SHARK-FIN AWARDS

Recording in the right setting always has an effect on the artist in charge of the project, and in virtually all cases, the aesthetics of the content they’re recording. While Taylor Jules is more known for her straightforward pop harmonies than she is for any form of soul-laden poeticisms, her …

When you get the energy flowing with as much panache and efficiency as indie syndicate Cedars does in their new single “Empire,” it’s a decent likelihood you play alternative rock the right way. The frills, the fluff, and the ridiculously fat tones that we used to get away with some …

Ambitiousness doesn’t always equate to indulgence, and Mainland Break does a pretty awesome job reminding us all of this in their new album One Way Ticket to Midnight. In this latest affair to bear their name in the byline, One Way Ticket to Midnight lives up to the experimental premise of Mainland Break’s …

Anthony Sobak’s music has several factors distinguishing it from run-of-the-mill fare. His vocals are definitely one of the key ingredients giving him a different flavor. Sobak’s voice is far from conventionally “pretty”, but it’s bursting with soul and rugged unquestionable passion. The miles you hear in his vocals lend added …

Rob Alexander’s latest musical endeavor, Young Man’s Eyes, is a sonic masterpiece that seamlessly blends rock sensibilities with heartfelt storytelling. With thirteen tracks clocking in at just around fifty minutes, this album takes listeners on an exhilarating journey filled with introspection, raw emotion, and infectious hooks that will have you …

Chris St. John’s particular brand of Americana has corralled considerable acclaim, including a Grammy nomination for his earlier album Fly Away. His new collection The Sinner and the Saint picks up where his past release leaves off and delivers eleven tracks illustrating his ample growth. His musicianship, vocals, and writing point the way …

There’s more than a little swagger in the opening bars that precede the first few verses Dale Ann Bradley will sing in her new album Kentucky for Me; her confidence bleeds into the harmonies of “The Sun is Going to Shine” as though she had written the song for the very …

The slight stumble of druggy melodicism greets us in The Grunions’ “Pink Manta” as if to suggest that the road ahead of us in the new album Shadow Breaker is quite treacherous when it’s in fact as smooth sailing as it gets in indie rock these days. Acerbically eclectic from …

It starts with more cadence than I’m used to in a rock single, but before long, the track starts to rumble like nobody’s business. This song is lean and mean and yet it feels like it’s got the size to smash anything that gets in its path. Under the command …

Those who dismiss instrumental music driven by piano and flute as easy-listening tripe will do well to give Outside the Maze, the new release from Gilliam/Martynec/McBirnie, a chance. The trio expands the possibilities of instrumental music within this context in ways that will surprise and delight even the most cynical listener. …