Category: Features

Posted on: March 17, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Jenny Dee – Dancing from a Distance

Something More is the initial track on Jenny Dee’s Dancing from a Distance. Haunting guitars establish the single’s backdrop while hints of electronic sequencing provide a delicious organic/computer-generated dichotomy. The resulting effort will stick with listeners long after the song ceases to play, ensuring that listeners will eagerly devour what’s to follow. House That We Built is an airy effort that calls back to the singer-songwriter styled of The Carpenters,…

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Posted on: March 16, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Galliano Sommavilla – one song

Few artists are able to generate maintained interest in a song that is six or seven minutes, so we were a bit interested when Galliano Sommavilla announced that he had just released a forty-two minute composition. The aptly named “one song” has considerable narrative qualities to it. Led initially by classical / new age-infused piano lines, the track ultimately moves through a number of distinct styles and approaches as one…

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Posted on: March 16, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Saint Mars – Singles

Saint Mars is an act that blends a legendary musician (Massive Attack’s Angelo Bruschini) with an up and coming performer (Ohio’s own Tryzdin). With their trio of singles, Saint Mars seek to put their imprint upon popular music. Help is a fascinating track that calls back to The Offspring’s Gone Away, mid-oughts U2, and even back further to acts like Midnight Oil. There is an alternative/rock approach taken by Saint…

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Posted on: March 16, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

NIK:11 – Kickback

Kickback is the latest single (and EP) by NIK:11. The track immediately hits listeners with an intense drum beat that gradually opens up into a Miami-infused sort of groove. There are nods here to performers as wide-ranging as Gigi D’Agostino and Benny Benassi. When the vocals kick in, the song takes a whole different path with a bit mid-1990s Madonna that can be heard here as well as a passing…

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Posted on: March 16, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

DownTown Mystic – Better Day

Better Day, the latest release from DownTown Mystic, contains a number of tracks that further expand the range of approaches and styles that the band can draw from. The Wish comes forth with a one-two vocal/guitar dynamic and a hopeful set of vocals. While the song draws from the 1970s rock of acts like The Eagles and John Denver, there’s a bit of Dave Grohl’s supersonic vocal approach scattered through…

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Posted on: March 14, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

James Forier – Singles

Cover Your Eyes has a very timeless sound to its opening, with a bit of 1970s easy listening baked into the guitars. Forier’s vocals are emotive, passionate, and establish a closeness with listeners that few voices can achieve. The dynamic between the guitars and vocals are solid enough during the single’s first minute, but the later inclusions (synths and bass) provide an allure that is hard to deny. Cover Your…

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Posted on: March 14, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Sami Thompson “Lifeline”

Lifeline is a pop track that could easily be released in the late-1990s / early-2000s. The hopeful vocals, light guitar work, and booming sequenced beat are tremendously reverent of this tried and true style. Thompson’s vocals are hopeful and true; where they come forth here as soft, they provide a smoothing of the boldness of the backing beat. Together, these vocals and instrumentation combine to make for an effort that…

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Posted on: March 14, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

John Paciga “No One Else”

John Paciga and Lexi Peppas are able to create a timeless track that could easily work in the 1970s as it does today. There’s a robust production that allows for the rising and falling of John’s pianos; the paired vocals feel honest and earnestly sung. No One Else is the perfect sort of track for a couple that truly, madly, and deeply loves one another. By imbuing this composition with…

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Posted on: March 14, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Secret Social Club “Gravity”

Gravity is an emphatic track that has Secret Social Club establishing themselves as a radio-friendly act, blending together a bit of modern rock (think Imagine Dragons meets AWOLNATION) with charismatic vocals. The dynamic arrangements during Gravity considerably boost the replay value of the track; the band is able to switch up their tempo and influences on a dime. Intense drum rolls are the stand-out element of the track, but the…

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Posted on: March 14, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

BLXPLTN “ZZEERRO (Dying for You to Get Rich)”

ZZEERRO is a fascinating blend of punk styles from BLXPLTN. There’s all of the immediacy of the early-1980s hardcore scene, a bit of the Rites of Spring-styled emo, and even hints of Refused’s 2000-ish revisiting of punk music. The haunting vocals feel as if they were pulled from a mid-1980s new wave track, while the absolutely furious instrumentation creates a wall of sound that Phil Spector would adore. Even with…

