Category: Critical Breakdown

Posted on

Birch Street: Mud (Song Review)

“Rock and Roll with a little bit of Country Soul!” This is what Denver local band, Birch Street, labels themselves. This is a perfect description for these country rockers. “Mud” is a song off of their ‘Self-titled’ album: Birch Street. This is the kind of song you’d want to blast before the local rodeo, while on a back country trip with your compadres, or when flourishing your air guitar skills. “Mud” delivers an arena-filled, rock and roll punch along side a whiskey powered country twang.

“I can’t breathe without, a little southern air in my lungs!” Belts lead singer, Jake Langenhorst. “Mud” delivers the listener to the good ol’ southern hospitality of the American south while providing a head banging guitar riff, a silky free-flowing piano player, crashing arena drums and a bass that just doesn’t quit. The lead singer reminisces about the south with soulful shouts and colorful vocals that just make you want to swing. If you’re headed down to dirty Texas, “Mud” will be the chart topper for your back seat!

 

More Info: www.facebook.com/birchst

Posted on

Treehouse Sanctum: Freedom (Song Review)

 

If you are looking for the classic American anthem for your summer, here it is folks. Freedom is a track you throw on the radio and seat dance with all those strangers at that red light. Treehouse Sanctum is a new Denver based band whose sound is reminiscent of The Civil Wars, and The Lumineers. Their use of many instruments has transformed this band from your typical country/Indie groove and added layers of ear pleasing tones. With TD Davis on Keyboard; Danya Prado on guitar, Dave Villano on Violin and bass, Andrew Horwath on Cajon/washboard/percussion, and Sam Rymer on Guitar and Vocals, there isn’t much they can’t do. In the song “Freedom” you will catch one of their toe tapping beats included on their new record, Shake the Shadow. The use of tandem vocals takes you by surprise while the violin takes the song to a whole new level. Topping it off with the resonant country tones and steady beat won this anthem a place at the top of my summer play list.

Head on over to The Marquis this Saturday May 15 to catch Treehouse Sanctum for their release of their debut album: Shake the Shadow. If you can’t make it to the show, check for their tunes Twist & Shout on Colfax and ITunes/amazon next week!

Be sure to add them on Facebook and twitter!

Website: www.treehousesanctum.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TreehouseSanctum

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreehouseSanctm

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/treehousesanctum

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/treehousesanctum/

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/treehousesanctum

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/treehousesanctum

Posted on

A Band In Pictures: Recess (Single Review)

 

Up-and-coming indie rockers, A Band In Pictures, released their first full-length LP, Who Killed the Dinosaurs, at their sold out New Years Eve show at the Larimer Lounge. Well over a year in the making, their album was funded by the bands very gracious fans through a successful Kickstarter campaign. The first song on the album and the official single “Recess” is one of my personal favorites from the band to date and one that I can see getting the band some serious exposure.

The song starts out with Connor Birch’s very recognizable synth-line, reminiscent of late Animal Collective, that, along with the bass, played by Emerson Murphy, is the driving force behind the entire tune. Jake Supple, lead singer, takes the song to beautiful places with his melodious vocals and self-identifiable shrieks. His voice, drenched in reverb, reminds me a lot of Bradford Cox from Deerhunter. Add on top of this delay-heavy electric guitar from Noah Pfaff and complex, for the genre, drums from Nick Berlin and in my opinion you get one of the best songs to come out of Denver in the past year.

To clear up any confusion you might have, as of this month, the band changed their name slightly from Abandin Pictures to A Band In Pictures. I assume they were tired of explaining how to spell it. To check out more from these talented young guns, you can buy their new album at Twist and Shout and online in due time.

 

Posted on

One Republic: Counting Stars (Single Review)

 

“No More Counting Dollars, We’ll Be Counting Stars”

“Counting Stars” is just one highlight of an understated album amassed with an array of awesome tracks. A few fillers here and there, but on a whole “Native” is a must-buy. The chart-topping single’s opening chorus – using an acoustic guitar backdrop – acts as a gravitational pull to a listeners ear, luring them into a false feeling of melancholy as Tedder croons lyrics laden with love references before a beat of a drum brings the track to life. A catchy repeat of the chorus follows which is probably a key component in why listeners have been captivated by the track enough to make it the groups most successful single yet.
 
The lyricism in each verse is luxurious, proof of why One Republic are such a well-loved, world-renowned band with a bright future ahead of them. Although I can’t comprehend why the Colorado five-piece have never sustained success, “Counting Stars” is surely a step in the right direction and a few more releases off of “Native” could hardly harm either. What do you think of “Counting Stars”? Let us know in the comments below.

 

 

Posted on

Rachel and the Kings: Soldier Boy (Single Review)

“Soldier Boy” is the song you would listen to on those rainy summer days, and cold winter nights. When you are pining for that one person you want, but can’t have. With thousands of songs written about love,  the band behind the song, Rachel and the Kings, give the ballad of confession a new sound.  A smooth and atmospheric guitar opens the song. It’s dissonance leads you into the crisp vocals. Rich in tone, Rachel’s voice blends into the harmonies of the driving melody. The use of deep bass drums adds distance and depth to the track. With a variety of instruments throughout the song to move it along, every new segment pulls deeper and deeper into the songs musical structure (especially at 3:53).
The lyrics tell a classic theme but in a unique metaphor. The use of War as a comparison to a relationship might seem harsh, but the words used paint a picture to the listener that is an alternative to what we hear on the radio today. “Soldier Boy” is a great pop-rock/alternative ballad full of amazing vocals and musicians that know their stuff.
 

Sell your beats online at ReverbNation.com

 

 

Find out more about Rachel and the Kings:
Web: http://rachelandthekings.com/
Music: http://www.reverbnation.com/racheljamesandthekings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelandTheKings
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rat_kings