What may seem like an eternity, The Black Keys are finally releasing a new album this year. With their sixth album Brothers, The Black Keys only took one year to produce their recent Grammy Award winning album El Camino. Turn Blue, the name of the Keys’ upcoming album, will mark the longest amount of time spent by the Keys to produce a new album, being three years. Though it may be three years since El Camino, The Black Keys have been busy in-between time spent at the studio recording their new album with numerous tours across the world.
Upon the release of Turn Blue‘s first single, “Fever”, there have been numerous amounts of backlash from fans who speculate that the Keys have lost their original sound. It is true to say that “Fever” and “Turn Blue” possess a different sound to say “Girl Is on My Mind” which is from The Black Keys’ third album titled Rubber Factory, however the two new tracks are not that much different from what the Keys have recently produced in El Camino. “Turn Blue” is a much slower track compared to “Fever”, however, it possesses a much more emotional outreach to listeners. Adding in frontman Dan Auerbach’s lyrics with the growling bass line and the steady drumming and you have the making of a chilled out slow-jam session. Turn Blue is set for release on May 13.
Give “Turn Blue” a listen from The Black Keys and don’t forget to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
Emerging as a new artist in the music industry back in 2011 with his debut album +, Ed Sheeran has returned to the scene with a new single in “Sing”. Known for his fast rapping skills and his acoustic guitar, “Sing” presents itself as a new take on Sheeran’s sound. Sheeran’s ability to recite lyrics quickly and the sound of his acoustic guitar are still present in “Sing”, but there is something larger that is more noticeable in the song. It is the pop and R&B influence that take over the song that makes it so catchy.
As mentioned, Sheeran is known for his folk and acoustic sound so having a pop influence in “Sing” creates a new dynamic to songwriting for the singer. Sheeran said he was inspired to model the song after the pop and R&B sound of Justin Timberlake and the similarities between the two are noticeable for anyone who has ever listened to a tune from Timberlake. Pharrell Williams, known for his pop music, is credited for writing the song as well as Sheeran. With the pop and R&B influence added to Sheeran’s fast singing and guitar playing, “Sing” creates a new dynamic of songwriting for the singer that teases the promise of his next album titled X, which is set for release on June 23.
Give “Sing” a listen from Ed Sheeran and don’t forget to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
After finding success in their hit single “Best Day of My Life”, American Authors have had a pretty successful year. Building on their success, American Authors released their debut album Oh, What a Life recently in March which features other singles such as “Luck” and “Trouble”. One of the songs off of their new album is “Hit It” which sounds as though it could stand as a single itself. The song possesses a happy vibe that is evident through the sounds of the lyrics, the guitar riff, and the chiming of bells. It sounds as though American Authors carry their happy sound that is evident in “Best Day of My Life” and apply it to a number of other tracks featured on their new album, including “Hit It”.
Give “Hit It” a listen from American Authors and don’t forget to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
There is something about the song “Golden” by Parade of Lights that sounds so refreshing. The sound that the band creates has the flair of synth-pop and electronic influences while also possessing a touch of indie rock. With “Golden”, Parade of Lights have created a song that exemplifies their type of sound while also creating a song that has the potential of gaining significant airtime on radio stations across the nation. Being recently released and with summer right around the corner, “Golden” possesses all of the characteristics of making a single into a hit summer tune. For more info on Parade of Lights, check out their website at paradeoflightsmusic.com.
Give “Golden” a listen from Parade of Lights and don’t forget to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
Genuinely appealing to the ears, “Work It Out” by Knox Hamilton has “hit-single” written all over it. The song starts off with the chiming of bells and transitions into a faded guitar riff that slowly builds up with some added drums in the background. The guitar riff emits a beautiful and joyful sound that possesses the characteristic of a dream sequence while also sounding vaguely similar to beach rock music. Transitioning from its dreamy chorus, the song also makes use of a few acoustic elements that make “Work It Out” even more enjoyable to listen to. The song ends by fading out, similar to how it began. Considered to be of the indie rock genre, Knox Hamilton provide a fresh take on the genre through their wonderful sound. You can learn more about them by taking a visit to their website at knoxhamilton.bandcamp.com.
Give “Work It Out” a listen from Knox Hamilton and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
“The Seeds You Sow” by Prides possesses a certain sound of confidence that makes it comparable to a chart-topping single. Although the band is considered to be of the synth-pop genre, Prides possess particular rock elements. The song’s chorus, in particular, possesses a characteristic similar to that of a rock anthem. After quickly fading in, the song immediately dives into the chorus and transitions into its build-up. Prides do a great job in making the transitions from one area of the song to another by keeping a constant rhythm. Overall, the song makes for a great tune to listen to. For more info on Prides, check out their website at pridesband.com.
