Valentine, the new effort from Grey DeLisle, has a traditional / folk feel to it. Grey needs little more accompaniment during this effort than a set of strings. The vocals laid down here build upon the work of luminaries like Dolly Parton and Joni Mitchell. The story that is told during Valentine is something that anyone that has lost their lover (for any sort of reason) will be able to…
AV Super Sunshine’s “Super Cool” is some seriously eclectic fare. It’s an impossible task to point out each of the distinct styles and genres that are blended together here. The sweeping synths present at points are reminiscent to those in The Cars and Gary Numan’s arsenal, while the dreamy vocals will appease fans of Guster and Muse. There’s a bit of new wave here, hints of alt-rock, and a whole…
STAR 2’s “If U Want To” has a fun vibe. The song is an ode to a woman and has STAR 2 showcasing touching lines and humble brags. More than merely providing the narrative for the single, STAR 2’s voice achieves harmonies that bolster the more delicate side of things. Working nicely with the bit of guitar that peeks through at points, this voice is bolstered continually by a booming…
Poshbugati’s “Girl Dad” is a reggae-infused pop track that has an amazing set of synths playing at the background. The line that the keyboard and percussion establish here touches upon both the mid-1990s Memphis scene as well as the oughts rap genre. Poshbugati’s vocals add a bit of grit to the composition. With these two distinct sides, the track is able to ensnare listeners easily. The track is able to…
MJ Songstress’s “Carousel” is a banger of a track, one that will tattoo its beats deep into the hearts of listeners. The heavenly vocals laid down here by MJ Songstress are the light to the deep and emphatic bass beat that plays at the bottom of the track. Percussion and synths combine into something infectious that will bring listeners out onto the dance floor. The repetition of the titular word…
Hi Love’s “Cold Wind” is a timeless track. With a bit of the 1960s Detroit sound heard alongside mid-oughts performers like indiia.arie and Corinne Bailey Rae, Hi Love is able to make something new and vibrant. The instrumentation that backs up Hi Love’s vox are fantastic; sweeping keys, thumping bass, and a bit of maraca – keep listeners wondering about what is to come next. Cold Wind is able to…
“Strange Luv”, the new track from Butta B-Rocka, has a fun blend of 1980s electro-pop and mid-oughts emo. The presence of Homer MC’s feature sets the stage for the funky and fun sound laid down here by Butta B-Rocka. While there are nods to performers like Britney Spears and Ke$ha here, Strange Luv ultimately allows Butta B-Rocka ample opportunity to showcase her own unique take on things. Strange Luv’s video…
Morgan Taylor’s “Lullabye” has a wonderful melange of R&B and gospel. There’s a strong set of vocals that interacts nicely with luxurious keys and a bit of booming bass beats. The range that Taylor is able to achieve during her latest single far outpaces other modern pop efforts. The call and response with the main vocals and the chorus adds further depth to the composition. Morgan Taylor has created a…
It Don’t Take Much (Because I Do), the latest effort from Bruce Sudano, is a soft, mid-tempo effort that links together 1970s easy listening rock with a bit of the desert rock genres. The touching vocals that Sudano imparts upon the composition works perfectly on top of the soulful guitar licks and on-point drums here. The cohesion that exists between these parts makes It Don’t Take Much (Because I Do)…
Heilung’s “Norupo” calls back to an much earlier tradition. The vocal harmonies achieved during their latest effort will resound loudly with listeners. Adding flutes and an emphatic drum beat to the mix, Heilung will keep fans on the edges of their seats. The gradual increase in the single’s tempo over the course of the next minute allows other pieces to enter into the equation. A secondary set of vocals and…
Elijah Wolf’s “Brighter Lighting” is an interesting jam-up of 1960s singer-songwriter and 1990s alternative. Wolf’s vocals on this new single are dreamy and jam-packed with harmonies. This ensures that the guitar, drums, and pianos are given another element to build off of. Brighter Lighting enjoys numerous layers and just enough fuzz to join things together flawless. Elijah Wolf has made Brighter Lighting into a track that speaks to a wide…
On Cabin Fever, Elektragaaz is able to go all the way back to the first generation of dance music. There’re nods to Hot Butter’s Popcorn as well as Boney G’s Rasputin. Hints of progressive and psychedelic rock are inserted into the track. There’s a considerable narrative side to the instrumentation here, contributed by the guitars and drums. There’s a vibrancy to Cabin Fever that will undoubtedly get fans off of…
Jesse Eplan’s Ecstasy is a fantastic in the range of different styles and approaches that he’s able to achieve. The track effortlessly moves between pop, R&B and rap. With vocals soaring over the backing beat, Ecstasy will tattoo its lyrics deep into listeners’ minds. The features (Da Last Phoenix and Kfedey) a lot in providing further depth to an already fulfilling effort. Eplan’s choice of the pair of features here…
Mr Russell is the latest album from Overlord Gruff, starting out with Floatin. Savage immediately cuts to the bone. The haunting keys that plays in the background is the perfect beat to allow for Overlord Gruff’s flow to shine. While there are a number of female vocal samples popping up art points during this track, there’s a cohesion that ensures that they contribute mightily to the finished effort. Black Superman…
Dj Amaze x AG’s “456” is one of those efforts that will immediately raise a room’s spirit. This blend of reggae and dance music has a booming, bouncy beat and charismatic vocals representing the two main pillars of the song. The beat is constantly tattooing itself onto listeners through the entirety of 456, all while vocal samples add something vital to the track. Dj Amaze x AG’s 456 will easily…
On 27 Summers, Nas comes forth with a bold testimony about his staying powers. Confident as ever, Nas is able to create a track that is simultaneously hard-hitting while keeping just enough crossover appeal. The lyrical content of Nas’s bars reads like a James Joyce book; there are so many nods to past and present happenings and Nas’s own experiences during this cut. 27 Summers portends another season of fantastic…
Keep Climbing is a stellar track calling back to the rap of the early 1990s. With a positive, heady message that will continue to showcase itself to listeners even five or ten plays in, Shaheed has ensured that music can do more than get people out on the dance floor. With the other side of the track being lit up by Dj Supreme’s work, there’s nary a place or approach…
Paydro’s “Feel Like Da Bank” is one of those cuts that will immediately make listeners’ head spin around. The confidence exuded in each lyric melds perfectly with the booming bass and ono-point percussion. The punctuation of Paydro’s flow with single-word responses kicks things into an entirely higher level. While Paydro jumps on back to the “modern gangster” era of Rick Ross and 50 Cent, there’s a crispness to the delivery…
Theodor Bastard’s “Les” is a darkly rich effort that ties together the trip-hop of acts like Massive Attack and Portishead with more atmospheric and ethereal sounds. Listeners’ expectations from this track are continually shattered. The vocals float in and out of lyrical and musical modes, while the instrumentation bubbles up into threatening to take over the track just as easily as it slides into a more sedate, collaborative mode. There’re…
Garmarna’s “Dagen Flyr” starts out with an emphatic drum beat and alluring vocals. The track will have listeners by the throat as Garmarna continues to increase their tempo. The drum/vox dynamic gradually shifts to allow more of thee act to shine; bass guitar lines and strings unite to make a considerable mass hurtling toward listeners. The effort links together Switchblade Symphony with traditional metal, adding in just a hint of…