Here's a new edition of The Music Drop with three hard rock / metal bands for you to check out. As always, let me know what you like and what you're listening to.
Cold Kingdom just released their video for "The Break" and it's definitely got my attention. This is the first I've heard of the band but i'm anxious to listen to more after this one. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest. Also, stop by their website and pick up some merch to help them out.
Next up is Gold Frankincense & Myrrh (GFM) with "Graveyard of Identities". This is another band that's new to me but I liked their sound so I figured I'd pass them on and check them out further. Give them a follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Last but not least is Conquer Divide. Congrats to them for passing 1 million views on their video for "Nightmares". If you haven't checked out their full length album you should jump right on it. It's a must purchase. You can do so by visiting their merch store or by buying it digitally at all major digital outlets. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter. They have new music on the way.
Back with a UK edition of The Music Drop. All three bands are fresh off of a comeback and definitely deserve your attention.
First up is a single from Orestea's excellent new cd Elements. If you haven't checked it out yet, scope out the video for "Welcome To Surviville" below. The album blends poppy choruses with Orestea's signature sound and the result is an incredible mix that's a joy to listen to. You can find the album at all major digital outlets and you can buy physical copies as well as merch bundles by clicking this link. Be sure to follow Orestea on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest.
The Dirty Youth have returned with their new single "Hurricane". It's a solid rock ballad that relies on Danni Monroe's vocals to carry it through most of the way. Thankfully she's more than up to the task. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter to find out when the new album drops.
The Marmozets have finally returned with their new single "Play". After the excellent last album, The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets, i'm anxious to get my hands on the new material and take it for a spin. Follow along with them on Facebook and Twitter to find out when you can grab your copy.
Time for a music drop of three punk / grunge bands that you should either know or get to know. Throw a comment on here or social media and let me know what you like and who you are listening to.
Famous punk / grunge outfit L7 are back with a brand new single. Check out the official audio for "Dispatch from Mar-a-Lago". Be sure to follow L7 on Facebook and Twitter to check on new releases and tour dates.
Grim Streaker is a band that's quickly turning some heads with their sound. Their latest official music video for "Miami Girl" is definitely worth your time. Their album Girl Minority is available from their Bandcamp page. If you jump on it now you can buy a collectible cassette tape of their latest album with a digital download for only $6. Have to hurry on this one though. Only 100 copies were made. Follow Grim Streaker on Facebook to keep up with all the latest.
Grim Dylan is a UK based punk / grunge rock band that unfortunately is around no longer. That shouldn't stop you from enjoying what is still one of my favorite albums. Cyclone is one of those album that I feel like should be in every music lovers collection. Just take the single "Seasick" for a spin and let me know what you think. You can find Grim Dylan's album Cyclone at most digital retailers and Spotify. Go check it out.
Chasing Jonah is back with a brand new single. "My Return" is a far cry from the stripped down guitar and vocal arrangements that Ashley Dudukovich once began Chasing Jonah with. The single features great production values and has an epic movie quality about it. Two things that haven't changed are the incredible vocal abilities Ashley has and the emotional impact that she is able to deliver to the listener. This one's a winner.
Be sure to follow Chasing Jonah on Facebook and Twitter. You can buy the song from Bandcamp below and it should be on all other digital platforms soon.
"Poison Me" is the newly released single from rock band JANANI. The track is from their upcoming album Duality, which will be available on October 13th. Those near the Orlando, Florida area can check out their cd release party at The Haven on October 21st.
Nothing More is quickly gaining traction in the music world, and rightfully so. Their latest release, The Stories We Tell Ourselves, is a hard hitting and thoughtfully written rock album with a sound of its own. You can check out the video for their single "Go To War" below. At eighteen tracks the album certainly has some legs, and even though a few of those are merely interludes into the next song, they are always well done and feel more like a necessary addition rather than filler.
Wolfy Burns is the new project that arose from the ashes of the band The Watership Sound. Albert Gonzalez and Ryan Mcdonald are the remaining members that have returned to form the new raw, soulful alternative rock experiment Wolfy Burns. If you never had the pleasure of listening to their previous band, be sure to give them a listen. "Solstice" is easily one of my favorite songs from them and still gets plenty of spins on my playlist.
If you were a fan of Albert Gonzalez's vocals on his previous project, (as you very well should have been), you'll feel right at home here. I've always held Albert's unique vocals in high regard and this album certainly doesn't change that opinion. When you listen to songs like "Etcetera",(see video below), which is probably my favorite track, you'll understand why I regard him as one of the best in the business.
