Full Sail has released their Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, a beer that pours with an extremely dark brown (nearing black) coloration. There is a small amount of light brown / tan head that sits on top of the bottle. The initial nose of the imperial stout blends together a nice sweetness with a more astringent bourbon flavor. As one takes their initial sip of Full Sail’s Bourbon Barrel Aged…
The self-titled album from Birds of Night marks their third full-length in four years, a pretty impressive feat for the label-less Denton, Texas four-piece that show DIY is still alive and well.
Vinyl Williams is the moniker of Lionel Williams, 25 year old Los Angeles based artist and experimental-pop musician. ‘Into’, his startlingly accomplished second album, effortlessly fuses psych, krautrock, ambient and shoegaze into a transcendental whole.
PsycHOPathy is an India Pale Ale created by Cincinnati’s Madtree Brewing. The beer pours with a yellow-gold coloration and a small amount of off-white head that provides lacing as one continues to sip. The initial nose of PsycHOPathy provides hints of grass and wheat with a small amount of hop twang. The beer is incredibly balanced, pushing forward a strong bitter element and enough sweetness to vary the overall constellation of…
Santa Fe Brewing’s Black IPA pours with an extremely dark brown coloration and a thick, foamy off-white head. The beer’s initial nose provides imbibers with hints of malt and grain with only a small amount of hop bitterness. This Black IPA has a creamy body that allows a strong hop element to exist at the end of each sip. By having such a wide array of flavors, Santa Fe’s Black…
Wonderful is a tremendously soulful effort on the latest album by Ferni, Afterburn; the track is one that needs little more than a piano and a strong set of vocals to succeed. The two elements combine to create something that would work well on pop radio (taking a similar tack to Sam Smith and Charlie Puth) as well as appeasing those that want something deeper and more intricate with their…
A major failing of Christian rock is that a number of bands are not able to reconcile their faith with a sound that is catchy and would be alluring to individuals that may need a hand up.
Omar Bowing has released a new single, Warrior. The track is able to tie together the work of Judas Priest, Dio, and Mercyful Fate into something that is extraordinarily catchy while being heavy as all get out. There is a certain theatricality to this track that is reminiscent of Alice Cooper or early Aerosmith, while the complexity of this single calls forth comparisons to Megadeth or Blind Guardian. Taken together,…
There is a deliberate beginning to eM’s When You Were Here that will immediately draw listeners in. There is a narrative quality to this composition that is spun into an entirely new realm when eM’s vocals begin. The track is able to work in a wide variety of genres, meaning that fans of EDM, traditional dance music, and pop can find something that they can appreciate with this single.
To Hell with a Bullet is a modern, metal twist on the classic Robert Johnson myth: A struggling musician who sells his soul for a chance at talent and fame.
Strike’s Imperial Red pours with an incredibly dark brown / reddish coloration and a small amount of light brown to tannish head. The beer possesses a full compliment of twists and turns that will ensure that individuals can complete the entirety of a 22 ounce bottle. There is a considerable amount of malt here that is able to moderate a decent amount of sweet elements. A little hopping of the…
Smuttynose’s Rhye IPA pours with a dark yellow to orange-brown coloration and a light brown to yellowish head. The lacing will creep its way down the glass as one continues. This Rhye IPA has a vibrant flavor that ties together an india pale ale hop bite with a bold, spicy rye flavor profile. There is a considerably heavier backbone to this effort than many IPAs, and I feel that this…
Worthy’s Lights Out stout pours with a dark brown to black color and a small amount of head that rapidly dissipates. Lights Out’s nose is a little sweet, a little malty, and has just a little sharpness present. The beer goes down extremely easily; there is a strong malt presence here that moderates some of the sweetness that is present in other beers in the style. There is a further dimension…
Mpathy’s Golden Boy is an electronic-infused track that will have listeners singing along after the first few listens to the titular EP. During the track, there is a deliberate and intense drum beat with a sterling set of vocals that are reminiscent of acts like They Might Be Giants and Depeche Mode. Taken together, what results is a fun track that will get listeners on the dance floor. The track…
A Scene Like That has a strong beat and will immediately get listeners up and on the dance floor. There is an electrified style to the songs on Gumshen’s latest album, DIGIBITES, that link together Trans-era Neil Young, Fame-ish David Bowie, and AWOLNATION into something that is catchy, fun, and musically fulfilling. Those that want to get on the dance floor as well as those that wish to dissect what they…
There Are No Leagues has solid multi-part harmonies and allows all elements of History of Something ample opportunity to shine. Better When You’re With Me is an energetic track that ties together The Replacements, Boston, and Brookside into something incredibly catchy and radio-ready.
Amina begins their Cannibalize CD with I Saw You Float Away, a dreamy track that twinkles with smart instrumentation and good balance between the loud and quiet, dark and light. Hints of OK Computer-era Radiohead and Bjork can be heard.
Noah tape’s Green EP has an interesting interplay between the organic and the electronic, creating a haunting sort of indie rock that is wholly different from anything else that we have ever heard. Pin me has a deliberate beat that is interspersed through its four-plus minutes, while Renegade cheers things up with a slightly quicker arrangement.
Antonito is an energetic track that links together R.E.M. and Death Cab for Cutie, with ample amounts of funk and soul that are inserted into the track. A strong production makes these tracks ready for rotation as the band rockets into Schubert Hits Plympton Street.
I Would is a tremendously effecting indie / alternative track that is made by the contribution of the titular singer and the backing instrumentation laid down by a cast of talented musicians. The track works in the current but is built off of the dreamy fare of the seventies and nineties.