Tag Archives: Earshot Media

Song Review- Empired- “Blood on the Ceiling”

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5 male musicians

There was a band from way back in the day (mid 00’s in this case) called The Twilight Transmission that was pretty good.  They fit somewhere in the alt-punk space with a bit of hard core mixed in.  It was only one album that I ever heard back then (and checking Discogs and others sources it still is the only one I find listed) but they did not have a “one-off sound.”  The members of that band (Colin Buis, Brendan Murphy, Jae Hansel, Brian Balchack and Brian Manry) played well and wrote songs with interesting arrangements.  If you get a chance check out their Bandcamp page here and give The Dance of Destruction a listen – well worth it.

https://thetwilighttransmission.bandcamp.com/album/the-dance-of-destruction

Interest in that band led me to Outspoken, Hansel’s former endeavor that released music mostly in the 1990’s and I became a late-comer fan of that band also.  And then I promptly lost track of him until Empired released Finding Calm in the Chaos back in 2024.  So, now that we are all up to date…

It was great to be able to get a chance to listen to this track and it is indeed a good one!  There is much good melodic punk energy and strong vocals running throughout with screaming guitars, a bit of a groovy bass, and a steady, clean drum sound.  I also found the keyboard action intriguing as it punched through the guitar sound at various times to add a nice layer to the overall composition of this track.

Empired has a new album coming out (Strikes Back!) and you can pre-order today from Hey!Fever Records right here:

https://www.heyfeverrecords.com/

The vinyl is set to come out August 29th with streaming on September 5th. 

Musicians on this track are: Jai Hansel (bass, vocals), Ben Harrison (keyboards), Bruce Zebal (guitar, vocals) and Danny Baeza (drums). 

And support your locals – community is powerful!

Song Review- JJ Braves- “Fix for a Broken Heart”

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Black and white image of an electric guitar player on stage

Hearing about the release of this single on July 25th my interest was peaked by this part of the press release: 

“JJ Braves is the throwback rock project of LA-based artist Joshua Keever, blending synth-driven hooks, classic rock theatrics, and deeply personal lyricism. Drawing inspiration from the power-chord heroics of Queen and Weezer, the slick pop swagger of Huey Lewis & the News, and even the animated bravado of the Transformers theme song, JJ Braves channels those influences into anthemic, emotionally resonant songs”.

That is an interesting group of influences so I fired it up and was met right away by some grungy guitar tones combined with an 80’s synth groove and some vocal styling {“Ooh, baby do you got somewhere to be tonight”) that fits into that same era.  I gotta say that I had an Outfield flashback…in a good way.   This track does not stay in that lane though which is one of the coolest things about it.  Combining some groovy but varied rhythms, several different guitar tones, well-placed keys and good vocals it feels like a bit of a trip through some vintage musical moments of my life.  This song has a healthy exuberance about it that makes you want to turn it way up and drive down the strip.  

You can check this out via streaming (link below) – and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂 

Braves also has an upcoming full-length album so keep your eyes and ears out 🙂  

And support your locals – community is powerful!

Song Review- Hoist the Colors- “Documentation” from the upcoming album Dear Wanderlust

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Hoist the Colors band members in front of a white warehouse

Well, sometimes you get a press release about a band and suddenly realize you managed to forget about a pretty darn good band somewhere along the way.  This particular moment was inspired by an email from Earshot Media with news about this single being dropped a few weeks ago.  The band name caught me as familiar so I dug into the collection and found a digital song called “Second City” and pressed play.  A boisterous and well-played Irish punk song was the result, good enough that I figured it could not possibly be the only track from Hoist the Colors that I had laying around…but in the end, it was all by its lonesome self.   After checking into it they have a few others out there that are worth your time including Miles To Go Before We Sleep, Mourners and When Daylight Breaks. 

You can tell right from the start of “Documentation” that this group of musicians has grown and expanded their influences since the sound of “Second City.”  A pretty cool guitar riff starts this one off with a melodic bass line joining, slowly building up a little tension before a lively mandolin kicks in.  The fiddle provides just enough bluegrass flavor to set the mood and the vocals are strong (and tell a pretty human and relatable story).  The blending of genres here is sophisticated and very successful.   

You can catch the video for this here: 

Also, their album will drop in October and can be pre-ordered from Hey!Fever Records starting August 30th! 

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

And support your locals – community is powerful!

