Though it’s understated in some moments and beastly in others, there’s scarcely a juncture in the tracklist of Kodacrome’s The Banff Sessions where the piano play of one Elissa LeCoque isn’t the very heart and soul of every sonic hurricane the record has to offer us. In the haunting “Tender Exit,” it gets a run for its money courtesy of the ebb and flow of a string section that nearly washes away…
The Sarandons have just released the video for their single Don’t Mean Much. Using footage from the mid-20th century adds a further layer of complexity to the heartfelt guitars and impassioned vocals representing the front-facing side of the single. By taking these clips of an earlier America, there is a timeless air that is added to an already complex composition. When fans sit down to experience The Sarandons on this…
On PONR, Allan Smooth is able to bring in a booming beat with charismatic vocals in the mold of Jason Derulo and Chris Brown. The instrumental and lyrical content of this single will bring fans out on the dance floor. Touching upon bits of Yelawolf and Ludacris with his main stanzas, Allan Smooth effortlessly imprints decades of the rap style with his own unique flair. There’s enough in the way…
Spanking Charlene’s last album was recorded nearly a decade ago, but the band clearly hasn’t bothered to let rust settle in. On Find Me Out, their third effort, the music is stronger and singer Charlene McPherson’s vocals are seemingly more powerful (quite a feat when you realize how impressive she sounded on the first two records). The New York band builds on the gritty garage pop that came to define…
Loneliness is an apt title for this effort. One can hear the sheer sad, sorrowful memories of lost love bubble through on this composition. The band turns on a dime as they move toward the song’s chorus. With a good dollop of 1970s easy listening included here, Disq espertly craft a song that will have fans hanging on every word. Daily Routine is an incredibly fun track that calls back…
Into the Night is a furious effort that will take fans on a musical journey. This means that there are solid forays into metalcore, traditional metal, and even mid-oughts hardcore punk in a way few bands are able to successfully juggle. Part of this success is due to the impressive vocals that are laid out upon the top of the single, but a further piece of the puzzle has to…
Say Less is a fresh rap track that has 2Dee come forth with his own unique take on street-wise bars. The deep, breathy style of the performer is given a nice patina by the hauntingly beautiful backing beat behind him. Both elements are giving it their all during Say Less. There’s an organic sound to this composition; when the lyrical content speeds up and 2Dee is spitting rapid-fire lyrics, the…
On Over You, Raylon is able to ratchet up the charm to 10 while coming forth with some of the sultriest vocals one’s ever heard. The passion and raw skill that is exhibited during Over You ensures that Raylon will be able to climb the R&B charts; hints of Trey Songz and Chris Brown can be picked up here. The backing beat is something that deserves a bit of additional…
During Dipshits, Dennis J. Leise tells a strong tale of those who would have the world pass them by. With an infectious titular phrase and a bit of bluegrass and cajun interspersed into the mix, Leise makes a powerful chiaroscuro of traditional and modern content. The confident styling of Dennis’s vocals during this composition is the cherry on top of the sundae. While Dipshits comes and goes within a two-minute…
Fans of creative and expansive takes on rap music would do well to search out squirtgrandhoover’s new album. Slated tentatively to be released in 2020, Gett It Off Boss is slated to cover considerable ground. While we touched briefly on squirtgrandhoover’s previous recording Dis Letter of Mind, a few years have passed. This does not mean that squirtgrandhoover has rested on his laurels in the slightest. With intricate wordplay, booming…
Loot is a bouncy, robust track that builds upon the tradition of performers like Ciara and Beyonce. Gabby B’s vocals will immediately draw listeners in while an intense backing beat make this the perfect track for the mall, dance floor, or anywhere in between. Londynn B’s feature on Loot is able to keep things popping at max speed while hitting high-water marks for the single. Loot is a single that…
Chelzzz comes forth with some intense bars on her latest cut, Somewhere in Miami. With a backing beat that brings late-oughts Jeezy and Rick Ross, Somewhere In Miami succeeds in pushing Chelzzz’s rap and pop cred. The 2:115 mark indicates a different section for the single as the backing beat fades a bit into the periphery. By showcasing Chelzzz’s flow, this middle section resets listeners’ expectation. Another shift into a…
On Bad Attitudes, Laney Lynx is able to make the approach of Vitamin C and Mandy Moore sparkle with an entirely new veneer. Lynx has a coyness to her vocals that are bolstered through the laid-back sequencing and synths. As Bad Attitudes moves to the chorus, Laney is able to build up the momentum and keep butts firmly planted on the edges of their seats. The switch over to a…
Kick 5000 has just released a new single, Birthday. This hard-hitting, rapid fire flow will immediate turn heads. With hints of Migos and The Game acting as a backdrop upon which Kick 5000 can further add his own flair, this single could easily slot onto rap rotation just as it will bounce around hip-hop aficionados’ playlist. As Birthday moves towards its chorus, the bit of echo that is included into…
Dreams in the Witch House is a haunting piece of lo-fi indie rock, given a bold new turn with sequenced percussion and a haunting demeanor. stAlkid’s vocals come from a distinct place than the backing instrumentation, ensuring that the whole composition has a stark sound. This means that fans will be eagerly devouring what follows; subsequent movements in the track blend a dark and brooding synth with sizzling guitar work.…
No One Can Stop You calls back to the synth-pop of performers like Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. There’s an insistent synth / percussion backdrop upon which the hopeful vocals of Aradia lay. The single could easily be the theme for any 1980s teen flick. By hitting all the highs of a Scandal or Suzi Quatro, Aradia is able to put a bit of current sheen on a timeless style. No…
Wanna Share is the opening effort on Renay’s new album, Pure Love. The effort will immediately draw fans in with the unique melange of pop, dance, and ambient / atmospheric styles. While the song is draped in the mid-to-late 1990s style of performers like Christina Aguilera and Madonna, there’s a vibrancy that permeates this single that will have it hang nicely with other songs climbing the charts. Inspire Me is…
On his aptly titled fifth album, LP5, Oklahoma’s John Moreland still hues closely to his trademark, introspective songs laced over a satisfying blend of modern Americana and folk that flirts with punk rock candor. But he also manages to deviate a bit from the tried and true with a little musical experimentation for one of his strongest records to date. This also happens to be the first album Moreland has…
Patricia Lazzara’s flute duels with Kristin Johnson Dabaghian’s piano in “Woodland Sonatine.” It harmonizes with the alto melodies distributed by Steve Markoff in “Reflections of Radiance.” Lazzara finds the perfect vocal partner for “Ave Maria” and “Oblivion” in soprano Jessica Davila, while in “Serenata,” not even the most vibrant of instrumental backdrops could distract us from her exquisite play in the center of the mix. Contrasting in tone and yet…
What is it about three-piece bands hold our attention? How do they slam all that sound into their music? In the grand tradition of Cream, Green Day, Motorhead, Nirvana, The Police and ZZ Top – to name a few – Dallas, Texas, has unleashed another wall-of-sound trio in the band, Clifffs. Out now via State Fair Records is the brutally tight Panic Attack. Panic Attack has 13 tracks, starting with…