“Anodyne” opens with the kind of quiet, tentative confidence that suggests either deep artistic intent or someone sitting alone in a room thinking, “Alright, I guess I’m doing all of this myself now.” In this case, it’s both. Satsuma, the solo project of Edinburgh multi-instrumentalist Cam Halkerston isn’t just DIY in the vague, aesthetic sense. […]
“Anodyne” Doesn’t Arrive Polished and Market-Tested Read More »
“Joe Grah returns with a track that feels like a physical release of tension coiling since the first second.” The air in the room shifts the moment the opening notes of Joe Grah and his new single Far begin to swell because there is a weight to the silence that precedes it which feels like
A Haunting Reclamation of the Alternative Rock Throne Read More »
There are songs that ease you in gently, maybe give you a hook, a vibe, something you can latch onto before realizing what they’re about. And then there are songs like “Standing In A Robe” by Garrett Anthony Rice, which kicks the door open, points at history’s worst people, gestures broadly at your personal life,
There’s a particular kind of song that doesn’t just want to sound good; it wants to gently sit you down, hand you a cup of tea, and have a conversation about your life choices. Not in an aggressive, “change everything immediately” way, but more like: hey, have you considered listening to yourself for once? “Following
“Following a Voice Inside” Wants to Say Something Read More »
There’s something so chic and refreshing when raps takes a step back against sexist, outdated narratives against women’s autonomy and hustle. JNabe’s Respect Her Bag definitely leans into that kind of perspective shift, where women’s work isn’t debated but acknowledged. Hailing from Kansas City, United States, JNabe is a half-Japanese, half-Vietnamese musician currently making waves
JNabe’s “Respect Her Bag” Is What Happens When Rap Chooses Respect Over Judgment Read More »
Kelsie Kimberlin’s latest track, which is framed around the idea that America is under threat from authoritarian forces, is very much operating in a level of unparalleled seriousness. This is not a “you can interpret it however you want” situation. The message is clear, direct and delivered with the kind of urgency that suggests subtlety
Kurt Bray has been working on this album since 2021 which means it’s been in the works for half of the decade and instead of sounding overcooked, it ends up feeling like a scrapbook of where he’s been musically: rock, grunge, indie, alternative. If that sounds like a suspiciously vague cluster of genres, don’t worry
“Forest and the Tree deliver a raw, electrifying anthem that pulses with the chaotic energy of a midnight rock show.” From the first jagged riff that tears through the silence, it is clear that Forest and the Tree aren’t here to play by the rules of polished radio pop. Rock Bottom hits like a shot
There’s a very particular kind of song that opens like a diary entry but is clearly meant to be heard by thousands of people at once. Breakdown by ONEWAY is exactly that: deeply personal, very direct, and also most importantly, structured to make sure you get the message.Which, in case this needed to be said,
Breakdown Isn’t Aiming for Ambiguity or Artistic Distance Read More »
“A whirlwind of operatic intensity and complex metal arrangements that marks the turning point of a trauma-fueled narrative odyssey.” Heavy music has always thrived on the collision of the beautiful and the brutal but rarely does an independent act find the sweet spot between those worlds with such cinematic flair as Oïkoumen on their latest
Oïkoumen Crafts a Majestic Progressive Metal Epic on ‘Revenge’ Read More »
