On Rain, Xavier Toscano starts things in a more delicate and slower fashion. Rain is repleate with the titular item and emotive synthesizers. The song is more R&B meets pop than straight dance. The instrumental interludes that are present at points during Rain do much to vary the overall feeling of this single. With both Rain’s arrangement as well as Xavier’s vocals being allowed to shine as singular entites as…
The City Said comes forth with meaty, 1980s-inspired synths and a percussive element that make for a solid beat. The atmospheric levels that Xavier is able to achieve with his vocals acts as the cherry on top of the sundae. Multiple instrumental layers provide further depth and replay value for The City Said. There’s a serious groove that Xavier achieves in the lead up to the song’s chorus that outpaces…
My Confession, the latest work by TT, is a song that is absolutely timeless in its execution. While the initial minute feels built off of a Bob Dylan chassis, the gradual ratcheting up of the tempo via Replacements-esque guitar work make it that listeners are firmly glued to their seats. The ability of TT to turn on a dime and adapt different guitar and drum lines to the overall spirit…
Hot Water is an exciting jolt of fire during these cold winter months. D-Shot’s rap flow is a bit E-40, a bit Twista, and intersperses rapid-fire delivery with a bit of finesse for Hot Water’s chorus. The presence of ample features during D-Shot’s latest keeps the song chugging along, with the work of Turf Talk, Cyda Lean, and Bleezo providing further depth to an already teeming track. The different approaches…
On their “City Of Thieves”, Forgottensong deftly establish desert rock in the vein of a Chris Isaak. Slinky vocals recall performers like early Tom Petty or Roy Orbison. The deliberate approach taken during City of Thieves’ first minute sets the stage nicely for what is to follow. Hints of surf rock are whipped into the mix, with just enough funky guitar line and shuffling drums to really induce fans to…
On Boom Boom (Goes My Heart), Xavier Toscano is able to provide fans with a track that will immediately draw them in. This single ties together dance, pop, and rock perfectly. Xavier’s charisma is hard to deny, both in telling the song’s story or further building upon the funkiness of the backing instrumentation. A similarly high-energy video is paired with Boom Boom (Goes My Heart), making sure that all of…
B.B. Cole’s Of Love and Loss doesn’t just sound like an album. It looks like one. In a bold move that places her among artists like MGMT, whose 2010 album Congratulations was accompanied by a vibrant visualizer, Cole favors a visual storytelling format that deepens the listener’s experience. Each of the 12 tracks on her sophomore album is paired with an illustration inspired by the Major Arcana of tarot cards, crafted by French illustrator Ariane Dudych.…
Michael Vincent Quattro’s “I Need Your Love” is a fun call back to the dance and new romantic styles. Michael’s vocals have some commonalities with Peter Gabriel and Dave Gahan. The presence of a driving dance beat on Quattro’s latest work will get people up and active, while the layered approach that the song takes is something that will keep things interesting from the song’s first beat all the way…
AMERICA is a track that is hard to define, based on Sorina Kiefer’s wide array of styles that are expertly weaved through the composition. The song is able to take up the batons of Madonna and Lady Gaga, all while Sorina amplifies political discourse during the effort’s main body. The backing instrumentation builds considerable urgency over AMERICA’s run time. Guitars and martial drums combine to really hammer home the majesty…
Innacence’s “In My Body” is the dance track this winter desparately needs. The song will immediately bring listeners in with haunting, ethereal vocals. As the song continues to play, the gradual increase in the tempo leads into some seriously heady synth work. The vibe that is generated in “In My Body” is pure esctasy. The single’s drop is something that would blow the lid off of a venue. This should…
Contageous Funk’s new track By Any Means establishes a very laid-back and chill flow. Intricate bars pepper listeners, while the single’s chorus will bounce around listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. Fans of 2000s rappers like Jadakiss will find a kindred spirit in Contageous Funk; the song hits hard while acting debonair. By Any Means is a wondrous call-back to a fun era of rap, all while…
With his new single “On Dat Brown”, YSN Hazel is able to create one of the sultriest vibes we’ve heard in a while. The sheer passion of his vocals, the lyrics that are dropped down here, and the visuals established by the video (below) combine to make for one killer track. On Dat Brown is a work that would succeed in 2008 just as it does today. YSN Hazel has…
In Shot of Blue, Tom DiCillo presents a vivid and soulful collection of songs that captures both the mystery and intensity of love. Known primarily as a pioneering filmmaker with works like Johnny Suedeand Living In Oblivion, DiCillo has taken his creative sensibilities to a new level with this album, resulting in a unique blend of rock, surf, and cinematic vibes. The album opens with “December Sun,” a warm, wistful…
On Winnipeg, Orit Shimoni is able to link together the North Americana of the 19th and early 20th centuries with a bit of the mid-20th century singer-songwriter style of Warren Zevon and Carole King. Little more is needed to succeed on Winnipeg than Shimoni’s vocals, guitars, and strings. The bit of secondary vocals that shadow Orit’s voice at points provide a bit more depth to an already voluminous track. The…
Bringing in hints of Prozzak and the Newsboys, Ben E. Davis is able to add to the broader corpus of holiday music with his new single All I Need for Christmas Is You. Adding in equal amounts of electronic, dance, and funk, Davis tells the story of blossoming love. The narrative generated here is something that anyone that’s fallen in love will understand, while Davis’s alluring vocals are able to…
Ben E. Davis’s “American Boy In London” is a poppy track that builds off the framework of late-1990s and early-2000s pop and rap styles. The chorus is tremendously catchy, ensuring that listeners will be singing it long after the song ceases to play. Moderating this LFO-meets-Aaron Carter hook with grittier rap stanzas, Ben E. Davis is able to keep things fresh and vibrant until the song rides out. Watch the…
Grandpa’s Ghost is a touching effort that needs little more to start than Roger Jaeger’s voice and guitars. The song gradually picks up in momentum before settling into a sort of Mumford and Sons meets The Lumineers type of style. The reverence for one’s family is the guiding principle of the song, showcasing that life itself may be similar no matter where one finds themselves in time. The distinct sections…
Wander is an impressive effort from Roger Jaeger. The track firmly fits into modern country music, but is careful to incorporate what worked in country music from the 1990s and 2000s. There’s thoughtful instrumentation, a bit of a desire to crossover to rock, and a set of vocals that are absolutely out of this world. Wander’s production is stellar, adding a shine to these constituent efforts that ensures that the…
The Tano Jones Revelry have released a new single, “Light It”. The song immediately draws listeners in with rich vocals in the vein of a Matchbox 20 or Jason Mraz. The instrumentation is fairly dense, providing ample replay value that far outstrips other pop-rock compositions. Fans of the Goo Goo Dolls and the Counting Crows will love sinking their teeth into this meaty arrangement. With all sides of The Tano…
On Leaveyourlove, Parcels are able to create a sublimely funky track that blends together the best parts of funk, soul, and yacht rock into something that will resonate with fans long after the song ceases to play. Whether it be the ropey bass line, the multi-part vocal harmonies, or the perfectly on-point percussion, all sides of Parcels are able to shine. The song’s production is amazing, smoothing off any rough…