Contrary to the title of their new single, “I’m Not Getting Better”, Canadian pop-rock band Marianas Trench seems to be getting better with each new LP. The track is a tease for an upcoming sixth album to be released later this summer, following 2019’s Phantoms album. It also follows two other lead singles released this year, “A Normal Life” and “Lightning and Thunder” respectively. Marianas Trench has always been an eclectic group with shifting interests, from the emo and punk-inspired sounds of their earlier albums to more accessible electropop styling in their newer work. Despite these changes, they still maintain a consistent identity without categorizing themselves.
These new singles represent the band’s diverse sound, with “A Normal Life” being an ambitious and epic six-minute orchestral pop song, and “Lightning and Thunder” being a new wavey throwback song with lots of glittery synths. “I’m Not Getting Better” continues this trajectory of what will shape up to be a wide-ranged sounding album, with a unique sound with influences from stadium rock, synthpop, and R&B. It’s a vulnerable, emotionally driven song about deeply rooted insecurities, all set to a robotic, stuttering synth beat and a wonderful sing-along chorus. It works because of the sincerity provided by the vocal harmonies provided by the band during the chorus, as well as the confident theater kid energy that lead singer Josh Ramsay gives off in his falsettos. The heavy guitars from Matt Webb add to the sentiments in the lyrics, and the programming on the drum machines keeps the song danceable throughout.
It’s an empowering and inspirational song that’s bound to be a live staple for the band, especially when they embark on their “Force of Nature” tour starting this September. “I’m Not Getting Better”, along with the other two singles, makes Mariana Trench’s next LP one to look out for as it drops later this summer.
Hold onto your headphones, music lovers! Alt-pop sensation Jagwar Twin has just unleashed a sonic rollercoaster ride with his latest single “tomorrow [ANGLE OF ETERNITY],” featuring longtime pals lovelytheband. Released July 12, 2024 via Big Loud Rock, this arena-ready banger will have you living for today and loving every second of it!
Fresh off his viral hit “Bad Feeling (Oompa Loompa)” (which racked up a mind-blowing 9 BILLION YouTube views!) and a European arena tour with Jared Leto and Thirty Seconds To Mars, Jagwar Twin is proving he’s the artist to watch in 2024.
This collaboration is pure pop magic! “tomorrow [ANGLE OF ETERNITY]” is a perfect blend of driving guitars, pulsing drums, and soaring melodies that’ll have you reaching for the stars. Jagwar Twin’s signature genre-bending sound collides with lovelytheband’s indie charm, creating an irresistible bop that’s impossible not to groove to.
But don’t let the catchy beats fool you – this track packs a lyrical punch! With lines like “We might not get tomorrow / Just close your eyes / Let it go,” Jagwar Twin delivers a feel-good message wrapped in an infectious melody. It’s the perfect soundtrack for embracing life’s wild ride and finding your own shine in the chaos.
“I’ve been friends with Mitchy for many years,” Jagwar Twin shares about collaborating with lovelytheband. “We grew up around the same music scene… It was such a pleasure to be able to do something together.”
The music video for “tomorrow [ANGLE OF ETERNITY]” is a mind-bending journey through AI-generated wonderlands. Created with next-gen studio Secret Level, it’s a technicolor trip that blurs the line between reality and digital dream. “Using AI to make art is fascinating to me,” Jagwar Twin says. “The imagination will be the only limit to what we can create.”
“tomorrow [ANGLE OF ETERNITY]” is more than a song – it’s a party, a pep talk, and a glimpse into the future of pop – all rolled into one addictive, upbeat little package. Ready to have your ears blessed and your mind blown? “tomorrow [ANGLE OF ETERNITY]” is now streaming everywhere, the trippy video is waiting to wow your visual senses on YouTube, and you can catch Jagwar Twin lighting up stages live with 30 Seconds To Mars on their upcoming U.S. tour dates – this is one rising star you’re not going to want to miss! Don’t miss this rising star as he continues to redefine pop and push the boundaries of music and visual art!
Last week, Young The Giant – expertly made up of Sameer Gadhia (vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar), Francois Comtois (drums), and Payam Doostzadeh (bass) – surprised their fans with the official release of a song that has been a long time coming. The track, “Metropolis”, was written and recorded by Gadhia during Mind Over Matter‘s massive success. With 2024 marking the hit album’s first decade of existence, they brought this incredible, vulnerable song out of the vault.
The stripped-down track is beautifully and simply comprised of an acoustic guitar and Sameer’s voice. The video – by Guadalupe Bustos – shows frames of the recording process and the band in the studio together in a moody black and white mostly, with other B roll footage from the tour adding moments of pure joy to the visual. The song is paced like the lyrics, as it brings a sense of calm to the listener. Check out “Metropolis” below.
