After several decades of being in the game, St. Paul- based Rock and eclectic powerhouse Radio Drive has been making his way across the musical landscape far and wide, amassing new fans just about everywhere he goes, and not to mention, has graced our platform here in the past. And if it’s one thing we’ve learned about him, it’s that he always knows how to step up the bar each time. And he has done just that with his latest monumental effort “Cast Out Your Light”.
This anthemic and chorus-driven tune plays out like chapters in a book. Starting off with pretty piano measures and ambient guitar swells, the buildup into the vocals and strings really add subtle yet effective foreshadowing into the more gain- driven guitars and snare driven tempos and melodies; all just to bring that subtlety right back as a pre chorus that leads into the full blown chorus. It’s this formula that truly encapsulates Radio Drive’s aura and ambience when it comes to song structure, balance, as well as composure, his compositions are very big in their execution and his use of chorus really draws in your undivided attention. If this is your first time hearing him in his full glory, then this will definitely be the track for you.
This is also the type of a song that’ll keep you coming back for more; perhaps delving further into his discography both past, present and future. RD has a lot more on the horizon and it’s a promising one to say the least. You’ll absolutely love this newest anthem. You can hear “Cast Out Your Light” on Spotify, iTunes and several other streaming platforms. You’ll be glad that you did.
We’ve had The Harmalators duo on our platform before, and they have yet to do disappoint. Since that time, the elite Californi-natives have put together another plethora of colorfully eclectic songs with top notch production value and songwriting technique versatility – some which have landed them in award/charting positions. Comprised of eight amazingly blissful textures and structures that melodically soar throughout the musical landscape, the two brothers in The Harmalators have truly hit it out of the park with their 8-track collective, titled ‘Two Great Minds Think Alike‘, an exercise in innovation, thoroughness, blissfulness and so much more that’ll captivate your musical aura and ambience.
Opening track “Love On Fire” really emphasizes their vocal melody approach, all while keeping that indie feel at the forefront with several facets of different instruments playing their respective roles. Each vocalist really helps enhance the other and you can tell that their togetherness and solidification really puts the melody strength into the writing structure in its entirety. It’s a brilliant intro to the album that will easily entice you to listen to the duration of the record in its entirety.
“Where Would I Be Without You” is a much more simple listen but is undeniably a much more basic structure – and that is held to the highest regard. It’s a shorter song, one that is easily to take in as a classic, and could definitely be heard as an intro to one of those 90s sitcoms (a GOOD one, by the way). Another facet of this track is to find it impossible to get it out of your head. From its title track lyrics, addictive melody structure and just overall charming presence with its well-put-together.
Overall, ‘Two Great Minds Think Alike’ insatiably showcase both brothers’ strongest points in both production and performance value in ways that entice any listener to hear what they’ve put together over the years together and solo-wise as well. They’ve put out a small catalogue of their innovative gems in the past foür😝 its time, but this 8-track collection of highly-produces bliss will definitely turn some heads; especially when an album like this is in the band’s arsenal.
“Two Great Minds Think Alike” have also garnered them some award status. Including…
If this is the first time you’ve heard the first time you’ve heard The Harmalators, then it definitely won’t be the last!
Emerging from the iconic Seattle music scene, 5-piece rockers Custom began hitting the ground running in the music realm when they first formed in 2002 by guitarist Corey Petro and quickly began acquiring a street buzz. Flash forward nineteen years and Custom is currently one of the leading voices in the vibrant Seattle scene, releasing a handful of records and performing shows at a vast array of prominent venues and events to create a big name for themselves as a band with a raw energy approach to their big guitar-driven signature sound.
