At first, the driving beat in “Habibi” is skewed with a reticence that suggests bittersweet emotion finally coming to the surface in the midst of vicious exchange between lovers. It doesn’t take very long for this reticence to fall under the weight of the pulsating bassline in the foreground in this latest single from Ilyah, eventually resulting in one of the smoothest rhythmic ebbtides of the new decade to date.…
Innovative and instantly connecting with the listener, the 12 songs on the new album Eastside Sessions bridge the gap between jazz, rock and even Latin-flavored music. Proving once again that big sound gets big results, the veteran group, Project Grand Slam, have been doing this since 2007 and show no signs of stopping. New York City’s Project Grand Slam have thrilled audiences far and wide. While we’re at the disadvantage…
On The River, Campbell Harrison is able to blend together equal amounts Jane’s Addiction and Layne Staley, adding more than a fair share of bluegrass and alt-country to the mix. The guitar laid down here is fantastic, bringing more than just musical accompaniment to the composition. Rather, the guitar work adds considerable depth to the soundscape that is crafted here. Hopeful and vibrant, Campbell’s vocal approach is matched shortly after…
Animal has Jane N’ The Jungle create a musically complex composition that contains enough hookiness for the single to easily slot onto alternative and hard rock rotation. The supersonic vocals that will wash over listeners keeps fans firmly planted on the edge of their seat. With nods to both Skillet and Fleetwood Mac, Animal is one of those track that is truly timeless in its overall sound. A stand-up production…
Alex Sparrow is able to create a positive love song in these dark times with his new single, Let’s Stay Home Tonight. The track has considerable vocal charisma, a robust backing instrumentation, and a production that ensures the single will garner airplay on numerous pop radio station. There’s a fulfilling complexity to Let’s Stay Home Tonight that differentiates Sparrow’s latest from countless other tracks. The amount of progression that fans…
CLICHÉ is the first effort off of Dead Freddie’s new self-titled LP, and it immediately calls back to acts like The Stranglers and The Adverts. Melodic pop-punk with driving beats and a robust bass line sound absolutely timeless here, while the passion and charisma of the lead vox will immediately draw fans in to the rest of the disc. When I’m Bound begins with some Cars-esque keys and a hint…
Given Everything is a hopeful track that has Linker blend together early-1990s Tom Petty with mid-1990s alternative. Multiple instrumental layers unite to make for a complex backdrop. Subsequent listens are essential for listeners to hear each and every dynamic that is included within. The hopeful vocals laid won here by Mitch has just a tinge of melancholy playing at the periphery. A secondary vocal layer adds further depth to his…
During Charon, Jordan Rome is able to create a compelling instrumental backdrop that is part Jethro Tull, part Low Man’s Lyric-era Metallica. The guitar and vocals act here as complementary narrative components. Drums punctuate the backdrop of Charon. Little more is needed during this composition than Jordan’s voice, guitars, and drums; the resultant combination of these elements establishes a melody that will bury itself deeply into listeners’ minds. Never content…
Trap Fashion, the latest track by Baltimore’s Cutty Kev, has an airy production and a delivery style that is infectious as all get out. With a style that takes hints of TK N Cash and T-Pain, Cutty Kev is able to bring people out to the dance floor. Hooky choruses and a smart feature (Tae Wilson) keep listener interest in this song high. Cutting out before the 3 minute mark,…
Head In The Clouds, the latest cut from Reverse Mechanic, is a fun and vibrant track that brings back the bouncy style of Men Without Hats and Midnight Oil. With bits of rap interspersed within, Reverse Mechanic is able to craft a wholly unique style over the course of 4 minutes. An infectious chorus will bury itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners, while Reverse Mechanic is able…
The Dead Daisies’s new single link together Cinderella, AC/DC’s “For Those About To Rock”, Chris Cornell-infused vocals, and just enough in the way of blues-rock playing in the background to make for an emphatic effort that will resound with listeners long after the track ceased plays. Unspoken’s tempo is insistent with the guitars and drums combining to make a fulfilling wall of sound. Guitar licks and emotionally heavy vox establish…
David D’Angelo’s Priceless Commodity is a trippy, otherworldly rap track in the vein of Kid Cudi or Danny Brown. The rap flow contributed by MayDay is intricate, intimate, and ultimately does a number of things over the course of the track. Of course, the narration given Priceless Commodity is smart, but the method in which the bars are delivered are immediately inviting. The track is able to take a j-curve…
Lila Blue’s new single The Dead is interesting in that the beginning immediately unites LB’s vocals with a humming, new age-inspired synth. With such a large force playing out in the back ground, it has the effect of providing considerable highlighting for both Lila’s voice and the narrative that issues forth on the single. The vocal range achieved by Lila Blue on this single is fantastic; low and high notes…
lotusbliss creates a haunting, electronic-tinged composition in their Carpet. With dreamy vocals and bits of 1980s new wave and synthpop, lotusbliss is able to build off of Depeche Mode and Erasure. The tautness of the composition here is stellar. The dynamic that is established between the stringed and electronic elements pushes each to a higher plateau. Impressive as well is the ability for the band to change the overall sound…
Change My Ways has Kailey Nicole refresh the poppy, singer-songwriter style of the mid-1990s. This means that there are nods to Sheryl Crow, Fione Apple, and even Jewel here. The backing instrumentation on this single crosses over between rock and country pop. Taken together, these vocals and guitars unite to make for something that is tremendously easy on one’s ears, all while holding up well to multiple spins. Kailey Nicole’s…
Stay Alive is a touching, tender track that needs little more on its onset besides Mustafa’s dulcet tones and a guitar. The light touch taken by the production during this single allows these elements to shine without modification. Providing listeners with a cogent narrative, Mustafa ensures that fans will be sticking around with Stay Alive until the final notes. Few debuts are able to make such a splash. As a…
Celebre is a hopeful effort that soars on the tremendous chorus of voices that have joined together to provide a spotlight on a tremendous facility. Linking together the contributions of Malou Beauvoir with her productions, what issues forth on Celebre is a timeless effort that links together island sounds with a rapid-fire vocal delivery. A considerable boost to Celebre’s tempo at around the 2:40 will have listeners get out of…
On Antherius’s cover of John Berry’s theme for Midnight Cowboy, there is a distinct sense of reverence for the source material. At the same time, the performer is able to bring his own unique flair into the track. The bit of additional fuzz and electricity that is inserted here acts as an updated for the city showcased in the 1969 film. The sweeping synth lines present here have a hopeful,…
On Whole Zaddy, Sean Joseph is able to build upon the unique styles of Lil Dicky and French Montana. SJ’s wordplay is top-notch here, as is the rapid-fire delivery of each of these bars. His latest single is provided additional oomph through booming bass beats and dark, brooding keys. Throwing in female vocals at point provides further differentiation, establishing an effort that is dynamic and will constantly have fans turning…
Jenn Nucum’s new single Snakebite is emotive, touching, and immediately tells a story from the onset of the haunting guitar work that begins the effort. Jenn’s voice and instrumentation rise and fall together. The gradual increase in Snakebite’s tempo through the 2:45 ark allows the final minute of the single’s run time ample opportunity to move into more emotionally impacting fare. Snakebite is able to model the sheer intensity of…