Gileah Taylor – “Sweetness Surrounding” (Video Premiere)

Today I’m so excited to bring everyone the latest video from ultra-talented songwriter Gileah Taylor, from her new album Slow Parade, called “Sweetness Surrounding.” It’s a song about putting on a happy face while feeling sad and lost, and fits well for fans of Big Thief or Boygenius. When speaking on her new single, Taylor mentioned, ““I felt lost and wanted to be by myself, to a scary point. I recognized where I was and decided to make a change. I took steps to feel better, like taking morning walks, choosing the good things around me, and listening to the birds.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider purchasing Slow Parade here. You can also check out some insight on the new single from Gileah Taylor below.

Adam Grundy 2 days ago

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone an early listen to the new Sarah and the Safe Word single called “Pornstar Martini.” On this Motown-inspired track that sounds like a combination between early Panic! at the Disco paired with that classic Sarah and the Safe Word sound, the band continues their dramatic artistic development. Sarah Rose shared, “We wrote this song while we were on tour in the UK on an off day. I remember sitting in our AirBNB in Manchester and the chorus just kind of came out. Kienan and I knew pretty much right away that we were going to make a song out of it. It’s a love letter to our time in the UK as much as it is a love letter to some of our favorite vintage sounds. Feels like an interesting new chapter for the band. I’m excited to take folks along for this ride.” Additionally, lead guitarist Kienan Dietrich mentioned, “We’re trying to broaden the scope of our sound a tiny bit by taking the time machine back only a few decades instead of an entire century. The combination of references to works of dark academia, like Donna Tartt and Bret Easton Ellis, with a bright, Motown/Stax Records kind of music is such a fun thing to explore. The clash of squeaky clean, pop culture memories with the reality underpinning those memories. Classic juxtaposition stuff, and classic Safe Word. At the end of the day, who doesn’t want a penthouse view?” If you’re enjoying the early listen, you can stream it everywhere you get your music tomorrow. I was also able to catch up with the Kienan and Sarah for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 2 days ago

There’s a magic feeling when a band you’ve been following for some time puts all the pieces together and delivers an incredible work of art. Smallpools have done just that on Ghost Town Road (East), an electric-charged EP that encapsulates everything that made me fall in love with this band’s style in the first place. This three-piece pop rock band makes all the right moves on this record that has a very 80’s new wave feel to it, while still maintaining a modern flair to it to ensure it connects with new audiences.

Adam Grundy 2 days ago

Today is a great day to share the new music video from Joseph Luca, featuring The Pocket Queen, called “One Last Dance.” On this heartfelt song about the pitfalls of putting too much into a one-sided relationship, Luca’s breathtaking vocals lend themselves well to the theme here. Luca shared, “‘One Last Dance’ acts as one last romantic gesture to breathe life back into a relationship teetering on the edge of ruin. At its core, the song dives into the profound inquiry of whether the perceived toxicity within the relationship is an authentic manifestation or merely a construct derived from a shared and distorted viewpoint.” If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider streaming his latest EP here. I was also able to catch up with this talented artist for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 5 days ago

Another Record Store Day has come and gone. Did you snag that coveted pressing of that album you had your eye on? Hopefully your experience was as good as mine was, and you were able to grab at least something on your list either in-person or online afterwards. In this article, I’ll be recapping things I noticed about the most popular titles going first, providing feedback on the pressing numbers for this year’s collection, and ways to keep vinyl fans engaged with their local record stores throughout the year.

Adam Grundy 5 days ago

Recently I was able to catch up with a talented pop-punk band called Suck Brick Kid to discuss everything that went into the writing of their new album, The End Is What I Want. Out on May 17 via Smartpunk Records, the new record will have you laughing, crying, and reflecting on all of those nostalgia-tinged memories we experience. With a slick pop-punk sound, Suck Brick Kid would be perfect for fans of Set Your Goals, Sum 41, Four Year Strong, and Blink-182.

Adam Grundy 5 days ago

Recently I was able to catch up with Charlotte, North Carolina-based power pop band, The Eyebrows, to discuss their latest album called Double Take. The Eyebrows are singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Garrigan, bassist and vocalist Darrin Gray, and drummer and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lynch. In this interview, I asked the band about what went into the writing/recording process for Double Take, how they approach building out their setlists for tours, and much more. Double Take released on April 19th, and there are still a few physical options of the record at the band’s store here.

