Uncle Frank’s Love Lion is a down and dirty blues rock track. The gritty vocals work well with splashy drums and sassy guitars to make for a slinky effort which will bury itself deep into listeners’ minds and hearts. The production of Love Lion allows the distinct instruments the ability to shine alone while contributing to a greater whole.
Dirty Wicker is an international rock duo with influences throughout the world, though they call London home. The group is made up of a duo – Conor Mclachlan and Louise Garrigos, they founded in 2016. I had the pleasure of hearing their single “After Love’s Battles”, the vocals remind me of Tia Carrera or Atlantis Morrisette from the 1990’s, very striking and powerful. The instrumentation was loud and rebellious with…
The Gore Boys from Belmont-Gastonia, NC are a catchy new rap group that we had the pleasure of reviewing, I really enjoyed their new song ”TGB Hand Clap”(2016). The Hand Clap is similar to “Crank Dat” or “Report Card” by Soulja Boy, it has a very simplistic yet irresistible beat, the production of the song is very well mastered.
Chris Staudt’s You Make Me Smile (from his album Life in the Eye) has a 80’s pop electronica sound, bearing a passing resemblance to artists like Paul Simon. The production sounds vintage but the song itself has a fresh feel. I think I would hear this on TV or maybe on a commercial; the track has considerable replay value. Rating: 8.0/10
Chandani’s “Baby Blues” is a contemplative effort by this poppy singer-songwriter. The insistence of the acoustic vocals and intelligent progression of Baby Blues will keep listeners on the edges of their seats. I feel part of the allure of Baby Blues has to be how anyone listening in will be able to identify with the feeling of falling head over heels that she describes here.
Trap Again is a high-energy rap track laid down by Pittsburgh’s D Clak. The beat and D-Clak’s vox unite to make for a track that will easily garner rotation on rap stations.
Russ Hewitt’s latest album ‘Cielo Nocturno’ immediately draws listeners in with engrossing and emotive arrangements. A guitar / bass / drum dynamic ties together Spanish guitar, new age music, and hints of desert rock. While this first track (Presidio) is instrumental, Hewitt is able to tell a story as rich and varied as any vocal-led effort. The funky sound that will wash over listeners during Samba Sao Paulo is timeless, with…
Leslie Nuchow is a strong signer-songwriter that opens up to tell listeners a wholly engrossing story on her latest album, Balm for Gilead. Hints of Sheryl Crow and Natalie Cole can be discerned on tracks like Rivers. The equal time that Nuchow gives to the instrumental and vocal sides on her latest album is a bold move. There is just so much that the piano contributes in term of Nuchow’s…
Over the course of the last three years, we have been fortunate enough to delve into Deborah Henriksson’s music. On Breakers’ Roar, Deborah is able to create an engrossing song because of sweeping instrumentation and cogent narration. Hints of Great Big Sea and This Is Your Time-era Michael W. Smith can be heard here, but Henriksson’s vocals imbue the composition with a sound that is unique. While the track itself is catchy,…
Meridian Incident’s “Yellow Wings” is a powerful hard rock track that builds off of the work of Papa Roach and Seether. The emotion that is brought by the guitars, bass, and drums on Yellow Wings is substantial.
Daniel Correa’s “Fold It Back” is a unique-sounding track as the track successfully blends New Jack Swing, jazz, and Britpop into a tremendous effort. Instrumental and vocal sides are given highlighting variously through Fold It Back, but the track’s backbone relies on a thick and assertive bass line, futuristic synths and a heavenly set of pipes on Daniel.
J-Wonn’s 24/7 is a R&B track that builds off of funk and gospel genres. The vocal ability of J-Wonn is impressive, reaching highs and lows that would be nigh-impossible for the average singer. A ropy bass line and sizzling horns and synth create a stellar backdrop upon which J-Wonn can shine. The dynamic that is created between the vocal and instrumental sides pushes each to a higher plateau.
Dylan Bernard’s Flames is a passionate ode to love that captures a popular sentiment. The dual duty of Dylan – showcasing a narrative and contributing to the harmony of Flames – is impressive. Little more is present on Flames besides a piano and Dylan’s voice, but the track is fulfilling, engrossing, and easily keeps fans on the edges of their seats until the final note.
Ingelik Moods are currently working on their full-length album, slated to be released in 2017. The band has graciously let us check out a few of their demos. Arsenic is a warmly emotive, slow-paced track that tells more with a synthesizer than bands can hope to convey with vocals. When the guitars kick into the mix, Arsenic is given a fullness that hearkens back to the mid-1990s alternative rock scene. I personally…
“Survivorman” Les Stroud has released Arctic Mistress, an engrossing track that blends together equal amounts rock and late-nineties alternative music. Listeners will immediately be struck by the tautness of the song. The guitar’s strumming meshes nicely with the robust bass line and perfectly-placed drum lines.
So We Go is Alex Di Leo’s latest single, a retro-eighties sort of song that works well in current alternative circles. Alex’s vocals are passionate and fun, while So We Go’s instrumentation sparkles brightly. Despite the track ceasing at the four minute mark, there is a fullness and robustness to So We Go that will stick with listeners long after the track’s final note plays.
Vama’s Ghosts At War is an inspirational sort of rock that builds off of the framework of artists like the Foo Fighters and U2. The band’s instrumentation on Ghosts At War is impressive, with the dynamic of guitar, bass, and drum making for the perfect backdrop for the vocals.
KING ROPES begin their album DIRT with Dogleg Boy, a track that skillfully blends together 1990s alt-rock with the grungy, dirty theatric rock of Alice Cooper. Strong guitars, echoing vocals, and a taut instrumentation immediately draw listeners in. Lurch on Sister is a deliberate sounding track that bounces back and forth with ropy bass line and passionate, emotive vocals. The hook that KING ROPES craft during this track will tattoo itself deeply,…
Midwest-based group The Legal Matters is the power pop supergroup made up of members from bands you’ve likely never heard of (Hippodrome, anyone? The Phenomenal Cats? An American Underdog?). Regardless their collaboration in The Legal Matters is bound to bring the attention these guys clearly deserve.
Aaron Lee Tasjan may be prolific, but he is anything but easy to categorize. He’s played guitar with the New York Dolls and Drivin N’ Cryin, started his own Glam Indie rock band and can still manage to pay homage to some of the great acoustic singer/songwriters of the ‘70s on his solo efforts. His latest, “Silver Tears,” tips a hat to everyone from Harry Nilsson to John Prine, in…