independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Some might say that we live in dark and troubled times, and, maybe those people are right. While a good funk-soul album may not cure all the world's ills, it certainly can boost the mood for even the gloomiest of the doomy types--especially if it's a live album like the latest from eight-piece British funk... Continue Reading →
Remember when you were in school and you had a crush on someone? You found yourself exhilarated whenever you were in the presence of that person. Well, crushes don’t have to be of the romantic variety. Musical crushes are a real thing, and with her new album The Gumption, Toronto-based R&B artist Tanika Charles just... Continue Reading →
It’s been said that trends come and go, but that style is eternal. Los Angeles-based chanteuse Haley Reinhart has style in spades, which is beautifully showcased on her forthcoming release Lo-Fi Soul. With the album’s shimmering introductory notes, a veil is lifted and the listener is drawn into the experience like Homerian sailors unable to... Continue Reading →
The word “move” is one of the most versatile of the English language. It can relate to change, motion, and emotional shift. It can be used with the same root meaning and still shift between positive and negative all based on context. Therefore, it is fitting that the heart of the upcoming double release, Moonlight... Continue Reading →
What is funk? Can it simply be qualified as a genre of music influenced by blues, jazz, and soul? How about a lifestyle full of colorful and flashy clothes and an infectious positive attitude? Is funk dead? Turkuaz certainly doesn’t believe so and presses ahead with their latest release Life in the City. Prolific chunky... Continue Reading →
Rayland Baxter is an artist whose music falls under the “alternative country” genre, but his unique sound can’t be put in a box. Stylized “rayLand,” the singer and his mustache are about as funky and fun as his music… and for long-time fans, new album Wide Awake is even more abstract, even more incredible, and... Continue Reading →
With a studious mix of Appalachian chamber pop and lyrical sleight of hand, Asheville group River Whyless has created something special but familiar in their latest release Kindness, A Rebel. While referencing their musical predecessors (see Fleet Foxes and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), they tread familiar ground and explore interesting territory while never losing a sense of self. With multiple members taking... Continue Reading →
When thinking of Ben Howard’s music, eloquence, depth, and raw, unfiltered beauty come to mind. There is something unique and exceptional about his style that tugs at one’s heartstrings and stops you in your tracks. He encompasses anything and everything in his music and blends it with authentic creativity; from resounding piano notes that seem... Continue Reading →
French-American couple Bruce Driscoll and Marie Seyrat, otherwise known as Freedom Fry, is an indie-pop duo founded in Los Angeles in 2011 whose authentic but versatile sound has truly changed the game. Their songs, which range from playful blends of instruments and upbeat tunes to vocals with raspy depth and soulful harmonies, tend to illustrate... Continue Reading →
“I can’t avoid the haze,” sings The Shacks’ Shannon Wise in the opening track of the band’s new record, Haze, as her breathy voice emanates with tender nonchalance. It’s as if she is leaning forward to share a secret—a not-so-well-kept secret, as Wise and bandmate Max Shrager have been setting the scene ablaze since their... Continue Reading →
