AltCtrlToob Video Review: American High’s “Cheye Calvo”

For some people in the United States, the sight of a police officer brings on feelings of safety and relief, perhaps even pride.  For others, police officers elicit an automatic fear of brutality.  Which group a person belongs to is often determined by their skin color and social status — but one summer afternoon in… Continue reading AltCtrlToob Video Review: American High’s “Cheye Calvo”

EP Review: Snailmate’s Existential Anxiety

Trip-hop duo Snailmate is in last leg of a seven-month tour supporting their February release Existential Anxiety.  Maybe I don’t listen to enough (or any) trip-hop, but Snailmate’s music is pretty wacky!  Stream Existential Anxiety below and see if you can keep track of the surprising rhythms and tongue-twisting vocals: After giving the EP a listen, it’s… Continue reading EP Review: Snailmate’s Existential Anxiety

EP Review: The Thirds’ Dork Matter

Weezer was the first influence that came to mind when listening to The Thirds’ new EP Dork Matter.  Self-released on May 25th 2018, the Oneonta, New York band’s sophomore offering dials up the Buddy Holly and destroyed sweaters on second track “Say a Few.”  (The first track, “Buncha Nerds,” is more of an intro/voiceover than a song.) … Continue reading EP Review: The Thirds’ Dork Matter

No Zero Days: A Dose of Metal Motivation with Dropout Media’s Matt Bacon

Despite many years of receiving (and mostly deleting) 50+ PR emails a day, it’s only recently that I’ve begun to wonder about the people behind the press releases.  What motivates them?  What are their jobs like?  What bands do they actually enjoy? Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to talk with Matt Bacon of… Continue reading No Zero Days: A Dose of Metal Motivation with Dropout Media’s Matt Bacon

AltCtrlToob: Going Down Under with Halfwait’s “Stand Alone”

This morning’s selection comes all the way from Australia: grunge rockers Halfwait.  For fans of Foo Fighters and Blink 182, their full-length The Official comes out this June and they are now sharing the single “Stand Alone.”  This lyric video shows a different Australia than the one pictured by my American, untravelled imagination; its litter, train… Continue reading AltCtrlToob: Going Down Under with Halfwait’s “Stand Alone”

EP Review: Oliver Cheung’s Remembrance

Hong Kong composer and multi-instrumentalist Oliver Cheung has released his first offering, an three-track instrumental EP titled Remembrance.  It’s a pleasant, ambient listening experience, but it lacks passion.  Cheung has a solid songwriting foundation; moments in “Fragments” and the title track gain momentum quite well.  However, I feel this project would benefit from the input… Continue reading EP Review: Oliver Cheung’s Remembrance

EP Review: Nocturnal Animals’ Dark Lit Places

In their 2017 EP Dark Lit Places, Atlanta’s Nocturnal Animals serves up four tracks of mysterious, surf-tinged alternative rock.  Fans of Green Day will enjoy this band — vocalist Mason Jones has a vibe reminiscent of Billie Joe’s nasal whine, especially in “Red Shoes.”  (Unrelated to the Elvis Costello tune of the same name, as… Continue reading EP Review: Nocturnal Animals’ Dark Lit Places