PICK OF THE WEEK

Gilded strums flow through our speakers in “Whatchoo Gonna Do,” and despite their regal quality, theirs is honestly just as soothing a sound as that of the rumble in “(Meet Me at the) Delaware Water Gap,” the gentle picking in “Angelina of the Sky” and the angst-ridden chug of “The …

Surreal soundscapes that demand as much of a reaction out of us through the texture of their melodies as they do the substance of their soulful lyricism. Guitars that ache with the pressurized wonderment of youth. Basslines that bleed out of our speakers and drown everything within earshot. Percussion that …

On the surface, Here In Dead Lights, by the indie rock band, Byre, is not exactly what it winds up being underneath the surface. The reason for this phenomenon is that it defies much categorization in the process of coming off more-straight forward at first. This is not some pedestrian …

It isn’t very often that disciples of the folk, pop and country genres get together to celebrate the same record, and what it does happen, it’s a pretty big deal to say the least. That said, Ease Up, the new extended play from Jay Elle, is a record that qualifies as …

In his debut single, titled “What Really Matters,” songwriter Dan Ashley looks back at a wild life’s most valuable lessons as learned through the lens of a journalist, and while this is only the first look that we’ve collectively had at his unique style of play, it’s a formidable summer …

In the new single “Lonely Boy,” Midnight Shine and their charismatic frontman Adrian Sutherland deliver one of the most searing performances that they’ve attached their well-respected moniker to thus far, and while the content of the composition is more than satisfying on its own, the music video for the track …

Matthew Squires issues a formidable sequel to his last album, the plaintive Tambaleo, in Visions of America, a record that not only lives up to its title but further explores a poetic side of Squires’ artistry that was only slightly touched on in its predecessor. In lyric-driven ballads like “The Sentinel,” “Lonesome,” …

Canadian songwriter Jeremy Rice is garnering a ton of buzz this September, and it’s undoubtedly because of the new music video for his single “Arriianne.” With a colorful cast of characters that include five forest green sock puppets, the video for “Arriianne” is a creatively black and white revival of …

Nick Demopoulos, working under the moniker Smomid, produces musical compositions defying tradition and pushing listener’s ideas about songcraft into challenging new areas. It is key for readers and potential listeners to recognize what awaits them before hearing this release for a first time. He writes and records music with self-designed …

With the cadence of an elevated heartbeat, Nocturnal Blonde kick off their new album Still Gushing with an evocative drumbeat and a burning vocal harmony between Rachel Adams and Richie Williams in the first of the twelve tracks that Williams wrote with his brother Dave, “Smart Heart.” “Smart Heart” shoulders a beast …