Kam Dutchie’s “Pain” is a laid-back effort that has a backing beat that calls to the 1990s for inspiration. The keys and booming bass that contribute to the backing beat create the perfect backdrop upon which Kam Dutchie’s vocals can flow. The song is able to give KD just enough time to establish a touching tale while not lingering. This means that the song is able to accomplish all it…
Herstory’s My Time is a call back to all of the girl groups of the 1990s and 2000s. With confidence akin to acts like Destiny’s Child and the Pussycat Dolls, Herstory is able to create a work in My Time that will have listeners singing along after the first play. The distinct style of each of the members of the group is essential in making My Time into a must-listen.…
Nick Hawk’s You Can’t Talk As Much S**t As Me has an assertive sort of flow that does not require anything beyond his own unique style to shine. There are nods here to performers like Eminem, Tom McDonald and Riff Raff here. The bit of brooding synths and drum sequences that play at the bottom of the single add just enough in the way of flair to keep listeners firmly…
Stizee’s Wave immediately stands out with an emotive synthesizer and Stizee’s immaculate flow. There’s a harmony that issues forth during this single that is impossible to deny. The chorus of Wave works perfectly with the main bars laid down here; there’s an earth and earnest sound to this single that makes it pop. Stizee’s grimy approach here is moderated by a dollop of pop, making for an effort that has…
OBAS’s Hug The Streets is a great jam-up of hard-edged street styles with enough melody to get fans out on the dance floor. OBA’s delivery is grim and gritty, standing out bolly from the J Dilla meets Kanye production that drips off of the synths, drums, and samples. Rick Ross’s contributions to the track are immaculate as always, recalling some of his early career hits. Together, the pair is able…
The Org’s Peace is a track that will impact listeners from the first few lines. There’s a gravity here that showcases the permanence of the faith that one has. Where there’s a lot of earthly strife tthat may depress or otherwise negatively impact listeners, just picking up a bit of religion should be enough to well all the drama in one’s life. There’s an honestness and earnestness to the vocal…
On Live The Madness, the Moonshine Bandits are able to come out with tremendous swagger. Hot bars and sizzling guitar work do well to carry the rap-rock style into the 202s. There’s crunchy guitar riffs, a catchy AF chorus laid down by Corey Taylor, and even a hint of the mid-oughts Psychopathic Records sound. Live The Madness is one smooth track, an effort that will make any sort of party…
Anie Delgado’s “Cloud9” has a wonderfully introspective beginning that builds upon the tradition of performers like Madonna with modern EDM and pop instrumentation. The plinking of piano keys during Cloud9 gradually builds up into a crescendo before the drop gets heads bobbing. Delgado’s ability to effortlessly flow through styles portends big things for the performer. The dynamism of Cloud9 ensures that song will stay fresh through the rest of the…
Karma’s Hold On Me echoes throughout the ages. The vocals are able to touch upon the work of performers like Karen Carpenter and Carole King along with more modern artists like Sinead O’Connor and Bjork. Each utterance of Karma on Hold On Me stands out starkly from the synths and beats that play at the background. No matter how distinct the two elements may seem, the resulting single is able…
Yours to Stay is an engrossing track that immediately showcases the vocal skill of Natalie Joly. The track is able to gradually add different elements – an emotive guitar line, on-point drum lines – to create something possesses perfect polish. One can pull out influences of performers like Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson here. The back and forth between Natalie’s vocals, the guitar solos (especially at around the 3-minute mark)…
The synth that begins the new The High Plains Drifters song “Since You’ve Been Gone” will immediately draw listeners in, while the vocals are able to link together new wave with modern performers like The Killers and Walk The Moon. The tautness of the vocal/instrumental dynamic is fantastic, ensuring some of the most cogent music we’ve heard so far this year. The track gradually moves into a back and forth…
On Bleed With Who?, Project213 is able to blend hard rock with more introspective, sixties-infused rock. The bit of fuzz and distortion makes for a song that continually shifts and changes as listeners continue to navigate it. A deliberate, slinky style begins to show itself as Bleed With Who? continues. Project213 is able to make something that is utterly their own; while fans will be able to locate nods to…
Terry Milla has a banger of a track in his new effort Free-Quincy. The effort builds off the work of Gucci Mane and Nelly with an infectious backing beat and assertive lyrics. The narrative that is laid out here will pop fans of Wu-Tang and Three 6 Mafia. There’s a bit more substance to Free-Quincy that there is in most rap music; the distinct layers that are presented here will…
C.K. Marion’s Get Up has a light, airy sound to the composition that is punctuated with a jangly guitar line and a sweeping set of synths. The hard-edged flow of Get Up luxuriously lays on top of this backing beat. The song ends up becoming a wonderful melange of styles all while C.K. Marion is able to provided social commentary. There’s a unique flair that is presented during this single…
Sharon Hendrix’s “Hold On” has a vibrant beat and a timeless sound to the track that will appease a wide array of fans. There are nods to Latin music, oughts pop, and R&B genres. The presence of a dancy beat makes the inclusion of Hold On ont DJ sets a no-brainer. There’s an engrossing set of vocals laid down on this instrumental backdrop. What separates Hold On from the rest…
Eucalyption’s “Waiting” is infused with a soulful, funky sound that builds off of the tradition of 311 and early Everlast. Thee guitar and vocal dynamic pushes each to a higher plateau, while the thick bass line adds mightily to the single. There’s an eclectic and diverse sound that is fostered through the whole of Waiting. Adding a bit of a rap flow ensures that Waiting has considerable replay value. Eucalyption’s…
Daglio’s “La Puerta Oculta” has a truly timeless sound to it. There are sizzling guitar lines, vocals that adopt hints of Midnight Oil and the Dire Straits, and a robust bass line that continually plays at the bottom of the song. The song is able to speak to anyone fortunate enough to listen in, no matter whether they can understand the lyrics. Music is truly an universal language, and Daglio’s…
Porsha’s “Genie In A Bottle” is a powerful track that is predicated on the tremendous abilities of Porsha. Adding mightily to the overall arrangements of the track, her vocals are able to ferry a solid narrative. This cut effortlessly touches upon the R&B of the 1990s, 200s, and 2010s. The booming bass drums and synth lines builds up the back end of the effort, tattooing the efforts deeply into the…
Psalm is the first track on Cousin Mouth’s new release, MayflowerPeacemakerHolyredeemer. The track is able to build upon traditional gospel and R&B music while placing a bit of distorted guitar and hum. What results is something that is distinctly different than the styles and genres upon which it has been build, a trend that will continue to be shown during the bulk of this album. Undiagnosed is a deep effort…
The Gama Sennin’s Trigger Finger calls back to late-1990s rock in the vein of Cracker and Jet. There’s a bit of guitar fuzz, a whole lot of charisma, and an assertive swagger to the band that makes it easy for the act to slot onto hard rock rotations. With influences as wide-reaching as Monster Magnet and early Foo Fighters, The Gama Sennin are able to create a unique sound in…