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Album Review

Midnight Sky Captivates on New LP “Last Hope for the Modern World”

Midnight Sky’s latest LP, “Last Hope for the Modern World,” is a captivating musical journey that seamlessly blends Americana roots with a modern sensibility. From the uplifting title track to the reflective “Even Forever Ends,” the album showcases a dynamic range of emotions while maintaining an overall lighthearted and hopeful atmosphere.

The LP opens with the title track, “Last Hope for the Modern World,” immediately setting a mood of optimism and brightness. The rollicking classic Americana instrumentation infuses the song with a sense of fun, inviting listeners into Midnight Sky’s musical universe. The title track serves as a fitting introduction to an album that explores both the highs and lows of life’s less glamorous experiences.

As the album progresses, songs like “Long Way Back To Town” and the album closer, “Even Forever Ends,” reveal a more solemn and serious side of Midnight Sky. Despite delving into deeper emotional territory, the band skillfully avoids descending into despair, maintaining a delicate balance that keeps the album accessible and relatable. It’s a testament to Midnight Sky’s ability to navigate a spectrum of emotions while keeping the overarching tone optimistic.

One of the standout features of “Last Hope for the Modern World” is Midnight Sky’s adept use of different vocalists throughout the album. In tracks like “The Other Side,” the shift in vocalists adds a refreshing change in sound, keeping the listener engaged and highlighting the band’s versatility. These unexpected shifts contribute to the album’s variety, creating a dynamic listening experience that evolves with each track.

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Surprises abound in the LP, with tracks like “12th Street Serenade” infusing groovy Spanish influences into Midnight Sky’s familiar style. This adventurous exploration of different musical elements adds a layer of complexity to the album, showcasing Midnight Sky’s willingness to experiment while maintaining their signature sound.

Throughout the album, the production remains consistently excellent. Each track is crafted with precision and care, ensuring that no song lacks effort or attention to detail. The vocals take center stage in many songs, and rightly so, especially in standout tracks like “The One Who Really Loved Me.” The production allows the nuances of the vocals to shine, capturing the emotive essence of Midnight Sky’s storytelling.

Overall, we feel “Last Hope for the Modern World” stands as a testament to Midnight Sky’s artistry and commitment to delivering a cohesive and engaging musical experience. The album successfully navigates a spectrum of emotions, showcasing Midnight Sky’s ability to balance optimism with introspection. It’s a standout showing in their discography, and we’re eager to see what they’ve got cooking up next.

–Jason Airy

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Album Review

Jangus Kangus shatters melodic boundaries with her debut album “Fortune Cookie”

Jangus Kangus

Jangus Kangus, the intriguing musical force helmed by Jasmine Sankaran, has just cracked open her most audacious project to date, “Fortune Cookie,” an album that intricately weaves genre fluidity and emotional resonances. This collection of eight tracks serves as both a sonic manifesto and a significant milestone in contemporary indie-pop, characterized by unvarnished lyricism and engaging, jangly hooks.

The album commences with You Only Love Me When,” a seemingly serene acoustic-pop track that establishes the thematic groundwork for a narrative exploration of desires, internal conflicts, and acts of defiance. It poignantly laments love that manifests only through revealed strength, portraying love as a timeless entity, even when entangled with the vices of broken individuals intoxicated by addictive substances. After this introduction, Kangus transitions into the introspective Double Lives,” a shimmering soul-infused piece that methodically dissects the paradoxes inherent in love and the subdued anguish that frequently accompanies the double lives.

Progressing to No Future In This,” the album’s melancholic yet assertive dive into romantic realism presents bold lyrical insights. This sentiment escalates into the heartbreak elegy Our Love Is Dead,” here, rhythmic piano chords evoke a mournful grace that encapsulates the heaviness of lost love, distrust, and betrayal. The track underscores the necessity of relinquishing specific attachments to pivot away from unsafe circumstances, echoing the fortune teller’s chilling proclamation: our love is, indeed, dead. Then comes the wild card Janakita Kirakita,” an intoxicating burst of sonic dynamism and gleeful experimental composition that injects curiosity and electric charm into the auditory tapestry, boldly challenging convention with every note.

