Music

“Last Heroes” (LP) by Marc Miner

It’s easy to hear Marc Miner’s influences after hearing Last Heroes a single time.

Each of the album’s eleven cuts owes some degree of debt to outlaw country. He doesn’t go as far as directly mimicking the anthemic streak in progenitors such as Jennings, Nelson, or Hank Jr. – but there are other echoes. Fans of alt-country in recent years may hear some Hank Williams III in Miner’s work. I’m not saying he’s a direct influence, but that they share the same thrust.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/marcminermusic/

It cuts across the decades. “Sweet Revenge” checks off time-tested boxes while still displaying a distinctive character. Miner culls his tale from an unique collision of a love story with a criminal slant full of lyrical blood and thunder. His musical arrangement and attack for the song provide a crucial understated counterpoint to the graphic content of the words. There are affectations on his singing, but it isn’t ever heavy-handed.

“Girl Gone Bad” swings in a more neanderthal direction. Miner has very different aims with a song such as this, he’s content throttling listeners over the head with an obvious arrangement, but he does infuse the risqué lyrics with a lascivious bite that pushes the song right up to the edge. It’s a stylized number, obviously, but I do appreciate the ruthless rumble powering this track.

He turns back to more nuanced songwriting ambitions with the next few songs. “Nicki & Bob” is arguably the album’s best-realized story. It has a fully fleshed-out musical vision though, make no mistake, and the spot-on percussion pushes it forward at the right pace. It’s the lead guitar playing, however, that leaves the deepest mark on listeners, particularly with the playing during the song’s second half.

“Last Hero’s Gone” is a right, compact performance and one of the album’s most complete packages. Falling into cliché with these sorts of songs is an inherent risk, but there’s a consistent ring of experience lived rife throughout these cuts. Some listeners may hear a certain amount of posing with these songs, a measure of self-consciousness, but I hear his energy more than any sort of excessive earnestness.

He turns in a performance beyond his years with the song “Hero of Laredo”. I’m really taken with this song the way he invokes a palpable setting for his tale of an one-time street criminal’s rise to the top of the pyramid. Miner outfits the song with a tempo that keeps the song percolating from the start and gives impetus to his performance.

“Heavy Bones” is one of the album’s hardest hitters, especially thanks to its chorus. It’s an obvious choice for a single based on that aforementioned chorus alone. He flexes his bluesy muscles with this track and layers his singing with a thick gravel tone that squeezes every drop of soul from the song. “Home Ain’t No Place for Me” gets some of its melancholy glow from the elegant organ playing during the song’s second half. It’s a downcast mid-tempo amble that has a little bit of a nudge tucked into the performance.

Marc Miner writes and records something for everyone who loves Americana and alt-country. Last Heroes isn’t a lightweight release and Miner conveys a commanding personality with each of its eleven tracks.

Kelly McKinnon

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Artist Spotlight

Kelsie Kimberlin drops the redolence of love in her recent single “Perfume”

If love had a perfect scent, Kelsie Kimberlin, a prolific artist and songwriter, has just bottled it in her latest single, “Perfume.” The American pop prodigy returns with her third release of 2025, delivering a glowing and gently intoxicating track that wraps itself around listeners like a breath of fresh, favorite fragrance, lingering beautifully long after it’s gone.

In “Perfume,” Kelsie goes beyond simply singing about love; she embodies it. The song is a metaphorical masterpiece in which perfume symbolizes an irresistible emotional connection. It’s light, hypnotic, and enchanting, just mirroring the invisible yet undeniable attraction she’s portraying. There’s something almost cinematic about how she draws you into the story of a boy so captivated by her essence that he follows her like a whisper in the wind.

The music video brings her cinematic style and signature vocals to life and reveals a poetic journey shot in collaboration with acclaimed director Pavlo Khomiuk. It follows Kelsie silently gliding through romantic cobblestone streets, her presence conveying everything without a single word. The chemistry between her and her partner is quiet, authentic, and utterly magnetic rather than loud or performative.

With industry heavyweights like Liam Noland (Adele) on the mix and Stuart Hawkes (Amy Winehouse) on mastering, the production benefits from an emotive and technically proficient polished finish. Every beat and musical element is meticulously placed with intention, subtle but powerful, and completely unforgettable.

Ultimately, “Perfume” provides an auditory experience that navigates the delicate balance between sensory perception and emotional vulnerability, where love lingers like your cherished fragrance on a lover’s sweater. Just like that scent, it doesn’t scream, ‘I’m in love,’ its understated delivery and intricate production invite deep reflection, compelling the audiences to savor its ephemeral beauty long after the final note fades.

For more information about Kelsie Kimberlin, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Kelsie Kimberlin’s “Perfume“ on Spotify.
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Entertainment

Playboi Carti Feels “Like Weezy” as MUSIC Dominates the Streets

Playboi Carti is known for his unique style and unpredictable nature, but when he celebrates his achievements, he compares himself to one of the biggest names in hip-hop: Lil Wayne. Recently, his album MUSIC sold an impressive 500,000 copies in just two weeks, leading Carti to proclaim on social media, “FEELING LIKE WEEZY WE ALREADY PLATINUM N DA STREETS,” which means he feels as successful as Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne has greatly impacted hip-hop, and Carti has always admired him. You can see this influence in Carti’s music and style.

For example, Carti’s latest release is named after Wayne’s famous mixtape, showing just how much he looks up to the rap legend. Like Wayne, who built a massive following of loyal fans, Carti has also captivated the music scene. Interestingly, the success of MUSIC coincided with the ten-year anniversary of Carti’s first big hit, Broke Boi. A decade ago, he was just starting out, but now he is a well-established artist whose music releases are highly anticipated events. Fans are now looking forward to his upcoming album, BABY BOI. Given Carti’s history of surprising fans, it might take a while before the album drops.

Check out this article: Playboi Carti Throws Shade At Lil Yachty After Breaking Billboard Record

But that excitement is part of what makes being a fan enjoyable. Like his promotional strategies, his previous album, Whole Lotta Red, was filled with surprises. At the same time, Lil Wayne is set to release his new album, Tha Carter VI, this year, creating an interesting parallel between the two artists. While one hip-hop icon continues his legacy, the other is making a name for himself while paying homage to the past. Regardless of when BABY BOI is released, Carti’s influence shows no signs of slowing down, and if he truly is “like Weezy,” the best is yet to come.

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