File this beautiful piece under cinematic pop-rock. Ragnar Ægir, now based in Germany, expounds on missing his homeland, Iceland, with this magnificent video tour along with his single I’m At Home (seen/heard here). At just over three minutes, it’s a brief tour, to be sure, but so beautiful. With travel restrictions firmly in place during the pandemic, the song echos that feeling of disconnection from a home country that you love. Ægir sings: “Your silhouette is coming closer flashes of light in my brain I’m so moved by all your beauty Finally weʼre close…
Read MoreVodka has never been a huge fan of live albums. Give me a good studio recording any day, and I tend to appreciate it more. That said, The Lunar Laugh’ soon-to-be-released Nighthawks! LP is thoughtfully curated, and carefully engineered, and mixed to get that live feel without an abundance of crowd noises. The production is bright and crisp, and the music is expertly played and sung, including wonderful three-part harmonies. What more could you want? Nighthawks! is mostly a collection of back-catalog tunes gathered from very good (see above)…
Read MoreConcept Humanity has a universal language that we need to use as often as we can-the language of music. Music speaks to the soul, reminds us who we are to make us better people, healing wounds, providing a catharsis from fears, anger, love loss, and more. Bands have a tendency to create themselves within a formula and then, whether they like it or not, that formula can bind them to it forever. That can restrict the universal impact of their music and even the enthusiasm the band has for…
Read MoreFull of jangle and mid-tempo alt-rock goodness, Slugs came out with Super Sane (seen/heard here) at the end of the year (December 2020). If it feels alternately celebratory and depressing, that’s by design. The song was written during a time when one friend was killed in a motorcycle accident and another had just given birth to a new baby. It is against that counter-point that Super Sane plays, and it’s successful in every aspect! The four-piece is comprised of Marissa Longstreet (singer/songwriter/guitarist), Sarsten Noice (bass/vocals), Josh Beavers (lead guitar), and Dash Hutton…
Read MoreWant something meaningful in your rock music? Then you will find it in Vinok, a Ukrainian-American indie-rock band that focuses on social justice, and has the pedigree in co-founder, lead vocalist, and keyboardist, Nathalie, to sell it. Nathalie has worked as a mental health professional with those who have experienced severe abuse. Don’t expect this to be some sort of soft-speak delivery to coax you to hear the message. No, Vinok makes their point with a hammer, pounding home the injustices facing so many. Skeptical? Well take a listen…
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