Alt

Old School - Single

Artist: 
Josie Dunne
Label: 
Atlantic

"Shows up when he said he would with flowers in his hand, chivalry ain't dead / While everybody seems to be looking at a phone screen, he's looking at me" sings aspiring singer-songwriter Josie Dunne on her new single "Old School". Billboard Magazine recently wrote an article about the 21-year old upcoming artist, a sweet artist who combines the catchiness of modern pop music with the soul of motown inspired R&B. On her debut single "Old School", Dunne showcases a kind of sweetness and pure picture of love that can be hard to find.

Sounds Like: 
Adele
Sounds Like: 
Dua Lipa
Sounds Like: 
Janelle Monáe
Name: 
Roy Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: 
02/25/2018

Love Me - Single

Artist: 
Forest Blakk
Label: 
Warner Records

"Love Me" is Canadian artist, Forest Blakk's newest single and it's actually really cute. I didn't have much expectations as to what this single was going to sound like and as I first started listening to it I immediately thought of Ed Sheeran. Who is not someone I like to think about much but Forest Blakk's voice and singing is much more interesting to me. "Love Me" is a sweet, sappy, soft, pop-y song and I actually really like it. The vocals are quite beautiful and the instrumentals nicely accompany them.

Sounds Like: 
Ed Sheeran
Sounds Like: 
Urban Folk
Name: 
Danielle Perry
Date Reviewed: 
02/25/2018

Unfurl

Artist: 
Oliver Spalding
Label: 
Monotreme Records

This album is absolutely incredible. It's Sam Smith meets Khalid meets Zella Day in a ballroom, an "ambitious statement of intent" aching "with the amotion and craft of one at least twice his age," as stated by Monotreme Records. The elements of synthetic sound underneath the soft keening of Oliver Spalding's voice are blissful. I'm reminded of Sam Smith's latest album because of the initimacy of the music, but "Unfurl" is poppier than that.

Sounds Like: 
Ballad Khalid
Sounds Like: 
Sam Smith feeling nostalgic
Name: 
Hannah Isaac
Date Reviewed: 
02/23/2018

Suno Deko

Artist: 
Suno Deko
Label: 
Shine On

Any label that advertises its new artist as comparable to Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, and Bon Iver has quite a hefty alternative point to prove. I am proud to say that Suno Deko's debut album lives up to that hype, and even supercedes it. "Suno Deko" is experimental-pop musician Davis Courtright's first album, the "story of the shifting dynamics of long-lasting love, of feeling like an outsider in your own body and the world, of fear and grace, of patience, of difficult choices, and of longing and vulnerability," according to the label.

Sounds Like: 
Fleet Foxes
Sounds Like: 
old Bon Iver
Name: 
Hannah Isaac
Date Reviewed: 
02/23/2018

10 Times Out of 10

Artist: 
Amy Guess
Label: 
Styff Records

"10 Times Out of 10" is clinically poppy. The synth instrumentals and the wobbling electric additions immediately remind me of Cascada's 2007 hit, "Every Time We Touch." This album would work well as the basis for a plethora of remixes because a lot of the elements of an RPM remix are already there. I hesitated between alt and RPM when categorizing Amy Guess, but the necessities of alternative are all already here in this album: poppy, upbeat, lyrics tuned for the top 40 countdown. 

Sounds Like: 
Watered-down Zella Day
Sounds Like: 
Cascada
Name: 
Hannah Isaac
Date Reviewed: 
02/23/2018

Florida Room

Artist: 
Goodfight
Label: 
Baby Blue Records

Florida Room is an album created by "Goodfight".  The entire album is 15 minutes and 55 seconds, and I loved every second of it! Most of this album was relaxing, but the tracks “Lucy” and “Oklahoma” have more energy with the faster beats.  Andrew  Forman (singer/guitarist) and Dion Kerr (bassist/producer) were inspired by sights and sounds of their youth in Southern Florida for their tracks.

Sounds Like: 
Reptaliens
Sounds Like: 
Born Ruffians
Sounds Like: 
Weezer
Sounds Like: 
The Killers
Sounds Like: 
Minature Tigers
Name: 
Thomas Clarkin
Date Reviewed: 
02/23/2018

Snares Like a Haircut

Artist: 
No Age
Label: 
Drag City

Before listening to this album I had never heard of No Age so I was unsure of what to expect. They are described as a "lo-fi-drum-and-guitar duo," according to Spotify. However, when I first listened to it I thought of their music as the kind you would hear a group of high school friends play while in a garage and parents asking them to quiet down. I didn't really like it because the instruments seemed at a higer volume than the singer making it hard to hear the singer's voice. I was not a big fan of the vocals as well.

Sounds Like: 
Deerhunter
Sounds Like: 
Sonic Youth
Name: 
Sommer Yazzie
Date Reviewed: 
02/21/2018

Thought Contagion - Single

Artist: 
Muse
Label: 
Warner Music UK Limited

True to Muse's style, Thought Contagion isn't about butterflies and clear skies. In fact, the single is basically about being bitten by a zombie-like political radical who wants to change your beliefs. Complete with anthematic background vocals and well-loved synthy magic, Thought Contagion is the perfect hype up song before heading into battle with a hypothetical zombie army. Muse is one of those bands that is never going to stop evolving their sound.

Sounds Like: 
Arcade Fire
Sounds Like: 
Pearl Jam
Name: 
Lydia Kellerhals
Date Reviewed: 
02/21/2018

Come Through

Artist: 
The Regrettes
Label: 
Warner Bros

Female lead pop-punk outfit The Regrettes released a single for their upcoming EP, Attention Seeker, called “Come Through”. I love this song. It’s short, concise, and catchy. The punchy bass and sweet harmonies on this track make it a treat for the listener. Lead singer Lydia Night is charismatic and grabs the attention of the audience. Really good single that has me excited for this upcoming EP.

 

Sounds Like: 
Sleater Kinney
Sounds Like: 
Fidlar
Sounds Like: 
The Muffs
Sounds Like: 
Hole, if Coutney Love didn't sound like she ate sandpaper
Name: 
Michael Jepson
Date Reviewed: 
02/21/2018

Tongue

Artist: 
Anenon
Label: 
Friends of Friends Music

Tongue by Anenon was a really cool album. The kind of music that sets a mood without words. Filled with the flute and piano, the album also features birdsong. Lovely chirping and coos shine in the first couple tracks of the album. I don’t want to call this album experimental, the music was too good for that, but it was very, very different. Different because it sounded almost like a forest. None of the tracks have vocals. Only instruments are used throughout, and Anenon has lots of talent.

Sounds Like: 
Steve Reich
Sounds Like: 
David Lang
Name: 
Grace Penry
Date Reviewed: 
02/21/2018
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