDM fans happy.
3@Sea’s Venus (composed by Terry Manning) is a track is a little bit Bond, a little bit big band, and is sublimely catchy. The track is able to tell a detailed story over the course of its five-minute run time. The constituent elements of the track are able to shine alone or as a cohesive unit.
Armada Named Sound have just released a video for their latest single, NY. The blend of female vocals and immersive electronic instrumentation are unique and distinctive from pop or EDM-charting music. The song pulls from the halcyon days of the late eighties and early nineties, all while promoting a current and contemporary sort of sound.
Rule Breaker allows Lauren Carter ample opportunity to impress listeners with her vocals. The instrumentation here does a lot to properly highlight Lauren’s voice in that the drums and piano rise and fall, providing additional emphasis to certain lines.
Colette Kavanagh’s “Hold On” blends together vocals and piano in a stirring way. The gradual incline present in the track will have listeners on the edges of their seats as the track rises and falls. The track links together the singer-songwriter style with hints of Sarah McLachlan and Kelly Clarkson. The deliberate instrumental arrangements shine based on their ability to create a rich musical tapestry upon which Kavanagh’s vocals can…