meltreviewsblog

Jehnny Beth Shares New Song “Heroine”

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While we’re all patiently awaiting the release of Jehnny Beth’s debut solo album To Love Is To Live, Beth has shared another new track off the upcoming album titled “Heroine,” and it is an anthem of self-empowerment. About the song, Beth has stated “I guess I’m telling this story because sometimes we look around for role models, and examples to follow, without realizing that the answer can be hidden inside of us. I was afraid to be the heroine of the song, but it took all the people around me to get me there.” Her album To Love Is To Live will be released on June 12th. You can listen to “Heroine” below:

Deftones’ “Diamond Eyes” Turns 10

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On this day in 2010 “Deftones” released their sixth album Diamond Eyes. Following the completion of their album Eros, Deftones bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident that left him in a coma. The band decided to put the release of Eros on hold and started playing shows with bassist Sergio Vega. Unsure of when Chi Cheng would make a full recovery, the band decided to record a brand new album with Sergio Vega. The band felt that Eros didn’t represent where the band was at the time, and wanted to record something more optimistic as opposed to the darker album they had just recorded, and considering the circumstances with Cheng at the time, optimism is definitely what the band needed. This resulted in Diamond Eyes, an album that was instrumentally straight-forward with the band going back to their roots writing and recording together as a unit and avoiding the use of Pro Tools. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz, this album found the band sounding their most raw, hearkening back to the days of Adrenaline and Around the Fur, but at the same time improving on their stunning combination of The Cure-esque guitar melodies and visceral heaviness. Chi Cheng unfortunately passed away in 2013, but the band is still strong today carrying the spirit of Chi Cheng, who is still a member in my opinion despite his passing. Rest In Peace Chi, and Happy Anniversary Diamond Eyes.

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E.P. Review: Lucky Iris – Turns Out We Should Have Stayed At Home

Artist: Lucky Iris

EP: Turns Out We Should Have Stayed At Home

Genre: Pop/Alternative Pop/Indie Pop

Label: Self-released

Rating: 8/10

Remember when we used to be able to go out? Seems like forever ago doesn’t it? Though it was fun to spend a night out on the town bar hopping, hanging out with friends, and meeting new people, there were also those nights where things didn’t go according to plan. Where we’d end up alone, surrounded by laughing people having fun while we stared at our phones to look busy and less alone. Where are the club anthems about those nights? Leeds duo “Lucky Iris” haven’t forgotten about those nights, and they’ve captured that feeling perfectly on their debut E.P. Turns Out We Should Have Stayed At Home. Formerly of the band “Everyday People,” “Lucky Iris” consists of vocalist Maeve and producer Jasper, and their chemistry is impeccable as the two create Pop music with an Alternative edge mixing a bit of Indietronica, R&B, and piano lead sentiment that is as heavy on self-realization as it is melancholy. Turns Out We Should Have Stayed At Home isn’t a preachy statement, but it is a deep look inward that frequently looks outward at the same time. It’s a concept E.P. about the nights of feeling the need to fill that void with validation from others, and with this dive into this reality these songs realize the superficiality that comes out of it all. “When I was younger I was told to be kind and look nice, but to be seen and not heard. Then they taught me to argue, how to think for myself, but now i’m too outspoken, they still call me little girl” sings Maeve on the opening track “Get Ready With Me,” a song that notices roles we feel like we must play when it comes to social situations, but instead of having a “humanity is doomed” tone, “Get Ready With Me” feels like it has two meanings. On the surface it sounds like our narrator is getting ready for a night out, but there can also be an underlying message of self-acceptance as she encourages us to get ready for a better human condition if we were to just acknowledge who we truly are instead of succumbing to social norms. At least that’s my interpretation. The following track “Take 5 (Why Can’t You See Me?)” is a beautiful piano-driven song about the feeling of isolation as you’re alone but surrounded by people who look right through you. It’s vulnerable and quite possibly the biggest tearjerker on the E.P. That’s what’s so fascinating and refreshing about this music, it’s honest, it’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and it’s a look at how social norms can truly damage someone’s self-esteem and mental state, but it isn’t all a grim look into those nights. “Glitter Vision” is the most danceable track which is fitting seeing as how the subject is about the point where you start to appreciate your own company and dance the night away by yourself, unafraid of the feelings of alienation, but like the frequent ups and downs of life, this track is immediately followed by a broken mindset on the closing track “Fell Backwards.” It’s a painful listen and I mean that in the kindest way possible. Since this is a concept album, which to me is like a film, I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it leaves the listener on a sad note as our narrator feels alone, broken, and unsure what to do following everything she’s done to appease others only to feel like she’s falling backwards. It’s a lot to take in. If you were to restart this E.P. over again you’d get that mood shift again, like a constant loop, much like the shifting moods of our lives. This is a fascinating listen because it doesn’t glorify the partying lifestyle. It by no means says going out is devoid of it’s fun and memorable times, but it is a reminder that things can be very shallow out there, and that we should treat each other better, including yourself. Here’s to when we can go out again.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

https://luckyirisband.hearnow.com/?fbclid=IwAR29bLo2Jdf-_TsuZug7gg4ND-FIRaUAXKjIjvRIy5mk4P9zvr6joPGu9lc

