I definitely remember being a young tween and realizing I wasn’t quite like my peers; they were devouring Nirvana and the like, and I was at home listening to my sister’s New Order and Cure tapes. They offered this electronic pulse and warmth that I clung to, at least for a few more years. Why does this matter? Well, if you listen to the new single from Germany’s , you’re going to get that sentiment perfectly. It has this driving groove that locks you into dance moves, though like Republic-era New Order, there’s really feathered vocals, bordering on pure pop madness. Motorik beats and swirling ..read more

We’re getting some light rain here in Texas, with the clouds hiding the early morning sun, so I wanted something shiny to spark up our day, like this fresh new single from . While the song opens up an offering that feels akin to current indie pop trends, it quickly delivers a sound built with textures that provide an elegant depth. That bouncing barroom piano playfully sets the song afire, but it’s the overlapping vocals that drive the hook from the chorus deep into your soul. Even if, like me, you’re not up on your Finnish, the sentiment supersedes language barriers, finding a home in your li ..read more

Wings of Desire plan to release this as part of a new EP entitled which is due out on August 30th ..read more

Orchestra Hits by Ed Schrader’s Music Beat , I think I’m more in awe now seeing how they’ve dedicated themselves to never repeating what they’ve done before, going so far in their recent bio to say “the next album’s gotta be different from the last one.” This new single offers up a heartbeat-pulse to begin, but soon rushes off to meet Ed’s vocals; they sound like they’re a bit more operatic than one might expect, which is one of the consistently fascinating things about the group as they seem to evade pigeonholing from twerps like me. There’s this anxiousness that builds throughout, almost lik ..read more

Mingling with the Thorns by WUT feels very Pacific Northwest, at least if you were one of those that grew up listening to Beat Happening and the like. There’s a centric pop melody that courses through the middle, sugar-sliding into your heart with immediacy that opens you up to the group’s playful magic. But, while there’s that tootsie-roll center, the outer coating of the track is filled with sweet discord, punctuated by swirling walls of guitar and snapping drum beats that offer up a bit of bounce. Oh, and stay tuned for the 2 minute mark when they deliver a sharpness that drives home the tr ..read more

Felt like the best way to begin a Friday was with a solid bit of rock n’ roll, though of course it would also come with a little melodic morsel to sample, like this ripping new tune. They’ve just recently dropped , and while I didn’t catch on until just now, you can bet I’ll have you cranking up your speakers immediately. The tune rushes right in with this shattering smatter of noisy discord, all centered around singer Gemma’s voice. Something about the vocals comes across as a bit pensive; they seem dreamy, sure, but they kind of feel as if they’re more of a place of solace amidst the band’s ..read more

My Toxic Friend by The Reds, Pinks & Purples . These two tracks seem juxtaposed, which I think is a great way to toss out new music, as one of the songs surrounds Glenn with this grungy bit of noise, sprinkling in a whimsical bounce beneath the pleasing tones of his voice. It’s perhaps more energetic than what we tend to get from the modern Glenn Donaldson work, thus contrasting against the sadness that pours through speakers on “New Market Space.” That piano line sounds lonesome, and the recording mix has the slightest little bleeding out through the speakers, making it all the more isola ..read more

I sincerely need you to stop writing such catch pop songs that, quite frankly, are ruining my day. I’m sitting here looking at an email inbox of over 100 new tracks and albums, but all I want to do is listen to this new track. I love how you’ve pushed the gritty bits of guitar to the distance; they’re not completely gone, but they allow the pitch of the vocals to really sell the melody. Oh, and then you went and threw in some “whoas” and handclaps. Are you serious? How can you expect anyone to get anything done when you’re writing with such whimsy and joy, all the while tossing in hooks galo ..read more

 returns home to hole up and craft reflective pop songs. On the latest single, she’s reflecting on the realization that all her energy might have been spent on the underserving, leaving her last in line for her own love. She drapes those emotions atop a trickling beat that rolls up and down upon the cresting hills of a subtle piano line. Something in the voice feels like a sense of longing, perhaps the nostalgic leaning of reflecting on past relationships, though coming to grips with that sentiment seems to be the step towards more great pop music from the songwriter ..read more

It’s been a busy season for Harold Whit Williams, but as of late he’s been focusing on the forthcoming EP, which drops this August. Today we’re pleased to share a fresh single from that release, which might have fans of his old project quite enthused. This song’s fueled by a classic pop rock sensibility, offering up these huge guitar riffs that crunch beneath your feet, all centered around the cool vocal delivery of Williams; I love the way “dreaaaaammm” gets stretched out to the max, adding a nice little emphatic touch to the psychedelic burn that bleeds through this new tune. If you’re jammi ..read more