On first listen, you’d be hard pressed to give a specific year that Oberon Rose put together “Tell Me About It.” The band’s specifically unique brand of psychedelic-tinged pop music brings to mind everyone from Big Star and Badfinger to Wings and The Posies, a decidedly timeless sound. Elsewhere on the record, on tracks like “No Stranger,” they play garage rock in the vein of The Flammin’ Groovies or The…
Tigo B’s “Where You Come From” is a vocal-heavy blend of R&B and rap styles, with nods to Tyga and Drake present. The addition of DJ Luke Nasty as a feature to this single adds further variety to the song. A bright production ensures that the synths and percussive elements highlight Tigo B’s vocals throughout the single. We’re excited with the tongue-twisting lyrical flow that can be picked up during…
Mouse On Tha Track & Level’s “I Bet You Won’t” is an infectious rap track that links together Soulja Boi, Boosie, and Three 6 Mafia in a fashion that will get listeners out on the dance floor. With nods to the late nineties New Orleans rap and bounce scenes sprinkled throughout, I Bet You Won’t is funky, fast-paced, and absolutely pops. The distinct rap flow weaves itself masterfully through I…
Elia’s “The Question” is a fascinating effort. The unique vocal styles pull double duty in that they are a cornerstone of the song’s harmony while providing the narrative for the song. The guitars and drums on The Question put this nominally into the rock genre but the effort is so much more than that. Rising and falling, with a momentum that picks up at all the right points, The Question…
Raquel Aurilia’s “Pretty Roses” is a somber and touching track that deftly blends together alternative, singer-songwriter, and country styles into a unique approach. Raquel’s vocals do more than lay out the narrative for the single, they add considerably to the overall harmony achieved by the guitars and drums. Listeners would do well to play Pretty Roses multiple times to focus on each part as there is ample depth to be…
No Alarms’ “Amateur Telephony” is a track that calls back to the vocals of Robert Smith (The Cure), the emotive guitar work of The Police, and the driving bass and progression of Fugazi or Mission to Burma. The blending together of new wave and 1st-wave emo make this track pop, as does the angularity of the instrumentation here. No Alarms put a strong foot forward and make a track in…
Alex Sparrow has just released a trio of songs this spring. On She’s Crazy But She’s Mine, Sparrow is able to call back to the halycon days of 1990s pop stars like Ricky Martin and N*Sync. There’s a hint of current pop styles (Maroon 5) here, but the bit of a smirk that permeates this track will gain Sparrow a number of fans alone. Got Me Good has a bit…
The BUNNIES’ “The Problem With Link Think” is a jangly rock track that ties together the late-era psychedelic rock with the angular sound of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. The video for The Problem With Link Think is animated wonderfully, feeling like a melange of Adventure Time and Steven Universe. The masterful dynamic enacted between the inimitable vocals, storytelling drum lines and an epic set of guitars make this single…
Kate Faust’s “Trouble” is a powerful pop track that builds off the tradition of performers like Halsey and Taylor Swift. A dark, instrumentation creates a perfect backdrop for Kate’s vocals. When this instrumentation recedes (around the 2:30 mark), Faust’s vocal range is able to shine. The chiaroscuro utilized here makes for a track that absolutely shines among the mass of other pop tracks littering the landscape. Kate Faust makes an…
Dhruv Visvanath’s “Wild” gradually opens up like a flower. Dreamy vocals are brought into the mix next, with a style that draws upon the singer-songwriter style of the 1970s with the modern alternative stylings (e.g. Death Cab for Cutie) of the early oughts. With vocal harmonies kicking in nicely at the 2:15 mark, Wild is given a nice boost to its momentum that is further highlighted through the presence of stings…
Dr. Snizz’s “Stand Tall” is a haunting track that blends equal amounts of dance, R&B, and reggae music in a fashion that works equally well on EDM playlists as it would on traditional island charts. The wide breadth of styles that are presented on Stand Tall may seem daunting, but Dr. Snizz’s inimitable style makes sure that the resulting effort is polished and very compelling.
Acting Natural’s “Nicole” is a soft piece of alternative / indie rock. Vocals and bass dominate during this single, while the lyrics are tremendously engaging. The jangly sound of the guitars and the splashier drums are reminiscent of mid-1990s indie music, tinged with just a hint of 1960s British pop-rock. What differentiates Acting Natural from the rest of the pack has to be the complex time signatures and orchestral sections…
Liz Kennedy’s “Everyone Knows How It Goes” is a touching effort. The wizened vocals laid down by Liz are given a funky, jazzy, and folksy spin. The arrangements are surprisingly dense, requiring numerous plays before listeners will hear every dynamic imparted upon the recording. The vocal dynamic between Liz and Taj Mahal may be tour favorite part of this single; the ability for them to work together while telling two…
The Hills and the Rivers’ new single “The Fool” is an eclectic effort that deftly ties together indie, singer-songwriting, and folk music in an alluring fashion. Dual vocals provide ample depth to the composition, while the arrangements on The Fool feel as if they are drawing on a much earlier musical tradition. The dynamic between the strings and the vocals pushes each piece to a higher plateau. The track is…
“Zombie” is a touching tribute to the late Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries). What Bad Wolves do here is keep the tremendous emotional content of the original performance while adding a heavier sound and more intense instrumentation. The band is able to make the track their own, with the supersonic vocals laid down providing further depth to the martial-influence drumss and soaring guitar work. A bit of a growl provides a further…
A rapid-fire flow and sparkling production are the duo that will immediately draw listeners in to the latest single from Baby Blue Whoaaaa, Scale. The track builds off of the sound of Three Six Mafia and Twista to make something dark, realistic, and eliciting the style of trap and gangster rap genres. Baby Blue Whoaaaa’s chorus during Scale provides the perfect bit of harmony to keep things popping from beginning to…
Butta B-Rocka’s “The Storm” draws upon a rich r&b tradition that draws equally from Blu Cantrell, Beyonce, and even storied Motown performers like Tina Turner. Butta B-Rocka does double duty with her vocals hee, both laying down a tremendously detailed narrative while contributing mightily to the overall harmonies of the effort. Sweeping synthesizers and touching pianos unite with a booming bass; The Storm’s distinct sound will continue to yield new…
Whooda Thunk’s “Used To” is an effort that shines with Dre-esque backing beats and a darker, almost horrorcore approach taken by the lyrical fare. Together, these two elements unite to make for an audibly distinct effort that will bury itself deep into the psyche of fans. Assertive, acerbic lines stand boldly out from the track and draw listeners’ attentions, while the effort itself benefits from a piano line that binds…
Arisen From Nothing’s “Better Off Dead” is a high-energy track that builds upon the style of bands like Hatebreed and Avenged Sevenfold. Hard, chugging guitars, deliberate drum beats, and screamed-out vocals make for an effort that will tattoo itself deeply into the hearts and minds of listeners. The chorus keeps the same intense focus but allows listeners to easily sing along. Arisen From Nothing are able to refresh the heavy,…
East London’s Nicola Thoms, comes out on the scene with her new single, “Beautiful Mind” and it’s a beautiful song indeed. And she’s no new comer. As a musician she’s been around since the age of 16 but still young. She attended the Brit School of Performing Arts to study music and this is when she really began to develop her love of writing. Since graduating from the Brit School,…