Vodka doesn’t often get terribly excited about instrumental-only music. It happens though, and quite a lot more often than it used to. It’s not that I don’t like instrumental music, I do. Listening to instrumental music is a pleasant experience, I just have a tough time getting my mind into it enough to review much of it. Some notable exceptions are Lydian Collective, Snarky Puppy, a handful of others, and now Carlos Eiene. Carlos Eine has been a big force in…
Read MoreCrossword Smiles is an indie-pop band with a jangly retro feel. They make perfect little pop gems that please the ear while giving you plenty to dance to. A case in point is Parallel Lines (seen/heard here) from their new LP, Pressed & Ironed, due September 16, 2022. Parallel Lines shares the musical stage with 9 other varied tracks. There’s something for everyone here, but mostly these are mid-tempo numbers with great melodies and harmonies. There’s enough textural difference…
Read MoreThe beautiful soulful voice of Ann King begs to be listened to. Bright and clear, she sings with an earnestness that is instantaneously infectious. Combining pop chops with R&B leanings, It Comes and Goes (seen/heard here) tells the story of searching for, and not yet finding, your own personal happy ending: “But I’ve heard that the bluebird sings Somewhere upon a hill Where the sound of music rings And the rainbow rises still I’ve heard the tales a million times For they change…
Read MorePart countrified dirty blues, part bluegrass, part Americana, and 100% fun is the latest single from Maygen & The Birdwatcher, He Ain’t Me (seen/heard here). Maygen described the video this way in the promotional material that Vodka received: ” [the song] originated from a conversation Noah from our band and his wife jokingly had about all the small things about ourselves that make us feel important. Those small things tend to be what ends up making your relationship feel…
Read MoreThis is not the first time that Big Little Lions has appeared on Vodka. This is a very fun folk-pop duo and they deserve repeat introductions! I Know I Know (seen/heard here) is from the duo’s latest LP Happy Accident (June 2022), and keeps with their signature upbeat and positive music to date. Lyrically, I Know I Know is all about going for it, going forward, not looking back, and how that can work out. In other…
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