NONĒ SUNSHINE is an alternative rock band based out of Denver, CO and Tucson, AZ comprised of two primary members Derek Hyde and Thomas Scott (TS) Laird. The band has a history going back almost twenty years. According to the band “After meeting through an online musician’s classified ad, Derek and TS struck up an immediate friendship. Finding a kinship in songwriting, they soon learned they shared a similar lens in how they viewed the world. Although life ultimately got in the way the first time around, they stayed close and continued to write songs for the sheer love of the art and process.”
The band has released a number of singles including “Stumble,” “Beautiful” and “Everything She Said.” I listened to their most recent single first which is “Stumble.” The song starts with a full arrangement with classical guitar having a brief solo. It doesn't take long for the verse to come which has a mid level energy. The vocals sound good and the chorus comes quickly. I thought the chorus was explosive and definitely felt like an anthem. The vocalist sings “I want not crawl/I will not bend/I will not break.” There are some vocal harmonies which add some additional emotional weight. The transition back to verse is smooth with a guitar solo leading the charge. They quickly get back to the hook and this time it leads to a heavy section which is the crescendo of the song. It breaks down to get to the chorus one last time My first thoughts were that this is most likely a group that grew up in the ’90s. I was a teenager back then and this is the type of ubiquitous rock that was very popular around that time. “S.0.S” has a little more punk sort of spirit. It sounds somewhere between power pop and pop punk. The song moves fast and is an adrenaline inducing song. It’s catchy, fun and does not contain any extra fat. The band gets in and out fast. Last up is “Everything She Said” which is stylistically somewhere between the previous songs. There are elements of punk and alternative here. The band sounds good and I thought the drumming was impressive on this song. The vocal performance was equally as impressive especially on the chorus where the melodies soar. The second half of the song goes into even more epic territory which sounds like it’s heading towards the cosmos. These songs were an easy win for me. I can’t say there were any surprises but the songwriting and delivery was solid. Recommended.
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Happy Curmudgeons consists of studio musicians that decided to write original material they appreciated. They mention, “If it sounds good to us, others may feel the same way. We have a diverse background of music and everyone that has contributed to the project is founded in different genres. We came together for the LOVE of music.”
In 2017 they released their debut album called Meant 2 Be and since then they have released a number of singles. Today we will be concentrating on their two most recent titled “Rustic Glory” and “All On You.” The first song I listened to was called “Rustic Glory” and found it to be an accessible and inviting song. It starts with a relatively simple and buoyant groove revolving around acoustic guitar, bass and drums. The groove is a little funky and will give you a some pep. Lyrically, the song deals with lost love, regret, reflection and perhaps some introspective nostalgia. The opening line is “I woke up this morning/thinking just about you/all those things we used to do.” I liked the hook. It’s elevated compared to the verse with some higher notes from the vocalist and a little more action on the drums. Right around the two-minute-and-thirty-second mark we get some organ and a guitar solo. This is an instrumental but also the most complex part of the song. The organ stays after the solo and the song keeps the energy high. “Rustic Glory” is a great song. There isn’t much experimentation and it has a familiar vibe. It’s the type of song that sounds particularly good on a Saturday night with a drink in your hand and experienced live. I could imagine a lot of people dancing to this song. “All On You” was fantastic. This song is full of instrumentation and reminded me a bit of the Grateful Dead and Cat Stevens. The fretless bass and percussion elements really meld quite perfectly with the acoustic guitar. I also thought the vocals were dynamic and full of emotion. The vocals sounded somewhere between Cat Stevens and Van Morrison. There are also some female accompaniments on this song. I thought the song was very warm. It fills you with a sense of solace and I love how the lyrics include the listener as well as the artist. The vocalist sings “When It’s all on you/It’s on me too.” I have to admit I never heard of Happy Curmudgeons before but after listening to these songs I have become a fan. This is a type of music that should appeal to a wide demographic. Make sure to check out these singles as well as some of their other past efforts.
Derek Adam is a musician who grew up in Upstate New York and got his start with music at a young age. At the age of ten he picked up a guitar and soon enough began to play in bands throughout high school. His passion for music continued and he went to university for music. Since then he has gained a popular following for his live performances and has been releasing his music as well. In 2022 he released a number of singles which we will be going over today.
