Posts byGrant Looper

ODDITY Drives New Phase of Rock with ‘Settle Down’

With the latest developments in alternative music, one thing has become obvious: rock will never die. And it’s a good thing, too, because like all genres, rock goes through phases of creativity and innovation. Indie grunge band ODDITY is riding the latest wave of experimentation. Formed in 2012 as Fletcher, ODDITY has reinvented themselves with
CONTINUE READING

Broncho Breaks New Ground with ‘Double Vanity’

When a band finds “their sound,” it’s always influenced by some other style. However, when the band reaches maturity, that sound becomes something not only hard to describe, but impossible to define. The Beatles, while influenced by early rock and roll musicians like Chuck Berry, grew to develop their own style that is still difficult
CONTINUE READING

déCollage Experimenting, Breaking New Ground

Experimentation is not only important to music, it’s crucial. New genres don’t develop and new styles aren’t explored without experimentation. And while some groups may fail at this, Denver-based group déCollage is clearly succeeding. Their latest album, Magnetize, is a true work of ingenious experimentation, and it’s an example of the rising popularity and influence
CONTINUE READING

Gideon’s Army Revives Southern Rock

Within the lifetime of a musical genre, there will be high-points and low points. Southern rock (or what, today, is falsely considered country) hit a low point the moment the music industry decided that lyrics about trucks and the same four chords over and over were all listeners wanted to hear. This is where Gideon’s
CONTINUE READING

Summer Effect Shapes Progressive Instrumental Music

When vocalization became a more common part of mainstream music, instrumentation at times took a backburner. Although vocals are an important artistic component to music, instrumentals can often be the real heart of a piece. With Indonesian band Summer Effect, it’s the sole element. Their post-rock album, Afterlife, takes instrumentalism to an entirely new level of expression
CONTINUE READING

SLØTFACE Paves the Way for the Future of Punk

With the reemergence of the punk-rock genre has come a wealth of skilled new bands to take up the banner. Like all truly valuable genres, it refuses to die. One of the most notable up-and-coming punk bands is Norwegian group SLØTFACE. With the release of their debut EP Sponge State, SLØTFACE has continued punk’s tradition of
CONTINUE READING

Rachael Sage Inspired by First Love in Choreographic

The concept of a “first love” has been one that has preoccupied songwriters for centuries. The deep emotional connection, sentimental attachment, and memories associated with this person can be so strong, that the sentiment is almost impossible to experience over again once it has been first felt. For Rachael Sage, though, her first love is
CONTINUE READING

Wonky Tonk Takes On Sexism with “Suitors”

The emergence of modern folk rock has also brought about the reemergence of profound, culturally-conscious lyrics. The honesty of musicians like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, who dealt with important and sensitive topics with satirical, dry mock-nonchalance, is making a comeback. This return of the genre has also brought about the popularity of women singers
CONTINUE READING

Young Magic Explores Roots in “Still Life”

Musicians and other artists are constantly told to be true to their roots. This poses a dilemma for someone who is somewhat unclear about their roots. Many artists will tirelessly search and travel to find this, and in such cases, a musician is left with even richer material; their journey to find identity. Melati Malay’s
CONTINUE READING

2/3 Goat Defines the Future of Folk-Rock

As we see the invention or resurgence of certain musical genres, there are always bands that will come to shape or embody that genre. When folk music was adopted in the ‘60s and adapted into a new genre, folk-rock, it was musicians like Bob Dylan or groups like Crosby, Stills, and Nash that came to
CONTINUE READING

Polymath’s Debut EP Exudes Artistic Passion

No artist gains legitimacy without true energy or passion. The best artists aren’t merely influenced by such passion, but that passion transfers itself into their work. You can’t find a better infusion of passion in music today than in Polymath’s debut EP Plymth. Each track is filled with this raw, emotional energy that not only influences
CONTINUE READING

Ghost King Making Psychedelia Cool Again

Looking back at the new projects that have been released in the past year, I have come to an encouraging realization: psychedelia is on the rise. In fact, it has already risen. So many bands lately have adopted sounds highly reminiscent of groups like The Doors and Pink Floyd from the glory-days of psychedelia in
CONTINUE READING

Holly Miranda: The Future of Folk

In a world where auto-tune and synthesizers reign supreme in music, an artist with a truly skilled voice really stands out. One such musician is Holly Miranda, who last year released a self-titled album which has proved to be a work of genuine musical excellence. Miranda has been making music professionally for almost 17 years, but she’s
CONTINUE READING

Fake Laugh Tries Something New in “Mind Tricks”

Experimentation is one of the keys to artistic achievement. This isn’t only true of radical artists, such as Picasso, or radical musicians, such as Stravinsky — it’s true of any artist. Experimentation is growth, and one band that’s definitely been doing a lot of growing lately is Fake Laugh, particularly with their latest single, “Mind Tricks.”
CONTINUE READING

Twin River Finds a New Sound With Single “Antony”

When a band releases a single, it’s because the track is able to stand alone as a significant musical achievement. The song has undergone hours, sometimes days of labor, and is expected to be a masterpiece. Expectations were both met and exceeded with the release of Twin River’s new single “Antony.” The Vancouver-based group released their debut album, Should The Light Go
CONTINUE READING

The Black Watch: Masters in Musical Relevancy

Each decade has its musical geniuses. These musicians are separated from the other musicians of their time, however, because their style is truly timeless. This ironic criterion is easily recognizable in bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Cure. Any musician who draws from these groups, though they perform in a different era, takes the
CONTINUE READING

The Gangsta Rabbi- Finding Strength in Music

Steve Lieberman, the man behind “The Gangsta Rabbi,” was recently told that his Leukemia was terminal. Such news would’ve be enough to break the will of many artists, but Lieberman responded to the news by releasing Terminator V617F, his newest album, containing some of his greatest work yet. Lieberman was born to a Jewish family
CONTINUE READING

Jim Ramsey – Music as Spiritual Expression

Finding a skilled musician who can write meaningful lyrics is always rewarding. These musicians have become something of a rare-breed in popular music, and that’s why artists like Jim Ramsey are refreshing to listen to. His introspective lyrics and captivating melodies illustrate his knowledge of what music is at its essence: an artistic medium. Ramsey
CONTINUE READING