Brittle Sun is a musical trio from Melbourne, Australia comprised of Viki, Dave and Stewart. They released a five-song EP entitled Elemental Skin. They blend elements of blues, folk and more that is backed by exceptional production and songwriting. The band displays a wide range of energy on this EP. Suffice it to say the music is dynamic.
They open with “Here With You” which actually felt more like a closer than an opener to me. It’s nostalgic, melancholy and felt like a song that would have been better placed after one of the more high energy songs. That being said it's a great introduction to Viki’s pipes. She has a notable presence with a tinge of Janis Joplin. The next song “Cure” has a similar somber vibe and was great but I was wondering if this was going to be the vibe for the remainder of the EP. “Coming Home” had a good amount of more energy and I thought the balance between the heartfelt vocals, nostalgic piano, guitars, drums and bass created a warm combination of tones that sounded perfect against her vocals. “Eloquent Lies” is more subdued and haunting for the first couple of minutes. It has a jazzy, bluesy feel to it that as the song progresses feels empowering. Viki really lets the vocals fly on this track. They close with the most chill and feel good song entitled “Love Her.” It’s immediately catchy and the song was a highlight amongst a batch of top notch songs. Overall, I thought this was a great EP from a band that has both technical and creative talent. They have a good thing going and I think you should take a listen.
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Big Jack & Rat Daddy are two young dudes (Jack Weiss) and (Raphael Gould) who have been playing music since they were in the fourth grade. Big Jack & Rat Daddy EP is their first release.
The good thing is that they display a lot of potential. I thought the music was well written and delivered. At this point the biggest thing holding them back is the recording quality. They did it DIY style basically on an iPad which as you can imagine doesn't sound like they recorded in a professional studio. The songs are eclectic and quirky like their attire on the album cover. Take for instance the opener “Past The Point (Of No Return)” which is a bit funky with an oddly aggressive vocal style that's on the verge of rapping. The bass line is pretty solid. “Inside Your Pocket” is a step up and reminded me of Ariel Pink. Something about the music felt ironic like the music on Mature Themes. The best moment arrives at the three-minute mark. It’s a pretty catchy vocal melody that got my attention. “Maybe I'm The Fool” made my head spin. Something about the timing made me feel like I had vertigo and needed to step outside for some air. The band attempts some distorted guitar on “Don't Look Into The Sun” but unfortunately the iPad can’t handle the intensity. That being said the guitar solo section sounds badass. They close with “Hungry Man” which is at times frantic. The song is all over the place like a medley. Big Jack & Rat Daddy are having fun. There are lots of things to improve but the reality is they got all the time in the world. I think they are off to a good start for being such young guys and I can guarantee that if they keep at it their best work will be ahead of them. Twenty years ago I was very similar to them making music with one of my best friends. Although back then it wasn't nearly as easy to record, I’m still at it and there is no arguing I’ve gotten to be a better songwriter. In their case let's not wait twenty years. I have a feeling we'll be hearing more from them soon.
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Brian E. Smith (vocals/guitar), Blake McWhorter (bass) and Mark Baker (drums) are WAXRUINS. The band released HEAVYGAZER which effortlessly combines elements of shoegaze, alternative and post-rock with a bit of drone metal. Right up front I’ll say they have released a stellar album. It’s got a little in there for fans of esoteric music.
Take for instance “Clarity and Inclusions” which has elements of bands like Sunn O))) and Queens of the Stone Age. At their most rocking the music veers towards hard rock but once the sheets of white noise appear they certainly fall closer into drone metal territory. The band also goes into more classic shoegaze territory comparable to Ride on “Praise a Name.” It’s pretty incredible how intricately connected the band makes the genres feel. It’s something that takes creative control and usually a good amount of pre-production. The production fits the bill as well. They got an appropriate sound for what they were trying to accomplish. The vocals are a bit buried, the drums are crisp, the bass is defined and the guitars have just about the perfect amount of distortion. “(Sparks) Into Mountains” is unequivocally the centerpiece. The song starts off in clear post-rock territory. Nostalgic, thought provoking and quiet beautiful. I wasn't expecting it but was happy to hear. Thank god they don’t go down a predictable post-rock path which has been done to death ever since Explosions in the Sky helped bring attention to the genre on Friday Night Lights. I’m a little inclined to not spoil where this song goes but what I will say is that it is unpredictably epic not unlike the under appreciated release Stubborn Persistent Illusions by Do Make Say Think. The band gets its heaviest on “Return” while “Strange Sorcery” reminded me the most of ’90s grunge in an Alice In Chains type of way. WAXRUINS is on top of it. The most impressive aspect is the integration of various genres which would be mishandled in a lesser band. Don’t pass this up. Highly recommended.
