After releasing several EP’s over the years, Brighten returns to their roots of acoustic guitars and honest, passionate songwriting on their new record Peace and Quiet. Delightfully simple yet powerful, Peace and Quiet takes its listeners on an emotional journey guaranteed to drop them off at the end with a refreshed, confident outlook on life.
Priming listeners with a small taste of Laura Stevenson’s newest music, the Runner EP sets a smooth and relaxed tone to catch attention and keep it.
Indie rock has been growing exponentially popular in the mainstream, and newcomers Atlas Genius are sure to make their mark in the scene with When It Was Now. With smooth vocals, lush synths, and vivid guitars, this album is perfect for long drives or relaxing with your friends.
The release of Trees Above Mandalay’s newest EP Growing Pains will make listeners anxious to see the band blossom to their fullest potential, providing a well-rounded and overall entertaining overview of the band’s style, talent, and energy.
A frontman breaking out from his band to do a solo album is nothing new, but sometimes a risk. For I Am The Avalanche’s Vinnie Caruana, this move was a long time coming, having played shows with just him and a guitar whenever he seemed to have some downtime. The result is City By The Sea, a 6-track EP filled with gruff vocals and personal lyrics encircled by lush layers of sound.
Seasoned indie rockers Fake Problems and up-and-coming punk band You Blew It! have teamed up to prove make their home state proud with the aptly-titled split Florida Doesn’t Suck.
Matt Pond’s first official solo release The Lives Inside The Lines In Your Hands brings a lighthearted and soft-rock/alternative feel to the generally optimistic lyrics. The album is good overall, but the listener is left feeling unsatisfied with overly simple melodies and lackluster lyrics.
A Gentle Reminder strings together fourteen fairly cohesive tracks into a statement from The Jealous Sound: they’re back and they have a new perspective, even on their previously-released music.
Blink-182 have proven through their latest EP that, while they may not be as angsty or unruly as they were a decade ago, they are still the same musicians, simply growing up and moving forward with their sound.
With a traditionally-rooted sound, varied instrumentals, and fired-up vocals amplifying the soul of this much-loved genre, the Dropkick Murphys have a sound all their own. But as inspiring and avant-garde as this variation of simple American punk is, it is safe to say that this band has played all of their cards.
