Glass Mansions - Faith [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Have ‘Faith.’
In yourself.
Your true self.

That is the message behind this track. Pure and simple.

Trust in yourself and you will be happier and have purer more true connections. In this day and age of false and fake narratives via social media, we all crave more of a human connection, and this track is about shaking off the fear of losing followers by revealing too much of your true self.

This hard charged rock anthem comes at your straight and direct and that is what the lyrics are advocating as well. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

We Adore You - Yesterday's Grace [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A straightforward rock sound with hints of Dylan and Petty in the sound. Lyrically, the track is about appreciating a relationship even after its times has ended, making this a song about personal growth and reflection. The melody adds to the the vibe here, and the single is one that you hear and can’t help but remember your own past. The words unfurl like a tapestry of memories of what might have been, and what actually was. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Make You Cry - From the Loving Hands of Our Creator [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Don’t be fooled by the title of Make You Cry’s latest single, ‘From The Loving Hands Of Our Creator’ into thinking this is an uplifting bolt of inspirational lightness. Perhaps the song does offer its own brand of inspiration, but make no mistake this is a dark and brooding rock song.

The vocals are nuanced and emotional and the video offers up some evil rabbit imagery to add an element of appropriate weirdness to the metaphor of choice that the lyrics pose. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Katie Toupin - Don't Wanna Die [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“No, ‘Don’t Wanna Die’ is not about the virus dominating the news cycle as well as most of our thoughts, but the sentiment is timely just the same.

Actually, the lyrics were penned about the need for sobriety, and the single comes via a unique vocal tone delivered by Katie Toupin. There is just a hint of Amy Winehouse, both lyrically and musically, but you can feel the genuineness of the words in the performance which strongly suggests personal experience, rather than fandom of another artists is at the heart of this track. That fact gives this single the power to captivate and intrigue no matter what kind of times we are living in. ”

— 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)

Native Sun - Juarez [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is in your face Rock and Roll in the style of New York Punk that hints at the past, but delivers a modern take lyrically.

The video begins calm enough, but the imagery is such that you know an explosion is forthcoming and Native Sun delivers exactly that. This collection of hard-rocking immigrants writes and sings about their experiences in what might be the biggest divide this country faces. And they do it with passion and verve.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Zack Ely x DEEGAN - Rough [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has a smooth Pop feel from the very first beat and word. Lyrically, the track can be interpreted varied ways, and I suspect it will hit people differently based upon their own beliefs and life experiences. The vocals are layered and capture your focus with a stellar performance that brings the emotion to the forefront.

Drawing a comparison here is tough, as Zack Ely has a voice that hints at a few well names, but still clearly stands out all on its own. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

southpost - Homesick [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Regret is a powerful emotion and this track does a great job of imparting the pain associated with that very thing. Pure rock sound with instrumentation that conveys as much as the lyrics this track drips with yesterday’s tears. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Amy Guess - Holy Hell [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track has a fairly common rock structure, but the vocals save it from feeling overly familiar. Amy Guess does a great job of providing a varied sound in the performance — each alluring in its own right. The chorus strikes hard and fast and delivers a punch.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Philip Morgan Lewis - Blowtorched Dreams [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Bluesy and moody, this track conjures emotion and imagery before the vocals ever hit. The attitude continues in both the performance and lyrical content. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Confetti - Ghost [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Don’t vanish before you take a listen to this track by Confetti.

No matter which side of the ghosting phenomenon you find yourself on, you will appreciate the lyrics and energetic Alternative Rock vibe to this single. Catchy in a way ghosts, nor those bad Tinder dates, ever are, this is a track you will want to listen to more than once.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

EMM - Lady [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Love how the vocals cut through the track. I also like the fringer effect on the voice. Makes the voice more like an instrument. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Hey Buddy - Happily in Denial [ Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This is a happy little track that will have you cruising down a road of endless possibilities.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Glostik Willy - Here We Go [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“If you have been missing the hair band sound of the 80s, you will dig what Glostik Willy is doing with this old school ballad of a rock song.

Close you eyes and you imagine Axle Rose swaying with the microphone pole, or Bon Jovi in tight leather pants if that is your thing, because this one will take you back in time..

So good to know the true elements of rock and roll are still alive and flourishing today.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

2nd Strike - I'll Go With You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“ Grabs your attention from jump. Very good arrangement. The lead singer shows amazing vocal range and control. Great song overall.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Fake & The Soul Aesthetic - Brown Sugah Chocolate [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Yesssssss to the energy. We want to sometimes loose ourselves within the instruments and melodic sounds of an artist. Fake & The Soul Aesthetic releases that kind of energy with their new single “Brown Sugah Chocolate. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

ARI - Legacy [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The beauty is this track feels just like what the title says ... a ‘Legacy.’

Ari has a background performing as a frontman and actor, and this, his first solo music, showcases those talents with bold bravado vocally.

I suspect we are about to hear a lot more out of ARI and already the single “Legacy” was tabbed by Rolls Royce to play a part in the luxury carmaker’s marketing for their signature model, Ghost.

Given the classic rock sounds Ari is sending forth, I can’t wait to hear more off the new album.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Wilder Woods - Someday Soon [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Some songs and artists are tough to classify. Thus is the case with Wilder Woods and ‘Someday Soon.’ With a voice that demand your attention from the first note, to a simple yet, perfect melody this single made me pay attention. Lyrically, it feels like solid advice from a wise friend.

This song offers both hope and sadness and is one to sit with and think about the ebbs and flow of life.”

— Travisd Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Little Dume - Curious [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The vocals grabbed me from the very first verse, and start to finish I was hooked. A nice mysterious melody adds to the flavor and a catchy chorus lends this track a timeless feel. The only thing I am ‘Curious’ about is what will the talented Little Dume deliver next? ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brad Byrd - "1982" [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Nostalgic lyrics and haunting vocals blend perfectly with the power chord melody to make this track an indie rock treasure. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA On Lock Blogger)