On Insane, Taylor James is able to craft a release that touches upon a wide swath of distinct musical genres. On Back 2 U, the album’s first track, James is able to blend together pop, soul, praise and funk music into a very dense and detailed effort. The vocals on the single do more than tell a narrative; they are able to come forth and bolster the aforementioned instrumentation. Say…
Arguably one of the best punk rock/goth supergroups of all time, The Lords of the New Church was sadly close to being forgotten by an entire generation. Comprised of Dead Boys singer Stiv Bators, Brian James from the Damned, Sham 69’s Dave Tregunna, The Barracuda’s Nick Turner and occasionally the Damned’s Rat Scabies, the band’s fantastic 1982 self-titled debut mixed punk rock, British goth and some of the earliest hints…
El Gato Dice have released their third album, Tres. The disc begins with Simplest Design, a work that calls back to the alternative rock of the mid-1980s (The Replacements, Yazoo). The guitar work is complex and adds considerably to this initial effort’s gravitas. With the shift to the second set of vocals at the 1:45 mark, listeners will be further impressed at the instrumentation’s ability to shift to something wholly…
Long Claw’s “Razor Blade Tears” is a strong track that tells a story. The guitar line contributes mightily to the overall narrative of the song. During this single, the vox pull double duty. Rather than solely establishing a narrative, these vocals add an additional layer to the harmonies of this effort. Razor Blade Tears is a track that defies easy description. Fans will be impressed at the passion and ability…
Navakaine’s “Skyliner” is a tender track that succeeds due to its honest and earnest vocals and a richly emotive backing instrumentation. The two elements are able to shine alone or as a cohesive entity. We loved the ability of the two to rise and fall; the shifting tempo of Skyliner ensures that listeners will be continually engaged with the song. Unique in its sound, fans of Taylor Swift and Bif…
Kevin Tiah’s “Voices” is an intense blast of hard rock that brings in hints of late-oughts hardcore, emocore, and a bit of melodic / progressive metal to the mix. The supersonic vocals laid down by Keven during Voices are matched nicely during splashy drums and sizzling guitar lines. The track is able to hit all of the marks in an extremely proficient fashion. With a polish that ensures it garners…
Jamieson’s “The War” is an engrossing single, with a rapping style that links together the rich London rap scene (e.g. The Streets) with late 1990s NYC (Jay-Z, Nas) and modern rap (Ed Sheeran, Macklemore). There is a chiaroscuro between the pointed rap flow and the more melodic hook. Jamieson’s powerful lyrical content on The War is bolstered by a backing beat that rises and falls in all the right ways.…
Ryan Rebo’s “Boogieman” is a dreamy alternative effort that pulls together hints of Death Cab for Cutie, Oasis, and Bruce Springsteen. The guitar line bolsters Ryan’s vocals, while an intricate drum line provides additional depth to the composition. A repeated section during the last minute of Boogieman is a call back to The Smashing Pumpkins’ Disarm. The production of Boogieman is key in making this track a success. It provides…
JPRiZM’S “Rise” is a fantastic blend of rap and trip-hop / IDM. The ability of this performer to hit hard with a rap flow and finesse with a softer, more R&B tinged flow ensures that the track can be appreciated by the widest possible swath of listener. A solid production ensures that each side – instrumental and vocal – is able to be enjoyed on its own as well as…
Foreigner spent some time in Lucerne, Switzerland with The 21st Century Orchestra & Chorus. Two of their hits – Double Vision and Urgent – are given a tremendous new spin and a vitality that rivals that of the original recordings. The fullness of “Double Vision” ensures that listeners will continue to find new twists and turns even five or ten plays in. “Urgent” has a smaller orchestral component with a video that…
Be Astronaut has just released a new single, Bipolar Spectrum. The track is able to draw together indie, alternative rock, and progressive styles. While the vocals are alluring on their own, technical fans will dig a bit deeper into the guitar / drum interactions that are weaved throughout. The complexity of Bipolar Spectrum – the band is able to move through styles on a dime – means that listeners will…
Interpol’s come back with a new hit with a bit of a change of pace from 2014’s El Pintor. On “The Rover”, jangly guitar work and insistent drums will tattoo a rhythm deep into listeners’ heads. Raw, passionate, and blending together down and dirty Detroit rock with a tinge of 1980s synth / new wave, Interpol is back in peak form. Of particular note during The Rover has to be…
On I gotta be with you, Joe Lington is able to go back to the R&B and pop-rap styles of the late 1990s and early 200s. An assertive beat and paired vocals (Bryan G features here) ensures that the melody of this single is buried deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. For fans of early Ne*yo, Nelly, and R. Kelly, I gotta be with you is able to refresh…
On World Void Web’s latest single, We, The Fragmented, visual and audio elements combine to make something heady and impactful. With strong usage of black and white to put additional oomph to the piano and traditional percussive elements, World Void Web will keep fans focused in through the song’s nearly seven-minute run time. Make sure to keep an eye on the flashes of color that are interspersed here; the presence…
It’s been decades since the Elephant Six Collective was founded on a shared love for 1960s pop, but many of the scene veterans are still just as vital years later. You need look no further than the latest by Great Lakes – the Brooklyn by way of Athens, GA indie pop band – for proof.
Unforgettable Ride with mid-tempo melodic rocker “Slow Release”. Hart has an once or twice in a generation yowl ideally suited for this style and his straightforward singing reveals lung strength and vocal control among the best that we’ve heard from a hard rock band in some time. This is fun music, without a doubt, and raids the treasure trove of tropes and familiar turns that’s defined this popular form, but…
Inner Call has released a new single, Times Change. The single effortlessly blends EDM with a haunting rock style. The Drooid Remix of the song ramps up the energy nicely, while listeners will be amazed at the passion and range of the vocals. The track is able to reach an entirely new plateau when it hits the 2:30 mark, as the energy and dynamic between the vocals and synths are…
Stay With Me, the latest single from the ‘Mark Ian Rocket Man’ Project features Sabrina Purdy. The single is able to successfully build upon the pop and rock styles of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Purdy’s vocals are the perfect counterpoint for the guitar / drum dynamic. The crispness of the composition ensures that each element is able to shine alone or as a greater entity. Engrossing, engaging, and…
IBRU’s “War and Violence” is a touching effort that showcases the reality of life in the world. It showcases what actually happens when someone in the formative years of their life passes on or decides to join a gang. While IBRU’s vocals are beautiful and War and Violence is catchy enough to imprint its melodies deep into the minds of listeners, the message here may be the most important takeaway.…
A.Def begins their new single OP8 of the Masses with intricate word flow influenced by Tech N9ne, The Lonely Island and Twiztid. The intensity of the rap is paralleled nicely with the sultry vocals of Ava Del Cielo and a set of strings and booming drums that play behind the vox. OP8 of the Masses is a banger that stands up to repeat plays. The lyrical content works in the content of…