The blast of bass and guitar brutality that comes roaring out of the amplifiers in The Boyzz’ “Too Wild To Tame.” The rollicking riffage of “Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive)” from Iron City Houserockers at the peak of their creative prowess. Meat Loaf’s theatrical crooning in “Paradise By the Dashboard Light.” Ronnie Spector’s lush lyricism in “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.” The only place that you’re going to find…
On So Emotional, Brandon James is able to link together a tremendously charismatic set of vocals with taut instrumentation. The song brings in hints of soul, funk, and 1970s R&B with James impressing his own unique vocals into every note. The dynamic between Brandon’s vocals and the horn is the focal point of the single’s second minute before a more contemplative sound begins to dominate. We’re absolutely in love with…
With their latest release, Rattlesnake, Canadian six-piece The Strumbellas have pivoted a bit away from their original neo-folk/alt country sound for a more pop sheen. And while this may cause some early adopters to walk away, it’s hard to ignore the charm and appeal of many of the tracks here. The album opener and lead single, “Salvation” is probably one of the band’s catchiest, most optimistic songs yet and a…
I Meant To Tell You I Loved You is completely engrossing in the sheer vocal range that CoCo lays out here. There is a cogent story that is weaved through this composition that is highlighted through a very laid-back, Prince-infused synth. The vocal and instrumental elements during the track push each to a higher level than if they were alone; by the end of the time I Meant To Tell…
Vaya Con Dios provides a heck of an introduction to SynthetikReal. The track soars on its engaging arrangements as well as a hopeful, Latin-inspired flair that calls forward comparison to Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin. With nods to both the traditional and modern pop genres, SynthetikReal is able to create a crossover hit that feels equally at home no matter whether on the pop, dance, or Latin charts. A robust…
Friends Chrystian Lehr comes forth on Friends with a tremendously intense R&B track that touches upon the last 20 years of the musical style. That means that there are hints of Jodeci present alongside Jason Derulo, The Weeknd, Neyo and Trey Songz. In this cut. Chrystian is able to both weave a cogent narrative and add mightily to the overall melodies established on the track. The tempo rises and falls…
On Kneel to the Power, Hoozbah is able to make a tremendously engrossing rock track that builds upon Frank Zappa and Bennie and the Jets-era Elton John to create one of the deepest and most emotionally complex tracks we’ve heard. The backing instrumentation rises and falls with the shifts in momentum enough to firmly lock listeners to their seats. The charisma of Hoozbah’s vocals are paralleled quite nicely with the…
Dr. Grimm’s Parade is the latest effort by Hogz in Dandyland, following up on some of the themes and styles initially broached on 2009’s Across a Miracle. Leafhopper begins the album, showcasing a measured and sedate approach that is able to tell a story through the instrumental interactions that wash over listeners. A focused guitar line and brooding sound pulled out of 1980s goth imprint a certain set of expectation…
Teddy Bear is a perfect example of a song that draws mightily on the country and western sound of the mid 1960s. The tremendous vocal quality of the track calls comparison to Tammy Wynette and Reba McEntire. The backing instrumentation of Teddy Bear is alluring with emotive slide guitar, on-point piano, and tremendous pathos presented through the bass line that is weaved through the track. There is a vibrancy to…
Ricky Rebel’s Magic Carpet is an energetic effort that possesses hints of Latin and middle eastern style, all while calling back to the pop style of the mid-oughts. The eclectic sound that Ricky Rebel crafts here will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. We’re particularly impressed at Ricky Rebel’s ability to both tell a story and add an additional level of depth to the backing instrumentation.…
Two years. That’s how long Stars in Toledo have been building a relationship as a band. Two short years. And yet, when I listen to their eponymous debut album, I don’t hear a group of musicians who have only spent a couple of holiday seasons together as a family of artists. I hear a band that has found their groove and gotten in sync with each other in a way…
URL: https://www.doublevee.net/ The “alternative” branding, as it currently stands in contemporary pop music, doesn’t mean a whole lot to very many people anymore, and it’s got nothing to do with the sudden death of a culture or the musicians who inarguably brought it to life in the first place. It’s because the term has been overused, misapplied and skewed with inarticulate subtexts; but in the case of Songs for Birds…
With Sotto Voce’s latest LP, Safety, it’s mastermind Ryan Gabos seems to have finally perfected his brand of moody, sometimes drowsy, pop music. The Pittsburgh native now holed up in Brooklyn (naturally), plays all of the instruments here, down to the programmed drum beats, and the result is a tidy satisfying collection of digestible pop ditties that swirl around long after you stop playing them. Residing somewhere between Yo La…
Be Nice is a fun pop track that is wholly unique when compared to the rest of the music clogging up terrestrial radio. C’Marie is able to build her own unique style upon the framework initially laid down by Corinne Bailey Rae and Ciara, while bringing to bear some seriously fun backing beats. With a bouncy, 1990s-infused pop / dance approach, Be Nice is one of those tracks that does…
For a song named iLoveJustinBieber, Jack Bruno comes out with a sick flow. With a hard-hitting set of bars and a chorus that blends together Tech N9ne and Three Loco, Jack Bruno is able to work with current rap and trap styles. Bruno’s output here is nothing less than impressive, telling a story as he adds a bit of finesse to the booming beats and clap track that represent the…
Yungeen Ace is able to tie together a southern rap style with a tortured, emotionally intense flow that showcases the other side of trapping. Few rappers are able to come forth with such an honest flow, and it’s one of the strongest facets for So Long. Listeners are able to get a tremendous introduction to Yungeen Ace over the course of the single’s run time. A tale plucked from reality,…
On Fashion Slayer, HEЯITAGE is able to link together 1970s funk, 1990s hip-hop and a bit of Latin bass into a track that will get listeners out on the dance floor. We’re in particular love with the intense bass line and the Daft Punk-esque synths that are weaved through Fashion Slayer. The two-part vocal harmonies presented here do more than tell a story – they add considerable depth to an…
On Wild Things, Just Like Honey is able to make a contemplative indie-rock track that takes the best part of Disintegration-era Cure and the Jesus and Mary Chain (where the act takes their name) and mixes them up into a wholly unique sound. Bold bass lines, twinkling guitar work, and spot-on drums unite to establish an overall soundscape that will stick with listeners long after the song ceases to play.…
Just a year after the release of his 1974 comeback album, Professor Longhair – arguably one of the Big Easy’s most important exports – played a remarkable show on the deck of the Queen Mary, docked in Long Beach, CA, at party hosted, oddly enough, by Paul and Linda McCartney. That March 24, 1975 set was recorded and released a few years later and would go on to help the…
Only Human is a tremendously passionate single in the vein of Lenny Kravitz or Prince. With equal parts sultry guitar and touching vocals, Dax Brooks is able to make a touching effort. The presence of a bit of soul and even traditional R&B imbues Only Human with a timeless sound. Brooks’ stellar performance during this cut will stick with listeners long after the track ceases to play. With just enough…