Browsing Tag

Pop-Rock

Rich Freed – Peace of Mind: An Indie Pop Rock Liberation from Introspective Oblivion

Posted on 26 April 2024
Rich Freed

Rich Freed’s latest single Peace of Mind is a compelling narrative of internal conflict, wrapped in the nostalgic warmth of 90s Britpop influences. His style, in this track, reminiscent of icons like Oasis and the Stone Roses, injects a potent mix of indie pop-rock and a bluesy undertone into the bustling modern music scene.

The track pulses with an augmented, atmospheric production that escalates until it bursts into exhilaration in the stadium-ready choruses. The rhythm carries the confident swagger of Britpop while infusing it with a fresh, intoxicating energy that seems to speak directly to the soul. It’s more than just an earworm; it’s an electrifyingly vindicating sonic exploration of the human condition.

Lyrically, Freed offers lines that listeners will want to etch into their memories as he muses on the universality of self-doubt and introspection, making it relatable on a fundamentally human level. Every verse delivers a tattoo-worthy mantra, backed by an aura of bluesy rock n’ roll that transforms this high-octane anthem into a cathartic experience.

For anyone who’s ever felt at odds with themselves, Rich Freed’s “Peace of Mind” offers not just solace but a liberating, rhythmic release. It’s an anthem for the introspective, for those who seek peace in the chaos of their own thoughts.

Peace of Mind will be available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube, from April 26th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Skinny G Radio lingers on the precipice of chaos in his augmented alt-pop power ballad, As I Look Around

Posted on 24 April 2024

Skinny G Radio’s latest single, As I Look Around, is an audacious expression of alt-pop artistry that captures Geoffrey Lussier at his most uninhibited. As a Connecticut native with a diverse musical pedigree, influenced by the likes of Billy Joel and John Mayer and seasoned through an apprenticeship in Los Angeles, Lussier’s craft as Skinny G Radio fuses insightful songwriting with an eclectic production style reminiscent of Mark Ronson and Jon Bellion.

As I Look Around is a rock-licked, electronica-augmented piano pop power ballad that dances on the edge of chaos and control. This track encapsulates the turbulence of its themes—insanity and the loss of control—in a way that resonates deeply in our unpredictable era. Yet, it’s the song’s masterful balance of explosive energy and restraint that defines its character. With dynamic shifts that travel from the guitar-driven grit of 70s rock through the polyphonic glow of 80s pop, to the ornate orchestral layers, the song creates a rich, ever-evolving soundscape.

This single not only highlights Lussier’s ability to channel broad musical influences into a seamlessly alchemic sound but also his skill in creating a palpable connection through layered, complex compositions. As I Look Around is a compelling herald for his upcoming album, promising more explorative leaps into the potent emotions and reflections of contemporary life. It’s an invitation to experience the maddening times with a sense of infectious zeal and an anthem for those drawn to the artful edge of alt-pop innovation.

As I Look Around was officially released on April 16th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Seßler/Zeeb packed a lyrical plea for compassion in a pop-rock ballad with ‘If No One’

Posted on 18 April 2024

The superlatively soulful German pop duo, Seßler/Zeeb, sprinkled swathes of (Ziggy) stardust into the production of their 70s folk singer-songwriter-tinged rock-pop ballad, If No One, which implores the listener not to discard humanity and compassion in an era which is becoming increasingly hard to bear.

Over the gentle major piano keys, the lyrics find a way of directly engaging you, pulling you into the plea to bolster the strength of humanity by one act of kindness at a time. The reprise of “if no one really cares” affirms that feeling as though you’re all alone in your plights is one of the most devastating shots to the heart of the human condition. The duo’s handling of this tender subject matter stands as a testament to their ability to evoke emotion with their provokingly pure approach to classic pop songwriting.

Between the lyrical messaging, which will leave you questioning what you can do for someone else today, and the upbeat tones which carry the timbres of the gospel choir in the chorus until it’s time for the guitar solo to inject the release with euphonic zeal, If No One will stay with you, long after the final note has faded.

