Blistering electric guitars meet warm lead vocals, honest harmonies and more than a couple of slick beats in songs like “Summer Means New Love,” “Good Ol’ Stupid Me” and “Sweet Sugar,” but even in the slow song “Dismal Day” and its easy-going counterpart in “Driving Me Insane,” there’s scarcely a moment in which Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps don’t sound on-point in their new EP Insane. Mixing together elements of…
Live records present us with a different dimension of an artist, and in some cases, a level of appreciation for their craft that wouldn’t have been possible in a more typical setting. In Live from Lockdown, the Streaking in Tongues’ 2020 installment in their growing discography or pure indie gems, the father-son pairing give us access to some of their most revered compositions through a dynamic real-time performance that binds all…
An essential agent of evocation in most any pop/rock effort, there’s no understating what a quality guitar part can contribute to an album as homespun as Daniel Tortoledo’s Through out These Years, and in songs like “Give Me Soul” or “Eloise,” it’s as important as any lyric ever could be. There aren’t a lot of cosmetic frills in Through out These Years, nor are there any attempts on the part of singer/songwriter…
Though guitars are frequently a centerpiece in any given rock album, they take on a special role in the songs found on Glorybots’ new LP Invisible that shapes not only the tone of the music, but the very lens through which we interpret it. In songs like the record-opening “Blepharospasm” and swinging “Radiate,” the riffs serve as a direct extension of the lead vocal in expressing the complete depth of emotion behind…
Take A Bow immediately starts with an echoing guitar that works as the perfect counterpoint for the supersonic vocals that Somaya lays out within. There are nods to performers like Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, and Bif Naked during the track’s 3 minute run time. With a nod back to the late nineties, Somaya is able to boldly forge through with a sound that will garner listeners by the barrelful. The…
“I’ve been tangled in this love affair somewhere in my mind / And when I see you, I’m at a loss – words I cannot find” we’re told by a soft, bittersweet vocal in the first couple of lines in 308 Ghost Train’s “Bleed Over Me.” As poetically endearing as these verses are, they’re just a limited preview of what’s about to come roaring out of the stereo in the…
The Burbs has a fun lo-fi vibe to it that calls back to days of massive house parties and college-rock acts from Rich Hardesty and pop-rappers like Asher Roth. With a bit of guitar representing the bulk of the supporting instrumentation, there is a fun and refreshing vibe that is cultivated here. daFinchi has really build up an eclectic style with his discography leading back a few years at this…
Power of Love is a powerful, effecting sort of composition that begins in a soft and tender way before gradually gaining additional layers of instrumentation and Carr’s inimitable scope of vocal delivery. Pulling double duty in both telling the narrative on her latest single as well as providing further depth to the composition, Jekalyn finds herself bolstered further through a rich chorus. There’s a driving beat that becomes commonplace as…
No Feelings has a dreamy, twinkling backing beat that adds a bit of finesse to the rap genre. The bit of vocal modification links together the instrumental and lyrical content, creating a cohesive and coherent sound to Rondo’s latest single. At some point, the hard-hitting is fun but the more contemplative, heartfelt approach will crossover quite nicely to the pop charts. No Feelings is tremendously reverent to the rap approach…
Coming at us with a hot and heavy rhythm that could make just about anyone feel like dancing, there’s no debate as to whether or not the swing in Russ Still and the Moonshiners’ “Cancun” is the fieriest feature this hybrid single has to offer. Right out of the gate, there’s nothing in the mix to stop Still and his backing band from dishing out one magnetizing groove after another,…
A vocal, good or bad, is inevitably what defines a rap track more than anything else does, and this is especially true of a fierce number like Rich Lindo’s new single “Jungle.” Lindo doesn’t hide behind any sonic smokescreens in “Jungle;” he comes out swinging hard with a melodic intro that bleeds into the instrumentation rather seamlessly. His epic rapping doesn’t hit us until we get deeper into the track,…
Fossil is an engrossing 10-minute-plus effort that provides listeners with a musical soundscape that virtually requires one to strap their headphones on to hear each and ever nuance that has been hidden within the composition. City in the Sky has a powerful groove from its onset. Twinkling arrangements play at the top of the composition, while an insistent dance beat is crafted that will bring fans back to the dance…
There Are Heroes is a robust, fun all-in song that incorporates a number of tremendous musical and vocal performers. Paul Helou’s guiding hand here allows for a groove to be established that is a bit Frank Zappa, a bit Tito Puente. What is most surprising about the single is how cohesive the finished effort sounds. While there are miles (or more) separating the constituent performers here, the resulting work is…
Endless has Pinegrove call back to the early-oughts indie rock of acts like The Appleseed Cast and The Anniversary. The band is able to make their own unique impression on the style by bringing in just a hint of alt-country (e.g. Avett Brothers). The act’s musicianship is just as alluring as their two-part vocal harmonies. There is a close-knit and fuzzy production style to the guitars and drums that will…
Hide & Seek begins with a dark and intense backing beat that rises at the right point to give Justina Valentine’s vocals a considerable boost. JV’s lyrical flow this time is nothing short of sick, with a speed similar to when performers like Em or Yelawolf really pump the gas. There’s a nuance here that will have listeners digging into the effort a number times before hearing everything that Justina…
Now Endeavor’s You Know Me has a bouncy vibe and a crossover sound that blends together EDM with R&B styles to make for something that will interest a wide subset of fans. There’s a tremendous amount of charisma that is exuded from the lead vocals, which settle into a bit of a rapid-fire rap-esque flow. There’s a smoother, Trey Songz meets Jason DeRulo type of R&B groove that rises up…
Make Believe has a delightful mash-up of Post Malone and Adam’s Song-era Blink 182. The considerable passion that is presented by the vox here is matched with contemplative and soaring guitars and sequenced drums. The song could easily make it onto pop rotation and playlists as LBM showcases the same hope during a relationship that anyone who has found their soulmate has felt. It is this honest and earnest sound…
Keri Wirth has started a Youtube series to showcase the considerable variation in languages around the world. To provide a bit of additional education in these uncertain times, Wirth has crafted a new collection of videos that provide a multimedia approach (visual / audio / musical ) to anyone – child, teen, or adult – that is focused in. A bright color palette and heavenly vocals will ensures that kids…
On Enough, Robert Eberle is able to craft an effort that skillfully blends together pop and EDM in a fashion that brings considerable gravitas. The vocal / instrumental dynamic pushes each side to a higher plateau. The synth and sequenced beat provides Robert with a robust backdrop upon which he can emote, while the shifts in tempo keep fans firmly locked on the edges of their seats. Don Da Menace’s…
On Miss July, Paul Cafcae is able to create a track that looks back to the halcyon days of the 1960s. His approach to pop-rock builds upon the style of the Beach Boys, Dick Dale, and Roy Orbison. The considerable amount of charisma that Cafcae brings to his latest single ensures that this single will bounce around listeners’ brains long after the song ceases. The guitar / drum / synth…