by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Jan 23, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
From Austin, Texas four man band Dryspell brings a new approach to the term ‘pop rock’ with their latest. “You Without Me” is the first single from the band’s new EP entitled More, which will debut on March 1st. Dryspell consists of band members Chad Doriocourt on guitar, Hunter Thompson on vocals and guitar, Samuel Jacobson on bass, and Hugh Vu on drums. The foursome formed and got the idea of their name after experiencing heartbreak.
From the moment “You Without Me” starts, the song will immediately grab the attention of the listener with the beginning guitar intro. The single sounds like true rock as the band pulls from the roots of garage rock.
“You Without Me” has a hint of pop underneath all of its rock sound. The song is about a relationship that is slowly disintegrating with the lead singer Thompson, hoping that it will overcome any differences that they may have. The song is very catchy. Not only is the beat memorable, but the lyrics are exceptionally well written. “You Without Me” is an exceptional starting single to the bands EP.
Dryspell’s new EP More will debut March 1st. Keep up with the band here.
by Katie Pugh | Jan 23, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
“Torn Up” by Denny White effortlessly marries R&B vibes with futuristic synthesized beats. The layered textures of “Torn Up” instantly created an urge within me to move; without question I began nodding my head and swaying along to the uplifting sound.
White has worked with a plethora of notable artists including touring with Young The Giant, collaborating with OneRepublic’s Brent Kutzle, and penning songs for The Fray with Julia Michaels, Lukas Graham and Tiesto.
White’s warm, soulful, pop vocals coated over a smooth synth and drum mix draw listeners into the lyrics of the song which almost contradict the upbeat melody, adding an extra layer of complexity. This song flawlessly creates a bridge between yearning, anticipation, and hope.
“Torn Up” embodies a sense of vulnerability while effortlessly generating an infectiously catchy tune that grooves hard and gives any listener facing uncertainty feelings of promise and assurance.
Keep up with Denny White here.
by Kayla Hutton | Jan 23, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
…..”Laugh in the Face of Darkness.”
This track is a moody, sexy, seductive almost darkly romantic song that belongs on The Lost Boys soundtrack, but in today’s day and age, I’d say the goth kids from South Park would do there face left, face right, hair flop dance to this. DATAROCK has taken those old 80’s synth sounds and brought them back. The lyrics have a Jim Morrison style in the way that it is written like a poem by some kind of a beautiful madman. This late-night candlelit anthem may even prove successful in a club with slow dancers silhouettes bleeding slowly through the sheets as the white light grows more intense then fades away.
However, if you were a little too intoxicated, you may get creeped out by the haunting perfectly panned sounds that are placed softly in the background on the remix version. Enough so that you may end up asking your friend “Did you hear that?” in a paranoid looking over your shoulder kind of way.
While “Laugh in the face of Darkness” goes down as smooth as that perfectly blended latte, don’t mistake the synth POP labeled genre for another bubble gum radio tune about a nasty break up. This is for all of you old school 80’s goths that know there is more to the genre than Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love.” DATAROCK isn’t just another one hit wonder label produced poser group. These guys have recreated and mastered the sounds of your glory days and did it justice.
Keep up with DATAROCK here.
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Jan 22, 2018 | singles, wolf tracks
It is insane to think that 2007 was literally just eleven years ago! 2007 may now be a thing of the past, however the music that came from that year lives on forever. Get ready for a little nostalgia because one particular song that debuted in 2007 is being re-released to the public. Le Rug’s “Gloss” is from their album Bleenex which was released in 2007.
“Gloss” is a fast-paced rock song that will catch your attention from its beginning tune. The song is catchy down from the vocals laid on the track to the beat that goes along with the song. The song sounds amazing on track so one can only imagine how great it would sound live.
The band is performing Friday, January 26th at 7:30pm in Brooklyn, New York. More details, information about this event and how to purchase tickets is available here.
by Jai'Tyria Hatton | Jan 22, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
Musical duo Leslie Schott and Andrew Valenti of Holy Golden take you across the coastline in their new music video for their song “Arrival”. The duo met during a lunar eclipse on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. From there, they connected through music, thus forming Holy Golden. “Arrival” is the latest single from Holy Golden following their 2017 release The Licking River EP, which was well received amongst listeners.
Schott’s breathtaking vocals take over the track on “Arrival”. The music video starts out with the couple sailing in a rowboat on the coastline. The duo roams around the beach, reading stores, sharing bread and long gazes between one another. The video is fairly entertaining. They then have a romantic date on the beach that later takes an interesting turn.
The mood goes from being romantic to adventurous as the couple comes across a map with instructions. The video gives off positive vibes from the moment it begins, a mixture of romance and mystery of what the map entails.
“Arrival” is one of the latest songs from Holy Golden’s upcoming album Otherworld, which is available February 16th. Keep up with the act here.
by Meredith Schneider | Jan 22, 2018 | videos, wolf tracks
This month, Chicago-based duo Hobbyist – comprised of Holly Prindle and Marc Mozga – released a new album titled Sonic Cramps. The album is, admittedly, their take on events that occurred while they took up residence in Barcelona, Spain a year ago, focusing on their vantage point of what was happening politically in the United States at that time. But they didn’t release their gold mine of an album until they shared one last thing… the video for their track “Teeth of The Shark”.
The video itself has a very experimental feel to it, though comprised of what we assume are Holly’s normal, every day visuals. The experience is heightened when it is all thrown into time lapse, clear visuals blurring together and many settings becoming a single experience for the viewer. The song itself also feels very experimental, like beat poetry come to life.
