Jessie Kilguss recently released her latest album, The Fastness. The Fastness is the fifth album for the Brooklyn based singer/songwriter. The alternative-indie artist has a lot of things to offer on her latest album. The Fastness is an album of regrets, hope, love, and wanderlust. Jessie’s voice and style brings weight to the album as you can hear the Stevie Nicks and Norah Jones influences. The album has ten tracks, each song a little different from the last. “The Master” is a song about a person of great wisdom, holding the key to all the answers. Leaving his followers behind, Jessie asks “Who will be the oracle when he is gone?” “New Start,” tells the story of one’s ability to believe in love again. The hopeful and upbeat song will lift your spirits with lyrics like “I thought it was over, but I made a new start,” “Now I’m ready to be mystified, I know I’m not the only one,” and my favorite “You changed my mind.”
Jessie shows us her darker side on “Hell Creek.” The song is full of sinful regret, shame, and morbid themes. “I knew I the time had come to break myself free- and every thing went red,” cries out the singer. The song remains haunting with the line “Going down to hell creek, wash the blood off my hands.” The artist also shows off her love for travel and the world with “Spain,” and “Rainy Night in Copenhagen.” I completely related to the song “Spain” as I once fell in loved with Madrid and the beautiful lyric “Maybe I’ll find it here- Spain stretched out in front of me.” It describes the country perfectly. “Rainy Night in Copenhagen,” is a place to leave all your troubles. “So peaceful, so far away from home,” Jessie sings on the countryside. “I’m not ready to go home,” laments the artist as the song is a feeling of wanderlust, a thirst for the world- something we all experience at least once in our lives. The Fastness provides a variety of melodies to feed your soul, heart and mind. Jessie’s beautiful voice and thoughtful lyrics will take you to a peaceful place that is all your own.
The Fastness is currently available on major streaming services. Get your copy here.
At the young age thirteen, solo artist Akine wrote her notable single “Pray For The Prey”. Four years later, she is sharing her song “Pray For The Prey” with the world. “Pray For The Prey” incorporates a number of genres taking inspiration from tribal beats, syncopated electronic sounds, and alternative pop. What is so impressive about this track is how mature and riveting the lyrics are for someone so young. Unsure of the world and what is next for it, Akine uses powerful writing to express her feelings of exasperation. “Tell him you love him, he’ll shield you from every thing,” Akine sings on a higher power. “And we pray and we pray into this foolish masquerade,” proclaims the chorus. Continuing her cry, “You think you’re blessed and best because of God.”
“Pray For The Prey” is Akine’s battle cry for humanity, the foolish, and the ignorant. Her message will strike a chord with many, whether it is a positive or negative one. The message alone is telling, but Akine’s divergent and compelling voice really brings the song home.
If you’re a fan of The Flaming Lips, then listen up! The classic rock band is giving a gift beyond your wildest dreams. As one of the most well known and influential rock band of their time, The Flaming Lips are pleased to announce the release of their first ever “hits” collection. The best news? The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 is officially out today via Warner Bros. Records. The collection will be available as a vinyl edition and as a deluxe edition (3-CD and digital).
The Flaming Lips offer so much in this collection, starting with debut hits such as “Transmissions From The Satellite Heart” (1993), “Clouds Taste Metallic” (1995), “The Soft Bulletin” (1999) and more recent tracks like “Yoshimi Battles”, “The Pink Robots” (2002), “At War With The Mystics” (2006), “Embryonic” (2009), and their current album “Oczy Mlody” (2017). If that weren’t enough, The Flaming Lips also include added specials such as studio outtakes, unreleased tracks, and international single B-sides on the deluxe edition. Other features include “Zero To A Million,” the unreleased demo track, “Spider-Man Vs Muhammed Ali” and “Silent Lord.” The collection is a great complication of the unique and creative sound that The Flaming Lips has spent so many years building. Here are the tracks for the two editions:
Tracklisting for Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Vinyl edition)
Side One:
1. Do You Realize??
2. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1
3. Race For The Prize
4. Waitin’ For A Superman
5. When You Smile
6. She Don’t Use Jelly
Side Two:
1. Bad Days (Aurally Excited Version)
2. The W.A.N.D.
3. Silver Trembling Hands
4. The Castle
5. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Disc 1:
1. Talkin’ ‘Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues (Everyone Wants
To Live Forever)
2. Hit Me Like You Did The First Time
3. Frogs
4. Felt Good To Burn
5. Turn It On
6. She Don’t Use Jelly
7. Chewin The Apple Of Your Eye
8. Slow Nerve Action
9. Psychiatric Explorations of The Fetus With Needles
10. Brainville
11. Lightning Strikes The Postman
12. When You Smile
13. Bad Days (Aurally Excited Version)
14. Riding To Work In The Year 2025
15. Race For The Prize (Sacrifice Of The New Scientists)
16. Waitin’ For A Superman (Is It Getting Heavy?)
17. The Spark That Bled
18. What Is the Light?
Disc 2:
1. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1
2. In The Morning Of The Magicians
3. All We Have Is Now
4. Do You Realize??
5. The W.A.N.D.
6. Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung
7. Vein Of Stars
8. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
9. Convinced Of The Hex
10. See The Leaves
11. Silver Trembling Hands
12. Is David Bowie Dying?
13. Try To Explain
14. Always There In Our Hearts
15. How??
16. There Should Be Unicorns
17. The Castle
Disc 3:
1. Zero to A Million (Demo)
2. Jets (Cupid’s Kiss Vs The Psyche Of Death) (2-Track Demo)
3. Thirty-Five Thousand Feet Of Despair
4. The Captain
5. 1000 Ft. Hands
6. Noodling Theme (Epic Sunset Mix #5)
7. Up Above The Daily Hum
8. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (In Anatropous Reflex)
9. We Can’t Predict The Future
10. Your Face Can Tell The Future
11. You Gotta Hold On
12. What Does It Mean?
13. Spider-man Vs Muhammed Ali
14. I Was Zapped By The Lucky Super Rainbow
15. Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear Part 2
16. If I Only Had A Brain
17. Silent Night / Lord, Can You Hear Me
You can order the collection here. Keep up with them here.
Following up on their debut EP For The Light, alternative duo Foreign Air just released their latest single “Loud Magic.” The duo has toured with the likes of Phantogram, BORNS, X Ambassadors, and currently Bishop Briggs. Now they are excited to release “Loud Magic,” an alternative electronic track that grabs onto you. The track begins with a haunting intro, and incorporates synth sounds and a powerful buildup. Right as the beat drops, Foreign Air shows off their vocal skills at the perfect moment, filling the song with intensity.
The lyrics are equally as powerful as vocalist Jesse Clasen hits with lines like, “I know that you want to be seen, I know that you want to be queen…every one wants to be king,” “I know that you want to believe someone broke your trust,” and “I’m screaming out loud, I’m reaching for the clouds- will they listen to me now?” Interestingly enough, the track’s hook is inspired by Michael Jordan. “I grew up watching the Bull’s as a kid in the 90’s. I had giant inspirational posters of him on my wall,” Jesse explains. “I wanted to capture that spirit in the chorus, that moment when the score is tied, you’re exhausted, and you just put up the last shot at the buzzer.” “Loud Magic” is powerful, inspiring track that will have you feeling lifted and ready to tackle anything.
Freedom Fry is set to release their debut album Classic Friday, June 1st. I know Freedom Fry fondly as I recently reviewed their single off of Classic “Cold Blooded Heart.” Freedom Fry is an indie duo, whose voices were meant to be together. The duo consists of Parisian born Marie Seyrat, and Michigan born Bruce Driscoll. “Die Tryin” is the second single release off of Classic. A regretful love song, Freedom Fry sings on what could have been done differently. “I’m the worst, I’m a first class jerk, but I need you tonight,” Bruce humbly sings. “Oh I’m going to get you or I’m gonna die tryin,” belts the chorus. What may seem like a hopeless track at first, turns into a sweet, romantic track and the will to “die tryin” to do right by a lover.
Of course, I love “Cold Blooded Heart,” a not so romantic track cursing a heart breaker with “Cold blooded heart, yeah that’s how I pegged you from the start.” “Awake,” remains a little more upbeat and even “tropical.” “Awake! Here we go,” harmonize the duo. The song remains lifted with sounds of ukulele, bongos, and whistles. Shifting from the somber side of Freedom Fry, “Awake” simply remains a positive feel-good, indie song. One really cool thing about the release of Classic, is the album trailer. The artsy trailer on YouTube feature Emma Kenney (Yes, Debbie from the hit Showtime series, Shameless.) Emma navigates her way around downtown through coffee shops, thrift, and record stores with her walkman cassette player as each song off of Classic is previewed. The trailer is really something, as Freedom Fry allows a sneak preview of their debut album in an aesthetic and cinematic nature.
