On their latest album, The Toadies shack up with Steve Albini to craft some enthralling stuff. The Charmer begins with Ash’s Theme, a taut rock track that immediately sets the stage for what’s to follow on the album. By putting the instrumental side of things to the front during the first minute, The Toadies ensure that the vocal sections make a huge splash when they start. Come to Life blends…
Ape Shall Not Kill Ape is the latest work from Tex Moonlight, a rock track that takes inspiration from Bloc Party, Frank Ferdinand, and the Kaiser Chiefs. The act’s able to bring in a much more traditional sound during the single’s chorus, a decision that will undoubtedly bring in fans of 1970s rock. The thick, ropy bassline is perfect here and offsets the bit of guitar fuzz that rises up…
Follow Me Home is one of those laidback tracks that works perfectly when one is lounging outside or doing chores around the house. The extended run time gives Circus Mind ample opportunity to set the stage for their latest work, replete with different movements. Each member is able to pairoff with another, giving listeners a number of distinct looks as the song continues to play. The one consistent that is…
On Silence, the Slow Burn Drifters are able to touch upon David Bowie, psychdelic rock, and even mid-1990s U2. The song is jam-packed with influences that will draw fans in, all while the band generates some impressive music. The single rises and swells, as the band continues to keep things fascinating. While the song rides out at the four-minute mark, Silence will remain in listeners’ brains long after that. This…
GALVEZTON’s Roll to G-Town is one truly fascinating effort. The song blends together Bob Dylan with Oliver Tree, creating something that is absolutely timeless while having enough quirky Beck and Chris Isaak nods to make the resulting work interesting. Hints of blues and gospel bubble up at points during this single’s chorus, giving the song legs for days. In fact, the overall composition of Roll to G-Town is intricate enough…
On Cold Country, Rob Bellamy & The Rebel Hearts are able to tie together 2000s country with a bit of rock instrumentation to craft something that speaks to a wide audience. The passion in which Bellamy is able to imbue each lyric on this single is impressive, showcasing a fire that in unable to be quenched during the work’s run time. The arrangement here is similarly strong. Splashy drums and…
On Hometown, Ben E. Davis is able to craft some seriously catchy music. Blending equal amounts 1990s R&B with pop, his charisma will convert anyone fortunate enough to listen along. The song’s cohesion is impressive as both the backing instrumentation and Ben’s vocal melodies combine seamlessly. Hometown is an earworm, an effort that will stick around in listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. Give the video a…
On “Sigmund Freud’s Girlfriend”, Michael Gilas is able to make a soulful, pop-infused track that calls back to the easy listening style of the 1970s and early 1980s. Michael’s magnificent voice shines brightest here, but the bass and drums combine here to make for a tremendous palette upon which they can reside. The back and forth between Michael and the single’s backing female vocals add further depth to the track.…
Slow Burn Drifters’ The Divide is an emotionally intense effort that whips in Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother as influences, all while the dark charisma of the vocals here are reminiscent of The Tea Party and The Doors. The production of The Divide allows for the wind-swept guitars and jangly instrumentation to provide considerable depth to these vox. The insistent guitar work that bisects The Divide acts as…
Circus Mind’s “Viking Princess” is a bouncy rock track that calls back to the more sultry 1970s brand of rock music. Interspersing sizzling guitar work with vocals that run the gamut between Alice Cooper and James Hetfield, Circus Mind are able to establish something utterly unique. Each of the elements that fans will hear on Viking Princess are playing their heart out, contributing to a composition that will stick with…
Rev It Up is one of those hard-rocking track that fits perfectly alongside Van Halen or 38 Special. Divergent builds out this track with killer guitar riffs, Whitesnake-infused vocals, and a devil may care attitude. Incorporating an extended instrumental bridge to Rev It Up, Divergent is able to keep fans frothing at the mouth until they kick back into their main gear. Rev It Up has an eminently singable chorus,…
Coffeeshop x Ty Taylor’s “Hear The Call” is a super-sonic effort that straddles the line between rock and country. There is an intense guitar line that is matched well with a supersonic set of vocals. When the two elements combine at the single’s chorus, Hear The Call reaches new heights. The song is one of those that will have listeners singing along after their first listen. As the old adage…
M. Spano’s “Something Different” is a fun, engrossing effort that shines because of the performer’s unique style. To be sure, there are clear nods to emo and EDM music here, but the resulting track is able to transcend genre boundaries. I feel a bit of John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) in M. Spano’s vocal styling, further mooring Something Different into a deeper musical tradition. The overall arrangement is quite deep,…
Born Outta Step is one hell of a work. The latest track from The Infamous HER is able to incorporate a number of different musical styles. Of course, the song feels like a drinking shanty that Flogging Molly or the Dropkick Murphys would release, but there’s also a bit of glam metal that plays at the periphery here. The bit of fuzz that encapsulates the single calls out to early-nineties…
Hole, the latest work by Denise Marsa, is a wonderful mash-up of 1980s mall pop and electronic music. Fans of acts as wide-ranging as Blondie, Devo, and Kylie Minogue will be able to find something to sink their teeth into with this work. The tremendous charisma that is exuded on this single is hard to deny; one need only play the song at a local watering hole to see people…
The Tennessee Werewolves’ “Rise Up” is a ferocious track that will get people out into the mosh pit. The act is able to incorporate hints of Motionless in White and Korn to bring in a wider array of listeners. The guitars and drums that comprise the low end of Rise Up keep fans firmly on the edges of their seats. The song’s run time is fairly short (it concludes before the…
On Abused, Liyah Bey is able to show tremendous emotional content with some of the most impactful vocals that we have heard. Building upon the trends of performers like Lorde and Stevie Nicks, Liyah establishes the narrative on her latest single while building up the melodies. Taken together with the keys and drums, what results in Abused is something that works perfectly on modern pop playlists while having enough substance…
On Super-Hi and Luke Spiller’s version of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know, there are subtle nods to the original source material while the backing instrumentation ends up exploring bold new areas. While the song still sonically resides in the pop genre, there are bits of EDM and expansive indie sprinkled throughout its run time. The song feels fresh and new, destined to be picked up by an entirely…
Nuke The Soup’s Lost On You is an emotive, rich composition that showcases tremendous engagement with the song’s subject matter. The act needs little at the song’s onset besides the vocals and guitars. When the drums and bass kick in at around the minute mark, Lost On You shifts to a blend of 1970s rock and 1990s alternative music. The driving beat will tattoo itself deep into the minds of…
D-Shot’s “Take A Shot is a braggadocious effort showcasing all the style and swagger of D-Shot. There’s a good amount of E-40 and the Yin Yang Twins that can be heard here, while the tight lyrical content experienced here showcases D-Shot’s own unique take on the rap genre. There’s a high replay value to this single because of the depth of these aforementioned compositions as well as the sheer amount…