Featured

Eric Schroeder Releases Album

If you’ve ever heard the music of Eric Schroeder before, you already know that melodic sting is often the backbone of his heady rock sound, but in his latest release Turned on the Stereo, which was released this year everywhere quality indie-rock is sold and streamed, it plays as great a role as the lead vocal does. The guitar is the star in the title track of this LP, much as it guides the grooves of singles “Parting (No. 2)” and “Stayed the Same,” and whether you’re a six-string buff or not, it’s an element that will engage anyone who catches a glimpse of this album’s most powerful moments.

There’s a lot more to Turned on the Stereo than just gilded guitar tones; after all, when listening to songs like “Mother Said,” “The Kind of Wound That Never Heals,” “Plan For Me” and the juggernaut “Never Go Away,” everything from the percussion to the vocal harmony itself is presenting us with a different layer of emotion. There’s scarcely a juncture in this record where Schroeder doesn’t sound deeply invested in the narrative he’s trying to get across, which is something I could only wish to see among his mainstream competitors nowadays.

At the center of every song on this LP is the magnetizing melodicism of the leading man, which despite flexing some legit muscle in past releases bearing the Eric Schroeder name sounds much more relaxed and on-point in tracks like “Do Done Now,” “Claire’s Song” and “Easier Way to Go” than it ever did before. There’s no hesitation on the part of our leading man here; if anything, I’m not sure that he’s come across quite as confident in his performance as he does in a couple of this record’s most climactic fever pitches.

https://open.spotify.com/album/7h8hV4kn18WMWcov4723YN?si=CgrNzFBvRs6D-BaqroToKQ&nd=1&dlsi=b22a7ce812e34a6e

As far as the production quality is concerned, Turned on the Stereo is a superbly tight album that doesn’t leave us guessing how richly textured and full a song like the title track or “Never Go Away” might sound in a live capacity, which is undeniably a tough feat to pull off. It’s perhaps not as evenly mixed as The Crucifixion of Eric Schroeder was, but I don’t know that he was looking to go super-polished in this instance; there’s a certain authenticity that comes with filtering fresh material through a raw, unconventional sound, and that could be why this LP stings as hard as it does.

Though I just started exploring Eric Schroeder’s complete discography a little closer this April, I’ve come to appreciate his approach to songwriting all the more thanks to Turned on the Stereo, which I deem the most mature offering he has released thus far. Schroeder isn’t working with major label assets by any means here, but he’s nevertheless turning in something that feels wholly compelling and different from what his contemporaries are producing in this first half of 2024, and that alone makes it a worthwhile listen for anyone who demands organic quality in rock anymore. Top to bottom, this is a terrific listen for those who love indie riffs and smoldering lyrical emissions.

Sebastian Cole

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Related Topics:album release Eric shroeder turned on the stereo

Up Next

An Intuitive Conversation with Love Power the Band’s Ananda Xenia Shakti

Don't Miss

Chris Harris & Erin Newman shares a heartfelt farewell song, “Goodbye Darling”

Honk Magazine

Artist Spotlight

Cheryl Craigie reimagines “What’s Going On” through a classic soul lens

Some songs belong to an era, and others keep talking to every generation. Cheryl Craigie’s cover of “What’s Going On“ is a prime example of the latter, imbuing a classic soul sensibility into a song whose themes of compassion, understanding, unity, and concern for others are as relevant today as ever.

Cheryl Craigie is an independent singer, songwriter, and musician, and she has a strong artistic purpose with this release. She does Marvin Gaye’s beloved original justice while letting the timeless message sing in her own voice. Craigie’s approach is to speak to the need for kindness and human connection.

“What’s Going On“ is rooted in a timeless identity that is soulful and classic in style, and emotionally it’s about reflection and empathy. This approach relies on the vocal performance, which injects a unique element that helps magnify the song’s bigger message. The production does not detract from the themes that make the song so long-lasting, but rather supports the release by reinforcing its classic character.

Artist Spotlight

With “Who Am I Now” Intaluks explores identity, healing, and renewal

“Who Am I Now” is the Intaluks’ method of shifting the atmospheric emotion, an introspective melodic trance on loss, identity, healing, and the hard work of rebuilding when life takes an unexpected turn. The musical direction is a slow emotional journey, starting in darkness and gradually opening to hope and renewal.

This production frames that journey with expressive male vocals, emotional piano, and trance textures. “Who Am I Now” leaves its mark in the feel department through progression and atmosphere, not with a dramatic festival-type drop. The arrangement gives the song a reflective feel but still maintains the forward momentum of melodic trance.

The male delivery lends a human presence to the themes of uncertainty and self-reconstruction in the song’s vocals. The track tells of an inner journey, accompanied by the piano, the cinematic production, and the experience of confronting a changed reality, asking yourself who you are now, and slowly finding the strength to move forward.