Mind Over Matter is being released as a 10th-anniversary edition. The exclusive deluxe version comes in clear smoke vinyl and includes a 12-page booklet, fold-out poster, and an exclusive slipcover — Pre-order / Pre-save. See all tour info here
Mind Over Matter (10th Anniversary Edition) Tracklist: “Slow Dive” “Anagram” “It’s About Time” “Crystallized” “Mind Over Matter” “Daydreamer” “Firelight” “Camera” “In My Home” “Eros” “Teachers” “Waves” “Paralysis” “Mind Over Matter (Demo)”* “Camera (Demo)”* “What You Get (Demo)”* “Metropolis (Acoustic)”*
Detroit’s rock scene is getting set ablaze! We Are Scorpio, the fierce duo of Jessica Care moore and Steffanie Christi’an, have dropped their latest single “Scorpio” like a meteor crashing into the music world. This song is a battle cry for diversity in rock and a poetic punch to the gut of the status quo.
“We are the storm, the fury in your eyes,” howls the chorus, and believe us, this is no empty threat. We Are Scorpio comes armed with searing guitars, thunderous rhythms, and lyrics sharp enough to cut through the noise of a thousand pretenders. The track pulsates with the duality of its namesake sign – at once fierce and magnetic, confrontational and alluring.
Forget your typical rock fare. We Are Scorpio serves up a potent cocktail of spoken word and hard-hitting riffs that’ll leave you dizzy. “This is no place for ordinary,” they declare, daring listeners to step out of their comfort zones. From family dinner rebellions to cosmic contemplations, “Scorpio” weaves the personal and universal into a tapestry of empowerment.
Make no mistake – this is more than music. It’s a revolution. Jessica Care moore, Steffanie Christi’an, and featured artist Militia Vox are here to remind us that Black women aren’t just part of rock’s history – they are its future. Their collaboration isn’t just fresh; it’s necessary, proving that rock thrives when it embraces diverse voices and experiences.
Mark your calendars, rock fans. Their self-titled album, co-produced by none other than Talib Kweli, crashes onto the scene on August 16 via Javotti Media. Want a taste of the venom live? Catch We Are Scorpio at the Black Bottom Live Music Series (August 7) and the 20 Years of Black Women Rock! celebration at The Fillmore (August 31).
Don’t just stand there – dive into the storm! Stream “Scorpio” now on all major platforms and pre-order the album that’s set to redefine rock. We Are Scorpio isn’t just making music; they’re crafting an experience. Miss this, and you’re missing history in the making. Are you ready to embrace the sting?
Bernie Worrell is one of many unsung heroes in music history. If you’re unfamiliar with him, he was the keyboardist for the legendary Parliament-Funkadelic collective and played with other artists such as Les Claypool of Primus, rapper Mos Def, and even Talking Heads, appearing in their seminal concert film Stop Making Sense. Not only is he a legend in funk music, but his work as a synth pioneer makes him a godfather of contemporary R&B and hip-hop. Worrell’s funky keyboard playing has been sampled thousands of times and was highly critical in creating the early 90s rap subgenre “G-funk” popularized by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Recently, Bernie Worrell’s estate announced the release of a posthumous album titled Wave From The WOOniverse, a double album of previously unfinished tracks. A murderer’s row of great talent helped to complete and produce the album, all of which had previously worked with Bernie Worrell. This includes Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads, Fred Schneider of The B-52’s, Will Calhoun of Living Colour, Sean Ono Lennon, and funk legends in their own right like Bootsy Collins and Fred Wesley.
Obviously, you can imagine that the album is filled to the brim with great grooves and danceable funk, and you’d be entirely right. Wave From The WOOniverse functions not only as a loving tribute to one of R&B’s most influential and overlooked personnel but also to a generation of classic funk originators. The love for Worrell’s work and the funk he helped create is always visibly present in each collaborator on the album. Every song is layered with bass, synth, horns, and heavy guitars, yet it’s never sloppily done and always well-calculated. Every instrument is tightly constructed into a well-orchestrated rhythm that flows in perfect harmony with the others. The backing band here is great, and each song has a distinct identity from one another while still focusing on never-ending grooves. WOOniverse’s tracklist has a decent amount of variety, ranging from upbeat party songs (“Distant Star”, “What Have They Done to My Funk”), vintage psychedelic funk (“Soldiers of the Stars”), world music excursions (“Re-Enter Black Light”, “When the Rain Subsides”), and lengthy band jams (“Greenpoint”, “Pedro WOO”).
