The Brian Shapiro Band’s debut collection All That We See is one of the most individual music releases I’ve heard in a long time. The eight tracks including a bonus cut included are unique even in 2021 as the three-piece mashes up a soup of musical styles. “Three Things”, the first track, is impossible to describe. It is a jump blues, a punk-inspired romp, and even has singer/songwriter aspects that Shapiro steers…
Few songwriters embrace a sense of place like Sam Green. Green and the Time Machine are responsible for reeling off a series of outstanding full-length collections between 2013 and 2018 and several songs over that timeframe reflect the strong connection he maintains with his homeland Australia. He invokes that love without irony or, tellingly, rose-colored glasses, but there’s ample affection as well. TWITTER: https://twitter.com/samgreenmusic?lang=en Few songwriters, likewise, demonstrates such an…
With their cover of Mad World, Me And My nightmare are able to ramp up the pop approach while keeping the bleakness of the original. The vocals bring in hints of Madonna and Shirley Manson while the backing instrumentation adopt equal amounts of industrial and EDM. What results is a version of this modern classic that is purely Me And My Nightmare’s own. Ample synths and sequenced percussion sweep over…
Pierre Porter’s “Marry Me” is a wonderful call back to the pop and R&B music of the late-oughts. There’s a bit of Akon, some Trey Songz, and a whole heaping of Pierre Porter’s own approach that can be picked out here. Marry Me is an honest pitch to the other part of a relationship. The song’s got enough in the way of hooks to work well without context on pop…
FreeWorld’S “D-Up (Here’s To Diversity)” is one eclectic track that draws upon the corpus of music from 1960 until today. There are so many musicians that are contributing to the overall sound established in this sound. The true testament to their ability has to be how cohesive the finished work is. there’s a style that is crafted during this single that ties in funk, soul, jazz, and blues. The bit…
Fresh Da Zoe’s “No Sleep” is catchy as all get out. This track will immediately draw listeners in with haunting keys and Fresh Da Zoe’s beastly flow. Fresh Da Zoe is one of the raw rappers that is able to deliver line after line without taking a breath. This is Em’s Rap God meets a Twista level of intensity. The story that is told during No Sleep will be something…
Lemme Go Talk My Ish had Red Shaydez shooting out some serious fire. The rapid-pace approach that the rapper hits here is matched perfectly with acerbic synths and a booming bass beat that will shake windows. Red Shaydez is able to craft a track in Lemme Go Talk My Ish that is able to hang with the highest echelon of rap music while allowing her to infuse the track with…
Sparkle’s “Easy” is a laid-back R&B track that showcases the silken vocals and thick bass lines of the composition most prominently. While the song is grounded in the style of late-1990s and early-oughts pop, there’s a contemporary approach and modern production that ensures that the song is able to hang with what’s currently garnering attention. Sparkle’s track will bury itself deep into the hearts and minds of listeners, all while…
Cheri Moon’s “Ain’t I A Woman” will immediately draw attention. There’s a tremendous groove that is crafted at the onset of the song between the guitars, drums, and bass. Cheri’s vocals are able to spin the song in a bold new direction, with the vocal range that she hits here in the same vein as the virtuosic playing that preceded it. Ain’t I A Woman’s narrative will have fans going…
The Remedy (Feel Alright) is our first experience jumping into Xavier Toscano’s music in the last few years. I feel that the music coming from his camp is a bit more firm, a smidge more coherent, and as a result, is that much more ready for playlist placement. Xavier’s vocals are front and center here, hitting fans over the head with a message of “do whatever makes you happy”. Made…
WHATCHUGOT is an effort that is incredibly difficult to pin down. This means that the track is able to come forth with a special blend of 1980s new wave, modern EDM, and hints of indie music. Inzerra’s work here is impressive enough that listeners could easily imagine hearing this tune on 1980s radio stations. There’s the same vim and vigor of a Duran Duran or Peter Gabriel here, while the…
Sin For Saints’s “Sad Songs” is a track that links together the Chicago emo approach of acts like Boys Night Out and Panic at the Disco with a harder-edged rock approach. Moving between these poles, Sin For Saints is able to keep listeners firmly planted on the edges of their seats with charismatic lead vocals, intense drum work, and a rapid set of switches of tempos. Sad Songs has a…
Shonte Renee’s new single “Pretty Girlz” draws upon the R&B of the 1990s and the pop of the early 2000s for inspiration. What results here is a high-energy, dance-infused track that has cotton candy-sweet vocals. The bright and sunny style of Shonte Renee here is matched perfectly with sweeping synths and immaculate arrangements. With her Pretty Girlz, Shonte is able to offer up a timeless track that allows her ample…
Jameel Mason’s “Black Queens” is an introspective and thoughtful track that is wholly uplifting for the titular subject. The backing arrangements do well in providing a colorful backdrop upon which Jameel’s flow can shine. This means that there are emotive synths as well as booming bass and drum beats kicking in all while Jameel puts forward his message. In this frankly depressing period of humanity, it’s always good to hear…
“No Kizzy”, the latest effort from Snypa and Lil Duke has a booming beat and a downright evil sound to the backing instrumentation. Distinguishing the single from the rest of the music currently garnering attention on rap playlists, the duo is able to refresh mumble rap and mid-oughts Atlanta rap like no others could. No Kizzy is the sort of track that will begin to get listeners back onto the…
Koosh Saxena’s “Trying My Best” is one of the most innovative tracks we’ve heard so far this year. There are nods here to Pink Floyd and The Eagles even as subsequent sections will build upon the tradition of acts like 311 and Incubus. Both the vocal and instrumental sides of Trying My Best are generous, pushing the other piece to a higher level. The shining light on the top of…
Casey Ahern’s “Bradley” is an illustrative tale about love. Casey’s ability to have listeners hanging on every word is unparalleled. The careful guitar work and immaculate drums that play in the background of Bradley ensure that each utterance is easily devoured by those listening in. The track is easily able to fit into modern country rotation, but there’s more than a fair share of pop that is weaved into the…
On Chosen and Justified, The Dead Daisies are able to refresh the arena rock of Argent and Boston to possess a more current sound. The vocals this time out blend together Sammy Hagar with Chris Cornell, while the guitars, bass, and drums create something larger than life.; The back and forth between the guitar riffs and the vox pushes each to a high plateau, while the gradual shift of the…
It’s always fun keeping tabs on an artist between releases. You really get to feel like you’re alongside a journey with them as they hone their musical craft and the journey from 2014’s Daydream to Open Sesame, Vol. 1 Her Dress singer/songwriter Barista has truly become an unstoppable force of nature. While maintaining a rock and pop edge to him, there are hints of the kind of poetry word working…
Kristina Murrell’s Got Me Dreaming is dripping with emotion. The range that Kristina’s vocals hit during her latest track is fantastic, adding considerably to the harmonies achieved by the synths and booming drum lines that punctuate the track. The song refreshes the style of 1990s R&B all while allowing Murrell ample opportunity to impress her own unique approach upon listeners. The journey that listeners will be taken on during this…