“Penny Slain” by Jason Whatley and Anthony Rochester: Cheeky, Beatles-Riffing Twee
“Penny Slain” is a classic sounding twee single resulting from the collaboration of two Australian musicians: Jazz composer and pianist Jason Whatley accompanied by rock artist Anthony Rochester. The vocals are written and sung by Whatley, while Rochester produced the track and can be heard on the drums, bass, guitar, melodica, organ, and even the […]
“Spin Move” by Faux Canada: Gorgeous Pop-Tinged Shoegaze
Making music since 2012, Faux Canada is a quartet from the heart of San Francisco, describing their sound as “like the feeling of showing up at a raucous house-party and getting pulled into a closet by your secret crush”. The indie group consists of members Melinda Wegent, David Lean, Alejandro Soini, and Kevin Hobson, all […]
“Guthrie” by Julien Baker: A Desolate, Beautiful Return to Her Debut
It’s unfair to expect an artist to stick rigidly to the sound of their first album, no matter how beloved it may be. If the fans are loud and angry enough, it’s downright stifling, limiting the artist’s creative potential and telling them that they’re only accepted if they stay within one little pigeonhole. Even if […]
“Lately” by Eimhin: Well-Crafted Indie Rock
Indie songwriter Eimhin has always taken time with his music. The songs he writes are deeply personal, and reflect his upbringing, his culture, and his life. This is all on display in “Lately”, the newest single from him. The song is passionate, but not just in one faucet: vocals, melody, and instrumentation all feel precise, […]
Danie on “Summer,” Singing like Patsy, and Her New Brunswick Roots
Many of the singers on TV shows like The Voice are desperately trying to sound like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, attempting trills and tremeloes to impress the judges. But in real life, we sometimes stumble on iconic voices that are absolutely stunning and original, no frills required. Singers like k.d. lang and Christine (from […]
Jeanes on “Simple Jayne”, Naturalism, and Folk Influences
You’ve heard the stories of the well-known naturalists. Henry David Thoreau, Chris McCandless, and so forth. The artist Jeanes has a philosophy that truly reminds me of these past figures. In his music, he aims to produce not just a song, but an atmosphere. He believes in the importance of escaping manmade factors and embracing […]
Skylet Gunner on “Real Wild Child,” Nancy Sinatra and the Seductive California Desert
Some artists have a “brand.” Others rely on brilliance. Skylet Gunner has both, in abundance. Her new video “Real Wild Child” is a cover of a 1986 Iggy Pop song, but it would have fit nicely in mid-Sixties’ biker movies where soon-to-be-superstars like Al Kooper and Stephen Stills cut loose on the soundtrack. Skylet’s vocal […]
daena on “Oversharing,” Outfunking Prince, and Raising a Beautiful Flag
Photo by Oceanna Colgan Nashville indie artist daena identifies as queer and has written perhaps the best Pride song ever. But she’s also written some amazing rock and R&B songs that are among this decade’s finest. daena’s new single “Oversharing” has arguably the best Killer Chorus of the summer, even better than the rousing chorus […]
“Park Song” by Bee Hall: An Ode to a Neighborhood Runs Deep
“Park Song” by Bee Hall is smooth and soft: the melody is calm, and nothing shouts out at you. The song is deceptively simple, relaxed and slow. You can hear the whistle of the winds and the screeching sounds of the city’s subway breaks. “Park Song” is supposedly an ode to Prospect Park in Brooklyn, […]
Retrospective Review: Ben Howard’s “The End of the Affair”
It’s 2013 and Ben Howard is bathing in light. Not necessarily the sunlight that falls like a warm blanket over his seaside town of Devon, England, but in light nonetheless. His first full-length offering, Every Kingdom (Island Records, 2011), has exceeded expectations across the industry, delighting critics, his label, awards panels, and most importantly, Howard […]
