On Stohner, MAN ON MAN make a fascinating foray into rock music. Starting things off with a heavy guitar line, the act is able to insert in a heaping helping of emotion. The band is taut as all get out – the guitar, bass, and drums all shift and move to make for a million distinct sounds on this single. The instrumental side of Stohner adds further emotion and narrative…
On Sing Til I Cry, IAN SWEET is able to craft effecting music. The narrative that is interlaced through this single is something that a large amount of listeners will be able to identify with, while the sweeping synths that come in around the 1:40 will bring in the technical-heads. What results on this track is one of the most infectious indie-pop efforts we’ve had the pleasure of hearing this…
Bachelor’s “Stay in the Car” has a bit of the 1960s and a huge heaping of 1990s alt-rock in the vein of early Weezer. The multiple layers of fuzz that surround the vocals and guitar envelop each addition like a blanket, while the assertive bass is reminiscent of the work of early White Stripes. There’s charisma here by the boatful, with the vocals acting as a solid counterpoint to the…
Eveline’s “Waiting For The Summer” a magnificent track in that it builds from early-1990s Madonna, the Pet Shop Boys, and the italo dance of the late 1990s. The production is vibrant, with the driving beat that plays at the bottom of the track tattooing its melody deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Timely in that it discusses the upcoming season (hopefully we’ll see some resumption of festivals and…
Taurie’s Hynotize Me has a bright track that showcases the performer’s ability to effortlessly move through dance, R&B and pop styles. The vocal-focused beginning of the track showcases considerable ability on the part of Taurie, while the dreamy, distorted section that occurs quickly after will appease fans of Kid Cudi and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy-era Kanye. By building upon such a rich corpus of music, Taurie is able to…
Queen’s Anthem has an utterly timeless sound. On this track, StreetSmartz101 are able to tie together San Francisco, Atlanta, and Chicago with luxurious samples, smart wordplay, and differing contributions that will have listeners continually interested in what the act is crafting here. The back and forth pitter patter keeps Queen’s Anthem’s momentum high from the song’s first seconds to its final note. The song comes forth as a spiritual successor…
Kailee Spark’s “Passageways” brings me back to the mid-1990s, back to do the days of Jewel and Natalie Cole. There’s a dreamy pop sound to Kailee’s vocals that are bolstered through a bit of fuzzy guitars, meandering drums, and just enough of distortion to fuse the resulting effort together. I like the presence of just a hint of 1960s pop rock at the periphery here. This inclusion imparts a bit…
Lindsay Kent’s “Burning Bridges” is an engaging effort that stands starkly against modern pop music. There are contemplative instrumental arrangements that would be at home in a progressive rock album or something from the Sublime / 311 reggae-roots model blending with a set of vocals that simultaneously carry the standards of performers like Pink and Kelly Clarkson. Each element is at their peak form on Burning Bridges. The extended instrumental…
Regina Madre’s Never Be The Same has a sensual, stretched-out approach to it that will have listeners falling on every word. This composition takes hints of late 1990s and early oughts pop music and ties that sound to funk and soul. What results during Madre’s latest is a sound that is a bit Massive Attack, a bit Billie Holiday, and is wholly distinct from other music currently on the radio.…
Mack Ben Widdit’s “IiwiI (It Is What It Is)” has a fantastic blend of a dreamy guitar and a more rapid-fire flow. Widdit’s ability to create a track that is cogent and coherent based on these two distinct section is unmatched. Listeners’ head will be bopping as their emotions are tickled by this backing beat. While IiwiI closes up shop before the three-minute mark, there’s no denying that Widdit has…
On Animal, Jimmy B and the Death Rattles are able to craft a track that deftly marries together stripped-down rock, punk, and alt-rock in a catchy way. The repetition of the titular phase and distorted guitars out of mid-1980s Minneapolis make for a vibrancy to the track that’s hard to deny. The crooning approach of the vocals will interest fans of Nick Cave and Bloc Party alike. The song is…
Raphaël Angelini’s performance of Chopin’s Revolutionary Étude is true to the original while having a considerable vim and vigor. This classical composition tells a story with the mere arrangement of the keys. The dynamic between each section makes this recording tell more of a story in the space of three and a half minutes than many artists could seek to do over the space of an entire album. The technical…
Keelie Walker’s “Runaway” is a track that showcases the invigorating power of relationships. When there are life’s difficulties piling up in an individual’s life, Walker’s urging to find someone that has your back is well met. The track is able to promote a solid message all while Keelie’s voice rings out above the instrumentation. There’s a timeless sound here that ensures Runaway will garner a ton of attention, whether it…
sad alex’s california queen is a touching track that showcases how intense feelings are, even after the relationship hits rocky straits. The track showcases two sides of the same coin – exactly how hard it is for someone to get over feelings that they have for another and the bit of hope that exists towards having a better life as a result. While the subject matter may be a bit…
Grey DeLisle’s take on the classic “Tonight You Belong To Me” is endearing in that it is able to successfully recreate the spirit of the originally while spinning off the track in an interesting new direction. Listeners will be impressed at the timbre that Grey achieves here; there’s a bit of warble that will have fans aflutter. The bit of tender guitar work that plays at the background of this…
Jane N’ The Jungle’s “Trouble” has the band take on perhaps its most musically complex composition. The assertiveness in which the vocals reside on the track will immediately draw listeners into the track, while the angular guitar work stands out in the vein of Muse as well as Audioslave. The ability of Jane N’ The Jungle to renovate a number of distinct rock genres with their current single is astonishing.…
On Friend, Michael Lanza is able to create an inspirational track that will have listeners hopeful and ready to take on the day, no matter how difficult they day, week, or month has been. Lanza’s voice during Friend is able to both convey this message while building up the instrumental side of things nicely. The bit of a clap-track that plays in the background will tattoo the single’s message deeply.…
Star 2’s “Give Me Your Heart” is a touching and compelling track that showcases the singing delivery of Star 2. There’s a bit of a 1990s/2000s sound to this composition, from the higher registered hit, the bit of booming bass drum, or the plinking of the keys. The presence of YSN Flow’s flow only Give Me Your Heart provides a bit of a different patois; the resulting track will have…
Wé McDonald will immediately impress listeners with her vocals during the opening minute of “Head up High”. Her voice does more than merely tell a story; it is vital in adding a considerable amount of depth and emotional gravitas to the instrumentation of the single. The dynamic sound of Head up High will interest fans of soul, country, and pop music equally. The sizzling guitar work that makes its way…
Feriano JX’s “Night Fall” is an interesting track. The track sails above genre constraints. There are hints of mid-oughts emo rock, rap, reggae, and EDM that can all be picked out here. What results is a song that is wholly unique when compared to the rest of popular music. It bodes well for Feriano JX. By putting such a strong foot out with Night Fall, I have no doubt in…