by Meredith Schneider | Sep 5, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
The first lines of PANDA$ new track “Love After War” feature Anastasia Elliot‘s vocals as she sings of a love/hate relationship. Smooth as honey, the rap verses pick the pace up over simplified instrumentals, a combination that makes the track feel soulful and whole. At times morbid (“cleaning blood stains off the floor”), the song is still incredibly relatable and introspective. Plus, all NBA fans will appreciate that beautiful reference to being “perfect like Jordan and Pippin,” no questions asked.
Keep up with PANDA$ here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 5, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Looking for a soundscape to give you a break from sticky sweet pop records for a hot second? Craving a voice that is far-reaching, robust, and has just a hint of a scratch to it? Queens-based indie artist Skela is giving us just enough of that uptempo, catchy beat underneath her gorgeous, tranquil vocals with her track “What’s Wrong With Me” and its corresponding, brilliant lyric video. Her vibrant personality comes alive in the visual, the accompanying artistic aspects give it the quirk and rebellion we were hoping for.
So “What’s Wrong With Me”? We’re struggling to figure that out as well (Nothing. There’s nothing wrong with any of this.)
Keep up with Skela here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 5, 2018 | albums, review
On August 31st, Dangerbird Records brought us a stunner of an EP to enjoy over the holiday weekend. Joel Jeronimo – aka Joel Jerome from the Los Angeles band DIOS and very well-known recording collaborator in the Southern California scene – and Jimi Cabeza de Vaca – aka Jimi Camaro, ex-member of DIOS – teamed up to create a three track mini album called Atlantis Airport 1982. A culmination of realism and fantasy – with a bed of synthesizers to frame it all – the album is pure otherworldly magic.
From the very first airplane-takeoff-sounding notes of “Atlantis” – which makes us feel like we are on an intergalactic spacecraft, if we’re being completely honest – to the slower, more tribal sounds of “Airport”, through to the last lines of far more experimental and jarring track “1982”, we’re smitten. In fact, we are given the impression by this album that we just went back in time to 1982, and hopped into their forward-thinking minds to their idea of the future, and then were spit back out again. It was a quick ride, but well worth it!
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 4, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
Unsettling noise, and then the introduction of the artist’s whispery, light as a feather vocals over contrasting instrumentals mark the beginning of Cream with a K‘s “Terrible Voices”. While the song itself seems to touch on mental health to some capacity – whether the “terrible voices” in her head are symptoms of issues, whether she struggles with anxiety, or whether she is letting peoples’ actual thoughts rotate throughout the day – it’s also eery in its disposition, and perhaps the perfect autumn start for us all.
Keep up with Cream with a K here.
by ImperfectFifth | Aug 31, 2018 | soundtrack, videos
This month has been absolutely insane for music videos, and we’ve never been more impressed. Jewel tones seem to be the main focus regarding visuals, but the creativity involved in both the concepts of the videos and the way they’re represented is absolutely phenomenal. Dare we say it? August 2018 might be the best month for music videos EVER.
But we’re kind of getting ahead of ourselves. We created a succinct YouTube playlist with 79 of our favorites – yes, 79 – from this month. This list includes the likes of Nahko, Courtney Barnett, Ron Gallo, Blue October, Holy Golden, and many more! Check it out, love on it, find your new favorite!
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 31, 2018 | premieres, singles, wolf tracks
The first single from singer/songwriter Cristabelle Braden‘s upcoming EP is revving up for release, and we’ve got the exclusive premiere right here! The catchy pop track highlights the importance of beacons of light during dark times. “Light in the Dark” was inspired by Cristabelle’s own struggle with a severe head injury, and the time following that, during which she began her own organization called Hope After Head Injury. Though the song itself is sticky sweet at times, the lyrics bring out the melancholic tone and moments of self-evaluation that we all have at one time or another.
Allow yourself to get lost in a different world for a bit, and try “Light in the Dark” on for size.
“Light in the Dark” is available for pre-order now via iTunes and Amazon. For more about Cristabelle’s work with brain injury, visit hopeafterheadinjury.com. Keep up with Cristabelle Braden here.
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 31, 2018 | snapshot
2018 has been a pretty big year for genre-bending collective Juice, made up of Ben Stevens (vocals), Kamau Burton (acoustic guitar/vocals), Christian Rose (violin/vocals), Dan Moss (guitar), Miles Clyatt (drums), and Rami El-Abidin (bass), and Michael Ricciardulli (guitar). In June, they brought us their 4 track EP Workin’ on Lovin‘. As impressed by their talent as we’ve been, we have yet to see them live. But that all changes in September as they head out for several amazing shows. They’ll bring their own brand of magic to Kansas City on September 12th as they perform at Knuckleheads Saloon. Good news is that they released a music video for their track “Sugar” this past spring, and it gives us a glimpse into their live performance tactics… though we’re certain that they’re going to bring it all up a notch for an amazing evening out. Check them out, listen to their EP below, and then grab your tickets and hang with us on the 12th!
Make sure to catch them at Knuckleheads, and keep up with Juice here.
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 31, 2018 | albums, review
From the very first, crystal-like lines of “Intro”, to the very last vibrations of bass in ninth track “Empress”, London-based electro-pop duo Cherryade has brought us a ginormous party in the form of their mini EP Fractured Fairytales. And the artists are incredibly aware of how sticky sweet everything is. admits vocalist Ellla: “Fractured Fairytales is what it says in the name – it’s a bunch of songs that are really twisted and over the top and fun. They’re stories, and they’re a good representation of us and who we are, we like things with a bitter twist and that cross the line”. Alex continues,”We’ve got so much music we’re ready to release after this mini album, and it’s a lot more pop, but to the point it’s so sweet it’ll rot your teeth”.
“Fractured Fairytales” is catchy as all get out, though there is no doubt that it is a party track. In fact, most of the album follows suit, with hard hooks and an upbeat tempo. The feel to it all is very “Halloween rave,” which we are 100% here for seeing as we’re zeroing in on autumn right now. (Hello, September!) “Get By” has that same repetitive, fun disposition as its predecessor, and while “Got You Good” feels more earthy than the others, it still has that fast, intense tempo and danceable rhythm you can burn calories to. Though “Blah Blah” won’t necessarily replace Ke$ha’s similarly named track, it holds a place close in our hearts next to it.
If you’re hometown loyal, “My Town” could be your next favorite track. With a slightly calmer vibe, “The Crown” comes in boasting a more regal overall feel. “Houdini” will make you want to drop it pretty quickly, while “Empress” will put you in the right frame of mind to go into the rest of your day feeling like hot shit.
We’re serious. Try it on for size.
Fractured Fairytales mini album tracklisting
1. Intro
2. Fractured Fairytales
3. Get By
4. Got You Good
5. Blah Blah
6. My Town
7. The Crown
8. Houdini
9. Empress
Keep up with Cherryade here.
by Meredith Schneider | Aug 30, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
We’ve been a fan of pop artist Van Bobbi for quite some time now, and with the release of his latest single “Kickdrum Heartbeat”, that fandom only increases. Approaching the track with a more earthy sound than we are used to, he utilizes gorgeous percussion to really get the message across through the instrumentals, utilizing the words almost as backup. The song is catchy, fun, and something we anticipate making everyone’s “Summer 2018” playlist.
Keep up with Van Bobbi here
