by Tiffany Czech | Dec 21, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Rock/folk creative outlet Coma Girls, run by Chris Spino, is gearing up for an EP release next month. To get us started, he is giving us a taste of the title track, “Skyboxer”. In true rock fashion, the track is filled with guitar-heavy moments with sticky melodies and raw vocals. It is the perfect modern rock song, utilizing the loudness that makes rock what it is while taking the best of what modern music has to offer and blending them into a cohesive whole. Combine this with the stirring storytelling found in the lyrics and you realize Coma Girls has got it all. A story of loving and losing being turned into an explosive rock tune tells us to stay on the lookout for what Spino plans on bringing next.
Spino says of the creative process of the upcoming EP: “We were able to explore each song differently but give it a common thread as well. It’s supposed to take you places. It’s more like a form of escapism.”
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 17, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Out of New Orleans comes trio Kelly Duplex, here to put a spin on your favorite pop/rock vibe. “Hoverround” is kicked off with a spicy guitar lick that, only one second in, seems to cement its place in your favorite rock playlist. It certainly is a special take on pop music in general, or at least what we know pop music as today. The result of such a task is a loud, big band track that makes you want to start your own rock band in the comfort of your own home.
Beyond all the glamor of rock n’ roll is deeper layers that bring you and me closer to the band and the message that they want to put into the world. It’s an honest look at some of the various difficulties that come with life, and they range from struggles with being a parent to even the hardships that come along with diabetes. Despite how specific it gets, the band does not close themselves off from their listener by ensuring some level of ambiguity throughout the song.
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 11, 2020 | singles, videos, wolf tracks
While “White Flag” is originally a fast-tempo triumph by Oregon-based trio Joseph about shutting out the noise of the world and putting one foot in front of the other, Animal Years, an indie band from Brooklyn, have released their updated take on the track. Recorded live in Nashville, the band’s cover could not be coming at a more opportune time. Putting one foot in front of the other has sort of become a motto the world has been trying to live by the entire year, and Animal Years are no different.
The live cover features a significantly slowed down tempo, one that brings the audience closer to not only the band’s performance but the lyrics of the song as well. The personalized aspect is an important part of the music listening experience, especially for a song with a message like this one. As the track brings you close to the band, it begins to feel as though the band themselves are whispering in your ear and giving you the push you need to keep going. With a tune layered with beautiful harmonies and gentle guitar strums, Animal Years are here for you.
The video was recorded live at Marathon Music Works. Animal Years has admired Joseph since seeing their Tiny Desk session in 2017.
Check it out on your preferred streaming platform!
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 11, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Standing in the fog at the end of a relationship, you may be tempted to ask that one terrifying question. Fretland are unafraid to approach this question on their new track “Do You Think of Me” with just as much grace and wonder as pain and sorrow. With two equally captivating vocalists at the mic, the story of two people going their separate ways comes to life. With the help of just an acoustic guitar and a glimmer of piano, Fretland create an intimate conversation illustrated by revealing and open lyrics that paint vulnerability on the former lovers’ sleeves.
“Do You Think of Me” is a testament to how even the seemingly simplest of situations can have their layers peeled back to reveal complex emotions and struggles. After all, we humans are complex beings and the members of Fretland know this all too well. Brainchild Hillary Grace Fretland reveals:
I want to understand all parts of me that make me human so that I can share them, and so maybe someone somewhere recognizes themselves as the villain and learns to love themselves anyway. There’s so much shame in a failed relationship, we always want to know who’s at fault. It’s never been that simple for me.
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 10, 2020 | albums, review
If you have been sitting around looking for the perfect way to entertain yourself as a cure for your boredom, it is perhaps most appropriate to turn to Antidote to Being Bored, Oscar Lang’s folk-rock experiment. Lang promises a high-volume experience with his newest release, starting with the EP’s title track all the way down to the final track, “Something Has Changed”, and every track in between. The entire track list is a blesses us with piercing electric guitars and bewitching melodies, perfect for both your winter run around the block or your quiet fireside music listening sessions. What makes this release stand out is the ability of every song to fit different moods and still be a fantastic choice.
