The Sextape’s “Queen of the Fools” is one interesting track. The song succeeds because it blends together a number of distinct styles. Keen listeners will be able to pull out hints of 1990s rock, industrial, and alternative styles all within the single’s first thirty seconds. The driving beat and charismatic vocals found here keep fans on the edges of their seats. Fans of Ween and the Bloodhound Gang will dig…
El Matador, the new single from Mic Nickels, immediately calls back to 1990s NYC in its overall sound. Sput-out vocals are lifted up with absolutely intense instrumentation, making for a true head-banger of a track. The bars laid down here by Method Man keep El Matador’s tempo high, further imbuing the song with an epic sound. Fans will have the songs’ beat tattooed on their hearts just as the lyrical…
An Old Friend’s “Native Gardens” is a complex modern rock track that stands up to multiple plays. The layered approach that the band takes ensures that there will be something new experienced by listeners each time the song plays, with thoughtful guitars, emotive vocals and a thick bass line that combine in numerous ways. The production is sharp here, giving each member of An Old Friend the ability to shine…
What inspired you to start creating music? I just wanted to get things I had experienced or observed or felt out of me and into the world. I believe songs are the best way for me to share. There’s an old saying about not dying with all your music still inside. Did being raised in the greater St. Louis area have an influence on your music? I’m not sure that…
Good songcraft tends to take years to develop instead of mere months, and this can be quite a difficult reality for some indie players to face. There’s a lot of work that goes into cultivating something special for your audience, and if there’s anyone who knows what I’m talking about, it’s a pop singer like Taylor Jules. Jules’ sound has been getting progressively tighter not through the past decade but,…
This video feels like an invitation to an intimate and laid-back groove session. How did you try to achieve this feeling in the video? Just being who we really are, no acting, with the personal and group photos, along with the group performing helped to pull it together. How have elements of jazz, R&B, and hip-hop helped create your sound today? The hip-hop and jazz elements are covered by Slum…
Bill Crews and the Crews Cartel’s People Get Ready (originally released by Curtis Mayfield) is a tremendously powerful track that links together traditional gospel music with country and soul styles. The narrative laid down here by Bill is honest and earnest in its execution, while the secondary vocals that match (and accentuate) Bill’s voice ensure that the resulting composition will resound with one long after the song ceases to play.…
Keyvous’s Catch A Wave is a single that will immediately tattoo its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Booming bass lines and on-point percussion provide the perfect backdrop for Keyvous’s vox. The track sits at the nexus of R&B and rap, linking together performers as wide-ranging as Omarion, Trey Songz, and The Weeknd. There’s crossover appeal to Catch A Wave that will ensure numerous playlist placements and…
On Walk With Me, Diane Gentile and Alejandro Escovedo are able to create a tremendous duet. Filled out by the Gentle Men’s instrumental approach, Walk With Me is able to take up multiple genres during its run time. There are nods to John Mellencamp, John Hiatt, and Stevie Nicks along with hints of Roy Orbison and The Appleseed Cast. The guitar work stands up nicely as the single’s bridge, showcasing…
Carly Hanley’s “Oh La La” is a delightful pop track that will appease fans both with Carly’s inimitable vocals as well as the booming bass and sweeping synths that flesh out the bottom of the track. Oh La La shines because of this yin and yang approach. As the song continues to play, Hanley’s narrative will keep listeners firmly engrossed with the narrative of love that she weaves. Hanley’s able…
Greg Hoy’s “Comfort Vendetta” immediately starts with a bit of math-rocdk fuzz (imagine The Red Hot Valentines meets Weezer). The vocals immediately light up the single, working alongside the aforementioned instrumentation to push each side to new heights. Comfort Vendetta’s chorus has the act go all-in, making for a section that fans will be singing along with after a few short plays. This is a track that could work well…
Battle Tapes’s “Brand New” has a fun retro sound that is part Dire Straits and part Franz Ferdinand in its execution. The track links together electronic, pop, and rock in a fashion that will get listeners out on the dance floor. The silky-smooth vocals that play at the top of the band’s new single are the perfect match for the high-energy synths and insistent beat of the percussion. Brand New…
Smilez’s “I Hate My Ex” is an assertive pop track that espuses a sentiment that a number of individuals throughout the world will be able to understand. There’s still moments that I call back to my past and remember how former significant others have done me wrong. Smilez is able to blend together crisp and clear backing instrumentation with an emotive and rich set of vocals. The hook that they…
Honey and Blue’s “All In My Head” is a powerful R&B effort that builds off of the tradition furthered by performers like Kelis and early Bey. The back and forth of the pair’s vocals keeps things fresh throughout the track’s runtime. There’s a clarity here that ensures the vox are able to shine alongside the booming bass and more thoughtful keys. The presence of a bit of funk here further distinguishes…
Right Here is the first track on Pick Ups and Put Downs, immediately having Merit Maker kick things into high gear. This introductory salvo builds upon the trends of pop-punk acts from Blink 182, MxPx, and The Vandals. Two minutes go by in the blink of an eye, as the band moves on to False Starts. False Starts opens up with sick bass lines and splashy drums. There’s a surprising…
Jessie-May K’s Do What We Want is a hopeful track that blends pop sensibilities with a decidedly retro sort of instrumentation. Keys feel as if they are pulled from 1980s new wave while there’s a hopeful confidence that brings in hints of mid-1990s alternative (eg Elastica, Natalie Cole). The production imbues the track with a crispness that delineates it from the bulk of music put forth. Do What We Want…
In an indie music scene dominated by various genres and experimental sounds, it is rare to stumble upon a band that seamlessly blends the infectious rhythms of funk with the introspective nature of indie music. Noshows, the indie outfit fronted by producer and songwriter Max Satow, breaks the mold with their latest single, “Slow Up (feat. AUD).” This funk-infused gem not only showcases their undeniable talent but also highlights the…
The weight of the instrumental prowess is certainly familiar, as is the elegance of the arrangement that will soon come together before our very ears, but in its totality, there’s something very different about both Giorgia Fumanti and the song “Quand on Prie La Bonne Etoile” as they’re presented together in the new album Cinema Collection. As you might be able to guess, Cinema Collection is a record full of cover songs handpicked…
Iowa’s Big Grove Brewery has created a decidedly-dangerous brewery with their current vintage of Richard the Whale, a Russian Imperial Stout. Clocking in at over 12% ABV, Richard the Whale is able to bring the heat while showcasing some of the most sublime smoothness that we’ve ever experienced with that style. The RIS pours with a dark brown, mahogany-ish coloration and with only the slightest amount of tannish head. There’s…
North Richland Hill’s False Idol Brewing has released their Nine Realms, a Baltic Porter. The beer is a gem which tantalizes the taste buds with its rich and complex flavors. As a beer enthusiast that loves all forms of dark beer styles, I must say this one stands out among the crowd. With a moderate 7.5% ABV, it strikes a perfect balance between potency and drinkability, making it a must-have…