by Meredith Schneider | Aug 9, 2018 | albums, review
With attention to minute detail given by its creators, enticing track “Run Wild” was the perfect lead-in to the brand new 6 track EP, Run Wild. Thutmose – a Nigerian-born, Brooklyn-based hip hop artist – and NoMBe – the German-born, Los Angeles-based musical project by Noah McBeth – had already proven they could create luscious soundscapes, paired with lyrics that are descriptive and feel-good in nature.
The rest of the EP is no different, as you can witness below. At times, the duo slows it down to a amore mellow pace – as with tracks “Young & Reckless”, “Soft Top”, and “Summer’s Gone” -, highlighting the soulful aspects of their musical talents. And though we tend to glean positive vibes from the majority of the release, songs like “Summer’s Gone” – despite its hopeful, beautiful message of love – leave a melancholic feeling deep in your bones, foreshadowing that end of warmer months in the northern hemisphere in the coming months.
If you’re ready to be enveloped in a sound that is a buttery smooth version of Drake-meets-Kid Cudi-meets Shop Boyz, Run Wild is calling for you to fall in mutual love.
Keep up with Thutmose here and NoMBe here.
by Aubrey Hanson | Jul 27, 2018 | albums, review
Chicago-based Lo-fi rock trio Clearance – a talented band with ample amount of music experience – released their highly anticipated new album At Your Leisure on cassette, vinyl, and digital music streaming platforms everywhere today. The incredible musicianship of Mike Bellis, Kevin Fairbairn, and Arthur Velez is on full display over the duration of the eleven tracks, with melodies that feel genuine mixed in with toe-tapping beats. Not only does this album exceed all of your expectations, but it also takes you back to the 60’s and 70’s with the band’s unique style of music with a classic rock twist.
“Rumored Sequel” and “Another Arrow” are the perfect songs to listen to in order to get you exhilarated and pumped up with the exciting upbeat tempo and great vocals. In many of the album’s songs, you can sense the band’s influence with folk-styled, traditional vocals. Clearance has the perfect style of music that sounds good not only on radio, but also sounds amazing on vinyl due to the beautiful instrumental sound and notable lyrics.
TRACKLIST:
Chances Are
Destination Wedding
Frozen Orange / No Wonder
Had A Fantastic
Rumored Sequel
Haven’t You Got the Time?
Another Arrow
Days Underwater
Gallery Glare
On the Doorstep
Bird’s-Eye View (Of the Back of the Room)
Recorded by: Dave Vettraino
Mastered by: Mikey Young (Total Control, etc.)
Album art and layout: Mike Bellis
Songs written by: Mike Bellis
Video by Alexa Viscius
At Your Leisure is available now. Keep up with the band here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jul 13, 2018 | albums, review
Cincinnati-bred indie pop collective The Ophelias – comprised of Spencer Peppet (vox, guitar), Grace Weir (bass), Micaela Adams (drums), and Andrea Gutmann Fuentes (violin) – drops their latest masterpiece today, and we’re so jazzed about it, we almost can’t explain it in words. Delicate vocals, overlaid with (largely) light percussion and mellifluous strings make this album what it is, and largely describe the band’s soundscape. Not only is there a delicacy in the vocals, but there are quirks that make the effect much more striking than the word “delicate” would lead you to believe.
From the elegant beginning of first track “Fog”, through the equally leisurely pace of “General Electric”, into “Lover’s Creep”, you come to find the entire album feels ethereal and intense in a very unique way. “Night Signs” slows the pace down exponentially, the instrumentals slightly lower, and paints a darker-feeling audio feed. “O Command” is different, in that the vocals rise to a higher octave, the instrumentals maintaining a low, luscious feeling. “Lunar Rover” and “Bird” continue into an increasingly experimental place, picking the pace back up again with eighth track “House”.
While you can’t expect the pace to pick back up again over the last two tracks of Almost – “Zero” and “Moon Like Sour Candy” -, you can expect to nab deep, meaningful vocals that make for an introspective night on your back patio, music playing softly over the sound of the trees rustling above you.
Get started below.
