sit-and-spin

Artist: Mackenzie Nicole

Song Title: “Complications”

Single Sentence Singles Review: A toe-tapping catchy track with a self-deprecating edge, Nicole sings herself into a relatable spotlight rather than placing herself up on a pop pedestal like so many other artists working within the genre today.

Beyond The Track: While “Complications” is a standalone single, Nicole does have a forthcoming album due to drop this summer. To learn more about the pop songstress, check out the TrunkSpace interview with her from 2018 here.

Artist: Kevin Devine

Song Title: “Only Yourself”

Single Sentence Singles Review: Reminiscent of Jim Croce and his ability to infuse relatability into both the surface and the depth of his songwriting, Kevin Devine delivers the best three minutes of our day in a song that fully carried us away.

Beyond The Track: “Only Yourself” appears on the Devinyl Splits No. 11 (a split with Cavetown), set to drop on February 1 from Bad Timing Records. The song first premiered at BrooklynVegan. Tour dates are available here.

Artist: Dizzy

Song Title: “Bleachers”

Single Sentence Singles Review: Layered and multidimensional, there’s a lot to love about “Bleachers,” though the most memorable aspect of the song lies in Katie Munshaw’s playful and hypnotic vocals, which, if given the chance to continue to shine this brightly, will be destined for greatness.

Beyond The Track: “Bleachers” is the latest single off of the Canadian quartet’s debut album Baby Teeth, released in August from Royal Mountain Records/Communion Music.

Artist: Tallies

Album: Self-Titled (Pictured At Left)

Label: Kanine Records

Reason We’re Cranking It: As a genre, dream pop can shuttle you off to another world, but this particular album has dropped us right in the middle of a whimsical landscape that tickles all of our nostalgic fancies. If “The NeverEnding Story” was remade a bit darker and specifically for those adults who first fell in love with it as kids, this would be its soundtrack.

What The Album Tells Us About Them: With their first professional record, the Toronto-based quartet is putting music fans on notice. Although we’re only two weeks into the new year, they’ve made a strong push for best debut of 2019.

Track Stuck On Repeat: The band should be very proud of “Not So Proud,” a song that feels like the rebellious offspring of The Strokes and The Go-Go’s. We’re hooked.

Coming To A City Near You: The band is currently not on tour, but you can keep track of when they hit the road here.

And that means…

Artist: Mineral

Song Title: “Aurora”

Single Sentence Singles Review: It’s been 20 years since Mineral released new material, and while expectations can build up over the course of two decades, the Austin quartet – which disbanded in 1997 – has delivered on them all with this moving single that is both nostalgic and contemporary in its crafting and production.

Beyond The Track: “Aurora” will appear on “One Day When We Are Young: Mineral At 25,” a limited edition hardcover book and collectible 10-inch that will also include the new song “Your Body Is The World.” Set to drop January 4 on House Arrest, a pre-order is available here.

Artist: Stars

Song Title: “Are You With Me?” (Get it  here tomorrow!)

Single Sentence Singles Review: An affecting six minutes from start to finish, future generations of graduates should cling to the deeply-felt emotion of it, name it their prom song, and let it serve as the soundtrack to their “Remember when…” memories for the rest of their adult lives.

Beyond The Track: The band is hitting the road throughout the fall. Check out the list of cities/dates here.

Artist: Grave Danger

Album: “Let ‘er Rip!”

Label: Self-Released

Reason We’re Cranking It: It’s that dark and haunting time of year when you want some good tunes with Halloween vibes, but you’re not looking for “Monster Mash.” You want something with bone-shaking rhythm, meaty hooks and hair-raising lyrics. Grave Danger has got you covered with their mix of Ska and Goth music that you’re going to want to play loud enough to wake the dead!

What The Album Tells Us About Them: This EP gives you a glimpse at the style and sound Grave Danger is going after, and they definitely nail it down like a coffin lid! Though they have a fun and gothic persona, you can tell right away that you are listening to some of the most talented musicians this side of the Upside Down. Every song carries a beat and melody that will have you singing along to the morose lyrics while rocking air drums like nobody’s business!

Track Stuck On Repeat: “Grave Danger” is a painting, a masterpiece of a haunted portrait, with eyes that follow you everywhere you go because you won’t be able to get this song out of your head. It’s just too groovy!

Coming To A City Near You: Like that haunted portrait, you can keep eye out for future Grave Danger concert dates here: Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

And that means…

Song Title: “Get It Together (C’mon)”

From The Album: Uppers & Downers  (art pictured at left)

Single Sentence Singles Review: Gold Star, aka Marlon Rabenreither, got it together big time with this poppy parasitic track, an impossibly infectious groove that latches onto the folds of your brain and screams SINGALONG right out of the gates.

Beyond The Track: Gold Star is kicking off the release of Uppers & Downers on September 13 with a show in his hometown of Los Angeles. Pre-save on Spotify here, and look for tour dates here.

Song Title: “Undone”

From The Album: All In (art pictured at left)

Single Sentence Singles Review: If this song were a bagel, it would be an everything bagel, because it has, well, everything; a beat that gets you pumped, melodic vocals that will have you singing along, and a horn melody that accents this already-tantalizing tune.

Beyond The Track: Down By Law, which has been a pillar in the pop-punk community for nearly three decades, is back with All In, their first album in five years. “Undone” is pure energy – lightning – that has busted out of the bottle and just kept on jamming to infinity and beyond. All In is due to drop August 3rd from Cleopatra Records. Preorder is available here. Listen to the track here. 

Song Title: “Had it Coming”

From The Album: In Spite Of Me (art pictured left)

Single Sentence Singles Review: If Warped Tour wasn’t taking its final bow this summer, “Had it Coming” is the audible proof that Canada’s Like Pacific would be headlining the annual punk festival sooner rather than later.

Beyond The Track: In Spite Of Me is set to drop July 27 on Pure Noise Records. To stay on top of Like Pacific tour dates, visit here.