Today, California songstress Alice Wallace released her highly-anticipated 11-track full-length, a beaut titled Into The Blue. Her fourth album, it is truly an exquisite collection of songs that evoke emotions over personal anecdotes, social issues, and the beauty of our natural surroundings, among other things. It’s a culmination of what we have come to know and love of Alice Wallace over the span of her career – the softness and vulnerability that we all feel at times, coupled with undeniable strength and intensity – and we’re absolutely smitten.
When the album starts with the line “What just happened?” during the lead track “The Lonely Talking”, we realize we’re in for a wild ride. After all, who else has had an adventure that’s started with those exact words? (Exactly.) Wallace’s emotional, deep, robust vocals carry us into “Santa Ana Winds”, an old western theme to it all. “Elephants” – perhaps one of our favorites on the album – is simplified instrumentally, more melodic as it addresses some very important social stigmas and issues. “The Blue” continues at the same slower, borderline meandering pace, as Wallace croons to us of “the mystery” of “The Blue”. “Desert Rose” does nothing to pick up the pace, but “charming” describes more than just a word in the lyrics. The guitar parts are magnificent, Latin-inspired instrumentals that serve as the perfect backdrop to such an emotional and specific story. “When She Cries” presents as more high energy, singing of rain”in the City of Angels,” a phenomenon we’ve all been privy to over the past week or so.
“Echo Canyon” is another favorite, simplified so Wallace’s vocals can take center stage, the exact emotional triggers placed perfectly, even without the aid of the instrumentals. Echoing a soulfulness only Wallace could evoke, the guitar parts are absolutely inspired. While “The Same Old Song” is pretty cut-and-dry blues in a very palpable way, “Motorcycle Ride” has a soundscape you will 0% predict by the title of the track. It’s sweet, mellifluous, and leads beautifully into ballad “Top of the World”. “For Califia” is the last track featured, instrumentals that we could easily see in an episode of The O.C. The lyrics are gorgeous, and it leaves an impact that only Wallace is capable of. Perhaps she really is the Queen of California.
New Jersey-based pop/rock collective The Ones You Forgot – comprised of Jenna Bruno (Vocals), Matthew Thompson (Guitar), Ferdinand Benauro (Guitar), Justin Rodman (Drums), and Lance Nelson (Bass) – has a beautiful new video for their track “Luna”, and we’ve got the exclusive premiere. Against a simple backdrop, allow Bruno’s 90’s-inspired vocals (think Liz Phair) to to croon this acoustic love song to you, with smokey contrast and artful dance. In addition to the video premiere, the band was wonderful enough to provide some date night ideas. As we approach the month of love – and every day – with bigger hearts, let’s see if we can’t integrate a few of these ideas!
Jenna: I would love to go on a Zip line and ropes course date! Anything outdoors-y is fun (maybe not for a first date though). I’d also love to just get some dinner, see a movie and take a drive to the beach at night – a classic date!
Lance: My first idea for a fun date would be going out to some trails and hunting for geocaches together. Another idea would be ice skating and catching a hockey game!
Justin: My first ideal date idea is beer, hatchet throwing, philly cheese steaks, and insomnia cookie! A great combo. Another fun date would be going on a hike to a waterfall.
Ferd: My first ideal date idea is going record shopping and going to the arcade!
My second date idea would be going
to the beach, hiking and top golf (all in one day)!
Matt: A fun date idea for me would be going record store hunting.
I would also love to go to the arcade and have a nice dinner. I’m thinking Ferd and I should just date already.
Keep up with The Ones You Forgot here. Too Afraid to Say is available now.
Toronto-based punk rock four-piece PUP released the first single off their upcoming full-length Morbid Stuff, a track aptly titled “Kids”. The song is endearing, beginning at the quick clip it exists at, a fun, anthem feel to the vocals between yell-singing in disdain. Our favorite line? “How about some goddam subtlety for a change?” This, perhaps, sums it all up for us. And solidifies “Kids” on our latest soundtrack.
The Morbid Stuff Tour-Pocalypse 2019
3/26/19 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth
3/27/19 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite
3/29/19 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall
4/3/19 – London, ON @ Rum Runners
4/9/19 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece &
4/10/19 – London, UK @ The Garage &
4/11/19 – Leeds, UK @ Community Room at Brudenell Social Club &
4/12/19 – Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse &
4/14/19 – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire &
4/15/19 – Dunkirk, FR @ Les 4Ecluses &
4/16/19 – Brussels, BE @ AB Club &
4/18/19 – Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia &
4/19/19 – Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang &
4/20/19 – Cologne, DE @ MTC Club &
4/21/19 – Amsterdam, NE @ Upstairs @ Paradiso &
4/25/19 – Boston, MA @ Royale # ^
4/26/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^
4/29/19 – Philly, PA @ Union Transfer # ^
4/30/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ REX Theater ^
5/1/19 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom ^
5/3/19 – Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom ^
5/4/19 – Chicago, IL @ Metro ^
5/5/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe ^
5/6/19 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
5/8/19 – Dallas, TX @ Trees ^
5/9/19 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk ^
5/10/19 – Houston, TX @ Rockefeller’s ^
5/11/19 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks ^
5/13/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West ^
5/14/19 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^
5/15/19 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ^
5/17/19 – Washington, DC @ The Black Cat ^
6/7/19 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall # ^
6/19/19 – San Diego, CA @ The Irenic ^
6/20/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^
6/21/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^
6/22/19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore ^
6/24/19 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge ^
6/25/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox ^
6/27/19 – Boise, ID @ The Olympic ^
6/28/19 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue ^
6/29/19 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre ^
7/1/19 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf ^
7/2/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar ^
7/3/19 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room ^ # – with support from Diet Cig
^ – with support from Ratboys
& – with Milk Teeth
A feeling of nostalgia almost bleeds from Gabriella Rose‘s vocals as she croons over the easygoing instrumentals in latest track “Welcome To The Dollhouse”. A song that specifically addresses Rose’s own mental health struggles, it is both vulnerable and inspiring in its simple existence, led entirely by those angelic vocals. And when you stop to think that this songstress is still sitting at the tender age of 16, you realize the number of doors that are about to open before her. So, while we are reminiscing on some less-than-happy topic matters, we’re also simultaneously getting excited for Gabriella Rose’s future, which seems to be the cherry on top of it all.
Be sure to check Gabriella Rose out on February 8th in Spokane, WA at The Bartlett for her EP Release Show.
Electro-ambient musician Superheart has another fun one up his sleeve, this time releasing enigmatic track “Talk About It”. An ethereal soundscape, his light as a feather vocals take the song to a wonderful, freeing level. As the reverb hits, you can’t help but move to the music. And that’s the party atmosphere we’ve been ready for. Bring it, 2019!
With the backdrop filled with Brodie Jenkins’ haunting vocals, Cathedrals’ new video for “Just A Game” is absolutely entrancing. Add in dark landscapes, hints of natural light bursting through for a gorgeous and stunning contrast. Both members of the San Francisco duo can be observed over the course of the video, lending their live performance tactics to the screen in front of backdrops that match the soundscape so beautifully, you almost don’t know what to do with yourself. Explains Brodie:
For the “Just a Game” music video, I wanted to capture the darker, anguished side of love. I loved the original Grimm’s fairytales as a kid (still do) and have always had a gothic streak. So visually, I was inspired to combine those influences into our own dark and twisted fairytale. She’s trapped in this story – a beautiful but haunted limbo in which the familiar elements are there, but there is no happy ending and it was all a lie to begin with.
Experimental improv musical group Richmond Avant Improv Collective (RAIC) – comprised of Samuel Goff, Abdul Hakim-Bilal, Erik Schroeder, Zoe Olivia-Kinney, and Laura Marina – released their new album Multiplicity on Friday, and we’ve got your first listen below. “Balance of the Three” starts us off with a pure cacophony of sound, horns and cymbals alternating feverishly for a full song’s length (around 3.5 minutes) before everything evens out into a somewhat bluesy and tribal soundscape. There is a sense of mystery to the song, the longest on the piece at 22:44. “Brugmansla” is completely different in its soundscape, rough and energized as though being played at battle. It is with “Occlusion” that a slight twang comes through, though it isn’t long before tribal drums, misplaced cymbals, and guitar chords make it feel like an artsy soundcheck.
“Leaves Continue to Fall” breezes in on a saxophone, more simplistic in its approach than its predecessors, as it maintains one instrument throughout. “Agitato” is our first real glimpse at vocals – albeit briefly – and a more ethereal and well-layered soundscape stems from its opening chords, slowly collapsing into brief, heightened energy escapades over the course of its hot ten minutes. “Pingulna” is the shortest of the tracks – sitting at a quick 1:35 – and boasts a down-home, blues feel that makes you feel relaxed and confident. Last track “Silene Udulata” rounds it out with a vintage feel, boasting opera-like vocals, eery, high pitched guitar chords, and rough, hard instrumentals that make it feel like the climax track at a rock opera. It’s definitely not something we would play at our Grandma’s birthday, but insanely fun to jam out to with friends.
Multiplicity is available now. Keep up with RAIC here.
If you’re looking for some new tunes to keep you occupied on this beautiful, flurry-filled midwest day (we don’t care about your awesome weather everywhere else), then Angelo De Augustine has a new album titled Tomb you should really get your ears on. The title track starts us off, crawling us into the soundscape slowly but surely and with a palpable feeling of enchantment. “All to the Wind” and “You Needed Love, I Needed You” follow suit, with Angelo’s lightweight vocals really taking the forefront. “I Could Be Wrong” picks up the pace a bit, while “Tide” slows it down once again.
What we glean from this 12-track piece is that it really has been created in the same methodical, gorgeous and borderline-celestial soundscape that we have come to know from artists like Sufjan Stevens, whose producer Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) actually had a hand in this project. Angelo has graced us with poignant and beautiful lyricism, and a mellow tone to really jump start the new year with Tomb. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Today, Toronto indie pop four piece Tallies – comprised of Sarah Cogan, Dylan Frankland, Cian O’Neill, and Stephen Pitman – released their highly anticipated 11-track, self-titled stunner. We haven’t been this excited about new music Friday in quite a while, and we’re thrilled to have this album in our back pocket. From the very beginning of first track “Trouble”, there is a palpable energy that urges you to keep spinning. Second track “Mother” is a little more surf pop in its sound, while “Midnight” hits us with a more whimsical appeal. The vintage dance track beat to “Have You” makes the fourth song – slightly slower than its predecessors – something you might find in a 1980’s teen movie.
One will note – regardless of soundscape – that Cogan’s vocals are stand out, drenched in reverb and befitting of the “ethereal” label. While “Not So Proud” has the pace befitting of a leisurely stroll, her vocals absolutely soar, creating more of a ballad effect for the fifth track. “Trains and Snow” feels late 80’s, early 90’s-inspired, and is the first song in the offering that seems to enhance the instrumentals over the vocals. “Eden” carries the same pace, setting the stage perfectly for our hearts to thaw and grow from “three sizes too small” during “Beat the Heart”. (Seriously, this is our jam.) And while “Giving Up” has a slightly more melancholic feel to it, they end on a high note with both “Rocks” and “Easy Enough”, paving the way for more miracles to come!
Overall, Tallies in its entirety delivers a grandiose soundscape that could easily be found in a nostalgic and well-shot teenage romcom. It’s a gorgeous soundtrack to reminisce to, and we can’t wait to see this act on tour!