Adam Grundy 6 days ago

Recently I was able to catch up with a German quartet called Letters Sent Home to discuss their new LP, Forever Undone, that released today via SharpTone Records. The highly anticipated album features recently released singles, “Request Denied” and “Elements”, alongside nine ambitious and exciting new tracks. The band is comprised of singer Emily Paschke, bassist Lara Ripke, guitarist Robin Werner, and drummer Louis Schramm. In this interview, I asked the band about their excitement level with releasing their debut LP, their touring plans, and much more. Forever Undone can be purchased here.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

The first week of our Record Store Day countdown series wraps up today with a look into the live set from The 1975 called Live At Gorilla. This performance of the band’s debut LP, played in full from front to back for the first time since 2013, was recorded live in Manchester on February 1, 2023 and remains faithful to the original recording. The “RSD First” double LP is limited to 7,500 copies via Interscope Records and is pressed on white vinyl. The artwork for Live At Gorilla can be found below.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

Today I’m excited to share with everyone the latest single from Applied Communications called “Oxytocin Drunk.” Applied Communications is the music alias of Max Wood, and he channels his love for slick production and powerful songwriting in a crowd-pleasing package. When speaking on the new single, Max shared that “Oxytocin Drunk” is “the first song I finished when I decided to make music again. It’s about the joy of being disappointed; realizing that means that you are capable of caring really deeply about the people, ideas, and experiences in your life. I tried to keep it relatively straightforward and poppy, though the yowling off-key chorus vocals and abrupt shifts will probably lose some folks.” If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering his upcoming EP here. I was also able to catch up with Max for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

Today I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to a new artist named Elly Low, and share her debut music video for “I’m Afraid.” This song is a catchy jazz-pop track that explores the relatable vulnerability and uncertainty of falling in love. The song reminds me a bit of Amy Winehouse’s charisma paired with Lana Del Rey’s songwriting. Her label shared, “Elly sent me a few demos, and I was knocked out. I immediately offered her a development deal. She has a modern sound in an earthy, bluesy, Georgia kind of way. ‘I’m Afraid’ is the first of what’s going to be many songs coming from this uniquely talented singer/songwriter.” If you’re enjoying the debut single from Elly Low, keep an eye out for her debut EP that will be released later this year. I was also able to catch up with Elly for a brief interview below.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

The march towards Record Store Day continues today with a look at Collective Soul and their fourth studio album, Dosage. The record is celebrating a 25th anniversary this year, so the timing was perfect to reissue this LP. This “RSD First” release is limited to just 2,000 copies via Craft Recordings, and it is pressed on “translucent lemonade” vinyl. The set features the singles “Heavy,” and one of my all-time favorite ballads in “Run.”

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

Today is a great day to share the new single from Crow and Gazelle called “The Only Thing.” The song comes from the band’s new LP, As Above Now So Below, that releases everywhere music is sold on April 26th. The band shared:

When I used to volunteer in the max ward of the jail in Austin, I would sing this chorus to the women in our closing circle, where we worked to heal trauma, every week. In the context of this album, the words of this song fit the theme of love helping us to heal and to recover…A song of love, but not just to another… this one, especially the first part, is often sung to myself–to the part of me that I have recovered and reclaimed, which was torn apart as a child. She is the one who helps drive out the demons of the past. Because I want to give her that power, now, just as I want to give it to anyone who has suffered at the hands of another. To undo, unlearn, and draw attention to the truth of our worth, through songs like this and the rest of this album, feels like ‘the only thing I’ve done right.’ Not literally of course, but it feels like the most right thing I could do, at this very moment. Love brought us both to this place–it empowered us to find our truth, and to share it.

If you’re enjoying the early listen, you can pre-save the new LP here.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

The countdown to the annual Record Store Day observance continues today by taking a look at Paramore and their three vinyl releases. Paramore will be releasing their remix album, Re: This Is Why on red vinyl, as well as the comprehensive reissue of This Is Why plus Re: This Is Why on red/tan vinyl. This year’s Record Store Day Ambassadors are also releasing a 12″ vinyl single of their cover of a Talking Heads classic “Burning Down the House” with David Byrne contributing a cover of Paramore’s “Hard Times” from After Laughter on the A-side.

Adam Grundy 2 weeks ago

The sophomore album from Chicago’s Motel Breakfast, called I Promise I’m Having Fun was produced by R. Andrew Humphrey (Twin Peaks) and captures an indie rock spirit in the same vein of bands like Cold War Kids, Dr. Dog and The Menzingers. These emo-tinged songs were written by all five band members, and showcase a band starting to come into their own identity. Motel Breakfast is Conor Brennan, Drue deVente, Jimmy Drenovsky, Mick O’Donnell, and Jesse Nasadowski, and their band chemistry pays off on I Promise I’m Having Fun.

Gileah Taylor – “Sweetness Surrounding” (Video Premiere)

Interview: Sarah and the Safe Word

Review: Smallpools – Ghost Town Road (East)

Joseph Luca – “One Last Dance” (Video Premiere)

Record Store Day Roundup: 2024 Edition

Interview: Suck Brick Kid

Interview: The Eyebrows

Interview: Letters Sent Home

Record Store Day Countdown: The 1975 – Live At Gorilla

Applied Communications – “Oxytocin Drunk” (Song Premiere)

Elly Low – “I’m Afraid” (Video Premiere)

Record Store Day Countdown: Collective Soul – Dosage

Crow and Gazelle – “The Only Thing” (Song Premiere)

Record Store Day Countdown: Paramore – ‘Re: This Is Why/Burning Down the House’

Review: Motel Breakfast – I Promise I’m Having Fun