Too Much immediately hits listeners over their heads with a flow that builds upon the tradition of Schoolboy Q, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. The backing beat rises and falls, smartly utilizing repetition to further highlight ND’s lyrical flow. There are a few distinct sections to Too Much; the hard-hitting beginning bounces over to a more laid-back interlude before resuming the intelligent, contemplative approach to lyricism. By weaving the distinct threads…
On Deliriously Good, Rat City is able to create a sultry R&B track that has hints of 1980s funk and electronic music studded into the mix. Soulful vocals build upon the tradition of Trey Songz and Cee-Lo, while there’s a thick, luxurious bass line playing in the background. While the two elements would seem a bit far afield from one another, a taut production ensures that each element is able…
Seattle, the city that brought you grunge, and one of the only emo bands that every really mattered (Sunny Day Real Estate), is not the first place you think of for witty, melodic warp speed pop punk. But The Subjunctives just might change that. On Sunshine And Rainbows, the trio reel through 15 blistering tracks in just over 30 minutes, leaving you both spent and wanting more. The band spans…
Blue Roses has Katrina Stuart come forth with a touching composition that anyone that has been through relationship or love issues will be able to identify with. The vocal range achieved here by Stuart is considerable, further highlighted through a bit of EDM-influenced synth and a clap track. The resulting effort is something that could easily be blared out to a crowd as part of a DJ’s set this autumn.…
4 Leaf Clover is our introduction to Penelope Robin’s vocals, showcasing considerable ability alongside Major Lazer-styled backing beats. The confidence that exudes from Robin’s vocals sell 4 Leaf Clover for us. During this track, Penelope is both able to showcase considerable emotional gravity and imbue an additional level of depth to the harmonies of the single. Proficient, engaging, and ultimately able to slot in nicely with modern pop music, 4…
Swimming in My Sleep is a contemplative song that ties together 1960s psychedelic with 1970s progressive. The resulting effort is able to immediately gain listeners’ attentions. Squaring The Circle has a bit of political content to add some gravity to the overall album, while Pirate Jane changes the whole formula by bringing a bit of blues and the bayou into the mix. The one element that is weaved through the…
Nick Lowe should be as well-known as Springsteen… or at the very least Elvis Costello. And by musicians, of just about all stripes, he is. But to the casual music listener, aside from his 1984 earworm, “Cruel To be Kind,” (initially release five years prior to little notice), many have no idea just how influential he is as a musician, songwriter, producer and all around dapper guy who has seamlessly…
The British indie dream-pop duo have a heartfelt and wholesome story to tell us with their newest record My Resignation. This is the third record from Geowulf and is a narrative follow-up to 2017’s Great Big Blue. To cut a long story short, My Resignation is among those records which will prompt a listener to take a dive into the archives and dig out past records, and is a stellar…
Talon’s talent is on display during his newest single, Unique. More than just stringing together lyrics, this performer pulls double duty without breaking a sweat. Where rappers are typically able to be bolstered by their backing flow, Talon’s able to add a further complexity to the laid-back beat that is strung through Unique; having that bit of harmony present during his bars is able to make a more comprehensive overall…
Janine The Machine’s Snatched is a tongue in cheek blend of pop in the vein of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, albeit with a bit more of Taylor Swift and Halsey whipped in. Riding the workout leitmotif to its logical extreme, Janine The Machine is able to work in an infectious melody and booming bass beats deep into one’s cardiac muscle. Vibrant visuals are utilized to tremendous effect on Snatched,…
All That I Got Tonight is a fantastic EDM/pop effort that showcases the struggle of addiction and the potential for a rosier outlook after one gives up the stuff. The sentiment shared here by Judah Holiday is something that anyone that has struggled with any sort of addiction will be able to understand. At a surface level, the track is a banger. From a slower start to the absolutely sick…
On FÊTE, Triple Island is able to call back to the late nineties rap style with a synth and clap-heavy backing beat. Upon that canvas, the trio is able to keep things interesting. With a more pop-focused hook, the song is able to whip in a bit of reggae and mid-1990s NYC rap. Taken together, these distinct sides to Triple Island make for a track that is chill and distinct…
On Keep Smiling, Swimming With Bears are able to craft a charismatic and catchy brand of alt-pop. Taut instrumentation ensures that distinct sections can be masterfully weaved into a cogent narrative. Down and dirty guitars act as the perfect counterpoint for smooth vocals, while the sweeping synths at the top of the song are matched through punctual drum work. There are a surprisingly large amount of things occurring at any…
Few indie R&B singers are getting the sort of buzz that James Cole has been attracting as late, and it’s pretty obvious why when we take a look at his brand new single “Type of Guy,” which is out this August 23rd everywhere that highbrow urban pop is sold and streamed. Cole doesn’t pull any punches with us in this lyrical gem; contrarily, he wears his heart on his sleeve and gets right down to business…
Drew Chale’s latest EP begins with Can’t Stop, a song that deftly ties together the sweeping synths of 1980s rock acts like Rush and Journey. The single defies all preconceptions about what music can be. There’s a tightly-wound, funky bass line that plays nicely with Drew’s darkly emotional vocals, a snap and clap track out of 1980s Miami dance music, and the aforementioned nod to arena rock. Where the distinct…
The titular track for Forever starts things off with a solid momentum and a good amount of dsponaneity. The number of twists and turns that R3NN includes during this introductory track will keep fans interested through a nearly five-minute run time. This effort is vital as it showcases the number of twists and turns listeners will encounter as they move further into the disc. We dig the last minute or…
Everything I Ever Wanted showcases David Haerle’s ability to weave a compelling story with his instrumentation. Nary a vocal is needed during his latest single to craft a varied and detailed narrative. A focal point to the composition, David’s guitar riffs gradually rise in technical skill and speed before giving the punctual drums and robust bass line ample time to shine. Together, this trio of tools combine to make some…
Mechanical Heart is a tremendous introduction to Natasha Jane Julian. THe song will immediate capture one’s attention due to the linkages that the backing instrumentation has with the rock of the late 1980s (e.g. U2) and female singer-songwriters of the early to mid 1990s (Sinead O’Connor, Natalie Cole). Natasha’s voice is wholly unique when one focuses in; it is this considerable charisma that is given a further veneer with lush…
Velvet Code calls back to the new wave genre of the mid-1980s with his latest track. Deliberate synthesizers and considerable vocal range unite to make a track that gradually gains speed. By the time Mary Offered Ladybugs and Love Yous hits its chorus, it has fans enthralled through a driving beat and heavenly vox. There are so many styles and approaches that are weaved through Velvet Code’s latest; part of…
On You Should Know, Vita Chambers is able to tie together ambient, EDM, and dubstep into a shuffling, bass-thumping track. Vocals call back to Madonna’s early-nineties output. We’re in love with the dynamic established between the vocal and electronic segments of this composition. Where the main body of You Should Know has these working in lockstep, some of the most interesting sections of Vita Chambers’ latest occur when the synths…