Mika Means’ “Single Life” has a lush production that builds off the work of Sean Kingston, Nico & Vinz and Jason Derulo. Mika’s own vocals will bury themselves deep into the minds and hearts of listeners, while the bouncy beat provides the perfect counterpoint for these vox. The tempo ensures that listeners will make it out on the dance floor, while there is just enough in the way of differentiation…
Slothrust’s “Double Down” is a snarky bit of alternative rock that showcases a tremendous amount of instrumental skill with a bit of funkiness. The fuzzy guitar work that starts at about the 1:45 mark is a nice counterpoint for the smoothed-out beginnings of Double Down. As the guitar line continues, the bass and drums are able to add further depth to the composition. A bit of The White Stripes come…
The Aces’ “Last One” is a wonderful piece of 1980s power-pop that has just a hint of electro-funk contributed by the bass. The vocals and synths presented on this single weave in bits of Walk The Moon and Paramore. With seems as if with every subsequent single, The Aces are able to make a more engrossing and musically taut effort. Last One is light, airy, and contains enough twists and…
A lot of artists who are just starting out often wonder what it takes to create a solid Launchpad for their career, and it really boils down to several pretty basic qualities that can’t necessarily be taught. The first is having a good image for promoters to market, whether that be an image shrouded in mystery, vulnerability, happiness or depression. You’ve got to have some kind of identity. The second…
“Home” opens Brendan McMahon’s fourth release, About Joe, in slightly audacious fashion. The mass of backing vocals beginning the song with a choral arrangement is a bit of musical sleight of hand before the song shifts into a straight forward singer/acoustic guitar mold. This is brief, however; “Home” soon expands into a widescreen number with great melodic virtues and lyrical content that locks tightly into the musical mood. There’s some melodically…
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…