Doghouse Swine are “Fearless”

URL: https://www.doghouseswine.com/

DogHouse Swine’s latest EP, named “Fearless,” is a fantastic starting point for those who are new to the band, introducing listeners to the group’s particular approach to punk rock. Opening track, the eponymous “Fearless,” sets the tone accordingly. Not content to sit still for a second, the band blasts straight into a vicious punk party. While many listeners might be thinking ‘so far, so good,’ the band drops a sudden gear shift, dropping into a slower middle eight and showing the audience that they are entirely in their element. Shifting back to the original style for the closer of the song, the repeated words “never sell my soul for you” reintroduces the song to the audience with a nod to the age-old punk mythos. As introductions go, it is a fitting one.

The Malpass Brothers - Self-Titled

URL: https://themalpassbrothers.com/

It is hard to review this album without a mix of jaw-dropped disbelief and silent admiration. Sporting the modern equivalent of Nudie suits and outrageous haircuts, Chris and Taylor Malpass look like men out of time spreading the gospel of steel guitars and honky-tonk piano to masses unaware of its appeal. Their debut album is a vision of country music that the Nashville songwriting machine plunders for imagery, but swore off years ago. A keeper of the faith in many ways, this duo’s first album is a tribute and statement, but never loses sight of its mandate to entertain its intended audience.

RYAL - Lonely Love

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jacque.ryal

Pink-themed disco artist Jacque Ryal has extended her range on new single, “Lonely Love.” The singer’s previous work has notably remained firmly fixed on the formula of modern electro-disco. Her new effort, however, brings in fresh elements – synth pop, wah guitar – which expand the dynamic range of her work and will possibly reach out to a whole new range of audiences. Perhaps the clearest comparison would be Yeah Yeah Yeah’s frontwoman Karen O, brought by the way of Balearic pop-house.

Wooden Hez – Spew

URL: https://www.woodenhez.com/

In the rock n’ roll world, a little angst can go a long, long way. With the right, authentic sound behind lyrics of struggle and turmoil, certain bands can really put on a lowdown, bitterness clinic.  If the balance is improper, you end up with Nickleback or something forgettable.  It’s a precarious art, one that Philadelphia’s dirty, drooling rockers Wooden Hez have a mastery of.  On the ten tracks of Spew, the band brings forth an explosion of filth-bombed riffage, husky singing and hallucinogenic melodicism.  Call it grunge, hard rock or stoner…whatever floats your boat, but this is heart a snub-nosed rock album.

The Electro-Lights

https://www.facebook.com/TheElectroLights

The Electro-Lights have released their new self-titled seven-song EP, a dramatic collection of hard-rocking songs aiming to make a significant statement in contemporary rock and roll. Consisting of Oliver Meacham and Samuel Mahler, the duo has been an on-and-off project for three years, notably separated during Mahler’s deployment to Afghanistan. Now, though, they’re back in force.

When I began listening to ‘Watch Your Back,’ the first track on the album, I had to double-check that my Black Keys playlist wasn’t on. Man, these guys ooze of Black Keys, albeit early Keys, not their new disco-infused stuff. In fact, the riff from ‘Watch Your Back’ sounds eerily similar to the one from ‘I Got Mine.’

Atman – The Silent King

URL: https://www.iamatman.com/

Bio: Polish experimental ethno-folk collective ATMAN was formed in 1981 by multi-instrumentalists Marek Styczynski, Marek Leszczynski and Piotr Koelcki, who remained the core of the group throughout its lengthy existence; other regular collaborators included vocalist Anna Nacher and Tomek Gulinski, as well as bassist Thomasz Radziuk. Forging an aesthetic they dubbed “forest music” — a sound created with acoustic instruments and Tibetan instruments — the members of ATMAN divided their time between performing and offering workshops in instrument building and forestry, finally releasing the cassette …jak rozrzucone po ziemi kamienie… on their own FLY (Freak Living Yourself) label in 1991. Cassettes including Soundreams and Gadajaca Laka followed before ATMAN made its American debut with the Drunken Fish EP Save the Earth; other efforts for the label include 1997’s Personal Forest and 1999’s Tradition. Today I listened to his 16 Track effort called “The Silent King.” The result though far from a self-indulgent ego trip, rather a moving and elegiac artistic statement from start to finish. This is not your overly predictable Ramon Noodle “Sing-Songy” rap album. Instead Atman makes all these tracks his own showcasing tasty rhymes, thick rhythms and an infectious persona that is of the charts. I was amazed at how diverse this CD really is. In fact Atman could even be classed as a 3 genera Rapper: Rap, Hip Hop and what I call Electro-Rap. Atman has way too much precision and clarity to live in the shadows of overly-predictable corporate music. Indeed this is clearly evident in songs like “Cold”, “Slow” and “Gun Control” which methodically ups the ante to a very respectable level of catchy musical craftsmanship and addictive melody that transcends pigeonholing. The music is also commercially viable with Atman’s  smooth as silk sound baritone that holds the attentions span of the listener perfectly. But do not let your guard down — because when you do you will get exactly what you deserve — served! Atman also delivers rap at consistent Mach speeds — a dying art and skill. It’s good to this aspect making a comeback. This kid has got mad skills behind the microphone and he can pretty much do anything there.

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