Camaro is a new album from New York-based rock band, The Tristones. The cover art pretty much says it all. These guys capture the authentic sound and spirit of 70s rock goodness. Brimming with sweet and soulful summertime vibes, the album subtly blends contemporary lyrical content (“First World Problems,” “Trump,” etc.) with a classic ambiance. Not only do the vocals and instrumentals deliver on the technical front, but the recording is blessed with that all powerful analog warmth. Camaro’s lyrical ventures and appeal to relevance take this collection somewhere beyond retro territory. This is just a solid, enjoyable album. Pull out the blanket and kick back under the evening stars while you listen to these smooth jams.
VNBlind is a new album from Brooklyn based, Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer, Perfect Society (real name Andreas Borg). This rather unique release combines various acoustic string instruments with analog synths, resulting in an ambient and retrofuturistic sound. The vibe is positively ethereal, with occasional aquatic elements (in tracks like Broken Ulysses Pact) creating an atmosphere that feels a little more in tune with nature than the average contemporary synth-driven output.
While these songs are crafted meticulously and ultimately present as avant garde, there is also a new age component. I found VNBlind to have meditative and therapeutic value, though the the music is of the energizing variety rather than the type to put you to sleep. The occasional “analog tape hiss” and crackle add a plesant warmth that would be lacking in a strictly digitized version of this. My favorite jam on here is probably The North Star, which is engaging and has a killer beat. Overall, this album is quite enjoyable. It’s intellectually satisfying, yet doesn’t come across as pretentious.
For more info:
Gratitude is a new single from hip hop artist Troy Remedy. Also featuring iconic rapper Bizzy Bone, this high octane track is melodic and sentimental. Clearly, Bizzy hasn’t lost a step in all these years and brings that distinctive vocal magic and “Micro Machines” tier quickness he’s globally recognized for. For his part, Troy’s earnest and robust delivery strikes just the right balance between charismatic and humble. He raps with a lot of heart. The two of these guys actually have pretty good synergy on this track, as Bizzy Bone’s pleasant musicality contrasts nicely with Troy’s starightforward, rhyme realism.
As the title implies, the song is relative upbeat and positive, promoting thankfulness while encouraging people to be real about themselves. The backing music is delightful to listen to, much more ambient and ethereal than that of the typical hip hop song. Gratitude is a teriffic track, and I highly recommend that you check out the video for this jam as well.
Freak of Nature is a new single from Texas-based hip hop artist, YELLA YELLA. Also featuring “Sauce Walka,” this spicy and salacious track is brimming with intensity. YELLA YELLA’s delivery is clear, confident and assertive. She describes her music as “raw and more on the freaky side,” and I definitely concur. It’s also very fun to listen to, even in its no-nonsense approach. Production wise, the recording is clean and slick. Audio quality is really nice, and there isn’t a bunch of annoying autotune or processing to get in the way of the vocals. The backing beat has a feverish and slightly sinister quality to it, providing an appropiate backdrop for this fresh content. Freak of Nature is a solid jam that gets the juices flowing.
The Warped Glimmer is a new single from Colorado-based duo, Vivian. The single is from the album title of the same name. I have to say that the geometric cover art is right up my alley. It’s a gorgeous, colorful and aesthetically pleasing modernist design. I took one look and knew this was going to be good. The music is in the style of dream-pop (which I love) but also with an interesting twist. The ambiance here is mellow and almost haunting at first, and then the beat kicks in and you can feel the deep energy of this song, which could power a force field. Alana Rolfe has a teriffic voice, a much better singer than one typically finds in this genre. The backing music is dynamic, darkly futuristic and full of surprises. The Warped Glimmer makes creative use of every moment of its 4:31 runtime. I honestly love this band.
Such a Waste is a new single from 32 Below, a band which describes themselves as “a collection of hard working rural boys from the midwest.” The song is a bright and passionate rock song that blends elements of rock’n’roll and country. This track really does have that classic “heartland” feel to it. Featuring bellowing guitars, vibrant vocals and an all enveloping sound, Such a Waste overwhelms the senses, hitting you with everything its got. Production quality is excellent, yet the track still retains the gritty, authentic realism that’s so crucial for credibility this genre. This is a solid and straightforward jam that’s sure to be embraced by its target audience.
Navy is a new single from Birmingham, AL based artist, Austin Riddle. This slick, rhythmic and groovy pop song actually does feature Navy similes and metaphors. Even the cover art hints at the song’s aquatic vibes. Austin’s delivery is dynamic, and he demonstrates a surprisingly versatile vocal range. Really he is capable of some interesting maneuvers with his voice that will get your interest. Riddle’s cadence and sense of timing is also pretty on point. This is a romantic track that hits all the right notes if that’s what you’re in the mood for. This music has some great hooks, is thematically coherent and definitely marketable. The artist has a memorable moniker, too. It has a nice ring to it.
She Told Me is a new single from country/folk/bluegrass singer songwriter, Paul Haas. It’s from his album Long Long Time which is out now and should be available on all platforms by the end of June. This song is really impressive. The recording quality is excellent and the mix is clear as a bell. With the performance displayed, it’s hard to believe this is the debut album. This is equivalent to the music of someone in their artistic prime. Featuring warm tones, a lively atmosphere and sentimentally honest vocals, She Told Me is probably the best country track I’ve reviewed so far this year. It’s one of those songs that has a vibrant and energetic ambiance that you can dance to and have a good time, while the lyrical content conveys a mood that’s emotionally expressive and even slightly somber. Narrated from the artist’s perspective, She Told Me relays a story about a woman who said that she loved him and would never leave. Even though in the song, he never explicitly mentions anything about her breaking up with him, since everything is in the past tense (“I had a woman,” “she told me”) it’s implied that she did end up leaving. She Told Me is catchy, engaging, and one heck of a fine song.
What’s That About is a brand new album from Magazine Gap, a London-based alternative pop band we’ve featured several times over the last couple of years. The album is scheduled for an official release in early June, but I was fortunate enough to get a preview of it. No real huge surprises here. Being familiar with this outfit, I fully expected this release to be polished and professional, and indeed it does deliver. However, I have to admit that it is even a little bit better than I expected.
The lead single Possibilities has a clean, groovin’ and almost jazzy feel to it. It’s an exceptionally pure recording. The open-ended sense of uplifting optimism also serves as a great introduction to the rest of the album. One element that has always stood out to me about this band is the stellar vocals. On this track, the singer’s voice reminds me a lot of the late Arthur Lee’s. I mean this both in terms of the actual sound of his voice, as well as the cadence and application of timed pauses. Go back and listen to something like Your Mind And We Belong Together, and you might pick up on this comparison (or not). The instrumental musicians play their part as well. The backing music is symphonically precise and crisp, while still managing to show off a little style. There are no weak links in this chain or talent imbalances.
The band states that they “don’t believe in throwaway tracks,” so on an album where we are treated to 12 full songs, we can assume they are each given the same meticulous attention to detail. I certainly didn’t detect any breaks in quality, but we do get some stylistic variation. Kings, Queens & Jokers for example, has more of a folk-rock vibe. Admittedly, I’m not much of an accent connoisseur, listening to this track I would never have guessed that this band is from London, as the sound occasionally comes close to resembling that “Roots Americana” or some adjacent subgenre. I believe I’ve mentioned something along these lines in previous reviews, but this isn’t like Thompson Twins, where you can immediately tell where they’re from.
At it’s core though, this is an alternative, adult contemporary/pop album. It’s very positive and mainstream friendly, free from much of the cynicism and angst that’s so often associated with the “alternative” label. The mood ranges from ecstatic euphoria to tender sentimentalism. There’s a touch of sadness here and there, as the album offers up a well-rounded range of emotions. My favorite track on this album is probably Dancing In Quicksand, which features those crowdpleasing call outs (a la Huey Lewis’ Heart of Rock’n’Roll) of various cities that listeners love in songs. It’s just catchy and “feels” like a hit. There’s also a lot to be said for the opening track, which is so powerful it can probably make your brain release endorphins. The video also features an inspiring dance audition sequence. Great stuff here as usual.
Xunor Kharu Nelage Muk is a new release from Indian singer/songwriter, IMMI. It’s a cover of a song by famous Assanese artist, Dipali Barthakur. Though I’m not familiar enough with the language to understand any of the lyrics, the music is exquisite, and IMMI’s vocals are stellar. She definitely does this song justice. IMMI’s delivery is dynamic and brimming with enthusiasm. The performance is very lively and puts a vibrant, contemporary spin on this classic jam. Her band “Immi and the Mahoots,” features some awesome guitar and bass players, which add another dimension to the track. While IMMI’s powerful voice drives the action, the backing music provides a spirited, robust framework. The guitars really enhance the emotional intensity, taking things up a notch.
The production quality on Xunor Kharu Nelage Muk is top of the line. This isn’t a “lo-fi” mix. It’s a major label quality recording. Everything shines through with pristine clarity, and the band is using legit gear (as can be seen in much of the footage). Likewise, the video is professionally shot. Though the sets are intimate rather than elaborate, the visuals capture the energy and atmospheric euphoria of the song. The video is exciting because of the musical action taking place and the expressions of the performers. There are no distractions or narratives needed. All in all, this is a solid release, in terms of both audio and visuals. IMMI’s vision brings Xunor Kharu Nelage Muk into the 21st century while retaining the purity of the song.
