MUSIC REVIEWS

Raine Mara has fronted several bands in the Texas indie punk scene for almost twenty years and, when her last band MeanGirls broke up in 2019, Mara saw an opportunity to pursue long-deferred solo aspirations. She spent the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic writing, producing, and performing her debut solo …

Jeff Lake & Cellophane Flowers “Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows” The chaos of the instruments. The raspy melodic cry of the vocal. The incomparable thrust of the percussion in the backdrop. Yes, these are the most recognizable traits one thinks of when recalling the rich listening experience …

The first thirty seconds or so of the new single “Hämärästä aamunkoihin” from Juha Jyrkäs initially bewitch us with ambient themes that seem like they could go on for an endless amount of time, their textural presence commanding so much of our attention that seemingly not much else could match …

In a pop music world that is infatuated with pop culture, Trevor Drury dares to be different. His new song “Alice” is a complexity of honesty, riveting beat and lush, dreamy string arrangements. That’s not even half of it – Drury’s vocals bond together movie-star good looks and sensitive artistry. “Alice”, a song that Drury dreamed …

“Trouble,” a groovy new single from 18-year-old singer/songwriter Ashley Suppa, has a fun retro feel to it, very danceable. Suppa’s voice sticks out immediately, powerful and gorgeous. She has awesome range and sounds like she has been doing this all her life. And she sort of has. Suppa’s first musical …

Jason Shand’s vision is definitely distinct. It exists in this vacuum of nostalgia that we haven’t seen in some time with his recent release “I Know”. The singer/songwriter who also produced this track from his forthcoming album “The Petty Narccisist.”, has carved something that feels like it came from the …

“Don’t Lose Heart” is the inspiring new country-fused track from Candace Asher. Co-written by Dwight Liles, this tender song reflects the proverb ‘speak softly and carry a big stick.’ With such a swarming of warm strings, a coveted piano bed and trustworthy acoustic guitar. It all blends together with Asher’s …

There’s a buxomness to the strum of the guitar we hear in the opening bars of “She’s Come to Sing” that is bound to make some of us assume it’s going to be the greatest gem in the track ahead of the 0:13 mark in the song. If you keep …

Longtime touring keyboard player and vocalist Doug Kistner stays busy working with former longtime members of Billy Joel’s band such as renowned drummer Liberty DeVito, among others, and Glen Burtnik’s Summer of Love project. His need to express himself, however, doesn’t end there. His creative passions, ignited in childhood, burning …

Despite the plethora of naysayers proclaiming the End of Rock, progressive rock has sustained strong ongoing popularity while other genres receded in favor. Particular regions of the world are hotbeds for such acts and South America is one; the band Aisles, first formed in 2003, is a Chilean six piece …