The piano that opens up “8 AM” is very emotional, and works perfectly in highlighting the vocals that ultimately take off after. The Summer Obsession have a single after thirty seconds in “8 AM”, and while the band is not coming forth with something that is cutting-edge and revolutionary, they still come out with a style that individuals can get behind. The multiple layers of vocals during “8 AM”…
Coming through with much of the same metal-infused punk riffs that have made Sum 41 such a successful crossover band, these selections from “Chuck” are really par for the course from these Canadians. Much more ballsy and full of sound than their nearest competitors in their fellow nationals Simple Plan, Sum 41 still make tracks that are acceptable for the soccer moms all through the world. The punk sound…
“Power World” is a strong opening for Terry Sullivan. I must say that before this album I had little clue who Terry Sullivan was, but I feel bad now because I had no previous knowledge of eir. The opening track here blends together a classic Tom Petty type of sound with a snarky early nineties alternative sound to create something that individuals will be singing along with for a…
The titular effort on Shut Off Your Mind (“Shut Off Your Mind”) will ensure that listeners are on the edges of their seats. During this song, sizzling guitar lines unite with on-point drums and sultry, slinky vocals to create something special. This introductory track feeds into Only Heaven knows, which has a very strong momentum that allows listeners to be sent along the way with intense rock, rockstar-confident vocals,…
Be Here Now is a tremendously emotional track that links together instrumental and vocal elements to create something that is tremendously effecting. McLean’s vocals are able to draw listeners in and keep them while the deftly arranged instrumentation provides the perfect backdrop. Give Me One Reason has a bouncy sound and allows McLean to take up both jazz and funk styles, ensuring that this Tracy Chapman track is provided…
Australia has brought a number of impressive musical forces to our shores the last few decades. Get Out, Meliya’s latest single, showcases a new force that looks to take America by storm. The sonic assault that is present at the opening of Get Out will immediately draw attention, while the unique interaction between vocals and instrumentation ensure that those listeners stick around. The track exists at the juncture of…
The track comes forward in a very strong and confident way, with a stripped and straight forward rock approach. The guitars, drums, and vocals unite to make something that is melodic, hard-hitting, and is ultimately something that will be kicking around the minds and heards of anyone that has listened in. The specific strain of rock that Morley utilizes during Mad Men is a blend of seventies rock like AC/DC…
“I Believe You Can Survive” has become a bit of an obsession lately. Lebanon Hanover is a minimal wave project comprised of power couple Larissa Iceglass from Germany and William Maybelline of England. This song is lyrically endearing while never giving up on the somber aesthetic that makes them what they are, the king and queen of post-punk revival. It’s hard to make music that idealizes the past while looking…
Refill is Umbrella Bed’s new EP, and it showcases a mature and polished act. The EP begins with Wish That It Would Stop, a sonic assault that recalls the hazy alternative of the early nineties before the band shifts gears and takes a Less Than Jake meets Reel Big Fish approach to ska. There is a heavier end to this track that provides listeners with a wholly unique experience. The…
Bottom of the Ocean is a high-energy track that has the proper blend of punk, rock, and pop. This means that fans of Avril Lavighne, The Distillers, Pink, and Kelly Clarkson will be able to appreciate what Scalies is doing here. For those listeners that appreciate the instrumental side of things, the overall production allows an impressive arrangement to push the track to the next level. Small Talk Friends…
No Good is an innovative blend of rock and electronic music, allowing the track to immediately catch listeners and keep them interested through the whole of this seven-track EP. A strong set of female vocals works alongside an emotive and technically brilliant instrumentation. The guitar that whips up at points during No Good provides additional narration to an already dense and detailed track. On My Mind has a slower burn;…
Love Me Inside is a track that builds off of the foundations laid by a variety of electronic styles – there is ambient, chillwave, and trance all present here. The band is able to create something fresh and vibrant off of the works of acts like Morcheeba, Massive Attack, and even Homogenic-era Bjork. The band creates an infectious track that does not sound like anything that is currently being…
Autumn Fall begins Distant Sun, and the sheer amount of emotion that is showcased in this piano composition is impressive. There are no vocals here, but Karran is able to imbue this introduction (and the subsequent works on Distant Sun) with a nuanced and alluring sound. The four minute-plus run times that are commonplace on Distant Sun provide Karran with more than enough time to properly express himself. Dance of…
The band cultivates a sound on False Words About Large Days that links together rock bands with sounds as disparate as Ween, Primus, Suicidal Tendencies, and the Butthole Surfers. The ability to change their style on a dime is comparable to Zappa’s Mothers of Invention work, while each of the tracks possesses a radio-ready production and an intimate feel that draws listeners in. Picture Box establishes a solid clip…
Like An Earthquake is a tremendously dynamic and intricate effort; the vocals are provided a proper boost through Crooks’ backing instrumentation. Crooks boldly comes out with her own style, creating an exciting overall backdrop for Little Bird. Turn the Key gives listeners the chance to hear another side of Crooks; this track takes on elements of Melissa Etheridge and early Sheryl Crow. Crooks represents a step forward for the singer-songwriter…
Do You Believe? Is the first track on Love Transmitter, and it provides listeners with a solid introduction to the styles and approaches that will be presented on the remainder of the album. Taken separately, the track is something that could easily be on rotation at alternative and modern rock stations. All Used Up is a track that touches upon the work of Franz Ferdinand and an earlier new-wave…
There are very few holiday albums that look to do anything special. Joyful Noise is an album that will shatter all conceptions that listeners will have about holiday music. The album begins with Crunchy Drummer Boy, a much more eclectic and bouncy version of the classic Christmas track. The music here does come from left field, but it is done in a fashion that is absolutely catchy and hard to…
Likely one of the most underrated rock bands to come out of the ‘70s, a decade that inexplicably made everyone from Journey to Styx famous, Memphis-based rockers Big Star always seemed on the edge, (but just not quite there yet) of making it big. Their debut, 1972’s #1 Record, arguably their best, boasting songs like “The Ballad of El Goodo,” “Don’t Lie to Me” and “In the Street” (sadly, best known…
Cajun Queen is a catchy bit of blues-rock that unites a strong instrumentation with a narrative that is weaved through the entirety of the album. The smooth, soulful vocals that listeners experience through this introductory track buttresses well with Broken Road. Broken Road has considerable pep and stands at the juncture of country and rock. Fans of the sixties C&W heyday, CCR, or contemporary acts like Mumford and Sons…
All My Money is a track that would work perfectly on rock rotation, as the band’s overall sound ties together the disparate works of acts like Papa Roach and Our Lady peace. The vocals touch upon a rich tapestry of influences including Kid Rock, Every Mother’s Nightmare, Moot the Hoople, and Cinderella, while the accompanying arrangements take up the standard of acts Foo Fighters and Guns ‘N’ Roses. All My…