A new album from Chris Ahlman delivers a wonderfully woven set of songs that are based around a folk-rock soundscape, with warm tones coming from the instruments and stories to tell. I think this is one of my favorite aspects of the record as a whole. The lyrics can be very honest and, a lot of times, from a personal perspective, of course, but they also tell stories that draw you in. This is a record that boasts a lot of character, which is one of the biggest things you get

Walton Lott is not one to shy away from a touch of Modernism. His new album, Impulses, boldly proclaims two monumental piano works that ask enduring questions about music, struggle, and introspection. The album pairs Frederic Rzewski’s rarely-recorded Four Pieces for Piano (1977) with John Harbison’s Piano Sonata No. 2 (2001), offering listeners a journey from volatile political commentary to lyrical classicism. The album’s centerpiece, Rzewski’s Four Pieces, lands between th

When James Lyon touches a violin, people listen; he can turn a phrase or a tune like few others. So, after a long career teaching at Penn State, it is high time he had a solo album to his credit: Turning is a deeply personal collection of works that celebrates his 35-year tenure at the institution. The title Turning carries multiple meanings for Lyon, reflecting both transition and opportunity. “For well over three decades, I have been taking my turn being a professor of vi

A new EP release from Verdani manages to blend classic, indie, and alternative rock with this sort of progressive, vast undertone that creates quite a lush atmosphere, brought on by layers of guitars, organs, keys, and more. To me, this feels like a bit of an experimental record. It brings on textures that your average alternative rock record wouldn't really have. This makes the whole thing feel a bit more boisterous and in-depth, mainly because it blends those tones to creat

A new single from Lost Circus serves as a love letter and ode to the great Ozzy Osbourne after his passing. The lyrics of this track are really well done, and the whole thing is about how his music took you away from everything else in the world; how you could escape into the songs because they were so in-depth, so exciting. This is a metal track, of course, but what really blows me away about it is that the aesthetic of it nailed that classic Ozzy style. It's not a track tha

A new release from Martin Packwood delivers a wonderfully flowing soundscape that builds a bright and warm-toned atmosphere that feels completely inviting and features this almost jazz-like undertone but cinematic backbone. The filmic aspect of it comes from the layers of synth pads that are used in the song's background, letting it have an almost elegant feel, but it also adds layers of texture to the song that otherwise wouldn't be there. This brings a certain kind of depth

A single release from Sinistra delivers a unique brand of semi-theatrical progressive rock that manages to hit hard and all the right places but also gives a bit of a flowing undertone that adds vastness to the soundscape of the entire thing, and it still keeps elements of pop sensibility close at hand. The track is called "Symbol", and it is a very lush and full-bodied single but still has that spaciousness because of the way the rhythm and percussion come through. First of

If you're not too familiar with the music of Ricardo Maranhao, then let us be among the first to introduce you to the artist, as the artist has recently released a few singles that showcase a depth in songwriting and a flair for performance. We'll start with "Wait", which is absolutely a feel-good track from beginning to end. This song delivers quite a bright aesthetic, and it's completely spirited. This song is uplifting and bursting at the seams with soul. The vocal perform

A thrashing new album release from Birds on a Kill comes in swinging with a massive and sonically driving blend of metal and punk, complete with fierce guitar tones, animated vocals, and a rambunctious underbelly that shows face quite often. What are the things that really hit hardest about this record, aside from the guitar riffs, of course, is the energy of the entire thing. There's something about this record that makes you think of a live performance. It's almost like the