Listeners will find Goldilocks particularly captivating; this genre-defying number draws from stylistic influences reminiscent of St. Vincent and The Smiths, skillfully merging nostalgia with contemporary innovation. It conveys an urgent yearning to reclaim lost love during periods of solitude. The penultimate track, Honeymooners in Venice,” narrates a cinematic experience rich in post-modern nuances. Finally, the concluding piece, High Rise,” offers a deep plunge into Sankaran’s introspections, leaving a reverberating and haunting impact.

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Meticulously crafted with the dexterity of a seasoned lyricist and the fervor of a punk priestess, “Fortune Cookie” commands attention as a contemporary coming-of-age narrative rich with lo-fi grit and artistic ambition, all presented through a unique lens.

Featuring an outstanding lineup that highlights the intricate interplay of Steph Anderson on keys and backing vocals, Antonio White on lead guitar, Dan Perdomo on drums, and Ryan Kellis on bass, Jangus Kangus delivers a performance that harmonizes technical proficiency with emotional transcendence. The music constitutes a distinctive addition to diverse playlists, serving as an ideal backdrop for a heartbreak soundtrack or late-night contemplation, thereby ensuring its relevance and recurrence among discerning audiences.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM Jangus Kangus’s Album Fortune Cookie on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Jangus Kangus | Instagram | Facebook |

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Album Review

Eric Schroeder drops a riveting dare into his emotionally charged new album “Cat’s Game”

Eric Schroeder

Eric Schroeder, a distinguished innovator within the indie rock-pop sphere, born and raised in San Diego, has unveiled his ambitious latest album, “Cat’s Game,” a masterful project that deftly explores intricate emotional landscapes. Comprising ten meticulously woven tracks, traverse through landscapes of confessional intimacy, introspection, and sonic defiance that revitalizes classic rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics. Recorded at Mant Sounds under the expert production of Rob Schnapf and engineered by Matt Scheussler, this striking new album premieres today and signifies a potential shift in the contemporary rock narrative.

As a pivotal player within San Diego’s eclectic music scene, Eric Schroeder adeptly navigates the dynamics of chaos and clarity, and “Cat’s Game” showcases his most sophisticated orchestration to date. Collaborating with a tight-knit ensemble featuring Matt Scheussler (bass), Jake Richter (drums), and Aidan Finn (keys), Schroeder breathes life into every lyric, wrapping each composition in swirling authenticity and unfiltered emotional gravity.

Commencing with the soaring rock gem High And Low,” listeners are immediately plunged into the heart of Eric’s introspective lyricism, capturing a spectrum of euphoria tinged with unintentionality, where moments of sorrow transmute into uplifting sentiments. The follow-up singleEmily floats a unique form of bittersweet poetry, allowing audiences to resonate with a profound longing through emotive acoustics and nostalgic melodies. Furthermore, the slow-burning Don’t Wanna Let You Go effectively merges vulnerability with assertive musical grit in one unforgettable, gut-punching anthem.

Tracks like As I Sit Here In My Car and I’ve Got Problems demonstrate Schroeder’s exceptional proficiency in turning everyday occurrences into deeply relatable stories, marrying lyrical poetry with infectious grooves and cinematic soundscapes. Meanwhile, Leave Me Sleeping arises as a notable highlight, functioning as a haunting lullaby drenched in longing and lucid dreamlike clarity, further underscoring his capacity to encapsulate solitude in a captivating sonic framework.

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Mid-album highlights, such as My Big Brother,” “Slipstream,” andSummer In The Psych Ward,” explores the chaotic interior of memory and identity, enhancing the psychological dimensions of Schroeder’s artistry. Finally, the closing track, The Road To Recovery,” presents an achingly beautiful exhale, a tender, tremulous resolution to a defiant, emotionally rich album.

Cat’s Game” is a crucial addition to any rock enthusiast playlist, reminding us of the enduring significance of music in contemporary culture. The album is an immersive manifesto of emotional honesty, dynamic storytelling, and fearless creativity. Eric Schroeder doesn’t just participate in this artistic endeavor; he is rewriting the rules with his enchanting vocal delivery. His rare gift for transmuting vulnerability into visceral musical encounters cements his reputation as a mesmerizing songwriter, a burgeoning force in today’s evolving music landscape, poised to make a significant impact.

 

For more information about Eric Schroeder, please visit [website]. 
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Eric Schroeder’s Album Cat’s Game on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Eric Schroeder | Instagram

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