Sam's Top 10 of 2017 #6

6.Everybody Knows-Kimbra

OK before I talk about the mind blowing quality of this track I need to get it out of my system that my biggest musical crush is fucking back with new music and to say I'm a giddy little fuck is an understatement because she's still as relentlessly talented as she is maybe as the late great Prince said, “the most beautiful girl in the world,” and the video to this song left me literally wide eyed, breathless, and I just couldn't look away at the majesty of beauty being presented before me.

Alright now that I got that out of my system Everybody Knows it's a fucking excellent little danceable indie pop number that's yet another showcasing of an artist that just loves to blur the line between electronica and funk by mixing insainly catchy beats that's just captivate you as a listener and send you on a trip that'll leave you convulsing in such a way that you don't know why but you can't help but want to move and groove about relentlessly and that's before her just utterly beautiful vocals just come in and prove why she's the most captivating artist of her time for me she's an otherworldly creature of talent that just leaves me speechless, gitty, and blown away every time she continues to make music that's truly showcasing that she's an artist only looking to do what she wants and not what you think you want her to do.

This song almost didn't make the list in all honesty but one day after having it just in my head here and there I sat down and listened to it and that entire long winded paragraph happened and I knew that it'd be utter sacrilege to not include this utterly breathtaking track and if you haven't given this artist a chance you need to change your tune because she's something special people and this world needs to recognize that already she's maybe grown more than anyone could have ever thought 5 years ago and it's only a matter of time before you realize that people.

The KC Showcase: Vigil and Thieves, "Heroin and Automobiles"

AH YEAH SON one of my favorite bands from this little city of mine has released a new song today and I am incredibly pumped because I remember seeing them debut this a few months back at a show they were having and have seen it grown and morph as they continue to get more and more comfortable with the track and now it's finally here so I can 1. Quit having one line of it stuck in my head and 2. Finally know what the Drummer is screaming near the end of the song so I can possibly maybe sorta most likely one of these day's scream along with him.

Rambling thoughts aside what exactly do we have here with this new tune well this song is dedicated to the memory of one Anthony Saluto a Kansas City native who was tragically killed last year and lyrically this song is loaded with very introspective lyrics that are performed in a surprisingly contained manor which is different of Sarah Storm which is quite different in a pleasant way because she's seemed to really put forth a performance that showcases a lot more maturity and self control to help her echoing cry's of, "I keep counting the day's I've wasted," really ring true at least to this listener I really can feel every ounce of agony and emotion she delivers.

This song is quite an excellent little cut and I very much advise all of you go out and buy it now because this band is not only one of the nicest group of people I've ever meet they also are some truly talented musicians that put on an excellent live show and really make some quality music for emotionally distraught people and for the low low price of a dollar this song is a steal go buy it yesterday OH and also if you're in the Chicago, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Kansas City area this week you owe it to yourself to make a trip to see these guy's live you will be as hooked as I was the first time I saw them.

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The KC Showcase 3 new tunes for you

Fuck it's been like 3 months since I've written anything and in that 3 months I've kind of been a bit of a hermit in all honesty I seemed to of developed a bad case of writers block and I've been completely and utterly devoid of original or well constructed thought to provide all of you and in that time but you know with a few exceptional shows seen recently and a bad ass announcement on the horizon I figured I'd inform you guy's of one of my favorite topics on here Kansas City's thriving and excellent music scene and here's 3 bands that recently just unleashed some new music that you should make a part of your rotation starting with a group I've covered on here before....

Pink Royal-Bring it On Back

This band is a tour de force of awesomely funky grooves and energy that's managed to only get better and better the longer they keep on keeping on and this song the first with their new lead singer the bad ass keytar wielding Vik Govindarajan just utterly throwing everything and the kitchen sink with a nice shot of Ass Whooping soul infused funkiness that's part Hall and Oats part true indie rock glory you have a cut here that's a true showcase of what you expect this band to be making but with a renewed sense of focus and much tighter playing than ever so if you haven't gotten down with these pink Flamingos then you really should because this will get ya body a grooving and a moving mother fucker...




OH and they have a show coming up for the release of this new effort if you're cool and want to see a spectacular live show then here's a link to it's event page so you can get reminded to go and be blown the fuck away...

Fiction Department-Bad Idea

Do you like early 2000's angst ridden emo ala Taking Back Sunday or At the Drive In? If you answered yes than this is your jam in the form of this rowdy group of youngsters Fiction Department and their newest single Bad Idea which evokes all those memories of all those angst ridden high school years but in a way that we can all enjoy and the new video seems to fit well with the lyrics about a guy and a girl in a tight situation.

This isn't a complicated jam just a solidly good one for those looking to kind of throw back and listen to something new that's a lot like day's of old.





Modern Day Fitzgerald-Forsaken Echo

I love me some 60's tinged surf rock jams people and aside from their bad ass name this group has released one bad ass surf rock tune. This song is kind of dark in a way with a very eery echoing coo in the way the vocals are stacked and how this steady drum beat and use of a full on string section make things move along in an oddly rapid pace that hits a sudden wall to slow down at points only to then punch you in the face by increasing things tenfold.

