Posted inMusic News Reviews

Review: Born Animal – Celebration Revolution

Artist: Born Animal
Album: Celebration Revolution EP
Release Date: 12/1/17
RIYL: Cage the Elephant, Harvey Danger, R.E.M.
Rating: 7.5/10

Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, Born Animal is a rock band consisting of Ryan Stowe, Stephen Luther, Sean Rosettie, and Evan Miranda. Their second EP, Celebration Revolution, has the energy of a celebration and a revolution. So. Much. Umph. Let me tell you. What’s awesome about this album is that everything is clear—you can distinguish each instrument and Stowe’s prominent voice. Two rocking songs that I highly recommend you listen to are “I Think I Think Too Much” and “Do You Want My Blood?” Celebration Revolution’s lyrics are ones that every person can connect to.

April 12, 2018Posted inMusic, News, ReviewsNo Comments
Posted inMusic New Releases News Reviews

Review: THRILLCHASER – A Lot Like Love

Artist: THRILLCHASER
Album: A Lot Like Love
Release Date: 02/16/2018
RIYL: The 1975, The Naked and Famous, Two Door Cinema Club
Rating: 7/10

A Lot Like Love is the debut album of THRILLCHASER, which was previously known as American Wolves before undergoing a shift of sound from heavy to poppy. THRILLCASHER accurately describes themselves as an alternative rock pop band. A Lot Like Love is interesting because between the songs there are shifts—one may have more of a medium rock pop sound with a synth-y backdrop, while the next song sounds slightly more like the melodic vocals of bands like Issues. As a whole, A Lot Like Love has a cool mixture of different sounds, and the sounds of “Emptiness,” “Like That,” and “Juliet” are definitely ones to lend your ears to.

April 5, 2018Posted inMusic, New Releases, News, ReviewsNo Comments
Posted inMusic New Releases News Reviews Top 40

Review: Coach Phillips – Learning How To Swim (EP)

Artist: Coach Phillips

Album: Learning How To Swim (EP)

Released: 02/13/2018

RIYL: Rat Boys, The Obsessives, Weezer, Cloud Nothings, Car Seat Headrest

Rating: 9/10

Coach Phillips’ latest release, Learning How to Swim (EP), is one that will take you back to the late 90s and early 2000s with the characteristic guitar sound of that era. Based out of Seattle, Washington, Coach Phillips consists of guitarist and lead vocalist Wade Phillips, percussionist and vocalist Jessica Kim, drummer and saxophonist Chet Baughman, guitarist Sabee Grewal, and bassist Tom Moskal. Learning How to Swim is an EP that brings together indie rock and garage pop, which is a beautiful combo that is accentuated by Jessica Kim’s dream-pop style voice and Baughman’s savvy saxophone playing.

March 23, 2018Posted inMusic, New Releases, News, Reviews, Top 40No Comments
Posted inMusic News Reviews

Review: Lenore. – Lenore.

Artist: Lenore.

Album: Lenore.

Release Date: 09/15/2017

RIYL: The Civil Wars, Iron & Wine, Joy Williams

Rating: 9/10

Lenore.’s self-titled album weighs heavy on the heart. It feels as if Edward Cameron, Lenore.’s guitarist, is picking on the audience’s heart strings. Everything about Lenore. just flows incredibly well, especially the voices of Rebecca Marie Miller’s and Joy Pearson’s voices. The sound that binds all of the instruments heard on Lenore. is that of the cello, which is made to sing by Jessie Dettwiler. Lenore.’s peaceful vibes will put you in a trance with it’s perfect folk blend of percussion, sultry string instruments, and soothing voices. Lenore. is an album of empathy and comfort for those lonely lovers and loners out there. Tracks such as “The Sun” and “(I Just Thought) That You Should Know,” can be heard on WLOY. My recommended three-song-sampler consists of “Ether’s Arms,” “Heavy Eyes,” and “Blue.”

March 10, 2018Posted inMusic, News, ReviewsNo Comments
Posted inMusic New Releases News Reviews Top 40

Review: Shy Kids – In A State

Artist: Shy Kids

Album: in a state

Release Date: 02/23/2018

RIYL: Future Generations, The Kooks

Rating: 8.5/10

In a state by Shy Kids is a dynamic rock pop album that gains points in the areas of originality and creativity. It’s a well-thought-out album that should be listened to on a sunny day while you’re driving around with the windows rolled down. As the name of the album suggests, the tracks of in a state fit the theme of travel as well as the sentiments that go along with travel. This being said, Shy Kids does an awesome job of capturing the energy of the places that the songs are about. Shy Kids is able to do this not only through the copious instruments used, such as the sax, piano, and violin among others, but also because of the background sounds that are infused into most of the songs, such as the honking horns of traffic, the ringing of a telephone, and even a rooster.

March 3, 2018Posted inMusic, New Releases, News, Reviews, Top 40No Comments
Posted inMusic New Releases Top 40

Top 10 Adds: 2.23.18

Check out our top 10 adds for the week of February 23, 2018 for a rocking new playlist!

1. D.I. by Surf Harp 

  • Album: Mr. Big Picture 
  • Genre: Local Music, L Indie Rock 
  • RIYL: The Strokes, Interpol, Kaiser Chiefs
     

2. Acetone by Vundabar 

  • Album: Smell Smoke 
  • Genre: M Indie Rock 
  • RIYL: Together PANGEA, The Frights, Modern Baseball
     

3. Disaffectation by Ought 

  • Album: Room Inside The World 
  • Genre: L Alt, L Indie Rock 
  • RIYL: Palm, Preoccupations, Talking Heads
     

February 28, 2018Posted inMusic, New Releases, Top 40No Comments
Posted inMusic New Releases Reviews Top 40

Review: Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra

Artist: Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra  

Album: Stereoscope 

Release date: 02/09/2018  

RIYL: Civil Wars, The Dead Tongues, Bon Iver 

Rating: 8/10  

 

I have the chills, but that’s not because this winter has been brutally frigid here in Baltimore. In my short life, I have found that great music is goosebump-inflicting, and I am afflicted, thanks to Marty O’Reilly & the Old Soul Orchestra. Released on February 9, 2018, Stereoscope is the four-piece’s second full album. Compared to Stereoscope‘s predecessor, Pray for Rain, which has a lot of blues and traditional folk influences, Stereoscope sounds like Bon Iver with a twist. Stereoscope has a lot more string instruments, modern folk influences, and light rock influences. All in all, it’s a great album to listen to while reading (or prepping for a philosophy exam), in bed, under the covers, on a rainy Saturday. Here’s why:  

February 10, 2018Posted inMusic, New Releases, Reviews, Top 40No Comments