Browsing Tag

country

Skip Seattle and Go to the Ozarks for Your 90s Grunge with Jeremy Phillips’ Latest Single, Crazy

Posted on 5 July 2023

Country and Grunge rarely collide, but when they do, as proven by the latest single, Crazy, from Jeremy Phillips and The Ozark Grunge, evocative firestorms spark in the gruff vocal timbre and southern rock riffs, which will take you higher than a billionaire in space.

With the raucousness scouring the soul in Crazy, the hit is rough around all the right edges, but at its core, it’s a heartfelt release strong enough to pick you up off the floor if you reach to it in your lowest moments.

While the lyrics allude to how love is one of the only acceptable forms of madness, the blazingly tight instrumentals, which will throw you right back to the 90s, sell sludged-up sanctuary. While so many artists are keen to assimilate the Seattle grunge sound, Jeremy Phillips proves the distortion sounds just as sweet in the Ozarks.

Crazy is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Matt Mullins & The Bringdowns harbingered the ‘Beginning of the End’ in their expansively influenced single

Posted on 5 July 2023

Matt Mullins & The Bringdowns may be alt-country at their core, which their single, Beginning of the End, efficaciously signifies but written into the rich tapestry of a single are elements are folk, grunge, psych and new wave indie to create a genre-bending odyssey.

Their stylistic fluidity is one thing; the way they allow emotion to drive the momentum and paint a panoramic portrait of the human psyche and all that defiles and uplifts it is quite another. The Beginning of the End takes a raw and real anxiety for the people prolifically questioning the sustainability of our societies and enraptures the listener away from it all with the unshackling nature of the stellar songwriting.

Beyond the Slash-style soaring guitar solos, the Eddie Vedder-esque gruff vocal timbre, the gangly indie melodies that will appease any fans of the Psychedelic Furs, and the rugged folk elements which reminisce with the tones made iconic by the Levellers lies the true beauty of Matt Mullins & The Bringdowns. For your own sake, experience it for yourselves.

Beginning of the End, along with their latest album, Monarch Sessions, from which it was taken, is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isiah & The New People started a Western Psych-Folk revolution with their live recording of Hold On

Posted on 3 July 2023

Joined by the conduits of rhythmic virtuosity that make up his live band, the prodigal son of western psych folk, Isiah Driessen, stepped into The Train Station to lay down the licks in his standout single, Hold On.

Hit play and be a fly on the wall to the mind-melting alchemy that spills from the live recording from Isiah & The New People. While the jazzy sax lines feed the seduction, the rhythm section ensures your pulses are tied to the progressions in the laidback but electric hit that kicks up plenty of Western country dirt.

Driessen’s impassionedly strident vocals are the cherry on the psych-folk sonic cake as they alternate between raucously bluesy lines to honeyed harmonies that reach the pinnacle of sweet. If you ever catch someone insinuating that contemporary artists suck because they don’t ‘make them like they used to’, rub this elevated with nuance single in their faces.

Stream the live jam recording of Hold On which premiered on June 9th on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Brandon Bing became the superlative raconteur of country rock gospel in ‘Rat Race’

Posted on 25 June 2023

With one of the most emotive opening guitar melodies we’ve heard in, well, forever, and guitar solos that Slash couldn’t have done better in the middle-eight, which leaves you reaching to crank up the volume, Brandon Bing’s polished country rock vignette of working-class culture in Rat Race is as tenacious as it is electrifying.

It seems somewhat paradoxical to derive so much pleasure from a single which traverses the precariousness of stability for the billions of working-class people trapped in the rat race and numbing themselves by any means necessary, but therein lies the beauty of Brandon Bing as a raconteur of country rock gospel.

It’s a drastic contrast from the last time we heard Bing with his feel-good honkytonk hit, Don’t Bring Your Car to a Rodeo, and while we didn’t dare underestimate his versatility, Rat Race gave us infinitely more than we bargained for with the earworm which starts with an instant hook. Just try telling us he isn’t one of the best contemporary country writers around.

Rat Race was officially released on June 9th; hear it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dreams Come True: Alabama-based country artist Josiah Rodda puts the hard work in on Blue Collar

Posted on 21 June 2023

Sung with poise and love to teach us about his real story of grit no matter the challenges placed in his path, Josiah Rodda is the kind of role model from which we can take inspiration in his new single Blue Collar.

Josiah Rodda is a hard-working Alabama-based indie country singer-songwriter who has a truly humble nature which will calm the hearts of many who have grown tiresome of boastful fakeness.

Showing his true professionalism and with profound lyrics to match, Josiah Rodda is the kind of underground hero millions can relate to. He’s real and appears to be down to earth whilst being truly sincere about his craft.

Blue Collar from Alabama-based indie country singer-songwriter Josiah Rodda is such a feet-tapping single which might relax the stressed souls amongst us who needed something to ease into. His vocals are stress-relieving and you feel like you’re inside the room with him.

Listen up further via YouTube.

See more news on his Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

How Hard Can It Be: Ian Shortall feels his epicentre bypass a nostalgic beat on Chesapeake

Posted on 17 June 2023

Sensing that he was under a special spell by a lovely water-loving human with a heart of gold, Ian Shortall feels sad that they left in the middle of the night on the massively reflective single to contemplate with, Chesapeake.