This song is just coolness personified and a damn excellent cut from a group looking to make a rise out of themselves and if you get the chance go see them live they're a good show.





There's some new tunes for you to give a listen now back to the shadows to work out my next announcement for you people this time in less than 3 months.

The KC Showcase: Run With It, "How To Start a Fire," ep

(Image courtesy of bands website)

Run with it are an alternative rock band from right here in Kansas City that I actually discovered after scanning a random Snapchat code they left on the side of a light pole and after a couple of months of seeing constant updates about this upcoming release and the amount of hype that this record was generating for them I decided to actually finally give them a listen because this release actually debuted on iTunes top alternative albums chart at number 66 and got these guy's a record deal which is pretty cool so here's my thoughts on what could possibly be Kansas City's Imagine Dragons.

Actually if I were to give these guy's some credit it'd be that they managed to make a product that has some really good production with each song sounding quite full and at times kind of didn't feel like an independent act with tracks like, “I Need a Light,” feeling like it could be sent to the radio there's a level of quality control that's very admirable and worth giving these guy's credit for, but it's oddly the high level of quality control that's honestly my biggest issue with this EP it's an incredibly safe sounding effort that produces songs that kind of make me feel like they need to be played on the kind of radio station for Midwestern soccer mom's who wore out their Matchbox Twenty CD's and that earlier comparison to Imagine Dragons is a bit more than a comparison because when I was initially trying to outline a review of this piece pretty much every song on here was noted as reminding me of Imagine Dragons to some capacity.

That's not really the worst thing in the world considering that their stylistic similarities to more mainstream modern alternative rock acts gives them an appeal that can reach a bigger audience than some of the other bands I've covered in this showcase segment and some of the tracks on here like, “Don't Waste My Time,” are still some solid tracks in their own right and the track, “One More Fight,” has a pretty bad ass guitar solo to close it out along with this bands vocalist Miguel Carballo actually has a very robust voice that showcases a good amount of inflection and really seems to properly give these songs a kind of faith inspired feel that I'm sure a good amount of people will really grab on to the only issue is I'm not one of those people.

This band is solid as hell but they're also probably the safest most well organized thing I've covered in a very long time and the week plus it's taken me to properly frame that thought just leaves me with a record that I can only really say that if you like Imagine Dragons, X-Ambassadors, or Matchbox Twenty you'll probably dig this band but if you're looking for something unique from this city I'd say look elsewhere for something a little less formulaic.

Here's a link to the bands website for anyone interested in purchasing this ep:

http://www.runwithitband.com/

3/5

Best: Don't Waste My Time and the outro guitar solo on One More Fight

Worst:Time

The KC Showcase: The Styles

(Image Courtesy of bands Facebook Page)

There's quite a few local acts doing their rounds and generating some buzz all around getting spots in various local music events and a band that I've seen come up quite a few times in the various promotions and radio shows around the area that I've seen would be this little act The Styles who just recently put out their self titled debut Ep for free over on their website and since I keep seeing their name keep popping all around I decided to give them a listen and here's what I think.

This band for all intense purposes can best be described as a bit of a throwback to a more 90's post grunge kind of sound that's reminiscent of a Gin Blossoms, early Bush, or Screaming Trees with a vocalist that's reminiscent of Brenton Dean of Holy White Hounds fame and that's not too bad because in songs like, “Teleport,” and, “Get What I want,” this older more grungy but radio appropriate guitar sound they maintain along with a vocalist that kind of eludes a mildly arrogant rock star tone in his singing you get a band that showcases some solid guitar work who know how to craft a catchy tune with the vocals being the only real inconsistency on this EP.

I can't lie these guy's are really solid musicians but their vocalist while being pretty good at points also has moments where he sounds like 2005 called and wanted it's post grungy teenage angst back, and that's ever so evident in the track, “Away From Me,” which is a solid rocker of a tune but the delivery of the line, “Get away from me love,” just had me laughing up a storm and singing along incredibly mockingly and the last track, “Alive,” just kind of limps along with some really good guitar work but not much else.

For a first effort this Ep isn't bad I'd definitely recommend it for people who are more into a more radio rock sound that's very similar to that 90's Grunge scene and in all honesty, “Teleport,” structurally is a fucking bad ass tune and, “Get What I Want,” another serious highlights that showcase the best qualities of each member of this band.

Download EP for Free here: http://www.thestyleskc.com/

3/5

Best: Get What I want

Worst: Away From Me

7 years 5 great tracks

So I haven't written about a group of songs in quite some time and there's a very special anniversary that's come today and that would be mine, yes people today Sam's Song of the Day is officially 7 years old and with that in mind I'm a do one of my favorite things a Top 5 list but rather than making a best of like I did a few years ago I'm instead going to highlight 5 tracks that you guy's should all be listening to RIGHT THE FUCK NOW!!!! maybe all at the same time if you're fancy but yeah I've done plenty of reminiscing on here and figure I'd take this year to be in the here and now so in no particular order here's 5 songs that I've on and off been rocking out to over the past few weeks starting with the newest release...

