Tag Archive for 'cmj'

FROM THE CMJ RELAY ARCHIVES: OURSTAGE PICKS VOL. 16

cmjdotcom_webWelcome to our sixteenth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Eva Auad

“If You Love Me”
Pop
Commingling purring, soulful vocals with French cabaret and Spanish instrumental influences (notice the castanets), Auad gives more gusto and creativity than would be expected from an artist under the bland title of pop.
RIYL: Amanda Palmer, Nou Non Plus, Plastiscines

Happiest Lion

“Image of Chicago”
Electronic pop
This cutesy indie pop takes good direction from their electronic influences, making them sound like they traded their acoustic guitars in for synths. Simple lyrics and a tinge of emotionality brings more versatility yet stays within the indie spectrum.
RIYL: Postal Service, Moldy Peaches, Casual Women

FROM THE CMJ RELAY ARCHIVES: OURSTAGE PICKS VOL. 15

cmjdotcom_webWelcome to our fifteenth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Sicarus

“Changing Faces”
Hard Rock
The strength of Sicarus’s “Changing Faces” lies not in its blistering guitar solos or insane bass pedal pumping, but in contrasting them with a powerful opening (and recurring) vocal riff.
RIYL: Mastodon, Rise Against, Saosin

Yung Papi

“Crown Me”
Hip-hop
Sampling the opening riff of Beethoven’s Edgemont Overture is an educated and compelling move that will go over most heads, but works brilliantly in this boisterous young rapper’s favor.
RIYL: Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, Jay Electronica

Nicolay

“Grand Theft Auto (GTA)”
Hip-hop
The title says it all. This track is pulsing with a beat that generates enough adrenaline to take on the street racing, police helicopter evasion, gang wars, and girls described in the lyrics. Let’s see the 5.0 try and keep up with this!
RIYL: The Game, Young Jeezy, Lloyd Banks

FROM THE CMJ RELAY ARCHIVES: OURSTAGE PICKS VOL. 14

cmjdotcom_webWelcome to our fourteenth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Or, the Whale

“Call and Response”
Alt Country Channel
Four-part harmonies and pulsing bass put the heart in this up-tempo tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, eliciting strong sympathy with its driving melody and lush vocals.
RIYL: Jayhawks, Old 97s, Fleetwood Mac

Lady Maverick

“Reminiscin’”
Alternative Hip-Hop Channel
Acoustic guitars paired with funky beats keep Lady Maverick’s solid rhymes about her African roots and old-school hip-hop fresh and emotional, while still allowing the girl some serious street cred.
RIYL: Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Bacci

Einar Lunga

“It is going to be your darkest day”
Folk Channel
Lunga has a talent for the subtle and offbeat whispers of somber darkness that feel introspective without toeing the “woe is me” line. This is tender, dark folk done right.
RIYL: Devendra Banhart, She And Him, Joni Mitchell

FROM THE CMJ RELAY ARCHIVES: OURSTAGE PICKS VOL. 8

cmjdotcom_webWelcome to our eighth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Phillip Morris

“The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Hip Hop Channel
Phillip Morris referencing skin flute solos and Hunter Thompson in the same song can make you crack a smile, proving witty hip-hop can thrive in the hands of the capable.
RIYL: Eminem, Ludacris, MF Doom
WEB: http://phillipmorris.us/

Alfred Brown

“Second Sketch”
Rock Channel
Driven by a thick and bluesy guitar lead, “Rock N Roll” is aptly titled. Simple and catchy, Wiser Time go straight for a no-frills classic rock grind.
RIYL: Black Crowes, Johnny Lang, John Mellencamp
WEB: http://www.wiser-time.com/

LoveLikeFire

“Unlighted Shadow”
Pop Channel
Insistent drumming and whirling keyboards help lay the sturdy foundation necessary for singer Ann Yu’s escalating vocals to penetrate your subconscious on this track the L.A. quartet.
RIYL: Eisley, Strokes, The Cure
WEB: http://www.lovelikefire.com/

FROM THE CMJ RELAY ARCHIVES: OURSTAGE PICKS VOL. 4

cmjdotcom_webWelcome to our fourth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Sassy Kraimspri

“Toy Boy”
Hard Rock Channel
Toy Boy is angry, impassioned chick-rock at its most deliriously screeching apex.
RIYL: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Le Tigre, Bikini Kill
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/sassykraimspri

Wiser Time

“Rock N Roll”
Rock Channel
Driven by a thick and bluesy guitar lead, “Rock N Roll” is aptly titled. Simple and catchy, Wiser Time go straight for a no-frills classic rock grind.
RIYL: Black Crowes, Johnny Lang, John Mellencamp
WEB: http://www.wiser-time.com/

Tom Marino

“Days Of Wine And Roses”
Jazz Channel
Traditional, elegant, yet surprisingly unpretentious, “Days Of Wine And Roses” is a smooth blend of flugelhorn, sax and piano. A perfect track for a night on the town, uptown that is.
RIYL: John Coltrane, Herb Alpert, Dexter Gordon
WEB: http://tommarino.net/index.html