Daphne Willis begins her Freaks Like Me with a soulfully-sang effort that draws upon influences as wide as Nancy Sinatra and Elle King. A plinking piano and walking bass line make for an engrossing introduction to Freaks Like Me. Out Of The Black is a high-energy, electronic-based song in the vein of La Roux or Meghan Trainor. The bass is again a prominent effort, giving a funky infusion to a track that…
Jason Andrew Brown is able to create a sort of pop-country that will have listeners singing along after the disc’s first spin. During Shine Sun Shine, funk, surf rock, and a charismatic set of countrified vocals tattoo their melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Emptiness is Forever is an effort that anyone that has lost a loved one will be able to understand. During this single, Brown’s…
Morningblind is a duo that is comprised of Richard Hayden and Sandra Bossy Retti. The EP begins with The Spring, a track that immediately showcases the dynamic between the two. There is a rich narrative that is weaved through this introductory effort, with all of the passion and emotion of a play. The track is hard to categorize; the guitar work draws on a classical style while Sandra’s vocals build…
Many Mountains is a triad of performers from Colorado; their Lost in Love is an engrossing EP, conveying more over the course of four songs than many bands can hope to impart upon their fans in 10. I feel that this is due to the engrossing instrumentation, the ability for each member of the band to shine alone or together, and a sound that is wholly unique while able to…
Up and coming artist Pixelfox has really struck a chord, no pun intended, with his latest release “Journey Room”. The album is deep and melodic reminding listeners of 80’s pop with a modern flair. Compelling rhythm and solid production makes the album interesting and worth playing again and again. This is a very strong release for a debut album of such a young artist. The album itself is deep and…
I think we can collectively agree that 2016 was a fucking brutal year to be a music fan. The grim reaper took Prince, David Bowie, Leon Russell, Leonard Cohen, George Michael and Merle Haggard. It also took Guy Clark from us, one of the best songwriters of his generation and a wildly influential Americana-artist, a precursor to everyone from Todd Snider to Wilco and the Old 97s.
The single “I Am Love” by Montrell of 47radar is a soulful song about love in its truest form. Montrell’s voice is stirring and fervent, it perfectly complements the track allowing the sensual yet loving vibe to capture the listener.
18 year old Dallas, Texas native Colin Onderdonk’s debut album Proximity Effect has to be the single best album that I have heard in the Christian rock genre this year. His voice is powerful and projects his love for Christ while his talent is something that any fan of music can appreciate. Each song from the album is philosophical and extremely thought provoking.
Since 2007, Missouri’s favorite sons have been churning out one great alt country/indie rock album after another and 10 years later they show no signs of giving up the ghost. “Heart-Shaped Mountain,” their fifth record is just as strong as anything they have put out before. Apparently, the band was already a week into recording this album when a hardware crash deleted everything they had recorded. The crisis forced the…
“Make It Be” is a Lo-Fi/Power Pop dream team mash up. The album pairs lo-fi legend R. Stevie Moore, who has played on hundreds of albums going back to 1969, with Jason Falkner, who aside from his solo work is best known for the brilliant and short-lived early ‘90s Power Pop band Jellyfish.
There is something heartening about a kid raised in the ‘90s who doesn’t immediately track to the obvious pop punk or neo-emo clichés in making music. Ron Gallo’s New West Records debut (and second solo album), draws in from a deep well of garage rockers, psychedelic pop and classic punk and just about everything in between. The fuzz-laden guitar riffs on the first few songs sound like them came out…
Soles Of Passion’s “Turned It All Around” is a musically intense track that is interspersed with Trump sound bites. The track is able to tie together psychedelic, alternative, and progressive rock. We are big fans of the dichotomy established between the softer, dreamier vocals and the punctual, on point drums, bass, and guitars that create the backdrop for the act.
Cara-Mel’s current mixtape, Racial Profile, begins with Music Diary. This track is hard-hitting, with a particularly evil sounding backing beat setting the stage for the rest of the release. Cara-Mel is able to tie together influences including Lil Kim, T.I., and MC Lyte. The repetition used for the chorus ensures that listeners will be sitting on the edges of their seats.
AV Super Sunshine’s Spider Wedding is a progressive rock track in the vein of Jethro Tull or Pendragon. The band intelligently uses silence to provide considerable highlighting to the contemplative arrangements and rich vocals interspersed here. I see Spider Wedding as a track in the mold of a massive high fantasy tome. The guitar that rises and falls during this single adds an additional level of depth to an already-heady…
Los Angeles based Folk singer Les Bohem recently released his latest recording, Moved To Duarte, it’s quite immersive with 21 tracks. Each track provides a look into Les’ soul as he sings, this album is a lyrical confessional. My personal favorite from the recording is “When We Used To Get High”. Les’ voice is melodic and persistent; the lyrics are full of meaning and soul. When Les sings it’s reminiscent…
Tasha Michelle’s Letter of Appreciation is a powerful single in the R&B and gospel traditions. This unique single effortlessly adopts bits and bobs of myriad styles. We were impressed with the vocal range of Tasha Michelle; the twin sides of vocals and instrumentation can be enjoyed separately or together. There is just so much that is bubbling under the surface of Letter of Appreciation, ensuring that listeners will have to delve…
EMELINE’s “Angel” is a pop track that pulls bits of Fiona Apple, Taylor Swift, and Megan Trainor. Breaking free from the numerous female performers out now, EMELINE is able to both tell a cogent narrative as well as further the over harmony of the instrumentation. Nods to rock and R&B are interspersed through Angel, making for a musically distinct effort that stands out boldly from the pack. The production on…
Owen’s “Settled Down” showcases a band that has built a distinct sound over the years. The single is emotionally intense with a layered approach. The fuzz of the guitars, complex drum lines, and passionate vocals make for a track that stands up to repeat play. The ability of Owen to go forth and change the tempo of Settled Down is impressive; the rising action that the band places here is…
My Demons Galore create a hooky track in “Empty Bottles” that stands up to a number of spins. The rapid shifts of My Demons Galore during the single is reminiscent of acts like My Chemical Romance and AFI. The simultaneous attack of the instrumentation and the emotive vocals are enough to keep the momentum high from the first note until the concluding seconds of Empty Bottles.
Emily Zuzik is able to link together performers as diverse as Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks with her latest track “Alone”. There are so many things for listeners to delve into when they play Alone; the story that is told here is incredibly deep and detailed. The tautness of the instrumentation during Alone will have fans digging deep to hear the different interplay between instruments, while the insistent beat makes it…