The first song I decided to listen to was “Unbroken.” It starts with a warm mix of instrumentation including guitar, bass and drums. I immediately thought he had a good voice. It was very easy on the ears and inviting. It didn't take long for the song to pick up some energy. There are some well done lead guitar parts and I liked the syncopated rhythm to the song. It’s dynamic, catchy and unfolds in a natural and organic way. There’s a lot of emotions here as well but I found the song pretty motivational overall. It’s not just the lyrics but the way the song is delivered. There’s a conviction to his delivery. “The Road I Know” starts a little more somber and pensive. The instrumentation is light at first and really revolves around the vocals. On this song he displays some vocal range and he sounds great here. Adam not only can hit high notes easily but his voice sounds aesthetically pleasing when it’s a little bit strained. This song is pretty much a ballad at its heart. There are some moments where the song soars. I have to point out that the lead guitar was exceptional as well. The last thirty seconds or so are very emotional where the song finds its highest point. “In The Dark” has a mid level type of energy. It seems to revolve around a relationship which feels relatable. I would say out of all the songs this one felt upbeat. The hook pops and the groove could make you dance. Similar to the other songs Adam sounds great when it comes to singing with different shades of emotion. I would say out of the three songs this one felt like the most viable for mainstream radio, There’s no denying the talent here. His music is accessible, pop-oriented and I think it would appeal to a large demographic. This is a solid start to his career and I look forward to hearing more of his music in the not too distant future.
The members of The Firmary met each other organically through various creative outlets. According to the band “Joshua, Douglas and Adam were bandmates with Chuck Mosley (Faith No More, Bad Brains) playing over 150 shows in five countries with him and recording on his last four releases.” The band recently released Soft Reboot which is a seven-song EP with a runtime of twenty-eight minutes.
To my ears their music has strong ’90s alternative influence and perhaps to a lesser extent some ’80s rock flavor as well. I grew up in that era so this was a pleasant surprise. The songs rang familiar the first time I heard them. The first song is entitled “Blink of an Eye (feat. Les Warner)” and the initial riff reminded me of Nirvana except there was more atmosphere and modulation. There is a lot of power in the song. It’s dynamic, catchy and the chorus is undeniable. I would say this is a strong opener. Next up is “Gates of Heaven” which is a killer song. The vocals are well delivered and that lead guitar solo is on point. On this song they provide a hook that I think many people will remember. It felt memorable the first time I heard it. One of the really cool things about this song is the meshing of genres. I was getting some post-punk influence at certain points but that ’80s flavor seemed to stand out to me. “Gasp” actually felt even more embedded with ’80s flavor. The drums sound huge here and the hook has an arena like quality. “Rusty (feat. Brain Viglione)”is epic in scope. This song sounds huge. I think it was a combination of the production and just the structure of the song - wow. “Skin Deep (feat. Les Warner)” felt like a single-worthy song to my ears. It’s a great tune and fun ride. The riffs run heavy and the band is in top form here. Similar to some of the other tracks the song sounds huge. “Forever (Yet Never) (feat. Les Warner)” is what you might call the ballad. This was one of my favorites. It’s a timeless tale of lost love. The closer is called “Wine and Gold (feat. Brian Viglione)” and was another standout. This song is bluesy slow burn with Pink Floyd vibes that meet metal. It was a very cool way to end things.
Memphis, TN act, Robots! Attack! are killing it with their self-titled debut Robots! Attack!. Their current lineup is guitarist and singer Chonk, drummer Creed Edgar, bassist Paul Reames and soloist Pete Ferrandi. Fusing alternative rock with indie, emo and ‘90s DIY aesthetics, the album contains seven tasty songs that are very much in the spirit of rock n’ roll. The band says that they’ve been compared to Fugazi, Meat Puppets, Foo Fighters and Sunny Day Real Estate.
