J. Graves - Valentine [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Taken purely as a standalone song, ‘Valentine’ is a treat for the senses. Portland’s, J. Graves has the talent and verve to pull of the track with attitude and talented flair, but you cant take this single on its solo merits alone. The [project is fun and unique as part of a musical, choose your own adventure thread. The video ends with a question and your answer will determine the next track and so forth down the line making the music truly interactive. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

REAVEN - Ordinary Heroes [Music Video Review]

Rating : 4 out of 5

“Have we all lost control of our own lives? Has social media taken over and pushed our dark sides to the forefront? Or are there some ‘Ordinary Heroes’ left that are not slaves to public perception?

These are the questions posed by REAVEN on their latest track and they are worthy ones to ask. This is an Indie Rock anthem that feels like both a protest and a wakeup call all the while offering solid entertainment and talent to back it up.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sahara Beck - Stillness [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sahara Beck delivers a haunting yet tender set of vocals on this track. ‘Stillness’ is sort of the calm before the storm with fear and anxiety looming on the horizon, the track’s lyrics and vocal style bring out the rising dread you feel when you realize the world is about to tip and become less stable. Deliver in nuanced fashion, the impact is all the stronger. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Hotel Mira - Speaking Off the Record [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The road to stardom is fraught with all manner of stress and pitfalls as is life itself, and Hotel Mira captures that with ‘Speaking off The Record.’

Any artist worth their salt has experienced hard times as most often the tough times are the creative fuel that inspires great art. This track is candid and raw and taps into the pain and turmoil that we all feel and experience, but are often too afraid to share with the world.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Attics - Comic Sans [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Unreliable narrators are tough to pull off in literature and even more song in song form but the Attics do exactly that with ‘Comic Sans.’ Channeling the voice of their braggadocios and self-described dishonest grandfather, the band has a Tom Petty kind of vibe as it unfolds the wisdom of a misguided man. This unique perspective lends the song a uniqueness that carries the listener along wondering what to expect.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Peaceful James - Love Like Vegas [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Peaceful James captures a nice blend of Funk, Rock and Roll, and energy with the track ‘Love Like Vegas’ This is the genre bending kind of sound that you’d expect from The Black Keys or Jack White and the energy is as palpable as your heartbeat. For all its sinful brand of fun Vegas is a hard place to walk away from as a winner and love can feel that same way way at times. This track brings that point to musical life very well. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Highline - Enough For You And Me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“After forming their musical collaboration during highs school lunches, Australian group Highline has hones and sharpened their skill into polished perfection. With a clean sound that falls somewhere between Coldplay and The Strokes this group keeps the listener on the hook with strong writing, emotive vocals and tight musicianship that carries the day. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Skuff Micksun - Magnificent [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Riding a groove that is musical, yet spoken word poetic at the same time, Skuff Micksun delivers a passionate flow that feels honest and true in a confessional sort of way. The best art lays the artist bare, and that is what this track does.

Short and to the point, ‘Magnificent’ is hard to categorize, but that doesn’t really matter because the words are clearly poured straight from the heart.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dropper - Waste of Time [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Every creative I know eventually asks themselves ... Is this all a ‘Waste of Time.’ The answer is no of course, because art is always a worthwhile endeavor, but when you are out there on the road and battling to make your mark while trying to find a passionate audience, it can feel that way. The up and down emotions of trying to make a living from your passion is a struggle that leaves all artists feeling depleted from time to time and this song taps into all of that. But the track is far from a drag as it expresses these emotions in an engaging and entertaining fashion. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Taylor Bini - Started Chewing My Nails Again [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Finally a break up song that feels as random and abstract as our minds tend to get after such a painful experience. The emotions are real and tangible here on this track and the writing is spot on brilliant. The track is short, but packs in everything it needed to in just under two minutes. A brilliantly crafted song that comes with a different angle than most artists are capable of delivering. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

LVRBOY - sick of me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“LVRBOY releases this lyrically intricate track about friendship and bad relationships. ‘sick of me’ is about friends sick of seeing you give a n ex chance after chance when they are undeserving and the conflicting emotions of being caught up in the middle. The sound is bold and as much Rock as Pop, but blends the lines quite well. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Big Orange - By the Dozen [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Indie Rock and Roll as it should be. Straight away you can feel the attitude and confidence both in the vocals and musically. Big Orange is doing Australia proud with this timeless rock track that isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but simply keep alive a spirit and set of ideal that music lovers have been turning toward for decades.

