Browsing Tag

Country Pop Rock

Ralph Pezzullo sings the ‘Lockdown Blues’ in his latest single

Posted on 22 May 2021

Plenty of artists have released lockdown-inspired singles, but no one can sing the lockdown blues quite like a blues artist, case in point, Ralph Pezzullo’s latest sonically swampy bluegrass single, ‘Lockdown Blues’.

The up-vibe funk-bridled single comes complete with frenetic keys, quite simply virtuosic guitar work and Pezzullo’s expressively honest lyrics that come alive through his country pop-rock vocal timbre. If you could bottle what Lockdown Blues has to offer, we’d finally have bottled Serotonin.

The anthem is all too efficacious when it comes to reminding you that everyone can pull light out of the dark, even if we don’t have the multi-faceted talent that was exhibited in Lockdown Blues. If you could imagine what it would sound like if the Stray Cats merged styles with Wild Cherry, you’ll get an idea of the aural euphoria that laces the soundscape.

Lockdown Blues is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jennifer Alvarado is red hot and ‘Playing With Fire’

Posted on 17 May 2021

Songwriting from the tender age of four, and with an album of Christian music (2015’s ‘Hello Life’) already under her belt, Jennifer Alvarado was named ‘One To Watch’ by the Nashville Songwriters Association off the back of her 2020 single ‘I Break Things’ and its four follow-ups. With a Commscope award for original songwriting, Alevarado’s new single – from the freshly released EP of the same name – ‘Playing With Fire’ is a gentle, mid-tempoBlues-tinged Country ballad.

Acoustic-guitar and chilled Texas shuffle drums on the verses, with big powerchord uplifts on the choruses, ‘Playing With Fire’ is perfect summer driving music; simple and immediate, catchy as hell, gritty and honest, with a big pentatonic-focused guitar break and Alvarado’s excellent, emotive vocal carrying the song. There’s obvious reference points; Shania, Taylor, maybe a little of the Meredith Brooks, but it’s exactly the sort of song that should be all over daytime radio and Country Music Television. It’s a great single, and it’s easy to see why it’s already been voted Number 1 on Indie Star Radio’s ‘Top 21’.

Check out ‘Playing With Fire’ on Spotify now; follow Jennifer Alvarado on Facebook and here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Joonas Tanner – Ordinary Day: A Cinematically Raw Sign of the Times

Posted on 14 May 2021

Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Joonas Tanner finds the inspiration for his country-pop crossover singles by introspectively delving into the complexities of love, life and human emotion. His latest single, ‘Ordinary Day’, explores the relationships that reached a breaking point during the 2020 lockdown. Even if you didn’t feel that disjointing feeling first-hand, Ordinary Day still hits bruisingly hard by stripping the grandiosity out of modern romance and replacing it with the reminder of how mundane loveless ordinary days can be.

Ordinary Day was produced by Nashville’s very own Simon Reid, who allowed the soundscape to unfold as an all-consuming feat of country pop-rock that holds sonic reminiscence to the likes of Shinedown and Staind. If you want to test your soul’s capacity to feel, hit play on this cinematically raw sign of our times.

Ordinary Day is now available to stream via Spotify, Bandcamp and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Charlotte Morris Bares Her Soul on new single ‘Three Hearts’

Posted on 26 December 2020

With a delicious blend of folk, pop, rock, and Americana comes ‘Three Hearts’, the new single from Charlotte Morris’ new album ‘Songs For My Next Ex’, and that title probably gives a pretty good lead into what’s on offer here; beautiful, soulful, confessional and personal, soft and gentle and tugging on the heartstrings. There’s a little of Joni Mitchell, a little Sheryl Crow, and a lot of Delta Rae and Brandi Carlisle; a tender and compassionate vocal sitting over gently strummed acoustic guitar chords and a sensitive backing of drums and bass.

Listened to in its entirety, ‘Songs For My Next Ex’ is a soul-bearing ‘story album’, tracing the highs and lows of relationships; her first full-length album, following up 2018’s ‘To New York With Love’ EP, it’s a perfect showcase for Morris’ stunning, plaintive voice. ‘Three Hearts’ is the impeccable, sublime introduction.

You can hear ‘Three Hearts’ on Soundcloud and follow Charlotte Morris here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Emily Lockett gives Country Pop Rock a stunning modernist twist with “Front Porch”

Posted on 14 September 2020
Emily Lockett

Throw your preconceptions out of the window before you hit play on Emily Lockett’s upcoming Country single “Front Porch”.

With a stunning modernist twist, Emily Lockett has allowed the genre to make a seismic shift in contemporary resonance. The electric guitars grace the soundscape with angularly absorbing licks to ensure that even though Front Porch is roots-deep in Old School Country Blues attitude, it drips with commercial potential.

The UK-based singer-songwriter and instrumentalist is currently studying at one of the finest institutions in the UK, I’m of course referring to BIMM Manchester. She’s already had plenty of success with her former releases after making her debut in December 2016. I can’t help but feel excited about what’s to come from the trailblazingly distinctive artist. Get her on your radar.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out Front Porch, in the meantime, you can head on over to the artist’s official website and check out their former releases.

Keep up to date with news of the forthcoming release via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chellcy Reitsma – Cross the Line ft. Casper Mason: Romantically Resounding Alt Rock

Posted on 22 February 2020

You can practically taste the chemistry contained in the latest single “Cross the Line” from up and coming artist Chellcy Reitsma which features vocals from Casper Mason.

The Alt Rock single boasts the same resounding prowess as cinematic power-pop ballads. Yet, with the inclusion of absorbing riffs in the full-bodied stylised instrumental arrangement, Cross the Line has plenty more bite than your archetypal love song. Alchemically, the high-octane energy of the Americana Country Rock elements didn’t chip away at the sticky-sweet sentiment. It just ensured that it resonated as powerful instead of saccharine.

You can check out Chellcy Reitsma’s latest single Cross the Line which was released on February 14th for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jesse Slack – Rust: A Country Blues Pop Playlist Essential

Posted on 18 February 2020

Jesse Slack has perceptibly found the answer to keeping Country music commercially accessible with his latest single “Rust”. The genre-defying track may borrow plenty of elements from different genres, but the roots of Country Americana Blues are well and truly blossoming in Rust.

The cuttingly angular guitar tones sit alongside the winding rhythms which are more typical from the genre providing a refreshing added dynamic to the instrumentals. While the lyrics and vocals allow Rust to share reminiscences with Pop and Bluesy Pop Punk artists.

If there’s any justice in the music industry, Jesse Slack will share the same success as the likes of Taylor Swift. Because evidently, he shares the same talent when it comes to crafting sticky-sweet melodies which will stick in your throat during the build-ups.

You can listen to Jesse Slack’s latest single Rust for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Country, Rock and Pop Converge in Kylee Stone’s Hit Single “Homegrown”

Posted on 13 February 2020

Up and coming Country Pop Rock artist Kylee Stone released her latest single “Homegrown” on January 31st and made Country music more accessible than ever.

It’s easy to see that Kylee Stone could follow in the footsteps of the likes of Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus after the release of Homegrown. There’s plenty of familiarities to be found in the timeless style of the track. But the distinction lies in the talent offered by Kylee Stone and her band.

No review of Homegrown would be complete without mentioning the insanely mesmeric lead guitar work. With riffs which would rival Slash’s, this emotive and soul-inspired single is taken to the next level. If any track could simultaneously appease Rock, Pop, and Country fans, it’s Homegrown.

You can check out the official music video to Kylee Stone’s latest single Homegrown for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast