Meet Ben Rector, a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter with skills to spare. Here he covers Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and in the video, you can see what parts he’s playing in the production (all of them). I usually look for tracks that are completely original, but sometimes you have to make exceptions. Check it out! Ben Rector’s first major long-player, Something Like This was released in September of 2011. He’s got a nice web site with all of the…
Read MoreDreamer is not a new track from a band that hasn’t released much new in a while, Admiral Twin. Admiral Twin spins its brand of pop in a style that is delightfully singable. The melody is king for this band, and they have a way of making sure that they leave a mark on you once you’ve heard their music. Dreamer is from the band’s 2003 long-player, Creatures of Bread & Wine. You can discover or re-discover Admiral Twin by visiting their website. The…
Read MoreBack in early February, I posted a track by a group that I keep coming back to, partially because they have such a fun, energetic live show, The Spring Standards. It’s time to revisit them again with the old west feel of The Hush. The Hush seems to capture just a little essence of their live performance. Even though this song has a country rock feel, the band is forever changing styles from song to song. Variety is the spice of…
Read More‘Progressive rock in a big way’, describes the extremely interesting Icelandic band Cynic Guru’s. Just when you think you have their style figured out, they will change it-often in the same song. A great example of this is 2005’s Catastrophe from their only long-player, Iceland. Some might describe certain elements of Cynic Guru’s music as likened to Alice in Chains, and they wouldn’t be wrong. They use many of the same constructs, minor keys, grunge guitars, etc., but they ultimately end up sounding…
Read MoreJust a touch of Americana flavors Ha Ha Tonka’s The Usual Suspects from 2011’s full-length, Death of a Decade. I dare you not to bob your head and tap your foot! The song thrusts forward urgently, masterfully, and will have you singing the refrain before it finishes. Ha Ha Tonka originally formed in Springfield, Missouri and take their moniker from the Southern Missouri park by the same name. You can find more on Ha Ha Tonka by visiting their web site. This is not…
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