Song Review- Stay The Course – “Post Traumatic”

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I just head about the early release of this lyric video (available on YouTube of course) via an Earshot Media press announcement and was intrigued by this outtake:  

“Serving as the second single from Red Flag, the song marks a sharp left turn from Stay The Course’s usual mix of melodic breakdowns and punchy hooks. This time, they set aside distortion in favor of acoustic instruments, added string accompaniment courtesy of Meador’s wife and eldest daughter, and handed lead vocal duties to Munn.”

When bands step away from their usual sound I always have respect, regardless of the results, as just taking that action requires some guts and helps keep music fresh for all of us.  The results here are quite good with those aforementioned strings (cello + violin = very cool) really setting a slow, reflective tone.   The vocals are a an interesting mix of pleading and sentimental.  Songs like this sometimes end up feeling fragile but this one retains strength throughout – a good listen with a message. 

Musicians on this are: Colby Munn (vocals, guitar), Kylie Meador (cello), Londyn  Meador (violin), Joseph Meador (backing vocals). 

Check it out on your favorite streaming channel (link below) – and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂   They also have an album coming soon (Red Flag) so keep an eye out. 

https://found.ee/staythecourse_posttraumatic

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

As always – remember to support all your locals – community is powerful! 

Song Review- KRÖNA- “Take ‘Em All”

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This Caribbean punk group just started a tour in North America and “Take ‘Em All” dropped right before they were heading out.  This is a new group to me and I was impressed by the energy that comes bursting through on the track.  The press release from Earshot Media put it this way: 

“Blending breakneck punk, hardcore fury, and syncopated reggae grooves, KRÖNA brings an unmistakable Dominican flair to the global punk scene.”

PSA: Before you push play on this one brace yourself if you are faint of heart…

Heavy drums and bold, squealing guitars hit right from go and kick you along for about 30 seconds before the strong, defiant vocal roars in.  Other than a rather long fade out at the end, there are no moments of peace and quiet on this track – it rips all the way through.  

It sounds like we can expect another single to drop soon which will be followed later in the year by their debut album Dead Air Diaries.  I have to check these guys out live also as I fully expect that to be quite the event.  

You can give this one a listen here: 

If you go out and give “Take ‘Em All” a listen…think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

And support your locals – community is powerful! 

Song Review- Len Price 3 – “Emily’s Shop”

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Ok, so sometimes I do stop the train and just take in a little scenery from a different land.  I have taken this particular stop, parked next to a nice British Pub in my mind, before with The Len Price 3.  That was back around February 2023 when I gave their Ip Dip Do album a go around and was impressed with the sound.  Songs like “Waiting for the Trouble to Come” and “She Came From Out of the Sun” have a kind of dreamy vibe offset by poignant guitar sounds.  On a different side of the coin are songs like “Charlie” which manages an anti-drug message over very loud guitars and a hammering drum beat.   I think some folks put them in the “garage rock” genre, I tend more toward “Brit Power Pop Revival” but I supposed we can argue about that later.   

This track (with a b/w called “I’m a Fake”)  is  a bit of a preview for their upcoming Wicked Cool Records release Misty Medway Magick.  Starting off on a little “Do, Do, Do…” vocals that will give you some nostalgic feelings, “Emily’s Shop” builds up to a nice volume with guitars and bass to the front and a slightly subdued drum in most places.  As they have in the past, The Len Price 3 show us again how much power three instruments & accomplished musicians can bring to the party.  

The Len Price 3 are: Steve Huggins (bass), Glenn Page (guitar & vocals), and Neil Fromow (drums).

You can check this out on streaming here – let me know your thoughts!  

https://orcd.co/lenprice3emily

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

Also – in case you want a cool addition to your vinyl collection they have a limited edition 7” you can pick up here: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/136031435566?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=hW9BmIpPS_W&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=hW9BmIpPS_W&stype=1&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

And support your locals – community is powerful!

Song Review- Record Thieves- “Cause and Effect”

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When Jim Wilcox left Authority Zero back in 2012 I was definitely disappointed as I was a big fan of his work on the drums for that band.  Songs like “Revolution (off Andiamo) and “Memory Lane” (12:34) are marked by his controlled but still feisty playing.  At the time he left I was not sure (or had missed a memo) on what his next stop might be and was pleasantly surprised when he popped up with Record Thieves.  That was back in 2020 (at least when I found them) and they had just released their strong debut Wasting Time.  Some notable tracks there are “Sacrifice” and “Daily Revolver.”  Currently, the other members of Record Thieves are: Allen White (guitar), Michael Waterhouse (vocals), Chad Gilbert (bass) and Christopher Livesay (guitar).

