by Ian Schneider | Mar 18, 2019 | singles, wolf tracks
The Head and The Heart have announced their new album Living Mirage will be out May 17th, and leading up to this release that have debuted a new track titled “Missed Connection”. Containing a smooth bass line, heavenly vocals and harmonies, “Missed Connection” holds a little bit of a different sound from the rest of what The Head and The Heart has had to offer, according to drummer Tyler Williams. “A lot of the beats on that song are quicker, and there are high hats that were never in our music before”.
With that being said, “Missed Connection” still has that feel that we have grown accustomed to experiencing from TheHead and The Heart. This means a perfect combination of alternative, pop, and indie-folk, creating another hit for the six musicians. This upcoming album suggests that this will beThe Head and The Heart’s best work to date. Member Jon Russell has stated proudly that, “this is literally the most work we’ve ever done on an album,” and it definitely shows in “Missed Connection”. Let’s hope for more of the same when “Living Mirage” releases on May 17th.
You can keep up with The Head and The Heart at their website http://www.theheadandtheheart.com/.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 15, 2019 | albums, review
Singer/songwriter David Leonard released his highly anticipated, 13-track debut album The Wait today, and we have been melting into it since the very first lines of “Wanderer” hit our ears. Leonard’s vocals are raspy, robust, and evoke more emotion than a beach proposal. With “Wanderer”, he establishes his immense talent and his ability to make the listener feel every word deep in their bones. And though the soundscape picks up a bit with “By My Side”, it still has this deep-rooted, freeing feeling associated with that would otherwise be completely unexpected.
But that’s what happens when you find a talent of Leonard’s capacity. You come to expect this reeling sense of self when you listen to their music, each track accompanying you on your life journey in this gorgeous soundtrack. “Signs of Life” brings a more upbeat, pop rock influence to the album, while “Know Your Heart” slows everything down again for an insane love ballad. “Come As You Are” and its intro are two of our favorites on the album, though you’ll have to get a good listen to every track to make that decision for yourself.
Once you are introduced to “Share This Burden”, there is almost a sense that Leonard has taken all of his most vulnerable moments over the years and created this album as a method of identifying with his audience, to create a community rather than just simply release music for the sake of releasing music. The listener gets an idea for how carefully crafted this work was through the Imogen Heap-esque intro of “There’s Nobody”, the ambient “I Will Wait”, and the introspective, more spiritual “Distant God” and “You Know Me”. He rounds the album out perfectly with the chorus in “Threads” and then the simplifying soundscape and heart-breaking, honest lyrics in “The Little That I Know”.
Take The Wait for a spin. We’re dying to know what you think!
Keep up with David Leonard here.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 15, 2019 | snapshot, visual
On Saturday, March 9th, the illustrious Flor opened for Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness at the Truman in Kansas City, MO. The city welcomed them back like old friends, as they explained how the city had accepted them so graciously during their first performance at that venue last year. Their soundscape is magical, and the feeling in the room as they performed was no different. Here are a selection of our favorites – unedited – so you can experience some of that energy.
P.S. If you haven’t seen them live, then you haven’t experienced the electricity of “Warm Blood” the way it was meant to be enjoyed
Keep up with Flor here!
by Ian Schneider | Mar 15, 2019 | premieres, wolf tracks
“Roll With the Punches”, the new single from Prep Rally, is a synthy pop track full of fight and perseverance. The message is exactly what the title suggests. This single will be featured on Prep Rally’s upcoming EP “Head Rush”, which will be out April 2.
The upbeat piano and chimes in the background create a positive vibe to support the lyrics. The electronic duo based out of Denver is able to create an environment within the track that suggests when one is down it does not always have to be sadness around them. Unfortunately, most will give up, and even listen to sad music to drown their feelings. Not PrepRally. They believe in picking yourself back up and dealing with whatever is thrown your way, and this single supports that.
Make sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming EP “Head Rush”, and check out Prep Rally’s website at http://www.preprallymusic.com/.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 14, 2019 | 5 to 7
Happy Pi Day! We are over here celebrating with some apple pie and basketball, but first thing is first: a new podcast episode. For our 4th installment, we sit down to chat with Philadelphia-based A Day Without Love (Brian Walker) about the way he serves his community, his music influence, and, of course, anime.
0:00 Intro
0:11 EZVisibility.com
0:22 Dbl-take.com
0:33 imperfectfifth.com/merch
0:56 Brian Walker/A Day Without Love Intro
2:18 Influence (Anthony Green, Bright Eyes)
4:02 “You Said”
6:15 “Fashit”
9:07 Songwriting process
14:45 The Storyteller’s Tour
16:53 Food
21:20 “People I Meet and the Food I Eat”
22:33 Philadelphia DIY Collaborative
28:39 Aliens
29:58 Anime
34:33 Patreon
Keep up with A Day Without Love here.
by Ian Schneider | Mar 14, 2019 | videos, wolf tracks
Neo-soul artist Silence Is The Noise (Jewell Bell) has a new single titled “Soothing”, and it is accompanied by a visual that matches the beauty in her voice. All about battling one’s demons, “Soothing” takes the listener on a trip of reflection and inner struggle. Silence Is The Noise has the perfect vocals to convey pain and strife, but with a powerful undertone that suggests overcoming said pain. The Detroit-based artist has drawn comparisons to the likes of Nina Simone, drawing high praise since her beginnings as a pianist at age 12.
