Name Sayers will impress all but the most cynical or dismissive listeners. Their eleven-song outing Joyboys in the Grindhouse is a bucket of blood synth pop feast but doesn’t stop there. They spike their combustible musical concoction with generous doses of hip-hop, rock, and electronica without ever coming across as a well-intentioned hodgepodge of sound. In lesser hands, it would sound like a band trying too hard, doing too much. Name Sayers,…
On Not A Real Blond, Jojo Engelbert is able to create one of the catchiest pop songs we’ve heard in 2023. There’s a touch of Avril Lavigne, a hint of Ashlee Simpson, and just a touch of early T-Swift here. The sheer charisma that Engelbert brings to this track separates Not A Real Blond from the rest of the tracks bouncing around pop stations. While the song is solid throughout,…
Philosopher Pirate’s “Raven” has a colorful collection of distinct musical styles that range from 1960s psychedelic rock to 1990s alternative, even bringing in hints of more experimental artists. At all points during his latest track, PP exudes tremendous charisma in the vein of a Donovan or a Ray Orbison. Raven’s melodies will be bouncing around listeners’ brains long after the song ceases to play. There’s more than enough depth to…
On One Step At A Time, RJ’s Latest Arrival links up with Slum Village to create something impressive in its depth. There are so many distinct things occurring at any one second during this track that listeners will have to play the segment back to hear each inclusion in its full context. It is this heady depth that catapults the song above anything else that’s currently enjoying radio or playlist…
420MUSE’s “In The Nightclub” is a luxurious effort that shines with a sultry blend of funk and soul, inclusions of reggae patois, and a cohesion present that ensures that listners will be bouncing their heads with each play. There are a number of distinct sections for fans to encounter on In The Nightclub, keeping the momentum of the single high as it gradually spins to its end. 420MUSE is able…
Over the course of the last few decades, it has seemed like the spoken word composition has faded out of popularity just a tinge. GaREE All has created a new spoken word effort that builds off of the worplay of artists like Gil Scott-Heron and Rudy Ray Moore. There’s a supportive, strong message that is promoted through the track’s run time, while matching imagery does a lot to provide further…
Handyman is a great track, blending reggae with pop-rap styles. Individuals that liked Master P, Akon, and E-40 will dig what Marlon Davis is laying down. There’s a hooky sound to the backing beat that will get one out on the dance floor, while the lyrics are firmly tongue-in-cheek. The chorus of Handyman has night right being so catchy, either. Handyman is a true bop, a song that could easily…
The Sextape’s “Queen of the Fools” is one interesting track. The song succeeds because it blends together a number of distinct styles. Keen listeners will be able to pull out hints of 1990s rock, industrial, and alternative styles all within the single’s first thirty seconds. The driving beat and charismatic vocals found here keep fans on the edges of their seats. Fans of Ween and the Bloodhound Gang will dig…
El Matador, the new single from Mic Nickels, immediately calls back to 1990s NYC in its overall sound. Sput-out vocals are lifted up with absolutely intense instrumentation, making for a true head-banger of a track. The bars laid down here by Method Man keep El Matador’s tempo high, further imbuing the song with an epic sound. Fans will have the songs’ beat tattooed on their hearts just as the lyrical…
An Old Friend’s “Native Gardens” is a complex modern rock track that stands up to multiple plays. The layered approach that the band takes ensures that there will be something new experienced by listeners each time the song plays, with thoughtful guitars, emotive vocals and a thick bass line that combine in numerous ways. The production is sharp here, giving each member of An Old Friend the ability to shine…
Good songcraft tends to take years to develop instead of mere months, and this can be quite a difficult reality for some indie players to face. There’s a lot of work that goes into cultivating something special for your audience, and if there’s anyone who knows what I’m talking about, it’s a pop singer like Taylor Jules. Jules’ sound has been getting progressively tighter not through the past decade but,…
Bill Crews and the Crews Cartel’s People Get Ready (originally released by Curtis Mayfield) is a tremendously powerful track that links together traditional gospel music with country and soul styles. The narrative laid down here by Bill is honest and earnest in its execution, while the secondary vocals that match (and accentuate) Bill’s voice ensure that the resulting composition will resound with one long after the song ceases to play.…
Keyvous’s Catch A Wave is a single that will immediately tattoo its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Booming bass lines and on-point percussion provide the perfect backdrop for Keyvous’s vox. The track sits at the nexus of R&B and rap, linking together performers as wide-ranging as Omarion, Trey Songz, and The Weeknd. There’s crossover appeal to Catch A Wave that will ensure numerous playlist placements and…
On Walk With Me, Diane Gentile and Alejandro Escovedo are able to create a tremendous duet. Filled out by the Gentle Men’s instrumental approach, Walk With Me is able to take up multiple genres during its run time. There are nods to John Mellencamp, John Hiatt, and Stevie Nicks along with hints of Roy Orbison and The Appleseed Cast. The guitar work stands up nicely as the single’s bridge, showcasing…
Carly Hanley’s “Oh La La” is a delightful pop track that will appease fans both with Carly’s inimitable vocals as well as the booming bass and sweeping synths that flesh out the bottom of the track. Oh La La shines because of this yin and yang approach. As the song continues to play, Hanley’s narrative will keep listeners firmly engrossed with the narrative of love that she weaves. Hanley’s able…
Greg Hoy’s “Comfort Vendetta” immediately starts with a bit of math-rocdk fuzz (imagine The Red Hot Valentines meets Weezer). The vocals immediately light up the single, working alongside the aforementioned instrumentation to push each side to new heights. Comfort Vendetta’s chorus has the act go all-in, making for a section that fans will be singing along with after a few short plays. This is a track that could work well…
Battle Tapes’s “Brand New” has a fun retro sound that is part Dire Straits and part Franz Ferdinand in its execution. The track links together electronic, pop, and rock in a fashion that will get listeners out on the dance floor. The silky-smooth vocals that play at the top of the band’s new single are the perfect match for the high-energy synths and insistent beat of the percussion. Brand New…
Smilez’s “I Hate My Ex” is an assertive pop track that espuses a sentiment that a number of individuals throughout the world will be able to understand. There’s still moments that I call back to my past and remember how former significant others have done me wrong. Smilez is able to blend together crisp and clear backing instrumentation with an emotive and rich set of vocals. The hook that they…
Honey and Blue’s “All In My Head” is a powerful R&B effort that builds off of the tradition furthered by performers like Kelis and early Bey. The back and forth of the pair’s vocals keeps things fresh throughout the track’s runtime. There’s a clarity here that ensures the vox are able to shine alongside the booming bass and more thoughtful keys. The presence of a bit of funk here further distinguishes…
Right Here is the first track on Pick Ups and Put Downs, immediately having Merit Maker kick things into high gear. This introductory salvo builds upon the trends of pop-punk acts from Blink 182, MxPx, and The Vandals. Two minutes go by in the blink of an eye, as the band moves on to False Starts. False Starts opens up with sick bass lines and splashy drums. There’s a surprising…