CMON Share New Single “Blu-ray Saturday”

It’s not exactly Saturday, but for some, everyday feels like a Saturday being cooped up at home due to social distancing. What do we do with all of this free time to ourselves? Well, some of us like to relax and watch movies all day, and if we’re lucky enough, with our loved ones. Some of us are losing our damn minds just aching for human interaction. Well, whatever your case may be, just remember you’re not alone. Listening to CMON’s new single “Blu-ray Saturday” captures that lazy but content feeling of being in the zone watching movies and relaxing. It’s definitely some of the band’s most laid back work with “Psychedelic” guitars, a very minimal beat, and soothing vocals that will make you want to stop living so fast and just enjoy the moment. This track is good for all moods. You can listen to “Blu-ray Saturday” below:

https://confusingmixofnations.bandcamp.com/track/blu-ray-saturday

U.S. Girls Share New Single “Santa Stay Home”

It’s the truth many of us don’t want to hear, Christmas is a tradition that needs re-evaluation. U.S. Girls have brought this to light with their new single “Santa Stay Home,” which was co-written by Rich Morel. Leader Meg Remy advises Santa to stay home and think about this Holiday based on consumerism and the damage it does to our environment. We need more Christmas songs like these. You can watch the music video for “Santa Stay Home” below:

Poppy Announces New Christmas E.P. “A Very Poppy Christmas”

Like a regular Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas music normally makes me cringe. Sorry guys, but Christmas isn’t my thing, if it’s your thing then more power to you, i’m just more of a Halloween guy, (yeah I know, big surprise) however, when an artist puts their own spin on the holiday spirit and offers something much more than “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” I can’t deny the creativity. Poppy, who has had one Hell of a year, releasing music that showcases her ambition and shapeshifting nature will drop a Christmas themed E.P. on December 1st via “Sumerian Records” titled A Very Poppy Christmas. Today, she has released a track off the E.P. titled “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas,” and it’s a soothingly dreamy lullaby of a track. You can listen to “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” below:

Quick Track Review: Borito – My Kind of Love

Artist: Borito

Song: My Kind of Love

Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative Rock

Label: Self-released

Hailing from Tel Aviv, “Borito” are focused on rewinding things back a bit to Summer with their new single “My Kind of Love.” Well, at least the Summers we had before our current pandemic where we could enjoy the sunny days without fearing for our lives. “My Kind of Love” is a sugary and undeniably catchy ear worm with it’s jangly and dreamy guitars and sense of playful fun. It’s sure to make anyone’s Summertime playlist. The track will appear on the band’s upcoming debut album “What We Have Now” for which a release date has yet to be unveiled, but it’s looking like the album will drop soon at a time when we need a sunny escape the most.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Quick Album Review: Atmosphere – The Day Before Halloween

Artist: Atmosphere

Album: The Day Before Halloween

Genre: Hip Hop/Electronic

Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment

Rating: 8/10

At this point in their career Hip Hop duo “Atmosphere” shouldn’t be sounding this refreshed and inspired with new ideas, but here we are over 20 years after the group’s formation and the two have surprised us all by sonically exploring new territories one with an old worn out cassette copy of Headshots Vol. Se7en would never see as a possibility for a new change in sound. I’ve never heard so many synthesizers on an “Atmosphere” record, let alone synthesizers that evoke the spirit of 80s “Horror.” Producer Anthony Davis drawing influence from “Horror” isn’t completely out of character, considering much of his early work featured samples from classic Horror films such as Night of the Living Dead, Suspiria, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and The Shining, but this deep dive into dark synth-driven Electro is a massive surprise. As for Slug, he isn’t exactly breaking new ground, but he solidifies his status as the ultimate MC who can unsparingly reveal his vulnerability and rap his ass off at the same time. This is the best “Atmosphere” has sounded in years.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Common Flaws Shares New Song “Happy House”

The old “Siouxsie and the Banshees” classic “Happy House” has gotten a dancey makeover by London-based Electronic producer “Common Flaws,” and it’s a dancefloor ready cover that stays true to the original all while putting a new synth-driven House-flavored spin on it. You can watch the music video for “Happy House” below:

Maryze Shares New Single “Squelettes” featuring Backxwash

Even though this whole year has been a Horror movie, many of us are still celebrating this October as spooky season is here. To commemorate the favorite holiday of us weirdoes, Montreal-based singer/songwriter Maryze has released a brand new single titled “Squelettes,” and it’s her most ambitious track yet. I know I probably sound like a broken record, because every time Maryze drops something I describe it as “her most ambitious yet,” well, that’s because she continues to reinvent herself and experiment with new sounds, some even outside of her comfort zone, and that’s the mark of a true innovator. Meaning “Skeleton” in French, “Squelettes” is her darkest track yet. With hard-hitting production from Margo, and an explosive verse from Backxwash, the track is hauntingly catchy, but instead of delving into the typical “ghouls and goblins” tropes affiliated with Halloween, Maryze speaks on addiction and mental illness, which is far more disturbing than ghosts and zombies. Many of us have been forced to deal with our demons during this pandemic, and a lot of us have used unhealthy coping methods, and Maryze doesn’t sugarcoat this subject. The shouts of “what the fuck are you doing here?!” from Backxwash is all of us as we deal with that inner voice that tries to sabotage us, even when things are going well. It’s a dark yet inspiring track that dives deep into the darkness to trudge through the mud in order to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. “Squelettes” is a taste of what’s yet to come on Maryze’s debut album which is set to be released next year on “Hot Tramp Records.” You can listen to “Squelettes” below:

Movie Club Share New Single “Rainshadow” featuring Rami Jaffee and Jessy Greene

Venice Beach-based instrumental Rock duo “Movie Club” are set to release their debut full-length album Black Flamingo on November 27th, and the album is shaping up to be more than the jam Rock grooviness we’ve come to expect from the band. The proof is in their new single “Rainshadow.” Incorporating beautiful and cinematic violin and keys provided by Jessy Greene and Rami Jaffee, the track is a lot more melancholy than it’s predecessor, prompting the listener to imagine a rainy day. You can listen to “Rainshadow” below:

Gorillaz Share New Song “The Pink Phantom” featuring Elton John and 6LACK

The Song Machine series continues as “Gorillaz” have released another new installment titled “The Pink Phantom.” This track features Elton John and 6LACK, and yes it is a swoony ballad that makes both Elton John and 6LACK’s presence known. The track will appear on the new “Gorillaz” album Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez which drops October 23rd. You can watch the music video for “The Pink Phantom” below:

The Earflower Experiment Shares New Single “Grow” featuring Aman Saxena

Listening to “The Earflower Experiment’s” music is like taking a spiritual journey. Whether that journey be enlightening or nightmarish, one thing is certain, not a second of this music is wasted on filler, and you will feel this music and experience it’s cinematic epicness, and there’s always a climactic conclusion to each song. Sole member Astaaq Ahmed has released yet another new track under his “The Earflower Experiment” project that sets the bar very high for artists exploring the realms of “Psychedelic” and “Experimental” Rock. The track is titled “Grow,” and it features frequent collaborator Aman Saxena. You can listen to “Grow” below: