New York based pop-rock HARE recently released their latest track “Rolls Along.” The track is sultry, deep, with powerful vocals. “Rolls Along” is a conflicting plead, with something you want- but something you can’t quit. “You think you’ve won, I’m staring at the ceiling thinking I’ve been done,” shouts HARE as if this is a battle that simply cannot be won. In reference to love, the chorus completes the track saying “Rolls along to somebody else.” “Rolls Along,” is an angsty even realistic track about the continuum of love- whether it be with this person or that person, it simply put “rolls along.”
Borderline legendary duo Matt and Kim recently released their latest music video “Forever”, off of their new album Almost Everyday, earlier this year. Mark Hoppus (of Blink-182) joins Matt and Kim on vocals for “Forever.” The video opens with the duo in a warehouse. Set in black and white, you wonder where the video is going as the beat is poppy and energetic. It breaks to Kim taking drums and the two going back and forth dancing with each other.
The video is carefree, simple, and sweet like the song reflecting lyrics “Together we’ll cause a stampede, running through streets- I can dance better in a seat, as you’re making fun of me.” The song and upcoming album Almost Everyday heavily reflect Kim’s recovery after an onstage injury in 2017. The duo seems to be back and it makes me super happy to see Kim dancing in “Forever.”
Couple and indie duo Pharis & Jason Romero just releases their latest video for their song “Sweet Old Religion.” The video is a visual representation of not only the couple’s love for one another. The video opens with the couple sitting next to each other and facing each other. Jason has a banjo in head and Pharis is ready to sing. The video is set in black and white which makes for an intimate setting. Banjo in hand, Jason and Pharis shine on the vocals of “Sweet Old Religion.” “Sweet sweet sweet satisfaction- doing all I need, ” the couple ode to a love found. The video for “Sweet Old Religion,” was one of the cutest things I watched on a Saturday afternoon, and it would be for you too.
Alaskan natives The Super Saturated Sugar Strings recently released their latest album All Their Many Miles. The indie-folk group usually find inspiration through Alaskan nature sounds. All Their Many Miles is filled with nine peaceful tracks of love, heartbreak, and even shows off the bands instrumental skills. Their first track “All Their Many Miles” combines a variety of instruments such as the banjo and trumpet while being backed by soft female vocals. The lyric “I feel for all their many miles,” tells the narrative of a couple trying to make it through. “Love Cocoon” starts off with eerie sounds of soft piano, cello, trumpet, violin and guitar. The eerie intro creeps into rusty male vocals. The song soon becomes sweet and intimate professing “If we reach the top, we’ll build a love cocoon.”
My personal favorite off of All Their Many Miles is “Crocodile.” The track lasts a total of 4:13 minutes and is a total instrumental. The song has a Western-old timey theme, and shows the bands ability to be versatile in their sound. Whether you are a fan of fold or not All Their Many Miles is definitely worth taking the time to listen to.
All Their Many Miles is available now. Keep up with The Super Saturated Sugar Strings here.
Today, Erika Wennerstrom’s debut LP Sweet Unknown is unleashed upon the world. The alternative indie artist’s latest album takes us through nine tracks. Sweet Unknown is a melancholy, yet pensive, take at life and love. “Staring Out The Window” tells us of a haunting of a past love. “I didn’t understand what it is that I did,” is a broken heart asking for questions as the track proclaims. “Gravity” is a reflective track on ones self. “Getting to know myself like I’ve never known…I’m ready for whatever life brings to me” screams the track. Fittingly enough, “Gravity” is the last track of Sweet Unknown. It is the acceptance, it is ending- but for the artist, a new beginning. My personal favorite is “Letting Go.” Starting off with “Come with me my friend,” the track feels lighthearted on a heavy album.
Sweet Unknown is definitely personal for Erika Wennerstrom, maybe even healing at time. This album is for you if you want to do some soul searching or simply wallow in your sorrows. I’m sure you can make Sweet Unknown personal to you too. Sweet Unknown is now available via all leading digital service providers and comes with an instant download of the album’s first single, “Extraordinary Love.” The physical copy includes a limited edition version pressed on double white vinyl.
Tour Dates
Mar 23 – Macon, GA – Cox Capitol Theatre**
Mar 24 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater**
Mar 25 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVA**
Mar 26 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater**
Mar 28 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen**
Mar 29 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl**
Mar 30 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl**
Mar 31 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer**
April 2 – State College, PA – The State Theatre**
April 3 – Toronto, ONT – The Mod Club**
April 4 – Toronto, ONT – The Mod Club**
April 6 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall**
April 7 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall**
Pick up your copy of Sweet Unknownhere, and keep up with Erika here.
Band of Gold just premiered their single “Well Who Am I” off of their forthcoming album Where’s The Magic. PopMatters describes the band sound as “A really unique take on pop music… an intriguing sound.” It is in fact an intriguing sound as the track is quirky, unique, and very zany. What you think is going to start off as an alt-pop song, leans into a rock guitar solo, but not until the vocals pick up the pace and end the song abruptly.
The most interesting part of “Well Who Am I” is the bands’ seemingly random lyrics. It starts off “I like the way you comb you hair” and is followed by “I like the neatness of your hair….but I don’t think you’ll ever dare.” The uniqueness and array of sounds/genres is what makes this song so fascinating, and addicting.
Artist Evelinn Trouble releases her latest single “Monstruous.” The track starts out with a softs notes of a piano (almost calming a for about five seconds. However, the mood shifts quickly into an electronic drop. Evelinn tells us the tale of a conflicting love song as her raw vocals proclaim “It is monstruous, it is evrything for a moment then, then it’s nothing.” ” ‘Monstruous is my attempt at writing a romantic pop anthem…now I love it for what it is; a song about the impossibility of love, made of scraps, wrapped shiny in plastic” says the artist. “Monstruous” is emotional, raw, haunting, and definitely worth the listen.
“Not Human” is the latest track by electro-pop newcomers, Elegant Slims. The song starts off with a forceful electronic beat, followed by creeping vocals which are sometimes distorted claiming “You’re not human anymore, you’re not human anymore.” The track is futuristic, moody, and taunting making for a song that you just want to scream in the car with, after you turn up your bass all the way up of course. The New York based group describes the single as “…the darkness we know exists in the world.” “Not Human” is definitely worth checking out.
Indie pop artist Alexx Mack just released her latest single “Wine in Bed.” In the artists own words “Wine in Bed is about me learning that my coping methods were adding toxicity in my life and relationships,” says Mack. “I would drink and cross my fingers to feel better and almost every time I’d end up making another mistake. I thought that every sign was pointing to me needing to be alone, the truth was that I was pushing everything good in my life away.” Alexx Mack’s voice is haunting, but the message of the song even more so. Lyrics like “I’ll just smoke another cigarette, drink wine in bed, tell another lie I can’t forget” are intense and touching. Mack’s voice and execution almost makes “Wine in Bed” sound like a ballad, but hear it through and you’ll realize it’s an itching cry for help.
