Washington, DC-based Vandaveer take predictable Indie folk/roots rock and give it a majestic sheen. “But Enough On That For Now,” the first single off their upcoming release The Wild Mercury waxes philosophical on the mortality of humans to the sound of Coldplay-meets-Emmylou Harris vocals.
Sean McMorris has released a new album, Elevated Man, that will take listeners through a number of styles and approaches before spinning to a close. The eponymous track is a sedate effort that ties together the easy-listening rock of the seventies with a more contemporary alternative style. The instrumental and vocal sides of the track create something that stands up to repeat spins. Bent Out of Shape is a bouncy track…
Death Pony Express is the opening track on Toronto’s R10T’s Digital R10T EP, and what listeners will immediately take from this track is that vocals are not required when attempting to tell a story. The rich narrative that is weaved through samples/arrangements in unparalleled. Hints of Plastikman, Prodigy, and “Pretty Hate Machine”-era Nine Inch Nails represent the bedrock upon which R10T creates his music. The dynamic sound of this opening salvo…
Nation of Winners is an emotive bit of rock from Run To Life on their latest, Can’t Write Love Songs, that blends together tremendous instrumentation with a haunting set of vocals. The dynamic allows each side to shine while creating something that is decidedly greater than the sum of the constituent parts. Is It for Good is a tender and touching composition that is sedate and soft before opening up…
Twelve24 has just released a lyric video for “Cool Like That”, their latest single off From the Ground Up. The track bubbles with a catchiness that is hard to beat, building off of the works of acts like the Black Eyed Peas and Walk the Moon. A lush production allows the instrumentation to shine as brightly as the vocals, without the resulting track sounding muddy. Cutting out before the 2:45 mark,…
Go ‘Head D (Hi-D-Ho) is a track that refreshes the timeless Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway into a pop/R&B blend that will dig its hooks deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Let Me Hear You Say Hep Hep blends together the work of performers like Blu Cantrell and Mary J. Blige with Harlem of the twenties and thirties.
The now defunct Arizona-based roots alt rockers The Refreshments were long ago slapped with the dreaded “One Hit Wonder” label and while technically that moniker is true, like a slew of others before them, it was a distinction that they certainly never deserved.
Housecore Horror Festival is a joyous occasion. Last year I had a blast in Austin and this year in San Antonio was no different. I drove up on a sunny Friday afternoon and entered the Holiday Inn around 2:00PM. The vendors were starting to set up and I had a quick chat with Bill Mosley of such legendary horror masterpieces as Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Devil’s Rejects. What a…
The first album from the Queens-based Hip Hop collective A Tribe Called Quest was not only one of the best debuts to come out of the ‘90s (released in April of 1990) it is also easily one of the top Hip Hop records to come out of that decade. At 14 songs, the album introduced a wildly imaginative new sound, blending jazz with rap, slowing down the vocals so they…
Aluk Todolo returned to the studio during May – June 2015 to record their fourth album, entitled Voix (“voice[s]” in French). And now, the album is set for European release on February 5th, 2016 via Norma Evangelium Diaboli (NED) (same date in North America via The Ajna Offensive).
Laidback techno / electronic sound that builds off of a late nineties / early oughts style, Keez’s Water Creatures is an album that goes through a number of different twists and turns before ending. Wake Up Calm is a traditional reggae sound that will impress due to a taut instrumentation and a complete sound that allows the vocals, drums, guitar, and a ropy bass ample time to shine. Give N…
Love Won’t Make You Cry is bitter’s Kiss’ latest single off of their self-titled full length from earlier this year, a tremendously impactful track that will stick with fans long after it has ceased to play. The track is tender and shows tremendous vocal ability by Chloe. The instrumentation that plays at the background of the single establishes a solid backdrop for this emotionally-charged delivery. Chloe’s vocals do double duty…
To LA, Ben Mauro’s latest begins with a compelling singer-songwriter style that links together more soulful and funkier efforts; the raw charisma and passion of Ben Mauro during his latest, To LA is infection. The EP opens up with Take Your Time, a track that is smooth and sugar with a knotty, dense instrumentation that will open up for listeners after multiple spins.
Mundo is a performer that creates a high-energy track that crosses the borders between rap, hip-hop, and dance. The track will get listeners up and on the dance floors. A backing beat creates something that will tattoo itself deep into the psyche of listeners, while the raw passion and charisma of Mundo will have listeners hanging on every word. Where many EDM / dance compositions hang on for three minutes,…
Make The Best of It is the latest single from New Jersey’s Pat Baer. This cut is a timeless track that builds off of the mid-nineties alternative and later emotive rock styles to create something that is tender and emotionally intense, with a wonderful rising and falling action that will have listeners on the edges of their seat. Baer’s vocals are hopeful and sunny, pulling double duty as they tell…
The Shrine have released the video for “Coming Down Quick” from their upcoming Century Media Records debut, Rare Breed. The record will see a release on January 15, 2016 (with extended content) in North America. Produced by Dave Jerden (Alice In Chains’ Dirt, Jane’s Addition’s Nothing’s Shocking, Social Distortion’s self-titled, The Offspring’s Ixnay On The Hombre and Eno/Byrne’s My Life In The Bush of Ghosts); the track was recorded through…
Toronto’s Specyal T has just released her C.A.K.E. EP, a five-track effort that will provide listeners with a full array of styles, influences, and sounds upon which to familiarize themselves with this inimitable performer. The EP begins with Stay With Me, an effort that is a down and dirty club track. The deep and sultry sounds issuing forth here are matched well with intelligent wordplay.
The Kiss That Took A Trip released Electroforest in 2014, creating a unique sound that touched upon atmospheric, electronic, and ambient styles. During the recording of these songs, there were a few tracks did were crafted that did not make it onto the full-length album. Fast-forward a few months and these tracks have been collected into a comprehensive EP. Bad heavens is a fuzzy bit of electro-pop that includes a…
L.P. by New York’s Martin Del Carpio is a powerful atmospheric track that deftly blends together electronic and organic elements into an effort that provides listeners with incredible depth. The tender compositions of L.P. ebb and flow, with minor shifts and changes in the output providing more than enough fodder to replay the track and hear something wholly new.
Los Angeles’ Valley Shine has just released their LOCA EP; the release begins with Sugar Dream. Sugar Dream is a poppy rock track that glitters with hints of alt-country, folk, and a sunny disposition. While this track works in the current period, there is a timeless sound to this track that ensures listeners will find something that they can appreciate.