The time between when we first covered Cowboy Mouth and today may just be the longest we’ve ever seen. We covered the band’s Fearless about a decade ago. The band’s still together and has just released a new single, “Broken Up”. Broken Up is a bouncy effort that comes with a catchy set of vocals, sizzling guitar work, and a close and cozy production that makes it seem as if…
Earthquake Lights’ “The Fix” is one of those special tracks that absolutely pops. The instrumentation is absolutely perfect, with the guitars, drums, and bass both contributing to a cohesive sound while providing just enough in the way of highlighting to the rich vocals. The ebb and flow of The Fix ensures that listeners will be on the edges of their seats. Earthquake Lights build upon the alt-rock of the late…
U2 is the latest in line to get the re-release treatment on vinyl and the occurrence serves as a great reminder of the band’s ability to redefine their style again and again. Their latest records to get a proper 180-gram double LP treatment are 1991’s Achtung Baby, 1993’s Zooropa and their first of two hits packages, “The Best of 1980-1990”. Achtung Baby was their first proper studio album in four…
When people are living in harmony and love is plentiful, communities at peace and joy is more common than fear or hatred, there is always music. In times of distress and chaos, where no one seems to want to get along and there isn’t any singular uniting shelter that we can come together under from the storm, there is always music. Music is in fact the one element of our…
England’s classic street punk torchbearers The Filaments had a couple of solid releases under their belts before calling it a day in 2005 when their singer emigrated to the U.S. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com