The song and visual project “Soothing” describes the emotional labyrinth of grief and loss, and the desperation to escape the overwhelming pain and anxiety lying in its wake. The lyrics speak to the artist and songwriter’s attempt to use meaningless physical intimacy as a distraction, while falling deeper into despair and the realization that there is no avoidance of her devastation and grief.”
“Soothing” is the perfect single for Silence Is The Noise to showcase her strong voice and story telling ability.
You can keep up with Silence Is The Noise through her socials listed below.
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thesilenceisthenoise/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/silenceisthenoise
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3TAV8Lk1PpuzoixhjUhz55
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 13, 2019 | show review
If you haven’t witnessed UPSAHL live, now is the perfect time. This female act is about to be major, and if her recorded music is not already any indication of that, then her live performance is absolute proof. And we couldn’t have thought of anyone better to open Max Frost’s show at The Riot Room on Monday, March 11th.
Rolling through . And during “All My Friends Are Rich”, you could tell the entire crowd was identifying with the lyrics in some way or another. (Hi. Yes. “Now where in the hell is my money?”) In fact, we were thrilled to see her perform any of the tracks off of her new Hindsight 20/20 EP, as it is such a vulnerable and theatrical work of art. Lucky us, UPSAHL’s vocals are just as raspy and enticing in real life as they are recorded, so her entire performance felt as though we were inside the EP itself. Not to mention, “Drugs” gave us all the confidence.
We walked away from that set to the bar like the badasses we had always dreamt of being, and we owe it all to an evening of fun with UPSAHL.
Keep up with the artist here.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 13, 2019 | review
Recently, Kansas City’s own indie rock ensemble Fathers – comprised of Kenneth Storz (Voice, Guitar, Keys), Brooke Honeycutt (Voice, Bells, Percussion), David Littlewood (Voice, Keys, Bells), Matt Guilliams (Bass, Percussion), Bryce VZ (Vibraphone, Voice, Percussion), Josh Seerden (Guitar, Keys, Bass, Percussion), and Celeste Tilley (Trombone, Voice, Percussion) – released their new EP High Horses. In fact, if you want to hear our (very impressed) thoughts, here are some words we wrote about it. To celebrate this release, they hosted an EP release party at 2016 Main in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, March 8th. This performance made us wonder what could possibly be better in life.
Imagine: a beautiful, warmly lit room with vaulted ceilings, a mellifluous performance put on by an ensemble with a drum line that just won’t quit. Their music is unique and enigmatic, therefore it goes to assume that their live performance is as well. The way they layer in the instrumentals – provided by eleven ensemble members – is absolute magic, and watching each member of the collective work so diligently to bring this beauty to the surface is an absolute honor.
Seeing Fathers is an emotional experience. Just the thought alone of being able to correctly communicate to create such beautiful music with so many helping hands is extraordinary, but the way they chose this EP release space to cater to their esthetic and the overall feel to the band was exceptional. The way they play with dissonance here and there is admirable, but most importantly it is the energy with which Fathers performs that makes them such a standout act. The evening was a truly curated experience, a night of tranquility with a band that is undoubtedly going on to great things together.
Keep up with Fathers here.
by Meredith Schneider | Mar 12, 2019 | albums, review
Los Angeles-based quintet The Wild Reeds has been gracing our headphones for a hot second, but their new album Cheers is pure gold. Starting with the upbeat pace of “Moving Target” and then rolling slightly more slowly into “Telepathic Mail”, which has a persevering message we can all get behind. By “A Way To Stop”, the band has established, yet again, that they balance a wire between pop and rock, a little folk twang thrown in for fun. While fourth track “Lose My Mind” feels largely vintage, “Play It Safe” could easily have been played at a sock hop back in the day as well. The production value on both is beautiful and lush, perfect for vinyl play, we’re sure.
“Young and Impressionable” is honest and open, while “Giving Up On You” is louder, more determined, but maintains that vulnerability. “Don’t Pretend” approaches from a softer perspective, while the title alone of “P.S. Nevermind” already feels like something we can all relate to. (Hi. I have an additional thought. Should I have that additional thought? No? Nevermind. Yes. No. Don’t worry about it.) Lyrics like “I’m reckless/I did it and I’ll do it again” prove us too wrong, and we’re falling for this track hard. “Run and Hide” is wonderfully mellifluous, a song that feels like a ballad and belongs nowhere if not in your car, being belted at the top of your lungs as you drive home from work [today]. They round Cheers out with “My Name”, a track that is slowed to the pace of the first couple of songs, indicating the end of our profound journey with The Wild Reeds. The lyrics make it the perfect placement on the album, a lullaby of sorts that keeps us craving more.
Keep up with The Wild Reeds here.