by Meredith Schneider | Dec 12, 2018 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
Indie rock musician Jane Frank is ending 2018 on a particularly high note, with the release of her stunning, layered new track “Fight or Flight”. Soft – like the caress of your fingertips on your forearm – her voice carries lightly over the instrumentals, creating a certain magical feeling that is absolutely perfect this time of year. The most interesting part? The song’s meaning isn’t as pleasant as the soundscape would insist.
“‘Fight or Flight’ is about how we’re all scared, admits Frank. “And how, after several failed relationships, we start to close up. Everybody is thinking about what they gave, or what they didn’t get.”
Keep up with Jane Frank here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 12, 2018 | albums, review
Folk pop duo Fox and Bones – comprised of Sarah Vitort and Scott Gilmore – lays the groundwork for a fun, adventure-filled album from the very first lines of Better Land‘s initial track “Little Animal”, which boasts the feeling of a mid-album track, tempo having already had time to build. But this duo hits the ground running with every track, establishing its energy and diction separately than its predecessor. While “Love Me Like a River” brings the album into a deeper soundscape, “Roots” has a soulful anthem feel to it. “Roads” slows everything down exponentially, poetic in that fact, as they focus on the little details of spending life on the road.
“Reckless” sets a very different tone than “Tricky Love”, which happens to be one of our favorite tracks on this collection. The title track brings the tempo back up, definitely a staple on the album. “Strange” takes on ballad form, while “Pin Up” brings more twang to its instrumentals, setting a simple, beautiful tone to it. “Any of it With You” brings the positivity back in, establishing a sense of energy to work hard with what time you have left. Eleventh and final track “Welcome Home” is a head bobber, absolutely your next staple on long road trips as you search “for that spark.”
Test the new album out for yourself below!
Keep up with Fox and Bones here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 11, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Looking for something silly and perhaps a little sticky sweet in its pop-infused sound? We’re actually taken with the upbeat production of Mona On The Radio‘s “Bright Blue Bathrobe”, which reminds us of Owl City – meets – Weird Al, with a twinge of hip hop. And if you close your eyes, you can hear the instrumentals in the back of your favorite Nintendo game.
Keep up with Mona On The Radio here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 11, 2018 | snapshot, visual
Having been flummoxed by the talent of Chvrches for years now, it was our incredible pleasure to head out to see them headline The Night The Buzz Stole Xmas this year in Kansas City. Those gorgeous, lightweight vocals, that insane energy that could give anyone life… the night was absolute perfection. Photographer Meredith Schneider shares her point of view below.
P.S. You’ll notice even in the imperfections, there are rainbows everywhere. We cannot tout this live show enough.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 11, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based pop duo YVR recently released their new stunner of a track “Messy”, with a soundscape that couldn’t be less so. Pounding bass sets the tone, Courtney Jenae’s ethereal vocals make the track almost seem otherworldly. While the lyrics warn of a messy romantic situation on the horizon, we’re pulled toward the feeling of something brand new coming our way. Check this track – and add it to your holiday party soundtrack – below!
Keep up with YVR here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 10, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
With his swoon-worthy vocals and gorgeous guitar work, East coast-based singer/songwriter Adam Melchor is someone we are expecting to be top-of-mind this time next year, as his mellifluous approach to his work has quite a stunning effect. His new track “Real Estate” is the perfect break from our cold weather feels, bringing us to a place and time that is slower, warmer, and more wonderful than we probably even deserve. Check it out below, and make sure to add it to your soundtrack today!
Keep up with Adam Melchor here.
by ImperfectFifth | Dec 7, 2018 | albums, premieres
Hailing from Oakland, indie rock/experimental pop project We Is Shore Dedicated – the brainchild of Sam Tsitrin – has a bit of new magic to share with us this holiday season. New album No Ski Here Ogi Sap is here, boasting 9 instrumentally mellifluous tracks that will keep you dancing gracefully around your home all day. Though the lyrical edge to the album – politically and emotionally-driven – can be found outstandingly in tracks like “Sorok Sapogov”, it’s still a bit of a masterpiece, to be shared regardless of background or belief. Check it out in its entirety below!
Keep up with We Is Shore Dedicated here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 7, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Los Angeles-based rock group Swerve – comprised of Gregory Mahdesian (Vocals, Guitar), Brandon Duncan (Bass, Vocals), Ryan Berti (Guitar, Vocals), and Mark Gardner (Drums) – is reveling in the bliss that comes with releasing a new track unto the world. With a steady beat, there’s a little edge to the song that makes it enduring as all get out. Explains vocalist Greg Madgesian: “‘She Cut Her Hand’ came out of a recurring dream I had that was really discomforting and haunted me for a while. It’s about losing faith in something you’ve believed in for a long time, which would make sense with everything happening in the country right now.”
Check it out, and let us know what you think, below!
Keep up with Swerve here.
by Meredith Schneider | Dec 7, 2018 | albums, review
Pop-punk collective The Travoltas – comprised of Perry Leenhouts, Erik van Vugt, Jochem “Skokie” Weemaes, Wouter “Woody” Verhulst, Michel “Mikk” Meeuwissen, Daan van Hooff, Tim van Doorn – is coming at us hard this holiday season with their self-titled, 14-track full-length. With their quintessential pop/punk sound, the quintet has taken on a 60’s pop flare – much like that of The Oneders – that will get your toes tapping from the very first lines of “I Can’t Say No”, through to the very end of fourteenth track “Thing”. And though “Snowball” clearly nods at the cold weather of the days upon us, the soundscape feels very island-vibey, and we’re all for it. While “Work of Art” continues at a similar clip, “Ghost of Your Love” is slightly darker instrumentally, mirroring its name. They up the jazz factor with “Mail Ya To Australia”, and then get back to a pop/punk, Weezer-y vibe with “If You Could Be the Star”.
Seventh track “Making Out” once again occurs at a pretty quick pace, a notable love song, while “Blame My Baby” slows it down, and has a very Fountains of Wayne feel to it (in only the best ways). “Crying Shame” has a misleadingly upbeat instrumental piece, though the vocals tear through you and evoke the emotion fitting of its title. From the low lows to the very highest of highs, “Tower of Strength” comes next to bring the party levels back up. “I Was Dancing in a Lesbian Bar” and “Did I Lose You at I Love You?” have, perhaps, the most insightful titles, boasting catchy hooks that will easily get trapped in your head. “Hurry up!” has way less energy than you’d expect from its title, but that fact doesn’t detract from its endearing nature in the slightest. The Travoltas round out the album quite well with their quirky, hit single-worthy track “Thing”.
If you aren’t a fan of the band after reading our positive thoughts on their self-titled work, you might try giving it a spin. Actually, do that anyway. It’s quite the experience, and we’re big fans.
Tracklisting
01. I Can’t Say No
02. Snowball
03. Work of Art
04. Ghost of Your Love
05. Mail Ya To Australia
06. If You Could Be The Star
07. Making Out
08. Blame My Baby
09. Crying Shame
10. Tower of Strength
11. I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar
12. Did I Lose You At I Love You
13. Hurry Up!
14. Thing
Keep up with The Travoltas here.