Debris of Titan is a duo consisting of Fox (Michael Diaz) and Nova (Winston Dunlop) from the Hudson Valley in NY. They have been playing together for over six years, ever since they were teenagers. Their sound is an eclectic mix of indie rock, psychedelic pop, folk, soul and progressive rock. It’s not very easy to put their music in a category; each track is completely different and unique from the others. We Could've Had Everything was recorded while they were finishing up college during a transition period in their lives. They describe their album as music about “loss, acceptance, longing, perseverance and all of the ‘what ifs’ in between all of it.”
The album started with “Champagne” which had a strange, trippy intro. The vocals at some points were really hard to understand. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not. The production definitely feels homemade and rough. It felt like an ambiance song, like something you would hear at a spa or yoga studio. I enjoyed it, it was soothing and calming, but other than those feelings, it was hard to really put my finger on its overall message. The next song “Momenta” had a much more indie rock vibe, very mellow and lots of repeating vocals. I could see someone having this play in the background while painting or making pottery or something of that nature. There is a very artsy feeling about each track like these people are too highly evolved for me to fully understand it. Not pretentious, just different. “March” was softer around the edges and had pretty piano and an almost jazzy vibe. The vocals were still muffled and sounded like background noise which at this point I’m assuming was indeed intentional. The mellow feeling is definitely the foundation again, although this track had almost a ’60s The Mamas and the Papas type of vibe. The following song “New Years at the Johnsons’” was very similar but was a little bit more rhythmic and melodic. This track was very repetitive and had an upbeat, fun vibe. It reminded me a little bit of Foster the People with the way the darker lyrics are disguised with upbeat beats and melodies. “Sex on the Beach” reminded me a little bit of The Shins, lots of gentle percussion and harmonies throughout the verses. It was a short song, at just over two-minutes long, but probably my favorite track on the album. The final track “Sally” had deeper, monotone vocals with the same mystical harmonies but also had some surprising classic rock guitar solos that gave it more of an edge than the other songs. We Could've Had Everything is a unique EP. Debris of Titan are artists in every sense of the word and although some tracks were a little over my head, I still enjoyed it. The music is ambient and soothing, and the psychedelic qualities give it an originality that makes it stand out from anything I’ve heard recently. Since Fox and Nova are constantly creating, I expect to hear even more interesting work from them in the future.
TV Vs. Music by David Rupley is one of his finest. Rupley has released a lot of music in the last couple of years. One thing I can say is that his albums feel cohesive and TV Vs. Music is no exception. Rupley blends atmospheric atmosphere, sparkling synths, heavy hitting beats and more with these songs.
Up first is “Comatose” which is one of my favorite compositions of his. It starts with dark, ominous atmosphere that surrounds the stereo image. An arpeggiated synth makes its way into the mix and before you know it the mix starts to gain some energy. Once the beat comes the adrenaline starts to pump and does not look back. Up next is “Patterson” which is another standout track. The guitar is front and center and repeats with a melodic, hypnotic riff for most of the song. “Temptation” is a more bass heavy song with elements of Aphex Twin while “The Tube” is a little more shoegaze inspired with white noise and phaser sounding effects. “Rainy Day” was a personal favorite. The mix is extremely clean where you can hear every element. There is a good amount of ear candy and I wasn’t always sure as to what I was hearing which is one reason I enjoyed it. The most ambitious song would be “Kill The TV” which goes into all sorts of experimental and unconventional places. “Journeyman” contains angelic vocal harmonies and constant upward movement. Rupley is in great form on this album. I think he excels in electronic production and this album is the proof.
A New High is a band formed of three reunited members of past band, High Street, that played together in the 80s. They wanted to create music for the sake of creating music and leave all the drama and tension of their younger days behind. Their debut EP, So Cali Blue is a mixture of old-school surf rock, 60’s and 70’s rock and pop with a little 80's as well.