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Posted on: March 14, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Chloe Tang “Fanning The Flame”

Chloe Tang has released a new single, Fanning The Flame. The track straddles the line between pop and R&B. The vocal ability of Tang is considerable, both providing a cogent lyrical statement while providing additional context to the percussion and synth lines. What results with Tang’s latest is something that shines because it works in a contemporary radio context while staying honest to the musical approaches of the 2000s and…

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Posted on: March 13, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Kellie-Anne “Legacy”

Legacy is a powerful track that needs little more to succeed than Kellie-Anne’s impressive vocal range and piano. The song is able to slot easily enough into pop rotation, but there’s a more wide-reaching appeal present here. It’s no surprise that Kellie-Anne’s vocals are able to pull double duty – more than just going and telling a story, her voice is able to bolster and add considerable depth to the…

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Posted on: March 13, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Trav Torch “Lust”

On Lust, Trav Torch is able to refresh the sound of R. Kelly and T. Pain, adding considerable emotional quality to a sultry, sexy R&B effort. The instrumental side of Lust sets up an emphatic backdrop upon which the confident and inimitable style of TT can shine. The multiple vocal layers that are included in the song’s chorus keep things fresh and energetic; an increase in the effort’s momentum will…

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Posted on: March 13, 2020 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Peawees – Walking The Walk [Reissue] (CD)

While the world is inches away from plunging into Armageddon, Rum Bar Records and a brilliant Italian four-piece punk band are offering a glorious soundtrack to our end days. Boston-based Rum Bar continues their re-release series of albums by the Peawees with Walking The Walk, initially released 13 years ago (Wild Honey is putting it out on vinyl). The band’s fourth album, it also happens to be one of their…

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Posted on: March 13, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

F$O Dinero “Talk To Me”

F$O Dinero has a laid back style on Talk To Me that showcases considerable finesse. While the backing beat rises and falls in all of the right spaces, F$O Dinero’s vox are what really make the effort. Skillful usage of multiple vocal layers give the song a deeper, more fulfilling approach. With a fun dynamic between the aforementioned vox and keys leading out Talk To Me, there’s no doubt in…

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Posted on: March 13, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Bruce Sudano “The Mountain”

On The Mountain, Bruce Sudano is able to build upon the tradition of performers like Warren Zevon and Tom Petty. A powerful narrative is presented here as contained here, bolstered through smart piano lines, Jackson Browne-infused guitars, and an ear for the single’s overall arrangement that is unparalleled. The Mountain spins off in a bold new direction at the 2 minute mark. Everything – Bruce’s vocals, the bass, and guitars…

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Posted on: March 13, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Sunny Ozell “All That I Am”

All That I Am links together 1970s funk with mid-1990s Tori Amos to make something raucous and alluring. A bit of guitar fuzz calls out the pop-rock of the 1970s. The multiple layers that exist during Sunny Ozell’s latest single make for a much more complete sort of track; fans will delight in dissecting each taut bass liune, horns, and haunting choral element that the track has to offer. The…

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Posted on: March 12, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Elephant Heart “Love Is The Weapon”

Love Is The Weapon has a fun blend of styles from more middle eastern / Indian to reggae and even bits of rap. Elephant Heart’s new composition is confident and assertive in its sound, inserting itself quite nicely into listeners’ brains with an inimitable backing beat. An extended instrumental section provides a distinct middle to the single; when the vocals start back in, there’s a considerable boost to the momentum.…

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Posted on: March 12, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Checking in with Donna Zed

What changes have occurred in your life since we last sat down? Not that much, mostly a lot of learning and experimenting with new gear and music ideas! You’ve had a busy 2019; what sort of events do you have planned for 2020? With the exception of some gigs, I would love to get 2-3 singles out with their own videos and maybe do one as well for Surrounding Me…

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Posted on: March 12, 2020 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Malou Beauvoir “Papa Damballah”

Malou Beauvoir’s Papa Damballah draws upon considerable tradition in its overall sound and subject material. Key to the song’s success has to be the crystal-clear vox contributed by Beauvoir. The focused drums and guitars imbue the composition with a classic sound that fans of modern jazz and flamenco will appreciate. Stunning visuals add a further layer of complexity to the composition. Fans ought to strap on a pair of headphones…

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