Sonic Cramps is out now. Keep up with Hobbyist here.
by Katie Pugh | Jan 22, 2018 | singles, videos, wolf tracks
Cue raw, psychedelic vibes and soothing vocals with Former Faces’ latest single “Forc# Fi#lds” from their debut full-length album Foreign Nature. Vocalist and founder Ryan Parmenter explains the meaning behind the song stating, “it’s about letting your guard down and being wide awake to new relationships, ideas, and endeavors.” This description seems fitting as the groove-indie rock quartet was rejuvenated just last year when Parmenter added three new musicians to the band.
“Forc# Fi#lds” creates a groovy vibe within seconds of the music beginning; the first strums of the guitar are reminiscent of a classic 1960s indie anthem. Rock meets ethereality creating the quintessential tune for an epic adventure.
Parmenter also describes the song as “steeped in sentimentality,” which flawlessly depicts the energy emitted from a song that I feel is dripping in nostalgia yet somehow generates feelings of majestic escapades and explorations.
Former Faces’ first full-length album Foreign Nature is set to release in Spring 2018. Keep up with the band here.
by Veronica DeFeo | Jan 22, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Some artists have difficulty reinventing themselves or putting out new content after being in the world of music for awhile. However, in James Mercer’s lengthy music career, this has yet to happen. Following the 2017 release of Heartworms – an album five years in the making – Albuquerque-based rock group The Shins just dropped The Worm’s Heart on January 19. The Worm’s Heart is a flipped album that discombobulates the track listing, instrumentals, and mood of Heartworms. The Shins as a band has always metamorphosed throughout the years, and The Worm’s Heart is only more proof of Mercer’s ability to appeal to a variety of genres and ears while maintaining an authentic sound.
It ends with “Name For It”, while Heartworms starts with that track. “Fantasy Island” changes from nostalgic and slightly morbid to a completely different, upbeat sound – almost as if Buddy Holly and David Bowie remixed it together – and it totally works. As one might expect from a guitar rock group, the guitar on the flipped version of “Mildenhall” is absolutely spectacular, and is one of the best reinventions on The Worm’s Heart. It’s the perfect jam sesh song, whether you’re stuck in traffic or rocking out with friends. “Name For It” is flipped from an upbeat bop on Heartworms to a moody, synth-filled track on The Worm’s Heart. The flipped version of “Cherry Hearts” sounds Beatles-esque, while the original on Heartworms is a definitively 21st century, light electronica song.
By retaining the original lyrics but providing each track with a completely new sound, The Shins display their versatility, talent, and ability to put forth quality content to appeal to a variety of ears. If you already had trouble picking a favorite track on Heartworms, get ready for even more competition for your most-loved song on The Worm’s Heart. The Worm’s Heart is a treasure trove of synth, retro vibes, and a touch into various genres. It’s an absolute treat for the ears, and a fantastic tribute to The Shins’ ability to reincarnate their own music. Last, but certainly not least, the album art for both Heartworms and The Worm’s Heart is AMAZING! Who doesn’t love a good ol’ dark-floral-and-skulls thematic landscape? Mixing the perfect amount of edgy with wistful, The Worm’s Heart is sure to please both old and new fans of The Shins.
The Worm’s Heart
- The Fear (Flipped)
- So Now What (Flipped)
- Heartworms (Flipped)
- Dead Alive (Flipped)
- Half a Million (Flipped)
- Rubber Ballz (Flipped)
- Mildenhall (Flipped)
- Fantasy Island (Flipped)
- Cherry Hearts (Flipped)
- Painting a Hole (Flipped)
- Name For You (Flipped)
Check out The Worm’s Heart now, available to stream on Spotify and for purchase on iTunes.
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by Veronica DeFeo | Jan 22, 2018 | albums, wolf tracks
Performing under the name Tishmal (“hummingbird” in Luiseno), San Diego native Rachel Brockbank’s is gearing up to release her debut solo EP, Tishmal, on January 24.
The tracks on the EP masterfully juxtapose electronic pop beats with Brockbank’s natural vocal talent. Beyond the instrumentals, the lyrics are perhaps the most riveting part of the album, lending at times unexpected depth to the tracks. Tishmal wastes no time hiding behind a first release, and carries the whole album with refreshing self confidence.
Tishmal revs up with the already released single, “Underneath”, a tantalizing track that provides a delicious contrast of lyrics dealing with unsureness and questions with confident vocals. There is also a phenomenal music video for “Underneath”, which you can see above. It provides riveting visuals alongside Tishmal’s hauntingly beautiful track. “Underneath” is available now and can be streamed on Soundcloud and Spotify.
While “Underneath” offers a wonderful taste of Tishmal’s music, it is far from all she’s capable of. Up next, “Concrete” provides a great blend of conflict and resolution in love. If you’re needing a song to listen to when you’re torn, look no further. It has just the right amount of ‘standing up for myself’ feels alongside “I have no idea what to do.” Fans of Halsey or Tove Lo could easily find themselves vibing to this track.
Tracks like “Connections” and “River” offer a different sound, while still adhering to the thematic landscape of the EP. “River” provides a mellower sound, perfectly placed after “Concrete”. The track itself sounds like it is cloaked in mist, and provides great natural imagery for the song. “Connections” reminds to keep a bond with one’s past, and childhood in particular. Closing the album, it repeats the question, “are you making connections?”
Be on the lookout for Tishmal, coming January 24. You won’t want to miss it. Keep up with Tishmal here.