The album started with “What I See” which has a mellow surf rock vibe with smooth rhythmic guitars and a peaceful feel. The vocals are reminiscent of 70’s folk rock and the lyrics felt spiritual and a little mystical. The second track, “Beach Break” is a purely instrumental song that had more of an Indie rock feel but still had a surf rock foundation with a very pretty melodic sound. The album took a different turn with “Dance in Your Fantasy” which reminded me of 80’s pop with synths and an odd vocal melody. It was definitely a completely different style than the first two songs but still worked within the context of the band. That same vibe continued with “Delfina” which reminded me slightly of the B52s because of its goofy lyrics and overall lighthearted feel. The next two songs “Sleep Awake” and “All Out of Sorrys” had a similar vibe as well. “Inside Out” was a little bit different than the other tracks. It’s dark vibe and fast paced beat blended into theatrics and intensity, it almost reminded me of a song from Rocky Horror Picture Show. That’s probably why it was my favorite track on the record. The theatrical quality continued with “Make Up Your Mind” which is a fun track with a goofy melody and lots of guitar. “I wish I Could Tell You” was back to the old-school surf rock vibe but had marching-band-like drums and lots of harmonies in the vocals. Things got weird with “Crab Cave” which I’m pretty sure was a love song to a crab. It was a funny lighthearted track with a Devo meets the B52’s vibe. I really enjoyed it even though it didn’t make much sense to me. “Summer of 17” was another light instrumental surf track that was a nice break from the dramatic feel of the previous songs. The album ended with “Do You Ever Wonder” which was a slower tempo, dark almost creepy sounding track with raspy ominous sounding vocals and slow melodic verses. The lyrics about wondering how everything will turn out made it a perfect ending track. So Cali Blue is an eclectic mix of rock, pop and theatrical tracks that make it a really interesting fun listen. A New High is obviously a group of well-seasoned musicians who love what they do and aren’t afraid to experiment with new sounds or blend old ones. I really enjoyed it and look forward to future work.
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When you really enjoy music you tend to have a more open mind as far as styles that you can be attracted to without necessarily listening to them all that frequently, or not as frequently say, as your preferred genres, or the albums that get you through over days and weeks. Though no matter what your level of musical appreciation you happen to be at you should at least be able to recognize talent when you hear it, otherwise you’re not listening to music at all, but rather using it as a white noise soundtrack to your life.
Flamenco guitar is not a genre that I would consider myself a huge fan of in the way that I do not flock to it regularly by choice. However it is a genre of music that when I hear it I always appreciate and am transformed by it, and end up telling myself that this is the kind of music that I need to have more of in my life. For anyone else who feels this way about music and in this case flamenco in particular then Musiques de mon monde, vol.3 by the French born composer Arnaud FILLION-ROBIN who performs under the alias Arnito is a great place to start. The classically trained Arnito has throughout his near twenty year career put out 15 records as a guitarist and composer, along with playing shows all around the world and also teaching and leading guitar clinics in Africa, Japan, Kuala Lumpur and Thailand just to name a few. Arnito has also won a variety of awards for his diverse musical pieces. On Musiques de mon monde, vol.3 Arnito’s focus is that of Spanish flamenco guitar. The album’s fifteen tracks are wonderfully focused and precise compositions which range from the slow and romantic feel on tracks like “Chemin étoilé” and slow and somber “Kwaheri.” Yet they also stray to the fast paced and dare I say fun tantrums of rustic world music on tracks such as “Puits St Jean” and the purely soulful Latin intensity of “Ecija” infused with grooves that will get even the heaviest feet shuffling around the dance floor. Musiques de mon monde, vol.3 is a virtual masters class in versatile and challenging style of flamenco music. It is at times sad and beautiful and at others fun and lively. It’s music doing exactly what art in its highest form is meant to do; make you feel something.
Chris Capaldi’s new record Painted Skyline is a universal album. This music could be heard anywhere it is so good. I especially am having fun listing to this as I found out Capaldi and I share the same alma mater, Berklee College of Music. While I was studying business and production it seems he was studying jazz composition.
