Chicago-bred psych pop quintet Post Animal – expertly comprised of Dalton Allison, Jake Hirshland, Javi Reyes, Wesley Toledo, and Matt Williams – truly brought their A Game with the release of Forward Motion Godyssey today. Leisurely rolling into an easygoing soundscape with “Your Life Away”, the 80s-inspired fade-in on second track “Post Animal” is both nostalgic and frantic. “Schedule” brings us back to a more 70s-psych aura, bright vocals and crashing cymbals leading the way.
“Fitness”, as its predecessors, has a completely different feel, bringing with it an audible sense of mystery. “In a Paradise” feels more 80s hair band, a track we could easily see being placed in the soundtrack of Top Gun II, if things were to go our way. (The first minute at least, before it goes into more Guitar Hero territory.) “The Whole” is an instrumental track that sounds as though it should be played in queue for a Star Wars attraction. Glittering and lovely, it paves the way for “How Do You Feel” (Note: NOT a question) in a way that highlights the synth in both tracks.
“Safe or Not” brings with its title a mystery, and with its soundscape more of a dance track than anything else. We can very much imagine “Private Shield” as more of a contemporary Warped Tour track, while “Damaged Goods” rips hard, and we’re totally smitten. “Sifting” is the eleventh and final track, bringing the listener’s heart rate back down after a short burst of ethereal energy mid-track.
What’s your favorite song on the new release? Let us know!
2020 has marked a new chapter in the lives of many, and we have been overwhelmed with news of good changes in our friends’ lives, and, honestly? Not surprised. The creative force that seems to have supercharged this year shows no signs of slowing down, and it may have wrapped us up so tight in its existence — filled to the brim with gorgeous lyrics, magnetic chorus lines, incredible bass, and intrinsically alluring melodies — that we are JUST coming up for air and realizing TOMORROW IS VALENTINE’S DAY.
But you know what? That’s not what February is anymore. It took this long, but it doesn’t seem that each month is categorized by its major holiday. And that actually feels better than anything else. Knowing that music is transcending what it once was, and becoming a deeper reflection of our thoughts and emotions than ever before.
This month, let’s celebrate the wins. Celebrate the new songs that have entered our minds, the new sensations that bubble up from it all. Celebrate the creative efforts honed by talents such as Stumbleine, MOONZz, Mo Lowda & The Humble, and more!
Check back all month for more additions to the latest and greatest soundtrack to your year!
If you haven’t experienced the ethereal vocal wonderment that is Whoa Dakota (Jesse Ott), then why not try the act on for size with an updated version of one of your favorite 90s tracks? The indie pop songstress has mastered several throwback options — trust us, we’ve seen her multiple times live and she absolutely destroys every stage she’s on — and this is one of our favorites. And is there a more perfect time of year to be pulling this one out of our back pockets, anyway?
Happy Valentine’s Day, and every day, with this flirty, fun track!
Today, indie pop sensation Beabadoobee released the official music video for her track “Sun More Often.” Animated by Elliot Bech, the entirety of the video is a gorgeous black and white cartoon with images alluding to the Space Cadet EP. While she soulfully sings, her words breathe life into your day as she implores you to look at the bright side of things, with lyrics like: “If you try/You’ll see/That the world’s/Not scary as it seems.”
Check out the video below, and let us know what your thoughts are over on Facebook!
