The fusion of pop and funk elements in “Ghost” cut through an air of melancholy. It combines pop sensibilities, funk guitar riffs and basslines and ghostly, haunting bells, synths and eerie organs drenched in heavy reverb. Rennison expresses complex emotions and inner turmoil through indie-pop piano balladry as he digs deep to give us this soul-stirring piece of art.
The slinky lounge-pop tune “All and Only” finds Brownderville reflecting on our near-universal experience with unrequited love against a juxtaposition of strummed acoustic guitar and shimmering electric piano sounds. There is a lush and limitless vibe throughout Beekeeper Spaceman, where handcrafted folk tunes blossom over and over again into strange and engaging electro-pop songs stuffed with synthesized sounds, exposed roots of acoustic guitar, surreal stories and intriguing arrangements that feel like vibrant little worlds unto themselves.
Today is a great day to share the latest single from Coma Girls, called “Candles.” Coma Girls is the moniker of songwriter Chris Spino, and he tackles the themes of addiction, recovery, and wanting to be a better person with grace and poise. On this journey of self-reflection that is drenched in great guitar sounds and soothing vocals, Coma Girls showcase his staying power in the music scene.
This band is exactly what I envision when I think of a rock and roll outfit. The Helltones perform with screeches and howls, rough and ready for the primal devotee. Based out of Oakland, they describe themselves as a six-piece surf-soul rock and roll outfit that celebrates a wide swath of retro music and culture, recycling snippets from early garage rock, Motown, surf, and blues. I particularly like that.
Glide is premiering the fervently emotive “Burn Down” from Shannon Clark & The Sugar that resonates with the narrative flair of early Lyle Lovett and the expansive roots rock colors of Rodney Crowell. The band turns a dire theme into a significant musical prayer of hope and redemption while glaringly reflecting on how the world can do a 180 on you in a split second.
The Helltones, “When We’re Moving” – Bay Area garage rockers The Helltones have a breezy throwback surf-rock sound with touches of doo-wop and psychedelia. “When We’re Moving,” about going out dancing with your friends, has a ’70s R&B feel to it with organ, saxophone and wah-inflected guitar.