{Shamelessly grabbed from Ecliptic Brewing) Ecliptic Brewing of Portland, Oregon is excited to release their newest beer in their Seasonal Series: SunRay Juicy IPA. Offered in 12-ounce cans, the beer is set to hit store shelves in mid May. SunRay Juicy IPA is brewed with Bru-1 and Idaho 7 hops and 100% Pale Malt. Together these hops pack a punch of juicy flavor, with heavy notes of tropical fruit and…
Preface is more than just an introduction to Luna Scar’s new album, The Relation Between Unrelated Concepts. It is a fully-formed track that will bury its melodies deep into listeners’ minds; the charisma that Luna Scar immediately brings to the release will garnet fans even at the onset of this disc. Bite is a powerful effort that could easily slot onto pop or EDM rotation. The strong, assertive vocals that…
Go Do That With Sharon has a powerful main guitar riff and assertive vocals. Haerle establishes a complex arrangement that brings in hints of surf and nods to mid-1990s Beck and R.E.M.. David’s vocals ring out over the composition, but the ancillary inclusions here – a robust bass line, for one – makes the effort fulfilling as all get out. Romy and Michele slows things down; David ensures that listeners…
The Death of Me blends together Tom’s supersonic vocals with a stripped-down rock in the vein of AC/DC and Kyuss. The ferocity of this single is further punctuated with sizzling guitar work and on-point drums. The melodies encountered during this cut will bury themselves deeply into the psyche of anyone listening in. Rise is a power ballad that count easily hang with the highlights of the genre. Tom’s vocals are…
On I Need More, Christina Morgan-Diaz is able to create a timeless gospel effort. With a slow, deliberate tempo and considerable vocal chops, Morgan-Diaz is able to tell a story of praise as well as anyone. The backing instrumentation heard on I Need More is robust as all get out as well; the piano and bass unite to make a stellar tapestry upon which Christina’s voice can truly shine. Adding…
On Stay, Snuttock are able to craft a fun bit of alternative rock that builds upon The Buggles and Jellyfish. The pair vocals are matched nicely with an electronic/guitar approach. The melodies that the act crafts during their latest single will stick around with listeners long after the song ceases to play. The bridge at the 1:55 mark allows Snuttock the ability to change things up for the song’s second…
The London underground has always produced some of the most provocative artists known around the world, and this spring, it’s offering us another soul-searcher with a talent for making impeccably eclectic music in Bloom’s Taxonomy. Bloom’s Taxonomy is a solo project dedicated to exploring the depths of the modern ambient beat, and in his new record Bitter Lake, he takes a uniquely British approach to his mission. There are more than…
Few genres in the pop music lexicon have been as consistently popular as the blues have since its inception. No matter what seems to be going on in the world around us, there’s always a good blues song out there to suit the mood at the moment, and in Izzie’s Caravan’s Leo’s Guitar, there are four such songs ready and waiting for fans to appreciate. Leo’s Guitar is a barebones blues-rock record that…
At first, the driving beat in “Habibi” is skewed with a reticence that suggests bittersweet emotion finally coming to the surface in the midst of vicious exchange between lovers. It doesn’t take very long for this reticence to fall under the weight of the pulsating bassline in the foreground in this latest single from Ilyah, eventually resulting in one of the smoothest rhythmic ebbtides of the new decade to date.…
Innovative and instantly connecting with the listener, the 12 songs on the new album Eastside Sessions bridge the gap between jazz, rock and even Latin-flavored music. Proving once again that big sound gets big results, the veteran group, Project Grand Slam, have been doing this since 2007 and show no signs of stopping. New York City’s Project Grand Slam have thrilled audiences far and wide. While we’re at the disadvantage…
Over the course of 2020, Colorado’s Oskar Blues is releasing a number of barrel-aged varieties in cans. The line is starting out with All Monde, an over-the-top imperial stout utilizing toasted almonds and vanilla beans. Oskar Blues is utilizing continuous circulation of the stout through adjuncts in order to impart a deepness of flavor. While the decision to incorporate materials alongside the beer in the finishing process is not a…
On The River, Campbell Harrison is able to blend together equal amounts Jane’s Addiction and Layne Staley, adding more than a fair share of bluegrass and alt-country to the mix. The guitar laid down here is fantastic, bringing more than just musical accompaniment to the composition. Rather, the guitar work adds considerable depth to the soundscape that is crafted here. Hopeful and vibrant, Campbell’s vocal approach is matched shortly after…
Animal has Jane N’ The Jungle create a musically complex composition that contains enough hookiness for the single to easily slot onto alternative and hard rock rotation. The supersonic vocals that will wash over listeners keeps fans firmly planted on the edge of their seat. With nods to both Skillet and Fleetwood Mac, Animal is one of those track that is truly timeless in its overall sound. A stand-up production…
Alex Sparrow is able to create a positive love song in these dark times with his new single, Let’s Stay Home Tonight. The track has considerable vocal charisma, a robust backing instrumentation, and a production that ensures the single will garner airplay on numerous pop radio station. There’s a fulfilling complexity to Let’s Stay Home Tonight that differentiates Sparrow’s latest from countless other tracks. The amount of progression that fans…
As part of the Live Screenplay Reads during the Urban World Film Festival (held yearly in New York City, Deborah Lee Fong was able to provide considerable experience to new and experienced actors from around the United States. Over the course of the last 30 years in film, Fong’s been able to take a turn in productions from PBS to nationwide theatre performances. Keeping active even when the audience is…
Linda Collins, star of the Andres Irias-directed Perception, picked up the Best International Film award from the Brightside Taverns Shorts Film Festival. Additionally, Collins’ turn as Lauren was awarded with a Best Supporting Actress award at the Omaha Latino Film Festival. The pair of awards caps off a busy time for Collins, who has contributed her abilities to films ranging from drama (In My Eyes), comedy (Three for the Road)…
CLICHÉ is the first effort off of Dead Freddie’s new self-titled LP, and it immediately calls back to acts like The Stranglers and The Adverts. Melodic pop-punk with driving beats and a robust bass line sound absolutely timeless here, while the passion and charisma of the lead vox will immediately draw fans in to the rest of the disc. When I’m Bound begins with some Cars-esque keys and a hint…
Given Everything is a hopeful track that has Linker blend together early-1990s Tom Petty with mid-1990s alternative. Multiple instrumental layers unite to make for a complex backdrop. Subsequent listens are essential for listeners to hear each and every dynamic that is included within. The hopeful vocals laid won here by Mitch has just a tinge of melancholy playing at the periphery. A secondary vocal layer adds further depth to his…
During Charon, Jordan Rome is able to create a compelling instrumental backdrop that is part Jethro Tull, part Low Man’s Lyric-era Metallica. The guitar and vocals act here as complementary narrative components. Drums punctuate the backdrop of Charon. Little more is needed during this composition than Jordan’s voice, guitars, and drums; the resultant combination of these elements establishes a melody that will bury itself deeply into listeners’ minds. Never content…
When we personalize our efforts to engage the world, the positive impact we create is powerful. Anyone can hold up a sign, march shoulder to shoulder with others in the name of a particular cause, or reel off a bevy of slogans and adages we believe illustrate solidarity with an issue. This observation does not denigrate such efforts. Being an informed member of our global community is laudable. Pouring our…