Album Review: Valley has the soundtrack to your quarantine dance parties with ‘sucks to see you doing better’
Lockdown got you down? Canadian alt-pop band Valley is here to save the day with their new EP. Sucks to See You Doing Better is a 20-minute time capsule that puts the frustration, restlessness and even heartache of our current weird times front and center- and if you’re not listening, that’s on you. It’s been […]
Album Review: Blackstarkids brings immaculate vibes on ‘Whatever, Man’
The top comment on Blackstarkids’ video for “Britney Bitch” simply states, “The vibes are immaculate.” If I could write a one-sentence review of this group’s new album, that would be it. The Kansas City trio already released a record this year, but simply couldn’t wait to put out more material- delivering in a huge way […]
Album Review: Kulick’s ‘Yelling in a Quiet Neighborhood’ is a journey through love, loss and yearning
Kulick’s rise from opening act to commanding attention has been a slow, welcome burn into our lines of vision. With the release of debut album Yelling in a Quiet Neighborhood, singer-songwriter Jacob Kulick has transformed relatable feelings into a beautifully interwoven collection of songs that can speak to us all. The category is: love, loss, […]
Album Review: Smith & Myers release stunning collective of timely tracks on ‘Volume I’
The iconic duo of Brent Smith and Zach Myers has released their first full length album, cementing a new level of depth and talent from the Shinedown members. Smith & Myers Volume I is a collection of carefully chosen covers and originals, with a second volume to be released at the end of October. Fans […]
Album Review: Taking a journey through Los Angeles with Dan Croll’s ‘Grand Plan’
Dan Croll’s relocation to Los Angeles three years ago changed the tone and direction of his music in a beautiful way. The current result is Grand Plan, a stellar indie record that brings the listener along for Croll’s journey through navigating the often treacherous waters of the music industry in Hollywood. Grand Plan is a […]
Album Review: Ghetto Kumbé’s colorful rhythms bring the beat on debut album
Try sitting still throughout Ghetto Kumbé’s self-titled debut album. It’s simply impossible. The trio hails from Colombia’s Caribbean coast and draws heavily from traditional west African and afro-colombian rhythms, infusing hard-hitting percussion into each track and weaving electronic samples throughout the album. Describing their aesthetic and sound, Ghetto Kumbé sum it up succinctly: “a psychedelic […]
Album Review: KIDS take a journey into proverbial space on ‘Lost Cities’
The best thing about indie rock is that it never needs to reinvent the wheel to be excellent. Florida group KIDS already has that figured out on their latest album, Lost Cities. A self-described group of “sadboys”, KIDS is taking their sound and sending a message and a motto to everyone listening- strive for authenticity […]
Album Review: Will Wood’s ‘Normal Album’ pushes through absurdity to reach a broader message
The Normal Album is anything but normal. Instead, Will Wood’s latest LP is a genre-less collection of wacky tracks that will leave you confused but acutely aware that normal doesn’t necessarily mean good. It digs up long-lost genres like doo-wop (“I / Me / Myself” especially) and new wave to prove its point, adding layers […]
Album Review: Lamb of God returns with commanding self-titled record
Despite not releasing music in the last five years, Lamb of God has remained heavily active in the metal scene, touring extensively around the world. Today, the well-respected group is back with their eighth album, a self-titled effort exploding with impeccable instrumentation and vehement lyrics. Vocalist D. Randall Blythe begins the 45 minute record with […]
Album Review: Nik Bruzzese explores vulnerability and loss on Casa Loma debut
Listeners may arrive at Casa Loma with the expectation that Nik Bruzzese’s solo endeavor will be an extension of Man Overboard and come away pleasantly surprised. This Is Coping is music driven by the pain of loss, the hope of moving forward and leaving a legacy within the lyrics. Bruzzese was driven to create this […]