Blackstate’s The Arsonist immediately tattoos its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners; one can here a bit of Plastikman and Benny Bennassi in the song’s opening minute. The ability of the act to tell a story without having to dip into vocals too often showcases the act’s ability. The Arsonist is one of those songs that you’ll have to strap on your earphones and really focus on,…
At first blush, the new single from the Autumn Kings, Sleep When I’m Dead, builds upon the tradition of performers like Bring Me The Horizon, Tom McDonald, and Imagine Dragons. Assertive drums, synths, and a perfect blend of metal and pop-tinged hard rock turn Sleep When I’m Dead into one of those songs that listeners will be singing along with long after the song ceases to play. The Autumn Kings…
Somehow is a slinky and sultry track that will immediately draw in listeners with haunting instrumentation and smooth vocals. There’s a deceptively deep dynamic that is achieved between the vox and the instrumentation, virtually ensuring that one will need to play the single multiple times before hearing each and every nuance that Johnny PE has placed within. We’re particularly digging the chorus to Somehow, which both changes up the overall…
Cookie Delicious’s Broken Connection begins with a fun, funky groove that differentiates itself from much of modern EDM with its look back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. The vocals (laid down here by Natalie Bohrn) stand out boldly among the drums and the slinky synths. Broken Connection is one of those tracks that will have listeners going out on the dance floor, but the most interesting side of…
Eddie Cohn’s Who Or What I Was Before has hints of U2 and Erasure, albeit with a much more emotive and engrossing instrumentation playing at the bottom of the track. Synths, wind-swept guitars, and on-point drumming combine to make for an eclectic backdrop. There’s a confidence to Cohn’s vocals that will strike anyone fortunate enough to listen in. The song concludes before the three-minute mark. It is a testament to…
Michael Little’s “Yesterday” calls back to the late 1990s with the smooth, silky and sultry R&B style that it achieves. There’s tremendous passion that Michael incorporates into every line of the track, while the song’s instrumentation is able to add a backdrop to Little’s vox while acting as an equal partner in establishing’s the song’s inimitable melodies. The song could easily garner radio rotation at any point in the last…
Reeling is MattO’s first track of 2024, and the song builds upon some of the trends that he presented fans in 2023 as well as draw upon different musical traditions during the single’s run time. The performer’s Americana approach hints to Neil Young and John Melloncamp, all while the guitar work seems a bit Bakersfield and a dollop of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The timeless sound of Reeling will stick with listeners…
Show You is a hard-hitting track with beautiful samples that provide a brief break from the main meat and potatoes of the song. There’s a bit more Atlanta in Lateef’s lyrical approach here, but with enough edge to appease even the most wizened of rap fans. Together, vibrant samples and big bass lines make for the perfect backdrop upon which Jelani’s inimitable style can truly shine. Settling down at a…
Can’t Stop Now has a focused groove to start things off; Jelani Lateef sets the stage with the sequenced beats before laying down his inimitable flow. There’s a number of influences that are jockeying for dominance here. There’s a bit of 1990s NYC rap (e.g. Jaz-O, Nas) mixing with a bit of California rap (E-40, Too Short). Lateef makes a big splash with one of the catchiest choruses that we’ve…
Voodoo Nights has a wonder anime video associated with the song, an homage to the late 1990s and early 2000s dance bangers with just enough in the way of dubstep elements to keep things more current. The different vocal elements are able to keep things continually interested, while the numerous syllables/elements that comprise the lead-out from the chorus act as a palette cleanser for the rest of the track. This…
Climbing To The Top, the latest effort from Ragga Lox, is one of our favorite tracks that we’ve dug into early in 2024. The song is able to succeed due to a bouncy backing beat and a set of vox that are able to both tell a story and contribute to the overall harmonies presented in the cut. There’s a timeless sound that ensures that Climbing To The Top could…
On Sconnie Girl, Joyann Parker is able to create a slice of country music that is tremendously reverent of what was released back in the 1990s. There’s a very downhome sort of instrumentation that is at home no matter where one resides – the song’s message of being proud of where you come from is something that individuals can appreciate. The tautness of the single’s guitar and drums ensure that…
Cheflodeezy’s “Ecstacy” has an assertive tempo and a strong blend of reggae and EDM music. Together, these styles combine to create something that will bring fans out onto the dance floor. The rapid-fire patter of Cheflodeezy ensures further complexity to an already-heady effort. The song works in so many distinct situations that we’re sure that we will be hearing it on DJ playlists, Spotify lineups, and everywhere inbetween. Adding TeeJay…
Perfect Timing has an airy sound that will immediately draw listeners in, while the charisma of Flau’jae’s vocals will keep them interested until the song’s last few seconds. The blend of pop and rap elements during her latest track ensures that a wide collection of fans will be accumulated. The booming bass and drum beat punctuate the track, giving a further level of depth for one to delve into. Flau’jae…
I’m betting that nearly everyone who hears and enjoys James Robert Webb’s new song “I Just Wanna Be Your Santa Claus” will agree its big payoff moment arrives with the track’s chorus. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has proven his mettle for crafting memorable refrains and I’m certain that, when we’re looking back on Webb’s musical output, his propensity for such hook-laden moments will shine especially bright when replaying this track.…
Wonderful Day immediaterly will capture listeners’ attention with the classical, thoughtful composition that starts off the single. There’s a lot of Souls of Michief or J. Dilla in the production here, while Knoc-turn’al’s paralleling of the chorus adds a distinctive style to the composition. This is one of those sorts of songs that listeners will have to put on multiple times to hear everything that has been ensconsed within. When…
What Bombardier Jones does on his new track Golden Hour is summon the spirits of Chris Isaak, Donovan and Paul McCartney to make an easy-going and softly-sang composition. The honesty that is imbued into this track will bring fans aboard, while deft instrumentation (keys, drums, and guitar) are able to keep them firmly planted on the edges of their seats. The range that Bombardier Jones achieves during this single is…
On her new track Man Or The Monster, Liza Jane is able to build upon the framework of performers like Cher, Lady Gaga and Madonna all while putting her own unique flair into the composition. Man Or The Monster is a modern dance song with an assertive beat and considerable charisma poking through. Liza Jane’s vox are able to do double duty here in telling a narrative while building up…
Dodo (2020), 14 songs Bleedin is the first track that starts off the “Dodo” set of releases that Jeuse Kastoan has released over the course of the last few years. Percussive elements continue to set the stage for subsequent releases as the emotive vocals peek their head through the instrumentation. I Know has Kastoan build upon the style of performers like Kid Cudi to make for something thoughtful and deep,…
“Alone on Christmas Day” is the new single from New York City’s The High Plains Drifters and it’s a winner. This charming, unassuming tune brims with compelling melodic strengths and a sleek arrangement that never bites off more than it can chew. It comes across as the result of a band who began recording the song knowing exactly what aims they looked to achieve and sounds like they tossed off…