Never Judge A Book is one hell of a track. Swirling eddies of instrumentation play in the background while distinct lyrical sections provide complex, heady experiences for anyone that is fortunate enough to listen in. Q. Ali Bey is able to carry the standard of performers like early Three 6 Mafia and Outkast. The trio of features (Krystal Klear, Killah Priest, and Solomon Childs) all add their own unique touch…
Learn Ya Bout Me is an assertive introduction to Terry Milla. The strong vocals are interspersed with insistent backing beats to craft an absolutely timeless track that is inspired by mid-2000s NOLA and Atlanta. The production of Learn Ya Bout Me is sharp, giving both the bars and the beats more than enough ability to shine alone as much as they do together. Multiple lyrical layers provide further complexity to…
Adrianna Freeman’s “The Price” does a wonderful job in straddling the line between 1990s country and modern rock-infused country music. The passion and charisma presented during The Price is hard deny. While the guitars rise to the occasion and the drums are immaculate in the tempo they keep, fans cannot deny how big of a role Freeman has in setting up the narrative and overall feel for The Price. Freeman’s…
Even is a stellar pop / R&B track that works well in whatever context one incorporates it. There are bits and pieces of a Jason Derulo, Sean Kingston, and even Chris Brown that can be heard here. The instrumentation that comprises the backing beat on Even has the cold crispness of 1980s synthpop as well as the dynamism of modern EDM. Even is an effort that needs space to breathe…
(I’m Spending) Hanukkah In Santa Monica is an effort that has all of the spirit of 20th century brass bands and Americana singles. Deborah Silver and The Count Basie Orchestra are immaculate in their output here. While the vocals have their time in the sun, it is the constituent elements of the band that provide bright spots to the composition. (I’m Spending) Hanukkah In Santa Monica is an effort that…
Aquila’s cover of the Van Halen classic Eruption is a complete reinvention of the original. There a bit more in the way of gravitas, a bit more echo, and there’s something that feels heavy and intense at all points here. Each note is spot-on, but there’s just so much of Aquila’s own skill bleeding through that the track feels almost as if it is her own. There’s a vitality that…
Man, there’s nothing more engrossing than the flow that GoodGuyDavid1 drops on his latest track, Baby. With a dreamy-meets-drill backing instrumentation, Baby is able to shine. The repetition of the single’s title further firms up the composition. The patter of GoodGuyDavid1 is a bit Outkast, a bit Chance the Rapper, and chock full of his own inimitable approach to things. The song is decisively deep, ensuring that listeners have to…
Freekstar’s “Bulletproof” is an electronic-infused pop-punk track that whips in hints of Bif Naked, Atom and His Package, and The Red Hot Valentines into the modern era. The assertive vocals of the main body of Bulletproof immediately sets listeners on a journey, while the bit of guitar fuzz that peeks throughi is reminiscent of earlyoughts emo like The Appleseed Cast. This is a serious bop, and the video (embedded below)…
On Letter 2 My Folks, Young Hitta is able to blend together hard-hitting lyrics with a glistening, ethereal sort of backing beat. Together, these elements are able to make a cohesive effort that stands alongside modern rappers’ content with the greatest of ease. We’ve not had the chance to check out Young Hitta previously, but the work he puts in to Letter 2 My Folks stands on the shoulders of…
Where I Got My Fire, the latest single from Jeremy Gravely, showcases tremendous musical ability from its onset. Carefully-crafted guitar work will invoke considerable emotion before Jeremy’s dulcet vocals enter into the equation. Keeping the memory alive of his grandfather, Gravely is able to allow listeners to walk a mile in his boots. The track gradually gains momentum, before settling into a modern pop-country style that feels destined for high…
On their new single Lone Wolf, Social Gravy is able to blend the stoner-rock of acts like Kyuss and early Sugar Ray with a more radio-friendly rock (Franz Ferninand, Pulp). Assertive guitar lines are the perfect counterpoint for the charismatic lead vocals. The fuzz and distortion acts as a blanket to unite each part of the track, while a sizzling guitar solo is enough to keep listeners’ interest high as…
Don’t Forget Me is a haunting, ethereal track from Me And My Nightmare. The song is able to tie in late-1990s goth to the overall dance/pop styling that dominant the track. Shifting between vocal-heavy to instrumental sections, Don’t Forget Me is the sort of track that is dynamic enough to remain fresh through multiple plays. The vocals set leisurely on top of the synth sequences and the drums, imbuing Don’t…
Strong synth lines are immediately presented to listeners on May Fall’s new single, Plan D. Hints of Nine Inch Nails (particularly Pretty Hate Machine) can be picked up here. The emphatic beat that punctuates this song gradually moves into a funkier, Chromeo meets Zapp Band sort of sound for Plan D’s chorus. By incorporating new wave, funk, and even emo into the brew, May Fall’s output here shines due to…
On Wrong, Hudson Thames starts things in a very sedate fashion. Gradually increasing the tempo, Thames is able to create something absolutely resonant to a wide array of fans. The level of charisma that is presented during Wrong is hard to quantify, but it puts him into the same strata as James Bay or George Ezra. Gradually incorporating drums and strings into the mix, Hudson Thames makes the second half…
On the remix to Greater Than Infinity, Makenzie Reilly’s vox absolutely soar above the track. When the vocals step back, the tremendous arrangements by Coffeeshop are given one’s full attention. The two elements play well together, with the bright EDM fare of Coffeeshop both calling back to the highwater 2010s mark of the genre while Reilly’s voice operates at a level that one could easily imagine be placed on playlists…
Club Mirage is the latest effort from ViennaCC, a shuffling blend of rock, new wave, and dance music that always defies genre conventions. At the top of the track, ViennaCC’s vocals punctuate things in an emphatic way. The vocals cede territory at points to allow different instruments time in the spot. The numerous layers that comprise Club Mirage at any point are a boon for fans, as they will have…
Yafania’s “Don’t You Want To Be With Me?” is a high-energy track that deftly stradles the line between pop and rock. There are hints of performers like Avril Lavigne, Natalie Cole, and Ashlee Simpson here. The thoughtful guitar work that plays at the bottom of “Don’t You Want To Be With Me?” ensures that Yafania has something to build off of. A quicker tempo during the single’s second half adds…
It’s Not Your Life is MattO’s latest single. This acoustic track needs little more to it than MattO’s vox and guitar. MattO’s inspirations are on his sleeve, with nods to Michael Stipe and Bob Dylan shining through the brightest. If you listen closely, a bit of John Denver and Jimmy Buffett can be discerned. It’s Not Your Life is so honest and touching, a single that showcases a chapter from…
On Some Kind Of Purgatory, Mark Ciani is able to craft a beautiful lo-fi alternative rock track that showcases his love for early The Flaming Lips and Cake. There’s a wall of fuzz, a whimiscal approach to the single’s arrangement, and some serious charisma that all interacts during the single’s run time. We’re particularly big fans of the ropy bass lines that precede Some Kind of Purgatory’s chorus. This is…
Timothy Rogers’s “For My Good” is a positively-themed track that will inspire anyone fortunate enough to listen in. By tying in this message of faith with a catchy as all get out instrumentation, Rogers is able to spread his message as widely as possible. The call and response that is present during For My Good moors the single into the larger gospel genre. The production of For My Good is…