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…
Couch Jackets’ “Don’t Think Just Breathe” is a very dense and detailed effort. This means that at any moment during the band’s new single, there are a number of threads that a listener can focus on. For example, there is a dreamy sort of pop that the guitars and vocals further, while hints of psychedelic, 1960s pop, and psychedelic can all be picked out. Complex time signature and a penchant…
Mary Bue’s “The Shit I Left In Duluth” is a favorite for us this month, as the track is able to refresh the alternative rock of the 1980s and 1990s. There are nods here to The Replacements, The Breeders, and Blondie. Dreamy vocals are matched perfectly with confident guitar riffs and a ropy, intense bass line. The narrative of Mary Bue will have listeners focusing on in, while subsequent listens will…
MkX’s “One Sided Love” is a track that draws upon the rich pop vocal tradition of performers like Justin Timberlake and Niall Horan while working in hints of 5 Seconds of Summer and Jason Derulo. The backing beat that represents the canvas upon which MkX can shine is utilitarian, rising and falling in opposition to the vocals. Taken together, these elements make One Sided Love a hooky effort that fans…
Gitty’s Karaoke is an exquisite track replete with a soulful backing beat and smooth females laid down by Rose Gold. The addition of Trinidad James to the track is fun as his flow straddles the illuminated styles of the 1990s with a current and contemporary sound. Where much has been made of the electrofunk of performers like Chromeo, I think the blending of passionate vocals with intricate guitar works represents…
Wai Lana’s “Colors” is a track that builds upon the pop genre of the early 1980s. A bouncy beat and sunny sound works perfectly with the soft vocals of Wai Lana. A secondary (male) set of vox ensures that the track stays fresh from its initial note to concluding second. A bit of horns are interspersed through Colors that match perfectly through a bold bass and booming drums. With so…
S.J. Armstrong’s “Some Restful Day” is a piece of dreamy atmospheric indie rock that will stick with listeners long after the single ceases to play. There is a very deliberate approach that is taken during the song that gradually builds to something intense. Wholly engrossing from the onset, it is not a surprise that the track’s four-plus minute run time goes by quickly. Coming forth with a new tack on…