Joshua Israel’s “You’re Not Alone 2.0″ is a gospel-touched effort that builds upon the work of Bryan McKnight and the Winans family. With a tremendously soulful set of vocals representing the focal point here, Joshua is able to provide further emphasis with the presence of a choir at all of the right places on the single. You’re Not Alone is the rare example of a track that has a stellar…
Danii Roundtree’s “Crave” is an effort firmly ensconced in the pop of the 1960s. With timeless instrumentation and an easy-going set of vocals pulling from the early Motown sound, Crave is something that the widest swath of listeners can appreciate. Roundtree does a tremendous service to these well-trod genres, infusing them with current sensibilities and an energy that they’ve not seen for the better part of fifty years. Crave is an…
Fr Eazzy’s “The Weekend” is a sunny track that links together Chris Brown, T-Pain, and Akon in a fashion that will have listeners wishing it was the weekend. Island-infused synths and big, booming bass are precisely what is needed during this rapidly-cooling autumn. Fr Eazzy is able to immediately make a track that should be slotted in to rotation. We’re hoping that he is able to further the sounds and…
Julia Othmer’s “Purple and Gray” is a sultry, deliberate track that links together Adele with the mid-1990s alternative scene. Introspective guitars, punctual drums, and a haunting chorus-infused echo ensures that Purple and Gray stands out from the crowd.
“Choke ’em Up” by the Earthquake Lights has a power retro-rock vibe that calls back to the 1970s Detroit scene as well as The White Stripes. Deliberate, intense guitar lines represent the backdrop upon which assertive vocals can build off of. The sizzling guitar work and extended instrumental section which presents themselves at the two-minute mark gradually spin the effort into its final minute. This is traditional hard rock done…
Broke Royals’s new single “Bad Chemicals” will immediately draw listeners with passionate vocals and a set of guitars that blend together Maroon 5 and Mumford and Sons. The mid-tempo track is immense, with emphatic drum beats and gradual upticks in the momentum. The result of Broke Royals’ work here is that Bad Chemicals will stick with listeners long after the effort ceases to play. Particular kudos has to be given…
Heart On Fire is an interesting blend of styles. The sheer vocal range of Morrison touches upon high registers and low notes equally, with the unifying feature being her unmatched authority. The dramatic, epic backing beat presented to fans during Heart on Fire establishes a soundscape that is as rich as any vocal line. Together, these two sections unite to make for a single in Heart on Fire that will…
12:00 AM is an infectious track building upon the works of the Jonas Brothers and Jason DeRulo. Electronic-tinged and with a heavy bass beat at the bottom of the effort, 12:00 AM ensures that listeners will be out on the dance floor. The track twinkles due to the raw passion and intensity of LeGrand’s vocals; there is a charisma that is hard to deny interspersed throughout the entirety of the…
Elvyn Rhud’s new single Orange is for Love skillfully takes up the standards of jangly Doors/Tea Party psychedelic rock with the haunting goth style of Bauhaus and Joy Division. The tambourine works to provide further depth to the echoing vocals. Orange Is For Love is a track like an onion; listeners will continue to find new layers with subsequent plays. Even with the track ending before the 2:30 mark, the song…
There’s probably no place better to embrace the warm, loving feeling of Christmas than beside a crackling fireplace decorated with stockings awaiting Santa’s arrival. Many an artist have tried to capture this exact moment, this unexplainable happiness that comes with basking in the glow of the holidays, but only a select few have even come close. R&B songsters Norm Adams and Julia Robertson join those exclusive ranks with their new…
Bill Abernathy’s new album Crossing Willow Creek is a diverse fusion of styles that all share something in common with the fabric of Americana, and fans of his last LP Find A Way will be more than pleased to find the themes of that record greatly expanded upon in this one. Abernathy touches on a lot of ground with this release – from old fashioned country swing to electrified blues rock – but…
In an exploding Mexico City music scene that is developing a lot of really amazing talent right now, Labán sets himself apart as an old fashioned R&B singer in his new single “Dueños de Aquí,” the first from his upcoming album Todos Somos Dueños de Aquí. Designed as a protest song but outfitted with a classy, effervescent groove in the style of light funk, “Dueños de Aquí” isn’t a particularly detailed…
“Depression” figuratively gets the better of Jade Massentoff on the single of the same title, as she eloquently defines it in her own terms on this finely written, arranged and marvelously produced gem. The magnitude of emotions alone is off the charts on what is sure to be a hit song if I were to claim that about any this year. To say I was blown away by it wouldn’t…
Angelo David’s “This Place” is an EDM-infused pop track that showcases tremendous vocal ability. The raw passion and charisma that David brings to his new single will immediately impress itself upon listeners. The twinkling, trap-threaded backing beat allows for a stark sound to resonate loudly. Catching listeners’ attention, David is able to create a dreamy effort that effortlessly straddles the border between pop superstardom and Weeknd-esque R&B. The breakdown that…
Sammi Rae Murciano’s Unpredictable is an alluring R&B track that showcases considerable vocal ability. The backing beat is able to link together R&B, trap, and pop styles in a fashion that provides highlighting at all the right times. Unpredictable works to improve upon the approach of Jordin Sparks and Fifth Harmony. With an ample amount of bass providing a counterpoint to Sammi Rae’s vocals, Unpredictable is able to shift, change,…
The sophomore record from the Texas-based Power Pop band Fastball is likely remembered by most for the lead track and ultimate earworm “The Way.” The ridiculously catchy song about an old couple who goes out for a drive and gets lost forever, was endearing for the first few weeks of it’s release… but seven weeks in, the amount of time it spent on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart, it had more…
New York rockers Skyfactor hold nothing back from us in their new LP A Thousand Sounds, a record that encourages us to shed our inhibitions and follow the passionate groove of its cathartic lyrics. Hand claps give way to a percussive palm muted acoustic guitar that draws us into the majestic vocals of frontman Bob Ziegler; the acoustic sonic ribbonry wraps around us like a warm blanket and stays with us…
It’s been more than four decades since country/honky tony legend Lefty Frizzell passed away but his music inspired a slew of musicians that are still around today, a diverse group that includes everyone from Willie Nelson to John Fogerty. His music was also a key ingredient that helped launch the careers of The Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison (who was so inspired by the singer that he took the name…
Much like Tom Waits or Nick Cave, Ed Hamell (better known as Hamell On Trial) is one of those extremely rare musicians that have somehow managed to go decades ignoring conventional wisdom and norms of the restrictive music industry, and focus purely, instinctually on churning out remarkably creative records in pursuit of entertaining vs. simply selling a shitload of records. And have confusingly been able to make a living at…
Justin Roberts has just cut a video for his “Six Figures” single. Coming forth with a vocal swagger like no other, Roberts is able to link together punchline rappers with a Lil Yachty meets Migos approach. A minimalistic beat ratchets up the bass and drums, giving Justin’s flow proper punch through the whole of Six Figures. Roberts is able to ratchet up his draped up and dripped out sound to…