Tim Fite is one of those few artists that do not take well to a genre convention. Sure, Fite can be categorized as a singer-songwriters, but there is a level of density and gravitas to the tracks on Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t that belies that tie. When given an indie rock mantle, tracks like My Brother Sings showcases a certain glibness that is unparalleled. Listeners are then provided with an…
Alyssa Graham is an artist that is looking to break the world of the dominance of Adeles and Joss Stones; on Lock, Stock & Soul Graham shows that the true soul cannot be replicated for a mass audience. Rather, Graham’s point with Lock, Stock & Soul is to individually touch each person that listens in. This makes for an album that hits on all cylinders, from the opening strains of…
Despite the advances in recording technology, it seems that most live recordings do not capture the full spirit of the band. Going Out In Style should act as a blueprint for anyone that looks to make a good live album, as the band is able to showcase their inimitable style over the course of two discs. The band, even in the later segments of the concert, is still able…
Few videos seem to fit the artist that has commissioned them. This is because one artist (the performer) is outsourcing their vision to another artist (the videographer). What results in a typical video then is a disjointed mess, containing imagery that is not borne out by the music, along with musical intensity that is not highlighted by the images present. T.J. Doyle has just released a video for his “Everything,”…
There is considerable expansion on Gone of the indie rock genre. I feel that Everyone Knows acts as the blueprint for everything that is to follow. This track immediately captures listeners and keeps their attention, so that the band can build off of the different styles, influences, and approaches that were initially presented with this introductory track. Good as New is the disc’s second cut, and provides listeners with a…
The psychedelic style that starts off the Neon Life EP has a vibrancy and energy that will immediately ensnare listeners for the entirety of the release. Each element of Dashboard Madonna immediately gives it their all, creating a compelling and memorable track out of the gate. The vocals act as the perfect counterpoint to the instruments arranged here; Dead Men Tell No Tales is a perfect microcosm showing what is…
Blues Traveler has been around for 25 years. This is a surprising statement, as the band was at the top of the charts for only a few brief years in the 1990s. Blues Traveler’s 25 retrospective provides listeners with an exhaustive hit parade, along with a bonus track (the Gunslinger remix of Run-around). This set is value priced, meaning that a purchase from an online retailer will only set one…
ir Gunfire of Angels EP with To Be True, a track that ties together fuzzy guitar lines with strong female vocals. The overall track comes forth with a style that is reminiscent of Republica, Garbage or Hole. Ride allows the guitars some time in the sun; the switching of vocal and instrumental elements allows listeners to hear a different side of 28-200. This time out, a more current sound is…
Innocent Mistake is a bold track that blends together guitars, drums, and an utterly compelling set of vocals. Each element of Walking Sideways contributes to the overall feel of the track. Ready for mainstream rock radio, the band just feels more honest than other acts currently making music. Rather than allowing their producer to push everything into the red line, the dynamic modeling of the track allows for Walking Sideways…
I believe that the most difficult task that a musician can take is committing oneself to the creation of a ten minute-plus track. The difficulty of this effort is so high due to the sheer amount of work one has to put in. It is simply not enough to merely repeat different arrangements (albeit with minor variations) for the bulk of the composition. Opening Sound dives headlong into this…
Few artists are able to convey their essence with a single. Gary “G” Jenkins, known previously from his work in Silk, is able to do so with I Love. I Love begins with an emotive piano roll, punctuated with percussion. When Jenkins’ vocals begin to rise and fall, one gains a sense of the gravity the track possesses. The track succeeds in a number of ways. Listeners will be led…
You’d be forgiven for assuming Morgan Christopher Geer (aka Drunken Prayer) called Austin, hell even Nashville, home. But he’s actually from Portland, home to so many sound alike hipster bands. That alone should bring some added attention to his latest, Into the Missionfield, a nice blend of folk and alt country. With some dark themes, but surprisingly sweet melodies, he can sing about the devil taking your soul (“Always So…
Begin Again is Alex Montanez’s debut recording, and it represents an album that will stick with listeners long after it spins to a close. Listeners only need to focus on just a few seconds of Superman to understand this; the honest and earnest style cultivated on this EP is unheard of in current music. The singer / songwriter genre is jam-packed with artists, making it difficult for a performer to…
There is honesty to Henriksson’s voice that resonates through each of the tracks on The Hearts Cry. When tracks get mastered or a number of takes are used to create a single, I believe that a lot of the soul gets lost. When Henriksson’s vocals begin, one cannot help but imagine themselves in an intimate venue (a coffee shop, perhaps); what issues forth during a track like My Lagan Love…
It is typically not NeuFutur’s policy to review albums so far in advance, but the Monks of Mellonwah’s latest EP, Neurogenesis, is that solid of a title. This Australian act is helped through the inclusion of producer Jeff Bova in terms of how the finished product sounds, but the heart and soul of the band is what makes Neurogenesis so delectable. The Monks of Mellonwah are able to provide their…
Innovation in the music industry is rare. Bands may be able to change up the overall rock, pop, punk, or other archetype slightly, but few bands can honestly change the dominant paradigm. Rooftop Runners do that, even down to what cutting an EP means. Typically, bands create an EP when they only have a few worthwhile songs. Rooftop Runners make each track count, ensuring that listeners will be eagerly anticipating…
Oftentimes when I write reviews, I find that where a band hails has absolutely nothing to do with how they sound. Slim Loris, a Swedish export, is a perfect example of this. The style of music that they foster during Down To Earth takes influences from England, the United States, and countless different eras of rock. Low is the initial salvo on this disc, and it immediately hits listeners between…
Mike Moss creates utterly unique music that, while inspired by a wide array of different musicians, does not have any easy referent. Cold World Plastic Dream is a perfect example of this; there is a strong set of vocals that work off of a fuzzy, electronic nesting and Coldplay-like pianos. Only Lies is a bold gambit at the album’s fourth track. For this effort, there is little more than Moss’s…
Happy Enough Song is the first track on Doug Prescott’s latest, “The Journey & The Deep Blue Sea”. This track blends equal part seventies rock, Americana, and even country. This cross-over track even has time to include brass in its 2:36 runtime. Happy Enough Song is a microcosm of the styles and sounds broached during the entirety of this disc. Hideaway slows things up, linking together The Bellamy Brothers, Kansas,…
Drunksouls have not gotten the press that they deserve in the States; this eclectic French band deftly moves across genres and styles to create something utterly unique. The first track on Revolution is Drifter Song, and it links together Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Incubus to make a funky, laid-back bit of pop-rock. J’ai fait unreve (I Had A Dream) is a French language sound, but the rich instrumentation…