Velvet King - 'Nah'

 ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Who doesn't love to sing along to "nah-nah-nah"'s? I think my favorite part of this song are the weird phaser sounds that add a layer of tension and movement. 

I'm gonna take a moment to compliment the BADASS drums. They sound sooo good and recorded very well. I personally love the snare. It's tight and snappy. 

The vocal style is also energetic but with a slacker tone - which I personally love. The reverb is tasteful, but I would have liked to hear them a bit more up front.

Okay. Guitars. They have awesome fuzzy tones. I think the solo and rhythm parts are straightforward which pair nicely with the killer bass line. The song has a defined lower register that makes it sound dark.

Overall the song is a fun sing along. And clearly the band members had fun after hearing that little snippet at the end of the song. 

Single. 2020.

Coaster - 'Paralyzed'

GRUNGE ALT ROCK

Oh, the angst in those vocals! You can hear the emotion push through Matt Kissinger's strained vocals. 

"When you cry 

Don't set aside 

What is life 

Lonely nights 

Paralyzed 

Shaken"

I'm a huge fan of these guitar tones. The bass pops out nicely. And the drums add more energy behind those guitar hits. Or vice versa.

The point! Right... The guitar tones are heavy with distortion in a Jaguar sounding way. Not so much heavy metal distortion.

"Red Charlie" has a pretty awesome beginning that stumbles into the song.

from Slow Jams. by Community Records. 2016.

Hot Snakes - 'Six Wave Hold-Down'

ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Drive me. The song title and album art supports the surfing imagery felt by the guitars and non-stop music drive.

But this isn't surf rock. It's darker. The toms are full and rhythmic. The vocalist's strained yells remind me of Dave Grohl's raspy energy. 

I have this song on a running playlist because of it's constant energy. There is some space in the pre-chorus that leaves room to breathe. 

from Jericho Sirens. By Sub Pop Records. 2018.

FIDLAR - 'Alcohol'

ALTERNATIVE PUNK ROCK

Need a theme song for your lit weekends? The gritty vocals and messy guitar tones perfectly shape the rebellious and candid demeanor of not only the song but of the band. 

First off, the introduction to the chorus's dynamics electrified my expectations about the song and album. While the song is driven by the fuzzy tones, it takes an airy, half-time break after the guitar solo.

I love FIDLAR''s 2015 album Too. This song presents new fun percussion instruments - like the wooden scraper panned to the left during the chorus - that I hope their new album will continue to use. 

Mom + Pop. 2018.

The Radio Dept - 'Where Damage Isn't Already Done'

ALTERNATIVE INDIE ROCK

Clip me timbers! Combined with the obvious clipping, the soft whisper-like vocals make this track sound charming. 

"Everyone looks the same. Still we have different names." 

Check out this cover on SoundCloud.

Lesser Matters. Labrador Records. 2003.

The Wytches - | All Your Happy Life |

ALTERNATIVE INDIE GARAGE PUNK ROCK

'Tis Halloween-y more than just because the artist's name is The Wytches. 

Is it the organ chords in the back that makes "Dumb Fill" sound like an old timey horror movie? 

Maybe. It's a combination of the above and other factors. For example, in "Crest of Death" it almost feels like bile will come through the vocalist's chant-like, raspy cries.

The fuzzy distortion of the guitars overwhelm this album. "Can't Face It" demonstrates a refreshing moment of where we can hear small pauses of this guitar distortion wall. 

Listening this album reminded me of Danny Elfman. What name this Halloween-y for me? The half-step chord progressions.

Please check out their creative website: The Wytches.

2016.

Allah-Las - 'No Werewolf'

ALTERNATIVE INDIE PSYCHEDELIC ROCK

Steady drums with twangy guitars. The hypnotizing video compliments the music perfectly. The tune is reminiscent of the dry desert that is Los Angeles. 

From Worship The Sun by Innovative Leisure. 2014. 

Y LUV - 'Jacques Cousteau'

ALTERNATIVE INDIE ROCK

Bass line beauty with squealing guitars. Raspy yet clear vocals demanding more from life. Quite liberating.

The Bots - Desperate (live session)

ALTERNATIVE ROCK

DESPERATE (Daytrotter Exclusive "LIVE" Session) 2013 Nov. from THE BOTS on MySpace.

Second Shepherds - "Everyday"

INDIE, ALTERNATIVE ROCK

Everyday by Second Shepherds on Myspace

From Scruff of the Neck Records

The Naughtys - "It's Gonna Get Ya"

PUNK, ALTERNATIVE ROCK

From Scruff of the Neck Records