Ryan Edward Kotler has spent the last couple of years carving out a distinctive lane in modern folk. Early releases like "In My Time of Constant Sorrow," "Loneliness Is Killing," and "Insomnia" established him as a songwriter who favors honesty over polish and thrives in sparse, emotionally direct arrangements. Those tracks leaned on acoustic guitar, voice, and minimal ornamentation, earning praise for their restraint and rawness. "Mary Anne" feels like a genuine step forward

A new single release from Jennifer Allsbrook brings out a very warm set of tones with acoustic instrumentation that sets the aesthetic and stage for a song that comes through with a very honest approach lyrically, and the sentiment, I think almost anyone can completely relate to right from the start. "Oh My Soul" is about getting through certain kinds of struggles in life. This could mean a lot of different things, depending on who's listening. It focuses on how there are out

A new album released from High Inquisitor Woe comes through with an absolutely massive soundscape that is both aggressive and vast in its undertone, blending progressive, metal, doom, sludge, and stoner rock all in one shot. Painted Vision of an Era Forlorn  is a huge record that boasts tracks that are absolute opuses, some spanning past 9 minutes or longer. The riffs across this record are outstanding, but then all of the guitar work is really where it's at. You have some gr

A wonderfully woven new single from Goldfish Memory portrays an amazing display of progressive and indie rock in the form of a song that shares a lot of inner thought that just comes spilling out for all to soak in. Because of this, the track just has a lot of character behind it, and this is one of the things I found myself becoming the most attached to. "Flo" is a little experimental and has a great time signature to it right from the get-go, which sort of pulls you in. The

A gorgeous new single release from Sophia Wolz delivers a very impactful and almost theatrical approach that has an element of feeling stripped down as it focuses mostly on piano and vocals, but involves undertones and vastness that create a depth and layers to the track as well. This is a single that showcases a lot of heavy-handed emotion, and it's portrayed through beautifully performed, soulful vocals, along with some amazing changes into those choruses that really have a

Matt DeAngelis is back with "Livin' It" which portrays another story, something the artist and songwriter does a lot of with his music. So what's the message here? "Livin' It" is a song that was conceived during the pandemic and is meant to convey the fearful and unknown world we continue to live in with reluctance for what is to come. We tend to look to happier times of bygone eras, while longing for relief that we pray tomorrow might bring. The path is not clear in the pres

An EP release from David Scott delivers a wonderful mixture of natural and digital instrumentation in the form of three singles that come through with a chill undertone, combining elements of jazz, classical, and more, while also giving off electronic soundscapes, simultaneously. Part of the beauty of the  Some Things Are Cool  album is that even with three tracks, it still keeps you on your toes. The first track, "007", is certainly the most laid-back one of the group. This

Eclectica is the new EP from CameronStrings, and it lives up to its title without feeling scattered. What struck me first was how natural everything sounds, as if the duo captured a performance rather than built one. The guitar work throughout this EP is exceptional, both technically sharp and emotionally tuned, and the vocals match that clarity with ease. “Don't Even Know You” opens with a simple theme of new love, but the delivery is full of genuine excitement. I loved thi

A beautifully performed new single from The Low Stakes Band delivers quite a personal approach and all in the form of a folk and singer-songwriter-based track that focuses mainly on acoustic guitars and vocals. This is a wonderful soundscape because it comes through with such warmth and its tonality. There are layers of acoustics that feel lush and very full-bodied, which is refreshing, along with the vocals that come through with a lot of heart and such descriptive lyrics th

A new album released from a brings together a slew of influences by bending genres and taking elements of alternative rock, metal, and electronic rock, and bringing those together to create vast undertones, aggressive soundscapes, and anthemic, powerhouse style choruses that let the record completely thrive from beginning to end. The Last Ship  is an album that keeps you on your toes because halfway through it you begin to expect the unexpected. There are a lot of confluent a

