Growing up in the '80s and '90s, I was exposed to some outstanding movies. During that time, movies had a very specific soundtrack. Whether it was sci-fi, action, drama, or anything else, there were always soundtracks that served as a sign of the times. I rarely hear a record that's able to harness that kind of semi-nostalgic and rich, full-bodied synthwave vibe the way that the new record from Valley Lights does. The album is called Devil May Care, and it absolutely captures

A new album release from The Runaway Strings hits with such a warm set of acoustic tones that beckon everything from bluegrass to classic folk, country, and more, all rolled into this sort of character-ridden and rustic-laced record that absolutely wraps itself around you in all the best ways possible. The record is called Blackwood, and right off the bat, you start getting a great feel for that vintage bluegrass aesthetic with its first track, "Living The Dream". This song f

Vitamin XP is known for showcasing several different styles of rock throughout their entirety and catalog. Still, one of my favorite records to date has to be one called Not Of This World. The reason is that this album, in particular, showcases such a range and rambunctious, almost classic punk rock energy and aesthetic that it's impossible to turn away from. Now, the band has several albums and plenty of singles released under their belt, but this one really comes through wi

A very outside-the-box and experimental electronic project from Andreja Andric and The Networked Ensemble delivers an almost invasive and semi-aggressive but very melodic piece of work that does indeed serve almost like a computer network trying to actually connect. Square Zero - Concert for Computer Network is one huge piece spanning over an hour in length, and based on a synthesized sound that goes through all these different patterns of synchronization and augmentation, al

A set of beautifully cinematic pieces from Geoffrey Gordon are compiled onto a new release that absolutely exemplifies how mood and tension are built through instrumental music. Fumee is a contemporary classical release, done with a full orchestra that delivers such lush soundscapes and approaches that it's very easy to get engulfed by everything. "Gotham News" opens up the record, and this is a piece that's almost 14 minutes long and definitely gives you depth in those inten

A new release from D.J. Sparr gives off such a wondrous musical approach and journey with pieces and songs that flow together and connect as each one of them displays the musical story and spirit of Muhammad Ali. The Tao of Muhammad Ali is an incredibly woven record that gives you diversity in approach and songwriting, along with elements of subtlety, delicate vulnerability, understanding, and light. The record is built upon elements of contemporary cinematic songwriting, and

Some records are built around reinvention. New Scrolls succeeds by trusting a much older formula: strong songs, memorable melodies, and a songwriter who understands that details matter more than grand statements. Erik Rabasca draws from country folk, Americana, swing, and roots music without treating those traditions as museum pieces. Instead, he uses them as a framework for stories about ordinary experiences, personal reflection, and the kinds of observations that accumulate

There is something refreshing about an album that commits fully to its own world without worrying whether listeners will immediately understand the rules. Videopticons, the latest release from The Zaxons, operates according to a peculiar internal logic where post-punk basslines, lo-fi production, wiry guitar work, and off-kilter synth textures coexist in a space that often sounds as if it were transmitted from a forgotten college radio station somewhere between 1982 and the p