meltreviewsblog

Track Review: Maryze – Bad Bad Dream (feat. Mouth Breather & Forever Next Door)

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Montreal-based R&B artist Maryze has had quite the year. Her debut E.P. Like Moons was well-received and garnered much attention, and following her tour across the U.S. and Canada, her following continues to grow. Much of the Pop/R&B world feels a bit oversaturated at times with countless artists recycling the same clichés and predictable styles, but there are those who innovate, and Maryze is one of those artists. Whether she’s delivering her beautifully soulful vocals over a myriad of musical styles such as R&B, Hip Hop, and Electronic Music, writing thought-provoking content that allows you to look inward and search for self-acceptance, or incorporating French representing her bilingualism, she never fails to display her versatility. As colorful as her music has been thus far, it feels as if there’s always been a darker side just waiting to come out, and now on her new single “Bad Bad Dream,” that darker side is front and center. Produced by Toronto’s “Mouth Breather,” and also featuring a spoken word verse from British artist “Forever Next Door,” “Bad Bad Dream” is a dark yet fun banger that speaks on the terrors of sleep paralysis, and it’s cleverly disguised as a song about a toxic love interest. The song deals with darker subject matter yes, but it’s also not afraid to be playful with it’s bouncy Halloween-like production and sexy vocals. On the surface it can be a fun track to add to your Halloween playlist, but if you delve deeper into the lyrics you’ll find Maryze acknowledging her sleep paralysis and embracing it. She’s making light of it to the point where it’s almost as if she welcomes it. Does she hate it? Does she love it? Does she hate it and love it? Sleep paralysis is a subject that’s seldom explored in Halloween-themed music, and it’s a lot more terrifying than vampires and zombies, but don’t let that scare you off, because this song is immensely catchy with a hook that will stick in your head for days, proving that not all spooky music needs to be embedded in doom and gloom. Maryze is having fun with the darkness, and it’s refreshing.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 10/25/19

Sorry Share New Song “Right Round the Clock,” Announce New Album “925”

The wait will end next Spring. In Spring 2020 we’ll finally get a full-length album from U.K. band “Sorry,” a band that have been making waves in the music world for the past few years with their sharp Rock? Pop? Post-Punk? Honestly they’re their own genre, and many have been itching for a full-length album, well… today we’ve been blessed with great news. The band will release their debut album 925 in Spring 2020. Today the band released the album’s lead single “Right Round the Clock,” and it’s a fun track with an interpolation of a song that will be recognizable for “Tears for Fears” fans. You can watch the video for “Right Round the Clock” below:

Nine Inch Nails’ “Pretty Hate Machine” Turns 30

On this day in 1989 “Nine Inch Nails” released their groundbreaking debut album Pretty Hate Machine. Recorded almost entirely by sole member Trent Reznor, this album took the “Industrial” style and combined it with elements of “Pop” with traditional verse-chorus structure that added accessibility as opposed to bands such as “Ministry” or “Skinny Puppy” whose music was on the more harsh and tumultuous side. This was the beginning of Reznor’s typical lyrical themes of angst, depression, obsession, addiction, society, and religion, and the sincerity of it all still to this day can resonate with anyone whom feels misunderstood and alienated. Sure this album sounds instrumentally skeletal compared to what followed in the “Nine Inch Nails” discography, but I can’t think of a better starting point for what became an important legacy in music history. Happy Anniversary.

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Chelsey and the Noise Share New Song “Are You Afraid?”

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As far as i’m concerned, “Chelsey and the Noise” are one of the most innovative acts in Industrial/EBM music today. They adopt traditional Industrial sensibilities all while fearlessly incorporating a darker version of Pop to make us dance and even Metal to make us thrash. Halloween is upon us, so of course we need a new track from the duo, and on their new single appropriately titled “Are You Afraid?” they deliver an enticing combination of EBM, Metal, and even a little Trap, proving once again that they aren’t afraid to drag the genre of Industrial kicking and screaming into the new age. Don’t be afraid to listen to this track. Link below:

https://m.soundcloud.com/chelseyandthenoise/are-you-afraid

Charlotte Adigéry Shares “Yin Yang Self-Meditation”

Charlotte Adigéry released some of the best music of the year back in early February. Her E.P. Zandoli was a forward-thinking and artistically-stunning odyssey of fearless “Pop” which drew influences from “Electro” and a myriad of synth-driven styles, but managed to create her own distinct style. Many of us have been itching for new music from her, and today Charlotte Adigéry pushed the envelope even further with Yin Yang Self-Meditation. This is a meditative experience which finds Adigéry utilizing meditation to explore her own personal fears and insecurities in an attempt to let go and find a place of serenity, and it is truly impactful. Backed by hypnotic production from her partner Bolis Pupul, Adigéry becomes vulnerable mentioning all of the thoughts that cross her mind, and they’re all relatable and also drive the listener to a place of serenity. “This tape is an invitation to myself and eventually others to look inwards. It is a ritual for letting go. I was tired of being stuck in a narrow mental reality and I wanted to look beyond. The suffering is not caused by the problem itself. We worry about not having enough. We are anxious about rejection. We fear being misunderstood. We even fear things that lie in the future we do not control. In this meditation I invite you to follow my voice into my own mental state, through paralyzing thought-patterns and blind fears I want to say goodbye to. Openness can lead to understanding, unity and compassion,” Adigéry explains. Yin Yang Self-Meditation is available on a limited edition cassette, download and streaming services via “DEEWEE Records.” You can watch the video below:

Danny Brown Shares New Song “3 Tearz” Featuring Run The Jewels and JPEGMAFIA

Danny Brown is set to release his new album uknowwhatimsayin¿ this Friday on October 4th. Today the Detroit rapper has shared a new song off the upcoming album titled “3 Tearz,” and it features “Run The Jewels” and JPEGMAFIA on production. This follows his previous singles “Dirty Laundry” and “Best Life.” You can listen to “3 Tearz” below:

Josh Homme Announces “Desert Sessions Vol. 11 & 12”

Amidst the rise of “Queens of the Stone Age” in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, musician Josh Homme founded a musical collective series called “The Desert Sessions.” This series consisted of collaborations with numerous artists as they would record music in “Rancho De La Luna” in Joshua Tree. This series went on until Vol. 9 & 10 were released in 2003 featuring artists such as PJ Harvey, Dean Ween, Jeordie White, Alain Johannes, Troy Van Leeuwen, and Joey Castillo. This was the final session to be released and after 16 years it was looking like “The Desert Sessions” wouldn’t happen again, becoming a memory of the past for the die hard Homme fans, but today Homme announced that Desert Sessions Vol. 11 & 12 will be released on October 25th. The album will feature Billy Gibbons, Stella Mozgawa, Jake Shears, Mike Kerr, Carla Azar, Les Claypool, Matt Sweeney and Matt Berry, Libby Grace, and Töôrnst Hülpft. You can watch a funny little video Homme released to promote the album below:

Tears for Fears’ “The Seeds of Love” Turns 30

On this day in 1989 “Tears for Fears” released their third album The Seeds of Love. Following the success of their hit singles and albums The Hurting and Songs from the Big Chair, the band made the bold move of departing from the “Pop” structure that garnered them much success. “As a band, we came from the programmed pop era of the early ’80s and we had inherited a sense of structure that permeated almost all our music. The way we were working was becoming too sterile. We wanted to do something more colorful, something that sounded big and warm. You cannot get that from machines. You only get that with real musicians and real players,” described bassist and vocalist Curt Smith. That bigger and warmer sound was definitely achieved. Working with numerous musicians and incorporating elements of “Jazz,” “Blues,” and “Psychedelic Rock,” the band transcended the limits of the “Pop” sound that was dominant at the time, and even that garnered them even more success. Happy 30th anniversary.

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Gang of Four’s “Entertainment!” Turns 40

On this day in 1979 “Gang of Four” released their iconic debut album Entertainment! This album went on to be one of the most essential releases in “Post-Punk” history, influencing a myriad of artists such as “Red Hot Chili Peppers,” Michael Stipe, and “Nirvana.” On this album the band delivered the anti-establishment ethos of “Punk Rock” with lead singer Jon King’s topical lyrical content of consumerism, feminism, sex, and alienation, and what separated the band from their peers was their heavy incorporation of genres such as “Funk” and “Dub” thanks to bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. Add Andy Gill’s angular guitars to the mix that added a chaotic but controlled flavor, and you’ve got a sound that’s uniquely their own. You can still hear their Funk-driven influence on “Post-Punk” and “Indie Rock” bands today. Considering how the genre of “Post-Punk” can be obscure to some, it’s impressive how the band’s sound has managed to remain relevant after 40 years. Happy 40th anniversary.

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Album Review: Socks and Ballerinas – Soap!

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Artist: Socks and Ballerinas

Album: Soap!

Genre: Math Rock/Instrumental/Progressive Rock

Rating: 7/10

In a music world where artists emphasize sentiment and critics praise only those who strive to innovate, people have forgotten how to have fun once in awhile, but Helsinki, Finland based band “Socks and Ballerinas” haven’t forgotten what it means to make fun music to dance to. However, dancing to their music can be a difficult task, because their knack for creating odd “Math Rock” inspired instrumentation is far from the norm. Not much is known about the band. Their “Bandcamp” and social media profiles feature brief descriptions and very little background, which is odd because their music is technically skilled and quite impressive. What we do have is their new album Soap! The music definitely reflects the absurd nature of their name with wacky and zany melodies and irregular time signatures that can be frustrating for those who want consistent rhythmic structure. The drums are sharp and fast-paced, and the constant use of loop pedals gives the illusion that you’re hearing a five-member band, and there’s only two members! Soap! is an album that gives you a live experience without having to leave your house. It’s fun instrumental music that is as complex as it is accessibly catchy.

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https://socksandballerinas.bandcamp.com/releases

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 09/24/19