Are you into Timothée Chalamet? No, not the brunette heart throb, I’m talking about the upbeat punchy new single from The Foxies. I sat down with Julia to talk about the new tune and what it’s like to become Tik Tok sensations.
2 Perspectives on Greta Van Fleet's 'Broken Bells
By Baylee Avery
So far, it’s easy to say that every single that comes off of Greta Van Fleet’s upcoming album, Battle at Garden’s Gate gets better and better. Their newest single, Broken Bells is a perfect example of that. In fact, this may be their best single to date.
Josh’s falsetto in this song is almost very reminiscent of Barry Gibb’s (of The Bee Gees) falsetto, the lyrics just captivate you in one way or another and it all goes well with the music itself. Plus, Jake’s guitar solo in this song is absolutely fantastic. Is anyone else excited to hear that solo live? Because I am.
It is very easy to say that a certain song by Greta Van Fleet may be their best single to date, but Broken Bells has a different kind of feeling, compared to the previous singles. I’m now officially ready for what is to come when they release the entire album in April. Only time will tell.
By Sara Brown
I’m a relatively new member of the Peaceful Army. Truthfully, I only discovered just how amazing Greta Van Fleet is just a few short weeks ago, but in that time, I’ve been listening to their tunes non-stop and delving deep into their history.
I was already chomping at the bit to get to see these guys live, but after playing this one on repeat the past few days, hearing this track live is all I can think about. Sonically, this has to be one of my favorites of theirs. For me, Josh’s vocals shine especially. We get to hear his softer, more reserved vocal, while also being treated to those iconic wails we all know and love. The best of both worlds. And then there’s Jake’s guitar solo. Perfectly placed and truly incredible. It amazes me how something like a guitar can help to convey the message of a song, and Jake’s performance on this track does exactly that. Not to be outdone, Sam and Daniel’s bass and drums, respectively, are truly the missing pieces of the puzzle, and they too impress and amaze me to no end.
Though the song clocks in at just under 6 minutes, I find that every time I listen, it never feels long enough. I could have this one on repeat for days. Until the full record is out, that’s exactly what you can find me doing.
Them Evils Release Heavy New Anthem. "Pour Out Another One"
Them Evils have steadily cranked out new releases this past year and they’re keeping up with that momentum. Like the slow but powerful burn of a whiskey shot going down, “Pour Out Another One’, is their first release of 2021 and it does not disappoint.
The heavy drum beat, thick guitar vibrations and catchy lyrics mix into the perfect anthem for anyone and everyone who is sick and tired of where we’ve been for the last year. It’s evident Them Evils mean business with this one.
The tone of the song sets the scene almost like a wave of smoke should start rolling in at any moment as we raise our shot glasses to the sky. Jordan’s guitar cuts through the bass, setting the whole thing ablaze. David and Jake’s backing vocals against Jordan’s lead sets a feeling of camaraderie, truly making it feel like an anthem for the people.
“Pour out Another One” is best described as an anthemic middle finger to what COVID-19 has done to the music industry over the course of the past year. After linking up with Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft (Escape The Fate) and Aaron Edwards, we wanted to write a song that embodied the attitude of just saying 'f*ck it, let’s throw a few back' and party our way through this." - Jake Massanari
The first time I interviewed Them Evils, we all took a shot of Bourbon together. So, I couldn’t imagine a better way to get back to the normalcy of live music than to take some shots! Stream ‘Pour Out Another One’ now and check out the live recorded video directed and edited by the bands own, David Delaney.
Review: Lana Del Rey's Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey is someone I’ve cited as my favorite singer since I was fourteen years old. At twenty-three, that has not changed at all. In fact, when I first heard about the news about her new album, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, I knew I had to take the chance to write about it. So here I am. Let’s delve into this album.
Following the release of her previous album, Norman Fucking Rockwell, I began to wonder how she was going to add up to that album. How was her followup going to be because honestly, I could go on about how stellar that album was. And did she prove that she could bring in an equally stellar followup? Yes, she most certainly did.
If there’s one thing that is very admirable about Lana, it’s the fact that she tells these exquisite stories through her songs. Each song can chronicle something about love or something deep and dark and she brought just that to this album.
Chemtrails Over The Country Club makes you feel like you are listening to a storybook. Each story in those tracks only gets better as the album progresses. She writes these fantastic songs that could potentially be a perfect storybook of any kind. Her style of songwriting is just as perfect for that.
She continues to bring in that same flair she first brought to us in 2012 when she first released Born To Die and it continues to be as admirable as it was nine years ago. Every album of hers gets better and better and it makes it hard to resist.
From songs like Dark But Just A Game to Yosemite to Wild At Heart to her collaboration with Zella Day and Weyes Blood, where they cover For Free by Joni Mitchell on the album’s final track - a track that all three women covered back in 2019 at one of Lana’s shows - Each song is exquisite in its own right.
Overall, this album may be her ultimate masterpiece to date. While every other album she has made is a masterpiece in its own way, I think this one really takes the cake.
Lana, you have done it again.
