“Official” is the new single from rising Southern California talent Michael Capshaw, aka Cap, took a circuitous route into the music world, but it’s always been percolating through his blood. His youthful passion for the art experienced a temporary hold when Capshaw opted to join the military for a couple of years before returning to the country and beginning his musical career in earnest. He’s already experienced some commercial success…
For a British band, the guys in Brighton’s Harker have a pretty intense love for American music. You can hear everyone from the Bouncing Souls and Dinosaur Jr. to Jimmy Eats World and the Gaslight Anthem on No Discordance, their debut full length. And while there’s no denying the inspirations are all over this LP, the band has injected enough originality into the offerings that they still come off as…
The Last Gang split up for a bit in 2009, having lost momentum and the energy to get going again. But thank the gods of punk rock or whatever deity you want to credit, singer/guitarist Brenna Red and drummer Robert Wantland roped in Sean Viele to take over on bass and The Last Gang gave it another go.
Ali Jacko has crafted Working Man in a fashion similar to modern Bon Jovi or Fuel. The track is built off of a strong chorus and raw passion, making for a hooky effort that will stick with listeners long after the song ceases to play. I Found Love is the more pop-facing effort from Jacko, a light-hearted ballad that listeners will be able to appreciate no matter their tastes. Our…
Carolyn Marie’s Man Eater is a track that deftly links together pop and rock genres in a fashion that will appease a wide swath of listeners. Marie’s vocals are able to hit all of the right notes as the dark and brooding instrumentation provides highlights at all the right places. A hint of echo on the guitars, on-point drums, and smart repetition turns this from a solid track into something…
Jeff Rosenstock’s “Melba” a track that saddles the line between pop-punk and alternative rock. This means that there are the swirling guitars of Fugazi and The Pixies mixed in with the nasalness of The Descendants and The Dickies. Melba’s instrumentation is on-point, too; the chunky bass lines, jangly guitars and splashy drums will indelibly tattoo the melodies of the single deep into listeners’ brains. Vibrant and refreshing, Melba speeds up even…
MC YOGI has just released a new video for his single Heaven Is Here. The effort, which features Matisyahu, is tremendously effecting. The use of repetition is smart here, with Matisyahu’s inimitable vocals tattooing themselves deep into listeners’ minds. The instrumentation on Heaven Is Here is robust, with guitars and strings continually keeping listeners on their toes. Timeless, hard-hitting, soulful, and intricate, Heaven Is Here is an effort that is…
Tears Won’t Fall immediately draws in listeners with an emotive guitar line. The intensity of the vocals is similar to Antichrist Superstar-era Marilyn Manson. The two elements are all that is present on this effort, but they provide something much more cohesive and comprehensive when they are melded together.
AKoVA’s “You Can Have Anything” is a bouncy bit of pop rock that ties together the jam band style of acts like Jane’s Addiction and Soul Asylum with a contemporary rock style (Of Mice and Men, Mumford & Sons). The vocals that issue forth above the track are matched masterfully with a guitar and a booming drum beat. There’s an organic sound to You Can Have Anything that just feels…
Ignatius’ “All The Things” is a touching track that draws upon the R&B approach of the Jackson Five while adding a hint of modern R&B and rap styles. Ignatius’ wordplay during this single is intricate, requiring listeners to play the single multiple times before hearing every nuance that has been placed within. The emotional intensity of All The Things will be understood well by anyone that has went through troubling…
The Suburbs “When We Were Young” is a perfectly-polished piece of dark synth-pop and goth stylings replete with jangly guitars and a deliberate bass line. Haunting vocals play at the top of the track; the nearly five-minute run time of When We Were Young allows the act ample time to expand upon the theme. Listeners are kept on the edges of their seat as The Suburbs continue to add more…
Tysu’s “Valley Girl” is an EDM track that has the levity of the islands while having a poppy demeanor that builds upon the vibe of performers like Sean Kingston and Jason Derulo. A synth line and snack laid down at the mid-point of the track refreshes things and ensures that listeners are ready to devour the second half of the track.
Mr Vegas’ “Follah Da Leadah” is a high energy reggae-infused track that will get listeners out on the dance floor. The backing instrumentation is hard-hitting and provides highlighting for Mr. Vegas’ vocals, while the dichotomy of darker and lighter elements make for a track that can stand up to multiple plays. The track could easily slot into radio rotation on reggae, while the second-half (Nothing Wild) is a fun and…
Nick Lamb is able to make a frontward-facing, stripped down rock track in Gettin’ High Off Of You that has a good amount of the punk of early Goo Goo Dolls, The Descendants, and the Replacements. With little more needed than a guitar, drums, and Nick’s vocals, this effort is able to make an indelible mark on anyone listening in. The sizzling guitar work that is inserted into this single…
Little Stranger’s Sing It High is a reggae-infused track that has nods to funk and ska. With the instrumentation and vocal flow popping throughout, listeners will be locked to their seat. Listeners will be surprised at how rapid-fire LS’s flow gets during this single. Each segment of Sing It High has a different approach, but the act’s ability to make a cogent statement with this effort should not be sold…
Siren is the introductory track on We Are The West’s The Golden Shore, setting the stage for a fantastically immersive and deep album. The instrumentation and the raw passion of the band’s vocals unite to make something effecting from the get go. Hints of indie, 1970s singer-songwriters, and even bits of of 1960s Dylan can be discerned during he early stages of this release. The titular effort on the album ramps…
Sheldon Universe’s “Pretty Woman” is a sexy and sultry track that has a chill R&B, funk, and EDM-infused beat. SU’s vocals during this singles are unparalleled, reaching high and low points with absolute ease. The insistent beat, building off of the work of RAM-era Daft Punk, ensures that it can easily be slotted in to many a DJ’s set. With just a hint of a Latin flare that is weaved…
Rollin is a brooding, deep effort that will stick around with listeners long after the effort ceases to play. The band takes the standards of performers like 311, Sublime, and Linkin Park to make something wholly unique. Rollin has intense vocals, strong instrumentation, and a sound that refreshes the hard rock style of the late 1990s and early 2000s in an alluring way. The vocals stand out but only because…
Polo is the latest single by SK Quinn, an effort that immediately will draw listeners in with a sexy, sultry sound and an infectious beat. The heavier hammering of the percussive elements and the more twinkling side of the production unite to create a backdrop upon which SK Quinn’s vocals can be highlighted. Fans of Jason Derulo, early Chris Brown or Trey Songz will find something in Polo, while the…
Keith Morris’ teaming with the band Crooked Numbers has produced an indelible musical work embodying the Trump era of American history with Psychopaths & Sycophants. The ten song collection, however, has the lasting effect of music for all time, rather than limited to its historical context, and Morris’ superior talents as a songwriting allow him to bring something profound of himself to bear on the outcomes for these tracks. The…