Los Angeles-based Power Pop band The Quick may have only put out one album in their short existence, but that one record, Mondo Deco, helped to bridge the gap between glam music and the then burgeoning punk rock scene.
As a musician myself, it’s been a really amazing thing to see the impact that smaller indie labels and artists acting as their own representative have had in the last 15 years. Since I first got into music, I’ve been able to see things change quite a bit, where once an A&R department and marketing agents made most of the decisions about what we were going to be listening to…
Some of the best music, regardless of genre, is the music that we can dance to and get crazy with just as easily as we can enjoy it on its own without any external interference. The best artists though, are the ones who have the ability to bring all of the magic from the studio with them out on the road and atop any stage, no matter how big or…
Costa Rican-born pianist and composer Esteban Alvarez is back and better than ever in his new album Piano Meets Mariachi and its accompanying single “La Bikina,” both arriving just in time for the summer record season (and making quite a splash in doing so). Unsatisfied with turning out a predictable album that would merely placate the needs of his longtime fans and the critics alike, Alvarez pulls out all of…
In a dazzling explosion of colorful tones and mammoth, glowing melodies that seem to melt through the stereo speakers like some sort of magical elixir, Fitzsimon and Brogan’s new album Big Blue World is making some gigantic waves even before it hits stores this June, and it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who has been following the European indie underground lately. There’s been a lot of energy gathering in the…
Kelly Padrick’s “Heavenly Ride” draws upon the B-52, Nancy Sinatra, and Fleetwood Mac for inspiration. The guitars pull inspiration from 1960s surf music, while there is a bit of fuzz that touches upon the anarchistic 1990s indie-rock scene. Kelly’s vocals are the glue that make the sizzling guitars, chugging bass line, and groovy drums work together. Padrick’s vocals are able to fill in the breaks in the instrumentation while imbuing…
The collaboration between Azmeryth x NTRE, “Feel You”, begins with a sweeping set of synths and dreamy vocals. A slower tempo gradually picks up at the 1:15 mark before moving into an instrumental back and forth between assertive synths and sequenced percussion. Feel You is a journey. At nearly five minutes, one will be surprised at how rapidly the track goes by. The single effortlessly includes intricate and deep instrumentation,…
VanWyck’s intensely personal effort “Red River Girl” will draw fans in through a careful and intricately-arranged 90-second introduction. The rich tones of VanWyck’s videos contribute doubly to the track in that they lay out a cogent narrative as well as interact with the strings and strummed guitars. The dynamic between instrumental and vocal sections of Red River Girl are continually shifting and changing, ensuring that the four-minute run time of…
Jazzy Amra’s “You Got Me” is an effort that draws from late 1990s R&B, funk, and pop styles while cultivating a very unique sort of sound. The richness of Jazzy’s vocals makes the backing instrumentation pop. We’re big fans of the vocal / synth dynamic that is fostered throughout You Got Me. By crafting keys that build off of the 1980s electro-funk, this single feels absolutely timeless. The presence of…
Mikey Wax’s “Big Little Life” is an emotional, passionate single that will have Mikey tattoo his melodies deep into listeners’ minds. The backing instrumentation blends bass with 1980s-tinged guitar, while additional vocal layers reveal themselves like an onion with subsequent plays. Wax’s latest single reaches its next plateau at the 2:45 mark, where the momentum kicks up and the instrumentation stands as a bold counterpoint to Mikey’s vox. Big Little…
I’ve been down this road before – the Detroit music landscape. It’s crinkled edges dog-eared for rock’s dingy clubs. Or maybe it’s the Motown avenue, where vocal groups in perfect harmony have synchronized themselves walking down the street. Still yet, maybe Detroit is the hardened, rough streets where rappers use lyrics instead of fists. There’s always room for more, the ghosts of Detroit remind me. Always.
Hi Lo Ha’s intriguing new offering Ain’t Gone Tonight opens in the gentle daze of its leading track “Cold Weather Clothes,” a slow churning journey through a sonic oasis delicately pieced together in an ethereal patchwork woven by its four equally talented players. Its essential harmony isn’t buried in feedback but instead presented to us in an extremely vulnerable clarity that creates a unique feeling of intimacy between the listener and Hi Lo…
MAAD’s “New Religion” exists at the nexus of a number of styles, as MAAD’s vocals pull from the mid-oughts R&B style and the bass/keys backing beat interacts with the thick beats of modern EDM. The light, airy sound of MAAD’s vocals work perfectly with the heavier bass elements. The extended synth solo that occurs at the 2:15 mark provides just enough in the way of variation to refresh fans and…
Nothing More’s “Just Say When” begins with a contemplative instrumentation that gradually snowballs into an orchestral brand of rock that draws from the rich musical tradition of Mumford and Sons and Of Mice and Men. A multi-layered approach means that any second of Just Say When has vocals, drums, and guitars shining brightly while contributing to a cohesive and coherent sound. The raw passion and charisma of the lead vocals…
Just Loud’s “Electrified” is a riveting synth-pop single in which the performer draws upon performers like MGMT and Crystal Castles. The back and forth between vocal and instrumental sides keeps things light and airy through Electrified’s run time. The drum / synth dynamic allows for a perfect beat and just enough spontaneity to keep fans firmly planted on the edges of their seats. The cross-over potential of Just Loud’s current…
John Paciga and Charlotte MacMurray’s cover of the Bocelli/Dion performance “The Prayer” is a sight to behold. The duet is able to stand boldly alone and as a cohesive element, with each pushing the other to an entirely higher plateau. The back and forth between John and Charlotte will make listeners feel that they’ve known each other their entire lives. While the effort just makes it to the four minute…
Who We Are’s “Memory” adds Kevin Thrasher from Escape the Fate to the mix. The track immediately strikes listeners with brutal guitars, intricate drum lines, and a luscious set of vocals bringing brightness to the track. Hints of hardcore, metal, and emocore can all be picked up here, but what Who We Are do here goes far beyond that. By building upon these influences to make their own music, Who…
Eryn’s “Hallelujah You’re Gone” is a powerful song that will be appreciated by anyone that has a toxic force in their life. Eryn’s vocal style touches upon performers as distinct as Amy Winehouse, Meghan Trainor, and Elle King. Hallelujah You’re Gone refreshes the Detroit soul sound of the 1960s with solid instrumentation and a production that is immaculate. With the keys / vocals dynamic pushing each to an entirely higher…
On The Dead Daisies’s latest effort, “Rise Up”, the act is able to intertwine chugging guitars, supersonic vocals, and sizzling solos into a track that bridges the gap between late 1990s hard rock and today. The vocals will have fans singing along while one will have to play the single multiple times before hearing each riff, note, and drum beat. It’s surprising exactly how far that The Dead Daisies have…
Juno Reactor’s “Let’s Turn On” is an assertive electronic dance track that is able to refresh the sound that the act cultivated during the late 1990s into the current era of EDM. A driving beat, quick tempo, and a bit of vocals are all that’s needed to get listeners out on the dance floor. Sweeping synths and otherworldly vocals are layered on top of this intense beat to make a track…