Every week we mention a couple of artists that are worth your time to check out that were not featured in our weekly reviews.
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For decades Nashville, TN has had the reputation all over the world of a prolific music city, so I am not really surprised to learn that a good band such as Kin Ship also contributes to the good musical tradition of that town. The band has been sharpening their teeth with a series of gigs at local clubs and music festivals, eventually leading to the release of a few records, including their latest studio album Where I Live. This record only features nine songs, but the relatively short track list really fits well with the music, a garage/beat pop formula with a really 60s flavor, gritty and youthful, yet looking back on a time where music was consumed in a really different way. These are tunes that would look, sound and feel amazing on a 45rpm vinyl! The charming retro aesthetic and lo-fi attitude really underline the direct and straightforward power of the songs, each one a true beat-pop jewel, with nothing on the album reaching the four-minute mark.I would certainly put "Sandy" among the best songs on the record, with searing guitar riffs surrounded by a soothing melodic landscape and tight rhythm session.I love how this record starts with an easy, almost party-like vibe, to twist towards a more melancholic mood in the middle, and eventually switch back to cheerful garage pop at the end, with the song "Tequila" and post-party bonfire ballad “Specimen Days.”
Similar to artists like Nick Drake, Elliot Smith and Jeff Buckley, Brandon Rompa aka Superego creates pop songs that are smothered in confessional lyrics and rather sparse arrangements that don’t need more overproduction because the lead vocal demands attention from the listener. Reigning from Minneapolis, Rompa like many others was inspired by acts like the Beatles and Wilco. Luckily, Rompa had enough talent of his own to be inspired by what he was hearing to create his own vision.
His latest entitled Dogends contains folky, inspired pop songs that highlight his vocals center stage. The album was self-produced and has a number of songs that hit the bullseye in terms of songwriting. “Lost, Lost, Lost” is a lush arrangement that contains acoustic guitar, lightly played drums, some nice lead guitar and vocal harmonies that all fit together well. It is a relaxing song that could easily be playing while hanging out with your lady in the comfort of your own abode. Things are shaking up a bit with “Black Hole Blues” which is more of a knee slapping blues soul type number that starts off minimalistically with nothing more then some handclaps and vocals until the acoustic is introduced. There is some creative lead guitar as well on this one. Other songs are gorgeous ballads such as “I Feel Old” which feels like floating in cloud. The vocals have a filter on them this time and the guitars feel even lighter then on previous songs. The album concludes with “Kiss Me Again” which has hints of melancholy and rejoice and displays some of the best songwriting on the album. This is an impressive release with 10 songs that will be appreciated by anyone who enjoys listening to gifted songwriters. This EP is a bullet. There are tons of bands that only manage to capture what I like to call studio brutality, meaning that they only sound aggressive and powerful because of the studio trickery applied to the production of their records, but when you see them live (or check out a video on Youtube) it's completely disappointing. Your Skull is far from all of that. Their release Make Elegante sounds like music made by a band that should be on a stage.
They blend the sophisticated, yet accessible melodic solutions of post hardcore (think Fugazi, Jawbreaker, At The Drive In) to the direct grit of garage rock and roll (think International Noise Conspiracy, The Stooges…).I portrayed this band as aggressive, but it would be misleading to only describe this band as an all-in-your-face act, because their music showcases a really refreshing eclectic twist to it, even featuring elements of indie rock and electro (in a way making me think of bands like Bloc Party). A couple of highlights that you should check out on their bandcamp page are "Ms. Black-Eyed Medicine", "Special Feelings" and "Headbag". The pure kinetic energy of these songs had me hyped up and ready for more. It actually reminded me of the way I felt when I first listened to the Blood Brothers a couple of years back. Make Elegante is definitely something. I urge you to listen to it if you like any of the bands I mentioned. But also listen to it if you don't! Hailing from Massachusetts Jacob Perreault started playing guitar at the age of ten and then quickly adapted to other instruments including bass, ukulele, piano and drums. He recently released a lo-fi EP entitled Blizzard that despite the complete DIY feel has catchy songs and quality songwriting that are able to shine through. Blizzard is a collection of three songs that were written and recorded during blizzard Nemo in the northeast, between power outages, the driving ban, and his own self-described writer’s block.
The EP starts with “Loss and Submission” which is the best song on the album. While the song soars because of the vocals it is the poppy songwriting that brings it all together. Singing in a falsetto at some point the song will have fans of Bon Iver and The Dodos intrigued. “Day 02” is aggressively played on an acoustic guitar while Perreault’s vocals again are the best part of the song. The EP closes with “Withdrawal” which is a really cool song that starts with vocal harmonies and snaps. A nice change of pace from the other two songs but you may be taken by surprise when you hear the crunchy guitar and drums kick in as the song starts to take on a different feel. Although I would like to see Perreault’s talents taken advantage of in a more professionally recording environment next time around there are well-crafted songs here that you should listen to. A wide variety of styles and genres such as hip-hop, R&B, soul, electronic are apparent in the latest release from Light Bearer Music entitled Eternity Says Hello. Light Bearer Music is composed of producers, writers, singers, a handful of musicians, and a number of other people who want to collaborate and make something unique. Light Bearer Music has been around for about three years and continues to encourage creativity and artistry not unlike similar collectives like the Polyphonic Spree or Broken Social Scene. Eternity Says Hello is the fifth installment in a series of New Year's Eve projects.
