annalia, “dust”

annalia, “dust”

LA based pop singer ANNALIA sings about relationships in her new song “Dust”, which is a track about relationships and why it is important to figure out your true feelings for a person. ANNALIA sings about it being important to have a healthy relationship rather than being in a toxic one. Establishing feelings before you fully devote yourself to someone is important, and that is what ANNALIA stresses in her song.

The track also comes with a self-choreographed visual video to go with the song. Dust is one of the tracks from her debut EP available May 11th. The song is a great intro to begin ANNALIA’s career in music.

Keep up with ANNALIA here.

the split seconds, “the dirty depth of classic punk”

the split seconds, “the dirty depth of classic punk”

Punk is a genre that has always been known for its simplicity and raw, primitive sound. Many music fans write off the genre entirely because they believe that music must be complex and polished to be great. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In the 70’s a bunch of kids who grew up on a steady diet of classic rockabilly, pop, soul, British invasion, Motown, and ska took a look at the vapid and self-important hippies burning out on the radio and said fuck this. They cut their hair, put on the jeans and leather jackets of their early-rock-and-roll heroes, went into their garages, turned up the tempos, pushed their amps into overdrive, and invented the potent form of fundamentalist rock and roll we now know as punk rock. The following songs showcase just how much depth can be captured in a few minutes with a few chords and with some cheap equipment.

The Buzzcocks: I Don’t Mind
The unusual chord progression and surreal message makes this song the “Strawberry Fields Forever” of punk rock. Beginning with the beautiful phrase, “Reality’s a Dream” the verse starts out square but quickly gets mired in a swirling series of out-of-key chords and a disjointed melody that and builds and blossoms into short, simple, and joyful chorus about not caring. It perfectly captures the message of escaping the emotional torment of uncertainty and chaos by just not giving a fuck. During the bridge the song shifts to a minor tonality as Pete Shelley reflects on past insecurity and rejection, emerging at the end in a higher key to once-and-for-all assert his triumphant nihilism.

Stiff Little Fingers: Alternative Ulster
This song about kids caught up in ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland begins with a plaintive guitar melody drenched in reverb raw and almost in-tune. The lonely major-key drone expresses a combination of sadness and optimism that Stiff Little Fingers does so well. The song explodes into short punchy phrases in the verse over a restless 4 chord vamp in which Jake Burns lays out the frustration of scraping by under a repressive regime with throaty angst. Then it stretches out into the prechorus in which he explains that nothing’s going to change because nobody in power has any reason to change it. An usual extra measure builds anticipation before the assertive chorus chords in which he gives the solution to the problem: Do it yourself. Create an alternative of your own. “Ignore the bores, their laws…grab it change it’s yours.” After a powerful bridge rapidly dispensing with the naysayers, the original guitar melody returns over a shuffle drum beat. The meandering line returning with purpose and power before delivering the listener to a satisfying final chorus.

The Clash: Death or Glory
One of the many gems on London Calling, “Death or Glory” explores how high-minded ideals and righteous conquests are corrupted by time and routine. The song starts with a round and melodic bass line and syncopated high hat accents building into a grade-A punk rock groove underneath Mick Jones channeling Mick Ronson’s brand of channeling Chuck Berry via the English Channel. Paul Simon’s baseline walks under guitar stabs as Strummer howls his verse with great lines such as “love and hate tattooed across the knuckles of his hands, hands that slap his kids around ‘cuz they don’t understand” finally breaking into one of the catchiest choruses ever penned. During the bridge Topper Headon lays down a restless funky beat that is complemented by Jones’ rhythmic octaves and Simonon’s sequenced bass line. Creating the perfect musical backdrop for Strummer to quietly but insistently express the the will to fight and raise hell. After a final chorus the band ends the song on a slightly out-of-time, and out-of-tune final hit. Just in case you thought they were getting too refined.

Dead Boys: Sonic Reducer
Whereas the Buzzcocks found release in not caring, Stiff Little Fingers found salvation in not caring, and The Clash believed we were sadly destined to not care, The Dead Boys just didn’t care. Two bold chords at the outset fade into a swirl of flanged cymbals and feedback overtop a foreboding minor-key guitar line which finally explodes into power chords and Cheetah Chrome’s brash guitar solo. The verse pummels forward as Stiv Bators lists all the things he doesn’t need including family, beauty, and the human race. It builds towards a chorus that tells you why he doesn’t need any of that stuff. Because he’s a god damn rock and roller and one day he’ll be a ten foot tall Pharaoh and you won’t be shit. The song barrels forward all the way to the end with Ohio’s trademark street-walking-cheetah-with-a-heart-full-of-napalm raw power and swagger.

