Review: Tatum Gale – “New Look, Same Great Flavor”

Adam Grundy May 20, 2022

The latest single from Tatum Gale, called “New Look, Same Great Flavor” is an open letter of criticism of the music industry, and is dripped with tongue-in-cheek lyrics over oozing synths and eclectic beats. The song laments on the way that the music scene is always clamoring over the “next big thing,” while ignoring some of the artists that truly break down barriers with their sound. The track is the opener from Gale’s upcoming full-length record, the independently released Pretty Green, and offers a perplexing narrative of how the music industry can keep churning out the same product. Gale mentioned about the song, “This is as hyper-pop as the album gets. It’s a super bright, punchy, distorted dance time. It is a collage of some of the gaudy, empty images we’ve seen going out on the town in the pre- and post-pandemic era.” The new single would be a good fit for fans of Toro y Moi and The Avalanches.

Adam Grundy May 19, 2022

The latest single from Taxes has arrived, called “Last Call,” and it showcases the breadth of growth from the band’s primary songwriter Robby Cronholm. The band does a great job of capturing the emo spirit on this latest song and it’s filled with great hooks, brilliant instrumentation, and crisp vocals. Cronholm had this to say about “Last Call,”

Sometimes you have no idea what a song is about, not really, until it has been recorded, mixed, mastered and the world is about to hear it. ‘Last Call’ is like that, in the sense that I had no idea how a song which started as a silly, small, poppy number about the bartender’s dreaded shout at 1:30 became such a personal song. In much the same vein, I knew the record needed to be titled Retirement Home, but of course without the slightest idea why it needed that name. They both started as a throw-away joke about my age: I’m 46 and rock and roll is a young person’s game. Now? It isn’t a joke. Now the song and the record make perfect sense. I have always been obsessed with mortality. My obsession has softened with age but it still haunts me in almost every quiet moment. I set out to make this record because I felt the need to stave off those compulsive thoughts. So, I set off to write a song that didn’t take itself too seriously as a reminder to not do the same with myself. I think it worked. It’s raucous and joyous. It’s silly and a little sad. For Christ’s sake, it features my singer Aishlin and I, nearly dead and buried, still screaming against the final curtain call and Jerry Harrison flossing his teeth. It’s a good reminder to not take oneself too seriously, to hold the ones you love close and to not go gentle into that good night. Speakers up.

”Last Call” will be ready for addition to your playlists when it releases on May 20th.

Adam Grundy May 18, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone the latest music video from the ultra-talented artist, Kate Clover, an electric cover of X’s “Your Phone’s Off The Hook, But You’re Not.” This track is a stand alone single that keeps the interest high in this artist who is transcending genres and boundaries. If you enjoy Kate Clover’s style as much as I do, please consider purchasing her latest full-length record called Bleed Your Heart Out here.

Adam Grundy May 17, 2022

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know by now that My Chemical Romance have returned with their first new taste of music in over eight years with “The Foundations of Decay.” The bombastic new track from MCR features several bread crumbs to where the band originated from, while still moving the needle forward in their musical evolution. The six-minute song is filled with anthemic moments courtesy of the four core band members, Gerard Way, Ray Toro, Frank Iero, and Mikey Way, while each band member hits their intended target on this aggressive-sounding single. My Chemical Romance made their triumphant return to the stage yesterday in the U.K. and their set kicked off with this song to establish the tone for their legendary material that followed.

Adam Grundy May 17, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the brand new music video from glam rocker Art d’Ecco called “Midlife Crisis.” The track comes from his upcoming new LP entitled After The Head Rush, and the song relives the glory days of glam rock from the 70’s from transcendent artists like David Bowie. Armed with a plethora of great hooks balanced with a pulsating bass line throughout the song, “Midlife Crisis” finds Art exploring the complexities of growing up and still finding time to dance away the worries. Art shared this about the direction found on After The Head Rush, “I wanted to produce a big, bright, sparkly album. Along the lines of something you hear in a Tears For Fears or Peter Gabriel record, or something Bob Clearmountain would have mixed in the ’80s.” By paying homage to the great artists of the past, while still presenting something new for audiences to gush over, Art d’Ecco remains one of the more interesting artists to watch as this year unfolds.

If you’re enjoying the latest single, please consider pre-ordering After The Head Rush here.

Adam Grundy May 16, 2022

Today is a great day to share the new single from Washington DC’s own power-pop rock band, Broke Royals. The band is set to release their third full-length record called Local Support, and the album was produced by Bartees Strange. Recorded largely during the height of the pandemic, Broke Royals look to regain momentum towards the better days that lie ahead. When asked about the direction they took on this latest album, the band shared:

People forget that, especially in its earliest inception, “Rock music is dance music. Rock music is party music.” In October 2020, right as we first started working on the song, Eddie Van Halen died. It was a gut punch for all of us but extra inspiration to stay true to the mission: make a fun rock song about bringing the party back to life.

Broke Royals have brought the party to the start of your new week, courtesy of this single called “Revivalism.” Local Support will be out everywhere music is sold on July 15th via Byrdland Records.

Adam Grundy May 13, 2022

Today I’m excited to bring everyone the latest single from powerhouse singer Alice Merton called “Loveback.” The track inches closer to the finish line of her June 17th sophomore effort entitled S.I.D.E.S., and this artist would be perfect for fans of Florence and the Machine, Your Smith, and Maggie Rogers. Merton shared this about the latest single:

”‘Loveback’ talks about waking up one day and realizing someone has stolen a part of you that you want back. It was the realization that I didn’t ‘need’ anyone to exist. I was never dependent on anyone or anything, even if it at times felt like it. I felt like I was handing out something I was rarely getting back. At some point I felt like I had forgotten why I’m doing what I’m doing, and felt like I had lost sight of what’s really important to me.”

By setting her sights firmly back on what’s most important in her life, “Loveback” finds Alice Merton simultaneously at her most vulnerable and purposeful. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering the new record here.

Adam Grundy May 12, 2022

On the latest offering of music from Albany, NY’s pop-punk band State Champs hone in on what their band does best, and still leave room for new added elements to their trademark sound. The band was at their most proficient, narrowing down over 30 songs to the 11 found on Kings of the New Age, and we’re left with the tracks they felt best represented this latest chapter of their musical discovery. The set of songs was produced by Drew Fulk (Ice Nine Kills, Lil Wayne) and he does a great job of bringing the band’s authentic songwriting to the forefront of the production. The album contains four songs with outside collaborators, including the single “Everybody But You” featuring Ben Barlow, and each of these guest spots lend themselves well to the overall sound State Champs went for. The band shared this about the album direction, “Lyrically, KOTNA is a reflection on the past few years during a very weird time. However, it is also a reminder that we’re only here for so long. Although we always live and learn by trial and error in areas like friendships, family, careers, relationships, etc., there’s no time for toxicity and negativity when a certain opportunity presents itself. Never waste a moment that can be seized. Times are changing, culture is evolving, and we’re happy to provide the soundtrack and let you know that we’re here to stay. Welcome to the new age.” With their pop-punk flag firmly planted, State Champs may have just provided us with the soundtrack to help remind us of the care free days and the endless possibilities of a summer that could change our lives for the better.

Adam Grundy May 11, 2022

The latest taste of music from the post-hardcore trio called Vagrants is a thrilling collection of anthems ready to be absorbed into your ears. The album is entitled Be Consumed, and its fitting because the record surrounds the listener with a massive wall of sound that rarely loses focus. For those unfamiliar with the band, they are comprised of vocalist/guitarist Jose DelRio, drummer Anastasia Hayes, and guitarist Bryce Ballinger, and their sound strays somewhere between the realm of Underoath, Saosin, and Silverstein. The band shared this about their new album, “We are incredibly excited to have Be Consumed out into the world. Being able to pour ourselves into the writing and recording of this record truly served as a ‘life raft’ to get us through these past couple of years. We really feel like this record serves to define where we are right now as a band, and give a glimpse into where we might head next. Our next step is to get back on the road and play these new songs in a live context. We are really looking forward to seeing which of the 12 tracks really translate and connect with people.” Armed with a plethora of breakneck hooks and meaningful lyrics, Vagrants are well-equipped for the journey that lays ahead of them.

Adam Grundy May 10, 2022

Bad times will come and go. Sadness isn’t forever. But misery? Damn, that can feel like a ton of bricks weighing you down to the point of paralyzing helplessness. On the band’s tenth studio album, Silverstein have misery well on their mind with Misery Made Me. The band took a deep dive into the introspective with their last effort, A Beautiful Place To Drown, and that experience seemed to have made the band look towards heavier tones and themes on this latest record. The promotion cycle for this latest album started with the release of one of their heaviest songs to date in “Bankrupt,” and roughly seven months later the band upped the ante again with “It’s Over,” a blistering song about being on the verge of throwing in the towel. Much like other records, Misery Made Me features four songs that have an outside collaborator, and each cameo appearance is well thought out and calculated. This album is one of the heavier records the band has released (in both guitar tones as well as lyrical material) and yet as Silverstein explore the darkest parts of these feelings, they come back into the light with cautious optimism that things can (eventually) get better.

