V. Contreras “Like It’s Yesterday” is an emotionally intense effort that will perfectly affect listeners. The rising and falling action of Contreras’ vocals is reminiscent of performers like Adele and Christina Aguilera. The sheer range that is reached during this single will have fans sitting on the edges fo their seat. Little more is needed during Like It’s Yesterday beyond strings and a piano. As the instrumentation threatens to overtake…
Broke Royals’ “As Long As I Can See” is an incredibly passionate and softly-stated track. The honest and richly emotive sound of Broke Royals’ latest will invite listeners in. There is an retro sort of synth-pop sound that is fostered during this single which firmly establishes the unique quality of the band. With taut instrumentation and a blending of current rock (fun., Sleeping With Sirens) and 1980s radio standards like…
KNITWIT has made a tremendously catchy track with his new single, LookOut, one of our favorite rap cuts this month. Hard-hitting flows match well with a dirty beat that will have cars shaking from all of the bass.
Calamity the Kid’s “American Muscle” is a track that is influenced by the Brit-pop of the mid 1990s and the pop punk of the late 1990s. This means that there are nods to acts like blur, SR-71, Wakefield, and Mest. The bit of synth that is inserted during this single is a diametrically opposed arrangement to the punk vocals. Calamity the Kid craft a wholly new style that is polished…
Coopertheband’s “Rebels” will impressive listeners from the onset of the single. The strength of the vocals are unmatched as the band build off of the style engineered by bands like Of Mice and Men and Mumford and Son. The pomp and epic sound of Rebels is fleshed out through rich vocals and a dreamy synth line. The hooky guitar line is reminiscent of Joshua Tree-era U2, while the drums and…
Queens of the Stone Age’s new single “The Way You Used To Do” has all the swagger of 1960s surf rock or the down and dirty sound of Detroit rock. A sharply angular sound, a blending of guitars and drums, and Josh’s inimitable vocals make this into one hell of a track. More introspective and completative segments provide further replay value for this single. The Way You Used To Do’s clap track…
Blu Collar Glomeration’s Boxcar Ride is an upbeat track that ties together folk, 1970s and 1980s rock with a hint of country and western. The linkage of these styles makes for a familiar sound that is bolstered with smart instrumentation and charismatic vocals.
Ian Bouras’ initial renown on the indie music scene came via his tenure as guitarist and among the main songwriters for New York City reggae rock band AñaVañA, but he’s since branched out into performing highly idiosyncratic originals as a solo artist beginning with the 2007 release of his first solo album with SDMP Records. Bouras has also, during his time on the scene, acquired a much deserved reputation as…
It’s a pretty ballsy move to put out a live album of the record you just released, but that’s what Iron Maiden has done with Book of Souls: Live Chapter. And they manage to pull the feat off impressively well.
Ten years ago, Alabama punks Vulture Whale turned in a fantastic debut that, well, sadly not many people outside of their scene ever heard. But, the self-titled debut is getting a second chance in the form of a 180-gram vinyl release.
Given that this live set of classics and new (for the time) tracks came out just one year after Pink Floyd decided to carry on without co-founder Roger Waters, it was easy to cynically write this one off as a cynical cash grab in case the new Water-less era of the band faded away quickly. Reflecting on the release nearly 30 years later, that cynicism was clearly unwarranted.
Bob Dylan has had a lot of moments throughout his career. There was the “going electric” moment, the motorcycle accident and reclusive period followed by the “Pink House” era. But probably most fascinating was Dylan’s conversion to Evangelical Christianity in the late 1970s after being raised Jewish. The conversion came, as has been noted in book after book and countless articles on the event as a result of proselytizing by…
Weston Simonis’ Yoga Pants is a fun blend of pop, electronic, and rock styles that will tattoo its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The production is polished and ensures that each disparate element is able to shine on its own while contributing to a cohesive sound. A sizzling guitar line and harder, chugging sound works well with T-pain-styled vocals; a subtle nod to Lady Gaga is…
Halfway Disappeared’s Stories is a fun, shiny piece of alt rock that looks back to the days of 1970s rock for primary influence. There is a bit of the grunge snottiness of Nirvana or the Meat Puppets that can be discerned here. A solid instrumentation provides highlighting for the vocals while ensuring that a story is told through the interlpay between the different instruments (guitar, bass, drums). The bass needs…
On Only U, Sydney’s own JDR are able to create an approachable and unique take on EDM / electronic music. The track is able to build off of the work of musicians like Major Lazer and Deorro. A R&B-infused set of vocals link together performers as diverse as Ne-Yo and Chris Brown. The island sounds presented during Only U keep things bouncy and fresh through these increasingly-cooling late fall and…
On You Are the Reason for Everything, Jonathan Townes is able to tell a tremendous story. The effort is something that listeners will have to strap a pair of headphones on to get the song’s full effect, as there are so many things going on during any second of the single that one’s full attention is needed. The different sounds, approaches, and movements that occcur over this song’s run time make for…
M-city SOLO’s latest single Still Think About You is a slinky blending of rap with R&B that is able to impress fans with the rapper’s heady word flow and intense arrangement. The backing beat will stand up to repeat plays as it shifts and changes throughout, while the raw passion that is exerted by M-city SOLO during this song is something that anyone that’s been through the loving and losing process…
Conceptz, a duo, comes forth from New York and has just released a new single, Grind Mode. The track builds off of the rap scene from the 1990s. This means that there are hints of Nas, Black Sheep, and Raekwon all heard here. A throwback backing beat is the glue that holds the effort together. With a punchy vocal flow, Conceptz is a performer that can come forth with something…
Fans of the reclusive singer songwriter are finding delight in David Arn’s latest music video, “Not Amused”. Released on the U.S. Election Day, the video, produced by William Murray and Alice Teeple, is filmed in New York City and shows a sharp contrast between the world of Trump Tower and the under belly of the city.
Welcome to the World is the first track on UniversalDice’s new album birth, love, hate, death, providing fans with a straightforward rock style that builds off of performers like R.E.M., The Cars, and The Minutemen. The eclectic sound of this introductory effort showcases a trend that will continue throughout the entirety of the album. A lush production allows each element – the guitars, drums, bass, and vocals – equal time…