The five-and-a-half minute “Tangled” is the first song on Robots! Attack!. I was pleased to hear such a vibrant opener to a first-time effort. Maybe it’s me, but something about those opening guitar chords is like if “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)” by Chevelle was less post-grunge and more emo. I have a feeling this would be one of their Sunny Day Real Estate-inspired tracks. Drums that sound like cupboards closing and silky bass lines are layered beneath dazzling harmonies. However, it’s the band’s good ear for dynamics, spellbinding solos and tight rhythms that make this one so great. That’s not even the ultimate highlight of their debut. “It Ain’t Over” raises the tempo a notch and is relentlessly catchy. It’s surely a diatribe against U.S. government and pro-gun politicians, and while it’s not subtle at all, the message fits in with the punchy Foo Fighters-esque music. The album’s second five-and-a-half minute song, “Along for the Ride,” follows, and what this lacks in distinctive hooks, it makes up for with the group’s Midwest emo influences. It feels like a long, drawn-out jam session, and I appreciate it for that. The release’s centerpiece, “Original Sin,” is even more like Midwest emo, with the lead guitar work and cupboard-slam drums reflecting that style. Additionally, the textured vocal harmonies and “Whoa-ohs” recall early Mae. “By Any Means” is also pretty strong in its own right, with dynamics and harmony playing a huge part in Robots! Attack!’s sound yet again. Also worth noting is that the very best guitar solo on the album happens on this cut! “The Truth Came Out” reverts back to a Foo Fighters-type structure, and Chonk’s chords as well as the scathing lyrics are some of its strongest traits. Last of all, we have “Cognitive Imperative,” which was inspired by 2112 by Rush and samples dialogue from the classic sci-fi flick, The Day the Earth Stood Still. This roughly eight-minute epic is unlike anything else on the album. The drums are more inspired by classic rock than either punk or Midwest emo, and the electric guitars are not as earthy as before. Nevertheless, it is still absolutely worth your time if you’re a fan of sprawling progressive rock. Robots! Attack! has a great thing going for them with this whole album. I don’t think there’s a single weak track on this debut, whatsoever, so for all those indie rock and emo lovers out there, this album’s for you. Strongly recommended.
Billy Hubbard is a Tennessee based Americana singer/songwriter. According to his bio he has a long and prolific career in music. Hubbard has co-founded “The Station” which is a venue in Tennessee, has been endorsed by Godin's Simon & Patrick Guitars for over thirty years and much more.
Hubbard recently released his self-titled album Billy Hubbard. It’s a ten song album that is infused with Americana. There’s a timeless quality to his music and it feels about as organic as apple pie baked by grandma. The album opens with “Castin’ away My Blues” which feels like the definition of calm and cool. It revolves around acoustic and electric guitar, drums and bass. The production and recording quality is truly exceptional. Everything sounds crystal clear. I loved Hubbard’s vocals as well. He has character in his voice. The chorus is fantastic. Suffice it to say I was exploring more of the songs. “Civil War Letters” sounded a little like a more mellow Grateful Dead song with some Leonard Cohen. Hubbard’s vocals are fantastic here. He has melancholy in his voice that speaks to you no matter what the lyrics. It’s the sound of a man who has seen a lot in his life and is reflecting on it. There’s also some female accompaniment on the hook and I also thought the mandolin sounded great in the mix. That being said the whole song is filled with elements that work really well together. Great song. “Lonesome When I’m With You” is a song where there are two lead vocalists. You have Hubbard and Betahny Jean Smith. The song starts off simply enough with a deep sense of melancholy. I loved how this song blossomed and became this spaghetti western sort of ballad. Once that guitar came in I felt like I was on horseback riding the Western plains. “Got To Be Real” is by far the most upbeat and single-worthy song yet. It’s the type of song that will get people dancing on a Friday night. I can see this song being a crowd favorite as it feels joyous and gets you in a good mood. We slide back into melancholy and reflection with “For The Moment” while “Might Low” has a smidge of surf combined with a classic Americana type of sound. “Take Me Back” was another good and sort of mid level energy song. It reminded me a little of “Wicked Game” by Chris Issac. “When I Look into Your Eyes” was all about gratitude and appreciation. I loved the warm sentiment on this song that felt so wholesome and pure. “I Think of You” was the most rock based on the album and another song that felt like it could be a single. The “Goodbye Waltz” was a great closer. It’s got a playful old school folk flavor that is carefree and puts all your stresses to the side. I loved this album. The production was exceptional. And when combining that with the talent of Billy Hubbard it creates magic. |
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