That slow intro with the guitar and drums is super awesome. When the song kicks in with the vocals and a funky upbeat rhythm is really fresh and fun. There is something about the groove of the song
Tag: Alternative
Victor And The Bully – There’s No Sadness Holding An Ice Cream
Oh why this has such a wonderfully quirky vibe to it! This is just so much fun and retro it damn near can’t stand it in the best way. Listening to this track it’s impossible to believe that there are only two guys in the band. I keep getting this whole 20’s/30’s vibe from the style of the music. The vocal styling are almost beyond my ability to describe. It’s oh so cool! Uke’s never sounded so damn cool as they do in this song (sorry Eddie Vedder, you’ve been Uke owned!) The musical composition has so much movement it’s a treat to listen to the whole song just to see where the ride takes you.
Much like this review, the music was all over the place, but it was so awesome I wouldn’t want to see a single note changed. For those of us who love unique music this is what you’ve been looking for. It’s fun, upbeat and retro as hell. I have nothing on my playlist save for one Offpring song called “When your in Prison” (which really only shares the retro vibe with this song) that would be a genera fit. However I would find as many funky upbeat songs as I could to make a list for this song to rest on.
Who They Are:
Bringing a different vibe to the local scene with just 2 artists but the sounds of a big band, Victor and the Bully try a di
fferent type of sounds with only a Ukulele and Guitar
Ghost Against Ghost – Blue Atoms
Is it just me or does this song belong in the next Heavy Metal movie? I’m thinking kinda like Pantera’s ‘Planet Caravan’ type scene. The song has a very epic feel to with a good amount of floaty spaces. It’s not really ambient music at least I didn’t think of it as so. The music is very mellow and the vocals seem to float in the background to an extent. I like that, because it’s making my brain quiet so I can take it all in. There are some good rises and falls to the piece, keeps you interested and invested in the song. Sounds like there is a male and female vocalist at work here that creates a lovely layered sound that you could wrap up in. Like a blanket of soothing sounds. It does pick up about midway though with some heavier musical styles and a bit of a chaotic feel. That part isn’t so much ‘Planet Caravan’ but maybe some Type O Negative style music.
I’m surprised I like this piece as much as I do. Usually I prefer much more upbeat tracks but this has that floaty quality that I love so much and possibly a sax as well. The swells are absolutely beautiful. There is a bit of time where things get almost chaotic which just served to make me like it all the more. I kept having one album that was repeating in my head as far as a playlist. Does anyone else remember the ‘Lost Boys’ soundtrack? There were several songs that I think I could pair with this one and just float away.
Who They Are:
Ghost Against Ghost=GAG=Dark+Romantic=Post-Electrons||Rock<Music={Noise}
The Band is:
GAG
Where You Can Get It:
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Odd Hours – Khaleesi
Ok, this may be one of the most original songs I’ve gotten to review so far. It took me a while listening to it figure out what I wanted to say about it. This chick reminds me so much of Debbie Harry back in the day vocally. It’s that raw energy that almost always seems barely contained. She’s not always on with the vocals, but that power is always felt. The music falls somewhere between some alt rock and punk which I would imagine is why they list post – punk as their genre. I thought there was some great rock style guitar work going on in there that was born to be matched with the vocals. The drum work is really fun and fast paced as any punk/rock song should be.
An enthusiastic two thumbs up for this track. I’m a GoT fan so the name caught me right away. I thought the overall vibe was fun and made feel a lot more energetic. To me that is exactly what this song brings to the table, high energy. Feel free to flame me for this in the comments, but I’m not aware of any other current bands with this sound so I can’t give you a good playlist recommendation. Just download it and throw it in to a random list and you’ll be fine!
Who They Are:
Odd Hours (OH) is a post-punk rock band based in Detroit. With influences from Siouxsie and the Banshees to NIN, their stage show is a combination of sexy, weird, emotional energy. Formed in 2010, OH has played major Detroit festivals and released two EPs and a remix tape, as well as several music videos. OH is currently working on their new EP, ‘norepinephrine + dopamine,’ for a spring 2015 release.
The Band is:
Natasha Beste: vocals, keys
Tim Jagielo: guitar, loops
Clint Stuart: bass
Randy Hanley Jr.: drums
Where You Can Get It:
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We Are Leo – Supernova Sunrise
Where has this song been all my life? That is my question. I can see tons of teenage girls falling all over themselves over these guys. Hell I may even be one of them! There is something about the slow burn yet constant guitar work that always gets my attention. The drum line is well done, nice tight and keeps a good pace for the song. Nothing here is overly intrusive, which is nice because you can hear all the players. The vocals are a nice mid-range with just a touch of auto tune (not everywhere cause it’s not necessary. I’m talking to you Rihanna). The players here are working it with those instruments.
My first thought when the song started was, “Hello! Have you met Yellowcard?”. Only because I think those two bands would fit well together at least based on this song. I’m not a huge fan of auto tune because it’s become a crutch for singers who can’t really sing (see comment in above paragraph) but these guys only use it to add a bit of spice to the song. That I can live with, even like. While this song doesn’t pack the immediate gut punch of some songs it’s going to be one your thoughts keep returning to. I liked it well enough I would download it and put it on my server so I could move it to my phone. Honestly you could also match this song up with some Maroon 5 or Neon Trees.
Who They Are:
Strong and steady like a lion, We Are Leo has grown tenaciously after saying “Hello” with their premier album in 2011. Pulsing with an electric energy and a vibrant sound, their spirited shows nurture a fiercely loyal fan base that rose to the occasion in 2013 when the artists called on them to fund their Kickstarter project. Now, We Are Leo continues to build on that momentum as they come roaring back into the national music scene with their sophomore release “Fightback Soundtrack”. Fusing together a blend of heartfelt emotion, love-charged lyrics, and relentless faith, “Fightback Soundtrack” is a declaration of the undying passion the band has for their fans, their art, and their message.
We Are Leo’s singer, David Duffield, says, “What we are aspiring to do is write and sing songs that will express a real sense of Love to our fans and friends… songs that will become anthems of faith, hope and new life. I want to make music that grabs people’s attention; that is relevant to them musically and spiritually.” He goes on to say, “Our band name, We Are Leo, is about being bold and courageous like the lion (leo being the Greek word for Lion), and also that we aspire to shine like stars: like the constellation Leo.”
The Band is:
David Duffield
Jonny Duffield
Doug Weier
Andrew Alojipan
Where You Can Get It:
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Arson’s Harbor – Smallest Child
This my friends is a perfect guitar intro. There is no bad to be found and it only gets better when the vocals kick in. This guy has such an inviting voice. It takes you in and wraps you in its story. I can’t imagine it getting much better than that. The music is so comforting with the attention going to that guitar. I find it to be a very soothing song with a compelling story line, sublime vocal stylings and of course that perfect guitar line. There is a minimal drum track here that hangs out in the background holding everything together in perfect timing.
I can’t wait to listen to more Arson’s Harbor. I loved just about everything they had going on in this track. For the life of me I can’t imagine anyone not loving this song. I would put it on my server and in my phone happily. There is so much you could pair this up with to make a full playlist. I kept thinking Mumford and Sons, some of my favorite prog country bands like The Eagles, The Decemberists, I could go on and on but I’ll stop there. All in all if you don’t check out this track you really are only robbing yourself of a perfect song.
Who They Are:
Arson’s Harbor is an alternative rock band from Lynchburg, VA. Forming back in November 2013, the rock foursome started pra
cticing in a small suburban basement. With instruments in hand, Chad, Nathan, Clement,
Carl Elizondo & The Royal Union Of Architects – Council Flat
I am getting so many flavors of music in this song it’s outrageous! I’m having a blast just setting here enjoying the patchwork quilt rich sounds. There are moments where this track feels like a 60’s throw back with a dash of Oasis and maybe even a bit of Styx in the beginning. The drum line is a great happy, poppy beat while the guitar has this slightly muted dirty sound. I loved the guitar solo, that riff is so fun to listen to. Vocally I am grooving on his voice. His song style reminds me of Oasis. It’s kinda trippy the way he modulates his voice.
This song is like an acid trip for your brain. I can see it as a soundtrack piece or playing at home while hanging out with friends. I like it well enough I want to hear more from the band and download this to my server. I have some Beatles, Oasis and even some Alice in Chains I was to pair it with and see what happens.
Who They Are:
Carl Elizondo & the Royal Union of Architects have been writing music for years, taking the world that revolves around them
and putting it to words. A lot of their music is kind of the standard protocol
Boy In The Shadows – Overcome
Wooohooo! Go bass player with that awesome line. This song feels like it would be right at home in an episode of The Munsters and I love it. In some ways I also feel like I’m hearing some Type O Negative. It’s probably that keyboard combined with the other musical styles. It’s got a great upbeat rhythm going on that’s got me boppin’ my head and tapping my feet as I write this. The vocals are really cool. There is an almost indifference to his vocal style here. I loved some of the echo effects.
All in all I gotta say this track was pretty good. I loved the kick back to Type O I got from it (RIP Peter Steel). I would download this track and put it on a playlist with some old school Manson and Type O. I think just about anything with a slight bit of emo feel would be a good fit.
Who They Are:
Boy In The Shadows is a rock project from Sweden, that consists of Andreas Ericsson, who writes, performs, produces and records all the songs. The music can be described as melancholic rock and pop, inspired by bands like R.E.M., The Mission, H.I.M., Paradise Lost, Nightwish, Live, U2, Radiohead, David Bowie and Roxette.
Between 2006-2009, Andreas Ericsson released 30 songs on a Swedish digital label. All the songs were released under his own name. But that changed in 2012, when Andreas decided to release music without a lable and under a different name: Boy In The Shadows. In December that year, he recorded the song, Grey Morning, which was released digitally on January 9, 2013.
On February 13, 2013, the first Boy In The Shadows album, The Awakening, was released. The album was recorded between 2008 and 2013.
The second album, Horizons, was released on May 11, 2013, and recorded between 2012 and 2013. Apart from the vocals, all the instruments were recorded on an iPad 2.
Boy In The Shadows released his third album, A Day Before Tomorrow, on July 11, 2013. It was recorded between 2010 and 2013. Compare to the previous records, A Day Before Tomorrow was more electric guitar driven. The album contained the popular song, Not Enough.
In July, 2013, Andreas started writing new songs for the fourth Boy In The Shadows album. On October 23, Soul In Ruins, was released. It was an acoustic album with orchestral elements. The songs were recorded in GarageBand on an iPad 2 and an iMac.
On February 7, 2014, Boy In The Shadows released the single, Overcome.
On May 2, 2014, the EP, Not Worth Anything, was released.
The song, The Flow, was released on October 15, 2014. It’s the first single from the upcoming full length album.
On November 21, 2014, White Mountains, Black Roads, was released. It’s the second single from the upcoming full length album.
The Band is:
Andreas Ericsson
Where You Can Get It:
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Rival Tides – Out of Body (Casino Gold remix)
The intro reminds me of the midi music of old. Now please don’t take that the wrong way, because when it mixes with this guy’s voice its musical perfection. I love his range and the epic nature of his vocal style. I’m betting this guy could rock the shit out of an arena. It’s a poppy/rockish song with a lot of synth work. I’ll be honest I’m not a big fan of building a song on a synthesizer. It’s a personal choice so I don’t hold anything against them as far as the review. The synth music is pretty damn solid, but for my money his voice is what this song is all about.
I would really like to hear this guy backed by a full band. His voice is made for singing! Be it pop, rock or metal, it’s his voice that you’re going to be really listening for. Synth lovers are going to love this track but if you’re like me and prefer a full on band experience this may not be the song for you. I did like the way his voice melded with the synth music in the intro but about half way through I was really wanting some guitar work to underscore his vocals. I’m not sure I would download this particular track, but I would like to investigate the band a bit more to see what else they have to offer.
Who They Are:
For LA-based rock band RIVAL TIDES, time has been of the essence since day one. The band formed in November of 2012, and not
even a year into its existence, they’re off and running with their first release – a seven song self-titled
Bad & The Ugly – Borrego Dreamer
This is one of those crazy songs that for me defy a classification. You either like what these guys are doing or you don’t. I happen to think this song is cool as hell. The midish tempo is got this beat that I feel like I could drown in. The added clapping works well to fill the empty spaces of the drum line. The guitar work is really nice and simple, but perfectly matched to the odd rhythm of the song. Vocally I’m impressed. This guy has a nice higher tenor range and works it so damn well. The lyrics are really well done. I want to learn them so I can sing along.
My thoughts on this song are pretty clear, I loved it. It’s retro in some odd way I can’t really seem to put my finger on. I call it the O Brother Where Art Thou effect. I’ve heard way more complicated drum and guitar lines, but that kind of showmanship would kill this track. I love how strong the vocals are, and laid over that musical composition you can’t go wrong. I’ve been thinking about what playlist I would put this one and I realized this is one of those nifty track that would work in just about any list. Ok, so maybe not a good fit for rap music or thrash, but everything else I would throw it on there and see how it flows.
