Hell Yeah is the latest single by The Fundamentals, and comes forth with a down and dirty rock style. The amount of grit that comes forth with the guitar work, splashy drums, and the snarl of the vocals is unparalleled. 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.…
Forgotten Lights is a tender and intricate song from Birds Over Arkansas, a track that touches equally upon the folk, progressive, and singer-songwriting styles. The vocals take listeners on a journey, while on-point drums, guitar, and bass unite to make a fitting backdrop upon which these lyrics can soar. The rich guitar arrangements that are peppered through Forgotten Light are punctuated by splashy and fulfilling drums. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur…
A soulful song that blends together a tremendously infectious bass line with heartfelt and deep vocals, JoeBelle’s Just Say So is an effort that will worm its way deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The effort from this North Carolina act goes at 100% from beginning to end, touching upon the Detroit sound of the 1970s, Mary J Blige and Angie Stone, and links the resulting effort into…
Confess is the latest effort from Norway’s Ane Monsrud. The track showcases Ane’s ability to set up a harmony with her vocals, something that is further bolstered by the inclusion of thoughtful instrumentation. The track has something for fans of the singer-songwriter, jazz, and classical genres; Monsrud comes forth with tremendous force and finesse during this song. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of…
Los Angeles is a pop-infused track that shines, drawing comparisons to performers like Pink and Kelly Clarkson. There is a massive vocal range captured during this effort, one that is highlighted through intelligent instrumentation. The vocal delivery of Amanda Grace here is dusky, intricate, and ultimately familiar. 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,…
For years, TW Walsh was a member of Pedro The Lion alongside his collaborator, David Bazan. With Songs of Pain and Leisure (2011) and now this, his latest upcoming record, Walsh proves to be a singer/songwriter of equally talented proportions who for reasons unknown, seemed to take a back seat to Bazan. David Rangel
Trance-inducing quasi disco beats; cold, monochromatic vocals and “drippy” synthesized bleeps and dots characterize “You Are Mine,” the first single from Daddy’s upcoming record “Let Me Get What I Want.” The spring 2016 release is a part of a multi-media project consisting of a record, poems, individual music videos and an hour-long film with no beginning or end. David Rangel
Brandon James is gaining a head of steam before his new EP is released on February 1st. This Chicago-born, bred, and based performer builds on a tremendously deep R&B tradition while establishing his own unique take on the art form. On tracks like “How Does It Feel”, James is able to create a sultry and soulful sound that will shake listeners to their very core. Perhaps most alluring about James’…
Uncle Tadashi & Da Boyz – My Old Stompin’ Ground is a track that possesses a timeless quality. The ability of the act to create such a sweet and soulful song with their latest sound is amazing; while there are 7 distinct forces here, the music that they create is unified and with a singular goal. The passion and care taken in creating this effort means that anyone that fancies…
WhiTeNoySe begins his Jumped on a Plane with Alice, a trippy bit of rap music that expands upon what listeners will experience with the style. The richness of the backing instrumentation here will ensure that listeners are firmly on the edges of their seats. No Dreams has a more sinister, brooding sound that continues to allow WhiTeNoySe with ample opportunity to tell a story. Hints of The Streets and Eyedea can be discerned…
Apollo LTD’s obvious understanding of what makes a good “pop” song is highlighted in “What Are You Waiting For.” All elements are present from bouncy dance beats to hook-laden vocals (which include falsettos) that will make this song fit in at parties as well as on mainstream radio. David Rangel
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. David Rangel
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. SargeantJohn Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the…
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. John B. Moorewww.neufutur.com
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…