Darren Michael Boyd’s sophomore effort, Wonders Of The Invisible World, is everything as a music fan you would hope it could be. Abrasive, angry, uncompromising, wide-ranging. Part of Boyd’s craft is his ability to fuse sound with seemingly autobiographical influences. His debut solo album, aptly titled Lifting The Curse, was inspired by a life-altering accident and subsequent strenuous road to recovery. The term blood sweat and tears would not be…
Concept albums are nothing new. If you’re a fan of Green Day, you’re familiar with American Idiot. The Beach Boys’ brought us Pet Sounds. The Beatles’ masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the most famous concept albums in history. Singer/songwriter David Arn has released the incredible concept album, Traveler Tales. In his songs, he takes on the perspective of 14 different travelers, revealing much about human…
Brooke Daye’s Everything and Nothing is a strong effort that showcases the complexity of emotions that one will have about previous lovers. Anyone that has had a painful relationship will be able to emote with what Daye does here. The instrumentation that backs up Daye’s voice on Everything and Nothing fills in all of the track’s gaps all while pushing Brooke’s voice to some tremendous highs. The song will easily…
Billy Jeter has a story to tell, and “Sins Of Me” is the first single from the album coming next Spring, which is aptly entitled – Shineye Landing, and comes with a full-length set of more to tell than one song can cover, but it goes a long way to indicate what is going to be inside that package when it arrives. This song gives you enough to entice, but…
Sounding a bit like Ella Fitzgerald herself, the beautiful songbird Miss Freddye lends her voice to a song rumored to have been sung by Harriet Tubman. “Wade In The Water” is truly American – it’s words passed down generation to generation. Miss Freddye’s version is slower paced, but rapidly heartfelt. “Wade In The Water” is from Miss Freddye’s forthcoming gospel album, expected in 2021. It’s a gift to be able…
“Just Like Xmas (Love Is War)” is a vulnerable holiday song. This emotive work, from Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps is uncompromising. Frosty lyrics and an exceptional music bed, the icing on the cake is Tikka’s indie-rocker vocals. He’s a born front man and this pop rock tune could just be the indie radio sleeper hit of 2020. After a few listens, the nuances and unveiling of an artist…
Wowing us with their soft touch in the title track. Brushing up with themes sourced from Britpop, American folk-rock and even outsider music in “Elsie’s Last Stand.” Allowing for crushing brawn to amalgamate with a tender melodicism in “Desolate Angel.” Confounding us with contradictions in “Seven Seconds of Summer” while adhering to the strictest of sonic rules in “A Toy for Juliette” and “Pretty Blue Gun.” They are Fitzsimon and…
ADVI is able to create a laid-back R&B track that is tremendously reverent of the New Jack Swing approach, all while infusing the track with a luxurious backing beat. A clap track interlaces itself with twinkling keys and sweeping synths. Blue Gene is completed through the presence of a booming, bass beat. ADIV will keep fans out on the dance floor through soulful crooning and further harmonies added on top…
What are some of the images that first come to mind to mark the holidays? For some it’s Christmas time once you see Santa waving on that very last float at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For others, it’s the 25 Days of Christmas on Hallmark Channel or one of the other cable networks. In my house, it’s not Christmas until the radio is playing “Step Into Christmas” from Elton John…
Founders has normalized a few of the variants of KBS this year around with specialty 4-packs of their Kentucky Breakfast Stout. Of course, the company is making their mainline version (12% ABV) available as well. We were fortunate and received samples of each of 2020’s version of KBS. KBS – 2020’s KBS is well-balanced, ensuring that there is a bit of a burn in the initial sip. Hints of toasted…
Anthony Lazaro’s A Minute to Midnight is an interesting effort as it has a bright, airy sound. Hiding underneath that hopeful sound, Lazaro’s incorporated some thoughtful instrumentation. Through on a glossy veneer and you have an effort that could easily compare to the corpus of Rufus Wainwright or Michael Buble. The dynamic between Anthony’s vocals and the punctual percussion push each to an entirely higher plateau, all while the light…
Ariel Bellvalaire’s Elastic is a powerful, assertive piece of pop rock that immediately showcases supersonic vocals and a very deliberate, almost “Hitchin’ A Ride”-era approach to the track’s beat. Every piece of Elastic – drums, guitars, and vox – are ratcheted up to 11. It’s that sort of bold sound (made all the more intense by a seconded set of vocals at points) that ensures that the song will tattoo…
Alix’s Golden is a delicate pop and R&B track that will get listeners jamming through Alix’s soft and sweet delivery. The laid-back instrumentation is a nod to the late 90s / early 2000s. Distinct, different, and unique her own, Golden is one of those efforts that showcases Alix’s talent. The song is an easy inclusion on a wide array of playlists. The range of approaches and styles that Alix includes…
Zachary Kibbee has so much emotion that is packed into each note on his latest track, Don’t Fade Away. Little more is needed in this performance than Kibbee and his guitar. Each note is absolutely vital here in creating something engrossing, adopting hints of blues, surf, and mid-1990s alternative. The richness of this recording really allows his honestness and earnestness to shine through. While the track ends before the four-minute…
Wiley Watson’s The Kid has a funky sound replete with guitar and booming beats. Beautiful vocals a la MGMT establish the single as something wholly distinct from the rest of the music currently cluttering playlist rotation. Watson is able to do more with his vox than merely tell a story – he’s able to bolster the backing arrangements through the infusion of another layer of harmony. The Kid is one…
Midnight Escape is an effort that showcases Barbara’s considerable vocal range. During this track, Santora does more than weave a narrative over the course of three minutes. Rather, she’s easily able to add to the overall melody established by the piano and drums. The overall spirit of Midnight Escape is one of a smoky jazz club; one could easily imagine the track being included in some middle-century detective or noir…
Sarah Christine’s new single The Choice is an eclectic blend of styles and approaches, a bouncy sort of effort that takes on 1990s dance, alternative rock, pop, and even even a bit of R&B before the song ends. The glue that unites these distinct approaches is Sarah’s charismatic voice. Where she is able to tell a story in a way to get toes tapping, there’s a great deal more nuance…
ADITI’s Glass is a hopeful sort of track. The pianos and drums that start off ADITI’s latest will draw listeners in, while the passion and charisma that goes into each and every lyric here ensures that one will stick around until the track’s final few moments. During Glass’s run time, there are nods to pop institutions like Billy Joel and Elton John. The song is infused with ADITI’s unique take…
Better Off starts off with alluring keys and a bit of brooding synths. When BankrollShell’s vocals begin, the song is able to take an entirely different vibe. The song could easily make its way onto rap or R&B rotation. The production ensures that both the lyrical and musical sides of things are able to shine on their own as well as contributing to a greater whole. BankrollShell is able to…
Sankarshan Das’s “The World Peace Formula” will immediately draw listeners in. The song links together guitar with a rich set of vocals; there’s a set of influences that are obvious here from John Mellencamp to Dave Matthews. When Das makes it to the chorus, there’s a nod back to the protest tradition of the 1960s. With the incorporation of multiple voices to the chorus, Sankarshan is able to showcase the…