Their flavor of Rock is very distinctive; utilizing elements from 80s bands like Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister and Judas Priest while also diligently implementing a more modern sensibility that fits today’s more innovative Rock aura. After the widespread success of their album ‘Brace For Impact’ in 2018, Custom knew they had to follow up with a record that would do themselves justice while also raising the bar to the heights they already created – and that resulted in the band’s 2021 release ‘V’, their highly anticipated fifth studio album. If fans of the band were eager for a release that would crank up the performance and production value while still boasting that Custom signature sound they’ve been known for, then they got exactly what they wanted and a boatload more. Opening banger “King Alice” sets the tone for the record and truly hits you full force with their pounding rhythm section, beefy guitar gains and arena-style vocals that come together into one explosive sound. Vocalist David Lyon is at the top of his game on this track with his anthemic melody choices, high-range leads and distinctively executed vibratos. He leaves no stone unturned and really brings his vocal approach right to the forefront in a way that is both effective and impressionable for both old fans and new. For anyone that hasn’t heard Custom yet, this opening track will absolutely grab your undivided attention for the rest of the album’s duration.
Another notable track on this record is anchor single “Open Road”, a song with a rhythmically driving tempo and crunchy chugging guitars that really deliver the verses with punchy measures. Like the opening track, Lyon again serves up an anthemic chorus that is unwaveringly catchy and themed with clever lyrical outbursts. The wa-wa/crybaby guitar solo on this song is absolutely face-melting and several new elements are introduced on this track that really adds to the band’s overall distinctive Rock flavor. And that’s one notable factor of this record – each song brings something new to the table all while sustaining the perfect balance of consistency to give the band their own signature style that is completely their own. One more notable entry on this album is “Ten Years Gone”, a punchy tune with more subtle verses and atmospheric elements throughout the song’s structure. Lyons’ vocal harmonies in the chorus and octave-measures in the second verse are incredibly effective and showcases his vocal ability from other crucial angles. This song, just like the others mentioned, brings several new facets of the band’s songwriting structures while still maintaining their signature style that’s been made apparent since the opening track. This track is incredibly flavorful and is definitely a standout on the album altogether.
Overall, ‘V’ is an album that will definitely exceed expectations. It’s a record that balances both originality and familiarity in a way that will entice just about any listener to dive deeper into Custom’s discography and career altogether. It’s a record that has staying power, where it stays with you even long after it’s over – and you’ll definitely be coming back to it time and time again as one of your favorite releases in 2021 for the Rock spectrum. You can get your copy of ‘V’ now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and any other digital music streaming platform. You’ll be more than happy that you did.
We’ve reviewed and featured West Of House before and these guys do not disappoint. With 2021 in full force nearing the end of summer, the alt-rockers have put out a subsequent album release that surprised just about everyone that knows them, and intrigued a plethora of new listeners as well. And that release is their newest album ‘Drown The Wind’, which is easily their best effort to date that really brings their signature sound right to the forefront.
Comprised of 11 anthemic and atmospheric songs, ‘Drown The Wind’ is an alt-rock album that encompasses the band’s artistic merit while combining crucial elements from 90s industry heavyweights like REM, Coldplay and Oasis. Anchor single “Entwined” is an excellent example of this and really delivers the production and performance parallels that set the tone for the rest of the album. The song begins with some dynamically executed time signatures, showcasing the band’s driving rhythm section and dueling guitars that bring out the brilliance of the well-written vocal melodies. It’s a very multi layered mix that shines a light on each band member where you can easily hear each of their individual contributions into one precise unit. Another anchor track on this record is “Fall Down”, featuring a glistening mandolin intro that is anthemic, melodic and insatiably versatile. This melody-driven track really showcases the high-range vocals that once again really encapsulate into melody choices that are very next-level. The song is hauntingly ominous, ambient and really adds a layer of magic to the album that puts the band at the top of their game. This is a song that sustains a standout all on its own and will easily be one that people will be talking about.
One more track that needs mentioning is “Where To Begin”, another atmospheric tune with visceral synth parts that implement alongside the chord progressions and add a layer of detail that is crucial and effective. This one is a little more rhythmic and has climactic measures that really serve up a wholesomeness not heard often with independent artists. This track also embraces melodic structures like the previous song, but also diligently blends more atmospheric guitar swells and smooth bass lines. This will easily be a favorite on the album right alongside the sensibility we heard with “Fall Down”. Overall, West Of House have really set the bar higher for themselves and continue to manifest magically with every release. You can hear the evolution of their own signature sound but still get a dose of nostalgia from great callbacks to the 90s alt-rock sound that we’ve come to know and love over many years. ‘Drown The Wind’ from start to finish is brilliantly crafted, melodically visceral and really explores the depths of combining originality and familiarity. You can get your copy of the album now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and several other digital music streaming platforms.
Rogue Valley, Oregon-based quintet Nightbird Casino emerged onto the scene as a duo and in the last six months have manifested into the fully functional unit they are today. Known for their ambient and cohesive indie signature sound and inspired by prominent 90s artists like Hum, Interpol, Silverchair and Radiohead, the band formed in 2017 and quickly began hitting the ground running, putting out a handful of prominent releases since their inception into the market and proving that their artistic merit is more than deserving of your undivided attention.
Now in 2021, with their highly anticipated upcoming LP ‘Russian Carpet’ slated to release in two days on September 5th, we got a chance to sit down with the members of Nightbird Casino for a comprehensive interview where we got to discuss the past, present and future of the band.
•How long have you guys been active under your artist/band name?
Nightbird Casino has been around in some fashion since mid-2017. The band was started by myself (James Moore, lead vocals/guitar/piano) and Don Shepherd (guitar/piano/backing vocals). We met in a tribute band and branched off to start writing our own original music. It took until 2020 for us to get serious and actually write a full album. It wasn’t until early 2021 that we recruited our other three members (Oliver Orion – drums / Amanda Moore – ondes martenot/keyboards / Patrick Manville – bass) and really took off.
•What music scene/city do you currently represent?
Currently we live in Medford, which is in southern Oregon – but there’s not much of a music scene here at all. We’re originally from LA, so ultimately I’d say we have much more of an LA vibe than a rural Oregon vibe.
•The pandemic has really thrown a wrench into the live music experience and for artists altogether. How has it affected you and your career (if at all)?
It’s been a mixed bag for us. On the downside, we haven’t been able to tour, which has been frustrating of course. It’s pretty difficult to build an audience without playing any shows. On the plus side, it’s allowed us an enormous amount of time to write and record. I doubt we would’ve finished two full LPs, a live album, an EP, and four singles in just over a year if it weren’t for the pandemic.
•What are some of your music influences?
There are five of us in this band and we all draw from different influences. Some of those might include some more indie/alternative rock artists: Interpol, Radiohead, The National, King Krule, Modest Mouse … a lot of early 90s grunge i.e. Nirvana, Bush; The Beach Boys are a big influence, lots of classical music too.
•What kind of concepts do you tend to write about as an artist? Shine some light on that.
I don’t have a particular subject matter I plan out when writing lyrics, but I think most of our songs have themes of alienation and anxiety running through them. I tend to use intimate personal stories and dreams as metaphors for more big picture concepts about what’s happening in the world. Frequently I’ll find out what I was writing about after the song is finished… lyrics are usually the last part I finish. I’ll write down words and phrases and stream of consciousness ideas and then I look at it all and think ok, what is this about? What was my subconscious trying to say through these lyrics? There’s also a pretty prominenttheme of psychedelia and the psychedelic experience that comes up again and again.
•If you could put together a dream show or tour, what bands/artists would be on the bill?
Oh gosh, that’s a hard question. We’d love to tour with Radiohead or Modest Mouse, I think our style of music would make sense with those bands.
•When is your next release coming out?
Our 2nd LP, Russian Carpet, will be released on September 5, 2021. (on all streaming services everywhere, physical copies available to purchase via our website nightbirdcasino.com). •What’s in store for you in 2021? Give us the goods.
So much. Our second LP Russian Carpet will be released in a few days as I mentioned. We also have a live album / video series that’ll be released in some fashion later this year. Also, with a full band in place and some covid restrictions easing, we’re finally able to start playing shows and touring. We’re currently planning a west coast tour as we speak. Also also, we’re in the beginning stages of LP3 – we’ve just started putting together some ideas for new songs and we’ll be recording that in – hopefully – early 2022 with Matt Talbot of HUM.
Artist Reach Official Website 