Review: Charlie Puth – Voicenotes

Tommy Monroe May 15, 2018

Charlie Puth gained the attention of the world with his vocal contribution on Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again.” With songs like “One Call Away,” “Marvin Gaye,” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” he continued to give listeners goosebumps. His debut album, Nine Track Mind, was filled with love ballads and heart-warming hooks. Although, that lead to a monotony of similar sounds and less experimentation. However, one special finesse the 26-year-old continues to unswervingly flaunt is his voice.

Voicenotes is his sophomore album and was delayed because it had to be “perfected.” Whenever artists say things like that, they raise the bar a notch higher because all we’d want to hear is an album that has been perfected. After listening to this album, it is indeed worthy of being called a perfected album. Everything from the production, to instrumentation, to the mix is stirring.

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Review: Augustana – Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt

Craig Manning May 14, 2018

“It’s quiet in the streets now/But it’s screaming in your head.”

Augustana frontman Dan Layus sings those words near the outset of Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt, his band’s second major label LP. He sings them in a low register, at a near-whisper. It’s the calm before the storm, both for the song (called “Hey Now”) and the album. Eventually, the song crescendos into a big anthemic burst of sound—one that suits Layus’s big, craggy voice perfectly. The album, meanwhile, delves deep into roots rock in inventive, versatile ways, twisting the threads of the genres under that umbrella in half a dozen different directions. From country to Americana to southern rock to the glossy pop-roots sounds of 90s radio bands like The Wallflowers and Counting Crows, Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt crisscrosses the heartland and comes back with rewarding treasures from every segment of the musical map.

Review: Underoath – Erase Me

Drew Beringer May 14, 2018

When Underoath announced in 2015 that the band was getting back together with original drummer Aaron Gillespie in the fold, it was announced as a “rebirth,” as the band knocked out a couple of reunion shows over the following years. It’s an appropriate way to describe Underoath’s return since it’s been eight years since Ø (Disambiguation) and nearly a decade since the band’s last release with Gillespie in the fold. And obviously so much has changed within the metal scene and music community as a whole during the band’s hiatus; Underoath found themselves at a crossroads between pleasing older fans and drawing in a generation of listeners that may have never heard Define The Great Line. So while a level of musical reincarnation was expected, the extent of that remained unknown. Recorded in 2017 with producer Matt Squire, the band looked to deconstruct the idea of Underoath while incorporating all the moments of anxiety , betrayal, and struggles of the past decade. And ultimately these sessions resulted with Erase Me – the most polarizing heavy rock album of 2018.

Review: Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Adam Grundy May 11, 2018

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is the sixth studio album from indie rock superstars, Arctic Monkeys, and it is also one of their more polarizing releases to date. Front-man Alex Turner recorded most of the demos for this album at his Los Angeles home, and composed the majority of the songs on a piano, rather than a guitar. This curious approach to recording a highly anticipated follow-up to a successful record in AM, followed by a lengthy hiatus, just added to the mystery of the album as a whole. Additionally, the unique promotional approach of keeping the entire record under “lock and key” by not pre-releasing any songs prior to the street date only helped with challenging listeners to absorb the entire album, rather than a couple of singles taken out of context.

The general themes found throughout this album are of science fiction, self-reflection, politics, religion, and even technology itself. The sound that Arctic Monkeys have achieved here can be best described as modern “lounge pop,” reminiscent of stylistic artists such as Father John Misty and David Bowie. Even though the majority of these songs were written and composed by Alex Turner himself, and even though it was initially suggested by his bandmates he self-release the album under his own name — due the complexity of how to add the other instrumental parts around the piano/vocals — this is still an Arctic Monkeys album. The rest of the band has enhanced the piano-driven direction of this record by creating an album worthy of your full and undivided attention.

Review: Frank Turner – Be More Kind

Aaron Mook May 8, 2018

It’s almost difficult to dislike an album as inherently positive as Be More Kind. In today’s draining political and cultural climates, Frank Turner not only believes that change is possible, but that it begins within each of us. In fact, if there’s an overarching criticism to be made about the album, it’s that these songs tend to veer into the brand of vague optimism that’s better employed lining the inside of Hallmark cards. But sometimes, even those messages can be refreshing to hear, and considering the relatively low energy on display, Turner’s heart, technical ability, and good intentions carry Be More Kind a considerable distance.

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Review: Slim Jxmmi – Jxmtro

Tommy Monroe May 8, 2018

Slim Jxmmi is one half of the rap-duo Rae Sremmurd. Along with their third album, (SR3MM), he presents his debut solo album Jxmtro. The production on this album is mainly handled by Mike WiLL Made-It, and it includes features from Pharrell Williams, Zoe Kravitz, and Swae Lee, among others. During an interview with Rolling Stone, Slim Jxmmi said he wasn’t as comfortable singing as his brother, so he “came out spraying” for his album. He has always brought the rap flow to the team, so that’s whats to be expected on this album. Although many might worry about his sound without Swae Lee, who usually is the Hook-smith, Uncle Jxmmi is bound to show a few surprises with his absorbing lyrics.

Review: Swae Lee – Swaecation

Tommy Monroe May 8, 2018

Swaecation is the debut solo album by Swae Lee, member of the rap-duo Rae Sremmurd. On Swaecation, Swae Lee keeps the features to a minimum and recruits Young Thug as the sole guest on the album. Swae Lee is a great creator when it comes to delivering hooks on songs. As a hook-Smith, he has found his way onto several big collaborations with other artists and his impact has been felt on top-charting songs like “Burn Slow,” “Unforgettable,” and “Don’t Judge Me.” Although, Swae Lee has never released a track alone, this album is filled with enthralling hooks.

