I Got You is a bouncy, fun pop track in the vein of N*Sync and Robbie Williams. The charisma that is infused into this composition does welll in getting listeners focused on to what Jake is laying down. The multiple vocal layers that are built up at points during this single add a good amount of depth, further increasing the single’s replay value. The song is utterly timeless in its…
ADVM’s “She’s Gone” is a soft and sedate track that will be appreciated by anyone who has been in and fallen out of love. Even years after the relationship ends, there are still times where I briefly miss those I was previously with, and it’s this single that perfectly matches that feeling. The vocal styling of ADVM will be eagerly devoured by fans of Oliver Tree, while the airy composition ends…
Powerful vocals will immediate draw listeners in to Baker Grace’s latest single, Painkiller. The track is able to stand out distinctly from the vast majority of popular music in that it brings in new and refreshing instrumentation. This means that there are subtle nods to Pulp, Cornershop and Massive Attack even as Baker lays out lines that will garner high rotation on radio stations and in playlists around the world.…
Philadelphia’s Peter Gural is the primary author of one of the year’s best releases with his collection Birdy’s World. The Berklee School of Music graduate has chops galore, that’s obvious, but his technical skills never undercut the immediate authenticity of his songwriting art. The unabashed autobiographical nature of Gural’s writing never limits its ability to connect with a wide swath of the Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter’s target audience. The bright bounce of the…
Kick 5000 released his new album Frequencies in September; the lead single “sink” will immediately tattoo booming bass deep into listeners’ brains. A sublimely confident flow follows forth. sink’s dynamic sound is crafted through Kick 5000’s desire to continually tweak and test different segments of the track. This effort concludes at the 2:30 mark, making a big splash from its onset while hurtling headlong into the final moments of the…
Alternative rock – despite the irony of the name in present times – is hardy dead, and if you’re looking for hard evidence of this, I seriously recommend giving Blueburst a listen sometime. In their rookie album Significance, this band comprised of Craig Douglas Miller and Marty Willson-Piper of All About Eve/Noctorum/The Church fame, doesn’t just try their hand at the modern alternative rock model; they try to redefine the…
Hell 2 Pay is an engrossing track that builds upon the framework of Stevie Nicks and Vixen to straddle the line between pop and rock. The song gradually grows to incorporate a sizzling sax line that kicks things into high gear. Watching Hell 2 Pay’s video provides additional narrative depth, contrasting distinct visuals with a song that keeps bringing in new and unexpected twists. This means that the guitars delve…
Losing Out To Crazy is a powerful rock track that brings the supersonic vocal approach of Sammy Hagar and Hall & Oates into the modern vernacular. These vox are paired with intricate instrumental arrangements, a collection of drums, guitars, and bass that run the gamut from rock to progressive metal and even contemplative alternative rock. The extended instrumental bridge acts as a palette cleanser for listeners, resetting them as Philbrick…
Lan Lawd’s So Good will draw listeners in from the single’s first few seconds. The patter of the vox bring considerable harmony to a backing arrangement that seems very close and cozy. The dynamic that is established between the guitars and vocals push each to a higher plateau, making So Good into a single that could easily garner attention of pop or college radio stations. The presence of Nicko Rebel…
The Real Meladee’s Set The Tone is a head-bopper, a track that has both the booming beats and impeccable synths combine to create a solid framework upon which she can lay down some sublimely confident bars. The double duty by The Real Meladee ensures that the track both is able to tell a story while coming forth as a coherent effort. Changing up her flow a bit for the final…
Petit Biscuit’s You Don’t Ignore (Too Late) is an effort that immediately impressed with the thumping beat and airy synths. Taking up the standards of insightful 1980s new-wave, the band is able to imprint their own approach to things with each passing second. The vocals kick in, bringing an engrossing element on top of the composition. Petit Biscuit has made their new single into something that can easily slot onto…
How does the city of Vienna speak to you in your creative musical pursuits? Cobblestone streets echo whispers from the big history of a former empire. The timeless morbid flair of Vienna forms the typical Viennese with his grumpy mood, pessimism and cynicism. But there is also another side of Vienna. Eat Schnitzel and cake and dance waltz – likely at a funeral party. Who knows, maybe tomorrow we are…
Something To Ride To is precisely what Shaheed and DJ Supreme say it is, a head-bopping track that’s got all the drip of 1990s Cali rap. Adding Lauren Strain’s heavenly vocals to the track adds that further period-correct veneer to the song. The back and forth between the quicker bars and the more measured chorus keep things fresh throughout the single’s run time. The string-like synth that enters into the…
On Take You Home, Benjamin Race is able to make one of the most soulful efforts we’ve heard released this year. The track is able to build upon the framework of the Isley Brothers and the Motown Sound, all while putting his own unique charisma into every utterance. The back and forth between Race’s vocals and the brass on Take You Home pushes each to an entirely higher plateau. The…
We’re loving the distinct style that Shaheed and DJ Supreme are cultivating during their new single, Jazz Men. Bringing on the inimitable guitar work of Eric Essix, the duo are able to create a flow that will bury itself deep into the psyche of fans. There’s a sublimeness to the effort that will have fans floating away. It’s truely a statement to the act’s skill that all pieces are able…
On her new track “Birkin”, The Real Meladee is able to hammer home a sick flow with a deliberate, intense backing beat that will stick with listeners long after the song ceases to play. The track comes and goes in a flash as The Real Meladee is able to wind things up at the two-minute mark. The sheer confidence that is exuded during this cut is such that I feel…
Tyte and Wizz Havinn released their new single “Ask Around”, an effort that builds upon the framework laid down by performers like Boosie Badazz and Turk. Tight instrumentation comprise the perfect backdrop upon which the duo’s bars can shine. The track is able to refresh the booming bass and keys present in the late nineties and early 2000s into something that will shine brightly no matter where one slots it.…
When Leo Sawikin hits that gorgeous high note during the eric chorus for “Don’t Pass It By”, it seals the song’s status as an indisputable winner. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leosawikin/ The song already won my favor. Sawikin’s sure songwriting hand orchestrates a skillful buildup to the song’s payoff moment, its chorus, and he takes his time maximizing the impact of that moment. There’s nothing about this single that’s rushed. Sawikin sounds to…
The making of “Who Can It Be Now (Reimagined)” was an interesting process for sure! The song and video went through a few iterations before the version that you guys are able to hear today. Initially the song had completely different music production and a different music video, which had a more formal vibe. After feeling it wasn’t rock n roll enough and didn’t quite reach its potential, my team…
Rolling out of the speakers with an angelic ease that is indebted as much to college radio indie rock as it is the bucolic balladry of an old school hipster folk movement in the American underground, the central harmony in Dorsten’s “To the River” is reason enough to pick up this new track from the acclaimed crossover duo this fall. Blending Americana with strong pop/rock aesthetics and a talent for…