Crazy good melodies, great hooks, fabulous harmonies: Dropkick returns to Vodka with It’s Still Raining from their March 2018 long-player, Longwave. You may remember Vodka’s other reviews of Dropkick, but if not, here’s a look back: Slowdown – (March 2016) Style – (November 2013) Dropkick has a rock sensibility with alt-folk flavor and a pop-rock delivery. Fully capable of delving into retro 70′s style music along with modern influenced pop, they have an easy style that is pleasing and delightfully singable. What’s more, from their earliest days to today, they have consistently…
Read MoreThea Gilmore’s brand of in-your-face pop anthem often feature a fast pace and a melody that is infinitely singable. In fact, this song, New (seen/heard here) one of 17 and change from the new LP Counterweight (June 2017), nearly commands that you sing along-it’s just that infectious. In some respects, Thea Gilmore might be described as this era’s Joan Baez. Her songs are often riddled with political and social commentary and contain anger at the status quo that lies just at the surface. That the tunes are so accessible is a…
Read MorePhil Lomac’s video for Northern Lights, the first track from his latest long-player Northern Cities Southern Stars (March 2017), is a surreal look at light. Musically, Northern Lights is modern rock at its finest. There is textural complexity here, with lighter and heavier components from the driving rhythm provided by both guitars and drums, to the wonderful tuneful and beautiful lyric delivery. Throughout Northern Cities Southern Stars there is a juxtaposition of harder and edgier guitars that quickly shifts to quieter moments of poignancy with the edges left in…
Read MoreHope & Social have been making music since 2008-well actually before 2008 if you count many of the member’s previous bands, Four Day Hombre. Each offering is full of rich textures and melodic twists and turns. Take Feel, the title track to the band’s latest (October 2016) long-player as an example. Feel begins almost in discord and rapidly takes the beginning theme into a more complex melody adding in horns, electronics, guitars, drums, and more. Literally, everything provides rhythm here. There are ebbs and flows and crescendos, all…
Read MoreThe pop-rock hook of Giving Her More from Chapell (a.k.a. Alan Chapell) is undeniable, but the hook is just part of the charm. Giving Her More, from Chapell’s stellar March 2016 long-player, The Redhead’s Allegations, is a study in the positive; A positive story and a positive and uplifting feel. And why not? Alan Chapell has a lot to be thankful for. He was blessed with an abundance of talent, a penchant for attracting the right friends (Talking Heads keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison led production duties for The Redhead’s…
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