Jonah’s Whale is the first track on Jon Allen’s fourth album, Blue Flame. The track links together 1970s soul with hints of funk and rock. The bouncing bass, the horns, everything works together to make a stand-out lead-off track. A cooler, chill sound predominates during the album’s next two tracks – Keep on Walking and Since You Went Away. With a subtle nod to performers like Rod Stewart and Jim Croce, Allen’s…
Andy Sydow’s titular composition on his new release Reasons For Departure is a bit Billy Joel, a bit John Denver. A rich set of vocals stand out from the instrumentation (piano / guitar). The narration will keep fans focused on to the track. As Reasons For Departure continues on, the the gradual incorporation of additional instrumental effort transforms the track into a rocking effort that by the three minute mark will…
Time Wave, the initial single from Nir Yaniv’s new album The Voice Remains, is a tremendously engaging effort that interlaces vocals and instrumentation in a complex, intricate fashion. Bass, drums, and vocal elements all are weaved together to keep listeners on the edges of their seats. The extended drum solo that occurs at the 2-minute mark gradually is lifted up through thee aforementioned vocal elements. The bridging between the song’s first…
Tammie Shannon’s I Got Rhythm is an effort that immediately draws upon the country and western style of the 1970s and 1980s. Upon that framework, she is able to put out some catchy vocals that do more than keep things catchy – they rise and fall through a tremendous range. The tautness of the instrumentation on I Got Rhythm will stand up to repeat plays – fans will continue to…
3,000,000 Years is the first track on Peter Kleinhans’ debut album, Something’s Not Right. The song blends together Dave Matthews with the protest tradition of performers like Neil Young and Phil Ochs. The production is robust, allowing the guitars, drums, and Peter’s voice the ability to shine alone or as contributing to the entirety of the composition. A Separate Time has a slower tempo, along Peter to weave a narrative…
Paul K has just released his new album, The Fermi Paradox. On Anomaly, the album’s initial offering, Paul K is able to involve listeners through contemplative arrangements that unite traditional and electronic instruments. The effort rises and falls, providing ample narration in an orchestral, instrumental format. Sagan, the title’s new single, has a haunting, echoing approach that will stick with listeners long after the effort ceases to play. Utilizing samples…
LINKS’ 97 BARZ is one of the catchiest rap efforts that we have heard this month. His flow builds off of the approaches of T.I. and Lil Dicky, while imbuing his latest single with his own unique energy. 97 BARZ’s flow is able to shine over a thick, bassy backing beat that links together Hypnotize Minds and current trap. The rapid-fire lyricism of LINKS is something that will stick with…
The English-based alt rock band James has turned to a familiar topic throughout Living in Extraordinary Times, their 15th studio album: the current, global political landscape. President Trump and his fellow right wing, nationalist contemporaries in the UK have brought every racism and jingoism to the forefront of everyone’s day to day life, so it’s not surprising that musicians from countless genres are tapping the Grand Wizard In Chief for…
Niva the Soul Diva has just released “Hennessy Love”, a track that links together the 1990s R&B scene with a current and contemporary vocal approach. The backing instrumentation ebbs and flows, while Niva’s vocals are able to rise to prominence by the one-minute mark. The bit of percussion works well with hints of a soulful/funky guitar line. Hennessy Love is able to stand up to repeat plays due to this depth.…
Focused’s Grime Sublime is an intimate, intricate rap act that links together intelligent wordplay with a backing instrumentation that links together 1990s New York with the Kanye-infused Chicago approach of the mid-2000s. Grind Sublime is one of those efforts that really need to be focused onto; the lyrics are such that listeners’ eyes and ears will be opened. The double duty of Focused here – the vocals and the additional…
Randal Branham begins his Simple with Simple To Extreme, a tremendously engrossing effort that links together rock, funk, and even hints of traditional blues and country and western. The unique array of styles broached by Branham on this introductory track will have listeners on the edges of their seats. The narrative that is weaved through Simple to Extreme and Wonderful acts as the glue for the first half of the disc.…
Adina E’s latest track “I Couldn’t Help Myself” straddles the line between country and a pop/alternative style (e.g. The Carpenters, Natalie Cole, Melissa Etheridge). The introductory minute opens into something beautiful, with all elements – the bass, lightly-playing guitars, and drums – uniting to make a radio (or playlist)-ready effort. Adina E’s vocals will stick with listeners long after the track ceases to play. Listeners will be able to emote…
NIGHT’s “Charlottesville”is a tremendously emotional effect that needs little more to shine than a solitary set of vocals and a guitar. As the single continues to play, additional elements are able to join into the mix. At no point does this single lose its tender edge. At the 1:45 mark, an electronic element is brought into the fray; hints of Nine Inch Nails and The Tea Party bubble forth. The…
Images of Eden’s “Shield Me” is a supersponic metal track that showcases a band that is able to make something current while showcasing extreme reverence for the acts that had preceded them. Shield Me’s vocals are a melange of Queensryche and Iron Maiden, while the sizzling guitar work adds further narrative to the song. Shield Me has furious solos (2:45) and guitar/drum dynamics that push each to a higher plateau.…
Biting Elbows’ “Love Song” links together Disintegration-era Cure and mid-1980s Depeche Mode. The vocals that are laid down on this single are reminiscent of performers as wide-ranging as Walk The Moon and Conor Oberst. We dig the instrumentation that ebbs and flows on this effort. Take special care to focus on the track after the 2:30 mark. Love Song’s bridging point has the band move into new territory in the…
nIMO & The Light’s “Skin to Skin” calls back to acts like The Smiths and The Tragically Hip. The instrumentation on this new single builds upon the tradition of performers like U2 and INXS, with subtle nods to 1980s goth music. Skin to Skin’s bass, guitar and drum dynamic is fascinating, pitting the rich and omnipresent bass line with a more sporadic and impactful guitar. The drums punctuate Skin to…
Couch Jackets’ “Pillows And Rillos” is a fascinating track. The distinct sections oof the single – the synths, drums, vocals, and guitars – are pulling double duty. This means that not only do they contribute to the overall coherent effort that is Pillows and Rillos, but that they also can be enjoyed on their own. In the same way, pick out pieces of the track – the 1980s synths seemingly…
An Old Friend’s “Lady” is one of those track that imparts as much deep and effecting emotion with its instrumentation as it does with its passionate vocals. The track draws from the late-nineties and early-oughts indie/alternative rock styles of the Deep Elm acts. Lady is an effort that ebbs and flows, with louder, most guitar / drum -heavy moments buttressed alongside rich and impassioned vocals. The track will keep listeners on…
Tritonal have brought in Lourdiz to their new track “Love U Right”. The inclusion of her voocals allow Tritonal the ability to layer glowing synths and perfectly punchy beats in a way that makes the resulting track incredibly deep. While it is incredibly easy to enjoy the song driving around or doing something else, Tritonal’s unique ability to make this a heady and complex effort means that one should really…
Albert Hammond Jr has been crafting music for well over a decade at this point, and on his latest single,”Far Away Truths”, he’s able to spin the very angular rock music of the oughts in a bright new way. A guitar / bass dynamic hearkens a bit back to the 1980s; supersonic vocals draw upon Rush as much as Interpol.