Who They Are:
Bad & The Ugly is a modern type of folk. Singer and guitar player Nate Hess is joined alongside Tyler Ferguson on bass (both
former members of hardcore outfit A Shattered Hope) and accompanied
The Ever Glows – Walking In The Air
If new wave from the 80’s and punk had a baby I’m pretty sure this would be the offspring. It evokes feelings I’ve not gotten from music since the songs of the 60’s. Yet the musical composition and vocals don’t really fit that era. Like I said it’s a New Wave/Punk mash song. The guitar work is so well done with this almost sharp edge that meld perfectly into the drum work. Those vocals are killing me though. He’s got a rough edge to his voice and a damn near sarcastic deliver.
I liked it. Though I found it a bit hard to review because there was so much happening. I could listen to this song a million times and still wanna listen to it one more time. The imagery I got from the music and lyrics was really cool. I kinda mentally set it to a tense moment in a horror movie and it worked amazingly well. Playlist wise, ah… who cares? I’ll put it on a list with anything, see if I won’t.!
Who They Are:
The Everglows are a powerful three piece band from East London taking influences from the 60’s sounds of Mod, garage and psychedelia as well as new wave and Britpop. We create catchy songs with a retro vibe. Our sound has been described as somewhere between Elvis Costello, Weller and the Black Keys.
We got together in February 2013 and spent most of the year perfecting the sound if the band and getting the song right. We did a handful of open mic nights and ended the year doing a gig at the legendary Ace Cafe in London.In 2014 we have played a handfull of local shows and had two live radio sessions for Krystal Radio and Croydon FM. We made our London debut at the Sebrite Arms,Bethnel Green and ended June supporting Britpop ledgends Dodgy at the Cambridge Junction. June 28th we make our festival debut at the Chingford Village Festival.July we passed 2000 listens to our soundcloud page and made our London West End debut at The Comedy venue in Piccadilly. Sugary Sun was released mid August and is now on New York City label Factory Fast’s sampler CD. September 4th we went to the Phoenix FM studio and did a live session and interview.
We have since recorded some demos which are doing well on soundcloud.com/theeverglows/tracks and our following is growing on twitter@theeverglows.
The Band is:
Andy Smith – guitar & vocals
Ray Brodrick – drums
Steve Perkins – bass.
Where You Can Get It:
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All Whales Go To Heaven – The Foolish and the Young
Who They Are: All whales Go To Heaven are a four-piece alternative indie band based in Cambridge.
Why I Like Them: Loving the funky feel of this tune. There is some really tight drum work going on. Also there is a really ethereal feel to this song. It reminds me a bit of the Cranberries style with Zombie in an odd way. It also makes me think it would be a great soundtrack to just about any Quentin Tarantino flick, but especially Pulp Fiction. Let’s talk for a minute about the vocals. I love the full round sound this girl is working with. Sometimes you can hear a bit of thinness in the voice when it’s so prominently displayed. Music/lyrics and vocals all mesh beautifully in this slow tempo piece.
Would I Listen to More of Their Stuff: Sure. I would put it on a zen style playlist for when I’m just chillin’ out. Maybe with a bubble bath, some chocolates and a good stiff drink.
The Band is:
Maz
James
Ryan
Kit
Where You Can Buy It:
I couldn’t find a place to purchase their music, but there are 4 tracks available on their SoundCloud page.
Crossroad Rebels – Beg for Mercy
Who They Are: Crossroad Rebels is a four-piece Post-Hardcore influenced Alternative Rock band based in Hawaii. Crossroad Rebels began in 2007 composed of high school friends. The members formed a tight bond and practiced constantly while honing their craft. Crossroad Rebels has been performing since 2009 in venues such as Hawaiian Brian’s, Edge Bar, Station, Aloha tower and 4play. Crossroad Rebels recently opened for Silverstein at Hawaiian Brian’s on April 24th 2013 playing to a sold out audience, Coheed And Cambria in August of 2013 (sold out), and Alien Ant Farm March 28th 2014.
Why I Like Them: This has an wicked awesome punky vibe. At one minute it seems almost like it’s all over the place and then bam! I am reminded of the old days when we would sit in my friends basement obsessing over bands like DK, Ramones, and others. I’m not a huge fan of the back up vocals on this track. For me it takes a bit of attention away from the music, but that is just my take. Your milage on that may vary. I can say that I see why they got to play with bands like Coheed and Cambria/Alien Ant Farm. I bet that was a helluva show.
Would I Listen to More of Their Stuff: Certainly. I really like the punk vibe on this song and I want to explore the rest of their catalog.
The Band is:
Nick Nakama(@nickrawkzout) Vocals/Guitar
Dustin Antolin(@Dustnthehuman) – Guitar/Vocals
Josh Gonzales(@jaydragon) – Bass/Piano/loop pedal/Vocals