Recommended Tracks:
Yosemite
Dark But Just A Game
For Free
The Breakdown Episode 5: Where To Find New Music
Welcome to another episode of The Breakdown! Your weekly talk for everything in the rock world.
After our last episode of proving that Rock isn’t dead, this week we discuss where to find new music! We go over the back in the day methods of how we used to find new music: friends, concerts, record stores, followed up with the new modern methods of finding music.
Review: The Blue Stones Release Sophomore Album, Hidden Gems
The Blue Stones, a blues rock duo from Windsor, Ontario, consisting of members Tarek Jafar (vocals, guitar) and Justin Tessier (percussion, backing vocals), released their sophomore album, Hidden Gems, on March 19th, 2021. It's a brilliant album, The Blue Stones have truly outdone themselves. It's a fun, powerful record that I completely love.
My favorite tracks are "Shakin' Off The Rust," "Grim," and "Spirit." This record explores topics like finding yourself and being that person, being young, and just here for a good time – living life to its fullest. It's a record that makes you feel good, feel alive. Hidden Gems is the brand of rock that I search for all the time - guitar driven, loud, and earth-shaking. I can't wait to attend a show of theirs, whenever it's safe enough to do so, if judging by this album is any reflection of how they sound live, then I'm absolutely ready to have myself blown away by their infectious, amazing music.
Hidden Gems is among the best of modern rock today. It's a fantastic record, from the start to finish. It's loud, it's confident, it has everything that makes it both memorable and fresh. It's a must-listen for any rock fan.
REVIEW: The Moon City Masters Releases Groovy New Track, ‘WHERE YOU WANNA RUN TO’
The first place I would run to with a lover is a beach in Brazil, with this track, ‘Where You Wanna Run To’ by the Moon City Masters, blasting over a stereo. When this groovy track first opens, the opening chord progression pulls you into a daydream full of sunshine. Maybe you envision some rainbows cascading over the horizon. The consistent drumbeat and bassline hold you down. They made me think about casting away on an island with just this one person, never to be seen again.
Then I heard the line, “I got two tickets to the stars,” and I thought, “awww, going on a date to outer space would be SICK!” Brothers Talor and Jordan have the smoothest pair of voices, their musical journey is like a locomotive powered by butter: smooth sailin’ all the way through. Their harmonies are like the extra bubbly you find at the top of a newly opened champagne bottle. Possibilities seem endless with this track. Galaxies could be discovered upon searching for your ideal getaway to this newest single.
Approaching the hook and entering the chorus, that catchy pop sound hits all the sweet spots when thinking about the composition of a hit. The pulsating vibe makes you want to get up and dance. It feels like I’ve heard this song all of my life, but never before all at once. I could scream the lyrics at the top of my lungs and I don’t even know them yet. By this point in the song I’m ready to run through a large field, possibly even a setting like Woodstock, crashing to the ground in laughter with this unknown lover by my side, feeling the happiness evaporate off our skin like ecstasy.
Heading into the second verse, a new idea captured my mind: a road trip through the generations. The sound that the Moon City Masters are bringing to the table in 2021 is definitely rooted in a classic rock setting. Yet, the way they have managed to rejuvenate this timeless sound into the twenty-first century is what makes this group so eye-catching. Moon City Masters creates those bops you cannot refrain from blaring in your car; total earworms. So catchy, and almost mindless that you don’t even capture their mesmerizing qualities, and any dude would do most things to be what these dudes are: rockstars.
And maybe this is just me wanting to be stuck in rock n roll forever, but hear me out… The images in my brain now keep bringing me to all different rock concerts throughout rock history. All of the flashy wardrobe and adrenaline, I’m envisioning how each new sequence is this imaginary lover and I jumping back in a car after traveling back in time and seeing all those classic rock names that you can think of. Led Zeppelin, KISS, Fleetwood Mac, you name it; all kinds of outfits, jumping into the car after shows, full of smiles. This track never throws you off balance. It’s consistent and leaves you wanting to go find somebody to fall in love with as you jam out together.
My final thoughts? The Moon City Masters are your next soft rock band to go on raving about. ‘Where You Wanna Run To’ is your new catchy tune to get stuck in your brain for days, maybe even weeks on end. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed and need a pick-me-up? Put on this song. Need to escape your thoughts and daydream for a while? Put on this song. All those positive vibes that we need in our bizarre world right now, the Moon City Masters are providing through their bopping tunes. I’m loving how the evolution of their sound is taking shape and I cannot wait to hear what’s in store for the future!
The Uptown’s “Quarantine Song”: an Anthem for 2020 (and beyond)
As we reach, and dreadfully acknowledge, the one-year anniversary of COVID-19’s wreckage across the world, many folks are feeling jaded, exhausted, and just plain crumby due to the pandemic that won’t seem to go away. Like a mosquito bite or incessant hiccups, Covid has been a nuisance and constant annoyance in everyone’s lives, leaving people wondering “When will this virus take a hike and finally leave us alone?” It’s no surprise that 2020 took a toll on everybody, and left no one unscathed, and it’s hard to believe we’ve been in this battle for a year now.
Self-described “psychedelic indie-soul” crooners The Uptown, based out of central Ohio, have successfully transmuted the loneliness and pain we’re all feeling into a happy-go-lucky tune with a hopeful perspective on the future. “Quarantine Song” is a must-listen for anyone feeling down due to the state of the world, and in need of a pick-me-up.
Musically, the song sounds like summer, and provides a nostalgic energy as the listener is reminded of the little things and good old days that we’re all missing so dearly. Listening can and will evoke a sense of longing, dreaming of better days and happier times. However, it’s the hopefulness in the lyrics that truly makes this song a winner. Listing all the simple pleasures we took for granted in a “My Favorite Things” kind of way (“Open mic nights and mini golf dates, road trips and drive-ins and breakfast we made”), creates an extremely visual experience for the listener, reminiscing on pre-Covid joys that have been put on pause while the world heals.
Even with relatable lyrics to boot (“I miss you my friends, every day we’re apart; I’m tired of working and making bad art”), “Quarantine Song” stays the course to a positive outlook with it’s hopeful recurring message of “I can’t wait to see you again” - consciously choosing to say “when” and not “if”, and instilling a sense of hope in the listener, that things WILL get better, we WILL see our friends again, and we WILL make it out of this crazy unprecedented situation. The best we can do right now is just hold on.
The Uptown’s debut EP, Willow Tree, is available to stream on all platforms. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
BANDED Writer, Baylee Avery, Shares Her Music Journalism Story With The Muses Podcast
How does one follow their dreams of becoming the next William Miller?
BANDED’s own, Baylee Avery, tells her story of becoming a music journalist in the latest episode of the Muses podcast. Muses is hosted by Chanty & Lynx who celebrate the lovers, inspirations and groupies of rock n roll within each episode.
In this episode, Baylee dives into her writing career, how she found her love for rock n roll, and spotlights her own music muse, Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless. PLUS, she may or may not shout out BANDED a few times. Give the episode a listen below or wherever you stream podcasts…
The Breakdown Episode 4: Is Rock Dead?
Welcome to another episode fo the breakdown ! Your weekly talk for everything in the rock world. This week discuss the biggest question asked: Is Rock Dead?
Review: Ruen Brothers Latest, “Cookies & Cream”
What I love most about Ruen Brothers is their uncanny ability to combine the retro sounds of the 50s and 60s with more modern sounds to craft a sound that’s all their own, and their latest release, “Cookies & Cream”, does exactly that. It’s the perfect spring and summer jam that’ll make you want to drive a little too fast with the top down. Fingers crossed I don’t get myself pulled over.
As the song progresses, just when you think you’ve nailed down the vibe of the track, they surprise you with a different sound that’s just as fun as the one that came before it. I picked up on 60s vibes, some modern rock, even some 80s flavors, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. However you’d classify it, this track is 3-minutes of warm weather fun that you’ll want to have at the top of your playlist for every toasty event you find yourself attending this summer and for summers to come!
What more can I say? The guitar rocks, the vocals are on-point, and man, the tune is catchy! Nothing I can say about this track quite articulates how much fun it is – you’re going to have to go give it a listen to get the full effect!
I can’t keep this one off of repeat, and once you give this track a listen, I’m sure you’ll feel the exact same way! It’s an earworm if I’ve ever heard one, but I ain’t complaining! These brothers never disappoint. If you’re asking me, ‘Cookies & Cream’ “tastes good to me.”
Australian Grunge Rockers, For The Wolves, Release “Through The Fire”
Often people refer to punk as “it’s not dead” but in reality it’s grunge that is not dead and the down under Australian alternative/grunge bands are here to remind you of that.
Back in 2020, mid Covid year, I discovered by accident on YouTube their hit single “The Devil You Know”. It automatically felt like the reincarnation of Alice In Chains, STP and Bush blended together. Lead singer Brad Andrew and I also had an IG Live discussion on their music, Australian rock, how rock should pivot during Covid and more.
For their latest single ‘Through The Fire’, it automatically brings me back to those grunge hot flashes. Drop tuning riffs & breakdowns, slow eeriness of 90’s grunge, thought provoking and maybe concept based lyrics and a nice touch of subtle solos, makes this a contender for your playlist.
Fathom Unleashes New Single, 'Bitter'
Almost a year ago I’m stumbled across a band from the Southern Ohio area, that represented everything death metal stands for. That band is Fathom.
Over the course of 2020, they released various singles and their debut E.P. “ Imprisoned”. I had the ultimate metal pleasure to interview these fine gentlemen in their recording dungeon and showcase who they are.
For their latest single, Fathom continues their march from 2020 with haunting breakdowns, disgustingly evil guttural vocals, and tantric like drums to prepare you for the gate of metal they are about to unleash upon you.
Be ready for Fathom.
Interview with Theodora
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Theodora! We had such a great time chatting about her musical influences and her three stellar singles: Close For Comfort, Ghost and her most recent The High. Stream Theodora's music on all platforms!
The Breakdown Episode 3: Women Who Rock
For International Women’s Day, we did a special episode decided to the female musicians who inspired us and still kick ass today!