Give “The Seed You Sow” a listen from Prides and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
“Pressure” by Youngblood Hawke possesses a wide range of influences. The song is considered to be in the genre of alternative and indie however, it could quite easily be categorized into numerous musical genres such as funk, soul, and pop. It possesses that certain sound that most indie and alternative songs seem to have in today’s music, whether it be defined by its chorus, a guitar riff, a particular drum beat, or added synthesizers. For the case of “Pressure”, the chorus is the characteristic that stands out the most throughout the song. It tends to fade in and out of the song, providing an added appreciation for the instrumentals when fading out.
Some of Youngblood Hawke’s music has been featured in recent films, in television shows and promos, and in brand advertisements as well. With that in mind, it may be only a matter of time before some of their music transitions over to radio airwaves.
Give “Pressure” a listen from Youngblood Hawke and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
With a catchy guitar riff and a never-ending drum beat, “Got To My Head” by Waters really does end up becoming stuck in one’s head after listening. It might be the subtle guitar riff or perhaps the drum beat that starts at the beginning of the song that suddenly captures the listener’s attention. Whichever the reason may be, “Got To My Head” is an addictive and catchy piece of music due to the “feel-good” vibes it gives off throughout its duration. Lead singer Van Pierszalowski’s lyrics add a nice touch to the song and contribute to the song’s overall alternative sound.
For more info on Waters, check out their website by clicking here. Also, don’t forget to give “Got To My Head” a listen from Waters and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
With their last studio album titled Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay explored a variety of new sounds to implement into their music. Some of those sounds presented themselves as more pronounced as others such as the dubstep influence that is in “Paradise” and the hip-hop beat with synthesizers in “Princess of China (featuring Rihanna)”. The new single from Coldplay titled “Magic” continues the band’s exploration of that new sound they discovered in their last album. It features the unique drum beat, a dash of the pianoock that the band are well-known for, subtle guitar riffs, and a hint of the band’s unique rock-anthem sound.
While the song does add a new sound to the band’s genre, what remains evident is the band’s creativeness and their ability to adapt to new influences. Many fans have reacted to the song, saying how it doesn’t sound like “the old Coldplay”. There was a great deal of criticism from fans when “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall”, the first single from Mylo Xyloto, was released before the actual album came out. Some of those fans who criticized the sound of that song before Mylo Xyloto‘s release changed their minds once they heard the entire album. The point is to not write-off Coldplay just yet; the band has been around for 18 years now and has continuously impressed the world with their music.
“Magic” is the first single from Coldplay’s upcoming sixth studio album, called Ghost Stories which will be released on May 19.
Give “Magic” a listen from Coldplay and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
Just as its name implies, “Goodness Gracious” by Ellie Goulding gives off such a reaction when listening to the song for the first time. The song certainly possesses a happy vibe and can change one’s mood to a more cheerful in an instant. From the very beginning of the track, there is a sense of world music as an influence in its sound through the drums and synthesizers. This electric sound is what makes Goulding’s music so distinct and entirely its own. With Goulding’s delicate and soft vocal tones mixed with the electric sound, the song gives off a dream-like trance feeling that makes you become completely absorbed into the music.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Goulding explained the meaning of the song by stating, “I’ve been in situations where I knew someone wasn’t right for me, yet I kept bringing them back.” With a strong message in its lyrics and a contagious vibe in its tone, “Goodness Gracious” sheds a wonderful light on Goulding’s artistic ability.
Give “Goodness Gracious” a listen from Ellie Goulding and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
“Home” by Dan Croll adds a nice light on the subject of home and what it means. The song has a nice, soft introduction from the guitar that is very pleasing to the ears. Croll’s voice adds the perfect touch of sensitivity to the song by providing an added air of subtleness. What completes the song are the lyrics that Croll sings because not only do they provide his definition of home, but they also exhibit Croll’s level of creativeness. The song can certainly be categorized as indie but it also possesses a folk vibe. When you add all of these factors into one, the result is a heart-warming and cheerful song.
Dan Croll is a singer-songwriter from Staffordshire, England. His debut album titled Sweet Disarray was released on March 10 and he is currently traveling on his debut U.K. headline tour.
Give “Home” a listen from Dan Croll and be sure to let us know what you think on our twitter page.
Synthpop music has certainly evolved since its prominence in the ’80s music industry. With their latest single “Recover“, Scottish band Chvrches does not disappoint the synthpop genre. Chvrches start the song off rather strongly without the use of any build-up, diving straight into the melody of the song. Starting off the song the way that they do, Chvrches provide a craving for more of the band’s distinct sound. The distinct sound that makes up Chvrches consists of the unique vocal abilities of Lauren Mayberry, guitar and bass from Iain Cook, and a mixture of sampling and synthesizers from Martin Doherty.
The whole synthpop and electronic sound that make up the band presents itself as a change to the almost-normal sounding alternative music that occupies most FM radio waves. Synthesizers and sampling in music maybe a common practice in music today however, the sound has a stronger influence in the music that Chvrches create.
