New York born, North Carolina based singer/songwriter Hank Close’s first album under the Hank! moniker, Guilty Pleasures (Are the Best Ones), ranks high as one of 2021’s best musical surprises. It isn’t a news flash that Close, a longtime talent in the indie music world, boasts an enviable and impressive list …
Read More »Single Review: Ed Roman “Happiness”
As a stand-alone single, “Happiness” falls into that experimental, indie rock category, yet it doesn’t. The syncopated vocals styles of Ed Roman presented on this track hits every accentuated note on the downbeat giving the vocal melody an almost marching beat. Coupled that with the off-time guitar chord progressions we …
Read More »Single Review: Chris Mardini “I’ll Try”
A little grungy at times and entirely too punchy to be considered streamlined in any way, the guitar that accompanies Chris Mardini in the new single “I’ll Try” is a vicious counterpart to his signature vocal. He’s got the charisma as a singer to make just about any kind of …
Read More »Cory M. Coons Delivers Enjoyable “Freedom Road”
Building on an already impressive catalog of Roots-Rock/Americana hits, Cory M. Coons has released “Freedom Road” to much anticipation and delight from his fans. A traditional rocking track featuring the prominent vocals way up in the forefront, the massages of taking the simple things in life for granted plays ever-present …
Read More »Single Review: Tae Wall “Billie Jeane”
Rapper Tae Wall’s first two LPs have been blowing up the underground in 2020 and 2021 respectively, and in his latest single “Billie Jeane,” he’s reminding longtime listeners that complacency is the last thing his evolution is going to produce. He comes into the verses here exceptionally hot, but make …
Read More »Single Review: FrankySelector “Ice Breaker”
Grooving like it’s the late 70s all over again is one thing, but taking a funky disco rhythm and bringing it into the future like Franky Selector does in his new single “Ice Breaker” takes a lot of skill most artists in his scene just don’t possess. Burgeoning beats are …
Read More »Single Review: High School Can’t Last Forever” Rich Chambers
Heartland rock is scoring a lot of headlines in 2021, and the revival isn’t being spurred on by mainstream forces exclusively. On the underground end of the rock n’ roll world, artists like Rich Chambers have been giving life to pastoral harmonies and electrified melodies all year long, perhaps with …
Read More »Single Review: Stuart Todd Whitworth “If All Else Fails”
Springing to life like a beam of sunshine in the early morning, and possibly just as inspiring in some respects, a boldly colorful riff comes swinging out of the silence in “Rachel Speaks” that could make even the most devoted of wallflowers want to step out of their comfort zone …
Read More »Single Review: “A Different Man” Jim Waneka
In his new single “A Different Man,” country singer Jim Waneka creates a vivid story of the American soldier as so many of us have known firsthand using so much more with lyrics – for this songwriter, verses are but a single layer atop which to build a complete portrait. …
Read More »Victoria Leanna Releases Highly Anticipated Album, “Goddess Time”
Sex energy is creation energy. Victoria Leanna, Artist and Songwriter, takes this metaphysical principle seriously as she uses it to create and channel her inspiration, musical sounds and influence. On October 13, 2021, the Artist, Songwriter and self-proclaimed, Goddess released her highly anticipated, 8-track album (runtime 25 minutes and 57 seconds) …
Read More »Single Review: Mr. Reaper “Thru The Dark”
A lot of critics will tell you that concept albums do better without any singles, mostly because it’s too difficult to cut something as ambitious and still live by the traditional rules of pop music, but clearly, these same critics didn’t see someone like acclaimed rapper Mr. Reaper coming up …
Read More »Single Review: Bardastar “Wishing on a Star”
You don’t have to come at a verse with as much aggression as a man can muster when you’ve got the natural presence Bardastar has in his new single and music video “Wishing on a Star” this September, and to me, his is an attitude that has been sorely missed …
Read More »