Simon XO’s new single “How Do I Fight It” is an electronic-infused pop effort. The supersonic vocals, bouncy backing beat, and polish to the single combine to make something that will get listeners out on the dance floor. The vocals are able to more than contribute to the lyric content; they act as a bridge between the instrumental and voice sections of How Do I Fight It, further increasing the…
The tension that begins No No Yeah Okay’s Make Believe is fantastic; listeners will be focused in to the single by the time that the vocals begin. The dynamic between the vocals and the instrumentation is fantastic. Hints of MGMT and Franz Ferdinand can be heard here. There is a unique sound that is weaved through Make Believe that distinguishes No No Yeah Okay from the rest of the pack. Particular…
Car Seat Headrest’s new song “Nervous Young Inhumans” refreshes the alt rock of the mid-1990s. The song whips up guitars, synths, and drums to make for a track that will have heads bopping and feet tapping. While the song could easily make it onto alternative radio stations, I find that arrangements are deep and will require quite a few spins to fully parse. A tremendous introduction to Car Seat Headrest,…
Be, Natalise + The Sunset Run’s latest single, is a tremendously positive song that immediately showcases Natalise’s vocal acumen. The rising and falling action of the instrumentation provides highlighting at all the right points. Building off of the tradition of performers like Natalie Cole and Avril Lavigne, Natalise + The Sunset are able to make a pop song with an instrumentation and arrangements that will have listeners coming back for…
Liyah Bey has just released a pair of singles – “Million Dollar Girl” and “Can’t Stop Loving You”. Million Dollar Girl showcases Liyah’s vocals. Hints of Sara Bareilles and Elle King dot Bey’s performance, but she showcases an ability to veer into pop that will do her well on radio rotation. Can’t Stop Loving You is a slower track that furthers hammers home Bey’s vocal range. Little more is needed here than…
DownTown Mystic has just released a new 4-song EP, On E Street, their 2nd release for UK Indie label Nub Music. The EP gets its name from the RnR Hall of Fame rhythm section of The E Street Band–drummer Max Weinberg and bassist Garry Tallent, who back DownTown Mystic on the 4 songs. Way To Know starts with an assertive guitar line and punctual drums. The vocals are rich and…
JJ Appleby is a performer that draws upon a rich musical tradition that includes nods of pop, R&B, and funk. JJ’s latest effort is a cover of Carla Thomas & Otis Redding’s song Knock on Wood. There is an assertive instrumentation present here that will keep listeners on the edges of their seats, while the raw passion and spirited performance of JJ during his cover completely transforms the original. The drums…
Birthday is the latest track released by J. Roy Champion, providing fans with a hybrid of rap and street-tinged R&B. The track, produced by Kloud Nine, draws upon mid-oughts-era 50 Cent, Fabolous, and The Game. Assertive lyrics work well with the distinctive beat, while J Roy Champion’s flow is lyrically impressive while bouncing through nuanced, tongue-twisting content. The track kicks into high gear at the two minute mark, with J…
Mr. Pöng puts his own spin on the Robin Thicke single “Lost Without U”. It is the addition of steel drums that give the song a considerable boost. There is a laid back, jazzy sound that marks the track now, with the steel pan acting as the vocal component. Keeping the taut instrumentation of the original, Mr. Pöng takes listeners on an island getaway with this cover. We’d love to hear more…
Justina Valentine shifts things up with her latest single, a re-tooling of Eminem’s classic The Real Slim Shady. What were most impressed by is how Justina is able to match the original vocal flow while adding more contemporary mentions and telling a story that adds to her own narrative. The track is accompanied by a video that showcases the blending of gritty street and glitzy glam that Justina Valentine is known…
Dos Floris’ Silence is an ethereal powerhouse of a track. The song benefits from airy vocals, intricate instrumentation, and a very deep sound that will take multiple spins to fully appreciate. Hints of Radiohead and The Flaming Lips can be heard here; the rising intensity of the song crashes over listeners. A driving drum beat and luxurious bass lines issue forth after, with Dos Floris continually shifting styles and approaches…
Blue Helix’s Anti-Social Butterfly is a hard-rocking track that builds off of the metal laid down by acts like Corrosion of Conformity and Wolfmother. Taut musicianship and supersonic vocals will tattoo the single’s melody deep into the hearts and minds of listeners. The production allows each element, be it the aforementioned vocals, bombastic drums, or rocking guitars and bass to shine alone while contributing to the overall harmonies of the single.…
Albert Cummings showcases the depth of his catalog with his new CD/DVD/BD release, “Live at the ‘62 Center”. This concert showcases the richness and warmth of Cummings’ guitar work while providing fans with different takes of his classic efforts. The soundboard recording on this release ensures that each lick, each keyboard arrangement or contribution by additional singers is captured in a fashion that adds to the overall harmonies of the…
South Korean electronic / ambient / atmospheric act LOVE X STEREO has just released a new album, 37B. The performers will immediately draw listeners in with Nosedive, the album’s first statement. There is a warm, a fuzziness present that ebbs and flows before moving into a groove that draws on the 1980s synth-pop and industrial styles. An emphatic beat will get fans of Kraftwerk and Tones on Tail onto the dance…
Corina Bartra begins her latest album Takunde with El Tamalito, a song that provides listeners with a solid introduction to a performer that deftly ties together traditional forms of music with a vibrant, current, and contemporary sound. Bartra’s backing band is able to build a rich musical tapestry, whether it be the intricate guitar arrangements of Seth Johnson, the soulful saxophones of Jay Rodriguez, or the emotive piano lines by…
No band in the U.S. is more responsible for keeping Oi music alive for the past couple of decades than Rancid. By blending their love of everything from the Clash and ska to a slew of ‘70s street punk bands like Cock Sparrer and Stiff Little Fingers, they have managed to remind the world that punk rock is so much more than pop music with a distortion pedal. It’s rather…
2018 has just begun, and we’re excited to see some of the new performers that will be releasing music this year. One of the first we’ve encountered this year is Eliza Arnone. The introductory video (below the jump) provides a bit of biographical information, but I feel that her take on pop music is particularly refreshing. A spontaneity is present on efforts like Porcelain Doll and Shadows (both off of her…
The APX’s “Right On Time” is a track that has a retro/1980s sort of funk sound to it. This means that fans of The Gap Band or Zapp will find something to love with the lush bass line and ample synth lines. The female vocals that are presented during Right on Time is reminiscent of the 1980s pop scene, making for a catchy track that works well no matter in…
Jane N’ The Jungle’s “One Time” is an impassioned plea that needs little more to tell its story than a set of vocals and a guitar. Together, these elements combine to make for an engrossing single. Listeners will hang onto every word, while the guitars are able to shift into a quicker sound to properly highlight the new-found intensity of the vocals. One Time is an effort that works equally…
Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’s “Late Nights & Heartbreak” is a soulful track that matches the vocal style of performers like Adele and Susan Boyle with a cool, jazz-infused instrumentation. Each instrumental effort – the horns, a robust bass line, and on-point drums – unite to make a must-listen track. Late Nights & Heartbreak is a taut single, one that will continue to yield new twists and turns each and…