My favorites included “Soldiers of the Stars”, a wonderful piece of Jimi Hendrix-type acid funk rock that could easily fit as an early Funkadelic song, “The Big WOO”, which is so enjoyably campy with Fred Schneider and a swinging rhythm section, and “When the Rain Subsides”, which features a sunny Afropop-inspired sound with soukous/highlife guitars and warm and lively percussion throughout. I also enjoyed “Heapin’ Bowl of Gumbo”, which has a slower and more controlled funk rhythm but comes out super slinky. Many of the songs appear built out of lengthy band jams with lots of improvisations, which would make sense considering the musical virtuosos involved. However, this leads to most of the songs being at least five minutes, which may not work for more impatient listeners. I like longer funk songs in this mold because it gives the musicians more of a chance to build off rhythms and complement one another, leading to a more satisfying listen. Admittedly, the length can hurt a few songs such as the jazzy noir track “Greenpoint”, which is eight minutes long and doesn’t have enough juice to justify its length. The biggest turnoff for some will definitely be the 18-minute-long penultimate track, titled “Transcendence”. I’m always down for musicians making something willfully self-indulgent, and while this psychedelic multi-part suite has rich production and a full orchestra backing, it never quite comes together. At least, it didn’t for me–perhaps having psychedelics of my own would’ve helped.
Even as overstuffed as it is, Wave From The WOOniverse is a respectfully made posthumous release that carries on the legacy of Bernie Worrell. It’s worth a listen for longtime fans of Parliament-Funkadelic and other classic R&B or even for newcomers in search of some killer funk.
It’s somewhat daunting to review something so intentionally provocative and hedonistic like the music of The Dare, the pseudonym of New York-based musician Harrison Patrick Smith. His work is a revival of the genre “indie sleaze”, a hipster style and subculture that includes artists like LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture, and aesthetically mixes 70s punk fashion with the unapologetic tackiness of early 2000s pop culture. I remember hearing his first single, 2022’s “Girls”, and being taken aback by how loose and unrestrained it was, for better or for worse, with its electroclash synths, and Smith’s aggressive loud-mouthed personality. Part of The Dare’s appeal (or turnoffs, depending on who you ask), is the way his music celebrates being raunchy and trashy in a way that makes it fun and inviting. Though I’d say his persona is done with enough of a wink to let you know it’s an ironic character rather than a genuine reflection of Smith himself. If it were more sincere, it likely would have impacted his growing success Last year, he released The Sex EP and recently opened for Yves Tumor and Charli XCX, also collaborating with the latter on “guess”, a bonus track on her monstrously successful new album brat.
The Dare’s new single, “Perfume”, is a teaser for his debut album What’s Wrong With New York?, to be released on September 6th of this year. It continues the sound of his previous work, with vocals still sounding like a snottier James Murphy and heavy techno beats, but it’s remarkable how Smith balances being in-your-face while also being charismatic and likable. “Perfume” is a lot of the same rave-worthy indie sleaze that listeners would come to expect from The Dare, but it shows him growing into a more developed and confident sound that breaks down the barriers between punk and dance music. It begins with a similar drum machine club pattern of “Girls” or “Good Time”, but quickly becomes an entirely different beast with heavy guitars, glitchy percussion, and pulsating synthesizers. It’s only two-and-a-half minutes, but it stays a complete blast throughout, succeeding as another song by The Dare that encapsulates all the best parts of a riotous late-night club atmosphere. Considering that he only has 5 released songs to his name so far, all consistent quality, I’m eager to see where his career will go next.
Nashville-based singer and songwriter Meg Elsier has released her new album spittake and it is no joke! Recently making her debut in 2023, spittake is an album she describes as an ‘introduction to herself’ as an up-and-coming indie-rock artist. The album consists of 11 songs and was made in collaboration with Ryan McFadden, a fellow Nashville-based producer. A fun fact is that most of the titles are uncapitalized with no spaces to stay true to their original demo names!
Elsier’s haunting voice is a wonderful contrast to the electric guitar and drums that build up her sordid lyrics. If her sickeningly sweet melodies don’t make you feel melancholy, then her messages will. Most of her songs are a self-reflection of her poor thoughts and actions, usually with a partner in mind.
My personal favorite of the album is “forlyleinsanfransico”. In this song, Elsier rambles on about how she is the perfect fit for a guy (or girl) and vice versa. However, Elsier admits that she is only human and has flaws that may affect their potential relationship. My favorite verse is:
I’d be your good girl But I do bad things And I talk dirty But I keep the house clean And I’d be funny But you’d be funnier And I don’t mind it I like second seat
My take on the whole song is that Elsier’s self-hatred and selfishness is preventing her from committing to a healthy relationship. As a sad girl myself, her lyrics are very relatable!
A handful of her songs are accompanied by music videos, all viewable on Youtube. In her last song “LA”, she is depicted as a white angel on an empty black stage. Other angels identical to her appear and a confrontation ensues. The song is a musing of her life if she ever moved from Nashville to LA. Elsier acknowledges that she wouldn’t trust the lack of cold weather, the high living costs, or how emotionally distant the LA people are. According to her, the harshest reality to accept would be that there are many artists just like her, implying she would lose her authenticity and ultimately herself if she ever moved to LA.
spittake can be listened to on all streaming platforms. You can also follow Elsier on social media. As for the rest of the year, Elsier is touring in her hometown Nashville Tennessee, and all along the East Coast– in Ontario & Montreal as well.
Mike Campbell is a classic rock veteran who’s never really gotten his due, at least in the eyes of the public. His musical track record is all over the map, as a founding member of the legendary Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and a collaborator of other household names like Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, and Don Henley. This sort of throwback retro-rock sound pervades all throughout Vagabonds, Virgins, & Misfits, the third album of Campbell and his band, The Dirty Knobs. The band, composed of former Heartbreakers/Don Henley collaborators Steve Ferrone (drums), Chris Holt (guitar), and Lance Morrison (bass), began as a side project in 2000 for Campbell but became a full-time project from the dissolution of The Heartbreakers following Petty’s death. This is their third album after 2020’s Wreckless Abandon and 2022’s External Combustion.
Vagabonds, Virgins, & Misfits is musically defined by many of the same textures that defined the Heartbreakers’ sound: blues, rootsy country, and occasionally some hard-edged rock & roll. The album’s vintage vibes never attempt to reinvent the wheel, but that’s missing the point. Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs’ appeal is hearing a band of energized veteran musicians play the music they love without a care in the world, and it’s why the album succeeds on its own merits. Even if part of one’s affection towards the band may come from their own nostalgia towards the Heartbreakers and classic rock in general, it’s still a well-crafted piece of retro rock with consistently killer performances.
The best songs on the album are the ones where the band is firing on all cylinders, such as the loose and fast-paced rock-n-rollers “Shake These Blues”, “So Alive”, and “Don’t Wait Up”. They each have an irresistible groove with amazing guitar playing, and the band’s chemistry and individual talents all get to appear. Many tracks also feature a sound closer to the heartland rock played in the Heartbreakers, such as “Angel of Mercy” and “Innocent Man” and succeed as feel-good breezy songs that still have grit and muscle in their tone. I was even digging some 60s-inspired country songs that intermittently appeared, such as “Hell or High Water” and “My Old Friends”. Both provide enough changes in instrumentation (through a string section, harmonica, horns, and Americana staple steel pedal guitar) to work just as well as the more conventional rock songs. While Campbell’s age can show in some of his singing, it’s always off-put by the love and enthusiasm always shown for his work. The vocals are also helped by guest stars on the album, such as contemporary country star Chris Stapleton, fellow heartbreaker Benmont Tench, and Gen-X/boomer music maestros like Graham Nash and Lucinda Williams.
Again, some of the album can depend on your own feelings for classic rock and you may be more inclined just to relisten to Full Moon Fever instead. But even as an act that prides itself on older musicians and styles, Vagabonds, Virgins, & Misfits is an effortlessly enjoyable ride that’s built on a strong love for rock music.
I’ll always jump at the chance to review music in my local area, so getting to write about DC-based indie band Pretty Bitter was super exciting. The band, (composed of vocalist Mel Bleker, bassist Miri Tyler, keyboardist Zack Be, guitarist Chris Smith, and drum-ist Jason Hayes) formed during the late 2010s and have released two albums, 2019’s Patchwork and 2022’s Hinges, with a third currently being scheduled for some time later this year. Their sound is self-described as “queer alternative emo dream pop-ish”, which is probably a fair way of putting it. Listening to some of their previous songs gave the impression that the band has eclectic tastes and doesn’t want their sound to be pigeonholed, especially considering the immense talents each member has. It seems inspired by a plethora of alt-rock sounds, namely dense pedal/feedback-heavy psychedelia (or shoegaze, if you’re annoying) with occasionally some distorted garage-rock guitars or danceable drumming and bass playing. For a band that’s still young, I appreciate their desire to keep listeners on their toes by having a decent range of playing styles.
Their newest single from February, the grimly titled “Roadkill”, is a great showcase of each member’s abilities and chemistry with each other as they make the track into a total gem. The vocals are bursting with confidence and enthusiasm, even when they’re occasionally buried by layers of guitar and synthesizer effects. Speaking of, the band continues to mix and match styles by incorporating some bubbly new wave-y synths that really pop, and keep the song fresh. The aggressive, relentless energy provided by the guitar, bass (wonderfully gritty during the bridge) and especially the drumming, which never seems to slow down for even a second. It complements the angst and frustration present in the songwriting, with lyrics that are personal and confessional like a lot of Pretty Bitter’s other work. Yet it’s still fresh and inventive through the band’s abilities and their commitment to not fully repeating themselves.
I’m glad I could write about Pretty Bitter, as the band is absolutely a shining star in DC’s growing local music scene. They have potential and musical expertise in spades, and seeing their further growth and evolution will be a joy to witness.
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