TOUR
3/23 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
3/25 – Washington, DC – Union Stage *
3/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Foundry *
3/27 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground *
3/29 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
3/31 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues – Cambridge Room *
4/02 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam *
4/03 – Kansas City, MO – Encore @ Uptown #
4/04 – Denver, CO – Moon Room @ Summit Hall #
4/05 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court #
4/07 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile #
4/08 – Portland, WA – Holocene #
4/10 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop #
4/14 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar #
4/27 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Pavilion ^
4/29 – Austin, TX – Austin360 Amphitheater ^
5/2 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion ^
5/3 – El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center ^
5/5 – Glendale, AZ – vGila River Arena ^
5/7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum ^
5/8 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre ^
5/11 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^
5/13 – Omaha, NE – Baxter Arena ^
5/14 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center ^
5/16 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center ^
5/18 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum ^
5/19 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center ^
5/21 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage ^
5/23 – Washington, DC – The Anthem ^
5/26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden ^
5/29 – Hanover, MD – The Hall Live! Casino and Hotel ^
5/30 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavillion %
6/1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events Center ^
6/3 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse ^
6/5 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater ^
6/6 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center ^
6/8 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place ^
6/9 – Miami, FL – Bayfront Park Amphitheatre ^
6/11 – Duluth, GA – Infinite Energy Center ^
* w/ support from Eliza & The Delusionals
# w/ support from Taylor Janzen
^ In support of The 1975
% 104.5 Birthday Celebration
Festivals:
3/16 – 3/22 – SXSW – Austin, TX
4/11 – Coachella – Indigo, CA
4/18 – Coachella – Indigo, CA
5/24 – Boston Calling – Boston, MA
Anybody else ready to see an improvement in climate change law and the way we take advantage of our precious baby Earth? Alt-pop collective Little Dume has taken their environmentally conscious thoughts and placed them in their first 5 track EP, Waking Up. Theatrical and intense, the entirety of the release could be found in the soundtrack to a romance novel-turned modern major motion picture. Perhaps it’s their location in Malibu that brings the message of the environment to us disguised within sticky sweet pop sounds, either way we’re falling in love with their musicianship while “Waking Up” to the beauty to be lost.
A true love song, “As Always” showcases a raspier, slightly grittier soundscape. It utilizes the metaphor of natural disaster alongside descriptions of other gorgeous scenery to play with the meaning of love and the collective, it seems. Don’t be disappointed that Beyonce doesn’t make an appearance on “Halo”, the song itself is more Coldplay than anything else sonically (fight me). It’s gorgeous, and plays with the meaning of “bad” and “good”.
For some reason, we get quick flashbacks to music from The Cab with the opening of “That Could Be Me”, another clear love ballad that is hopeful and emotional, vocals that rip to your very core. “Kings and Saints” wraps up the EP smartly. It can be classified as a leisurely then powerful self-reflective and, once again, hopeful song, reminiscent of the energy of recent Top 40 releases. (Cough cough nudge nudge.)
What do you think? Share with us on our Facebook page!
Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on civilization as a whole is no small feat, and celebrating just one day every year is simply not enough. But we will do what we can with what we are given, and today I am proud to share the impactful new track from jazz musician Ben Williams titled “We Shall Overcome.” The pace is slow, the soundscape feels sultry, but there is a sense of pain in the delivery that makes it obvious from the first “We Shall Overcome” that this song is an anthem. The pace stays at a crawl, almost mimicking the dramatic effect of each and every step taken during Memphis’ historic 1968 African American sanitation workers’ strike, for which the title of the song was chosen.
Celebrate your strength and abilities. Take a moment with this song and really feel it, and take on the support and love those who inspired this track showed the world. It’s our turn to raise each other’s voices and to treat each other with the dignity, respect, and love we all deserve. This song will ensure that.
I AM A MAN is out February 7th. Keep up with Ben Williams here.
Queer rap extraordinaire Mykki Blanco‘s late December hit “Lucky” has paved the way for a gorgeous partnership between the storied artist and Dazed & Gucci. A new live-performance take on the track, it is full of warm colors, a feeling of community, and a glimpse into the talent that London holds, as that is where they filmed this version. This video is the first in a series that will be branded #GucciGig.
Directed by Diana Kunst and Mau Morgó, the video includes a 3 piece string section and choreography by Tom Heyes to complete its whimsical and fun atmosphere.
If your eardrums have ever been blessed by the magnetic vocals of Frances Quinlan, you’d best prepare yourself. With her new track “Your Reply”, the listener experiences a palpable energy, each note specifically belonging to its originator, the cadence with which she expresses herself intense and, in this case, fun. While a bed of instruments accompanies her voice, they come as almost an afterthought, not to discredit the talent.
To both understand where we’re coming from and head into your day with a pep in your step sonically, check out “Your Reply” below!
Likewise is out January 31st. Keep up with Frances Quinlan here.
We might have to wait until March 13th to enjoy Magdalena Bay‘s upcoming EP in its entirety, but today we get a sneak peek of what to expect with the music video for their new track “How To Get Physical”. The song is a synth-fueled throwback dream, with a music video absolutely littered with special effects. That’s right, you get a chance to see the electro-pop duo in front of cherries, dancing on handheld video game consoles, dancing with anime around them, flowers falling, and more. You don’t have to pick a specific dream to hold on to with this video, choose them all!
