Dynamos’ “Shake, Rattle and Roll” has a powerful heavy rock sound that is reminiscent of Vixen. The assertive vocals laid down are matched well through technically proficient instrumentation. Everything has its place here and establishes the overall mood for the single. I feel that the inclusion of a very prominent bass line is a stellar decision here; one is able to imagine the activity that made it difficult “to get…
Shauna Burns’ take on the traditional song “Scarborough Fair” is haunting, with nods to performers like Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco. The sheer emotion and passion that is brought to the timeless original by Shauna’s vocals is impressive. There is little more instrumentally to this composition than a piano and a harp, but Burns is able to make tremendously deep interactions between the instrumental arrangements and her inimitable vocals. The…
A. Billi Free’s Love, Music & Salad is a short track (it does not hit the 2:30 mark) but contains so much in the course of its run time that it has a much more epic feel than one may feel is possible with songs of this length. The track immediately draws fans in with a backing beat that calls back to the horrorcore and gangster rap of the 1990s,…
My Hands is a fantastic track by Phantom Phunk, a song that ties together emocore with the taut goth music of The Cramps. Bits of Muse and Dick Dale can be heard here. The vocals are bolstered considerably through a robust instrumentation that uses a wall of sound to create something that is echoing, emphatic, and pulls just as much from Motorhead as it does Fugazi. There are a number of…
Peter Hostage has released his own take on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. This laid-back cover links together big band, lounge, and 1950s/60s crooners in a fashion that completely transforms the source material. Hostage’s vocals show considerable range, while the sizzling guitar work and immaculate piano lines presented here make the resulting effort as catchy as the original.
Sonali’s Forever is a hopeful pop track that brings a bit of EDM styling to the mix. The track has a thoughtful electronic sound that builds off of La Roux and Walk The Moon. Sonali’s vocals are the cherry on top of this sundae, but the brooding instrumentation that leads up to the chorus deserve attention.
High Park Society’s On Your Mind takes up a number of standards. There are nods to performers like They Might Be Giants and The Las during this track. The strong instrumentation – a splashy set of drums, a ropy bass line, and cutting guitar lines – ensure that the sing will bury its way deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. This effort builds off of 1990s alternative rock…
At first blush it could appear to be a tad bit sacrilege: taking a punk rock classic, the Dead Boys debut, “Young, Loud and Snotty,” and re-recording the album four decades later… with a new singer. But, in realty, the re-recorded version is actually a better product sonically.
From the tight jeans and mullets uniform of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the cringe-worthy hairspray and glitter era, to the burning churches and scary-as-fuck Norwegian Black Metal sect, Axl Rosenberg and Chris Krovatin have managed to break down just about every imaginable subgenre of Heavy Metal in their satisfyingly thorough Hellraisers. This massively heavy hardcover is crammed with hundreds of color photos, playlists and essays throughout.
Laust Sonne Sunday Morning’s immediate draw is built off of a strong foundation of synths and sequence drums. A light trapping of 1980s synthpop and dance brings Laust Sonne’s Sunday Morning into a fascinating mash-up of the Pet Shop Boys and Owl City. With a chorus that will bury itself deep into the psyche of listeners, Sunday Morning is a delectable effort. The switch-over between stanza and chorus brings in…
The Generationals’ Catahoula Man is our favorite track this October. The song is built off of a funky electronic sound that is pulled out of the 1980s. Hints of The Buggles, Yaz, and The Psychedelic Furs can all be heard during Catahoula Man. The bouncy style and otherworldly synth line distinguishes this song from everything on the radio, while the crooning style of the vocals exudes a coy, subtle sexuality.…
Adina E’s “Changing” has a lower style in the vein of Leonard Cohen or Bjork. The track has a deliberate placing to hammer home the tremendously poignant lyrical content. There are a number of distinct things that are occurring at any single point during Changing. The ability of Adina E to have such a timeless sound will ensure that listeners of musical styles of all stripes will find something that they…
Reggae Night’s a powerful track that effortlessly crosses over from reggae to EDM and pop styles. The nod that Morgan Heritage provides to acts like Sean Kingston and Diplo makes this single onto something that will be blasted out on the dance floors to stave off the coldness of winter. The bright sounds of Reggae Nights refreshes the sounds laid down by the Miami Sound Machine with a bit of…
Lucid Dreams is the newest single from Tin Tenn. The track is built off of flows that take up the standards of performers like Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. Tin Tenn’s intricate vocal flaw is bolstered through the intense backing beat that ebbs and flows through the entirety of Lucid Dreams.
Nahko’s “Dragonfly” draws on the postmodern rock of Mumford & Sons and Of Monsters and Men. Dragonfly is a track that refreshes the singer-songwriter style of the 1970s (e.g. Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot) with a complex and intricate instrumental arrangement. Nahko’s vocals are touching, calming, and add considerably to both the narrative and the harmonious side of things on Dragonfly. Gradually growing in depth through its run time, Dragonfly is a…
Alvvays’ “Dreams Tonite” is a dreamy, trippy sort of track that blends together the synthpop of The Waitresses with the female-led pop of the 1970s. A bit of the synthwave sound blends in with an earler, almost psychedelic sort of sound. Alvvays come out with a wholly unique sound during their Dreams Tonight; the vocals and instrumentation take turns switching back and forth between narrative and harmony duties. I feel that…
Mba Shakoor’s “Our DJ Love and Remembrance” is a heartfelt song in the vein of classics like Master P’s I Miss My Homies or Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again. Mba Shakoor’s vocal style has hints of I-20, Mystikal, and the aforementioned Master P. There is a bit of grit that works well alongside the smoothed-out and chorus infused backdrop for the single. For anyone that has ever lost someone, Love…
DuShane Band’s “Alabama Rain” is a track that speaks well to the 1990s and 2000s style of country while having all the larger than life sounds of the current wave of country artists. The huge sound of the vocals during Alabama Rain will cause heads to turn; the DuShane Band here is able to call back to an earlier musical tradition that is headed up by performers like John Mellencamp.…
The Gore Boyz’ “Kisses For The Road” will immediately draw listeners in with a bouncy backing beat. The three-part vocals that issue forth are a refreshed version of boy bands like The Jackson 5. Heavenly vocals, a bit of swagger, and a downright rosy sound to the composition make it easy for the Kisses For The Road single to bounce around listeners’ minds for months afterwards. Each part of The…
Harp Samuels’ “Fire” is a beautiful song. Dreamy vocals and a folk-infused style create a very close and cozy sound for listeners. The presence of clapping further brings fans into a mind set that Samuels is performing in a coffee shop or other intimate place. As the track gradually increases in volume and tempo, fans will become converts to the Samuels cause. Secrets is a much slower track than Fire,…