Author Archives: Ricky Stephens

About Ricky Stephens

Ricky Stephens is an independent musician and music reviewer from Tampa Florida.

[New] Future Unlimited – Golden

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 9, 2012

Nashville’s Future Unlimited are taking the Internet by storm with the first single from their debut EP, Cloak & Dagger. The new single, aptly titled “Golden”, shines boldly fluorescent stage lights on the face of the electro scene- meandering back and forth from a sound reminiscent of the UK band Mirrors to a groove that nods with elation in the direction of 1980’s synth pop.

Future Unlimited is still pretty new on the world stage but the hype keeps building as we all ponder what will happen when Cloak & Dagger is released.

Future Unlimited – Golden

’future
unlimited

Download

Future Unlimited – When It Calls

’future
unlimited

Download

[Indie] Wildcat! Wildcat! – Mr.Quiche

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 8, 2012

Wildcat! Wildcat! is a three headed giant, in the musical sense, from Las Angeles. The band is part of “Black Eye Music”, which revolves around member Michael Wilson and his collaborations, which makes the bands future as mysterious as its past. The band has been finding e-success through its blend of electronic overtones, indie rock sensibilities, catchy melodies, and trendy cat themes.

Their new tune “Mr. Quiche” has a solid percussive base that is filled out by keys, synth textures, and infectious vocal lines. The trio’s combined efforts work together to create an atmosphere and mood that make indie fans feel right at home while still exposing them to something fresh and new. Overall the song is really well done and leaves me excited for the band to finish recording their debut record.

Download Wildcat! Wildcat! – Mr.Quiche

’mr
quiche.mp3′

Download

Source: Blah Blah Blah Science

Alternative/Rock

[New] Gigamesh remixes Grouplove’s “Tongue Tied” + Free Download

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 8, 2012

One third of Senor Stereo, Gigamesh has a penchant for delivering quality remixes of popular songs. His latest release is a new take on Grouplove’s “Tongue Tied”.

Gigamesh manages to keep the heart of the original track beating through a meaty, percussive, kick drum right from the start. The synth textures swirl and wave overhead while paving the way for Grouplove’s incredibly catchy gang vocal lines to come in. Once the parts all work in harmony at about the thirty second mark the song really begins to come to life and hits you with a wave of sound so big that when the track is over the silence just feels awkward.

To me the guitars on “Tongue Tied” have always felt like they should be the background music at a water park, and the fun move-your-body feeling is only amplified by Gigamesh’s new grooves. This track is guaranteed to occupy your playlist for a while.

Gigamesh is hosting the track for free download on his soundcloud page.

Grouplove – Tongue Tied (Gigamesh Remix)

’grouplove
tounge

Download

[Indie] Hospitality – All Day Today

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 8, 2012

As a service term, hospitality represents the welcome, care, and entertainment of guests and strangers. The band, though, gives the term a meaning of its own.

Brooklyn band Hospitality is fronted by Kansas City’s Amber Papini, whose voice dances in the influence of Artists like Regina Spector, Laura Gibson, and Jesy Fortino. She combines the most exciting points of all three and pairs the delivery with a sturdy backing band that features Brian Betancourt on bass/vocals and the electro-guru-turned-drummer, Nathan Michel.

The band has recently put out a self titled album that’s received great reception. The track “All Day Today” is a perfect example of the lovably upbeat feel of the album and the vocal delivery I mentioned before. With tracks like “All Day Today” Hospitality has managed to live up to its name by offering their audience some real, memorable, entertainment that make their new LP definitely worth a listen.

Hospitality – All Day Today

Download

[Folk] Wake! Owl- Gold

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 8, 2012

Wake! Owl is a relatively new folk project lead by vocalist Colyn Cameron. Their debut EP was recorded with Dave Meszaros at Watershed Studios in Vancouver, BC over the course of August and September 2011. The band invited musicians, mostly friends, to come play parts on the songs and help fill them out with true folk glory. After releasing the EP on Bandcamp digitally on November 10th 2011 and the word started to spread. The EP had 500 downloads in the first two months, and the numbers continue to climb.

The single from the EP “Gold” is a good example of the overall sound of the release- embracing the term “folk rock” to its core. The guitars are acoustic and passionate, the percussion is simple but on point, and the vocal parts glue the whole thing together. When the song picks up, it truly is “gold”

Folk

[New] Teen Daze – Brooklyn Sunburn + Free Download

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 7, 2012

“I’m very proud of this as my first real LP, and the statement it makes. It fully represents where I’ve come to as an electronic artist.” said Vancouver’s Teen Daze, in an interview, speaking of his forthcoming release titled All Of Us, Together. Turning his eyes from a long string of EP’s to a more unified work of cohesive electronic music is, not so much a challenge as it is a landmark for the artist; who has publicly claimed the new album as a statement of self realization and utopian dreams, calling it “synthetic music with a heart”.

The first released single “Brooklyn Sunburn” is a great example of the sentiment Teen Daze has been trying to invoke, bursting with quick paced snares, keys, and synth textures mesmerize and enchant. The song is on point and liquid, reshaping itself with every subtle change to the beat, embracing the joys of utopia, awareness , and well placed tambourine.

“Brooklyn Sunburn” is available for free download HERE.

All Of Us, Together is set for release on May 22nd 2012.

[NEW] OK Go- Needing/Getting video

Posted by Ricky Stephens - February 6, 2012

Ok Go has done it again.

Since their formation in 1998, OK Go has been known equally for their video musings and note worthy breed of pop rock. Their video for “Here It Goes Again” won a grammy and set the bar really high for any follow up videos the band might put out… and they’ve consistently met their goal. The video for their new single “Needing/Getting” is no different. The video took around four months to set up, four days to shoot, and over fourteen hundred instruments for the car to play.

Yes, you read that right. The band has rigged a Chevy Sonic with gadgets and gizmos that smack, slap, pluck, and pound on various instruments the band has set up on their music desert obstacle course, making this their most in depth offering to date.