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The Loft Club – Heart’s Desire

Taking a slight turn from what we usually cover, I present to you The Loft Club. The British band has recently released their first song, "Heart's Desire". When it came across my desk I knew right away I wanted to post about it. The band manages to take an old school sound, but still put their own twist on the music. The production and arrangement are great, the cowbell isn't overdone (but there's enough), the oohs sit just right in the mix, and the slap delay on the vocals fits perfectly with the song. If you like warm, creamy guitar tones with classic sounding riffs, this is a song for you!

The Loft Club – Heart's Desire Song Info

The Loft Club's debut EP, which is also titled Heart's Desire, is available now on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and more. Expect a full length debut from the band in 2017!

Super Saturdays Nov. 5th, 2016

Another new feature, we present Super Saturdays! Here we highlight artists that the RMP team and I think have a good chance of making it big. Enjoy!

First we have Mike Hill, an experienced bass player who raised over $40,000 on Kickstarter last year to create his debut album, Love & War. His goal in creating the album was to highlight the most talented musicians he knows, and he did so by having a different guest vocalist on each song. He also worked with producer/songwriter David Kidd, as well as several other songwriters. Love & War will be released next week on iTunes and other digital outlets.

Next we have False Heads with their cut "Weigh In". They aren't your average band – Iggy Pop has called them "the future of rock and roll" – high words of praise, indeed. We can see why though, they bring an infectious blend of rock, grung, and punk (let's talk about that breakdown at 1:54). This is an amazing high energy track that makes me want to bang my head and run in a circle really fast. Together with lots of other people. The song is available now.

Vie Jester is a band with a throwback sound, but nevertheless I think they've got a shot if they keep up the hard work. Their mix may need some imrpovements, it's very dry and lacks life, but the music itself is great. The band definitely needs to learn that reverb won't hurt. But neither do killer riffs and punchy drums, which they have plenty of! The overall arrangement is good as well, and the vocals sit well in the mix. You can pick up the band's EP, Ethces in Aether now on iTunes and Google Play.

Last but not least, the UK's Waiting For Hollywood play hard and fast pop punk in their song "This Town". Aside from the oh-so-stereotypical pop punk song, I found it quite enjoyable to listen to. With the recent resurgence of pop punk in both the US and internationally, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Waiting For Hollywood find themselves touring extensively in support of their next EP, due out in early 2017.

Hello Casanova’s “I’ll Be Waiting” Falls Short of Potential

Let me start this off by saying that I'm a musician. I understand the amount of work that goes into writing and recording a song, and I totally get pouring your heart and soul into your work.

However, it seems that with "I'll Be Waiting", Northern Ireland's Hello Casanova did just the opposite of that. What had potential to be a great, underground hit quickly lost its appeal. While the intro had me excited to hear the rest of the song, the generic, cliched lyrics and repetition brought any momentum they had to a halt. Musically, this song is strong. The combination of the two guitars, the bass, and the drums creates a great piece that sounds like Jimmy Eat World meets PUP. 

Vocally, I was left disappointed. While I genuinely believe that lead vocalist Matt Irwin has talent, it seems that he chose to take the easy route, and stick to the typical nasal tone that seems to accompany every pop-punk song released in the last ten years, and gang-vocals of "hey!" were littered throughout the piece. 

At the end of it, I was left feeling let down. "I'll Be Waiting" could have been so much more than a feeble attempt at a relatable pop-punk hit. However, I don't think this band is hopeless. I'll be keeping a close eye on them for the bigger and better things that I'm certain will come from them in the future.

Hello Casanova – I'll Be Waiting song info

"I'll Be Waiting" will be available through online retailers on November 25th, 2016.

 

Woven In Hiatus Excel With Debut Record Anatomical Heart

Starting with the first few notes of “Scarlet”, MA indie rock artist Woven In Hiatus sets the tone for their debut record, Anatomical Heart. Although they have only been together for about a year, the band is already signed to InVogue Records and has done a US tour, including a stop at SO WHAT?! festival. They will be touring again soon.

Vocalist and songwriter Luke Nagel is joined by Richard Pingree on acoustic guitar, Nick Cassis on bass, and Nicholas Aspell on drums.

Throughout the record, dreamy production soothes the listener’s ears. The album has an almost shoegazey feel when it comes to vocal production, with incredibly lush vocals. To contrast that, the guitars are almost exclusively clean. For the most part, the only effects heard are reverb and delay.

The songs are relatively similar in production style and sound, however certain songs stand out. For example, “Mirror Image” with it’s twangy country guitar and driving beat. Another mention is “Blank” which features only acoustic guitar and Nagel’s vocals. It’s a very emotional song that is perfectly executed.

“Unhealthy” takes a sudden turn as well. It has a dark and moody sound that makes you just want to sit in your room all day and mope – in the best of ways. It would fit quite well in a movie scene where the protagonist’s world has just fallen apart.

The title track “Anatomical Heart” does an amazing job of closing the record. It really makes it seem like the record flows full circle from beginning to end and back again on an emotional rollercoaster. The passion and energy behind this song, and this album as a whole, make me think we haven’t heard the last from Woven In Hiatus.

Woven In Hiatus – Anatomical Heart Album Info

Anatomical Heart will be released on Friday, November 4th, 2016. You can preorder physical copies on MerchNOW or digitally on iTunes. Follow Woven In Hiatus on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Triple Tuesdays – Nov. 1, 2016

In this first installment of Triple Tuesdays, we focus on three songs from various genres to highlight new music to our readers.

To begin, we have the Russian grunge punks, M.I. Gang (M.I. standing for Misanthropic Illness), with the song "The Meanest Thing" from their record Kiitos. The band from St. Petersburg cite Violent Soho, Trash Talk, and Plague Vendor as influences. Fuzzy bass and guitars distorted to the max are everywhere in this song, with maximum riffage throughout.

Next up, JAC with his debut single, "This Is How We Operate". A poppy summer anthem, although it was released just a few weeks ago in October. Normally this isn't the kind of music I would listen to, but I really love this track and I hope you do, too!

Last but not least, Teleskopes song "Lazers", the first single off of their upcoming release, provides a loud, crazy, and fun experience to the listener. Early 90s influences are strongly heard, but that doesn't mean this band doesn't have anything original to show for their efforts. This is a song to just let loose and have a blast.

That's it for Triple Tuesdays this week!

Model Depose Create Dark, Mysterious Music on Splitting Light

Hailing from The Netherlands, Model Depose brings an exciting, dark, danceable and mysterious sound to fans. The has been together for over five years with two EPs, several singles, and now their debut album, Splitting Light, under their belt. By combining various styles, the band creates a masterful combination of different elements to form a whole.

Beginning with the slow building intro of “Closer to Home”, the rhythm section consisting of David Bos on bass and Tim Lechner on drums set the tone. As soon as Mariet Gast on keys and Jobbe Holtes on guitar kick in, it is clear that this is a record that will take Model Depose to high places. The production quality is amazing, and as soon as things quite down a pulsing synth takes over, accompanied by Roeland van der Velde’s haunting vocals. My one quip with this song is the verse where van der Velde’s vocals are panned far to the left and right, which is a bit jarring.

Following on the powerful introduction is “Papercut”, a dancy synthpop tune akin to something The Bravery might have released before their unfortunate demise. The poppy music doesn’t hide the fact that this song is about heartbreak, as van der Velde sings, “I’m starving for love with a papercut”. The lead guitar, drenched in reverb, adds quite well to the happy side of the song, not letting the lyrics bring it down.

The song “Greyscale” provides a dancy beat, which like “Papercut” grooves along under dark lyrics. This time, however, the song discusses the future and the unknowingness of life, the universe, and everything.

“Rise and Fall” provides a reprieve from dance songs, slowing things down with an arrangement focused mostly on the instruments. The song features a building force leading up to the next track, spooky sounding and introspective “Sour Times”.

Turning to a poppy indie rock style, “For You” features cries for an unnamed person to follow. Van der Velde sings, “my arms are wide open for you, I am always on your side. The future is bright and open for you.”

The closing track, “Nightwatch”, provides an excellent end to the record. It is a powerful song about keeping loved ones safe, and possibly insomnia and dark thoughts. It is not immediately clear what the lyrics mean but they are extremely haunting, yet at the same time hopeful.

Model Depose – Splitting Light Album Info

Splitting Light is available now on iTunes and Amazon. Model Depose is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Survival Kit – Eats You Alive

Atlanta Pop-Punk band Survival Kit have certainly made their mark with "Eats You Alive".

Right away, their sound grabbed my attention. Anthemic, with cutting guitar lines reminiscent of Billy Talent. I was very impressed with the energy and emotion conveyed throughout the piece. Lyrics such as, "if it were up to me, I wouldn't have any feelings", communicated a sentiment almost everyone has expressed and been able to identify with at one point. I was drawn into the intense and precise performance given by drummer Allen Beck, as well as the musical prowess displayed by their two guitarists and bassist. Each instrument offered strong contributions to what would shape up to be a song charged with bitter heartbreak. The vocals, carried by the powerful instrumental support, were the crown upon the head of this song. The melody flowed smoothly throughout, and the screams delivered in the bridge and outro of the song got me on my feet.

This song's lyrical relevance and musical drive has me beyond excited to see what's in the future for Survival Kit.

Survival Kit – Eats You Alive Song Info

"Eats You Alive" is now available on iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify, and many other digital outlets.

 

Lucky Beaches – Pink Champagne

Lucky Beaches, an artist from Liverpool, UK, has released his new single "Pink Champagne" to the world. The song combines blues rock vocals with guitars reminescent of Queens of the Stone Age or other early 90s rock bands. Fuzz pedals. Fuzz pedals, everywhere. Toss in some tight and punchy drums with a driving 4/4 beat, and you have Pink Champagne.

Taking a listen to Lucky Beaches' other singles, the blues-rock theme continues, and is quite appealing. On songs like "Go It Alone" you can distinctly hear the British accent, which sounds almost Beatles-esque when combined with a slap delay (perhaps done on purpose?). I am most certainly interested in hearing more from Lucky Beaches, and hopefuly you are, too! I expect great things to come from this artist.

Lucky Beaches – Pink Champagne song info

You can buy "Pink Champagne" on iTunes, or stream it on Spotify. Find Lucky Beaches on his website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Sleep On It Hit Home with “Lost Along the Way”

On October 21st, Sleep On It released their third EP Lost Along the Way. This new release followed up 2015’s Safe Again and 2014’s Everything, All at Once. Earlier this year, the band welcomed new vocalist Zech Pluister by releasing the single “Burning at Both Ends”. Pluister’s vocals are much stronger than those of the band’s original vocalist, ditching a whiny pop punk sound for gruff yet melodic and powerful vocals.

Soon thereafter, Sleep On It announced that they were signed by Equal Vision Records, leading up to the release of Lost Along the Way. Starting with the first few bars of “Counting Miles”, you can hear that the production values have improved tenfold over the band’s self-released music. The mix is full, with solid low end, tight bass and drums, and beautiful sounding guitars.

Another bright point to note is that the vocal arrangement is exquisite. Dueling vocals, harmonies, and powerful doubling are all used appropriately throughout the EP to highlight the lyrics in key parts of the songs.

Guitarists TJ Horansky and Jake Marquis compliment each other well, each providing a solid midrange over bassist AJ Khah and drummer Luka Fischman’s tight rhythm section. Before Pluister joined the band, the foundation was there… The band was only lacking the final element to tie the pieces together and provide the final touch.

While “Counting Miles” and “With Friends Like You, Who Needs Friends?” kick off the EP with high energy anthemic choruses, “See You Around” takes a turn and shows the band’s more sensitive side. The song seems to discuss mistakes the band have made in their personal lives, which can be seen in “your silence is so loud, there’s a buzz in my head from what you never said. I’ll be seeing you around. . . I know that you’ll never let this go.”

At first, “Unspoken” seems to be going the same way as “See You Around”, but one quickly realized that the song is more introspective, reflecting on inner peace and battling one’s demons or losing oneself. I can safely say these are some of the best lyrics I have heard in a pop punk song in a very long time.

“Let Me Go” is a strong song, but production wise seems a bit rushed. Overall it is still extremely well done, but certain elements in the mix don’t sit quite right. The vocal transition from intro to first verse and pumping guitars which distract from the listening experience come to mind, as well as the key change at the three minute mark. The band might have been better off dropping the fifth song and letting the EP stand on its first four well produced "legs".

Sleep On It – Lost Along the Way album info

Overall, Lost Along the Way is an extremely well done EP, and I highly recommend it. It is available now on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, and more. You can visit the band’s website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I Fight Fail Offer Self-Reflective Escape from Reality with New EP

Following up their debut EP “Move Me”, Ohio-based band I Fight Fail released their second EP “Voyages and Vantage Points” in early October.

I was immediately intrigued by the first track, titled after the EP, and presented as a spoken word piece. Its bold message forced me to sit back and reflect upon its themes of mankind, the history of our planet, and existentialism.

The second track, “Are You Okay”, hit me with a feeling of familiarity as soon as the first notes struck. A glamorous space-rock piece reminiscent of the early days of The Killers, I couldn’t help but move to the beat. The upbeat instrumentals, although simple, created a very positive atmosphere to the entire song. Paired with vocalist Andy Potter’s rhythmically driven melodies and harmonies, this song was a very, very strong start to what shaped up to be a very solid EP.

This theme was to follow throughout the entire EP. Upbeat, space-pop rock anthems that presented me with mental images of stadiums filled with screaming fans, confetti, and incredible light displays. The lyrics, while simple, manage to create a haunting vibe to each song, in a way that reminds me of X Ambassadors. While there are no real soul-grabbing lines delivered on this EP, there are a few that have resonated with me, such as “Do you believe in anything at all?” (from Anything At All, track 3). Musically, I was repeatedly impressed with the distinction of each instrument, and I was particularly impressed with drummer Anthony Carter. While simple, the atmospheric sensation provided by each song allows for it, and the simplicity was definitely the most appropriate approach to these songs.

If you’re looking for music that will tear your heart out with soul-wrenching lyrics, or will blow you away with musical intricacy and technicalities, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a six-song EP that gets you up and dancing throughout the entire piece, makes you feel good, and leaves you satisfied as the final song comes to a close.

I Fight Fail – Move Me album info

Move Me is available now on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.

Written by Josh Lowe.