Time for another batch of single reviews! So much good stuff out there right now.
Before Their Eyes – “Lies”: Ohio metalcore group has blasted back onto the scene after a year of turmoil with their record Redemption, with leading single “Lies.” A tension-building intro leads into this track, a forebodingly catchy track with a riff that fits the mood of the song exactly. Clean and rough vocals are used almost evenly, with the high-pitched clean vocals contrasting nicely (a rarity in this genre!). Crisp production is such that even hearing this song over the radio (looking at you RadioU-but kudos to you for playing it) doesn’t do it justice. Oh, and did I mention that opening riff can get stuck in your head for days?
Silversun Pickups – “Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)”: After a bit of a break, the shoegaze quartet returns with a lead off single that, similar to “Panic Switch”, hints at anxiety and mental breakdown in both its music and lyrical themes (If you really want to listen to a tense song, try Radiohead’s “Hail to the Thief” – but I digress). A huge false build-up of synths gives way to nearly naked vocals. The balance of the 5 minute track feels like a natural progression of the Silversun Pickups sound, carrying a bit of an ethereal feel. Of course, the trademark drumming and distorted bass make their appearances.
Walk the Moon – “Anna Sun”: Dance-driven alternative rock music is undoubtedly in these days. What the Killers started in the early 2000s has been picked up by many others, most recently Walk the Moon. When I first head “Anna Sun” on the radio I thought this band HAD to be veterans to the scene – imagine my surprise when I found this was only from a single EP in their wide-release discography! I can’t shake deja vu feeling I get with this melody, but the fact remains that it is very likeable and these guys probably have big things coming down the road.
Mr. J. Medeiros – “Pale Blue Dot”: Mr. J is ever the social commentator. And, he makes it cool. His flow is sincere without being preachy. He gets his point across in a way that’s meant to convict but not condemn. Also, his videos are all really well done. “Pale Blue Dot” is no exception – excellent videography and the sometimes cliche stock footage used in some music videos is present but not overdone. Also, the chorus is one of those subtly catchy ones – its meant to keep your head bobbing, but evoke just enough of a pensive mood to keep you paying attention to the message. If I had to create a Mr. J dichotomy from beat-driven to message driven, I would place this single smack in the middle (with “Keep Pace” being a good example of the former and “Constance” being a good example of the latter).
