Stars and Chandeliers is the latest album from Steve McCormick. Say a Prayer for New York City, the album’s first track, does well to approximate the city. There are sizzling horns, a rapid tempo, and a tremendous amount of narrative that is inserted within this instrumental composition. Say the Word is a touching and deep effort, with McCormick’s vocals pulling double duty. More than just providing lyrical content, Steve’s softly-stated…
U-N-T craft a contemplative and introspective sort of rock with their new single, Je M’enfuis. The guitar work is reminiscent of 1980s rock, while there are vocals that will resound loudly with listeners long after the track ceases to play. Taken together, this polished cut is able to cover a lot of ground; listeners will be able to find something that they appreciate here.
David Arn’s latest single Not Amused refreshes the singer-songwriter and rock styles of the 1970s to a more current and contemporary sound. The guitar work builds off of the work of The Eagles and ELO, while there are hints of Neil Young and Jackson Browne that the vocals touch upon. A solid production ensures that each element for Not Amused both adds to the overall sound of the single while…
Billy Idol is the latest ‘80s musical icon to get the vinyl re-release treatment and on reexamination it’s clear that Idol deserved every accolade he earned during that musically schizophrenic decade.
It’s almost a cliché at this point; Gabriel Starwood, a man-machine hybrid with a disco ball for a head from planet Vitrus, starts a band in Philly, pulling together like-minded androids and turns out a solid debut (2012’s Transmission). But here’s where it veers off that well-trodden pseudo human band Behind the Music episode. Five years later, Starwood is back with a fantastically-creative 6-song EP, proving despite the goofy origin story, they actually…
RaR have just released their new single, Darkness. This high-energy EDM track features the vocals of Elizabeth Robinson. Together, the instrumental and voca sides unite to make something that will tattoo its melodies deep into the hearts and psyches of listeners.
While Sire Records was focused on bringing punk and New Wave to the masses in the late ‘70s, signing everyone from the Dead Boys and Ramones to the Talking Heads and Pretenders, label chief Seymour Stein still had his eye on other genres.
The Choppy Bumpy Peaches’ Darjeeling is a rich alternative rock track that looks back to the days of psychedelic rock and even hints at 1960s folk. A contemplative instrumentation will hold up to repeat plays, while the guitar/drum dynamic is simply fantastic. The atmospheric vocals on Darjeeling set the stage for the jangly, haunting instrumentation. While each part of the band is working on its own contribution, I feel that…
Onr.’s 5 Years Time is a haunting track that succeeds due to its spontaneity. The ability of Onr. to pull out some epic sound sections will draw listeners in. The track skillfully bridges the gap between EDM and rock, with strong drum hits, an emphatic synth line, and vocals that will club fans over the heads. The energy of 5 Years Time will keep fans running, lifting, or doing whatever…
RIVVRS’ “Don’t Give Up On Me” is so emotionally intense. The vocal-dominating effort tells a story that anyone that has slipped and fallen during a relationship will understand. There is litle more to this plea than the aforementioned vocals, a hint of synthesizers and a whole lot of remorse.
No No Yeah Okay’s “That Ain’t You” is a soulful track that works in hints of 1980s synthpop. The two sections make for a unique sound – No No Yeah Okay call forth hints of MGMT, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Chromeo and Owl City all in the space of three minutes. The inimitable vocals here are matched masterfully with a complex and deep bass line, while the drums punctuate all…
Parker Matthews’ “Lost With You” is a track that deftly crossover between EDM and pop styles. The hopeful sound of synth backdrop pushes Matthew’s vocals in a good way. Lost With You is a bold example of less doing more; while there is little more to the synth, drums, and Parker’s vocals to be heard here, the complex interactions that each have with each other make for a surprisingly deep…
Tim Myers’ The Bright Side is a bouncy, fun sort of holiday track that will have listeners singing along after a listener’s first experience. Sleigh bells and a hooky chorus are enough to make anyone’s day sunnier. THe production of The Bright Side makes every part – Tim’s vocals, the splashy drums, and a thick and ropy bass line, work well alone or as a contributor to something greater. Myers’…
King Keon’s “Picture Me” is a rough and raw track that showcases a tremendous vocal flow and a complex, bass heavy backing beat. King Keon’s flow builds off of the work of timeless performers like Ludacris, The Game, and I-20, with a hint of Jay-Z sprinkled in. The lyrical content is pure braggadocio, something that is supported through smart bars and a visual element (featured below) that has to be seen…
Valerie Ghent “New York City Streets” is a funky effort that pulls from the 1970s in terms of its suave sound and impressive musicianship. There are hints of smooth jazz, soul, and a bit of Detroit funk. The instrumentation is vibrant and colorful, adding a bit of additional spice to an already fulfilling sort of dish. Ghent’s vocals are timeless, pushed to an entirely higher plateau through the horns, a…
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…