Big Orange makes it seem easy here, but creating genuine and passionate music such as this is no easy feat. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Wild Giants - If God Only Knew [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The gravel in the vocals provides instant emotional connection, and while the track does have a slight retro feel of the mid 90s to early 200s sound it does so more as a homage than a reliance. That gives the track a fresh contemporary feel on top of that familiarity. The emotional resonance carries the day and a down tempo shift at the end of the song really brought it all home for me. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

RIVER - Someday [Review]

“Nostalgia and melancholy ride tandem in this track from Hamburg’s RIVER. ‘Someday’ is the kind of track that can mean different things to you from day to day depending on your own mood and headspace, but no matter what you take away the easy groove and clever writing will engage you and pull you deep inside the rhythm of this Indie Rock effort. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

SEA GIRLS - Hometown [ Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sea Girls latest track “Hometown” brings back the aesthetics of fans and rock concerts. Now of days we attend shows and use most of the moment with our phones out instead of really rocking with the artists. Sea Girls highlights that experience but also tells the story of loving someone over the years and dealing with the changes of life. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Dropper - Memoirs of Working in a Bowling Alley [Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Some songs have a life, or at least aura about them that takes on its own personality and demeanor. ‘Memoirs Of A Working Bowling Alley’ certainly had that for me. The track from Dropper reminded me a bit of Sheryl Crow’s ‘All I Wanna Do’ in its wry perspective of a world full of people plugging along in their own way. The sound is a bit grittier here (in a good way) and perhaps more honest in its approach, but both tracks have true heart to them.

Frontwoman Andrea Scanniello shared her thoughts about the track. ‘We recorded “Memoirs of Working in a Bowling Alley” and the rest of our debut album with Andrija Tokic at the Bomb Shelter studio in Nashville. I’ve spent my entire adult life working in various service industry jobs- some more soul sucking than others. One of these jobs was spraying bowling shoes at the local lanes. “Memoirs” is about working these types of jobs and how at times it makes you question humanity and never want to speak to a soul ever again; that emotional drain that can only be experienced when you’re dealing with shitty drunk people night after night.””

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Spoon and the Forkestra - Blink Twice [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Spoon and Forkestra captures the disorienting world of disassociation both in the structure and performance of the song, as well as the imagery of the video. The emotive vocals style conveys the disarray of emotion and expectation quite well and the writing is spot on perfection. ‘Blink Twice’ is the kind of track that resonates more with every listen making it a must add to your more reflective playlists.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

CVBZ x American Authors - This Time is Right [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is one of those big bold Indie Rock songs that feels as much like an anthem as anything else. The kind of build and arrangement that sweeps listeners up and in. The kind of track that incorporates various elements and genres to create a sound that resonates for music lovers of all.

The energetic build and progression is joined by talented vocal performances to create a vibe that hooks and holds with ease. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

talker - Summerlin [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A song detailing the power of places and the strength of our emotional memories, ‘Summerlin’ is about the hometown of an ex boyfriend and how going to the place he came from rekindled the emotional duress of a tough breakup.

In delivering the song, talker offers an emotive vulnerability that resonates and keeps the listener engaged in the lyrical build. A track with heart and emotion and genuine honesty in its songwriting and delivery.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Manic Boys And Girls Club - Blacked Out [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Everyone enjoys a night out but then there are the nights were we try to escape. The Manic Boys And Girls Club latest single “Blacked Out” is about one night out of being free and escaping the world and its issues. The bond between the artists are amazing and the visual aspect allows you to really experience the mindset someone has when they escape and black out, just or wake up alone. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]