Ride has CaliYork blending the laid-back Chicago instrumentation of early Kanye or J-Dilla with the mid-oughts rap flow of 50 Cent or Jadakiss. Further imbuing authenticity to the single are bars dropped down by Styles P. A silky-smooth vocal hook is reminiscent of Joe and early Chris Brown. This chill vibe is punctuated with a bit of the more reggae-infused patois of Buckshot. Ride goes by quickly leaving listeners clamoring…
During Nobody’s Comin’, Dennis J. Leise is able to flip the traditional gospel sound to make a scathing critique of all the charlatans and slimeballs that wrap themselves up in the vestments of the holy and the honorable. Taking the first minute (or so) of Nobody’s Comin’ to gradually set things into motion, Leise immediately draws in listeners. Adopting the leit-motif of traditional religious music, Dennis crafts something special here.…
Yellow Sandcastle is the opening composition on Irina Imme’s This Little Girl. The track will immediately draw listeners in through honest and earnest vocals, which are paired with a bit of strumming guitar. The song is able to have tremendous gravity with little more than this dynamic, bolstered as it is with a hint of strings. The four-plus minute run time is more than enough to allow Imme to really…
Alone (with me) is a fun alternative piece of atmospheric rock that is wholly unique. This means while there are nods to performers like Maroon 5 and Keller Williams, that Katmaz’s intense instrumental interludes and David Byrne-esque vocals separate him from the vast majority of performers currently releasing music. The emotive guitar work that is laced through the entirety of Alone (with me) is given a new lease on life…
The Darker Days Mix of All Yours All Mine is fun because ASHRR is able to build up an 1980-draped, synth heavy composition, while a more electronic/1990s lens is placed over the single at fruitful places. Don’t Wait Too Long is a refreshing of 1980s synth pop (a la early Depeche Mode and New Order) that marries the timeless style with the taut instrumentation of acts like Franz Ferdinand and…
Giselle Torres’s Navidad en la Playa is a hopeful, timeless effort that calls back to the holiday tracks of the 1990s and early 2000s. Sleigh bells and bright vocals unite to draw listeners in, while the tempo established in this track will keep people bouncy and bubbly until Torres closes things up. Navidad en la Playa percussion moves into the more focal point of the composition at about 3 minutes…
Hunting Memories is a full-length release of the same title, by visual Artist, Tahiti Pehrson, the sole creator of what is an excellent collection of songs that take you through some of the stories of life and things that happen with people along the way. The outcome is a very fresh and well-balanced perspective from an Indie Singer/Songwriter who does things his own way and hangs his hat on his…
The Return of Space Girl / Goodbye is a high-energy track that immediately showcases Bad Mary’s on-point drums and menancing, brooding guitar work. The switch-over to a loud and brash sound that takes equal influences from 1982 punk and mid-1980s hardcore (Agent Orange, Black Flag) will immediately draw fans in. Vocals link together the work of performers like Bif Naked and Save Ferris, adding further vibrancy to an already bright…
Get Me Started is a fascinating composition as it effortlessly adopts hints of jam bands, 1990s Brit-pop, and alt rock. Uniting these various approaches are Freeman’s inimitable vocals. With nods to psych and Apple Records-era frontmen, Freeman makes something that is fresh and current while ultimately drawing upon a considerable musical tradition. Get Me Started’s instrumentation will stand up to numerous plays, continually showcasing new twists and turns even months…
The Way I Am is a laid back pop / EDM single that keeps things slow and somber. Haley’s inimitable vox are pushed to the stratosphere by the inclusion of Ella Vos. The presence of both voices during The Way I Am acts as a very organic approximation of a couple. The video (presented below) continues with this theme, showcasing a duo working through some seriously heavy emotional baggage. The…
Look No Further is a powerful rock effort that brings in bits of Walk the Moon and The 1975. The touching vocals laid down here draw back on the tradition instituted by The Smiths and Depeche Mode. Particular high marks during Look no Further have to be the punchy drums and sweeping synths that provide a distinct sound to the composition. flawes are able to make something special in this…
Chords with big, burnt-ends come slashing through the silence in “Forever & a Day” like Jupiter in Velvet’s life depends on it, but as captivating as the guitar parts are in this track, they’re just as potent a force to be reckoned with in the Brit rock-inspired “A Cooler Shade of Mad” without question. Jupiter in Velvet puts the dynamic string grooves at the forefront of the mix in “If…
On Take the High Road, Owls & Lions are able to keep things slow and emotionally intense. The vocals and drums combine in a fashion that calls back to Pink Floyd and forward to the more introspective Maroon 5 fare. A booming, epic sound builds up at the 2-minute mark, representing the separation between the two halves of this cut. We’re in love with the drums on the track, which…
Ball is a twinkling track that links together The Weeknd and Billie Eilish into a compelling package. The haunting vocals laid by Eryn distinguish the composition from other chart-seeking effort. The overall stark sound to Ball is a fun change from most pop singles, with a Hynotise Minds meets Migos tinge to things. Martin’s work here may come and go in the space of 2:30, but there is a ton…
The Taste shines by its deft uniting of vocals and synthesizers. The heavenly voice that glides on top of the composition simultaneously tells a story and bolsters the sizzling guitar lines. There is a distinctive production that glues together these disparate elements, further separating Night Dreamer’s output from other songs seeking rotation. Another Life has Night Dreamer establish a dark, synth-pop infused sound that calls back to the era of…
Cam’ron is back with some intense fire in his new single, Believe In Free. With strong female vocals representing the main body of the single’s hook, Believe In Free immediately takes a strong term when Cam starts laying down bars. The dichotomy between dark and light is present here; the street-wise lyrics pop brightly this season. Taking a look back to the font that got Dipset to the height of…
It’s a star-studded holiday season for Ingrid Michaelson. Christmas Valentine, a duet with Jason Mraz, is a fun foray into the modern season that has each side of the equation contribute mightily to the final effort. Soft instrumentation ties things up with a bow. On her take on the classic Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Michaelson is able to impart rich vocals with a smoothness. Coupled with vox contributed by…
On Dazed, Tiavara is able to blend together the vocal-forward approach of System of a Down with the chugging, taut instrumentation of the Deftones and Machine Head. The guitar / drum dynamic represents the backdrop for Dazed, ensuring that there’s a tremendous amount of momentum pushing listeners to the song’s conclusion. Fans of late 1990s / early 2000s metal will find much to sink their teeth into with this single,…
The Sarandons begin their new EP with Don’t Mean Much, an emotionally intense effort that calls back toe mid-1990s alt rock. Simply beautiful guitar work is the hallmark of the opening effort, as are lush vocals that build off of the framework initially laid by Adam Duritz and Wayne Coyne. The instrumental side of Don’t Mean Much is similarly strong, with sizzling guitar lines playing nicely with electric keys. A…
Maybe is a hooky emo-rock effort that takes the highest notes of Boys Like Girls and Mest and joins them to taut instrumentation. What results with Marquee Grand’s latest is a song that could easily slot onto modern rock radio / playlists. Take a deeper listen to Maybe and one will be rewarded with contemplative guitar lines, punchy bass notes, and splashy drums, a trio which imbue the composition with…