independent thoughts on alternative music
On your first listen of “Breathe,” the debut single from Nashville’s Vera Bloom, your ears may deceive you into thinking you know this artist. After all, there’s plenty of grunge influences to remind you of Nirvana or Veruca Salt, but tempered by a smoothness suggestive of Skating Polly. There’s also power vocals that kick into … Read more PREMIERE: “BREATHE” BY VERA BLOOM
There’s a pattern I always follow when starting an album review. When dealing with hundreds of daily submissions, an album usually only has a minute or two to catch my attention to make it onto the potential review list. Full exploration of the album doesn’t happen until much later, when a final version is submitted, … Read more ALBUM REVIEW: IN EARNEST – SELF-TITLED EP
That slight crispness in the air means it’s time to switch from our sunny songs of the summer to the more chill sounds of fall. The East of 8th playlist this week is full of tracks to share with friends whether it’s around that icon of the fall season, the bonfire, or while hanging out … Read more THE EAST OF 8TH PLAYLIST: NEW MUSIC FOR OCTOBER 4, 2020
The lines between indie, folk, alternative, and pop rock are becoming more subtle. Indie and alternative are leaning towards lighter, and often, dreamier tones. Folk rock is seeing an explosion of electronic instrumentation. This evolution gives a keen artist the necessary space to push boundaries and create distinct sounds. Jealous of the Birds, the musical … Read more ALBUM REVIEW: JEALOUS OF THE BIRDS — PENINSULA
This week the playlist is unfortunately the 7 X 8th Playlist due to the last minute scratch of one song. Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of new music for you to listen to as you sit outside enjoying this early fall weather–at least here in the southern U.S. Like the weather here in Nashville, this … Read more THE 8 x 8th PLAYLIST: NEW MUSIC FOR SEPTEMBER 19, 2020
Well before my time writing for East of 8th, I was a music lover. That led me to music festivals, and from there to the sometimes fun, sometimes educational, often horrifying world of music festival message boards. This back story is relevant to this review because it was in the pandemonium of a well-known Bonnaroo … Read more ALBUM REVIEW: ALL THEM WITCHES — NOTHING AS THE IDEAL
Garage rock makes a return to the East of 8th playlist this week! With it comes several folk rock songs that show off the range of sounds that fill that genre. Never allowing the playlist to be too predictable, there’s also a crazy unique song with a soundscape blending anthemic pop rock and electronica! Without … Read more THE 8 x 8th PLAYLIST: NEW MUSIC FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
Alternative rock is back! (At least for a few songs this week) We also get one of the more epic lo-fi tracks I’ve heard in a long time as well as a retro synth banger that you can’t miss. Without further ado, here is this week’s East of 8th playlist presented in the order they … Read more THE 8 x 8th PLAYLIST: NEW MUSIC FOR SEPTEMBER 5, 2020
If you’re a music lover, you’ve already noticed how much great music has been coming out recently. So, this week we’re giving you 9 new songs instead of just 8! This week is focused on a chill vibe. This playlist is ready for you to find some shade on these hot days and find some … Read more THE 8 x 8th PLAYLIST: NEW MUSIC FOR AUGUST 22, 2020
Sometimes you listen to an album that single-handedly raises the bar for what we should expect from new music. However, those moments don’t usually come from an artist’s debut EP. On Falling Asleep at the Wheel, Holly Humberstone presents us with an emotionally deep, sonically mature, and thoroughly enjoyable album. On one hand, this should … Read more ALBUM REVIEW: HOLLY HUMBERSTONE — FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL EP