Michael Leonard Witham has just released his debut album, A Scandal In The Violets. Over the course of 10 tracks, Witham is able to establish an eclectic style that touches upon country, rock, alternative, and folk music while sounding utterly current.Sorry Girl But The Show Is Over is an interesting composition that is a mélange of alt-country and singer-songwriter style. Imagine hints of Conor Oberst, Rufus Wainwright, and Billy Joel…
It’s been seven years since the ska punk band Mad Caddies last put out a studio album and the time off has certainly done nothing to dull the band’s sound. Arguably the band has never turned in a bad record, but Dirty Rice, is easily one of their best.
Though Bonnie Raitt was nearly 20 years into her career by the time she released Nick of Time, her 10th album, it was that record that really brought her Blues-infused rock to the masses. UMe has just re-released this seminal album on vinyl in honor of its 25th anniversary, remastered from the original analog tapes.
Inside My Head is the current release from Detroit’s Shudder, providing listeners with a solid collection of tracks that paint a full picture of the band’s styles, influences, and technical skills. Black and White is a track that blends together the technical virtuosity of bands like Tool with the emotional fury of metalcore acts. Of particular note during this track has to be the sizzling guitar work and the supremely…
Superfix is a Los Angeles-centered band that features Kalen Chase (formerly of Korn) that is poised to take the hard rock genre by storm. The Lion’s Share has sharp guitar work, emotive vocals, and a drum line that is authoritative and ground-shaking. There are hints of A Perfect Circle, Deftones, and Incubus here even as the guitars continually set the act in bold new directions. Eli Rubin put this line…
Kate Callahan place six cuts on her Two Doors EP that provide a great introduction to her music. The titular track on Two Doors showcases interesting narration and a pepy, catchy set of vocals. The instrumentation gradually takes a more focal role until it threatens to dwarf Kate’s vocals; the dramatic climax of this track places each side at a completely higher plateau.
Peace is a high energy track that links together emotive rock, Franz Ferdinand, New Order, and the Psychedelic Furs. With a deft blending of electronic and raw human emotion, the music that is crafted on Let Your Secrets Out is impressive. With each side of the band chugging away at high gear, the band will have the minds and hearts of listeners by the end of the introductory track on…
The AJAY Project has just released their first track, You Made Me, on Mother’s Day. You Made Me is a track that The AJAY Project has written as an ode to mothers. The tremendously emotional track touches upon the work of Seal, R. Kelly, and mid-nineties R&B while having a classical fullness that makes the track unforgettable.
Wake Up is the first track on Sonali’s new EP, and it provide listeners with a confident female singer-songwriter that deftly blends together country, oughts pop, and wraps up the resulting track with a production that immediately establishes the track as one that could easily make it onto radio rotation. Who We Are links together vocals and guitars to make for a wide-open composition replete with lyrics that will stick…
David J Caron has just released his latest video, Illusion. The track blends together 80s metal and progressive rock with emotive vocals and intense instrumentation. The track runs a hair over five minutes, but Caron’s skill ensures that there are more than enough twists and turns present here to keep listeners focused on in.
The Innerspace EP is the latest release from In Orbit, and it contains five tracks from this Perth (Australia) band. Cure is a great introductory track for In Orbit, placing the band firmly in the NWOBHM style of Venom, Mercyful Fate, and early Twisted Sister. The band gets into a groove that would make Suicidal Tendencies and Anthrax proud; In Orbit is able to infuse these traditionally-styled cuts with something…
The tropic feel of this track is bolstered through a lively sound that is infectious enough to keep bouncing around listeners’ heads for months after the initial listen, allowing listeners to have a sunny disposition whenever the track pops up on their iTunes or mp3 player. The production is stellar, ensuring that the cut is ready for pop rotation. Everything is perfectly in place for the first half of the…
Jared Wesley has just released the second release in his The Reinvention of “The Cool” title and has provided listeners wit a number of memorable cuts. Happy Belated is a track that links together intricate flows with a J Dilla meets Outkast-style production. The hard-nosed vocal style continues into Rippin N’ Rollin, a track that shows the Twista-fast vocals of Wesley.
Sarah is a soulful track that has an intelligent array of instruments and soulful singing that is in the vein of John Maher or Jason Mraz. Blue Light Bandits (BLB)’s vocals pull double duty in that they progress the narrative side of things while further bolstering the instrumental backdrop present during tracks like So Mine. The same sunny disposition first heard in Sarah and SO Mine is marked through the…
Traces is a soulful effort that focuses on Henriksson’s vocals, bolstering them through the inclusion of a folk-infused instrumentation. The instrumental arrangement that is built through this introductory track expands to create something intense and will resound loudly with listeners long after the title has ceased. Fly slows things down and imbues a more introspective and atmospheric sound to Henriksson’s vocals. The tender piano that plays at the bottom of…
Night Wing is a track that touches upon electronic music in a fashion that blends together equal amounts Kraftwerk, Can, Klaus Schulze and Herbie Hancock. The track contains a substantial narrative component that shines through in its instrumental state. The effort reaches out over a seven minute period, allowing Harlequins Enigma ample opportunity to showcase their skills in arrangement and musical ability.
Velocirapper is an intense bit of rock that is reminiscent of Sepultura, Deftones, and Papa Roach. There is a heaviness to this introductory composition that will keep listeners on the edges of their seats, while a melodic drop showcases the sheer talent of the band. Rock Bottom keeps the same high energy as it draws listeners into a blend of Suicidal Tendencies and Hatebreed. The confidence that is exuded by…
She Keeps Me (Rockin’) is the second single from Canada’s Tommy Roumanas, and it presents listeners with some of the most intricate and intimate thoughts ever committed to tape. The track is raw and visceral, all while still having a very radio friendly approach. The production of the track allows the vocals, guitars, and drums equal opportunities to shine. Roumanas’ vocals builds off of the work of Buckcherry and Dexter…
For a duo, Eureka California make a hell of a lot of noise. The Athens indie rockers, comprised of drummer Marie Uhler and singer/guitarist Jake Ward, have just turned in their second full length in 18 months and far from sounding like a rushed out also ran, Crunch is a remarkably satisfying slice of unpretentious college rock.
Goodbye Birdcage is a fun and hopeful album that will be eagerly devoured by any fan of rock, whether it be The Beach Boys or They Might Be Giants. Pretty Girls has a sun-drenched and slightly jazzy sound that highlights a set of lyrics which will tattoo themselves upon listeners’ minds and hearts. Learn to Swim looks further back to the nascent days of rock music; this 1940s and 1950s…