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…
Adrian Conner’s “Unspeakable” has one of the most fascinating arrangements to open things up. Conner’s vocals stand out boldly from this scintillating, continually-shifting guitar / synth dynamic. On Unspeakable, fans can pick up hints of The Waitresses, Bauhaus and The Bangles. Adopting a hooky chorus (imagine The Go-Gos) with emotional, synth-tinged guitars, Adrian makes for a track that stands out boldly from the pack. The chunky, emphatic bass line provides…
Blue Stone’s “Chasing Helium” benefits from the inclusion of the echoing, mysterious vocals of Susan Bodily. A robust musical environment is established during this single that simultaneously calls forth sand dunes and futuristic cityscapes. Touching upon ambient and electronic styles alongside traditional world music genres, Blue Stone is able to update the sound of Elastica and Enigma to the current era. Chasing Helium gradually takes on a bit of mid-1990s…
Tiny Fighter’s “Want Friends” is our favorite track from the band. The intense bass line, interesting guitar work, and alluring vocals all unite to make a funky, alt-rock-styled track. Along the way, Tiny Fighter are able to touch upon The Breeders, Sheryl Crow, and Melissa Etheridge. There’s a bit more of a classic sound that is present during Want Friends, with hints of the Mamas & the Papas and psych-esque…
C. SHIROCK’s “Confess Your Love” is a bouncy track that simultaneously calls back to the synth-pop of the 1980s and the modern EDM genre. Inspiring synth lines and dreamy vocals unite to have listeners hang on every word. C.SHIROCK’s vocals are cast in the mold of U2 and Coldplay, making Confess Your Love an easy inclusion on any pop radio rotation. The track’s mid-point, which slows down things and brings…
Anastasia Elliot’s “The Boy Who Cried Love” is a touching effort that seamlessly unites passionate female vocals with an emotive piano line. With classical music and darkwave / goth genres representing touchstones for Anastasia on her latest effort, there will be something for everyone on The Boy Who Cried Love. The track’s increasing tempo makes for a more tense environment, upon which Elliot’s vocals are highlighted all the more brightly.…
Jonny Dee’s “The Man Who Fell From The Sky” is a funk-laid track that employs a chill flow. The taut lyrical content of Jonny Dee makes its own sort of harmony, adding to the thick bass line, vocal samples and emphatic drum beats already present. There’s a thickness to this backing beat that ensures one will be able to find new twists and turns even a few plays in. The…
The Chris Ruben Band’s Stomach Coil is an effort that blends together 1980s and 1990s rock with a more musically complex, progressive meets jam-band approach. The band utilizes an approach which ensures that all parts (bass, guitar, drums, and the aforementioned vocals) are able to shine. What results then with Stomach Coil is a track that fans will need to strap a pair of headphones on for; there are so…
John Gaar’s “Roll Like That” is an intensely soulful sound that draws upon the 1950s and 1960s doo-wop, blues, and 1970s funk. All together, what listeners will experience when they hear Roll Like That is a tremendously capable set of vocals and world-class musicians. The band works like a cohesive element – sure, there are times where the guitars and horns are allowed to step out in front – but…
Sin7’s “Erased” is a heavy, hard-hitting rock track that whips in bits of Slipknot and Godsmack into a guitar and supersonic-vocal led assault. Sin7’s production of Erased ensures that a slinky bass line, screams, on-point drums, and sizzling guitar work is able to shine alone or as an integral part of this cohesive effort. Never allowing listeners to take a breath, Sin7 makes a song that could easily slot onto…
MariBased1’s “DOE BOI” is an effort that calls back to the days of gangster rap. This means that there is a deep, nearly horrorcore approach taken to the song’s backing beat. The gritty lyrical flow of MariBased1 and MrBenjamin further adds realism to this single. As the track cuts off at the 2:30 mark, we’re left as listeners wanting more. Make it a point to check out what MariBased1 is…
David Haerle’s “Glendale” immediately draws listeners in with a sunny, mid-2000s alternative sound that builds upon the tradition of Everclear and Smash Mouth. The instrumentation on Glendale is something special, adding a further narrative element to the mix. Listeners can enjoy the track purely through its vocal side, through the collection of instruments that establish the backing element, and a cohesive entity. As Haerle’s single continues to play, fans will…
“Surrender”, the latest effort from Joey Danger, is a futuristic track that ties in late-1990s Fear Factory, Linkin Park, and Stabbing Westward into a dark, brooding effort. The raw passion present in the track will keep listeners interest high; a bit of Weeknd-styled R&B is the cherry on the top of the sundae here. Echo and distortion transform the track into something special, blurring the separation between organic and electronic. A…
Trina’s new track “I Just Wanna” features City Girls and Arie. The effort is able to showcase the intense flow of Trina while having a varied backing beat. Whether bass-heavy beats, a clap trap, or something light and airy, I Just Wanna’s beat is something that will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Adding in other females to the mix changes up the overall vibe of the track,…
John Paciga’s new track “The F-Word” is a bouncy, fun track that will bury its melodies deep into listeners’ minds. The robust piano line will remind listeners of The Rocket Summer or Bo Burnham. The F-Word is one of those songs that even draws back into the early-oughts college radio scene – I feel hints of Rich Hardesty and Ben Folds weaved into the fabric of Paciga’s latest single. Over…
AV Super Sunshine are an act that needs to be seen to be believed, and the video for their “Time Bomb” single is a cut above. The visuals – a pair of individuals running away from certain danger – parallels quite well the frenetic pace of the track. With additional actors providing a bit of realism to the run through the neighborhood, one feels that they want to experience the rest…