Adam Grundy May 6, 2022

Today I’m thrilled to bring everyone a really cool music video for a cover of an Uncle Kracker classic, “Follow Me,” presented in the style of alternative rock/punk band Nautical Mile. The band, who hails from Perth, Australia, have toured with scene heavyweights like Senses Fail, Hawthorne Heights and Hands Like Houses and also released an EP of their own tunes recently called Embers. I was able to catch up with Nautical Mile to discuss their cover song, as well as what they’ve been up to musically, and if you’re enjoying the new single, you can purchase it at your favorite streaming service.

Adam Grundy May 5, 2022

Today I’m really excited to bring everyone a new song by LA-based indie rock band, Near Beer, for their electric new single called “Yelling At A Dog.” The band is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Joey Siara, drummer Brent Stanathan, and bassist Jeremy Levy, and their dedication to their musical craft pays off widely on songs like this. Merged somewhere between the songwriting groove of Tom Petty, the modern flair of Brian Fallon, and the punk rock spirit of The Descendents, Near Beer could very well be your next music obsession. I had the chance to catch up with the band, and if you’re enjoying the new track, please consider purchasing it here.

Adam Grundy May 3, 2022

The debut album from emo/punk rock artist MattstaGraham called Prescribe Whatever tackles the issues of struggling with mental health, while battling the outside vices that make navigating this crazy life more difficult. The artist got “internet famous” through parodies of established emo rock bands like Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, and My Chemical Romance, and garnered the attention of I Surrender Records, who promptly signed him. With a blend of familiar-sounding guitar tones powered with punk rock passion, this artist would be great for fans of The Homeless Gospel Choir, Gob, and Allister.

Adam Grundy May 2, 2022

Every now and then you come across an album that just compels you to write about it. The current pop music scene is filled with new artists (Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa), established artists branching out from their main project (Hayley Williams), and the household names (Adele, Lady Gaga). Charli XCX was one of those artist I heard name-dropped a few times along the way of navigating through the wave of pop artists that were out there, but I discovered Crash by Charli XCX pretty late in the game (nearly a month after the initial release date) and I was immediately drawn into the world that this artist brings forth on the dynamic, smash of a record. Armed with a plethora of A-list producers, including The 1975’s George Daniel (among many others), Charli XCX could’ve gone in a number of directions on her fifth studio album. Much like how Dua Lipa set the world on fire the last two years with Future Nostalgia, Crash has that feeling of being the “it” pop record that could garner the same amount of momentum on radio and word of mouth.

Adam Grundy Apr 28, 2022

Coming off of the release of last year’s Looking For A Light, Tombstones In Their Eyes are back with a well-equipped approach to their music by adding lush vocal harmonies into a crowd pleasing set of tunes. Guitarist and vocalist John Treanor said this about the band’s evolution, “The band is evolving, which is cool. I’ve never been in a band that stuck around long enough and released enough material to really see the change occur. There’s such a wide range of songs and sounds now, it’s really hard to pigeonhole what we are: Psych Rock? Maybe. Shoegaze? Not so much at this point. Indie Rock? Maybe. Rock and Roll? Yes. It all depends on which song you’re playing, really, but all the songs fit into the Tombstones In Their Eyes genre and sound, no matter how disparate their sound.” With limitless possibilities for their songwriting, this band appears to be hitting the right groove in their musical journey.

Review: Tatum Gale – “New Look, Same Great Flavor”

Taxes – “Last Call” (Video Premiere)

Kate Clover – “Your Phone’s Off The Hook, But You’re Not” (Video Premiere)

Review: My Chemical Romance – “The Foundations of Decay”

Art d’Ecco – “Midlife Crisis” (Video Premiere)

Broke Royals – “Revivalism” (Song Premiere)

Alice Merton – “Loveback” (Song Premiere)

Review: State Champs – Kings of the New Age

Review: Vagrants – Be Consumed

Review: Silverstein – Misery Made Me

Nautical Mile – “Follow Me” (Video Premiere)

Near Beer – “Yelling At A Dog” (Video Premiere)

Review: MattstaGraham – Prescribe Whatever

Review: Charli XCX – Crash

Review: Tombstones In Their Eyes – A Higher Place