Category: new singles

Review: Mike Baggz –Isolated and Faded

Mike Baggz Late nights

1. Role up With Me
2. 5Hunna
3. Real N***a
4. Nerrrdwave
5. Toniht in Old English (featuring Ashley Martinez)
6. Counting Money (featuring French Montana)
7. You Ain’t Bout That Life
8. I Ride 550
9. Ginobili
10. Duffle Bag Boy
11. Sidewalk Pimpin It
12. Eyes With The Ex’s
13. Hurricane Sandy
14. Late Nights
15. Baby Its All On You
16. Nothing But A Number
17. Love Me or Hate Me

If you haven’t heard of MIKE BAGGZ, you soon will. After featuring on over 600 mixtape compilations and produced two mixtapes/albums, the hip-hop artist – whose real name is Micah Brown- has dropped another album Isolated and Faded. Released last month, the 17-track production display why this New Yorker is a force to be reckoned with.

Isolated And Faded kicks off with the out-of-this-world Role up With Me where you’re introduced to this unsigned artist’s faster-than-lightening raps over that easy riding beat. Further along the line, the album switches to up-tempo, beat swinging track Nerrrdwave and the electro dance, Toniht in Old English (featuring Ashley Martinez). With these tracks, I realised that this guy is no one-track pony – drop a classical beat and he’ll effortlessly rap to that!

Towards the end, the album definitely reaches a climax with old-school-inspired hip-hop/ smooth R&B tracks, Late Nights, Baby Its All on You, Nothing But A Number and lastly Love Me or Hate Me. An absolute must listen.

In 2012, MIKE BAGGZ gained recognition with his album, Catch 22. No doubt Isolated and Faded will continue to fuel this hip-hop upriser’s success.

Isolated and Faded is available on iTunes

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Review: Kings of Lowertown – 60 More Miles

Kings of Lowertown

1. Long Long While
2. Pembroke Murder Ballad
3. Shotgun Preacher
4. Ain’t No Mercy In This Cruel Old World (Gots Me A Blunt)

 Masters of ‘dirt blues’, KINGS OF LOWERTOWN is unleashing their album 60 More Miles this October. The first release from the album Shotgun Preacher is the perfect introduction to their four-track production. This two and a half minute production offers no more than pure low-down dirty blues which is complicated by distorted vocals – definitely a standout track.

The album continues to offer that good old gritty blues with that muzzled, distorted vocals with Ain’t No Mercy In This Cruel Old World (Gots Me A Blunt) – but this time, there is a very light, sweet and distorted presence of the harmonica. The distortedness is obviously the band’s trademark -which I must say is totally ingenious!

Long, Long While is a more racy gritty rock creation which perhaps has an infusion of THE DOORS and TOM WAITS, whereas Pembroke Murder Ballad features a very light, feel good summery melody with the gritty guitar raging in the background, giving it a slight bluesy edge to it.

These guys were named one of the best bands in Ottawa last year by the Big Beat Blog. When you listen to Shotgun Preacher, it won’t be hard to figure out why they are worthy of that title.

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Star Song: Slim Kushy – Str8 To The Money

Kushy Slim

Hey guys do you remember me telling you about SLIM KUSHY‘s upcoming mixtape No Days Off?  For those who have the same memory span as a goldfish, you can check out the news item here. If you remember the good news, well I have a treat for you!  Here’s his first super dope track from the mixtape, Str8 To The Money.

No Days Off is coming out in November.

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Review: Dayseam –Winds of Change

Dayseam logo

1. Borderline
2. Capture and Release
3. Disguise
4. Interstate
5. Projection
6. Razor Thin
7. Starts Again
8. The Minute
9. Two Flights
10. Winds of Change

In early 2008, Steve Mroozian (vocals and guitar), Ehsan Ahmad (lead guitar) and Sebastian Weiss (drums) came together, forming the alternative rock band DAYSEAM. Bringing their trademark sound of melodic rock to the table, the Philadelphia-based act made quite an impression – not just with true lovers of indie rock but also with music critics. Since they came into existence, it’s been full speed for the indie rockers: they’ve been booked up for live shows at well-known venues in Philadelphia, including The Hard Rock Café and The Northstar Bar. They even manage to find the time to make their Nature Sessions videos – this is where they put their own spin on chart-topping songs. The trio covered Rihanna’s Stay and more recently Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors – check it out!

Now they are on the verge of releasing their studio album, Winds of Change. The ten track album features some full on, high energy rock demonstrated in Borderline, Capture and Release and Interstate. These tracks didn’t leave a lasting impression and left me wondering whether this band has got what it takes to stand out from the crowd. Then there’s a softer and more mellow side to Winds Of Change,  featured in Disguise, Projection, Starts Again and Two Flights. In these tracks, the raging guitars meet that sweet and dreamy undertone, topped off by Mroozian’s pleasantly soothing vocals – simply stunning. In Projection and Two Flights, there are some amazing guitar fiddling well executed by Ahmad and Mroozian.  Listening to the soothing side of the album has firmly pushed away the thought that the trio are not some run-of-the-mill rock  band.

Overall Winds of Change is definitely an album to look out for as their signature sound makes interesting listening (imagine a softer PEARL JAM and maybe chuck in a little bit of KINGS OF LEON). These guys are widely regarded as a ‘hugely underrated band’ but with tracks like Disguise, Projection and Starts Again, this might be a breakthrough year for DAYSEAM.

Winds of Change is out in August.

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News: Flamingo Bay’s debut album out in September

Flamingo Bay

If you’re really missing that good old fashion rock and roll, well Dillon Henningson, Vince Rankin and Kris Gies – aka FLAMINGO BAY – have made your day! The Canadian rockers are releasing their debut full length album Loco Pony in September. These guys are hot property right now as they are fully booked up for live shows in their hometown in Ontario. Wanna sample the goods? Well here’s Serpentine, the first single from the album. If you’re warming to the gritty rock track – good news, you download it for free on Bandcamp. While you’re here, it’s worth checking out the equally gritty and pulse racing single, Bleed (ace!)

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