It is always so interesting to hear different outlets of music from players that come from different genre backgrounds. If I had not known Capaldi studied jazz composition I would have just thought this was a beautiful album regardless. So it is great as a musician to have such versatility and transparency. The first song I listened to was “Hands.” This song almost encapsulates the vibe of the entire album. Very heartwarming, it captures you with its timbre and words immediately. I love the small addition of the string sections. It really brightens up the atmosphere while the chord progression is extremely unique and versatile. The song “Smoke and Mirrors” is a great tune. It really reminds me of some classic Bruce Springsteen albums like Nebraska. The whole arrangement on here is great; the instrumentation is perfect not too many instruments and not too many different things going on. “Wasted, Wild and Free” might be my favorite tune of the album. It is just such a complete song in my opinion, nothing is forced on this track, and the arrangement is just as beautiful as the instrumentation. Seriously great work on this track! I would recommend this album to anyone who likes music. It is so well made to cater to just about anyone and I mean that! Chris Capaldi is a very well rounded player and writer and I especially am looking forward to what lies in store next sonically. So check out this record it has my blessings. You all can thank me later!
Holy cow, off the bat this is already one of the most original things I have ever heard. I immediately have become a Sinevvave fan. Their new album Cyan Noise is just fantastic. I get a sort of Radiohead meets Nine Inch Nails and that pairing could not have been done better in my opinion. The production isn’t just well done it is imaginative. These guys look for the sounds that are not out there; they go for inventive nuances in their overall tone.
“Whatever Fits” might be one of my favorite tunes off the album. I love the progression it just speaks to me in such a deep and meaningful way. I just really have never heard many songs like this; again it just seems like an absolute perfect pairing of bands like Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead. Sinevvave has such a cool and totally original brand of experimental electronica mixed with some indie rock influence. Having been influenced by film scores, Cyan Noise has to be one of the more inventive albums I have really gotten into. “Thief” is another great track that really has such an experimental vibe to it. I really get the influence for film scores in this track; it is so spacey and kind of keeps molding into different shapes the more and more it travels. “A Closeness” is also another beautiful tune; I just love the progressions and the mix of weird and beautiful. There is such a psychedelic feel to this song almost like an extremely tripp-y Tame Impala type of tune. I would most definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes the more experimental side of music. It really is an adventure from start to finish. The writing is really outstanding and I could tell there was dedication and love throughout this entire album. Hope to see these guys live one day; personally I could tell they probably have a great live set up. So go check this album out. Don’t just take my word. Actively go out and listen to this; you will not be disappointed.
Levi Minson (guitar/vocals), Matt Walker (guitar/piano/vocals) and Daniel Baylis (bass/drums) are 100 House. They put out Shortgun which is a four-song EP which at the very least establishes a solid foundation. The band undeniably has an “indie rock” type vibe which can draw comparisons to bands like Elliott Smith, Pavement and Real Estate. I have to also mention that the band formed in March so they are just starting to explore their sound and get comfortable.
I thought the songs had a warm melancholy to them which I am always a sucker for. The vocal performances really stuck out to me and I thought Minson and Walker sounded great together. Up first is “Rale” which gives you a good idea of the band's sound. The music didn't give me any surprises good or bad but the song had a number of catchy hooks. The lyrics aren't all that poetic but were original and unique. The vocalist sing,s “I've been reduced to property tax /Please patch me through to Susan, from H.R. Where's the line dividing us? Susan what's the deal?” I starting listening to “Shortgun“ and once I heard the vocal harmonies and guitar picking I thought this song was going to be epic. Instead the song felt like a transitional piece which repeats with added layering. I felt it went on about forty-five seconds too long for that purpose and I have to admit that I was a little disappointed they didn't explore different places the song could go because I thought it had the best riff. “Shiva” shows the band back in great form. The Elliott Smith type of vibe is pretty strong on this track and arguably the highlight. They close with the most experimental song entitled “Beehive Man/The Green Backyard.” It reminded me of the Wilco song “Reservations” where the song drifts into radio transmission and other sounds. I thought this song would have worked better on a full-length then a four-song EP. It would have been a little easier to appreciate with at least five or six meaty songs behind it with solid hooks. The artistry outweighs musicianship and just felt a little premature. I'm interested in where they can go from here. They have the tools and talent and I think a little more time together as a band and they will start figuring out their sound. This is a solid start and I surmise their best work is yet to come.
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