“Prisoner & Key delivers a brooding track that is best compared to Springsteen taking a turn at an Outlaw Country song.
’Set in My Ways’ has grit and punch and almost slips into an Industrial vibe at times. The vocals are steady and moody with a dark undertone that defines the track overall.”
“It is not often that a Pop Country track lands for me, but Shantaia deliver this track with an emotive strength that lands with genuine emotional resonance that transcends genre and rises above the fray of Mainstream Country. ‘Know You’ has an almost 90’s Country feel that reminds me of the days when Shania, Martina, Trisha, and Faith dominated the Country landscape. ”
“If you think Country Music is defined by the glossy, superficial pablum cranked out of Mainstream Nashville then you probably have no idea of the wide ranging talent that is keeping the traditional sound alive all across the country. Texas is no doubt the hub for Independent artists to not only honor the traditional sound but push it forward and Natalie Prauser is one of those genuine voices doing exactly that.
’East Texas’ offers a lonesome, down on your heels vibe. A classic drinking, or thinking, or simply living in reality song that resonates with heartfelt emotion.”
“Punk Country? Yes it is, but there is nothing here that feels anything like the Corporate Mainstream Country most associate with Nashville. Instead Love Hounds, unleashes more of an Outlaw Country sound mixed with heavy Punk influence to give ‘Lazy Boy’ both an edge and a storytelling quality that lands in between genres. But make no mistake, this is not so much a niche type track as it is one that takes the best elements of various genres and turns them into a unique, but broad appeal.”
“The slow build of this track is well worth the time it takes to unfold. Morgan Myles has a Country feel to her tone, but the deep range and broad emotional impact is far more impactful than most Mainstream Country offers these days. Think of Brandi Carlisle or old school Ronstadt more than the cheesy bedazzled brand of Country Nashville pumps out these days. This track heartfelt and real, and a journey far too many women face at least once in their lives.”
“Written for his wife, ‘Come Break My Heart’ is a tender and heartfelt ode of love. Could be classified as Country or Americana or simply a songwriter sharing his heart but what you can the track isn’t nearly as important as the emotions fueling it. With a hint of gravel and a nice emotive tone, Eric Lee delivers a track that sticks with the soul. ”
“Music is a great tool for turning around a bad mood, and ‘Bucket Hat’ from Sydney Lauren is a song all about turning your mindset around and finding a groove that makes you feel better. The energy and vocal performance are easy to relate to and connect with — making this a track capable of turning around your own day. ”
“Faded Rose delivers a sound that falls somewhere between Lucinda Williams and Maranda Lambert. Perhaps a touch more commercial than Lucinda, but still with that jaded and ticked off attitude. Faded Rose is not quite as commercial as Lambert, but still possesses that same strong feminine determination that has made Miranda a star. ‘Judgement Day’ is a well-written track with emotion and musical punch to make you feel it deep in your bones.”
“Rett Madison delivers the rare combination of power and emotion in her vocal delivery of ‘Emily,’ and the raw strains of a broken or breaking heart are evident in every single line.
Lyrically, the track wades the same water as ‘Jolene,’ but from a different angle. Genre wise the track feels like a Pop/Americana tweener. Both the writing and the performance shine, and I can’t wait to hear the rest of Madison’s album due out in September.”
“The best music is always timeless, and very often beyond easy genre classification. That is the case with Hot Monday’s single, ‘Pale Ember.’ There are Indie Rock elements, and Americana elements which combine to give the track a Springsteen sort of threadbare vibe as well as an emotional brand of regret that permeates the delivery and makes it all feel so real. The writing is emotionally stirring and the performance conveys the feelings in every line. ”
“We often consume others energy whether we want to or not. Vanessa Marie Carter’s new single “Yours To Lose” is about heart break. She role plays all the scenarios of a break up but it is clear that it is not her fault. Nashville is known to be the musical country hub and this Vancouver native is in the right place with her talents.”