The latest album released from American Mile brings out a lush southern rock approach with wailing guitars, thriving sonic drive, and a nearly unstoppable energy. These guys showcase such a homeland and southern rock approach that has an impactful aesthetic right from the first track, "Get On And Fly", as they deliver a massive and spirited rock approach. The single features pianos, organs, amazing guitar work, belting and Soulful vocals, walking bass guitar sections, and jus

A new release from Brendan Welch delivers a lot of indie rock, but with an underlying warmth that reminds you of folk music, to an extent. The songs have a smooth sort of tone but can get edgy at times with amazing guitar work, and the songs have a brilliant way of telling stories, at times with great detail enough for you to paint a picture in your head as they unfold. Returning  is an album that speaks volumes for the artist, as it breeds elements of classic rock and brings

Mark Hickling returns with the new singles that blend a high octane energy with super fast undertones, some of his best staples in a lot of his work, and this track boasts some outstanding synthesizers and keys to give it a very lush soundscape right from the start. "Turbulence" delivers fresh, high-powered beats, up-tempo, and addictive, along with vocal samples and changes as the song unfolds. This is a track that doesn't sit in one place but instead evolves as a place thro

A new single release from Laptop delivers quite a fun experience with a pop-coated single, coming through colorfully with brightness and sort of warm catchiness, along with a particular sort of quirkiness as well. "I Don't Know" comes through as a piano pop track, and along with the energy level being vibrant and the welcoming sonic presence being evident, the track boasts a lot of character. You have a thriving bass guitar line, piano is the main instrument, and a '90s beat,

The latest release from Mitchell Leonard brings together some of the best elements of cinematic backdrop, vast undertones, and emotional pull with a very unique set of approaches to reinventing a track originally released in the early '80s. "Overkill" is a song originally released in 1982 by the band Men at Work. A hugely popular band throughout the early and mid-80s for having a few hits all over the radio waves.  The original track itself had a bit of an upswing, featured s

Table 42  finds Pat Kennedy leaning into a sonic palette that feels both familiar and freshly energized. Across its 11 tracks, the record blends Americana, heartland rock, and classic rock with a natural ease, creating a landscape for storytelling. A little personal reflection while staying true to the tones of pure rock. Throughout the album, Kennedy uses Southern-leaning riffs, giving several songs a warm, smoky edge that feels instantly at home. The vocal performances rise

The Modern Sonic Synth and Public Consciousness albums are both out now and each one gives off some freshness! Loads of electronic heart while connective grooves and rhythms, melodies and warm instrumentation take over. Piano, synth, beats, and more all rolled into some excellent and well produced pieces of cinematic style. The songs on each record deliver some classic tones and with a lot of melodic hooks, memorable songwriting, and pristine crisp production from beginning

T-RAN just dropped a new single that comes through with a blissful crossover of R&B, gospel, and even elements of rock undertones with distorted guitars, and more, blending genres and creating this beautifully lush atmosphere that just feels good to listen to. "Don't Stop The Fight" is a very spirited track and focuses on how life can be hard. There are always going to be struggles, but you can rise above them. You can't stop fighting. You can't stop moving forward. It's a ve

A new release from Special K's just dropped, and the song has a very deepening sentiment that feels a little raw and incredibly relatable to many of us, lyrically descriptive and unafraid, vulnerable and impactful, with music that gives a sort of hazy warmth derivative of Songs written in the 50s or 60s. "Talk To Me" is a track that focuses on losing a loved one and all the many stages of grief that come along with it. The sentiment of wondering what's happening with that per

A pretty personal record from Planks came out, and it has a wonderful way of stretching across a series of genres that all have something a little different to offer, from classic rock-oriented feels, riffs, and guitar tones, to a warmer, more folk-inspired style. The EP, titled pilot, has a way of giving off a righteous and very bright tone a lot of the time, songs such as "Mr. Well Informed" provide a lot of the combination of warmth and brightness but also gives you plenty