Hints of They Might Be Giants and 1980s indie rock in the vein of The Talking Heads. Of particular note during Pushing Up has to be the robust musicianship; the complex arrangement that play in the background here add so much to the earnest and honest vocals laid down by Mr. Flannery and His Feelings. The video for Pushing Up has all of the whimsy present in the song adding…
Ace Harper’s “Neon Heart” is a strong blend of indie rock and pop styles, making for an absolutely dreamy sort of track that will tattoo its melodies deep into listeners’ hearts. The tremendous instrumentation present during Neon Heart deserves additional spins; there is a dark, rich, and absolutely brooding backing beat that provides additional complexity to the lyrics that Ace Harper is laying down here. There are hints of Echosmith and…
Who Let the Bullets Fly is a rock track that has a hopeful sound that builds off of the style of performers like John Mellencamp and U2; the drums and guitar dynamic that represent the backing instrumentation for this first effort set the stage for the music and overall approach that is to follow. Kris’ vocals are dynamic, unique, and take all of the best parts of 1970s rock and…
Many (most?) bands are quick to point out just how hard their music is to classify, but to be honest you can usually ascribe a tag to just about any group just a few songs in, regardless of how long they have managed to convince themselves they are genre agnostic. The Michigan trio, The Accidentals, may just be one of the few exceptions, though. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
World War IX’s “Thank God It’s Monday” a direct call back to the late seventies and early eighties punk of acts like The Dickies and Black Flag. The snotty vocals, direct guitar lines, and splashy drum fills make for a track that will have fans singing along even after a few listens. The track is not long – a bit under three minutes – but the confidence that World War…
Sarah Ragsdale’s “Ferris Wheel” is a slinky, fun track that looks back to the days of strong female pop-alternative rock. The sequenced percussion meshes well with the strong guitar riffs. The repetition of specific words and phrases during Ferris Wheel ensures rthat the track will be tattooed deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. While relatively short in terms of run time (a hair under three minutes), the song…
Blame is the first track off of Harmful If Swallowed’s current EP, Sleepless. The track ties together Blink 182 and Rise Against. There is a high energy, smart guitar work, and multiple part harmonies that unite to create a melody that buries itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The bass line is prominent here, adding a nice chunkiness to the effort that counters the sizzling guitar work…
Johannes Linstead’s Be My Girl is a tremendously emotive rock track that has sizzling guitar work and passionate vocals. The tautness of the instrumental side of things is a key reason for this single’s success. The aforementioned guitars and drums work well with Linstead’s vocals, making the effort into something that would easily work on a classic rock station. The harmonies of Be My Girl are such that listener swill…
Justina Valentine’s Deep End is a track that effortlessly moves through different dstyles. THis means that there is a rap / ;trap style that is dominant, but there are points during this single that more traditional R&B and even trip-hop styles are given time to shine. It is this spontaneous style that makes this Justina Valentine track such a must-listen. Listeners will not know where Valentine will go int he…
Jack Shields’ “Leaving California” starts out slowly enough before gradually gaining momentum and moving into a much more alt-rock based sounds. The natural, very close knit sound that Shields cultivates during this single is inviting. The beauty of his voice is shown quite well, acting as the perfect counterpoint for the more guitar/drum-led, jam band style that picks up at around the 2:45 mark. Particular kudos has to be given…
Paula Boggs Band’s “Holocene” is an effort that draws on a much earlier musical tradition. There are nods to folk and classical music here; Paula Boggs’ vocals are beautiful in their own right. While they sound great, there is a human quality that shines through at all points. The progression of the instruments during this effort makes sense; it is a very orderly (but ultimately natural) sort of shit as…
Edge Of Paradise’s “ALIVE” is a hard-rocking track that takes up the standards of Coal Chamber, Machine Head, and the Deftones. The vocals are ferocious as they build upon the framework of Arch Enemy and Kittie. Grim, dark, and with enough energy to rend listeners asunder, the instrumentation that is present during Alive is top-notch. The sizzling guitar work, the tremendous technical ability of the drums, and how well each…
Austin David’s Find Me a New Way is a track that deserve to be on high rotation throughout the variety of pop and dance stations. The sunny disposition of the track, the vocal ability of Austin David, and how well the instrumental and vocal sides work in tandem make this into one of the best singles that we have heard so far this autumn> The assertive percussive beat is what…
Jared Dylan’s We Can’t is a hooky pop track that will immediately draw listeners in with sexy vocals and a backing beat that melds together pop, rock, and EDM music into a neat package. Dylan’s vocals take the best pieces of Maroon 5, One Direction, and Justin Timberlake to make for a strong an assertive sound that pairs nicely with the shuffling, shambling dance beat that comprises the instrumental side…
John Hickman’s Cascade is a completely engrossing track that ties together a wide variety of styles and approaches to make for somethign epic. THere are nods to alternative, progressive rock, and new wave music during Cascade. Hickman’s vocals are the unifying part here; the sheer vocal range that John reaches during this single has to be heard to be believed. A beautiful music video represents the final part of this…
Mister Zuckerberg’s “Digital Rain” is an interesting electronic track that blends trip-hop and industrial styles into a format that is utterly new and exciting. THe digitzed vocals provide a narrative for Digital Rain as the the percussion and bass elements provide an engrossing backdrop for the single. The novelty of Mister Zuckerberg ensures that listeners will be focused in to each and every note that is present during this cut;…
The Unraveled is a powerful track that blends together ambient music with an indie meets atmospheric sound. The vocals that are laid down by Rebecca Loebe imbue the track with an energy and an incredible depth. The number of distinct tacks that are taken during this single ensure that listeners will have to play the single multiple times before hearing every dynamic that is established. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur…
Fifty years after its release, the polarizing Rolling Stones classic (yes, classic) Their Satanic Majesties Request is finally getting a much-deserved re-release in the form of a double vinyl set (including mono and stereo versions). The package also includes a double hybrid Super Audio CD as well. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
The Awakening is the first track on the Iluminative EP of the same title, and it showcases a bold sound. There are hints of rap, R&B and grime that combine to create something new and unique. There are so many things that are occurring at one time during this introductory track, but Iluminative is talented enough to turn these disparate tacks and approaches into a cohesive and unified sound. Guides,…
sutrobath’s Reptile EP is a tremendously cohesive effort, even when one considers that the constituent tracks all build on distinct styles and approaches. For example, the titular effort on the Reptile EP has haunting vocals in the same vein as Tool, an echoing drum beat and hints of industrial styles that are weaved throughout. In A Room has a more of a hard rock feel; fans of The Deftones and…