Run The Jewels Share New Music Video for “Oooh LA LA”

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It’s looking like the release of RTJ4 is near, as “Run The Jewels” have been at it again releasing two brand new tracks and now a music video for one of the tracks “Ooh LA LA.” The song features a Greg Nice sample from the “Gang Starr” track “DWYCK,” and it is an earworm of a hook while DJ Premier provides the cuts. About the music video “RTJ” have stated “This video is a fantasy of waking up on a day that there is no monetary system, no dividing line, no false construct to tell our fellow man that they are less or more than anyone else. Not that people are without but that the whole meaning of money has vanished. That we have somehow solved our self created caste system and can now start fresh with love, hope, and celebration. It’s a dream of humanity’s V-DAY… and the party we know would pop off.” The video also features Greg Nice, DJ Premier, and someone who goes by the name Zack? He’s from a little band called “Rage Against The Machine?” You might have heard of them. You can watch the music video for “Ooh LA LA” below:

E.P. Review: Hotel Lux – Barstool Preaching

Artist: Hotel Lux

EP: Barstool Preaching

Genre: Post-Punk/Indie Rock

Label: Nice Swan Records

Rating: 8/10

Barstool Preaching is an appropriate title for Hotel Lux’s new E.P. It’s hard not to picture yourself at the nearest pub as your vision begins to blur after beer after beer while you bullshit the night away with your pals. These songs are beer-soaked, but they’re more intelligent than belligerent, as the tales of cynicism, self-deprecation, and introspection are told with lyrical sharpness rich in wit, dark humor, and honesty. Lead singer Lewis Duffin’s gruff voice channels the raw spirit of early Post-Punk, and instrumentally these tracks are impeccably produced with the band perfecting the finest sounds Post-Punk and Britpop have to offer. It’s hard not to see yourself in these songs. Don’t we all at some point bend the truth just to get our point across or display ourselves as something we’re not? Duffin cleverly compares this reality to a tabloid newspaper on the opening track, and a similar subject appears on the track “Loneliness of the Stage Performer,” where the song is sung from the perspective of a singer who has created a fictional version of himself to appease the audience, only to come to the realization that he doesn’t know what the people want at the end of the day. It’s heavy subject matter, but it never loses its darkly comedic tone. The “Pub Rock” style is most present on the track “Eddie’s Gaff,” a song about the days of youth, the days of getting plastered, the days we’d waste our lives away, and like a drunken sing-along the band shouts “wasting our lives away!” in unison. I found myself singing along last night while I was getting drunk and wasting my day amid this social distancing. The track “Charades” sounds like a hangover but turns into a self-aware tune while female vocals beautifully back Duffin’s somber tone on the chorus. The closing track “Ballad of You & I” is a sweet tune with a hint of melancholy with an arrangement of trumpets and organs that wouldn’t sound out of place on a “Blur” record. Though a full album of tongue-in-cheek cynicism might get a little stale, this E.P. leaves you eager to hear a full-length album anyway, and the band most definitely has the talent to grow. Here’s to the future, cheers!

