For those of you who have been asking, “What happened to MKTO?” after they dazzled us with upbeat single “Classic” and tickled our funny bones with “Goodbye Song”, we’ve got an update for ya. The duo is back and ready to take us all by storm again with the music video for their new single “How Can I Forget”. Bathed in low, beautiful light and a feeling of nostalgia, the duo brings their quintessential blend of raspy vocals and catchy pop melodies to a song that is both bittersweet and beautiful. Kiss the summer months goodbye by taking a break with the visual below!
Los Angeles-based visual artist, illustrator, zine-maker, and multi-instrumentalist Dakota Blue finally drops his insatiable 8 track Plaza to Plaza LP today, and we’ve got the streaming premiere! Starting in an eery way with what seems to be old opera music, “Plaza I” eases us into the emotional soundscape we are about to embark upon slowly and painlessly. “Private Car” keeps us at that tempo, blissfully floating through electric guitar notes and reverb for days. When we get to “Plaza II”, we aren’t sure if we should expect an extension of its predecessor or not, but it seems these two plazas exist in completely different atmospheres. Whereas the first gave us a taste for nostalgia in its entirety, the third track dances at a quicker tempo, layered with original vocals. “Game Show” brings the energy back down, but not quite to that of the first two tracks. In fact, it does continue with the “eery” theme, incorporating more of Dakota Blue’s vocals like its predecessor.
“I’m The Mannequin” feels older, perhaps with the way dissonance is manipulated throughout. “Scorpion’s Theme”, however, feels exactly as it is described, with heightened sounds to indicate staccato moments of intensity, as though you are facing down with a scorpion in person. This track absolutely belongs in a stressful horror movie, along with many of its colleagues on this collection. (Should we throw that idea into the universe?)
“Beijing” is melancholic in sound, beautiful in its vocalization and the simplicity of the lyrics. Dakota Blue rounds out Plaza to Plaza referencing a third plaza, “Plaza III”. This track begins so quietly, you almost have to focus on nothing but the music. Which is a testament to the way this musician creates, his experimental functions so pronounced that it is most admirable to find time to enjoy these tracks with your mind, body, and soul.
But don’t just take our word for it. Check it out in all of its freshly release glory below!
Looks like Robert Schwartzman is keeping the promise he made us last year, when he stopped in Kansas City and said he wants to come out with a new EP every year, and tour based on each new release. So, essentially, he pledged to come back in 2018 a year ago. And we’re all for that, especially since he’s following up on that promise. Rooney is picking up steam again, and the new single is sweet summertime perfection, with a hint of 80’s nostalgia. Check it out below, then prep yourself for a tour date near you! (Seriously, it’s such a fun and incredible experience, and Robert is more than happy to spend time with all of his fans at each date!)
AUGUST
24 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
25 – Denver, CO – Levitt Pavilion
26 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
28 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
29 – Las Vegas, NV – The Bunkhouse
30 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent
SEPTEMBER
13 – Kansas City, MO – Recordbar
14 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
15 – Davenport, IA – Daytrottter
16 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
18 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
19 – Albany, NY – The Hollow
20 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
21 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
22 – Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
Pop punk is a genre that many of us identify as our first real musical love. It’s the music that blasted in our earphones as we tried to survive eighth grade . And for many of us, that love fades away as our own teenage angst forms into something new, something “mature.” Belmont’s new self-titled album reminds us of that first love and how that music has involved in itself, while still being as cool and emotional and punk.
This album is the epitome of what pop punk music is. Each song showcases the band’s youth and talent. Frontman Taz Johnson’s vocals are hypnotic, and combined with Brian Lada on drums, Sam Patt on guitar, and Alex Wieringa on bass, the end result is magical. The moment the opening track “Empty” bursts to life with an explosion of guitar and drums, I am flooded with nostalgia and the desire to head bang like crazy. As the album goes on, each song seems to give off that same vibe that only this music can give. There are also so many lyrics that stand out because of their depth and honesty. “Interlude” is a slowed-down song that, despite its cool beat, has you thinking instead of head banging:
Do you know what it’s like to be alone?
To live life feeling numb and cold,
It’s a ******* nightmare on its own
And it just gets worse as we grow old.
The second half of the album picks up speed once again, with powerful tracks like “Hollowed Out” and “Convalescence.” As the album comes to an end with “BMC,” Johnson asks the million dollar question: “Why do I pretend to keep caring?” Belmont’s talent is undeniable in both their music and their lyrics, showing the band’s inevitable rise as the next great act.
Portland band The Stubborn Lovers are here for a good time with their latest single “Drivin’ 22.” Their country-rock vibe shines in this track with an authenticity that only that kind of music can bring. The electric guitar riffs and upbeat vocals make for an extremely catchy tune. The lyrics relate to the child in all of us. They are bursting with nostalgia, with vivid opening imagery of a family making their way down Route 22:
Daddy’s at the wheel of a Ford Country Squire, Mama’s putting makeup on down to the wire, Sister’s in the back spilling Goldfish on the floor, Shepherd’s in the way back scratching at the door.
The track is reminiscent of a simpler time by embodying the ambiance of an American summer. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to go back to the land of family road trips, fast food stops, and even the backseat fights with your siblings.
Be sure to check out their upcoming album Mother Road, out August 17. Keep up with the band here.
Ed the Dog’s new single from his debut album Shame is an ode to the simpler times which, in this case, is the television era. Ed Wettenhall has created a song that is reminiscent of 90s pop. Its catchy chorus paired with an upbeat guitar gives off a song-of-the-summer vibe. While “Television Era” is incredibly charming, it also references the angst of nostalgia, growing up, and living in the modern world. But despite that, it still makes you want to dance.
Punk folk outfit Mike Llerena & The Nerve recently released an album titled Old Haunts & New Horizons, and we haven’t been this thrilled in a hot second. First of all, the unique blend of genres is incredibly striking. Second of all, the journey they take you on over the length of ten tracks is indescribable, and absolutely perfect for a summertime release. Take a listen to it below, then read on for our short, fun interview with Mr. Llerena himself!
What was your first musical memory, or the first album or song you heard? Do you think that has any bearing on who you are as an artist now?
I think my first musical memory would be hearing The Beatles in my house as a little kid. My first concert was actually seeing Paul McCartney solo when I was about 10 (setting the bar high!), but before then I had been hearing those songs for as long as I can remember. Like a lot of musicians, The Beatles have remained a fixture in my music library and their influence permeates my approach to songwriting and arrangement, even if I don’t always realize it.
I know you’re from Gainesville… do you think being from Florida has helped shape your sound, or do you think you’d be playing the same type of music had you originated elsewhere?
While I certainly have a lot of influences that aren’t specific to Florida, growing up here certainly played a role in me discovering and embracing certain bands. If I hadn’t moved to Gainesville and played music for years here, I would probably still like Against Me!, Hot Water Music and Tom Petty, but living here definitely makes you feel more of a kinship with those bands and artists.
Your upbeat single “Crossfire” was a great intro to the new album. What inspired it, specifically?
“Crossfire” had actually started off as a slower, acoustic song (with harmonica parts on it nonetheless) before I adapted it to the faster, louder full band version that we play now. The lyrics of the song deal with the anxiety of feeling caught between two opposing sides in an argument, going through various stages of identifying with one side’s argument over another and trying to find your own place in that conversation. Whether you’re dealing with this on a more personal level or observing it in the current state of political discourse in the U.S., the lyrics of the song can apply to different situations.
What was the production process like on Old Haunts & New Horizons? Any fun anecdotes?
We spent about a year recording the album. During that time, we formed the band, played shows in and out of Gainesville, kept recording in the studio, and lived our day to day lives outside of the band. Our engineer Jared Pennock (Z-Chord Studios) co-produced the album with me. He also co-produced and engineered my last two solo EPs as well. Working with him a third time was great because we have a sort of established shorthand with each other after recording together for so long. A lot of cool things can come out of working with someone you’re comfortable with in the studio: the spoken word intro on “Last Words”, the tape machine intro on “The Catharsis”, ideas like that are facilitated in that type of environment and it makes for great moments on the record.
How do you want fans to feel after listening to the album in its entirety?
Above all else, I just hope people like the album. Being on the other side of the process, I feel like each listener can and probably will feel different things after listening to it. The album may mean one thing to me, but it may mean something else entirely to a listener. I wrote the album and sequenced it in a way so that the songs tell somewhat of a story from start to finish. It’s a loose narrative, but at its core, I think it’s about a young adult reflecting on where they’ve been been, where they are now, where they’re going, and how all three of those things are connected. The bittersweet nature of nostalgia is a prevalent theme on the album as well.
On a broader spectrum, what drives your passion to create music?
I’m always writing songs. In some ways, writing songs on a regular basis has helped me document the last few years of my life. A lot of musicians say this, but songs and albums are like snapshots in a way, windows into significant moments in your life that you can reflect on long after they’ve passed. For me, writing songs is like a necessity that needs to be fulfilled, like having enough oxygen. Whether I become successful playing music or not, I’ll always write songs in some capacity. It’s something that I love doing.
If you could be any superhero – “existing” or made up – who would you be and why?
While Batman is my favorite superhero, I would have to pick Spider-Man just so that I could experience swinging from building to building several stories above the ground. Exercise is important and web-swinging sounds a lot more fun than running on a treadmill.
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!
Californian singer-songwriter Michael Brondstetter has just released a brand new track, “Cherish Time,” off his upcoming EP Change Your Mind, out on April 27. Change Your Mind follows Brondstetter’s debut 2017 EP, Iron Mountain. His new single, “Cherish Time” brings the listener back into his Americana-folk-rock soundscape. Woven across heartfelt vocals and instrumentation, the track sums up its title perfectly. Filled with nostalgia and familiarity, “Cherish Time” will fill your heart and soul with good things.
Says Brondstetter of his new track,
I wrote “Cherish Time” at a time in my life when there was a whole lot of change going on. I just looked around at things a thought to myself, enjoy this moment because it won’t come back around again. Recording the song was like walking into a whole new world for me. Tom Freund really brought a lot to the table in his playing and production concepts. Working with Chris and Eleanor was a true blessing. They are so talented and inspiring. Having their participation and input, was invaluable. Everyone did a magnificent job getting to the songs soul.