If No One was officially released on April 5th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Brian Berggoetz gave hopeless romantics hope in his pop-rock serenade, More Than You’ll Ever Know

Posted on 13 April 2024

Sweet enough to give hopeless romantics hope, the standout single, More Than You’ll Ever Know, from singer-songwriter Brian Berggoetz is a melodious ode to a true love that can be alluded to in words but never fully captured.

Springsteen may have been born to run, but Berggoetz was born to bring warmth and depth to the pop-rock scene; More Than You’ll Ever Know is the ultimate attestation to his legacy. With vocals that caress as tenderly as the simple yet profoundly affecting instrumental arrangement, the single unravels as the dreamiest earworm you’ll hear this year.

With the stunning serenade, Brian Berggoetz emanated the aura that resounds through the soul in inexplicable throws of unflinching affection and passion. Lock into the blissful-bordering-on-arcane melodies, and tune into the affirmation that Berggoetz is a superlatively eloquent conduit of soul.

Between the folk strings, the twang of alt-country, the rugged roots of rock and the hallmarks of singer-songwriter pop lies a synergy which has become synonymous with the Tuscon, Arizona-hailing artist who finds influence in a diverse confluence of styles and genres.

More Than You’ll Ever Know is available to stream on Spotify with the latest LP from Brian Berggoetz, Magical Times.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Be a (Bar)Fly on the Wall with Jude & The Strangers’ Standout Single Beggar’s Tavern

Posted on 10 April 2024
vhttps://youtu.be/lkQ5-JY2qsQ?si=_iyY6k5qhmczSu_v

Some tracks ensnare you with hooks, others dig to the depths of your soul; Beggar’s Tavern by Jude & The Strangers dug into the trenches of the latter camp.

Imagine sinking beers with Bukowski, drinking in the sanctifying feeling of listening to Journey, experiencing the panoramically artistic gravitas of Father John Misty, and getting your blues rock licks as a courtesy of the Black Keys simultaneously, then you’ll get an idea of what this era-spanning Tour De Force delivers.

With all the infectious charisma of Jim Jones himself, singer-songwriter Aiden Jude doesn’t just command attention, he drenches his work in kinetic emotion. With a sonic iteration of a borstal breakout to conclude the single, it’s safe to say we’re beyond desperate to hear the rest of the Beggar’s Tavern LP which will arrive in May 2023. The New Jersey music scene won’t know what has hit it after the launch.

Beggar’s Tavern is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Show Goes On in Jesse Agan’s Broadway-Esque Pop-Rock Debut, Home

Posted on 24 March 2024

Jesse Agan’s debut single, Home, arrests with the same intensity of a Broadway tune, all of the lyrical affection of naturalism you would expect from a Vermont native, and guitar riffs that cut through the timelines to take you back to the rock-licked eras of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The sense of soul in the release is effortless to surrender to, exhibiting a sure sign of Agan’s charisma and command; you instantly feel safe in his aural presence, knowing that whichever avenue his progressive revelation of a debut single leads you down, you’ll be enveloped in the sanctifying alchemy of the retro arrangements filtered through modern production. Ironically, with Home, he delivered all the sanctuary of home, whatever that means for you.

Agan’s ethos of creating hook-centric and vocally forward releases after finding a scintillatingly stirring and passionate formula for his releases is sure to see him go far in the music industry that is crying out for authentic talent and artists unafraid to take audaciously vulnerable leaps with their music.

Home was officially released on March 14th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jenna Louise started a riot of affectionate fervour in her pop-rock hit, You’re Still the One

Posted on 19 March 2024

Harmonising in the middle ground between Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne and Paramore, Jenna Louise’s latest fire-branded pop-punk anthem, You’re Still the One, is a riot of affectionate fervour, which proves that few people love harder or are as uninhibited with their candour as the UK-based singer-songwriter.

Released ahead of her debut LP, My Journey, which had been five years in the making before its launch on March 4th, You’re Still the One is the perfect introduction to Jenna Louise’s hook-rife sonic signature that will be scribing through your mind for long after the high-octane hit has faded to a close following the augmented magnetic energy that she keeps a tight rhythmic leash on throughout the production.

The Springsteen-esque riffs that frequently decorate the track with rock-licked euphoria tie the earworm together and bring even more power to the release which reveres romantic connections that prove even after you’ve weathered storms and hit the rocks, passion doesn’t need to falter.

