Johnny Franco - Tell Me Something [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Folk Funk is how I’d describe this track from Brazilian Johnny Franco. Franco now calls Portland home and you can hear influences ranging from the Beetles to Dylan, to the Shakey Graves in his sound.

’Tell Me Something’ is the kind of single that just takes over and forces you to sing along and move. it is the kind of song that you will be singing the rest of the day.

Franco is having a good time on this track, and you will too while listening. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lisa Heller - Closure [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“When its over, it is rarely truly over, because relationships are so deeply ingrained in us that there are many different layers we must peel back. Lisa Heller delivers those complexities with her latest single, ‘Closure,’ which is an intimate look at the feelings behind trying to get to that goodbye emotionally, while also desperately searching for something, anything to make it easier.

Heller’s haunting’s beautiful vocals brings out the strength of the songwriting, giving this single far more power than any of us feel in the vulnerable moments she sings about here.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

NugLife - All I Wanna Do [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Producer NugLife is adept and bring interesting collaborations, but ‘All I Wanna Do’ is different in that it is a solo effort. Featuring his talents both on production and vocals, NugLife takes you into the world of the stoner producer and his perspectives.

With a touch of the psychedelic in the sound and vibe, this track feels like a nice chill trip into the clouds. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Caleb Mills - Sold My Soul [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“A thumping bass line leads the charge on this bluesy track from Caleb Mills. From Robert Johnson onward the lure of selling your soul to achieve your dreams has been tossed about, but this track puts a nice little groove pop rhythm with that refrain. Here the lyrics are more about sacrificing all else for a shot than they are a true deal with the devil.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

CocoRosie - Burning Down The House [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Unleashing the vibe of Edgar Allen Poe, meshed with the musical talent comparable to any Pop Diva, the sister duo of CocoRosie has created a gloriously macabre sound with ‘Burning Down the House.’

This is not cookie cutter music and could frighten the more delicate looking for mindless music to rhythmically tap the steering wheel to while stuck in traffic. This is twisted and bendy and artistic, the perfect soundtrack for all of us looking to dance in the embers of convention.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Camden West - Lie, Cheat, Steal [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is an engaging Pop song that could fit in today’s definition of Mainstream Country Music which has increasingly gone to the pop side of things. Don’t get chased away by that, because this is not a country song. I repeat this is not a country song, but rather a damn good Pop song with solid emotional engagement and a top notch vocal performance. True to life lyrics and an energetic melody give the song an upbeat fun vibe. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hollyy - What A Shame [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track incorporates a bit of a 50’s do wop vibe into a modern Indie Rock/ Americana sound, making it feel as if the single could be a hit across many different decades.

A slow dance track with soul and introspection behind it. You certainly will not be saying ‘What A Shame’ after giving this latest single from Hollyy a thoughtful listen.

Hollyy is an up and coming alternative soul band from Chicago.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kip Macklejar -Alligator Swamp Monster [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“If you are a fan of Jack White’s quirky genius and energetic diverse melodies you will love Kip Macklejar’s single ‘Alligator Swamp Monster.’

Banging drums, keys, and a flair of the eccentric highlight the sound on this track that at times brought forth thoughts of Beck as well as the White Stripes. A fun, Indie Rock song to get your blood pumping. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Andrey Azizov x Mauwe - Take Me Down [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Andrey Azizov joins forced with Mauwe on this Electro Pop track which is a nice balance of light and dark both lyrically and melodically. The soft emotional resonance of her voice bring forth the sullen rain sodden vibe that is perfect for anyone feeling reminiscent or a touch melancholy. The track feel like a dark stormy night in that the world is quiet and still, yet the mind moves on. There too is a freshness and scent of hope that only rain and receding trouble can bring. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

ARSADI - If You Were Mine [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“ARSADI unleashes a musical daydream with, ‘If You Were Mine,’ a track detailing the vivid imagination of a future based upon nothing more than the sight of a complete stranger.

Sometimes the sight of a person speaks to us and we play such a movie in our minds. The vocal style fits that dreamy vibe and the melody is soft and engaging. There is a definite Coldplay aura to this single, and the energy builds as the track progresses to keep you immersed in the lyrics and performance ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Femke - I See You [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Written for a friend that attempted suicide, this track puts into words what so many people want to say to a loved one when they are in that desperate, dark place. Femke captures the emotion in both the lyrics and in a vocal performance that delivers both tenderness and resolve.

The calm tranquil melody helps us feel this track and explore the feelings being expressed. This is a singer/songwriter at the top of their game only life is no game. Life is a journey and sometimes we need talent like Femke to be our road map. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Stephen Flickner - Destiny [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sometimes when you are making those right and left swipes, you stumble across that person that captivates you from the get go. Maybe you meet and maybe you don’t., but either way sometimes a person lingers in your mind creating a persoanl narrative in your imagination. If you do meet, and then go your separate ways without them having the same powerful feelings then you are left wondering about the girl you thought perhaps was your ‘Destiny.’

This is the world that Stephen Flickner give us in all of its Commercial Pop glory with a smooth melody, and an engaging voice. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

D. - $9 [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track made me smile and nod in agreement. Bringing a chill flow, that escalates as it goes along, the message is real and truthful and speaks volumes in a wry subtle way.

’$9’ can feel like a fortune to a kid, but in the real world nine dollars isn’t shit, and the narrator here wants to teach a kid that lesson while opening his eyes to a whole lot more.

The vocal flow feels a bit like off the cuff poetry, but there is enough beat and energy to make the track come alive and give it a bit more of a commercial vibe as a result.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ryan Hemsworth x Ricky Lake x WADE08 - What I'm On Tonight [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ryan Hemsworth drops the official remix of ‘What I’m On Tonight’ from Ricky Lake’s new album ‘Last Summer Sucked!’

The track has energy and life and is engaging from the drop. The vocal mix is intriguing throughout , and this is a song that defy’s you not to pop into the groove and sway along to the rhythm. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Odd Holiday - Heartbreak [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“A Punk ballad of heartbreak that is so perfectly constructed you feel every emotion. I am not talking one emotion, but the full range that your mind and heart goes through post breakup.

The vocals remain true to the Punk sound and sensibilities, while melodically the track delivers a variety of sounds to achieve this impact. Each layer brings its own set of feelings and blended together, this track feels both simple and complex. Just like any true ‘Heartbreak.’”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Josh Dominguez (feat. T.R.3) - DOUBT [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track brings a couple different vibes and sounds, and all of it works quite well because at the core of the song is solid, meaningful writing that conjures a variety of emotions.

The only thing I was left wanting was more, because at under three minutes the single had room to bring even more punch. The string intro was perfect lead in and the beat blended to usher in the vocal flow with engages me from the get.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ryan Innes - Stay Foolish [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The guitar melody gives us a hint of the intimacy to come, but even so, Ryan Innes captures the moment instantly with an emotional set of vocals that hooks and holds like few artists can. Delivering a set of lyrics that is about honoring who you are and not changing because of the actions of others, the song unfurls with deliberation and a steady pace that is perfectly executed by Innes. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mia Vaile - Chasing California [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“California has long been associated with the idea of chasing Golden Dreams, but for anyone eager to take that leap, there comes an underlying fear of failure.

Mia Vaile captures that trepidation with her dark and gritty track, ‘Chasing California.’ The vocal performance is haunting and beautiful, and a touch sorrowful, while the beat and production qualities of the track bring out the emotion with build perfectly instep with Indie Electronic genre. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Grace Gillespie - Goodbye [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There is an inviting element to the tone of Grace Gillespie’s voice that reminds me of vintage Joni Mitchell. And the lyrics are poignant and emotional. The melody is fairly straightforward and folksy, though the track feels a bit more broader than that description makes sit sound. There are folk elements for sure, but there is a haunting edge to this that feels decidedly commercial and contemporary.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Shea Abshier & The Nighthowlers - Take Me 2 Your Hell [Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Some songs just land different, and you know immediately to shut up, lean forward, and listen closer. ‘Take Me 2 Your Hell’ is such a song.

Shea Abshier & The Nighthowlers deliver an emotional set of lyrics that hits you right square in the emotional gut, like a lover in the wake of a toxic breakup, which is exactly what this track is about.

Call this rock. Call it alternative. Hell, call it Americana if you want, but the label doesn’t really matter because when the execution is this intense, the genre is nothing more than a label to slap on to what is in fact, simply damn good music. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)