Angelic guitars and piano keys intertwine and dance without any inhibition in “Goodbye.” Those same guitars entertain a dangerous riff rock in “Nme” and “Arriianne” that couldn’t be any dirtier in tonality, but the melodies in these songs are as springy as what we’d find in “Underneath the Ground” and “Beleev.” Jeremy Rice can croon in full-color heartland harmony in “Johnny Rogers” just as well as he can spit punkish…
We’ve been fortunate over time to hear a number of Donna Zed’s compositions, but never have he had the opportunity to check out the live side of things. On her latest video, Zed is able to showcase a bit more of her inimitable spirit through the lens of live performance. At first blush, what listeners will find is that Zed is able to hit the same highs and lows that…
Phase is a hopeful sort of composition, built up through contemplative guitars and vocals which soar above the instruments. The track is able to look back to 1990s alternative / college rock, while possessing a smoothness and finesse that far outstrips efforts from that era. We’re loving the easy-going sound of the guitars, the on-point tack taken with the drums, and a cohesive that is downright unparalleled. The band comes…
Stokoff melds together the traditional country style of Garth Brooks and Travis Tritt with a bit of the modern, pop (bro)-country. Distinctive guitar work and heartfelt vox do much to imprint Embrujo deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The track is able to shine on pop, crossover, and modern country playlists and rotations. The production is savvy enough to allow the instrumental and vocal sides of Stokoff’s latest…
Give It Up links together soulful, technically proficient instrumentation with an alt-rock sound that builds off early-oughts Red Hot Chili Peppers and Weezer. The charisma and swagger of these vocals are countered well through sizzling horns, intricate drum lines, and their ability for the act to break into countless different jams and grooves over the song’s run time. The 2:45 mark moves the band into some of the most impressive…
Get Closer is the first time we’ve been introduced to Boston area musician Jamie Hart. The track builds itself upon the tradition of 1980s pop, 1990s country, and even a bit of traditional praise music. Magnificent drums, emotive guitar work, and an ability for the backing musicians to change on a dime differentiates Hart’s latest single from the rest of the fare populating radio rotation and curated playlists. The one-two…
Few artists are able to bundle together multiple artistic approaches to their music. Sure, music videos are their own sort of beast but Teenear’s video for Dolla Signs goes that extra step to include some impressive steps by Aliya Janell and Tallie. Together, the visual, emotive, and music elements of this package are enough to glue viewers to the screen. Various highs and lows of the synths and percussion, to…
On Love Don’t Cut Me Down, Napoleon Gold creates a laid-back effort that infuses pop music with as bit of synth-funk. The rising action of Gold’s vocals here ensure that fans are firmly focused on what is to follow. The dynamism of NG here bodes well for the track. The chill groove of Love Don’t Cut Me Down could easily slot into a DJ’s downtempo set, while there’s enough in…
Ashford’s take on I Could Have Danced All Night does more than add her own flair to the composition; it completely disassembles the single into a stripped-down, stark track. With the vocals placed to the fore, listeners will keenly devour anything that Brittain lays down here. With touches of early Pet Shop Boys and Rufus Wainwright present here, Ashford is able to moor this performance to a wider set of…
With Liar, Hooked Like Helen take listeners on a journey that traverses numerous styles and approaches. Touching piano and vocals straddling pop and rock styles unite to make a timeless sound. Touching upon the ballad style of the 1980s and 1990s, Hooked Like Helen refresh the approach with a snappy chorus as warm dynamic between the drums, piano and vocals. Liar’;s chorus will bounce around fans’ minds long after the…
On Sugar High, Lovers & Poets are able to link pop, 1990s alternative, and slinky pre-millennium dance music to make something special. Building off of the style initially laid down by The Cardigans and Republica, the act is able to immediately impress with vocals that simultaneously weave a narrative and add mightily to the single’s harmony. The taut instrumentation that the band includes on Sugar High will resound loudly with…
Mimosa Hygiene is the first collection from Nashville based duo The Criticals. The talents of Cole Shugart and Parker Forbes are formidable even after a single listen; this is a band who have their songwriting wrapped up far tighter than your average emerging act and I can’t point to a single track among the six included as an obvious example of filler. The Criticals, instead, come out of their corner swinging…
During Joey, The Bobbleheads are able to craft a taut collection of guitars, drums, and soulful vocals in a package that will have fans fondly remembering the college / alternative rock of the mid-1990s. The guitar / vocal dynamic established during Joey calls back a bit further to the pop-rock of the mid-1960s. Taken together, these unique elements bode well for The Bobbleheads. Joey shines because the band is able…
During Long Game, Gavin Haley is able to create some of the most honest and touching pop music we’ve ever heard. Putting his own unique spin on the style of Bruno Mars and Mike Posner,Gavin’s vocal abilities are provided further fuel through swelling drums, ethereal synths, and careful curating of the song’s overall momentum. The effort concludes with a robust boost to the instrumentation’s momentum, ensuring that Haley’s inimitable vocals…
Nobody Knew is a tremendous rock track that shines brilliantly. From the robust bass lines to the dynamic established between the guitars and drums, Appice’s rock truly is timeless. There is a bit of grit presented alongside the supremely epic sound of this cut. Charisma and passion are dripping off this composition. True music aficionados will drool over the extended instrumental interlude that joins together the two halves of Nobody…
On Trill Cosby, Wettworker is able to link together a brooding, industrial-infused backing beat with coy, punchline bars. The intricate wordplay presented on Trill Cosby further boosts the overall replay value of the track. Rather than merely laying on the backing beat, Wettworker is able to imbue additional harmony to the composition through his vocal cadence. The clap track that is included during the last minute of Trill Cosby refreshes…
On Worse or for Better, The Sarandons are able to create an easy-going sort of rock that touches upon the work of America and John Denver as well as 1990s-alternative acts liker Jellyfish and the Counting Crows. Booming instrumentation, fuzzy guitars, and splashy guitars unite to make for a dense, thrushy backing upon which the vocals can shines. With just a hint of grit present, these vocals are able to…
Canadian indie-rockers Wolf Parade have been around the scene for a while, yet their five-year hiatus in 2011 gave fans pause and wondered if the magic would come back. Following Cry Cry Cry in 2017, the band seems to be back on steady ground and are back with their latest full-length Thin Mind. Granted, Wolf Parade hadn’t popped up on my radar, I took a dive into their back catalog…
The Lily Vakili Band has just released their new cut, She Wants What. The effort is a stripped-down, dirty rock effort that links together The Velvet Underground with The Breeders. With multiple vocals contributing to the top of this cut, fans could easily hear hints of the Sisters of Mercy or the B-52s. At no point during She Wants Want will fans be wanting; the Lily Vakili Band keep the…
Juliana Hatfield’s 2018 tribute to Olivia Newton-John, Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John (naturally), was as satisfying as it was unexpected. One of the most underrated singers of the ‘90s, Hatfield, turned her distinctively impassioned vocals on songs that for decades had become shorthand for ‘80s bubble gum pop for many cynical listeners and in doing so, was able to get across her genuine appreciation for songs that shaped her as…