2015 is going to be a wonderful summer for music fans — not only are the Rolling Stones on tour, but we’ll also be seeing the final performances of the Grateful Dead. Let’s take a closer look.
Mz Rockastella comes forth on her latest single M.I.B. with a rapid rap style in the vein of Nicki Minaj; there is enough in the way of twists and turns that are presented during this track to keep a high momentum. The production of M.I.B. links together trap and mid-2000s Atlanta rap to make something that straddles the line between rap radio and deep and dirty gangster fare. The different…
All That You’ve Got is a track on Allyson Murrell’s Inspiration that could work equally well in pop and dance stations; there is a crispness to the track’s arrangements that would make it an easy sell for radio rotation. The unity of the electronic instrumentation and the organic, vibrant vocals make for a track that will resound loudly in listeners’ ears long after the track has ceased.
Vlesg’s Solid State Hi Fi begins with Enigma, a track that links together organic and electronic elements into a track that touches upon a wide variety of composers and genres. This means that there are hints of trip-hop, ethereal, and world music genres. The track is linked delicately to the classical music tradition, a move that ensures that the widest possible swath of listeners will find something that they can…
Asphodel is the first track that many well hear from Joi Noir, and it is a hell of a how do you do; the track is able to take up the goth, new romantic, and girl-rock (Bangles, Runaways) styles of the late seventies and the early eighties. Rather than merely looking back, there is a vitality that the band creates that makes each of the tracks on this self-titled album…
Alfred is a catchy, hooky effort that begins James Rawson’s latest album, Tristan & Isolde. The track ebbs and flows, increasing and decreasing in speed to ensure that everyone listening in will be agog. Intermezzo may only extend to the minute and a half mark, but the deft composition showcase intricate intimacy; the different elements here combine to create something silky and alluring before the album moves into Dead Bones.…
Wanted Man is a John Tomaino track that blends equal amounts rock, pop, and punk into something is wholly immersive and catchy. Each of the constituent elements of the track are able to shine on their own and as a unified effort. The energetic vocals of Tomaino will tattoo themselves deep into the minds and hearts of anyone listening in, while the jangly guitars provide the perfect contrast for the…
The world is crammed with one-hit wonders that justifiably deserve that title; The Knack are not one of those bands. While technically “My Sharona” is their only real “hit,” they continued to churn out one great album after another years after that 1979 radio staple, but frustratingly were never able to make it back up the sales charts again. Thankfully, the Power Pop archeologists at Omnivore Recordings are re-releasing the band’s final…
Medicated Mitch has just released a full-length album, Heavily Sedated. It is the rare example of an album that bangs from beginning to end. All Star Weekend blends together a catchy flow and an airy backing beat that will dig itself deep into the minds and hearts of anyone listening in. There is a unique sound that Medicated Mitch establishes with this track, but is done in such a way…
A Peaceful Event showcases a tremendous narrative skill by Ian Green, telling a story with nothing more than a piano. The arrangements that he utilizes during the onset of Starlight are incredibly deep while being delicate, intricate without bogging down the overall sound of the album. Cycles of Sound speeds things up considerably, showcasing Green’s ability to stop and change styles on a dime. The more playful sound of this…
Aventyr’s Driven (the eponymous track) comes forth mightily, with a late-seventies to early-eighties metal style in the vein of Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, and Twisted Sister. The production on Driven is fantastic, with sizzling guitar lines, splashy drums, and catchy vocals working together to create some of the most memorable metal that we have heard in 2015. Betrayed starts with a strong, thick drum beat that has a number of…
Drift Away immediately places listeners in a rainy night somewhere urban, with a harmony created from the interaction of the different elements. There is a deliberate story being told here, with a guitar representing the narrator. Tolar is able to break free of the domination of vocals and creates something that is as rich and fulfilling as any lyric-heavy artist.
There is a timeless sound to Nikia’s Maybe I single, which is versed in the soul and funk of the seventies, the post-disco 1980s, and the rich female-led R&B of the 1990s. The production of this track allows the instrumental and vocal sides of the composition to shine on their own and together, creating something that will resound with listeners long after the song has ceased playing. Nikia’s vocals are strong enough…
John Roy Zat has been based in San Francisco, but the sheer amount of influences that are showcased on his latest album Who Zat (released on Flyin Bayou) represent a road map through some of America’s most memorable musical cities. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Zat is that the specific array of sounds and styles that are broached during each of the compositions on Who Zat are modified based…
There is a sultry and richly emotive sound to Holly Elle’s vocals during the beginning of Mirage that will ensure that listeners are firmly ensconced in the single. The track builds upon the framework of artists like Sia, Madonna, and Rihanna.
There is a sultry and slinky sound to Mercy’s vocals on her latest track, Breath. There are hints present here of Shakira, Christina Aguilera, and Megan Trainor, but the cut succeeds on the unique twists and turns that Mercy does here.
Only On Tuesdays have released the Darling Dearest single from their Break Free EP. The track sits at the juncture of pop, country, and mid-nineties alternative rock, succeeding due to smart instrumentation, lush production, and a set of vocals that are awe-inspiring, strong while ageless.
Ghost Lit Kingdom’s You Don’t Know Me is led by ethereal vocals and a haunting composition that echoes and twinkles throughout. The vocals are fresh and interesting while still having some special quality which listeners can love.
There is a bouncy sound that works well for Smoke, which has weareTheBigBang blend together pop, EDM, emo and rock into something that is fresh, fun, and interesting from beginning to end. The production allows the rich bass, guitar, vocals, drums, and synth into something unitary without losing out the passion or the intricate arrangements that lead Smoke to the mountaintop.
It’s a little surprising to hear that Faith Healer is actually the alias for Canadian folkie Jessica Jalbert. Her first solo album, Cosmic Troubles is under this new moniker, while still having a softness thanks to Jalbert’s light as air vocals, is complimented nicely with a strong psychedelic pop vibe.