Well, it’s not exactly a secret that UK artists have had a habit of, shall we say liberating, American Soul and Blues music over the years and remaking it in their own image. Everyone from Cream, and The Stones to Led Zeppelin and The Animals would be career-less if it weren’t for a bunch of self-righteous pilgrims who loaded up the boats with their bibles generations ago and headed for…
Let’s face it, we all have genres and subgenres and microgenres that we don’t get into not for any reason but because there is just so much content from bands in genres that we do like that we rarely find reason to stray. Doom and it’s microgenre drone metal is one of those genres, that I hear only good things about, but seemed so far away from the metal I…
The lyrical acumen on display with the ten song collection Swan and Wolf won’t surprise anyone who’s followed Nathaniel Bellows’ trajectory through modern American public life. He’s an artist with a wide foundation in various forms – music, prose, poetry, and visual art all fall within his purview. His second full length album Swan and Wolf continues his musical journey and shows his powers as a songwriter exponentially expanding from…
It was down to the wire for me and my buddy to work everything out to be able to go on the eighth annual Monsters of Rock cruise. We literally booked ten days before departure and got lucky by snagging a mid-ship, mid-deck cabin location (prime location for multiple reasons) from someone who had just recently had to cancel their reservation. It was an early morning as we left St.…
Over the past 10 years, Echo Bloom has been putting out an eclectic mix of styles, with a reliance on strong melodies and significantly expressive lyrics being the common threads that run through each record. Their fourth and latest, Green is the final in the trilogy of color-themed albums that each focus on different styles. While Blue pulled in more folk influences and Red a more traditional rock theme, Green mixes…
“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. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music,…
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. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the…
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…