After the just under a minute long intro the album kicks off with my favorite track “To the Heavens” which has some gritty phasey drums, orchestrations swells and some sweet, catchy female vocals. The chorus is melodic and sung while the verse contains raps which has proven to be a popular award-winning formula for quite some time. Another good track is “Nostalgia” which is another hip-hop based tune that not unlike A Tribe Called Quest has some intelligent lyrics and smooth rhymes. This time around the drums are less aggressive and we have no female voices present on this track. Other tracks like “Worthy” and “Fall and Rise Again” are slower R&B based type song. The material here is varied and showcases a collective of inspired artists working together. Scott Beschta aka Magic Arrows is an old veteran in the indie scene who was recognized for his release entitled Sweet Heavenly Angel of Death back in 2005, which was a guitar/sample-based album. Even more recognizable was his involvement in The Promise Ring, which had considerable mainstream success back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Since then he recently released The Theme, which was a record that Beschta had put out himself through a personal imprint called Lion Record back in 2005. A bonus disc called “Descend Like Dove,” which is a collection of unreleased material from the same sessions, accompanies it. The Theme is a powerful record full of unique ambient textures, synths, and samples not unlike last year’s Luxury Problem by Andy Stott. The music sounds convincingly more relevant then most albums released in this day and age because of the originality that is brought to the table. The 16 tracks on The Theme are diverse and varied which makes the journey through the songs seem shorter then it actually is. The album opens with “Morning (midnight)” which contains a vocal sample that sounds off in the distant and starts to become fuzzy and filtered as it eventually washes away amid an ocean of ambient textures that tantalize the senses. The layers give way to a down tempo masterpiece with the second song “Uptown Devils” that introduces some rhythmatic elements as a number of sounds combine to sound like one gigantic machine chugging away in an industrial factory. Other songs like “Aegean Sea” sounded like I was taking a train ride around a dark and luminous planet not certain of where I would end up. Overall, The Theme with its bonus disc offers utterly unique soundscapes that few electronic artists can compete with. Hunter Davis is a young electronic musician who just released his latest album The Unwritten Saga, which is an IDM infused, beat heavy album that pollinates itself with vocal samples, synth bass and various other synths that make up a solid release. The consistency of the album is apparent which often works in favor of the songs as similar house beats and climaxes reign supreme. The first track “Intro” sets up what we are in for with The Unwritten Saga. However, it isn’t until the second track “In the Beginning” which has the basic structure of a lot of European house music that really pushes the techno-club aspects that are apparent through the rest of the album. The album shifts with recognizable yet inspired techno structures that could have the party kids at the club ready to pop another pill. The highlight of the album is “The Final Frontier” which has all the right elements to get club kids geeked enough to see what all the commotion is about. The song has the best pace and make good work of variation between the samples, arpeggiated synths and house beats. Fans of techno and club should find this album enticing and it might just be playing at your next rave. Keep your eyes on this young talent as his music journey has just started.
Steph Linsdell aka Quintessential Doll combines a varied assortment of electronics, piano, progressive beats and some of the memorable hooks I have heard this year. Her debut EP Songs of a Wallflower is a gem of an album that is bursting with creativity and raw talent. Quintessential Doll is a versatile, talented musician who has crafted some of the catchiest songs I have listened to. Not only are they that catchy but also they have unique sounds that are reminiscent of bands like the Notwist, Bats for Lashes and Bjork. For example, the deep electronic beats, glitches, and blips. What separates Linsdell from these other bands is that the piano plays such a central role in the songs. The piano is never manipulated but sounds tantalizing when in contrast with the electronic elements. What’s even more impressive is that the Songs of a Wallflower EP project was a completely independent and self-produced effort: all songs were written, performed, recorded and mixed by Quintessential Doll. The album starts with “Would You” which contains a piano part that sounds vaguely similar to “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem but that is really where the comparisons stop. Once you hear Linsdell’s voice you know you are in for a good ride as the harmonies cascade before a delicious, delayed break beat enters the rhythm. The song has a very forward-progressive feeling as if it were racing towards the finish line. There are just enough changes in melody and instrumentation. The second song tones thing down a bit with a slower bpm and a more melancholy type feel but is still a great listen. The electronic elements are the focal center of “New Year’s Eve” which is not unlike one of the most underrated bands Lali Puna. The glitches, bleeps and blips work well with the softly-spoken poppy vocal melodies. The EP concludes with “Pretty Boys & Girls” which is an upbeat closer that displays all of her talents. You heard it here first folks. This is a standout album that has me very excited waiting for her next release and what her future holds.
Based in Brooklyn, NY, John K. has been making music since his teenage years growing up on Long Island and prior to that making music in Philly. John K. has been with many different bands over the years but has also been making music on his own. Since 2007 he has self-released an astounding 12 albums and played live to support those albums. His latest entitled Youniverse displays a wide variety of genres including house, R&B, pop and others that he tends to flirt with. The songs are accessible but unique and don’t stray too far from the pop sensibilities. Never eclipsing the five-minute mark each song on the EP slides by effortlessly with smooth songwriting and catchy melodies.
The subdued funkiness of the first track “All I Need Is You” has a chilled-out 70’s type vibe that contains midi-programmed drums and an Ariel Pink type vibe that almost sounds sarcastic at times. “Mynd” contains a synth bass not unlike something you would hear off the Chromactics latest effort Kill for Love with rounded smooth synths that leave plenty of space for the vocals. The infectious “One in a Million” (no, not the Guns N’ Roses song off Lies) was the highlight for me. The song was fluid and I loved the melodies that played off each other. The next song “Just Three Words was quite a departure from the previous song. The 70’s funky, midi-vibe was gone and replaced with a delightful pop song that introduced some welcomed guitar. Before it even starts it fades out to the closer “Youniverse” which is bit more rhythmically vibrant then the other. This is a good album that incorporates a wide variety of genres that work well together. |
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