Classic is out tomorrow. Keep up with Freedom Fry here.
LA-based producer Josh Pan just released his latest single, a track titled “Wait For Me”. Pan collaborates on his latest with the duo X&G. How do you change the expectations of what EDM and electronic should sound like? Easy, just listen to “Wait For Me.” What I thought would be a rock track, soon shifts to sounds of electronic piano and organ. Combined with ethereal sounds of synth and unexpected bass drops, “Wait For Me” proves to be one of a kind. It even incorporates a jazzy, gospel feel with the ever present sound of electronic keyboard. “Wait For Me” will keep you listening and wondering what will happen next. On his latest single, Pan really takes creative liberties by incorporating folk-rock into a familiar electronic sound. What’s even more, is Josh’s ability to create a memorable vocal sound as a baritone on “Wait For Me”. The track is unique, and if you’re like me and love new music, then “Wait For Me” is for you.
Tancred is excited to release their latest album, Nightstand. The release of Nightstand follows up on the well praised 2016 album Out of the Garden. The album rounds out with eleven tracks, the first fittingly titled “Song One.” It is slow, sweet, and at 1:44 it is all too brief. Jess Abbott (Tancred) shows off her vulnerability on this track. “I will not lie to you, these words will be true,” leads the first line of Nightstand. “Why must she love someone else?” wonders Tancred. “Apple Tree Girl” has a folk indie vibe to it, with some interesting lyrics. “Drink my heart out, drink it up,” and “send me a photo, the two of us in the unknown,” make for interesting and almost emo lyrics.
I really enjoy Tancred’s “Underwear”. The song starts off slow and self-loathing, almost punk. “I don’t want to fight you, I’m already fighting me…and I’m losing,” sings Jess before the guitar comes in. The quirky title comes from the electric song line: “Remember when we were in the halls at 5am in our underwear running from ghosts and in my room I was learning that you were soft.” “Rowing” the last track on Nightstand, equally mirrors “Song One” and again shows the artist’s honesty and vulnerability. “I am crude and sweet in bed, I am gentle in a dress,” sings Tancred. With a taste of rock and tambourine, tinged with Tancred’s simple vocals, “Rowing” is a series of positive, gentle thoughts.
Nightstand, in one word, is diverse. It shows Tancred’s ability to navigate through a series of genres and styles, while remaining true as an artist.
Look for Nightstand which will be out June 1st 2018. Keep up with Tancred here.
Pop-punk quartet Punchline just released a video for their latest single “Friend From The Future.” The single is off of their eighth and latest album Lion. As you may have guessed, the video is as quirky as the singles title. Starting off the video opens to a slide captioned “When you’re 87 years old, you won’t be able to watch this for the first time.” Yes my mind had to re-read that. It then follows, “In case you’re 87 now, in which case, that’s rad you’re watching our video!” I finally started to grasp the video’s “into the future” theme. Aside from the creative intro, the video keeps you interested with bright flashing lights, slideshow inspired here and their captions, colorful outfits and highlights on each band member. The songwriting is equally amazing with one liners like “The clock starts ticking but never stops,” and “God I wonder why the past tense comes last.” My favorite lyric is “It’s not your age that’s bringing down.” A line that could not be more true, is one of many on “Friend From The Future,” an anthem for the “here and now.”
Scarlet Sails just released a new video for their latest single “Hideaway”. The rock band is made up of Russian born Olya Viglione, former The Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Scarlet, guitarist Mark Kohut, and bassist Kevin Jones. “Hideaway” follows up on the band’s 2017 debut album Future From The Past. Now, “Hideaway” is just the first of many 2018 projects for the rock band. Inspired by retro rock, Scarlet Sails brings a fresh twist on a classic sound on “Hideaway.”
The video is visually aesthetic in turn. Set in a Victorian-era setting, we see Olya playing ukulele from her vanity, and searching up and down the halls for her ‘hideaway.’ “Every thing I do, every thing I say…you’re my hideaway,” sings Olya with airy vocals. The song comes together with guitar solos and very present drums. Combined with Olya’s distinctive voice, Scarlet Sails really breaks through on “Hideaway.”
