“If a classic, prohibition era speakeasy had a sound, this track would be it. ‘Seven Year Storm’ is a bluesy, jazzy, Indie rock ride through hard times and an IDGAF attitude. This offering isn’t as commercial sounding as much of the music we feature on LA on Lock, but something about the spirit of the song spoke to me.”
“Hailing from the Bay Area, Kai Straw has the kind of voice that refuses to let you turn away. Raw and vulnerable, while still holding a dark edge, this track unfurls a mesmerizing story. If the movie Sin City was smashed together with The Weeknd along with some kind of dark-side Flume, they’d sound something like this. This is the kind of song that will stick in your mind long after the last note has faded.”
“For my money, the best Rock and Roll is born from anger and attitude. DEVORA offers up plenty of both in this ode to personal rage and frustration.
’Body Bag’ sounds like Sheryl Crow, if Sheryl Crow were pissed off and ready to start enacting revenge on all her enemies while teamed up with Rob Zombie to score the soundtrack. ”
“From the very first word, Chris Murphy demands you listen to what he has to say on ‘Mr. Mister.’
Bluesy and direct, the vibe here is haunting and dark and oh-so-honest. Self-doubt can be a killer, but we all take those deep dives in sometimes. A track like this can make it easier by allowing us to see into the mind of another and realize we are all traveling the same rocky roads.”
“f you dig a bit of Bluesy weirdness, then Jesse Roper has the track for you. ‘Horizons’ offers a soulful twist on the world of extraterrestrials, but the track really has a vague take on the otherworldliness aspect and relies on the bold vocal performance that just lodges in your bones.
Nathaniel Rateliff comes to mind when you try to draw a comparison, but the track has a unique edge that simply is hard to deny. ”
“The world is full of them ... people we don’t like for a variety of reasons. ‘I Hate You’ is a tongue in cheek Pop track with a hearty dose of observation about the people who annoy us all.
Sara says on the track, ‘Peter and I were talking about how people will always say, ‘man, I hate that guy.’ So we wanted to figure out who ‘that guy’ was and write a song about how much we hate him. It turned into a very cool song about a very annoying person. I think you’ll hate him too.’”
“Loudmouth Lisa delivers hard-edged American Rock and Roll with wry intellectual lyrics. The lyric video is a must, so that you can truly digest the full punch of the songwriting.
Don’t be a sucker, give ‘One Born Every Minute’ a listen and add it to you anacrchist playlist. Don’t have an anarchist playlist? Then perhaps you aren’t paying attention to the sheepherders trying to corral you. Loudmouth Lisa is not only paying attention, but providing a bad ass soundtrack to the rebellion.”
“Pure musical energy! Arkells is joined by K. Flay on this track on this Poppish Rock track about going after what you want. Don’t hold back! ‘You Can Get It’ is the kind of track that will get you up on your feet and moving both literally and metaphorically.
A great add to your energetic and motivational playlists.”
“With a nice classic Rock sound Okay Mann drops this track about standing up to all of life’s challenges. The last year and life in general can throw ‘A Lot’ at us and it is easy to get weighed down, but knowing you are not alone and having a song to sing along as you mentally work through your paces is an uplifting thing, and this track certainly allows for just that. ”
“ You ever felt like escaping? Tayo Sound’s new single ‘Runaway’ is about escaping and also going all over the world for someone or something. I like the cartoon illustration and the emotional discovery it gives in regards to love and connections. ”
“This past year has left us all feeling like we are stuck in a badly written thriller. Ravaged by both boredom, and a pandemic, we are stuck in the duality of feuding emotions and this track with its sort of rowdy yet lazy vibes captures those contradictions with a simmering brand of energy that gathered me in and left me wanting to shout at the moon.”
“Melody Federer drops this Anti-Love song which delivers an eerie vibe — as if the track were created for a Valentine’s Day version of NIghtmare Before Christmas.
There are clear Pop Elements, but ‘I Hate Love’ offers its own brand of angst-filled rebellion that wraps around your cold heart like a sinister snake looking for warmth. Dark and winding, the arrangement captivates and intrigues even as you fear the bite of those jaded thoughts.”
“This could be the perfect song dropping at the perfect time! It feels like we are emerging from some type of dark tunnel and Further The Lion has created an energetic anthem that hits perfect for the time. So shake the dust off all the residue of this past twelve months or so, and revel in the Pop Punk track, ‘It’s So Good.’”
“It’s the vocals for me. The Shadowboxers allows us to not only listen to them but levitate and feel the song. ‘Forever’ is delivered at a smooth tempo that speaks on love and mental connection.”
“Putting this single in any particular box is a tough task. Chief Kelly delivers a vocal sound that is perfectly attuned the the Indie Alternative designation, but this single has definite Hip-Hop sensibilities as well.
What stands out most for me is the passion and energy of the performance, and that makes ‘Lovely Bones’ a gripping listen no matter what label you stick on the track. The build and progression had me in its grip to the end. ”
“We all have those old camera shots that transpose us back in time in an instant. With the new single, ‘Camera Roll,’ Lex Holmes unfurls the emotions of such a trip and the times behind it.
The Indie Rock sound, and slow tempo of the track combine to hook the listener in and put them in the perfect place to reflect on their own set of images.”
“A soulful groove that takes you on the same emotional ride the mind goes on when waiting for and hoping for that nevermind call of forgiveness after things go south with someone. The tempo and progression sort of swim along in a sea of murky water, just as out brains do in such a situation giving it the perfect vibe and feel for such a track. ”
“To put it simply, James Deacon isn’t taking any shit from anyone. Fueled by the hardships, and the no’s of critiques, he boldly confronts their words in this rocking track and video.
The hard beat and attitude-filled delivery makes it clear that the naysayers have only motivated Deacon to greater heights. Some artists refuse to be denied, and it is that unstoppable force that sparks the embers that ignite their career. Keep your eyes and ears on Deacon, as he is legit ready to explode.”
“This is an Indie Rock track that delivers an almost stream of conscious vibe that reminded me of the arrangement for “Bittersweet Symphony.’ Marlow does deliver an slightly different energy on their single, ‘Different Lives’ than that classic hit from The Verve, but fans will certainly appreciate both.
The lyrical message is one that is simple, yet highlights emotions and a position that we’ve all found ourselves in.”
“For any and everyone that has ever felt that building ... Aww fuck it mindset — this track is for you. Sometimes you just gotta live your life, and ‘One More and The Bill’ is about doing just that.
A big, bold singalong kind of Alternative Rock vocal arrangement makes it easy to belt out the chorus alongside The Dirty Nil as you go ahead and order one more round before facing the bill and the rest of the world.”