Listening to “Overtryer” the first few times, the word “contrast” frequently came to mind as a defining characteristic of the single from Aggressive Swans, a Munich-based duo. Not surprisingly, the band explains that contrast plays an important role in effectively conveying the song’s lyrical depth and sensibilities.        Both the vocal approaches and the tempos are powerfully different in a comparison of the first verse against the chorus, which begins around 1:11. In the verse, the falsetto vocals evoke a Radiohead-like quality, delivere ..read more

       The theremin and bagpipes share only one attribute – namely, most Rock fans find it challenging to identify an appealing song that features one of these instruments. For bagpipes, the most notable answer is probably AC/DC’s “It's a Long Way to the Top.” And for the theremin, Belle Shea just reduced the level of difficulty with the release of “Leah.”  Shea describes her song as “a defiantly buoyant breakup song about the importance of staying soft.”         For anyone unfamiliar with the theremin, it is a rare instrument played ..read more

       James Ollier explains “The Divide” as a song about being “stuck between two choices.” The song allows the listener to personalize the internal battle of reaching a decision, since the lyrics barely allude to the subject matter of the choices (the lyrics are included at the bottom of this post). Still, the intensity profile and the lyrics clearly communicate the weightiness of the decision.     For almost three minutes, “The Divide” has a stepped-intensity profile that effectively builds upon a sense of urgency. Among the steps, the most significa ..read more

       The song opens with contributions that are individually non-complex, yet collectively powerful. A synth playing a repeating four-note sequence is soon joined by gentle acoustic guitar and baritone vocals with a relaxing gravelly quality. And the first line of the lyrics is an uninsightful, everyday question – “So, who’s making coffee?”. The start is simple but attention-gripping, baiting the listener with expectations for even more. The “more” arrives 23 hypnotic seconds into “Dance With Me,” when percussion and an electric guitar enter without disrupting the i ..read more

       The first verse of “The Morning” transforms a casual encounter into an active listening experience, attempting to identify the nuances and well-crafted subtleties that elevate the enchantment level of the song above those of other emotionally appealing songs. One easily recognizable feature is the melodic charm and beauty of the acoustic guitar that opens the single from Oliver Hazard. The guitar melody shines during each space within the intervaled and harmonized vocal delivery.        Additional instrumentation begins to enter 53 seco ..read more

        The layered guitars during the intro give notice of the sophisticated texturing of “Incarnadine.” Shortly, the vocals enter with almost unmistakable proof that Grunge influenced the writing and performance by The Bottoms. The song appealingly blends sensibilities from various genres, primarily Rock and Grunge, but backing vocals often have the reverberated sonic texture characteristic of Dream Pop.        Instrumentally, the highlight for many listeners is likely the soft layered guitars featured at the start of “Incarnadine,” as ..read more

       Reuben and The Dark skillfully explore lower frequencies that are chest-vibrating when played on a system with a quality subwoofer. The best example is the band’s cover of “What a Wonderful Life,” which is on the soundtrack of the 2020 film “Dolittle.” The band recently collaborated with The Bullhorn Singers in the release of another song, “Powerful,” with a strong presence in the low frequencies.        Reuben Bullock is the lead singer and songwriter of the Canada-based Reuben and The Dark. The Bullhorn Singers are also based in Canad ..read more

       It’s appropriate that a song titled “Take a Look at Me” immediately reveals its personality. Within the initial 10 seconds, the vocal alteration telegraphs the emphasis on commanding vocalization, while the power percussion exposes the song as one that will not lack energy. The intensity profile of the release from Pally Ink exhibits many intriguing variations, such as a more controlled yet still energetic Lord Huron-like segment that begins around 2:15 (and a departing surge at 3:08). But the accuracy of the following description holds true throughout the sin ..read more

      Among the songs that have drawn attention in 2024, there are three with titles that include “God." The first two are from 23-year-old artists.      Jonah Kagen is from Savannah, Georgia. “God Needs The Devil” features a main portion that is rousing and an outro that is pensive. He is described as “a multifaceted artist with a deep and long-standing affinity for songwriting, performing, and producing.”      “God Needs The Devil” by Jonah Kagen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonahkagen/Website: https://www.jonahkagen.com/   ..read more

       The tempo was slowed and the vocals made more deliberate. For the Season 2 Finale of Mr. Robot (2016), “The Moth” was covered by Les Deux Love Orchestra, with Bobby Woods featured on vocals. The original by Aimee Mann is appealing, but the lyrical message of “The Moth” is more compelling with the arrangement of the cover.       The story of the moth and its attraction to a flame is well known for its representation of a person who is irresistibly drawn to someone or something that is potentially harmful. In the song “The Moth,” the person rep ..read more