Clearly not a band to shy away from a challenge, the Denver country punks in The Yawpers decided to make their third LP a concept record about a tragedy set in World War I France… including a song in French. Oh, and none of these guys actually speaks French.
When this year’s Slayer tour was announced I was on vacation out at sea on an eight night cruise and got the fan club email after the various presales and general ticket sales had already started (which translates to all the good seats were already taken – since I am now older, wiser, wear glasses and no longer consumer adult beverages I opt for a seat at shows instead of…
The first voice you hear on the 10th album from acoustic punk poet Hamell On Trial is from Donald Trump (“I’d like to punch him in the face,” declares the Whiner in Chief on the opening line, to the album’s opening track “Safe”). And much like Ragan launched a slew of great punk bands in the ‘80s, Trump’s white-pride-and-fuck-the-rest style of leadership serves as fodder for much of Hamell’s latest…
For a two-man band, Brick + Mortar have figured out a way to make an impressively big sound. On “Dropped Again,” their latest album, Brandon Asraf plays guitar, bass and sings; Jon Tacon drums, while both handles samples. The result, though a little sterile at time, for the most part is an eclectically fun mix of Indie pop and electronic rock.
AJ The Kid’s new single “Keep It Litty” featuring Young Gully has really caught our attention here at NeuFutur. The beat is lively and reminiscent of the Atlanta rap scene. AJ’s rapping is lyrical and melodic, it’s well complimented by Young Gully’s flow. The production of the song is solid with no monotonous areas, though the arrangement may be a little chaotic. Aj has a lot of potential in his…
Nashville musician Korby Lenker decided to skip the traditional record studio for his latest album, “Thousand Springs,” and take a field trip instead. Armed with his guitar, some recording equipment and a tent, he headed to a dozen various places including his home state of Idaho, Texas, Massachusetts and Standing Rock, the site of the recent government standoff. He played in bookstores, hotel rooms and even a mortuary. The inspiration…
Over the course of the last 19 years, we have covered a wide variety of performers that have run the gamut from Christian to death metal. One of our major focuses was in electronic and dance music, based on my own love for 1980s synth-pop and 1990s dance and ambient genres. As the styles laid the blueprint for the modern style of EDM and all of the subgenres that reside…
Airy Jeanine’s “Everywhere” is a delightful track for August. Powerful vocals and a powerful dance beat vie for dominance. Airy Jeanine’s vocals are deep, drawing well from pop and singer-songwriter traditions. The track hammers home a beat that will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of leaders. There is a sense that the instrumentation does more than provide highlighting for Airy jeanine’s vocals. Give Everywhere a few additional…
My Silent Bravery’s “Got It Going On” is a bouncy effort that has just a hint of Latin guitar to it. This allows for a more robust backdrop upon Matt (My Silent Bravery). The bit of beatboxing bridges the gap between vocal and instrumental, making for a compelling effort that hangs well with other pop fare. My Silent Bravery is able to make a catchy tune, have thoughtful instrumentation, and…
Tremble’s “Thorns” is amazing. This catchy track is built off a set of vocals that play nicely with Jess Glyne or Ingrid Michaelson. The atmosphere generated by the hazy synths and fuzzy drums imbues Thorns with a mid-1990s sound. There is a crispness to the vocal / music dynamic that works perfectly in 2017. The spontaneity of Thorns further pushes this track to a new plateau. Over the course of…
MRYGLD’s “Cool Kids” is a power-pop / alt-rock song that draws upon The Killers and Franz Ferdinand. The two-part harmonies establish the band from others, while there is a tautness to the instrumentation that stands up to repeat plays. The dynamic between traditional (guitar/bass) and electronic (synth) styles makes for a track that could easily garner airplay through the end of the summer and into the fall. Each element is…
With a title like that, you kind of know what you’re in for. Spread across two records, this 28-song, 75-minute opus is a pretty bold experiment for the Athens-based indie pop band just three albums into their career. Surprisingly, it pays off handsomely.
Londale is able to tell a complete and engaging story with their new album AM/FM. The album begins with Hey, a rock track that soars on chugging guitars, on point drums, and charismatic vocals. Fans of Cheap Trick, Live, and Alkaline Trio will be able to appreciate what Londale has put forward. Hold Me Down is another unique track that draws upon a varied musical tradition. This means that there are…
Australia’s Eztain has just released his Iconoclast EP, a release that touches upon a number of distinct electronic styles. The first track (and titular effort) on this EP is able to create a cogent narrative while being an instrumental composition. Strong syntheseizer and a shuffling beat build off of the style of artists like Daft Punk and Cassius. There is just enough spontaneity here to the momentum high until the…
The past two years spent on the road have done nothing to dull the sound and ambitions of Nashville, by way of Birmingham’s Banditos. Their 2015 debut was a magnificent mix of ZZ Top and the Georgia Satellites. The follow up, “Visionland,” doubles down on those same ingredients and the result is twice as rewarding.
It would be easy to simply dismiss Sammy Brue’s debut LP “I Am Nice” as little more than a novelty. It’s the work of a 15-year-old, so naturally a raised eyebrow or two can be expected. However, that kind of simplistic thinking is moot just one song into the record as you quickly learn, Brue is a fantastic singer/guitar player and an even better song writer.
Over the years, SideOneDummy has done a yeoman’s job of discovering an eclectic and brilliant collection of indie and punk musicians and bringing them to a larger audience. From Gogol Bordello and Flogging Molly to Gaslight Anthem and the Smith Street Band, the LA-based label has a helluva track record. Add West Virginia’s Rozwell Kid to the list.
My Subconscious starts off in an ominous fashion, providing a bit of world-building before Deaf/Blind/Dumb begin their self-titled EP. Guitar fuzz, a nasty guitar / drum dynamic, and a shuffling beat will get listeners into the release; crust, a bit of thrash, and 1980s hardcore punk can all be heard here. The track picks up speed, with a few seconds of guitar before intense vocals take over. Stud Count is a…
Can you give us a little background information about yourself? We are Trae Byrnes, an Alternative band from the north side of Chicago. We all have are own Influences that we incorporate into our music which makes a nice blend of ear soothing yet hectic music. (Danny Eddz)
Big Star were a tragically underrated band for their time and while they have finally clawed their way up to cult status, thanks in part to a deep love from a slew of influential musicians, sadly there is only one surviving original member of the band left. As this deep cuts-collection from a pre-Big Star Chris Bell shows, the talent was there long before the band was founded.