Mollie Elizabeth Turns Frustration Into Theatrical Pop on “Petty Crimes”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There’s something immediately charming about Mollie Elizabeth’s musical style, or at least there is on her new single, “Petty Crimes.” It’s the kind of song that initially caught my attention because of how it sounds before I really started paying attention…
Ecce Shnak Find Liberation in the Dissonance of “Anna O”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are band names that tell you exactly what you’re getting, and then there’s Ecce Shnak. Even the name feels like an invitation to step into something a little strange. Derived in part from the Latin “ecce,” meaning “behold” or “consider,”…
bby Leave a Strong Impression With “Ur Bedroom”
LOS ANGELES, CA- This young band first caught my attention because of the format of their music video. But the longer I watched bby perform “Ur Bedroom,” the less I was thinking about the video and the more I started paying attention to the…
The Haunt Deliver Another Banger With “Seasonal Depression”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are songs that demand careful unpacking, and then there are songs where the first reaction pretty much says everything that needs to be said: this thing is a banger. The Haunt have delivered another one with “Seasonal Depression,” the latest…
Andy Grammer’s “All I Want Is You” Was the Song I Needed
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ll be honest. My spirit has been a little dampened lately. There have been some things going on in my life, some relatively small and others considerably larger, that have weighed on me more than I would like. Nothing I particularly…
Meg Lui’s “Elvis Queen” Is a Beautiful Introduction to Instant Validation, Produced by Sufjan Stevens
LOS ANGELES, CA- I wasn’t familiar with Meg Lui until this week. Although she’d already released two singles from her forthcoming debut album Instant Validation, “Gone Girl” and “Dreams,” it was the announcement of “Elvis Queen” that finally caught my attention. The reason was…
cosmosy’s “Paradise ~ I need you ~” Is an Infectious Surprise
LOS ANGELES, CA- When I first pressed play on cosmosy’s “Paradise ~ I need you ~,” I wasn’t expecting it to become the song that convinced me to write about the group. That’s not meant as a slight. Pop music… particularly the highly polished…
The Runarounds Capture Fleeting Youthful Nostalgia On New Single “Bleachers”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There’s a particular kind of magic that only exists in hindsight. The late-night drives that felt endless. The smell of cigarette smoke lingering in the upholstery of a friend’s car. The thrill of doing absolutely nothing important with people who, at…
Ok Goodnight’s “Spiral” Is A Spectacularly Mind-Bending Collision Of Musical Genres And Emotional Chaos
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are songs you casually throw on in the background, and then there are songs like “Spiral” by Ok Goodnight that completely consume your attention the moment they begin. The Boston-based art rock outfit’s latest single isn’t designed for passive listening….
Ann Wilson Revisits Timeless Romance on Burt Bacharach Collaboration “Nothing But Love”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There’s something quietly refreshing about hearing a song that isn’t trying to overwhelm you. No massive sonic twists. No irony. No attempt to package emotional devastation into something detached or cynical. Just a simple melody, filled with sincerity, and a message…
