Ryan Shupe ‘s We Rode On is a tremendously hopeful effort that showcases the power of the American spirit with a rich set of vocals and a catchy vocal style that ties together Maroon 5 and Walk the Moon. The Sun Will Shine Again has an intense instrumental opening that gives ground to allow Shupe to marvel with his vocal output. The production of this track is amazing, as the…
A modern form of indie-pop that looks back to the electronic styles of the mid-eighties for influence, while still having enough chops to make for a musically interesting style during the EP’s first effort, Strangers. The challenging time signatures present during Taylor will have listeners sitting on the edges of their seats, while the raw power of Lionheart’s vocals link together artists as disparate as La Roux and Taylor Swift.…
Come Down is the latest single from Water District, possessing an emotive sound and fuzzy guitars that unite to make a wall that washes over listeners. Tremendously interesting guitar lines and rich vocals are present in spades, giving the track a sound that would work as well in 1993 as it does in 2016. Water District make an effort that tie together equal parts emotive rock, punk, and alternative/indie rock.…
Kate Brown’s Bring Me Down Dixie is a tremendously affecting track that shows the sheer vocal range of this inimitable performer. The rich instrumentation of this single provides highlighting for Brown’s vocals in all of the right position, with a production that allows the timeless vocals, splashy drums and wistful strings to create something greater than their constituent parts. The narrative quality of Brown on Bring Me Down Dixie will…
Jenny Bruce will immediately touch listeners with her own inimitable vocal style. Little more is needed during Complicated Hearts than Bruce and her guitar, the combination of which makes for a varied and deep introduction to her Firefly in a Jar EP. The titular track to his EP has an intimate and contemplative touch that is highlighted to the richness of Bruce’s guitar arrangements. The unification of these two elements…
The rich reggae-infused styles of Steve Wilks’ Iona will burrow deeply into the minds and hearts of listeners. A smart production allows the distinct elements of the track to shine, whether it is the thick and ropy backing beat, Wilks’ main lyrics, or the additional female vocal accompaniment. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC…
The rich vocals that immediately issue worth with Erik Odsell’s current single Unapology will immediately draw listeners in, while the thoughtful instrumentation further fleshes out this track’s skeleton to something fulfilling for fans. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital…
Cross My Broken Heart is a sun-drenched piece of Americana that touches upon hints of country, rock, and pop music. Smart guitar work and inimitable vocals make this salvo a must-listen. Lonesome Soldier builds upon the country and western and desert rock traditions to create something touching. The sheer amount of narrative that is established during this single will hold up nicely to repeat spins, while Spiritual Awakening is a…
Honesty is a richly-arranged track from Daniel Pye that is able to highlight smooth and forceful lyrics. The dynamic that is created between the thick and ropy bass line, the picking of the guitars, and the aforementioned vocals makes for something that will resound loudly in the minds and hearts of listeners long after the EP has ceased to play. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder…
Incoming Transmission is a strong and emphatic introduction to City Light Vigil’s newest album, Under A Bright Shining Light. The forceful riffs, supersonic vocals, and unity amongst the constituent elements of the band make for something that will immediately bring listeners to the edges of their seat. Hints of the pop-punk of the early-oughts acts like Sum 41 and Blink 182 can be heard here, but there is a more…
Deathgrind has always been one of those genres that I can only listen to for a few songs by a few bands before I move onto something else, but I definitely love those few songs. Seattle natives Theories have definitely cemented themselves on my list of formidable artists in this niche genre. They can be easily hailed among the ranks of Aborted, Misery Index, and even grind-ier bands like Napalm…
You don’t immediately think funk when you hear the album title “For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder,” but from the opening bass lines of “Forces of Oppression” through the next eight songs, funk is front and center in this post punk hybrid from 1980. The short-lived British punk collective The Pop Group combined funk, jazz and industrial rock, long before the latter genre had a name, with…
The Vim Dicta blends together the psychedelic rock of the sixties with the tortured alternative rock of the 1990s, imbuing the results with their own unique flair. The vocals are front and center, contributing to the overall harmonies even as they give listeners a cogent narrative. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer…
In the beginning there was Death, then there was Necrophagist, and now there is Obscura, paving the way for technical death metal in the new era. I loved their last offering in 2011’s Omnivium, but was dismayed by the amount of line-up changes that were happening in the German camp leading up to the writing of what would be Akróasis. As soon as the first song Sermon of the Seven…
When folks do the roll call nowadays of bands that stalked the stages at CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City in the ‘70s the Ramones, Blondie, Television and Talking Heads almost always get mentions. Sadly, The Miamis, a brilliant five piece that played those venues and helped shape New York punk rock and new wave before the genres had proper names, is too often overlooked. They never signed to a label,…
The first single from Living Hour’s upcoming record (out February 19 on Lefse Records) can stack up against any band who performed this style of dreampop/shoegaze when those genres were in their heyday. The uplifting, majestic vocals reach past heaven with a shimmering reverb taking the listener to a world of psychedelic bliss that is only present for a short time during our teen years. The two halves of the…
On Night Fiction, Cian Nugent creates the exact kind of long-flowing, pastoral melodies one would think of when picturing the green Irish countryside. Be they fast and rolling or slowly minimalist, the achingly beautiful sounds display a bucolic quality that lets the listener absorb every detail of the deep audio reflections. David Rangel
Long before Tori Amos started writing about fairies and mysticism, she was one of the ‘90s most original musicians to ever take a spot behind a piano. Judging from her latest, Cure For Dreaming, Jenny Gillespie may be the second coming of Amos. The album manages to combine elements of jazz, pop, folk and ‘70s-era California rock. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
The first time I heard the name Toothgrinder, I was instantly thrown back to San Francisco’s now defunct metal juggernauts Animosity and their 2007 song of the same name. I loved Animosity’s brand of metal, so I secretly hoped that this New Jersey five piece would live up to the hype created by its name alone. And my God, they did! Saif Shaikh
Some Serious Gravity is a tremendous effecting track that links together pop with Megan Trainor, Pink, and Kelly Clarkson. Easing Into Sanity is one of our favorites, as the track purely succeeds on the rich and varied vocals of Janita; she does double duty in weaving a narrative and contributing to the overall harmony of the single. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of…