Written By: Steven Sandoval

E.P. Review: Movie Club – Man O’ War

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Artist: Movie Club

EP: Man O’ War

Genre: Instrumental/Garage Rock/Psychedelic Rock

Label: Self-released

Rating: 7/10

There’s nothing like witnessing a band perform. The chemistry between every member, the ideas that are bounced off each other as each member brings their own distinct quality to the table, it’s a beautiful thing to see and hear, but what’s even more impressive is when a band only has two members. Of course duos are nothing new, but when two people can create a sound that gives off the illusion that you’re listening to a quartet, it’s a massive accomplishment. Meet “Movie Club,” an instrumental duo hailing from Venice Beach, CA. Consisting of members Jessamyn Violet on drums and Vince Cuneo on guitar, their chemistry is infectious as their seamless interplay makes you wonder if they share the same brain. Their new E.P. Man O’ War is no exception. The duo flirt heavily with “Psychedelic Rock” on this record, which feels like a natural progression, and they’ve even incorporated bass thanks to musician Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Black Crowes). With this sound the band takes you on a journey with each song, a journey that feels cinematic, which is fitting considering the band’s name. As a matter of fact, the band’s appreciation for film is especially apparent in the music videos for the tracks “Moonbow” and “Bones” which features recurring mysterious white wolves who chase the duo in a Horror inspired style. The band never wastes a second on this E.P. as every track has enough change-ups to veer away from boring repetition, but at the same time they don’t bombard you with over-ambitious grandiosity as these are jams you can sit back and relax to without being surprised by an abrupt dramatic transition. These tracks flow smoothly, but at the same time they’re a spiritual journey if you want to ingest it that way. This E.P. can be a journey, it can be your new favorite music to chill out and smoke a doobie to, or it can be the soundtrack to your commute, walk, or exercise, whatever it may be to you, you can count on this E.P. to never be boring.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Track Review: VOODOO RADIO – Turn Out The Light

Artist: VOODOO RADIO

Song: Turn Out The Light

Genre: Power Punk/Hard Rock/Alternative Rock

Label: Self-released

“Is Rock dead?” London-based “Power Punk” duo “VOODOO RADIO” would most likely answer that question with a confident “Sorry I can’t hear you over these tasty riffs.” Coming from the London underground, “VOODOO RADIO” are about as trendy as Eric Clapton. You won’t hear Trap hi-hats or auto-tune in their music, but instead of going against the grain from a “kids these days” perspective, their ambitions to Rock like the 70’s feels natural and it’s a rebellion that reminisces over the days of Rock past, but at the same time embraces the new school. I mean, they covered Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” go check it out if you can’t take my word for it. The band’s latest single “Turn Out The Light” solidifies their status as Rock & Roll scholars. Featuring member Tony’s guitar riffs that shift from heavy to bluesy to boozy with an astounding guitar solo, and lead singer Paige’s relentless and attitude-driven vocals along with her upbeat drum-work, this track is a fearless dive into Rock & Roll bliss as it sounds like the love child of “Van Halen” and “The Runaways.” These two are aware that Rock music can still be fun, and that there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism. Hell, we need that now more than ever, but instead of sounding like a novelty act, the band are just as serious as they are fun, because this isn’t Rock music to take lightly. If the band are already this skilled in songwriting and composition, just imagine how much further they can go with their talent. They definitely have my attention.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Caribou’s “Swim” Turns 10

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On this day in 2010 producer Dan Snaith released Swim under his “Caribou” moniker. This album found Snaith departing almost entirely from the “Neo-psychedelic” nature of his previous album Andorra, incorporating various sounds and production techniques associated with “House” music due to his growing interest in “Electronic” music. However, his attention to experimental detail is still present throughout this record as he combined the danceable sensibilities of minimal House with flute, guitar, and the reverbed effects that dominated Andorra.” Elaborating on the album’s title, Snaith has stated that he wanted the album to have a fluid sound to it, which he definitely achieved. This album can also be considered the quintessential album when it comes to his complete dive into “Electronic” music not only with “Caribou,” but also his second project he developed called “Daphni.” This album was a massive turning point for Snaith, and is one of the best “Electronic” albums of the 2010’s. Happy Anniversary!

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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ “The Good Son” Turns 30

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On this day in 1990 “Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds” released their album The Good Son, an album that many didn’t see coming. Much of the band’s work up until that point had been dark and unapologetically graphic, but the The Good Son had a shift in tone. It was more mature musically due to Nick Cave’s time in Brazil where he fell in love, and also following his time in rehab. The album features Nick Cave’s signature vivid storytelling, but much of these stories were told through a melancholy and romantic lens that drew parallels between the song’s characters and characters of biblical stories. This album solidified Cave’s status as one of music’s most unique and imaginative songwriters. Happy Anniversary.

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Ganser Announce New Album “Just Look At That Sky,” Share New Song “Lucky”

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Chicago band “Ganser” have announced that their new album Just Look At That Sky will be released on July 31st via “Felte Records.” Today the band have also shared their new single “Lucky,” a song that member Nadia Garofalo describes as “A commentary on personal feelings of inadequacy and how these feelings can often result in unhealthy or extreme behaviors.” “Lucky” also has a music video to accompany it, and the video appropriately depicts these stir crazy times we’re living in at the moment as two roommates in the video drink, drink, and drink some more, because what the Hell else is there to do? This is a video that much of us need to see. Many of us self-sabotage and succumb to self-destructive behavior, and the band depict this in a way that’s more reflective and less D.A.R.E. commercial. You can watch the music video for “Lucky” below: