Album Review: Des Rocs elevates rock ‘n’ roll on ‘This Is Our Life’
Des Rocs has been saying from the beginning that he’s the future of rock ‘n’ roll. With This Is Our Life, the passion project and musical battering ram of our favorite New York rocker takes a massive leap in the direction of that lofty statement. As a relatively new solo endeavor, Des Rocs has worked […]
Album Review: grandson is ready for battle on ‘Death of an Optimist’
Grandson’s debut album has been a whole life in the making and the wait is finally over. Death of an Optimist dropped on December 4, starting a new era for Canadian-American singer Jordan Benjamin. The hype was real leading up to the midnight release, with grandson going live across platforms to answer questions, celebrate with […]
Album Review: Harry Hudson is ‘Here for You’ on new album
Emerging pop star Harry Hudson offers listeners a journey through his mind on his new album Hey, I’m Here for You, out November 20. Woven in its 15 tracks is Hudson’s perspective on self-love, overcoming adversity and even finding the strength within to love another. Sonically, the album marries the monotone flow bleeding from the […]
Album Review: Girlfriends debuts a self-titled album packed with rock bangers
In one of my favorite unexpected surprises of 2020, Travis Mills returned to music- alongside Nick Gross- to form the pop-punk leaning Girlfriends. The duo’s self-titled debut album is here and the sound will take old school fans on a sonic trip back to yesteryear. Mills and Gross are horny and heartbroken in turns, making […]
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 […]