Faithless : Champion Sound Review
by Shannon Smith
Reneé Rapp’s BITE ME is a sophomore album that realigns vocal charisma with production choices that finally match her natural intensity. Where 2023’s Snow Angel often paired Rapp’s voice with too much restraint, thin arrangements, and overly safe balladry, BITE ME brings her into a louder, rougher, and more stylized soundscape. This time, the production invites her to push, snarl, and smirk.
The album opens with “Leave Me Alone,” a genre-establishing track that frames the rest of the record: guitar-forward, percussive, and unafraid to let Rapp’s vocals sit hot in the mix. The fuzzed-out [...]
by Steven Miller
Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill is a striking testament to the adaptability of Hill’s compositions, illustrating how his works can be reinterpreted and transformed when placed in the hands of a visionary ensemble, resulting in a very enjoyable world music album. The album marks a departure from the straight-ahead jazz settings that Hill’s music has historically inhabited. Hill’s compositions have long been fixtures in jazz contexts. However, on Catalyst, the Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet, under the direction of bassist Dave Sharp and with arrangements from Elden Kelly, takes [...]
By Steven Miller
YUNGBLUD is the kind of artist who lives like a flame, too unruly to cage, too luminous to ignore. On Idols, YUNGBLUD lights the match and dares us to watch him burn. Part rock opera, part Britpop homage, and part raw nerve confession, this album flirts with chaos and invites listeners to scrawl its lyrics across the walls of their minds and scream into the night until the neighbors feel seen.
From its grandiose opener to its quieter farewells, Idols is a rallying cry for the misfits, a record drenched in yearning and reclamation. It’s loud, it’s theatrical, it’s flawed, and in a few moments, it’s [...]
By Steven Miller
In The River, pianist and composer Silvano Monasterios offers a suite of textured Latin jazz. His ensemble writing and musical storytelling are framed by the metaphor of a river. The seven-part work unfolds as a dialogue between the written and improvised contemporary Latin jazz language. It is a flowing, textural narrative brought to life by a Venezuelan Nonet of exceptional caliber. Rather than spotlighting one or two star voices, the album thrives on a collective approach where every instrumentalist adds to the music’s feeling and precision as it becomes musical poetry.
From its tranquil beginnings to its [...]
by Shannon Smith
Megan Moroney’s “6 Months Later” is a country glitter-dipped goodbye you’ll want on repeat. Leave it to Moroney to turn heartbreak into a hair-flipping power move. With “6 Months Later,” she closes the book on an old flame as she dog-ears the page, adds glitter, and turns the whole thing into a summer anthem for anyone who’s ever gotten that “you up?” text from the past. Spoiler: she is not.
Built on a sweet tangle of acoustic picking, strumming, fiddle flares, pedal steel moans, and a glint of synth sparkle, “6 Months Later” walks that delicious line between modern country radio and something you might blast [...]
by Shannon Smith
Ava Max’s single “Lovin Myself” is tailored to integrate into your pop listening patterns. From the very first breathy coo, Ava Max’s “Lovin Myself” draws you into a glittering affirmation of personal power with equal parts synth-pop strut and engaging vocal phrasing. It’s bold, beat-driven, and brimming with finesse and pop intelligence. Underneath the neon sheen lies a well-crafted pop song.
Max’s performance walks a thrilling tightrope between vocal muscle and vulnerability. Her technique shines its range and how she maneuvers between chest and head voice, with each [...]
Halestorm has released their album Back From The Dead, which is eleven songs produced by Nick Raskulinecz that takes the listener on a journey through navigating mental health, debauchery, survival, redemption, and rediscovery while still maintaining faith in humanity. Already the title track has earned the band their sixth #1 on Rock Radio. Halestorm has grown from a childhood dream of siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale into one of the most celebrated rock bands of the last two decades as their music has surpassed a billion streams worldwide. Halestorm is Lzzy Hale on guitar and vocals, with drummer Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger, and bass [...]
Battle Beast is releasing their next installment of European power metal with its sixth studio album called Circus of Doom. The female-fronted metal band is buoyant with symphonic metal driven by agile guitar playing and the grit of singer Noora Luohimo. Who has lost none of her fire over the past 9 years. The sextet has created an album that is easy to listen to while still maintaining an aggressive metal edge. The ten songs have many hooks, riffs, and rebellious driving grooves.
The album sports many symphonic metal anthems, the best being the title track, “Circus of Doom.” There is an edge to the song with its aggressive guitar riffs, [...]
Emily Weisband is back with a new EP called Not Afraid To Say Goodbye (Stripped). The Nashville singer-songwriter continues to affirm her pop prowess with four distinctive and genuine tracks highlighting her sincere lyrics, intimate instrumentation, and nuanced storytelling. Weisband has been writing for other artists like Halsey and Camilla Cabello, but now she is writing for herself and gets to tell her story. Not Afraid To Say Goodbye is the follow up to her debut EP, Identity Crisis and for her second EP, Weisband’s emotional, raw, and authentic songwriting is at its best. Not Afraid To Say Goodbye (Stripped) is [...]
The War And Treaty (Michael & Tanya Trotter) is a critically acclaimed duo with foundations of Southern soul with elements of gospel, country, rock ‘n roll, and blues. The duet is returning with a new album called Hearts Town, built on twelve tracks that reflect this Nashville-based husband/wife team’s most robust material to date. The majority of the material was recorded at Blackbird Studio and featured esteemed musicians Jason Isbell, Jerry Douglas, and Punch Brothers guitarist Chris Eldridge. Hearts Town was produced by Michael and co-produced by Tanya and the duo’s longtime music director Max [...]
