Album Review: Maajo – ‘Water of Life’

Afro-Finnish band Maajo releases their third album, Water of Life, featuring two previously released tracks, “Better Days” and “Uelmissani,” via Wonderwheel Recordings. Maajo has evolved from a sample-based electronic musical project to a full-sized band, including African vocalists and musicians.…

“Quiet the Room” review: Skullcrusher’s debut album stuns with Helen Ballentine’s bewitching vocals

The name Skullcrusher immediately conjures up suggestions of doom metal, sludge, or thrash metal. The paradox between the appellation, which is the project of Helen Ballentine, and the music gainsays the aggression of any category of metal. Skullcrusher’s debut album,…

‘The Starter Wife’ review: Daphne Parker Powell bares her heart on latest album

Folk-rock singer-songwriter Daphne Parker Powell, releases her sixth album, The Starter Wife, a collection of songs echoing the question of ‘what’s forever for?’ Powell shares, “This album is an exercise in ‘radical trust.’ Younger me believed his vows to have…

‘Into The Blue’ review: Broken Bells takes a proggier direction on latest album

The collaborative project of Brian Burton and James Mercer, Broken Bells releases their new album, Into The Blue, the first since After the Disco, which dropped eight years ago. Burton, better known as Danger Mouse, and Mercer, vocalist and guitarist…

Album Review: Kramies delivers bewitching melancholy on debut album

Singer-songwriter Kramies drops his new, self-titled album, an eight-track collection of dreamy soundscapes and storybook lyricism. An array of talented guests appears on the album, including Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Tyler Ramsey of Band…

Elder Statesman: Under-the-Radar Music

The Young Folks’ picks for some of the best new music include the new single, “Lie For Me,” from Wax Owls and Shawn Brown’s new EP, The Rain Parade, along with the new EP, entitled Of…, from L.A.’s Centershift, who…

Pool Kids Album Review: Florida emo band display their enormous talent for rhythm and structure on second album

Alternative/emo band Pool Kids recently released their sophomore LP, a self-titled album about the various aspects of a relationship break-up or dumping someone, with all the bloody emotional upheaval disguised in the word ‘dump.’ Pool Kids started in 2017 and…