Shapes on Tape - Ctrl Yr Heart (2018)

OFFICIAL: http://shapesontape.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shapesontape/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shapesontape

BANDCAMP: https://shapesontape.bandcamp.com/

Written by Jason Hillenburg, posted by blog admin

                                                  

The latest single from Brooklyn based Shapes on Tape, “Ctrl Yr Heart” finds the duo of multi-instrumentalist and producer Adam Kruckenberg collaborating once again with guitarist/poet Jason Matuskiewicz .The duo, working together since 2014, is responsible for some of most gripping music emerging from the indie scene today. Justin Craig’s production frames “Ctrl Yr Heart” nicely with its striking balance between vocals and instrumentation, physicality and polish. The single likely gives listeners a preview of what’s to come from Shapes on Tape’s forthcoming full length Legends in the Process and it is apparent from the first Kruckenberg and Matuskiewicz are growing increasingly confident in their chemistry as songwriters and performers with each new release.

The direct, infectious melody is impossible to dislike. Shapes on Tapes keeps things percolating at an energetic simmer throughout the entirety of this song, but it’s that central and persistent melody you’ll likely remember after even a single play. Kruckenberg has a voice made for this sort of tune – he attacks the lyrics with just the right amount of charisma and brio, never over-dramatizing them, and the performance enhances their effectiveness. The pairing of synthesizer lines with guitar seamlessly counterpoint each other while remaining in lockstep throughout and the live drums give the song appealing swagger. It never sounds strident or rehashed however; there’s a bright uplift to this performance musical devotees and casual listeners alike will appreciate.

Matuskiewicz’s lyrics for the song aren’t broaching new territory, but you hear the finesse defining his work in the spartan economy and focus of his words. Each line seems inevitable, but in a satisfyingly relatable way rather than painfully predictable. Kruckenberg’s aforementioned brio and charisma aren’t his only vocal tools – he, likewise, possesses an emotional voice capable of accentuating the lyrical drama without ever overwhelming listeners. Another surprising turn comes late in the song when a highly stylized saxophone emerges from the mix and takes an impressive instrumental break.

These young musicians working in the Brew-Wave/Ultrapop style are, ultimately, greater than any single label will allow. Kruckenberg and Matuskiewicz’s keen instincts for melody, the tastefulness of their treatment, and arranging talents are considerable, but they bring personality and undeniable musical chops to the table for this new single. It defies tidy categorization. “Ctrl Yr Heart” will score big with anyone who values mastery of pure pop rock fundamentals, concise melodies, and impassioned vocals. It will likewise find favor with anyone who enjoys a physically engaging alternative rock cut that works hard, without ever straining, to connect with a wide audience. Shapes on Tape will reaffirm what their fans already know and likely win over anyone who gives it a hearing. If Legends in the Process, their upcoming full length, maintains this sort of high standard, music lovers can expect a must-hear new release.

Kelly McGrath - All That I Want (2017)

OFFICIAL: www.kellymcgrathmusic.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thekellymcgrath

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kellymcgrathmusic

Written by William Elgin, posted by blog admin

Vocal sensation and powerful songwriter Kelly McGrath has emerged with her latest single “All That I Want”, a stellar follow up to her previous country smash “You and Me Today”. The commercial momentum engendered by the aforementioned track’s success is carried over with this new release – a brightly arranged musical piece striking up considerable tension thanks to its interesting juxtaposing intense lyrics about a fraught interpersonal relationship with exhubrant, powerful backing from some of the best musicians working in the genre today. The production highlights the song’s strengths by imbuing it with muscular flair, but there’s a fundamentally solid piece of songwriting working behind all the modern gloss. McGrath is never anything less than an absolutely convincing singer and the arrangement gives her a massive platform for getting over her story.

There’s little mistaking the arrangement for what it is – five star AOR rock surging with brash authority. Much of its propulsive success can be laid at the feet of powerhouse drumming that, despite its hard hitting contribution, never overplays. Everything is cut close to the bone on this musical performances – these are clearly musicians capable of stepping into the spotlight and showing off their chops, but material like McGrath’s demands a more artful response and their efforts serving the song enhance it. The track is tailored to an ideal length for the song’s subject and form – listeners will never feel like they’ve been cheated. It’s no mere placeholder for McGrath’s vocal.

Her vocal is exceptional enough to dominate the song, but McGrath is smarter than that. She modulates her vocal according to the lyrical demands and the result is an uptempo, but thoughtful singing performance that helps the performance stand out even further. Her lyrics aren’t high flown poetic musings, but she instead shows the clear vision of a storyteller and knows how to entertain her target audience. This isn’t a track, however, with narrow appeal. Kelly McGrath sings the track with such convincing authority it will only increase the chances potential new listeners will relate to her work. Her ascent through the firmament of popular music continues unabated thanks to the high quality driving releases like this. “All That I Want” is sure to entertain and speaks to experiences shared by nearly every adult who has ever felt yearning in their heart. It’s a memorable performance cutting across genre lines and further solidifies McGrath’s standing as one of the best vocalists working today.

The Real Hooks - Damn You (2017)

Artwork by Odandiee

OFFICIAL: http://www.therealhooksband.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/therealhooks/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/therealhooks/

ITUNES: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1227977371?ls=1&app=itunes

Written by Lydia Stewart

The underrated power of The Real Hooks is in full effect on their latest single release “Damn You”, but more of their qualities jump out at listeners than just the youthful rush of their music. “Damn You” proves to be a playful and intelligent exercise in crafting top class pop music with just enough muscularity to imbed itself into listener’s memories. It’s a genuine family experience as well. The band is fronted by lead guitarist and singer Kyle Hooks, but the sum is greater than any of the individual parts and the innate chemistry shared by the lineup is not just a product of shared DNA, but the result of gifted musicians and songwriters who make the hard work of creation sound joyful and effortless. This is an accomplishment worth mentioning alone. They also show a tremendous willingness to grow. The new single is the by-product of collaborating with songwriter Mark Spiro, a decorated craftsman whose work has been featured by artists as diverse as REO Speedwagon, Luis Miguel, and Anne Murray – among many others. This is a can’t miss song from a can’t miss band.

It’s fascinating how they bring everything in such spotless accord with each other. The guitars are there, undeniably so, but this isn’t a band who goes in for empty histrionics. The drumming is equally tasteful. It certainly has an urgent, romping quality, but it connects with all the right points and never approaches the busy sort of drumming that amounts to overkill on songs like this from lesser artists and bands. The harmony vocals are never laid on too thick and, instead, well placed within the song’s framework to send the track even further skyward. This is straight up pop rock, but it’s never so rugged that it possibly excludes listeners – instead, there’s a wealth of melody here that sounds like something blossoming from them naturally rather than an overly crafted and heavy handed attempt to win the audience’s favor. They have, likewise, a freshness in their vocal approach that sets them firmly within a tradition, but it glows with enough individualistic beauty that you’ll likely feel you’ve never heard anything quite like this before.

The song is tailored to an ideal length and never wastes a musical note. Their lyrical vision, likewise, never wastes a single word thanks to Spiro’s contributions, but it goes beyond that. The Real Hooks play like a band who knew exactly what they wanted to write when they began working on this song and the energy never abates. The humor of the situation is lightly played and the understated bittersweet aspects, as well, are handled with a deft touch. The Real Hooks’ “Damn You” carries on the band’s tradition of writing great material ideally suited for both radio play and the stage.

Grade: A+

Jerad Finck - "New Kids" (2017)

Photo by Michael Sparks Keegan

OFFICIAL: www.jeradfinck.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jeradfinckmusic

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jeradfinck

LISTEN NOW: https://soundcloud.com/jeradfinck/new-kids-master/s-266fn

The inexorable rise of Jerad Finck’s musical career is a natural consequence of his songwriting talents reaching one new peak after another, but also the result of a lifetime’s musical experiences finding near perfect avenues for self expression. His latest single “New Kids” finds this Spokane, Washington native offering up a release qualifying as top shelf, finely crafted modern pop but also possesses a sharply honed singer/songwriter edge never risking self indulgence or heavy handedness. His acumen is derived, in no small part, from manifesting a strong interest in jazz as a youth and during his college years. It was during those college years that Finck joined his first rock band and his journey here informs the quality of his latest offering. “New Kids” is a fleshed out and fully evocative example of modern pop songwriting.

Finck, unlike many, doesn’t go in for glossy surface devoid of meaning. “New Kids”, instead, makes fresh use of traditional popular music instruments like the guitar. He employs these elements through the arrangement with pinpoint accuracy, never applying more color than is needed, and wraps his voice around the melody with equal parts emotion and finesse. Many performers, particularly singers, come off as stiff or too formal when attempting a style piece such as this. Finck is cut from a different cloth. He brings the right amount of emotional and musical heft to this performance and plays the lyric just right – his phrasing lands on particularly pleasing stress points, he elongates the right syllables while soft pedaling others, and finishes off the songs most important passages in a highly satisfying way. Despite the fact he is such a young performer, Finck demonstrates total command over the material and a cool, effervescent confidence that lights the song with a lustrous blue glow.

It has just the right length and the instrumentation never sounds cluttered or hurried. Finck is at the center of the mix, but it’s clear that there’s been great care taken to bring the musical and vocal aims in total accord with one another. Each part feeds off the next and it gives the songwriting an impressively coherent, unified quality that many such efforts lack. His songwriting talents extend to lucid and often elegant lyrical turns of phrase. This isn't the typical sputtering, half-clear assortment of clichés we often hear in modern pop music. Instead, Finck comes off as a performer with something intensely personal to say that he believes many others will relate to. This sort of sincerity and blindness to what the world may say are among the hallmarks of our most memorable performing artists. Jerad Finck will continue to sharpen, deepen, and refine his craft on the back of quality material like “New Kids” until he likely takes a place among the brightest talents of his time.

Written by: William Elgin

Grade: A