A lot changes when you move to a big city… and there’s no bigger city with more opportunities to grow or get lost (or both) than the Big Apple. Laveda — after relocating to Queens from their hometown of Albany — offers a much grittier sound in their third album Love, Darla: a 10-track fever […]
It’s never “too late to rock”. At least, that’s what the fictional-turned-real-but-still-very-fictional band Spinal Tap says in the long-awaited sequel to the mockumentary that changed cinematic history back in 1984, This Is Spinal Tap. Now 41 years later, you’d think that bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (played by Michael McKean, Christopher […]
London-based singer-songwriter Luke Marzec is nothing short of soul’s greatest rising star. Reminiscent of the days of Armstrong and Ellington, the bassy vocalist brings together elements of jazz, R&B, funk, and pop to create a modern soul sound worth savoring. After debuting with the EP Chances in 2018, Marzec pushes forth his first full-length with […]
If you like a good groove full of soul, then you’ve got to know Austin-based singer-songwriter Lew Apollo. His vocals — layered with reverb and echo — melt like butter over smooth basslines, keys, and acoustic guitar. A mixture of R&B with a funk twist, Apollo has quickly risen in his local markets, now ready […]
Fishbone has always pushed limits. From their eccentric ska-punk sounds to the over-the-top outfits of frontman Angelo Moore, the band has maintained an unapologetic and unfiltered presence from the start. You’d think, after 46 years, the band would be well past their prime. Think again. The latest installment of Fishbone’s already immense catalog contains some […]
New York City in the mid to late 70s wasn’t all disco inferno Studio 54. The city was in a sharp decline, with trash piles everywhere, buildings decaying, and crime climbing off-the-charts. Out of this turbulent atmosphere rose an edgier twist to the newly labeled “punk” sounds wafting from overseas. It was a shock to […]
Four decades after Aaron Dontez Yates first touched a mic and 24 albums into an unfathomable career that’s redefined independent hip hop, Tech N9ne has dropped album #25 as of today. His latest project for Strange Music, 5816 Forest is a 22-track journey that takes fans straight back to where it all began: chronicling the […]
For lovers of blues rock, ZZ Ward is most likely a name you’ve heard of. The critically-acclaimed, soul-stirring singer-songwriter hit the ground running with her debut LP Til The Casket Drops in 2012 — and never looked back. Now signed to Sun Records, with several studio albums under her belt, ZZ Ward drops her first […]
Let’s have a chat about a band that needs to be heard across the country and then some, IRIEspect. This rad seven-piece energetic band blends Cali and Caribbean styles — we’re talking hip hop, Latin, and new and old-school dub rock reggae. They are an extravagant bunch who blow it out of the water with […]
Canadian dark rock act The Birthday Massacre continues to send shockwaves around the globe, evident in their latest beast of an album, Pathways, out last month via Metropolis Records. For newer listeners, the band has captivated many fans since 1999; their gothic-meets-electronic vibe will entice you and put you under a spell, almost trance-like. Goth, […]
I looked this definition up before I wrote this: “Anti-blooming: A phenomenon that occurs when an image sensor is overexposed. Blooming can cause inaccurate data in neighboring pixels, which can reduce image quality.” Keep this definition in mind as we go through this album review. It has been over 25 years of making music for […]
Seattle-based rock outfit The Unfit is about to release Disconnected, a 10-track LP via Share It Music on February 28th. This raucous unveiling follows the band’s 2022 debut EP, Ants in the Big Machine — a three-song salute to anarchy. Punk is not dead. And if there is any city known for pushing the boundaries […]
A warm delicious ‘fk you’ with a side of skank sauce? That’s exactly what the doctor ordered with Bite Me Bambi’s new Eat This ablum, a quick and dirty 8-song LP calling out bad boyfriends, haters, gaslighters… the entire human population at large — including “Girls Like You”. High-tempo, fast-action expertly executed ska experiences don’t […]
What defines an ‘escape’? Is it shoving responsibilities aside for frivolity? Is it a meditative state? Is it self-reflection or a look back on better times? Is it subliminal, embedded in the senses? What if it’s all of those things…? That’s the premise of Phantogram‘s fifth album — using color and sound to chase down […]
Black metal outfit Nachtmystium is back from hiatus! Blight Privilege, out now as of the first of November, is their ninth studio album — the first since they disbanded in 2020. But the band is back with a fresh new perspective. They have matured after a lot of negative events, rising up from the ashes […]
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By clicking agree you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
