In just seven brief minutes, spread out over two songs, Durham, NC’s Skylar Gudasz has offered a glimpse at quite possibly the most starkly beautiful vocals to come along since The Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins turned in her Trinity Sessions performance.
Fake Soldier, Fallen Soldier has a very street savvy sound to the effort, with some absolute fire that is spat by Tru; there is a quickness and natural feeling to this track that ensures that listeners will be able to keep focused on the rest of the album.
With just 10 songs, the duo Kool Stuff Katie has managed to sneak in the best debut of the year. Unfortunate band name aside, Portland-based musicians Shane Blem and Saren Oliver have crammed together garage rock, new wave, punk and a liberal mix of hooky pop music for an instantly-infectious sound that brings to mind everyone from The Cars and The Kinks to The Breeders and The Ramones.
Titan Slayer has just released their latest single Desolated Heroes on Venator Music. There is a nice load-up period that starts things off, drawing listeners in as the arrangements gradually begin to pick up steam. The epic stylings of this single mean that listeners will be absolutely engrossed in the composition by the time that the last minute finishes and will be on the edges of their seats by the…
Freedom’s Alluring Call is a trance-infused instrumental composition that deftly links together natural and artificial elements into something that is brooding, expressive, and carries a narrative richer than any vocal effort.
The Joy of Quiet Rain Mix is an absolutely epic effort, with a number of different movements that elicit different emotions and mindstates. There are a number of environmental sounds that are interspersed during this effort (rain following, thunder) that approximate a storm that washes everything away. One can meditate and create a positive state in this nearly ten-minute offering The Soft Focus Ocean Mix does a stellar job in…
Much like their first four efforts, Horse Feathers’ latest, So It Is With Us, is a collection of quiet, indie music that straddles the line between folk and Americana. And that is far from being a bad thing.
When people dismissively ask “You still listen to punk music?,” they are actually thinking of bands like the four-piece Bad Luck. This group from Long Island and Daytona Beach, represent all that made the genre such a muddled mess of mediocrity in the early aughts. Pop music and seventh grade poetry masquerading as “Emo” all got mislabeled with the Punk tag, perverting a genre that was doing just fine without…
Hipsters and Baby Boomers rejoice! The latest, vinyl-only singles collection from The Turtles is a brilliant throw back and hopefully the start of a new trend.
The sheer energy that Funeral Kab possess on this self-titled Ep calls back to the early days of Anthrax and Suicidal Tendencies, with hints of Deliverance-era Corrosion of Conformity and bits of Rites of Spring / Fugazi. Taken all together, this no frills rock / punk / hardcore blend is something that is loud, raucous, and has a take no prisoners approach that keeps the energy high from beginning to…
Traveler’s Moon is a tremendously introspective and heartfelt release that is crafted with the utmost care. Anastasia is a soft and sedate track that links together indie rock and country traditions. The instrumentation that is utilized in this track is as rich as the dual part harmony is presented. The specific array of styles and approaches that are presented listeners on Beautiful to Me showcases the depth and breadth of…
Boundaries is a track that feels like a blend of Taking Back Sunday and +44, with a small amount of The Anniversary mixed in. The production is able to create a close and cozy sound for the vocals, drums, and guitars in a fashion that makes it seem as Ostrich Run is in your living room, while being clean enough to allow listeners to hear the constituent elements of the…
Smoke Season starts off their Hot Coals Cold Souls with Badlands, a chaotic and tempestuous effort that possesses the perfect blend of intensity and sly, sultry music. The presence of dual harmonies during this introductory effort establishes Smoke Season as an act that has a number of tools in their repertoire. The Jack White-esque guitar lines present on this introductory salvo and haunting melodies crafted by this two-part vocal assault…
DFWY is WydeFrame’s strongest banger, and it immediately hits listeners over their head. The soaring hook is matched perfectly by a gritty and intricate flow that maintains a solid harmony each time it occurs. The production of DFWY is equal to any of the cuts currently garnering radio airplay, while there is enough variation that is present in WydeFrame’s overall sound that the track really does have considerable replay value.…
Lockdown features Charlie Rose is a perfect blend of hard-nosed EDM and club-ready R&B. The tracks’ production is at such a point that a DJ could easily sneak it into a set alongside major-label performers while still keeping the momentum and energy high. Charlie Rose’s vocals are a blend of Gorilla Zoe and The Game while still possessing a unique quality that pushes the track to an entirely new plateau.…
It’s a year short of the album’s 20th anniversary, but I’m sure Oasis fans will forgive the transgression now that (What’s the Story) Morning Glory is getting a proper three-disc deluxe roll out.
Take This Love is a track that builds upon the work of seventies rockers and provides listeners in the current era with something rich and meaty to bite into. The overall production of the track is solid enough to let the vocals, drums, and guitars ample opportunity to shine alone and as a cohesive unit. The cogent sound of the tracks on Black Sky Blanket really speak to Levitas’ ability…
WydeFrame’s flow this time out builds upon the works of Fabolous and Big Boi, with hints of Jadakiss that come forth before the song ceases. The production keeps the energy of the track high, while the fat bass beats ensure that the cut will be blasted in cars throughout the autumn. There is enough variety in the subject material and overall flow that the track can stand up to repeat…
This EDM and trap – inspired cover of The Weeknd’s single is given a new lease on life. The heavy, dark sound of the instrumentation provides a solid backbone upon which Deja Mae can build. The production allows the vocal and instrumental efforts ample opportunity to shine, all while creating a cohesive and comprehensive feeling to the cut. The echoing, haunting vocals of Deja Mae will stick with listeners long after…
There is a skillful blend of pop, EDM, and R&B styles that will appease fans of Britney Spears, Ke$ha, and Lana Del Ray. March is a track that will keep listeners on the dance floor, with a backing back that links together rap, dubstep, and European dance styles. There are a number of twists and turns that are presented during this track, making for a much more fulfilling experience than…