Review: Rae Sremmurd – SR3MM

Tommy Monroe May 7, 2018

From “No Flex Zone” to “Black Beatle,” it’s been clear Rae Sremmurd knows how to make hit songs. And, based on the quality of their previous albums it’s always a safe bet that their albums will contain some nice tunes. SR3MM is an addition to the “Sremmlife” series. This is a triple album which includes solo albums by Swae Lee & Slim Jxmmi. Swae’s album is titled Swaecation, while Slim Jxmmi’s is titled Jxmtro. Shortly after the success of their debut album, there were rumors about Swae Lee going solo. Many people who are familiar with their discography know Swae Lee is more of a singer and delivers most of the hooks. Slim Jxmmi is a rapper and he likes to spit, not sing. That’s what influenced the formation of solo albums. A better option than a split.

Review: Middle Kids – Lost Friends

Adam Grundy May 4, 2018

As indie rock continues to evolve, and a growing number of bands keep getting lumped into that genre, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for bands to stick out from the pack. Such is not the case for a relatively new band called Middle Kids, as their brand of indie pop rock flourishes right from the first listen. The group, from Sydney, Australia, are comprised of lead singer/guitarist Hannah Joy, her husband and bassist Tim Fritz, and drummer Harry Day. The group has taken full advantage of the excitement that comes with releasing their debut full-length album by showcasing just how talented this trio truly are.

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In the Spotlight: 50 Bands You Need to Hear in 2018 (Part Two)

Jason Tate May 3, 2018

Today we’re happy to bring you part two of our “In the Spotlight” feature. We’ve got another group of artists that we think are worthy of your time and ears. Our contributors have made their picks, put together blurbs, and pulled out recommended songs.

If you missed part one, you can find that here.

In the Spotlight: 50 Bands You Need to Hear in 2018 (Part One)

Jason Tate May 2, 2018

Last year we brought back, and re-branded, one of my favorite features from the AbsolutePunk days: the “Absolute 100.” And as we enter May and the weather finally starts to turn around a little bit, it’s the perfect time to once again team up with our contributors to bring you a whole bunch of new music to check out.

Just like years past we’ve compiled a list of 50 artists we think are worth your time. Some of the artists recently released their debut albums and some have been around for a while now but have flown under the radar. However, the one thing they all have in common is that we think they should be in the spotlight and are worthy of your ears. You’ll find the first group of 25, along with blurbs, recommended songs, and sounds like comparisons, below.

Review: Anne-Marie – Speak Your Mind

Tommy Monroe May 1, 2018

Speak Your Mind is the debut studio album by British pop singer, Anne-Marie. The 27-year-old singer has attained several charting singles on the UK Singles Chart and she was also featured on Clean Bandit’s “Rockabye,” which peaked at number one. Ever since the release of her first single, “Alarm,” she has been a consistent sensation in the pop world. Every single she released to support the album has charted. Based on that record, it is safe to say that Anne-Marie is a hit maker.

The British singer takes us through 17-tracks as she tries to mask a heartbreaking experience in electro-pop sounds. From “Cry” to “Bad Girlfriend,” she revisits her previous relationship while exposing the deceit and infidelity her ex-lover brought to the relationship. On “Then” and “Alarm” she tells the story of a man who ungratefully ignored the love she had for him while cheating on her.

Review: The Voidz – Virtue

Adam Grundy Apr 30, 2018

The Voidz, led by The Strokes’ front-man Julian Casablancas, have gone through a few housekeeping changes since their debut album Tyranny. For starters, they have dropped Casablancas’ name from their moniker, probably for the intention of making it known that they are a true band, rather than just a side project. Additionally, the band has used their second album as an experimental canvas on which to paint with all types of styles. While their debut album came across as abrasive and hard to digest, Virtue brings out the best in this crew and if you can stomach the variety of approaches used on this record, it’s quite a fun and trippy ride.

Review: Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer

Tommy Monroe Apr 27, 2018

It’s been more than ten years since Janelle Monáe launched her first project. She has since been identified by her unique sound. Being from a hard-working family and a musically bland city, she has always highlighted the under-appreciated and the outsider with her lyrics. Incorporating an unbelievable range of musical influences, she continues to innovate her own unique sound with her friends in the Wondaland Arts Society – a musical collective of rising artists she oversees. Prior to Dirty Computer, she’s been nominated for six Grammy Awards, of which she won none. However, Janelle’s consistency is a reminder of why this is a promising project.

Review: Thirty Seconds To Mars – America

Adam Grundy Apr 26, 2018

On Thirty Seconds to Mars’ fifth album, titled America, Jared Leto and his bandmates experiment with big U2-type choruses, patriotic themes, and the deeper meanings of life. The band has long-since been known for their anthemic choruses and there are plenty of those to go around on America, as well as great production and a polished sound fit for a major label and radio outlets alike.

The album itself is front-loaded with the previously released singles “Walk on Water” and “Dangerous Night.” The one-two punch of these tracks play off of each other well, with the latter being the more memorable of the two. Leto sings on the chorus that it’s a “dangerous night to fall in love/don’t know why we fight what we’ve become.” The themes of loss, heartbreak, and longing for a change in the status quo run rampant throughout the album.