Keep up with The Ophelias here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jun 29, 2018 | albums, review
Today, Louisville, KY-based musician Jim James releases his new 11-track stunner of an album titled Uniform Distortion. From the very first guitar riff of “Just A Fool”, you get a sense that this man has put every ounce of emotion he has into this work of art. Excuse us if we’re wrong, but to start with a riff so energy-infusing and raw is something that doesn’t happen often enough. And while he sings about being “just a fool getting by,” we’re certain that’s a bit of an understatement.
If you don’t see what we mean with the initial track, try the nasty guitar lick that introduces “You Get To Rome”, or the riff that underlies “Out Of Time”. It is only with fourth track “Throwback” that the pace slows for a more intimate and introspective five minutes and nineteen seconds of nostalgia. (Though we have found that James’ lyricism doesn’t lack an introspective quality, something we yearn for when seeking out new music to enjoy.) And while “No Secrets” keeps to a slower pace – and properly displays a little more of James’ vocal range – “Yes To Everything” might be one of our favorites on the album. His laughter, his sense of self, the upbeat way with which he addresses change. We’re here for it.
If you don’t realize by seventh track “No Use Waiting” that this man is – at his core – probably a rock god, “All In Your Head” will serve to prove you wrong. It is with the last three tracks – “Better Late Than Never”, “Over and Over”, and “Too Good to Be True” – that slight bouts of that truly upbeat Partridge Family feel hit you unexpectedly. It blends perfectly with the era his music seems to come from, an era more lush and filled with warmth.
And that’s how you’ll feel after encountering Uniform Distortion. It brings you to that warm, comfortable happy place while introducing more and more insightful lyricism with each track. So hit play, and see what this new release evokes for you!
Keep up with Jim James here.
by Janilisse Wahlstrom | Jun 22, 2018 | albums, review
On June 22nd, punk rocker Lenny Zenith released his highly anticipated album What if the sun. His influences are from New Orleans an New York City. The twelve track journey is one for the ages; my personal favorites are “Sunday Dress”, “What If The Sun”, “Whatever Stella”, and “Suddenly Someone”. This selection was made since they all have amazing guitar arrangements. “Sunday Dress”, with its indie rock feel, has a special twist with Spanish vocals. “What If The Sun” has a spectacular intro and hypnotic lyrics to jam to, as you ponder thoughts like, “What if the sun fell out of the sky?” Some cool guitar skills and a percussion-heavy track can be found in “Whatever Stella”. “Suddenly Someone” cools it all down for us, with lyrics talking about a lover that we can all get behind. Each single described has the possibility to relate to all audiences.
Lenny’s genre-bending style is well exposed in each song, a style he’s been harnessing since he got his start in music fronting the band RZA in the 80s. His musical prowess has further developed over the decades, as he’s lent his expertise to several incredible musical projects. What If The Sun holds clear influence from some of his own personal experiences, as well as from some of the acts he has worked with over the years.
by Karina Marquez | Jun 14, 2018 | albums, review
Mallrat’s new EP, In the Sky, is electrifying and emotional in every way. She seems to take a piece of you and a piece of herself, giving the songs a personal yet nostalgic tone with sweet pop melodies. She also incorporates the beauty of nature in many ways, whether it be in the cover art, the accompanying videos on Spotify, or in the album title itself. It’s clear that she is inspired by everything around her, which is clearly shown in each song.
The EP opens with the cool simplicity of “Groceries.” It has a steady, bouncing beat and acoustic guitar that gives it an upbeat vibe. But the lyrics are surprisingly deep: “I just want to get groceries” shows emotional depth about what you want in a relationship. “Texas” starts off as a ballad with pretty harmonies, but as the song goes on, it becomes a track that makes you want to dance around your room. “Better” is an upbeat song with painfully honest lyrics. Her voice croons about young optimism: “Everyone’s alive so everything’s alright.” At the same time, she reminds us of how fleeting everything is when you’re young and growing up: “Maybe when the summer ends / I’ll drift away from all my friends.” This song was a personal favorite, and it really shows how personal her lyrics can be. UFO sounds like a summer Top 40 hit with its electro-pop vibe and a rap verse from fellow Australian artist Allday. The EP ends with “Make Time,” which is more subdued than the rest. it allows you to daydream and think about someone you miss.
Mallrat’s cool, unique sound is taking over the world. Not only does she sing and write her own songs, but she co-produced every song on this EP. At only 19 years old, she is a powerhouse of talent and passion.
Keep up with the latest on Mallrat here.
