Track Review

“On ‘Mohawk,’ veteran producer Glen Brady strips post-punk down to its functional, metronomic chassis.” Scores of disaffected men speaking over wiry guitars crowd the post-punk revival. Yard Act and Fontaines D.C. built a cottage industry out of this specific brand of cynical sprechgesang. Def Nettle, the project of veteran Irish producer Glen Brady, steps into this arena with “Mohawk.” […]

“Frontman Jaben John Groome enlists a Canadian guitar virtuoso to transform nineties angst into a suffocating, physical weight.” A jagged, downtuned guitar riff carves through the opening seconds of “Many Moons” before the rhythm section hammers it into submission. JBNG frontman Jaben John Groome made a shrewd calculation recruiting Canadian guitar veteran Dave Martone for this collision of post-grunge and alternative

There are two ways to cover a pop song. The first is the karaoke method: sing it more or less the same way, hit the big notes, maybe add one dramatic key change if you’re feeling ambitious. The second is the slightly more interesting approach, where you take the song apart, look at what it’s

“The independent artist leans into the nocturnal shadows of modern trap-soul, trading raw emotion for a numb, atmospheric crawl.” Independent artist Ricky Earlywine enters the fray with “move like this,” a woozy slice of alternative R&B that weaponizes detachment. Rather than offering a booming introduction, he kind of slips in through the back door and

Watch out for indie artist Brian Melso, who just released The Endless on January 18. This three-song project looks at the quiet strength in life’s in-between moments. Instead of chasing catchy hits, Melso’s voice stands out for its emotional depth, making it unforgettable like top pop artists today. The track “Dream a Little Dream” highlights

There’s a very specific kind of personality trait that pop music loves to dissect: the people pleaser. The person who says yes when they mean no, apologizes for things that aren’t their fault and slowly realizes, usually after several emotionally inconvenient life experiences, that maybe constantly performing a version of yourself for everyone else is

There’s a long tradition in rock music of confronting your inner turmoil by giving it a suitably dramatic name. You don’t just feel bad; you’re battling demons. Possibly several demons. Maybe a devil or two for good measure. It’s a metaphor that has powered everything from classic metal albums to extremely intense diary entries. Which