The songs always seem to know when to change tempo and keep things interesting. It's always an accomplishment to release an album that contains nine tracks and keep the listener hanging on every note, but that's exactly what this album has managed to do. I think songs like "Undertow" and "The Kick" will become fan favorites, but you really can't go wrong with any of the tracks on this album. Wolfy Burns has crafted a debut album that begs to be listened to. Hopefully the music will spread to reach a much bigger audience. It would be a shame for an album this fantastic to go unheard. Pick it up today. Links: Buy Wolfy Burns on Itunes Connect with Wolfy Burns on Facebook
Toronto pop artist DYLYN has been releasing singles pretty frequently, and her latest continues the quality I've come to expect from the artist. If you didn't catch the tracks "Mimosa" or "Secret" , be sure to hit those songs immediately. Her latest track, "American Nightmare", should please fans of her previous two releases. It gets an enthusiastic recommendation here. With three tracks under her belt, DYLYN is certainly hitting her stride in grand fashion. Looking forward to what's next.
From the press release: DYLYN's thoughts on the song:
My generation is much more in tune with our emotions and who we are than past generations," says DYLYN of the cut. "Some choose to take a traditional path in life, settle down, get married and have kids, which is cool. But, I always felt as though life was sketched out a little different for me. The 'American Dream' isn't the same as it used to be. There is no age limit, gender, or rules that apply to what we have to do in life. 'American Nightmare' is about setting your own path and playing by your own rules. I don't know what the future holds for me, but for now I'm still figuring out who I am and exploring this crazy path I'm on.
I'm just now discovering Ann Vriend while listening to her 2017 release Anybody's Different. Her sound is a smooth collaboration of different styles. There's definitely a good helping of classic soul in her voice during moments when she's belting out lines in songs like "Will You Be There" (featured below). Listening to songs like "Real Love" definitely has me comparing her vocals to Bonnie Raitt while "All That I Can" definitely has a Norah Jones vibe to it. Not exactly a bad collection of artists to be compared to. Her lyrics come off as genuine and heartfelt and it certainly doesn't hurt that they are delivered with great passion and ability. I walked away impressed after my time with the latest EP. I think you will too. Make sure you check it out and let me know what you think.
Here's a small list of three albums I checked out earlier and didn't get the time to properly review. Be sure to check them out and pick them up if you haven't yet. Let me know your thoughts and suggestions as always.
Woodes - Woodes
If the first thirty seconds of any track by Woodes isn't enough to convince you that this artist is worth listening to, I might not be able to help you. I think it took approximately ten seconds to win me over. The debut release from the Australian talent is a great mix of songs with Pop / Alternative tracks that touch on a variety of different styles. Some of the tracks take a minimalist instrumental approach to highlight Woodes ridiculous vocal ability, which is always a safe bet. There's an ethereal relaxing vibe that gives a lot of the tracks their ambient pop feel. Highly recommended.
The upcoming star from Norway certainly has a lot of momentum behind her this year. Her latest EP was released by Island Records and she's currently making her rounds on TV and doing live appearances. All of this publicity doesn't come without good reason. Her EP Don't Kill My Vibe is a truly wonderful blend of pop music with great hooks and solid vocals. The song "Dynamite" (featured below), is a an emotional heartfelt ballad that shows how much the upcoming star has to offer with her talents. If you haven't checked out the lead single "Don't Kill My Vibe" be sure to do so. It gives you an idea of what to expect for most of the EP. Highly recommended listening.
Links: FacebookTwitter
Kita Alexander - Hotel
While the EP might only be five songs in length, it's an easy one to put on for repeat listens. Kita's voice has always been soothing and it's put to great use on Hotel. There's not a bad song in the bunch but if I had to pick a favorite i'm a little particular to the title track song "Hotel". While the songs aren't going to wow people with their complexity, they don't really need to. Sometimes simplicity is the best option when what's there is great quality. That's the case here. Check this one out.
If you haven't checked out UK rock outfit Tigress you should definitely give their new video a watch. The track "Headaches" is from their new EP Like It Is which I had plenty of good things to say about. You can read the EP review here. While the instrumentals are minimal through a lot of the track they kick in when needed and mostly serve as a backdrop for Katy Jackson's vocal delivery. The track will have no problems finding fans with the punk / pop crowd and probably fans of rock in general. If you haven't yet gotten on board you can follow the band on Facebook and Twitter. If you like what you've heard be sure to pick up a copy of the album or some merch through their website. It's well worth your time and money.
I'd never seen a live set from Orlando, Florida's rock band Janani so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Sure, I'd seen a few cell phone videos posted on Youtube and Facebook but you can't really make a solid judgement from those. I was a fan of their current single "First To Fall" and I had listened to their previous releases recently to get a good understanding of all of the material. The band seems to have progressed a lot with their time together as the most recent release definitely has an edge over past material.
One thing I noticed almost immediately was that I did enjoy their previous releases a lot more while they were being preformed live. Not sure if this was an indication of how much the band has grown or the recording of past releases. The band played through some of their back catalog and threw in a cover of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" to boot. After about three songs I realized that this band was a lot more talented than I had anticipated. Both the instrumentals and vocal delivery were on point for Janani's set. Some of the guitar and drum work was truly impressive as was Jay's delivery on vocals. The band ended the set with their latest single which you can hear in the video below. Janani definitely earned a new place on my radar and it won't be long until I go check them out again. This is a band you need to go see. Make sure you are following them on Facebook and Twitter to catch all the latest releases and show information.