Lang says of the EP:
I wrote Antidote to Being Bored to be an absolute blow-the-roof-off-the-stadium rock banger and I think it lives up to that. I wanted to get a little darker with this EP, while continuing the sound of the previous one. I feel like I really found a style of music that I love and am just excited to play. So, this release was all about developing that sound further.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 8, 2020 | premieres, singles
Today, we’ve got the exclusive premiere of Devil Love’s “Everywhere Leads The Sound” alongside its new lyric video. The first track off their upcoming release Broken Things (February 12), it sets the tone for an album rich in meaning and replete with the unique blend of genres the band is known for. “Everywhere Leads The Sound” clearly bends to the ’90s alt-rock scene, with lighter vocals that bring the overall tone of the song to a softer place.
Typically, when you hear a song with heavy drums and a rougher guitar riff, you don’t necessarily consider it a lullaby. But Devil Love is here to prove that theory incorrect. The band’s willingness to be vulnerable while exhibiting strength in sound is a testament to their work as men outside of the band. Explains Peter Buzzelle of the inspiration behind the track:
This song was originally inspired by my very busy first born daughter, who was later diagnosed with ADHD. The song then morphed into a more broad comment on society and the need to take in life with gratitude.
We’re excited to learn more lessons with Devil Love as they continue to tease the upcoming album.
Keep up with Devil Love here.
by Tiffany Czech | Dec 4, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
Sitting in his third-grade math class, Mike Richards, aka A Note Two Self, realized that he would much rather join the kids who were playing music. That is exactly what he did. Fast forward to the present and A Note Two Self is releasing a new track called “Love Drunk”. What starts off as a simple guitar-heavy track quickly turns to a big band, acoustic production, complete with pumping percussion and electric riffs. The story is that of somebody who is willing to give their entire self to the person they have fallen for, and it almost resembles a worship song, one you would hear in the grandest of cathedrals. Perhaps this is because the track is essentially that feeling of worshiping and wanting to shower your person with love. “Love Drunk” takes you to one of the happiest places a song can go.
A Note Two Self explains:
“Love Drunk” was inspired by that feeling of unconditional love and being so enamored that you’re super caught up in the moment. No matter what happens through the good times, the bad times, when you’re in the middle of the whirlwind you’ve got an anchor keeping you grounded.
by Sadie Battle | Dec 4, 2020 | albums, review
If holiday cheer is something that seems a little hard to find lately, then check out Toddie Time, a unique collection of holiday classics from Michelle Malone and The Hot Toddies. On all six holiday songs, The Hot Toddies dive into nostalgic hits while reinterpreting your favorite Christmastide classics that range from toe-tappers that swing to sweet ballads that pull on your heartstrings. Their fun new arrangements all their own that display Malone’s vocal prowess and Doug Kees guitar skills. Malone and Kees are joined by Tommy Dean on upright bass, and occasionally Chris Burroughs on drums.
A particular stand out is “Blue Christmas”, as their version features an electric guitar solo with extra rifs all around. Malone’s vocal style and mood on this track is such a fresh and new take on this bittersweet classic. Their arrangement on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” really showcases a great pairing of upright bass and electric guitar – making you feel like you’re back at your favorite neighborhood dive bar this holiday season, tapping your feet at some live music, and ordering a Hot Toddie. So go on, stream this holiday gift of songs today and be swept up in the cheer you’ve been looking for!
by Tiffany Czech | Nov 27, 2020 | singles, wolf tracks
With her new single “Moonlight”, Gillian Heidi proves to her audience that she has both the talent to impress vocally and the ability to draw you in with catchy chorus melodies and stunning metaphors. What starts off as a gentle guitar strum and notes of insecurity turns into mid-tempo ballad about the feeling of security when looking into the eyes of somebody who shines light into your life. This security is not uninterrupted for Heidi. The track does not shy away from the fear that can still linger even in the most secure moments of our lives. It actually does a magnificent job of highlighting that the fear of the unknown with this person can be a fulfilling, promising experience.
In a stunning display of freedom, Gillian Heidi lets the world know loud and clear that she has the creativity to narrate a story that progresses from those starter nerves to a full-on prance around nature’s most beautiful displays. All in all, she really is the one taking darkness and turning it into moonlight.