You’re Still the One is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Call Me Cannon rekindled the resonance of rock’s golden era with their latest nostalgic installation of soul, JAMEY

Posted on 4 March 2024

Call Me Cannon’s latest single, JAMEY is a nostalgically fresh breath of air. The pop-rock gem, infused with soulful undertones, is a masterful blend of past and present and echoes the robustness of rock with the catchy allure of pop.

The track is a harmonious blend of piano-driven melodies and rock-solid guitar riffs, creating a sound that carries the influence of the Human League, Billy Idol, and Aerosmith while reverberating a sonic signature steeped in a style of soul that could only belong to Call Me Cannon.

The trio, consisting of Michael Fitzgerald, Jonathan Clark, and Tony Brock, brings a wealth of experience and musical prowess to the table. Their chemistry is undeniable, evident in the seamless way their talents converge in their latest evocative earworm. The song is a testament to their philosophy of “doing what we want as long as it rocks”. We can definitively argue that it does.

Michael’s songwriting shines, offering a glimpse into his impressive repertoire of 17 independent albums and multiple award nominations. Tony Brock, with his extensive credentials, and Jonathan Clark, known for his collaborations with music legends, add endless layers of depth and expertise to the mix that you’ll turn to every time you want to feel the sanctity that only soulfully constructed rock can deliver.

JAMEY proves that sometimes, the most impactful innovations are those that skilfully revisit and revitalise the past.

Watch the official music video for JAMEY on YouTube or add your single to your Spotify playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embers of Silence unleashed his industrialised electroclash pop-rock lament on capitalism, Attaboi

Posted on 3 March 2024

After the prelude echoes the nostalgia of the scuzzy hooks to The Cardigan’s My Favourite Game, the industrialised electroclash of pop and rock, Attaboi, from Embers of Silence evolves into a juggernautical earworm that swaggers with as much attitude as the spikiest icons of Britpop.

The lament on contemporary capitalism is infectious from the first deliciously distorted & discordant note, from there on out, every hyper hook and slice of snarled vocal mesmerism pulls you deeper into the infectiously augmented protest track that exemplifies the multi-instrumentalist and producer’s artistic intellectualism.

It’s not every day that you encounter an artist with the ability to make cerebral art accessible and void of pretension. Clearly, the Ohio-hailing one-man machine, Samuel Austin is a rare visionary, one that would sit well on the playlists of Tears for the Dying, Atari Teenage Riot, and Machine Girl.

If the upcoming LP, A Beautiful Thing, carries an ounce of the cultivation in Attaboi, it will easily be a contender for one of the best albums of 2024.

Stream the Single Mix of Attaboi via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rise with the ever-ascending pop-rock melodies in Remilekun’s latest contemporary gospel triumph, Nothing Less

Posted on 28 February 2024

In an era which necessitates beacons of hope and spiritual upliftment, the contemporary Christian & Gospel artist, Remilekun, shines brighter than ever. In her latest single, Nothing Less, her voice carries the weight of a choir as she takes the lead on a soulful journey that intertwines the essence of gospel with the exhilarating vibrancy of 80s pop-rock.

Imagine a one-woman rendition of ‘We are the World’ with none of the vigour lost, and you will get an idea of what to expect when you hit play on Nothing Less, where the echoes of Prince’s rock robustness meet the sanctity of gospel music.

Remilekun’s voice, a radiant instrument in itself, traverses through the melodies with an ease that belies the complexity of the composition. The song progresses, ascending like a prayer, each note infused with an earnestness that speaks directly to the soul. The final crescendo of the track is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy – a culmination of faith and music that is bound to leave listeners with a sense of elation; myself, I was fighting back the feel-good tears.

The single is a testament to Remilekun’s journey, from singing hymns in family prayers to leading choirs and inspiring through her music. Her background, rich with cultural and spiritual depth, shines through in every chord and lyric.

‘Nothing Less’ is more than a song; it’s a narrative of courage, hope, and unwavering faith. It encourages listeners to step out with determination, trusting in a higher power. In a world where music often skims the surface of emotions, ‘Nothing Less’ dives deep, offering a soul-sanctifying experience that is both rare and profoundly moving.

Nothing Less was officially released on February 16th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast