Moon Taxi Releases New Album "Let The Record Play"
Nashville's own alt-rock-five-piece band @moontaxi have just released their highly anticipated fifth studio album, "Let The Record Play" via RCA Records...
Nashville's own alt-rock-five-piece band Moon Taxi have just released their highly anticipated fifth studio album, "Let The Record Play" via RCA Records. Produced and mixed by Spencer Thomson (the band's guitarist), "Let The Record Play" is a triumphant moment of rock-pop exploration that proves that Moon Taxi is a rare band that can address the temperature of our turbulent times while also providing the euphoric musical escapism we so badly need.
Tying into the album release, the band performed their hit single "Two High" on The TODAY Show/Megyn Kelly TODAY. The song is a global streaming hit, reaching #1 at Triple A Radio, is being played on Sirius XM's The Spectrum, Alt Nation and Jam On,and has garnered over 74 million streams on Spotify alone. "Two High" is also being featured in the 2018 Jeep Compass commercial.
"Let The Record Play" is a document of one of the most creative bands to emerge from Nashville's immensely fertile landscape - and one that has been thriving on the festival scene for years, bringing their electric performances to Coachella, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo and beyond. Beloved enough in their hometown to sell out two nights at the famed Ryman Auditorium this past October, this LP, their RCA Records debut, is certain to catapult them even higher.
In support of "Let The Record Play", Trevor Terndrup (vocals, guitarist), Spencer Thomson (guitarist and producer), Wes Bailey (keyboardist), Tommy Putnam (bassist) and Tyler Ritter (drummer) will embark on their Let The Record Play tour starting in February followed by a performance at Bonnaroo in June.
Stream the Latest Album by New Sincerity Works "Wonder Lust"
The ten songs on the New Sincerity Works album "Wonder Lust" tell the stories of hearts, lips, Kentucky on Ohio, and the comings and goings of the luster, lore...
Cincinnati based New Sincerity Works play a familiar style of Alt-Rock tinged with pyschedelic notes. Drawing on obvious influences from The New Pornographers and Spoon, their sound is frantic, at times even histrionic. Twanging, reverb heavy interludes cut the tension between episodes of frenzied screams and rapid-fire, fuzzed out riffs.
The ten songs on the New Sincerity Works album "Wonder Lust" tell the stories of hearts, lips, Kentucky on Ohio, and the comings and goings of the luster, lore, and lure of love and lust. "I wrote the songs to accompany a book of personal photographs. The book never happened but I did get a record out of the whole project. I liked the idea of trying to describe what falling in and out of love is like and what happens in between those extreme modes of living. It's a record about love but not really love songs."- Mike
Review: Broken Social Scene's "Hug Of Thunder" Album
Alternative Rock supergroup @bssmusic is at their best when they sound like joy, and "Hug of Thunder" is the band at its best...
Broken Social Scene is at their best when they sound like joy, and Hug of Thunder is the band at its best.
The album begins with ambient noise piece, “Sol Luna,” until the yelp that announces “Halfway Home,” the album’s first single, kicks in. It’s an announcement: Broken Social Scene is back in full force with its first album in seven years.
This intro, in many ways, is typical BSS—a condensed version of the intro from 2003’s You Forgot it in People—and there’s no reason for them to change this dynamic, because it still works.
Now thirteen years since You Forgot it in People, many of Broken Social Scene’s fans were coming of age of when the album was released. Many have settled into adulthood, or are even approaching middle age, and a bit of familiarity is a fitting way for an iconic band to reintroduce itself—but perhaps more importantly, their style has aged well enough that it does not preclude itself from garnering new fans. The band is often upbeat, they have always used synth, electronic drums, and ambiance well, and the arrangements are lush, perfectly unpredictable, and inviting.
The tracks on Hug of Thunder are often simply beautiful—both “Protest Song,” the third track and “Skyline,” the fourth track, have melodies that are immediately engaging, dreamy, and pristine.
With a rotating cast of lead singers, both male and female, just as Broken Social Scene has done on albums like Broken Social Scene and You Forgot it in People, they have created an entire universe in an album—complete with the kind of heartache and love that sometimes explodes into controlled chaos, and at other times is simply sublime. They might be the most romantic band on the planet.
The moment in the title track, “Hug of Thunder,” when all of the backing vocals and drums finally come in, nearly three minutes into the song, feels like long sought after reconciliation, and it’s the kind of breathtaking moment that Broken Social Scene has always been capable of, but that is rare for any artist in any medium to accomplish.
Yes, it’s been seven years since the band’s last album, but Hug of Thunder is as instantly timeless as the rest of their oeuvre.
Stream/Download "Hug Of Thunder" by Broken Social Scene
Review: Two Cheers' "Rollick" Album
“Rollick” by @twocheersmusic is yet another feel-good summer album I recommend listening to. The album features a unique combination of influences from the 80s...
“Rollick” is yet another feel-good summer album I recommend listening to. The album features a unique combination of influences from the 80s, the post-punk era of the 90s, and the ever-evolving indie pop genre of this decade. Bryan Akcasu, the vocalist and lyricist for the album, has a sweet boyish voice that charms you into a carefree caprice. Head to the beach, or the pool, with a bottle of wine in hand, lay out, and let the pleasant waves of Two Cheers’ new release wash over you.
The album opens with ‘Over My Shoulder’, a upbeat, but unusual, love song illustrating the lyricist awe and adoration for a companion who shines with such a vivacious and bright presence.
‘Woman…’ begins with a fuzzy synth melody supported by a slow swaying rhythm and bittersweet lyrics. ‘Too Late’ begins with stronger presence of 80s synth melody that continues throughout the album. From here we hear the album transition through themes heard over the past decades. ‘Love You to Death’ takes us back to a mild memory of the 90s post-punk era with the harmonies created by the deep, brooding bassline and synthesizer combo.
The album ends with ‘Rest of My Life’, a steady and easy-going conclusion to “Rollick”. The song features our favorite 80s synth melody rolling and swelling throughout the song to create an upbeat, yet relaxing, summer vibe.
Stream/Download "Rollick" by Two Cheers
Interview: Skyler Cocco Discusses Her Debut Album "Reverie" And Touring
@skylercocco is a New York based Alternative Rock/Grunge singer-songwriter who just released her debut album "Reverie" on @diversion_music...
Photo by: Alejandra Lopez
Skyler Cocco is a New York based Alternative Rock/Grunge singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who just released her debut album "Reverie" on Diversion Records. We connected with Skyler to discuss "Reverie" and what excites her the most about its release, as well as what motivated her to make the transition in her sound from Pop to Alternative Rock/Grunge, and much more.
After reading our exclusive interview with Skyler, be sure to stream/download "Reverie" below and follow her on social media so that you can stay up to date on all things Skyler Cocco. Also, check out our in-depth review of "Reverie" here.
Congratulations on your debut album "Reverie" which dropped today. What are you most excited about with this release?
Thank you so much! Firstly, I'm really excited to establish myself and my sound in today's music world. This is only the beginning for me and I'm really happy to continue exploring my sound and taking my music further. This album was extremely personal and took two years to make. Zach Miller (co-producer, mixing, mastering & engineering on the album) really took my sound to the next level and I cannot thank him enough for dedicating so much of his time and effort towards making "Reverie" sound and feel like a reflection of myself. Ultimately I'm most excited for everyone to hear what we've been working so hard on and I'm pumped to finally release it.
As an 11 year old, what attracted you to your father's basement recording studio where you first learned how to use the studio equipment and play instruments (bass, guitar and piano)?
I had been writing songs since I was 7 years old, and at a certain point I couldn't keep imagining what the accompaniment was like in my head, so I needed to make it come alive. My dad bought an 8-track digital recording machine in 2003, and after a few lessons watching how the machine worked I found myself recording almost daily. When I produce a song I usually hear a part in my head, so when I wanted a guitar line I'd learn it myself. Then I taught myself piano, bass and programming drums to fill out my songs more. Music was a huge creative outlet for me, as my head is almost constantly flooded with song ideas and melodies. Having that basement studio was a place for me to begin practicing my craft and release creative energy.
What motivated you to make the transition in your sound from Pop to a heavier Alternative Rock/Grunge sound?
The switch was totally natural. Writing and producing pop music is a very easy process for me and I do enjoy it still, but I never had as much of an emotional attachment to my songs as I have had writing in a more alternative/grunge sound. My influences growing up were hardly pop related (minus my Miley Cyrus obsession) but the music I listened to the most (Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Silversun Pickups) became a soundtrack of inspiration for my songwriting as I entered young adulthood. Being able to make music like those artists and also convey my emotions through my songwriting has put a much bigger meaning to my music overall.
Photo by: Joe Carrotta
Tell us about your tour. Have you been performing many of the songs that will appear on "Reverie"? Also, what do you enjoy most about performing live?
The album has been two years in the making (I started writing it my senior year of college in 2015) but I've been playing with my band since mid 2016. The songs were mostly written and produced by the time we started playing shows, so a bunch of the songs on the album are what we have been performing live. Playing live is quite the trip! I had a bit of stage fright up until my junior year of high school, and now since playing in a few bands at college and later fronting my own band I've never felt more comfortable on stage. I also absolutely adore my band (Nica Statman, Zach Miller, Nic Palmeri, Jake Fineman). They are all incredible musicians I met while studying at the SUNY Purchase Music Conservatory, and they make my songs come alive every show.
Dopecausewesaid is based in Raleigh, NC; we'll love to see you around our way in the near future on stage. Will you be traveling to various states in the coming months in support of the new album?
We've been consistently playing around New York City, and we have a couple shows lined up in Brooklyn, Manhattan and upstate New York. We are working on a few SUNY tours and branching out into neighboring states in the northeast later in the Fall, but I'd love to head south at some point and explore other music scenes in the USA!
Stream/Download "Reverie": iTunes | Spotify
Connect with Skyler Cocco: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Review: Skyler Cocco's "Reverie" LP
@skylercocco new album "Reverie" embodies deep frustration and anger personified by intoxicatingly sweet vocals backed against a rugged foundation of rhythmic and bass guitars...
Photo by: Joe Carrotta
Reverie embodies deep frustration and anger personified by intoxicatingly sweet vocals backed against a rugged foundation of rhythmic and bass guitars: a feeling that can be described as silk running over sandpaper. Cocco moves us past these tumultuous emotions to suspend us within the sublime ambiance of “Awake” and the namesake “Reverie”, only to ease us into refined themes of grungy reminiscent of the former half of the compilation.
When you’re traveling through this album, keep your ears open for:
“Pretty Thieves”: This song has an opening reminiscent of the post-punk/grunge themes of the 1990s, though it quickly dissolves into the dream-like grunge pop Skyler Cocco is known for.
“Awake”: Consider this track the palette cleanser of the album. Ethereal and almost spectral, this lyricless song suspends you in the wake of the frustration experienced in “Perfect Muse”
“Draining”: Here we have a refined complements of vocals, drums, and rhythmic & bass guitar melding together to give that unique feeling of “silk running over sandpaper”. Being the last song on the album, Cocco leaves us wanting more of this ethereal grunge vibe.
Skyler Cocco brings us this album as documentation of her experiences with the loss of her father, her struggles with depression and anxiety, and the presentation of her growth as she matured and developed the skills to cope with her past experiences.
Here is some insight into the album featuring Cocco’s own words:
Reverie is a trip inside my mind during the formative years of post high school through my first few months as a college graduate.
Personally, I was adjusting to life without my dad, struggling to separate my passion for music from his absence, coping with sleep paralysis and vivid nightmares brought on by depression and anxiety, and beginning my first romantic relationship in college.
But my story is one that I never allowed myself to tell before. Reverie gave me a chance to release the chains I put on my emotions.
It let me disclose how draining it is to pretend you are happy, how you can be your own worst enemy, how hiding your emotions can lead to reckless behavior and how frustrating it is to be dropped into an adult world after the bubble of college.
Although writing Reverie was not the easiest process, as I had to relive a lot of situations I’ve done my best to block out, I needed to make this record not only for myself but for those who have coped with loss, depression, and the fear of adulthood.
With this, she presents to us an uniquely energizing grunge-pop debut album and takes us through memories experienced in her youth.
