Category: Music Reviews

Posted on: June 16, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Smoke Season – Ouroboros EP

Loose is a scintillating alt-rock track that shines by virtue of a taut instrumentation and a set of vocals that link together the styles of Gwen Stefani and Bjork. Smoke Season is able to have a number of distinct threads running through the entirety of the track, but is ultimately talented enough to make everything work together in perfect harmony.

Posted on: June 16, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

AV Super Sunshine “Baby Goodbye” (Hip Hop Remix)

AV Super Sunshine’s “Baby Goodbye” is a slinky, Compton-meets-trip hop track. The track has a powerful beat that will tattoo its melodies deep into the mind of listeners. The inclusion of the female vocals into the mix at points adds further depth to the composition.

Posted on: June 16, 2016 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Adam & the Ants (CD)

It’s been 36 years since the release of “Kings of the Wild Frontier,” Adam Ant’s comeback album after Malcolm McLaren lured away his entire backing band for his latest project Bow Wow Wow, and the sound is still revolutionary. It was the album that introduced the drum-heavy Brundi Beat to pop music listeners in the US, Europe and beyond and would come to best define Ant’s sound for the next…

Posted on: June 15, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Jordan Bennett – Outcasts and Untouchables

Stars at Night is a passionate pop-rock track that succeeds through Bennett’s emotive vocals and an instrumentation that provides highlighting at all the right points. The overall track is elegant in its design; drums, guitars, and Bennett’s vocals combine to tattoo a harmony deep into listeners’ minds. Nothing Without You continues to showcase the same raw emotion initially heard in Stars at Night. This single builds upon emotive rock, pop,…

Posted on: June 15, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Bucky Hayes and the Commonwealth – 100 Miles to Macon

Bucky Hayes and the Commonwealth begin their 100 Miles to Macon with I’ll Leave The Light On, a high-energy Southern-infused rock track. The arrangement shines due to vibrant vocals, sizzling guitar lines, and splashy drums that keep time impeccably. The slight grit of Hayes’ voice adds further complexity to an already deep introductory effort.

Posted on: June 15, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Michael Todd – Crashland

Crashland, Michael Todd’s latest album, is an eclectic album that succeeds upon Todd’s desire to craft something special. A different set of influences make their appearances known with each track, meaning that hints of Neil Diamond, John Mellencamp, James Taylor and Johnny Cash can all be discerned over the course of the release.

Posted on: June 13, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Tara O’Brien – Unchained

Unchained is the fourth album by Tara O’Brien. The release begins with Holiday Love, a tremendously dense and detailed composition that has O’Brien weave a narrative as alluring as that created by any vocal-heavy artist. The tender piano compositions that comprise the effort will immediately pique listeners’ interests, keeping them on the edges of their seats. On Cloud 9 is a track that stands up to repeat listening.

Posted on: June 8, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Miles East – Leave It All Behind / The Hard Part

Leave It All Behind is the initial track from Miles East’s Ghosts of Hope. The track is tender, touching, and succeeds based on the dynamic that is created between the Spartan instrumentation and soft-spoken vocals. A yin to Leave It All Behind’s yang is The Hard Part. The track comes together to provide listeners with an alternative rock approach that touches upon The Wallflowers and Fuel.

Posted on: June 8, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

VanDeRocker – Fly

Fly is an energetic rock track that shines through nods to the B-52s and powerful, angular rock like Franz Ferdinand and The Stranglers. The taut arrangements present during this single will tattoo themselves deeply into the minds of listeners.

Posted on: June 7, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Ramonda Hammer – Whatever That Means

Ramonda Hammer begin their latest album Whatever That Means with a stellar introduction to the band. The alternative rock presented here refreshes the sound of acts like Bif Naked and The Anniversary. Sizzling guitar works perfectly with supersonic vocals to ensure that listeners are on the edges of their seats as they move into If, Then. The slower and more contemplative tack taken by Ramonda Hammer here allows listeners to see…

Posted on: June 7, 2016 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

2/3 Goat – Let it Rise (CD)

Yes, that’s the band name and no, I have no idea about the meaning or origin of the quirky moniker. But 2/3 Goat does play an impressive mix of folk and Americana on Let it Rise (the New York-based band has dubbed their sound metrobilly).

Posted on: June 7, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Beth Macari – Voodoo

Beth Macari’s Voodoo is a rich, funky track that is able to reach a high plateau with Beth’s vocals. The sultry, slightly smoky sound of Macari during this track is reminiscent of Sheryl Crow, Pink, and even an earlier sixties tradition (Shirley Bassey) of singing.

Posted on: June 7, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Purplehed – Burn Like the Sun

Purplehed’s Burn Like the Sun is a distinct pop track that touches upon a wide variety of styles to make something catchy as all get out. There are hints of U2, Maroon 5, OneRepublic along with enough of an electronic tinge to keep EDM fans happy.

Posted on: June 5, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

3@Sea – Venus

3@Sea’s Venus (composed by Terry Manning) is a track is a little bit Bond, a little bit big band, and is sublimely catchy. The track is able to tell a detailed story over the course of its five-minute run time. The constituent elements of the track are able to shine alone or as a cohesive unit.

Posted on: June 5, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Armada Named Sound – NY

Armada Named Sound have just released a video for their latest single, NY. The blend of female vocals and immersive electronic instrumentation are unique and distinctive from pop or EDM-charting music. The song pulls from the halcyon days of the late eighties and early nineties, all while promoting a current and contemporary sort of sound.

Posted on: June 3, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Lauren Carter – “Rule Breaker”

Rule Breaker allows Lauren Carter ample opportunity to impress listeners with her vocals. The instrumentation here does a lot to properly highlight Lauren’s voice in that the drums and piano rise and fall, providing additional emphasis to certain lines.

Posted on: June 2, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 1

Colette Kavanagh “Hold On”

Colette Kavanagh’s “Hold On” blends together vocals and piano in a stirring way. The gradual incline present in the track will have listeners on the edges of their seats as the track rises and falls. The track links together the singer-songwriter style with hints of Sarah McLachlan and Kelly Clarkson. The deliberate instrumental arrangements shine based on their ability to create a rich musical tapestry upon which Kavanagh’s vocals can…

Posted on: June 2, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Ideomotor – The Gutter

Ideomotor’s The Gutter is a supersonic track that builds upon the framework of 1980s New Wave and emo from the oughts to create something that blends together disparate sounds and styles masterfully. A strong, assertive beat is the perfect counterpoint from the honeyed vocals. The production of The Gutter is strong enough to allow these elements to shine alone and as a cohesive entity. Allowing the vocals to take on…

Posted on: June 2, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

Dear God – Transparent Soul

Dear God by Transparent Soul is a powerful hard rock track that showcases a good amount of emotion. Where a number of the more intense rock songs tend to ignore the vocal side of things, what Transparent Soul does here is keep listeners on the edges of their seats through heavy thoughts and a passion that is hard to deny. The production of Dear God allows each of the elements…

Posted on: June 2, 2016 Posted by: Sargeant Comments: 0

The Suits – Jerome Lee

The Suits by Jerome Lee is a R&B track that touches upon the styles of the 1980s and 1990s to build upon a very current and contemporary sound. The current sound of the track is predicated on how successfully it builds this blueprint; hints of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock can all be heard here. Jerome’s vocals are a particularly high point to the composition, while the backing instrumentation…