The world is crammed with one-hit wonders that justifiably deserve that title; The Knack are not one of those bands. While technically “My Sharona” is their only real “hit,” they continued to churn out one great album after another years after that 1979 radio staple, but frustratingly were never able to make it back up the sales charts again. Thankfully, the Power Pop archeologists at Omnivore Recordings are re-releasing the band’s final…
Paw Paw’s Peach is an interesting effort by Alabama’s Back Forty Beer Company. The beer pours with a hazy gold/yellowish coloration and a decent amount of off-white head. There is a decidedly fruity, peachy nose to the beer that is alluring, while an initial sip provides a softer set of fruit notes than were originally indicated. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur…
Tiësto surprises the dance music world with today’s release of his new mix album, CLUBLIFE Vol 4: New York City. This release follows on the heels of three critically acclaimed editions in the series inspired by Las Vegas, Miami and Stockholm, respectively. rwibowowww.neufutur.com
Dark Star, for me, was much more than a celebration of this artist’s life but an astounding peek into a tiny corner of his mind and for a moment we were all absorbed as a permanent fixture upon that labyrinths walls. We had the privilege to hear some of the stories that shaped Gigers mind as a child for example when his father gave him a skull at the age…
Medicated Mitch has just released a full-length album, Heavily Sedated. It is the rare example of an album that bangs from beginning to end. All Star Weekend blends together a catchy flow and an airy backing beat that will dig itself deep into the minds and hearts of anyone listening in. There is a unique sound that Medicated Mitch establishes with this track, but is done in such a way…
Two Roads Brewing’s Unorthodox Russian Imperial Stout pours with a dark reddish-brown to brownish-black coloration and a thin amount of off-white head. Unorthodox has a strongly sweet nose and a smaller amount of hop bitterness that can be gleaned from an initial sip; this beer will immediately take imbibers’ breaths away after the first quaff. There is a decent alcohol bite presented with dark fruits, bitter chocolate, and malt elements to…
UK prog-metal band, TesseracT, are set to release their first live audio/video concert. Titled TESSERACT, the CD/DVD and LP/DVD package welcomes back One vocalist, Daniel Tompkins. Odyssey, the audio portion, was recorded live during various stops in the autumn of 2014 throughout Europe and Russia on the Altered State World Tour. Scala, the video portion, was filmed live on November 6th, 2014 at Scala, London, UK. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on…
Girlhood is a difficult movie to describe, if only because it is so beautifully complex that it cannot be easily summed up in a paragraph or two. It features the talented Karidja Touré as Marieme (also known as Vic in later portions of the film). Marieme lives in a poor section of France with her younger sisters, her abusive and frightening older brother, and her largely absent and overworked mother.…
Bixel Boys have been tapped by Skrillex, along with his independently-run label OWSLA, to bring their aesthetic and creative vision to a limited edition release of collaborative tees and sweaters, available exclusively online. The 3-piece capsule, titled ‘The Night Team Collection,’ continues with Bixel’s signature theme of oversized black garments loudly covered with bold white graphics, more often than not, paying homage to their hometown through cleverly spun reinterpretations of…
The Pilot Rock Porter by Oregon’s Caldera Brewing pours with a tremendously dark coloration and a fair amount of cream to tan-colored head that remains stubbornly on the top of the beer. There is a solid amount of coffee and mocha flavors that immediately are noticed, while a malt and sweet set of notes can be discerned shortly after. The beer is well-balanced, ensuring that a different set of flavors…
Boulevard’s Pop-Up Session IPA is a rare example of a session IPA that still remains a hop-forward flavor while dialing back the alcohol content. At 4.3%, Pop-Up is refreshing and will do admirably as an effort that one continues to come back to during bonfires, after long, grueling chores, and as an introduction for those individuals that wish to take the plunge into more hoppy beers. Pop-Up possesses a slightly-sweet…
Hello, eM. In a few sentences will you provide some information regarding your musical background and career so far? I started singing at 6 years old in choirs then learnt piano, then clarinet. I started singing solo in a school band when I reached 13. Over time I sang country then rock and started listening to EDM music in my late teens. I’ve been involved with acoustic duos to singing…
A Peaceful Event showcases a tremendous narrative skill by Ian Green, telling a story with nothing more than a piano. The arrangements that he utilizes during the onset of Starlight are incredibly deep while being delicate, intricate without bogging down the overall sound of the album. Cycles of Sound speeds things up considerably, showcasing Green’s ability to stop and change styles on a dime. The more playful sound of this…
This zine opens with a pleasant letter to the reader, and a helpful Table of Contents. The reflections on the Black Lives Matter movement are personal and from the perspective of the white, middle class author. The author talks specifically about tactics that may or may not be successful when bringing a movement to the attention of the boarder public. The author identifies as white and middle class person, so…
It has been about 18 months since we last set down with Sharp Practise. What has the band been doing in the interim? Some shows around the UK, but mostly Nigel has been locked away writing our new album. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With…
Saranac’s Clouded Dream (from their High Peaks Collection) pours with a brownish-orange coloration and a decent amount of whitish head. Clouded Dream laces itself down a glass as the head is persistently remaining on the top of the effort. The beer has a spicy (cinnamon, hop) nose that is fairly sedate, while the initial sip refreshes while exhibiting some strong flavors before dissipating as quickly as it began. The beer…
Aventyr’s Driven (the eponymous track) comes forth mightily, with a late-seventies to early-eighties metal style in the vein of Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, and Twisted Sister. The production on Driven is fantastic, with sizzling guitar lines, splashy drums, and catchy vocals working together to create some of the most memorable metal that we have heard in 2015. Betrayed starts with a strong, thick drum beat that has a number of…
Maui Brewing Company’s CoCoNut Porter pours with a dark-brown, almost black coloration and a thick, light-brown / tannish head. Lacing is substantial with the CoCoNut Porter and will work its way down a glass with few breaks in the foam from beginning to end. There is a toasted malt nose that does not provide imbibers with too many of the tricks that the beer has up its sleeve; an initial…
Drift Away immediately places listeners in a rainy night somewhere urban, with a harmony created from the interaction of the different elements. There is a deliberate story being told here, with a guitar representing the narrator. Tolar is able to break free of the domination of vocals and creates something that is as rich and fulfilling as any lyric-heavy artist. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder…
There is a timeless sound to Nikia’s Maybe I single, which is versed in the soul and funk of the seventies, the post-disco 1980s, and the rich female-led R&B of the 1990s. The production of this track allows the instrumental and vocal sides of the composition to shine on their own and together, creating something that will resound with listeners long after the song has ceased playing. Nikia’s vocals are strong enough…