The vocals from Waterhouse lead off here with a nice distorted guitar riff in the background.  A punchy, thumping drum joins soon after as the lyrics weave a story about trying to break loose from our usual processes and patterns (…”if I could just get out of my own way”).  The bass line here is just a little bit subtle and adds some really interesting texture to the track, kind of a hopeful yet melancholy vibe.  This song is a promising teaser for their upcoming album release which will also be on Thousand Island Records. 

Check it out on your favorite streaming channel (link below) – and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂

https://bfan.link/RT-cause-and-effect

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

And support your locals – community is powerful! 

Song Review- Showoff  – “Get Home” from the album Haverstraw 

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In case anyone wants a random mission…I give you this.  Showoff has a very good early album (it might have been their first?) called “Around the Corner Fudge is Made” (and no, I have no idea what that is all about) that was on cassette.  I at least never saw it in any other format.  If you are picking your way through any random sale bins out there and see it…pick it up and shoot me a message – I’ll be happy to pay up to get it.  They came across my radar back in the last 90’s when they were on tour with Goldfinger…which seems like a really long time ago.  

Their last release that I knew of was “Midwest Side Story” but I learned in checking things out while I was writing this that they also released a single (“Bitter Pill”) in 2023.  The lineup has evolved along the way and now consists of Chris Envy, Evan Thorne, Mickey Molinari, Steve Envy and Brian Steinseifer.  This new album on Manic Kat Records just dropped recently and after giving it a listen I can say…they can still bring it!  Their energy is still very present and the sounds are good!  

They recently released a video for “Crimson”, the first track on this album and you can check that out below.  Personally though my favorite song is “Get Home” which opens on vocals and thumping rhythm.  The chorus develops into a great sound mix with guitars punching through nicely.  This track stays driving and energetic all the way through to the end.  

Check out that “Crimson video here:  

Easy streaming link for the album here:

If you go out and give “Get Home” or any (or all!) parts of this album a listen…think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

Your local community and you are powerful! 

Song Review- Half Dizzy – “Turn This Up”

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Remembering back to when I heard the song “Broken Down” playing in the pre-set music for a bar band in 2023 I recall being pretty impressed by the blistering pace of the music and the “you can’t beat me down” message.  That track was from the first release Half Dizzy had on Punkerton Records and since then they have also released The Faceless (with quite interesting cover art) and now this single that dropped on June 20th.  

A decent amount of people and reviews have mentioned in the past that Half Dizzy evokes some Rancid vibes.  Although I tend to stay away from those direct comparisons in general, on this new track it is hard to avoid.  The  composition, tone, vocal style and great energy all combine to definitely have you reaching back to your best Let’s Go moments.  That being said (and in a positive way for sure) these musicians have talents and grooves that set their own high standard.  Solid guitars playing off each other, a rumbling bass line, busy & sharp drums and shared vocals that are boisterous and clear.  Overall, an uplifting, power-for-you anthem for the upcoming summer.  

Quick streaming link here: 

https://found.ee/halfdizzy_turnthisup

If you go out and give “Turn This Up” a listen…think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

Check out your local community – it can be a pretty cool place:) 

Release Alert! Mercy Music and Danger Days Split 7″ 

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Just thought I would put out a quick notice for this dynamic upcoming release from Double Helix Records.  

I do not quite remember when I first heard Mercy Music but I do remember the name of the album – When I die, I’m taking you with me.  That title just struck me and has stuck around in my head.  There is a song on there (“Painless”) that warrants a listen also if you ever get a chance.

Danger Days is new to me although the members are a collection of musicians from other bands; The Rabble, Movin in Stereo, Millencolin and Flirting with Disaster. 

This release is a nice combination of talented musicians with the two songs fitting well together.  Mercy Music has “Big Fucking Mess” which I really like for the pacing changes throughout the song.  It starts with a call out on the song title and then cuts back and forth with some choppy, slow moments augmented by thrashing high points.  Danger Days fires off right away on “Wasted Time” and keeps a hammering clip going all the way to the end.  It is a tight, fast track that will have you singing right along.  

This drops tomorrow but you can do a pre-save here: 

https://ffm.to/presaveddmm

Take a listen on your usual streaming places and then maybe hit the Double Helix Records store for some hard copy 🙂 

https://www.doublehelixrecords.com/