by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Apr 18, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Boston born electronic pop duo Sleeping Lion – comprised of Nate Flaks and Noah Longworth McGuire – released a new track titled “Easy For You”, which follows their previous release “Stop It”. The track is about staying true to you after the end of a relationship. The song is very apologetic, with the singer being sorry for letting their loved one leave so easily rather than fighting for them to stay.
“Easy For You” is a positive song that talks about fighting for your love. “Easy For You” transitions from being apologetic to being understanding. The track is the available to listen to now.
Keep up with Sleeping Lion here.
by Abby Trapp | Apr 18, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
RIVVRS recently released their latest, “Let It Die”, a break-up track with a raw sound. The alt-rock track is composed of raspy vocals and intense lyrics such as “I’m gonna let it die” and “This time I didn’t pay no mind, to the song playing in my brain.” While “Let It Die” is primarily seen as a break-up song, it takes a look at everything in life that you need to “let die”– not just love.
RIVVRS explains the track for us, stating: ” ‘Let it Die’ is a breakup song but it’s more so about that feeling of reaching your limit in life and you realize something needs to change.”
“Let It Die” remains an eye-opener for anyone in need of a change.
Keep up with RIVVRS here.
by Madison Blom | Apr 18, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Kicking off her career with a hauntingly beautiful single, “Volcano” that has already started to gather a fan following and rack up thousands of streams is Storme. Over the past few years and countless hours of studio work and dedication, this budding artist has finally found her niche is scandi-pop culture. This single features some of the hottest trends in the modern pop scene which has added to her international success rate. Storme’s icy vocals and thrilling synth soundscapes has hooked thousands of fans and allowed her to break through the ordinary and bland with her unique skill and wonderfully refreshing vocal skills. As the track continues, the vocals and instrumental aspects of the track continue to mount until they seem to explode with an exciting, energetic climax. As an added skill that Storme has expressed in much of her other music, is the ability to fill every beautiful moment with lush beats that encourage dancing and movement–from the slightest head bob to full on dancing.
With so much energy behind this new release, fans are already looking forward to hearing more from this talented artist in the near future. For the time being, Storme will continue to develop her sound and put in the necessary hours in the studio to magnify her talent and truly hone in on her one of a kind sound.
by Veronica DeFeo | Apr 18, 2018 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Don Gallardo has just dropped a brand new track, “Oh Jane”, which will appear on his upcoming record, Still Here. Gallardo says of the single, “The narrator is in love with the person being bullied and comes to her side and suggests different ways to look at the situation with a positive manner.” Moving along an easy-going folk soundscape, Gallardo elicits feelings of sympathy and shared experience with this track. Highlighting carefully crafted instrumentation and lyricism, “Oh Jane” is anything but just another folk song. Gallardo clearly knows his sound, which is further honed in his forthcoming album.
Besides his own talented songwriting and vocals, Gallardo was accompanied by other skilled musicians to bring “Oh Jane” to life.
He says of the track:
We had Dave Roe and Bryan Owings lay down the foundation of drums and bass before we built on it. I tried numerous ideas for the guitar sound, but after sitting with Brent Mason I thought it would be nice to steer away from a country feel to a more folk-rock vibe. This song features Brent Mason on guitar. He has played with numerous performers such as Vince Gill, Chet Atkins, George Strait, Brad Paisley, and tons more. The song also features Joe Andrews from Old Crow Medicine Show on mandolin and Micah Hulscher from Margo Price band on organ. Travis Stock, Clint Maine, and I worked out the backing vocals for a few days before we recorded them. We wanted a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers vibe for the background vocals.
Still Here will be released April 27, 2018. Stay connected with Don Gallardo: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Apr 17, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Alternative quartet No Dry County – comprised of Dub Wood (bass, vocals), Trent Langford (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Matt Newsom (Drums, Vocals), and Bristen Phillips (Guitar) – recently released their latest track, called “Bittersweet”. The song is about understanding that things change consistently, that things cannot stay the same. The song is a slow dance single that will have you on the dance floor swaying slowly with your partner. The track talks about finding the cause for no longer communicating with one another and realizing what caused them and that person to no longer be on good terms. The lead singer in the song sings about Irreconcilable differences and the hope that those differences will be lit up again.
Keep up with No Dry County here.
by Madison Blom | Apr 17, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Breaking out of the societal norms with their stunning new track, “Noisy Heaven,” is Philadelphia based budding punk project, Quiet Slang. At the head of this revolution in the punk industry is James Alex, a known and noted musical genius with the skill and talent that so many people crave and seek. With natural talent in his back pocket, Alex has put together a new single that has depth and meaning that may not be apparent at first listen. Beneath the stark minimalism of their track lies emotion that both denotes the opposition to distortion and perfectly embodies Quest Slang’s raison d’etre.
Along with their amazing ability to weave talent and music into one harmonious track, it has been said that Alex has been called both radical and mysterious. Speaking of this very subject NYLON stated, “Working under the moniker of Quiet Slang, Alex brought the magic of Beach Slang’s Tiny Desk concert for NPR to Austin, through stripped-back performances and an ease foreign to fans of Beach Slang. It’s a radical thing to do, but artists work in mysterious, unexpected ways.” As fans gather to listen to this new release, they will not only have all of their expectations exceeded, but find that they are experiencing something far beyond “just another song.”
Keep up with James Alex of Quiet Slang here.
by Madison Blom | Apr 17, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Showing off their stunning ability to transport their listeners to a whole new world filled with gloriously lush and full soundscapes is Hop Along with their latest new single, “How Simple.” Along with their fantastic new track, they have also been working hard to produce a visual spectacle that is equally enchanting and is sure to bring them closer to a dream that, at one point, seemed eons away. At first glance, this group is lively and energetic–from the first scene to the epic closing. Not only is their music unique and interesting, but there is a special artistic flare in the style of their video that perfectly compliments their music. Like the single that it accompanies, the video keeps the listener guessing at every turn with most of the peripheral scenery cut out and constant movement.
Hop Along’s diligent work has finally started to pay off as this new single has caused them to gather an even more extensive fan basis within just the past few weeks. No doubt, in the future, this will continue to grow as they produce and release music that matches the level of quality and perfection that they have achieved with “How Simple.”
Keep up with Hop Along here.
by ImperfectFifth | Apr 17, 2018 | soundtrack
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.
by Abby Trapp | Apr 17, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
“Tire Eyes” is the fun and phenomenal latest from Post Animal. Post Animal throws listeners for a loop while including sounds from all different genres. They include a little bit of country, but only before transitioning into a classic rock vibe shouting “TIRE EYES!” in unison at the giving the track its peppy 80’s feel. “Tire Eyes” remains groovy and is also a track you can get down to but scream with in your car at the same time. The band puts a new twist on a classic sound, which makes “Tire Eyes” so unique.
Keep up with Post Animal here.
