Arisen From Nothing’s “Chaos” is a furious hard rock / metal track that starts with a breakneck speed. Sizzling guitar work, screamed out vocals, and boldly resounding drums unite to make something ferocious. There are nods to a number of distinct metal genres in Chaos. Hints of Hatebreed-styled hardcore, modern hard rock acts like Five Finger Death Punch and Avenged Sevenfold, and even sludge metal acts like Clutch and Corrosion…
Kristy Chmura’s “Nothing’s Right” builds off of the female singer-songwriter style of performers like Carole King and Carly Simon. The tempestuous instrumentation presenting during Nothing’s Right provides an additional twist to an already impressive style. Brooding emotions, a dark/light chiaroscuro, and utterly talented arrangement make this into an impressive work. There are numerous layers to Nothing’s Right that will have fans continue to play the effort. Kristy Chmura creates something unique…
Anana Kaye’s “American Smile” open slowly with little more than Anana’s vocals and a soft guitar line. The drums follow up shortly after, and as the single continues to play, Kaye is able to gradually shift to a richer, modern interpretation of Americana/folk styles. Hints of Stevie Nicks and Cyndi Lauper can be heard here. Fans will need to play American Smile multiple times before hearing every twist and turns…
My Silent Bravery’s “Girl You Think You Know” is a stripped-down track that gives the vocals ample chance to shine. The thoughtful instrumentation that is laced through this single swells into a wholly unique melange of pop, alternative rock, and modern country sounds. Emotion and passion are present in droves here, with the resulting effort building upon the style of acts like the Goo Goo Dolls and The Wallflowers. A magnificent production makes…
The Dead Daisies are back with a new single, “She Always Gets Her Way (All The Same)”. The track deftly blends 1980s hair metal with a current hard rock approach. Fans of Motley Crue and Ratt will find something they can appreciate, while the sizzling guitar work is top-notch. A slightly gritty set of vocals imbues the single with a weathered sound; this is an effort that will tattoo its…
TLUXX have just released a pair of singles. On “7th Angel”, TLUXX is able to blend together the horns of a Pet Shop Boys with the scintillating, hard-hitting house of an Avicii. Vocals aren’t needed here, as TLUXX are able to take listeners through a wide variety of sounds and styles. A banger from beginning to end, this is infectious while having enough influences present to keep fans focused in…
Last Gasp Collective’s “Small Town” is an eclectic track that blends together the R&B of the early 1990s, jazz, and chill electronic music into a laid-back effort. The different vocals heard during Small Town bolster one another; the ability of the male and female efforts here to both add to the harmony as well as the lyrical content is unmatched. Hints of Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, and The Pharcyde can…
Ryan Brahms “Love Dealer” is a bit of thick, luscious R&B pop music with a hint of EDM. Fans of Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran will find solace in the hooky sound crafted by Brahms during Love Dealer. The production allows the instrumentation and Ryan’s vocals to shine equally brightly. The bit of a slowed-down middle of this single calls back to performers like The Weeknd, Ne*yo…
You know you’ve got a drug problem when Courtney Love – circa the late ‘90s – is taking part in your intervention. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
Over the decades, Sting has evolved from being at the forefront of the punk/New Wave movement as front man for The Police, to being a go-to for adult contemporary radio programmers thanks to his mid-career slide to much softer fare. And yes, the jokes at his pretentiousness and self-indulgence are certainly easy to make, thanks in part to his fondness for the lute. All that aside, it’s hard to argue…
Guided By Voices are nothing, if not prolific. Despite breaking up a few times between the late ‘80s and now, they’ve already turned in 25 albums, ranging from great to, well, so-so. With a spotty track record, it’s nice knowing you can easily dip into their catalogue thanks to this fantastic live collection from 2004. Recorded on the set of Austin City Limits as part of the band’s first farewell…
Wyclef Jean has released a video for “Turn Me Good”, his latest single. This slower jam showcases the sultry side of Jean, who is able to use horns, strings, and a blend of 1970s soul and more contemporary sort of beat to make for something that sparkles. Drawing back to an earlier reggae tradition (e.g. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh), Jean makes for a retro hit in Turn Me Good. The…
John Tracy’s “Silent Night” is a rare cover that both keeps the sound of the traditional composition sacrosanct while impressing his own spirit and inimitable sound onto the performance. The stretched out, slower tempo of Tracy’s take of Silent Night puts a certain gravity to each utterance. The thoughtful sound of this composition will stick with listeners, as does the strumming of the guitar. Set up over the course of six…
Radiator King’s “The Guns You Pawned” provides fans with a rich narrative and an impassioned set of vocals. The track works well no matter whether one likes alternative-rock performers like the Counting Crows or the Goo Goo Dolls or country-styled acts like Henry Connick or Wilco. An intense guitar line matches Radiator King’s vocals, making the narrative of The Guns You Pawned shine that much brighter. With an epic sound,…
On the surface, this appears to be just another standard music legend/world class orchestra collaboration; A gift to fans, but a collective shoulder shrug from everyone else. “A Love So Beautiful,” however, is so much more. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
Guitar legend Eric Johnson was made for live albums. The proof is all over the re-release of “Live From Austin, TX,” the latest in the partnership between the PBS show Austin City Limits and New West Records. This re-release, originally out in 2005, is finally on vinyl and also available in a CD/DVD combo. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where…
Since leaving the V-Boys in the late ‘90s, Scott Miller has forged a career as a solo artist, making waves in the alt country scene, but managing to fly under the radar of most outside the genre. It’s a shame though, as his 10th effort, “Ladies Auxiliary” shows, Miller is a fantastic songwriter. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
AKoVA’s “Headlights” is a tremendously close and touching track. Little more is needed during this single than a set of vocals and a softly strumming guitar. As the song continues to play, there is a bit of additional instrumentation entered in. The gradual shift into a more engrossing effort showcases the emotional complexity of the composition. Anyone that has been in love and lost, especially when the person that the previous…
Deeper Feeling has a retro vibe to it. Bits of Beck and The Breeders can be heard in the airy sound of the vocals and the crunchy sound of the guitar, drums, and bass. The laid-back sound of this effort draws back to an earlier seventies musical tradition. Quirky, fan, and infectious as all get out, Beaux Cheveux’s Deeper Feeling is an effort that will hold up to repeat spins. It…
The hard rock style that The Outfit craft during “Soldier Boy” builds off of the framework of acts like the Foo Fighters and Nickelback. The frenetic energy that is threaded through this single will have listeners on the edges of their seat. Supersonic vocals call forth comparisons to Scott Weiland and David Draiman. An intense, head-bobbing sort of track, fans will be singing along to Soldier Boy each and every time…