On Parable, Black Horse Motel are able to provide a solid introduction to themselves. Run, Rabbit, Run is the first track on this EP, and it immediately will draw listeners in through a tried and true bluegrass / country sound that draws upon performers like The Outlaws and Charlie Daniels. The musicianship on this first salvo is top notch, setting the stage for the next tracks to follow. Particular high notes during…
Remember Jones has just released a new EP, Tranquilizer. The release begins with the titular track. Tranquilizer is a high-energy track that pulls deeply from the soul, R&B, and funk styles. The additional vocals that bolster Remember Jones’ voice mesh well with the martial sort of drumming, making for a track that will appease fans of Ray Charles and James Brown. Remember Jones will immediately draw listeners in with an…
The California punk rock four-piece Bad Cop/Bad Cop have been through a VH1’s Behind The Music’s-worth of living since their 2015 full length debut, Not Sorry. The band has had some amazing highs – turning in a nearly flawless record, touring the globe – and some equally bitter lows – a stint in rehab, thoughts of calling it a day – but they have emerged with another brilliant record and…
Bryan Adams is one of those musicians that just seems to have been around forever. It’s hard to think back to a decade when he wasn’t making music and he’s managed to revive his career countless times, all the while still having one of karaoke’s most go-to songs (“Summer of 69”). His latest live record, “Wembley Live 1996” holds more than a few hints at why he’s still touring today.
Adaline’s “Nostalgia” immediately strikes me as unique; hints of 1980s po, industrial, trip-hop and dubstep can all be heard here. Nostalgia has a deep and dense instrumentation that provides the perfect counterpoint for Adaline’s vocals. With a dark brooding musical sound acting as the background for a hopeful set of vocals, Nostalgia pops. There is a bit of unity between these two elements in that Adaline’s vocals contribute to the…
Palehound’s If You Met Her is a powerful piece of alt rock that builds off the framework of bands like Rilo Kiley and The Breeders. Emotive vocals, fuzzy guitars, and a chunky drum sound make If You Met Her into a tremendously hooky sound. Lyric repetition ensures that the song’s melody will be tattooed deeply into the minds and hearts of listeners. Palehound’s guitar work s top-notch with swirling eddies…
“Enter the Dreamland”, the latest single from Meresha, links together pop with a down-tempo, chill sort of EDM. The snap track provides a solid counterpoint for Meresha’s vocals, while the thoughtful compositions are something that will stick with listeners long after the track ceases to play. Hints of 1980s new wave and dance (imagine Pet Shop Boys and Tiffany) provide Enter The Dreamland with an additional oomph. With a current and…
Dark and Light is a track that defies convention. The soaring vocals laid down here are backed by airy and light compositions that draw heavily from ambient and indie-pop styles. Throughout this effort, listeners can hear just a bit of pop infused within; this is something that could easily crossover to radio / Spotify pop rotation.
Trae Byrnes (hailing from Chicago, Illinois) begin their new mixtape Why You So Loud with It’s Lit, a song which shatters the conception of what a rock band should sound like. There are nods to classic acts like Stone Temple Pilots and Franz Ferdinand, while the stripped-down style of rock that issues forth early calls upon an earlier tradition.
The Ramona Flowers’ “If You Remember” is a song that is a refreshing of the 1980s new wave style. Fans of more modern interpretations of that style (e.g. La Roux, Walk The Moon) will find something to dig here. The Ramona Flowers have impassioned vocals that draw from performers like WHAM! and Depeche Mode, while the hard-hitting instrumentation presented here tie together sweeping synths, on-point drums, and haunting vocals into…
PRIME’s Poison will immediately draw listeners in. This EDM style builds off of performers like Avicii and David Guetta, while inserting in hints of dubstep and pop to the mix. This high energy effort will have listeners out on the dance floor, whipping up friends into a frenzy with a pounding beat and an emotive, sexy set of vocals. The breakdown at the 1:40 mark gives fans a second to…
JD King’s “Midnight Rendezvous” is an effort that draws heavily from the 1950s pop crooner and 1960s pop scene. There is a bit of fuzz to the composition that provides an aura of authenticity. The track is surprisingly deep, with multiple vocals, a depth of instruments (guitars, drums, and bass) that both do their own thing while contributing to the overall sound of the cut. The last minute or so…
On Boi Genius, Pop Morrison is able to create a complex and fulfilling effort that takes up bits from rap, trip-hop, electronic, and 1990s/oughts hip hop. The instrumental side of things on this single provide the perfect backdrop from the deep flow of Pop Morrison. Together, the instrumental and vocal sides of things unite to make for a track that will resound loudly in listeners ears long after the song ceases…
Dying Fetus is one of those artists that are always on the list of bands I use to scare away my non-metalhead friends, especially those who subscribe to the “metal is noise” school of thought. Just to bristle their jimmies some more, the band name itself is like adding cayenne to their already bleeding ears. I cannot get enough!
Come Take Me Home immediately showcases the rich vocals and emotive guitars of Dave Vargo. The style of music that initially issues forth with Burning Through touches upon American rock from the 1970s all the way to the present. This means that fans can hear hints of The Eagles, Jackson Browne, and the Goo Goo Dolls in a polished way. Every piece during this first single works together to make…
Kaleigh’s “Fading” is one of the most compelling songs we’ve heard this month. This is because Kaleigh defies genre conventions in the creation of some of the most unique music we’ve heard. Nods to EDM, pop, and even industrial can be heard here. The frenetic tempo of Fading will immediately draw attention as well as get listeners out on the dance floor. The focused sound of Fading is a modern-day…
Inma Mira’s Indecisión is a fun track that effortlessly move through pop, iindie-pop, and a timeless singer-songwriter style. Mira’s vocals soar over the track, taking up the standards of performers like Shakira and Bjork. The instrumentation on Indecisión – musically complex arrangements, spot-on drumming, and a whimsical sound – pushes Mira’s vocals to a higher plateau. The gradual increase in tempo portends a much more chaotic and musically intense sound; Mira’s…
On “Burning Fire”, Pragnya Wakhlu is able to marry together a traditional sound with a more current and contemporary approach. The richness of the arrangement speaks to anyone listening in, no matter their familiarity with what Wakhlu is saying. There is a powerful harmony that is crafted here; multiple voices add considerable gravity and reverence to the two-minute mark of the single. Repetition is also used to a good degree,…
We’ve dug the Florida rap scene since 2 Live Crew was cutting their first works in the 1980s. P. Chace keeps the name of Florida rap pristine with his new single “NBA (Nothing But A$$)”. The single features a flow from the inimitable Trina, but P. Chace’s got that indescribable sort of quality that sets NBA off from other current rap tracks. Trina comes in, hits hard, and adds further…
Kolade Olamide Ayodeji’s Trap in the Night is an infectious effort that will immediately tattoo its melodies and strong female vocals into the minds and hearts of listeners. The backing beat ties together electronic, pop, and R&B styles into something that draws upon the last twenty years of music while being wholly unique. A brief instrumental part at the 2:30 part is precisely what Ayodeji needs to build the momentum…