Crushing the grunge rock genre since 2014, and trailing it with their raw sound, Collegians manifests their contagious sound in their latest track, Killer. Sounding similar to Linkin Park, Muse, and Verve, the Collegians sound makes you forget where you are, what you are doing, and where you are going to. Possessing a mix of recognizable 90s grunge rock that infiltrates your existence as a whole, the band succeeds with showcasing that beautiful grit. The vocal talent of Glenn Patrick combined with the gothic and strong lyrics make listeners hooked for more. With the lyrics of “love to hate, that’s why I’m praying for you”, Patrick’s delivery of their powerful music makes Collegians soar and connects their sound to listeners from all walks of life, no matter where they may be.
From Australian artist, Michael Cullen, comes the single and music video titled Do You Believe. With lyrics reminiscent of streams of consciousness and free prose, the track reveals a reflective tone throughout the track. A lyric that stands out within the track “holding hands on the edge of journey” points out the meditative and thought provoking characteristics of Cullen’s songwriting. His sound reminds listeners of the sound of artists such as Depeche Mode, Nick Cave, and Spooky Black. With the tones and musical style compared to noir music and Southern Gothic Americana, Do You Believe does not disappoint those who are eager to listen to a unique sound by a musician standing out in a genre all his own.
I’ve written about Jukebox the Ghost before back in 2012, and since then the band has matured their unique brand of anthemic pop and have built a sound that can only be called the “Jukebox” sound. The D.C.-spawned trio of Ben Thornewill (vocals & piano), Tommy Siegel (vocals & guitar) and Jesse Kristin (drums) are now on their fifth studio album, and, despite my overplaying of the infectious earworm Everything Under the Sun (2010), Off to the Races, which was just released in late March, may be the band’s best release yet.
The album brings Jukebox back to its creative roots, calling back to the first two releases (my two favorites) and creating more tracks aligned with this theatrical pop/rock sentiment. The band’s last few releases had a few tracks that worked under this lens, but Off to the Races fits it more as a complete piece. The album also features one of the band’s most ambitious pieces, “Jumpstarted,” which introduces the album and certainly sets the tone. The piece begins with a Queen-like layered vocal harmony and rapidly tickled ivories and transforms into a percussion-fueled, toe-tapping carnival of sounds – the song is a cavalcade of music (fit with creative vocals, call-backs, guitar solos, and electronic interludes) that even progresses into some a cappella. It is an immediate party and a bit risky – thankfully, the song delivers and sets the tone for the rest of the album.
“Fred Astaire” is classic Jukebox. It is a drenched guitar riff mixed with a strong vocal and consequent percussion. The song fits together like a Jukebox puzzle – it is catchy pop but done to absolute perfection. It goes down smooth.
“Everybody’s Lonely,” while different in tone, also demonstrates Jukebox’s grasp over pop tunes. The song starts as a call-back to something I can only term 1950’s diner piano and then progresses into a more traditional pop piece with crashing percussion and a swooning vocal. Thornewill’s piano diversifies this pop; he often demonstrates classical chops and this adds to the song’s success.
Another successful release for Jukebox The Ghost – perhaps their best album in years. Maybe this time I will actually see them when they come to NY; I tried several years ago but the concern was snowed out and I could not go to the make-up date. I need to see this band in concert!
With Keys Of Mine, Luca Bash brings the elements of smooth jazz with an undertone of grit in his overall sound. Debuting after his CMYK project in 2015, Bash is back with an even more stylized sound. The Italian musician knows how to blend the varied sounds and exemplifies how a mixture of how the saxophone and keyboard hone in on the vibe of the album. It makes listeners awakened by the reflective and unique sound Bash brings. A wide range of content encompasses the track list of Keys Of Mine, with standout tracks of Your Tomorrow and Forever Like Asleep.Your Tomorrow brings out the musing side of Bash’s lyrics and sound and Forever Like Asleep carries heavy emphasis on pairing strong lyrics and standout musical arrangement with the wide variety of instruments highlighted in bursts on the album. Having a heavy musical background and not afraid to bare his emotions, Luca Bash gives Keys Of Mine his heart and soul.
When audiences listen to Ivan Beecroft and his music, they can pinpoint how he carries the reputation of rock and runs with it in his sound. The overall tone of the album Whatever ranges from angst, to politically charged, and every mood in between. Minimalistic in sound and inspired by 90s grunge rock, listeners can hear the simplicity and rawness of Beecroft’s sound within Whatever. Before writing music, Beecroft worked in the steel industry. Within the album, reflections on work, the environment, and opinionated musings populate the track list. Inspired by the sounds of the Sex Pistols, Joy Division, and the Clash, Whatever spins a 2018 twist on the greats, Beecroft style.
The Music Court 