Ian Shortall is a Melbourne, Australia-based indie country/folk-blues-fusion solo singer-songwriter who learnt his trade back in Dublin in the 90s.

”Not one to shy away from outside influences and bring something new to the table, Ian also pulls imagery from the metal world, which is echoed and hinted at throughout his lyrical content.” ~ Ian Shortall

Captivating all alert listeners with something rather special and indelible to be enraptured by, Ian Shortall has brought forth a gem of a song which hasn’t been rushed in the slightest.

Chesapeake from Melbourne, Australia-based indie country artist Ian Shortall might be one of the most beautifully created singles of the year so far. This has been made with complete care. There is affection in droves throughout and we are opened up to a memorable story to cherish for its authenticity.

There is so much to like about such a lovable story with so much emotion and total class, which shall give many hearts an extra beat to help when the lonely nights set in.

Embrace the feeling shine through the curtains on Spotify.

Find out more about live shows and more via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Lorne Riley has released his page-turning upbeat country earworm, That’s All She Wrote

Posted on 4 June 2023

‘That’s All She Wrote’ is the latest quintessentially country single from the singer-songwriter Lorne Riley, who ingeniously cloaked his latest pop and rock-encompassing feat of Americana with swathes of 80s nostalgia to take you on a sonic journey you’ve never muddied your metaphorical boots with before.

You just can’t help falling in love with the small-town boy who has dug up his Northern Ontario roots and implanted them in his new residence in Dubai. Evidently, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the boy.

Since making his debut in 2019, he’s featured on the Nashville Music Row Chart; That’s All She Wrote is yet another hooky chart-worthy hit from the singer-songwriter who knows exactly how to infuse his vignettes with bold imagery and a sense of soul that will awaken your own.

That’s All She Wrote was officially released on April 28; hear it on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Restless Nights: Evan Charles wants much more than a shadow on Low Road Runnin’

Posted on 23 May 2023

Trying to get higher and hoping for the music to never stop no matter what, Evan Charles sees the wild coyote glimpsing as he takes another look into the illuminating sky on Low Road Runnin‘.

Evan Charles is an Austin, Texas-based Mr Pink Records-signed country singer-songwriter who is best known for being in the local band, Altamesa.

”Charles was selected as one of six Austin-based songwriters to participate in the international touring and documentary film organization Project ATX6, reigniting his passion to put storytelling back to the forefront.” ~ Evan Charles

Truly an inspiration to so many who just want to be happy, Evan Charles is on fire with a special song made from the heart. Showing his progression from band life, this is a quality single made by an experienced great who will only get better.

Low Road Runnin’ from Texas-based country singer-songwriter Evan Charles is a truly enticing soundtrack to play rather loud when those lonely nights start to catch up. Teaching us about those wild memories which can change everything if the mindset flips, this is a truly excellent song.

Turn this up on loud and forget all worries.

Listen up more on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Dan Slyker’s “Mexico” provides a much needed musical escape.

Posted on 13 May 2023

Dan Slyker’s “Mexico” is a refreshing and unique addition to the alt-country genre. The song features a vibrant and upbeat sound that is a blend of traditional country elements, such as banjo and guitar, with electronic noise and even a mariachi band, resulting in a rich and engaging musical arrangement. It’s the kind of song that makes your ears perk-up and say to yourself “well, this is new.”

Dan’s gritty and tuneful voice perfectly complements the energetic instrumentation and adds a sense of rawness and authenticity to the song. The lyrics tell a story of a man escaping to Mexico with a sweet and enticing young lady, to forget his troubles and enjoy life, making the song relatable and catchy.

Dan Slyker’s musical style is a mix of various genres, including country, bluegrass, rock, and hip hop, which he blends together to create a unique sound that sets him apart from other country artists. He draws inspiration from his childhood experiences of living in different parts of the US, where he was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, from west coast twang to mainstream rock and pop.

Dan’s mission is to break the mould and challenge the traditional country music scene, which he believes has become too serious and predictable. With his innovative sound and powerful lyrics, Dan Slyker is a rising star in the alt-country genre, and “Mexico” is a perfect example of his talent and creativity.

The Fretbenders – Wandering Soul: An Americana Beacon for Wanderlust Dreamers to Follow Home

Posted on 11 May 2023

Taking you simultaneously to a veranda in Sicily and a back porch in Louisiana, the soundscape in the standout single, Wandering Soul, from the singer-songwriter duo The Fretbender’s seminal album, Long Overdue, is a beacon for the wanderlust dreamers to follow home.

Between the harmonicas, slide guitars and folksy vocal lines which sugar the atmosphere with compassion for the world-weary to savour, Wandering Soul is a timeless rootsy Americana offering which will nestle you within its euphonic comfort.

The husband-and-wife duo, Diane and Bob Kordas are known for their homely senses of soul and their unique roots infusions, which allow heritage sounds to resound on contemporary airwaves. Following their hotly anticipated LP, we hope there’s plenty more in the pipeline.

Wandering Soul is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast