The first studio album from New York’s Whitewash is so steeped in hipster cred that of course they had to issue it on cassette tape. Despite that eye-roll inducing move (no one should put an album out on tape in 2015, I don’t care how retro you think you are), the band actually has a powerfully impressive sound to fall back on.
The eponymous opening to Thirsty’s album showcases a dreamy set of vocals and a tight rock arrangements that works well in a variety of styles. Hints of sixties and seventies rock can be discerned as the vocals approach that of Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger. 10, 7 And Possibly 6 has a funky groove that succeeds based on the drum / guitar dynamic. Bits of blues music can be picked…
Rodney Patterson is a unique performer that has taken on a wide variety of genres during his career. The ability that he showcases in his music means that ambient, jazz, and R&B-themed tracks are commonplace. In fact, the only thing that listeners can be sure of when they sit down with a new Patterson track is that the arrangements will be tight and the music fun. The spontaneity that is…
Frank Steiner, Jr. is releasing his latest album Momentum on Real Music in July. These five compositions provide listeners with over fifty minutes of introspection and compelling music crafted by Steiner. Momentum begins with the ten-plus minute composition, “To Fill the Sky”. This effort begins with a sedate, twinkling set of arrangements that add disparate elements before gradually gaining tempo and created something that sits at the precipice of American…
The soulful voice of Paul Doffing during his latest track, Sure Doesn’t Matter Anymore, will resound loudly in the minds and hearts of listeners. There is a timeless aspect to Doffing’s vocals that ties together the work of early Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Paul Simon into a composition that is beautiful and affecting.
One Bit Less of Me is the latest track from Melbourne’s John Tomaino, and the track immediately hits listeners with an amalgamation of traditional and futuristic elements. Coming forth with a delightful rising and falling action, this new track will immediately draw the attention of anyone that may be listening in.
Misli opens up OLYA’s Utopia album, and it comes forth with an early eighties sound that gradually fleshes itself out to a Lady Gaga / Katy Perry sort of vibe. The crispness of the instrumental compositions here separate Misli from other pop fare, ensuring that listeners can spin the track a number of times before hearing every inclusion and dynamic established in the introductory three minutes.
Willie and Merle are no strangers to sharing the recording studio. There was the 1983 Outlaw Country classic Poncho & Lefty, the decent follow up, 1987’s Seashores of Old Mexico and the duo brought in Ray Price for 2007’s Last of the Breed. But Django And Jimmy, (named after the duo’s heroes Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers) is the twosome’s strongest album since that first, fortuitous record.
Alaska’s Cliff and Ivy have just released a music video for their single, “In Your Hands (New Blood)”. The track itself builds off of the goth music of the late eighties and nineties (45 Grave, Sisters of Mercy, Switchblade Serenade) and succeeds based on the sheer energy and multi-faceted approach that the band takes. In Your Hands (New Blood) will require multiple listens to break free the multiple vocals, drums /…
Your War is Over is an impassioned track that showcases the vocal and instrumental ability of John Preston. The track is able to capture the spirit of John Mayer, the Goo Goo Dolls, and Fuel while having an intensity to each lyric that is hard to beat. The narrative created here provides light to a phenomenon that has largely went unreported by the national media – allowing current and former soldiers the…
Never Shout Never, aka Christofer Drew and his fellow bandmates,will release their brand new, highly-anticipated studio album, entitled Black Cat, on August 7th via Warner Bros. Records. The album will be available for pre-order starting today, June 9th. The first single from the album “Hey! We OK,” will be available as an instant download for those who pre-order.
Audiobender’s Reverb begins with Alright With Me. This introductory track showcases Audiobender as an act that is tremendously influenced by the rock of the seventies and eighties. This means that listeners can pull out hints of Rush, Bad Company, and Whitesnake with this opening salvo. Where many bands are more than happy to exist in a certain time period over the courses of their careers, the tracks that Audiobender include…
Ben Mauro has released Take Your Time, a hopeful pop-rock track that will capture listeners’ hearts with little more than a soaring set of vocals, guitars, and percussion. The positive track takes up island rhythms with the singer-songwriter style of Jason Mraz and John Maher.
Ordinary will hit listeners with Post Paradise adopting hints of Hoobastank and Fall Out Boy with a harder rock edge. The harmonies that Post Paradise create on their Ordinary will eagerly be devoured by fans of rock radio fare, but there is considerable depth to this track. The different elements – vocals, drums, guitars – all are doing their own thing.
The Boys of Summer is transformed into a much darker, more industrial-heavy take on the Den Henley original. There is a much different take on this effort that allows no:carrier ample space to make the effort their own. Taken alongside California (originally from Belinda Carlisle), The Boys of Summer are able to introduce the act to a wide audience while the act’s talent allows them to create something wholly new.…
Jef Joslin has just released his latest single, Do What You Wanna Do . This soulful track looks back at the Detroit sound of the 1960s while keeping things contemporaneous and fresh. Hints of Aloe Blacc and Bruno Mars can be heard as Joslin establishes a unique sound with this effort.
Revolt is the new single from Calgary’s The Unravelling. The song builds upon the rich musical tradition of Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails; the angry intensity of this industrial-rock act takes up the standards of Ministry and Atari Teenage Riot. The vocals are equal part Jonathan Davis and Chester Bennington, while the arrangements present in Revolt take on an epic feeling.
Jared Deck has just released his latest single, 17 Miles. The track builds off of the work of Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, imbuing the effort with effervescent spirit and instrumentation that is on-point. The sizzling guitar work tie together pop, rock, and country music into an effort that will be bouncing around listeners’ ears long after the track has ceased.
Rick Elliot’s Why is a track that covers considerable ground, with hints of Travis Tritt, Jimmy Buffett, and even Willie Nelson present in Elliot’s rich vocals. The production of Why allows each element – Rick’s vocal tenor, guitars, drums, and bass – to shine separately and as a cohesive effort.
Break Free is the latest single from Los Angeles’ Only On Tuesdays and it represents one of the most dynamic efforts we have heard. The interplay between the instrumentation and the vocals pops with each tempo shift the band enacts, while the narrative quality of the track provides considerable depth.