The Jam: The Eton Rifles
This fantastic tune begins with an intro of crashing minor chords, splashy drums, and a catchy repeated bass figure. Then breaks in to a double verse based on a two chord vamp of clanging guitar stabs and punctuated by a two chord turnaround contained in an unusual extra measure as bassist Bruce Foxton proves that drums, guitar, and a Rickenbacker bass is all you need to fill up the sonic palette. Buried in the mix, Paul Weller cleverly tells the story of a street fight between working class protest marchers and students from the prestigious UK prep school Eton in his unpretentiously accented baritone. During the chorus his vocal line climbs and the chord changes accelerate climaxing with a repeated “Eton Rifles” hook based on a melodic figure made memorable by its widely spaced intervals. The tonality darkens to minor for the unbalanced-feeling 9 measure bridge, perfectly framing the lyrics in which Weller describes his feelings of shame and disappointment with his comrades who were more interested in posturing than repelling the attacks of the future ruling elite. An instrumental section sandwiched between repetitions of the bridge that includes organ and reggae-influenced guitar delay showcases the band’s versatility. A vitriolic final verse and extended final chorus decays into cacophony before it is tied together by several restatements of the main theme mirrored by palm muted guitar before a definitive final hit. As strong a song as was ever written.

Generation X: Kiss Me Deadly
Pre-White-Wedding Billy Idol and company turned out this masterpiece of a song which is built on a verse, prechorus, and chorus that flow into each other so naturally and evolve so organically through the song that they create a nearly inseparable musical unit. This brilliant structure provides the backdrop over which Idol paints a picture of rebellious youth in the UK in the late 70’s characterized by love, sex, fights, flights, drugs, and old-school rock and roll. It begins with delicate guitar arpeggios venturing through a chord progression that is more reminiscent of The Zombies than The Ramones. Bold drums enter during the second verse foreshadowing the huge guitar onslaught that picks up and carries the song through to its end. After a melodic guitar solo, the chorus is extended during the final musical unit repeating the memorable title, “Kiss Me Deadly.” Exploited may have gotten right to the point with “Sex and Violence” but Generation X was able to translate the eros/thanatos theme into a brilliant work of punk rock art.

Keep up with The Split Seconds here.

someya, “you saved me”

someya, “you saved me”

San Jose based artist, Someya just released her latest track “You Saved Me.”  The alt-pop artist not really shows off herv vocals, but her ability to write.  “You Saved Me” is not a ballad, but more of an exaltation—a hymn even.  The song starts off “Eventually they’ll learn the truth,” which sounds as if it’s about to a diss track to a former lover.  Quite the opposite however.  Someya’s voice borders on creepy – yet beautiful – as she proclaims, “When the night grows cold, I know you’re always there, I know you’ll always care–you are my prayer,” and at times “You Saved Me” feels like a hungry obsession.  On “You Saved Me” Someya really shows us her ability to be diverse in her writing and her vocals.  She takes lyrics that are meant to be happy making them feel daunting and serious.

Keep up with Someya here.

danny laj & the looks, “left right to one”

danny laj & the looks, “left right to one”

Power pop rocking Canadians Danny Laj & The Looks have a new single ‘left right to one’ that was released digitally on March 30th, 2018. I went and checked out the bands’ bio and was instantly intrigued when I read their influences. “Peanut butter and banana hotdogs.”

That kind of humor will give you some insight into what to expect musically. This has got to be a fun.

And sure enough “Left Right To One” is nothing short of a fun-loving feel good song.
The track starts up like a loud high energy pop rock freight train right out of the gate.
Laj is a Canadian scene veteran who has put in his time working from the ground up and has established a sound that is reminiscent of an old-school fun pop-rock guitarist.
“Left Right To One” is a witty and monumental tribute to sharing interests, life experiences, and enjoying rock n roll with bassist Jeanette Dowling. A true celebration of a unity that was written in the stars. Rounding out the rest of the band are members Mike Duffield – Drums and Dan McMahon – Keys. With a surf rock vocal style, a George Thorogood guitar style, a faint organ in the background and non-lexical vocables in the chorus singing,”oh la la la”, “Left right to one” will fill the air with old-school radio power pop rock good times with a modern approach.

I loved the mid-song breakdown how everything got a little quieter with light backing vocals, steady bass, palm muted rhythm, and gentle drum taps that gradually led up to a powerful guitar solo. The solo is an in the pocket groove more so than and egocentric scribble of notes. “Left right to one” is melodic, upbeat, and instills a great vibe. All these things combined kinda make ya wanna open the shades and dance like no ones watching as you grab your broom and use it as a microphone… and maybe do a little air guitar on it.

To get in the good times be sure to follow Danny Laj and the Looks on Facebook and pick up a vinyl copy of the single “Left right to one” through their website.

