“Chills” by AEO – A True Taste of Alternative R&B
The toms in this track deserve recognition before I get into the review. Stunning! “Chills” by Aeo is a very aesthetic, warm yet subtle song wrapped in a memory. There is a lot going into this track instrumental wise–I hear toms, claps, synth, hats and the works. It’s layered. I think the single art is […]
“What A Time To Be Alive” by Color Collage
Color Collage couldn’t think of a better time to release this upbeat track, “What a Time to Be Alive”. Winter may be one of my more fonder seasons, but there’s nothing like spring. You pull the sheet off. You dust off the skateboard. It’s nice to get drunk and fall onto asphalt every once in […]
“Don’t Give Up” by Foreign Fields, A Warm Lo-fi Buzz
I’m pretty sure that’s a tape deck at the beginning of “Don’t Give Up” by Foreign Fields, so my lofi-centric brain was buzzing from the get-go. And then–and then!- they bring in that soft guitar. If anyone knows how to get an underground softie hook, that’s how you do it. I think the vibes of […]
Howlin’ Circus “Run the Wrong Way” is a Heart-Throbbing Ride
Is it taboo to want to compare indie artists with more mainstream ones? Howlin’ Circus reminds me of the lovechild between Neon Trees and Arctic Monkeys–at least, from my impression of “Run the Wrong Way”. The airy, raspy vocals pair nicely with their music video, taking us on the journey into the grunge of a […]
Meet the Songwriting Nomad – Jacksonport
There’s something powerful about the way sparse vocals can paint powerful sensory experiences. I can practically taste the apple pie in this verse from “Time to Dream” by Jacksonport: monumental skies reflecting in the eyes of my father’s home the spirits flying high the smell of apple pie and packing foam John Fatum is […]
“Gentleman” by Cooler, a Coming of Age Jam
You’re almost thrown into a memory you don’t remember having listened to “Gentleman” by Cooler. I can almost see it in my mind–driving down a highway when the stars are out, looking at the empty air from a sunroof or the bed of a truck, listening to the hum of the stereo, bracing for […]
“Dimensions” by Something Simple, an Airy Instrumental Gem
Should music melt into the background, becoming part of someone’s day-to-day activity by simple proxy, or should it try to capture and concern the listener with its story and with its message? There are great arguments for either, but me–I could care less. Music can become the soundtrack to my day or it could be […]
Unknown Neighbour – “Home”
I’m not great at being outdoorsy. I would love to be decent at it. I love nature and all its parts–I most especially love feeling small and unimportant when faced with an endless forest. I’ve never been the type to go camping, or hike more than once every two years, or cast a rod into a […]
WRENN “Craigslist Personals” – an Alt Grunge Battle Against Past Love
Romance in the modern century is commercialized nearly as much as everything else. Dating apps and couples TV has made everything more purchasable. So when I got my hands on “Craigslist Personals” by WRENN, that’s the first thing that came to mind; an ad for love. But what I got was much more than […]
“Jelly Donut” | Katie Kuffel Evokes Individuality and Takes a Stand
Katie Kuffel already had me at “Seattle-based”. If you know anything about me, the cloudy city sound is something I relish in, and Kuffel definitely nails that with her track “Jelly Donut”. We can talk all day about her haunting voice (and believe me, I will), but first things first–the piano on the beat deserves […]
