by Meredith Schneider | Jul 20, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
North Carolina-based musical collective The Collection really hit a beautiful stride with their latest release, a call to action called “Loud.” The indie-alt pop group has created a string of gorgeous tracks together, each with underlying tones of hope. “Loud” follows this pattern, with an expansive and freeing nature.
Lead singer Wimbish was inspired to write the track after protesting last summer following the George Floyd murder.
I watched as peaceful, angry protesters were cornered and attacked by the police. I was one of those maced in the face, alongside many. Over the next many months, I grew angrier and angrier watching white moderates and even “liberal” friends of mine argue over the validity of the protests – how they were being carried out, etc.. and it was astonishing to me – their refusal to lend their voice, to this very necessary movement.
The song serves as an anthem for protest, unity, and a sense of empathy for the times ahead. You can check out the beautiful melody and intrinsically catchy lyrics below.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 19, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Alternative duo Wild Americans have given us a smooth, delectable taste of their upcoming album release in latest track “Again.” Drummer Mike Neglia and guitarist Andrew Milea met and formed the musical project in New York, making beautiful music together that mimics the pop rock flare of yesteryear. “Again” follows suit, with bittersweet lyrics beautifully woven together with crashing cymbals, whirring guitar, and a Beatles-esque twinge. It’s a meandering, beautiful, and introspective single that will have you feeling calm and cool in the summertime heat.
One-Dimensional Man is due out August 13th. Keep up with Wild Americans here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 13, 2021 | soundtrack, videos
July. It’s the middle of summer. Things have been terribly hot. (Thanks, global warming!) You need a music video or two (or way more) to cool down with. While we can’t promise that every video will keep you calm, cool, and collected, we can promise that they will keep you entertained and help you take your mind off the weird. Here are our favorite new releases of July 2021.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 12, 2021 | singles, soundtrack
For years now, we have been bringing you the best and most invigorating new music each month in a playlist of sorts. Our soundtrack features are perfect to pull from when your friends ask you for new music suggestions, or when you want to surprise and delight guests at functions you may be hosting or planning. Though the pandemic put a lot of gathering on pause – and continues to, as new shutdowns are announced with a round of variants – we found such strength in submissions this month. These songs are perfect to make you feel more connected to the world, no matter the circumstance.
We’ve got a range of tracks this month from artists like Charlie Parr, Young Mister, Zero Trust, Santana, CHVRCHES, and more. So dive in – like you’re cannonballing with wreckless abandon into warm waters. We’ve got you.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 7, 2021 | videos, wolf tracks
Punk rock outfit Yours Truly comes at us with the energy and attitude our summer was missing with their latest track “Walk Over My Grave.” The video for the track is just as chaotic and beautiful as the song, a live performance of sorts. While the band plays, bright colors overlay and frantic frames interweave. Shots of individual band members, with art placed sporadically set the tone for a track that wreaks of heartbreak and loss.
With an edge.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 5, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Oughts influenced pop-punk outfit Young Culture has certainly stayed busy during the pandemic. Made up of childhood friends Alex Magnan (vocals), Gabe Pietrafesa (guitar), and Troy Burchett (guitar), the group spent one day a week during the lockdown portion of the pandemic writing and creating together. Their collective efforts will be shown off with the release of their record Godspeed later this month. But today, we have a taste of it with the title track.
A glittering summertime track, we will be playing this track at all of our backyard shindigs for the rest of the season.
Godspeed is out July 30th.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 1, 2021 | videos, wolf tracks
Toronto-based pop artist Allegra Jordyn is coming at us with a brand new track and music video, just in time for America’s holiday weekend. While most of our playlists will be filled to the brim with party tracks to keep us afloat on this boat/beach-crazed holiday, you’re really going to want to spend some time with this jewel-toned video and the sparkling synths that back the introspective track. Explains the artist:
“Numb” is what I like to call my anti-party anthem, and I think the video actively shows this,” she explains when elaborating on her single. “I wrote it at a time where I was suffering mentally but refused to let myself become numb to deal with my problems like people around me would do.
The video perfectly depicts the feeling of loneliness, even in a party setting. Those of us who are not in celebration mode – who have ever felt completely detached from our surroundings – will relate to both the easygoing track and its beautiful visual, directed and edited by Chris Grey and Allegra Jordyn.
Keep up with Jordyn here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 29, 2021 | singles, wolf tracks
Looking for a song that will kick you in the balls? (Think Fefe Dobson teaming up with Machine Gun Kelly.) “Bad Day” by Charlotte Sands is equal parts electro-pop and nightclub, entirely danceable and entirely too fun not to be into. A little bite, a bass drop, and an upbeat, anthemic feel help to pack a punch with some slightly depressing lyrics. But, I mean, who hasn’t had a bad day lately? What’s more? The chorus itself feels like it comes directly out of the darker, adult version of Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
I had a no good, really bad, messed up day
And I’m stressed out, super sad, not okay
I’m never getting better, no, it’s not a phase
And I like it that way (Like it that way)
Admits the artist of the track:
So often in life, we’re told to be positive and get over things quickly, but I’ve always felt that we need to fully feel every emotion in order to move on. ‘Bad Day’ is about recognizing your lows so that you’re able to grow. When everything feels like it’s going wrong and the world is falling down around you, leaning into that feeling of being at rock bottom is sometimes the only thing that can make you better.
I mean, who isn’t into that?
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 28, 2021 | albums, review, wolf tracks
Isaac and Thorald Koren – or The Brothers Koren – recently released their debut collection of tracks, an exquisite full-length titled I Went To The Sea To Be Free. Dedicated to the memory of their grandmother – who flew her plane over the Southern Ocean on Mother’s Day of 1974 and was never seen again – the album itself is laced with a sense of longing in the emotional lyrics. It’s hard to believe that the brothers approached music separate from each other, and later discovered their co-creating abilities. Their harmonizing abilities are almost haunting in a way, as displayed in tracks like “Say Everything”, “Gold”, and “Like Water”. (And virtually every other gorgeous track in this collection.)
Beginning at a leisurely clip with “Easy,” the album is introduced to us in a lighthearted, open-minded way. The song itself encourages its listener to take things as they come, while the brothers sing of how easy life can be with the right person. They transition with ease into the remaining thirteen tracks, presenting a true storytelling ambiance to the piece. Their cover of Prince’s 1984 hit “I Would Die 4 U” would otherwise fall short however the single has been stripped down into a different realm than its existing danceable pop energy, highlighting the love letter nature of it all. Crowd favorites include “Like Water”, “Beyond the Wild”, and “More Than You Know”.
Keep up with The Brothers Koren here.