You can also check them out on tour.
April 6 – North Bay ON – Raven & Republic
April 7 – Sudbury ON – Townehouse Tavern
April 25 – Toronto ON – Dakota Tavern
April 27 – Montreal Qc – Barfly
April 28 – Saint-John NB – Quality Block Party
April 29 – Moncton NB – TBA
April 30 – Boston MA – O’Brien’s
May 3 – Brooklyn NY – Diviera Drive
May 4 – Baltimore MD – Joe Squared
May 5 – Washington DC – Slash Run
May 6 – Philadelphia PA – Ortlieb’s
May 8 – Dayton OH – Blind Bob’s
May 9 – Indianapolis IN – Melody Inn
May 10 – Chicago IL – Burlington
May 11 – Rockford IL – Mary’s Place
May 12 – Detroit MI – Pj’s Lager House
May 13 – Windsor ON – Phog Lounge
May 16 – Hamilton ON – This Ain’t Hollywood
May 18 – London ON – Call The Office
May 19 – South River ON – Highlander Brew Co.
July 15 – Quebec City – Festival D’Ete de Quebec

soccer mommy, “cool”

soccer mommy, “cool”

Moving into the limelight after releasing her debut album is 90’s inspired band Soccer Mommy with the newest music video for one of her most popular tracks, “Cool”. Opening with a scene set in the middle of what appears to be a high school soccer field, the music video immediately envelops and intrigues the watcher to continue watching. From the beginning, the bright, crisp colors juxtapose the relaxed vibe of the track. Not only does this highlight the song’s unique sound, but also creates a clever visual spectacle that definitely shows signs of 90’s influences. Not only do the colors enhance the viewing experience, but the animations, created by Art Baby Girl, are clever and perfectly match the atmosphere of the music.

Soccer Mommy definitely has a bright future within her own sphere of cool, collected artistry that she have built for herself. Although she has hit a home run since the release of the full-length album, she has continued to chase after what seemed like such an elusive dream. This same principle is manifest in the quality of her music video, which is absolutely stunning. With the fire burning bright, there is no question that there is solid potential moving forward for Soccer Mommy.

Keep up with Soccer Mommy here.

l8loomer, “sfwu”

l8loomer, “sfwu”

After releasing his widely popular and acclaimed single, “Good for That,” fans around the world looked forward to what this artist had in store for them in the future. With his newest release, “SFWU,” that exposes toxic relationships for what they are. Through lyrics clear as crystal, rising hip hop artist L8LOOMER is able to express thoughts and feelings in a unique way that not only conveys a topic, but deep thoughts and feelings that are highly relatable among fans and followers. This new single is meant to be the anthem for those incarcerated in toxic relationships that are fighting the continuous battle between love and hate.

Despite the serious nature that this theme presents, clever artistry allows L8LOOMER to not only create a rhythm and beat that is memorable and easy to sign along to, but he brings light into his music that sheds itself over previously shadowed ideas. Through these methods, L8LOOMER reminds his fans that love is meant to be lighthearted and enjoyed by all those who are involved. Although there hasn’t been much work released by this artist, there is evidence that he will continue to grow in talent and popularity as he continues to hold true to the sound persona that he has developed since his debut.

Keep up with L8LOOMER here.

band of gold, “well who am i”

band of gold, “well who am i”

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.

Keep up with the band here.

ed schrader’s music beat, “riddles”

ed schrader’s music beat, “riddles”

Unpredictability and trance-inducing music has become the expectation from fans and critics of freak-fuzz Baltimore based duo Ed Schrader. Together, Ed Schrader and Devlin Rice have created a sound that it unique and completely their own and now they are bringing their newest tour, “Riddles” to a town near you. Since their formation in 2010 this group has participated in nineteen U.S tours leaving very little amount of time to produce new records. However, with a new full length album release, they are ready to hit the road once again and see where it takes them.

With the addition of this new album to their musical artillery, the duo races through a world of synth melodies and 80’s pop influences. Their sound has often been described as unpredictable and erratic, but harmonious all at the same time. This composed chaos, however,  is just one of the many attractions of Ed Schrader. With their music at the forefront of their performances, they are able to deliver a spectacle that will both amaze and surprise all that are in attendance. With the release of their new album and the announcement of their next tour, Ed Schrader has proved that he has what it takes to take these explorations into the unknown to the next level.


Keep up with Ed here.

swoll, “shake”

swoll, “shake”

Stealing the stage with their newest self-titled album, Swoll is enticing the masses with their latest single “Shake”. The single is riddled with killer synth loops and hypnotizing harmonies that are sure to be featured in other tracks on this album as well. Not only will the full album have a universal message, but project star Matt Dowling also hopes that his music will be introspective and personal for all of his listeners.

This album was deeply rooted in Dowling’s need to express let go of what he called, “trauma.” In his own words, “That’s the beautiful thing about music and art: they provide a mechanism to release in a healthy and meaningful way, whether you’re the maker or the viewer/listener.” Stylistically, Dowling has been able to mesh together elements of several different genres in a new and memorable way unlike what we’ve seen from his other projects. Thorough careful songwriting, her is able to unite pop, electro, rock and other major genres with seamless effort.

Although Dowling has been on a roller coaster that has brought him success and hardship, Swoll is set up to succeed in a new and exciting way.

Swoll is available now.