Give “Recover” a listen from Chvrches and decide for yourself how you would describe their sound. Also, hit us up on our twitter page to let us know what you think!
A good rhythm, catchy lyrics, and a nice melody; it sounds like The 1975 have got the sound of rock-pop down pat with their new single, “Settle Down”. The band has found success with their single “Chocolate” from their self-titled debut album and continues to please listeners with their mix of alternative rock and pop. Although it may sound similar to some of their other songs, “Settle Down” portrays its own meaning and displays its own creativity. The new single also displays the amount of talent the band has and indicates that they have more to come from up their sleeves.
The 1975 is Matthew Healy as lead singer and on guitar, Adam Hann on guitar, Ross MacDonald on bass guitar, and George Daniel on drums. The English alternative and indie rock band is from Manchester.
Give the song “Settle Down” by The 1975 a listen and let us know what you think on our twitter page.
The song “Riptide” by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy has such a friendly feeling about it. Opening the song with a steady acoustic guitar really sets the tone and gives off a vibe that this tune would be perfect to listen to either in the spring or summer. At first, the song may sound slightly depressing through the added lyrics; however the chorus adds a happier vibe that is so tempting to sing along to. Feeling a sudden urge to play this song immediately after it is over would be considered normal.
Vance Joy is Australian singer-songwriter James Keogh. Keogh resides in Melbourne and his single “Riptide” was released as a track on his debut EP, God Loves You When You’re Dancing under Liberation Music. The single has already been certified triple platinum in Australia.
Give the song “Riptide” by Vance Joy a listen and let us know what you think on our twitter page.
After releasing their second album titled Beacon, it seemed as though Two Door Cinema Club had given their unique sound a slight facelift from what can be heard on their debut album Tourist History through tracks such as “Something Good Can Work”, “I Can Talk”, and “What You Know”. The tracks that make up Beacon sound much more mature than those on Tourist History. “Changing of the Seasons” offers a return to that sound from the band’s first album that made them into global indie-pop stars. The subtle tone in lead singer Alex Trimble’s voice, the pop-sounding drum beat, the catchy guitar notes, the synthesizers in the background, and the dreamy feeling all contribute to this distinct sound.
Two Door Cinema Club is Alex Trimble as lead singer and on guitar, Sam Halliday as lead guitarist, and Kevin Baird on bass guitar. The band is from Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Give the song “Changing of the Seasons” by Two Door Cinema Club a listen and let us know what you think on our twitter page.
Bold, soulful, and relaxing. These are just a few words that describe how marvelous the song “Sweater Weather” is by the alternative rock band The Neighbourhood. The song has a catchy rhythm about it that makes it comparable to a blues song. With the combination of the high-hat, snare drum, and singer’s vocals, this song is just highly addictive and makes you become immersed in the world of the song.
Give the song “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood a listen and become immersed in the music. Also, let us know what you think on our twitter page.
Well, it appears that Ellie Goulding has done it again! The young, English singer has certainly done well with her latest single, “How Long Will I Love You”. The song is actually a cover of Scottish folk rock band The Waterboys, however, Goulding has done a wonderful job in creating her own take on the song. Since her breakthrough album Lights, Goulding has found success in a few singles such as “Starry Eyed”, “Anything Could Happen”, and “Lights”. This new tune has a more intimate feel than most of Goulding’s previous songs, in that it is much slower and has an accoustic style. Nevertheless, you still receive a sense of emotion and understand what the singer is expressing in her lyrics.
Goulding’s new song can be compared to the musical talent of Ed Sheeran. From listening to both artists’ tracks, one can get a sense of how much emotion goes into their respective performances. By understanding what the artist is trying to express, you can grasp a true meaning to the song.
Give the song “How Long Will I Love You” by Ellie Goulding a listen and let us know what you think on our twitter page.
The British are coming! The British are coming! This new track from London-based, indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club certainly has a poppy and indie feel to it, so much so that it will have you wanting more. Although they may sound like a new band on the scene, Bombay Bicycle Club have been around for 9 years now. The band have had previous successful songs such as “Always Like This”, “Ivy & Gold”, and “Shuffle”. “Carry Me” presents itself as a new sound approach that the band experimented with in their last album, A Different Kind of Fix. This song still carries that type of feel-good tone their previous hits possess, along with a few repetitive rhythms and dubstep loops. This song will surely have you tapping your foot to the beat and maybe some head bobbing as well!
Similar to fellow indie pop/ indie rockers Two Door Cinema Club, they quickly hook you in to their song as if you are a part of it. It fills you with a catchy melody and will surely get you dancing and tapping your feet.
Without further ado, may we present to you “Carry Me” by Bombay Bicycle Club! Let us know what you think on our twitter page.