1. Be Good Boy-Momma's Boy

AH THE FUCK YEAH! Kansas City's best group of rockers are gearing up to release the much anticipated and surely spectacular Liquid Courage EP this month and on February 3rd they debuted the first single from the upcoming 6 track EP in the form of this spectacular surf rock cut, “Be Good Boy,” which is a racious little number with an infectiously catchy guitar groove, some stellar bass work, and an opening line I get stuck in my head ALL THE TIME! Seriously before this was recorded I'd get the line, “I See You Smoking a Cigarette,” stuck in my head all the god damn time partly because I'd heard this so many times when I've gone to see them play and because of my favorite story involving this band.

It was at the second show I saw them which was a house show called Manor Fest which they threw in their house and they were closing out the first of a two night extravaganza and during their set the guitarist and vocalist on this particular track Mr. Shaun Crowley had tried to use another guitar for a track and during the whole song the guitar wasn't working and as the song went on he got more and more frustrated before eventually saying fuck it and plugging back in his regular guitar with just enough time to finish out the song and to light a cigarette before then starting in on this very track singing that line with a cigarette in his mouth and I'm not going to lie that was probably the most bad ass fucking thing I'd ever seen somebody performing a show do which is kind of silly yes but you know what FUCK IT if you were there and you saw that you'd think, “wow that guy's a cool mother fucker,” and you'd be damn right because that was Rock and Roll as fuck and this song is about that bad ass so yeah you should go to bandcamp and download the fuck out of this and if you're cool you can throw down a dollar or nothing at all I'm not here to judge just to tell you to download and play this awesome track repeatedly.

Also if you're really fucking awesome you can go see these bad ass mother fuckers play this song live for their release shows of Liquid Courage on February 23rd at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence Kansas or on February 25th at the Tank Room here in KCMO where you can get a copy of this album on CD or Cassette if that's your jive but either way you owe it to yourself to see this fucking band because yeah they are fucking AWESOME!

2. The One Who Got away-Shadow Rabbits

ON the topic of bad ass Kansas City acts that I've seen and covered here on Sam's Song of the Day we have the very groovy Shadow Rabbits with a very kind of dreamy-indie rock song with very 60's psychedelic rock tones in the form of, “The One Who Got Away,” which I've had on a pretty steady repeat since getting to see them play it live and I just have to say GOD DAMN is this song good.

The vocals are just on point with a level of confidence that is just damn impressive, the production is retro but still clean, and the part near the end where she echo's the line, “You're the one who got away,” that just get stuck in my head and give the listener something to REALLY sing along to with a shit load of passion similar to it's lyrical themes that are pretty much explained in the title and admittedly are very minimal and possibly could stand to have a verse just kind of cut out for the sake of making it not drag on awkwardly but hey when you're harking back to a time of 3 minute rock tunes that's acceptable and of course that outro is just damn great.

This band is super dope people and I this track is just one of many they have available that are well worth your time to go check out.

3. To The Fire-DREAMERS

Now for me to talk about a band that I've covered for quite a while on here and who isn't from Kansas City and a band that I'll be seeing live again here next month with one of MANY exceptional cuts from their debut album, “This Album Does Not Exist,” in the form of this just fucking jaw droppingly great track, “To the Fire,” which is a very kind of 80's New Wave dreamy cut with a chorus that's just fucking pure unadulterated FIRE like for real I could just hear those echoing cries of, “Into the fire,” on endless repeat people because I just love the effects that they use on the vocals and the steady pace of this tracks instrumentals on top of those kind of dragged out echoed vocals and the run time of just 2 minutes and 50 seconds is fucking perfect because it makes the song stay around for just long enough to make you down right crave it.

For real it's super fast pace along with awesome structure and addictively catchy echoing woo's will leave you just saying, “To the Fire,” over and over as you hit repeat to unsuccessfully try to get this awesome piece of music out of your head.

I can't wait to get to talk to these guy's again so I can tell them how great they made last year with their support of Sam's Song of the Day over their Twitter and little fun fact they were actually the first band to ever comment on one of my song of the Day post whenever I wrote about how fucking bad ass a song Wolves is and it's something I'll probably always be a little bit proud of and one of many reasons why I'm so god damn fond of this band.

4.  Can You Deal-Bleached

Yet another newer band I love and have gotten the absolute pleasure of not only seeing twice but getting to talk to them personally Bleached recently announced that they're getting ready to put out a new EP and Zine called Can You Deal which you can read about on their various social media accounts and their website and they're also gearing up to tour with The Dammed for their 40th anniversary tour which is fucking wicked as hell but with all that in mind let's talk about this fucking bad ass new single of theirs.

Can You Deal is a very kind of 90's tinged grungy rock and roll track very reminiscent of something you'd expect to hear from a Veruca Salt or maybe the Pixies and Jessica Clavins Guitar Work on this track is very VERY good and I love her changing of pace when she goes from kind of softer parts during most of the verses before kicking things into hyper drive and just fucking pounding through the chorus and her solo around the 2:50 mark is quite nice and of course Jennifers Vocals are just more confident than ever and she seems to really feel this song from how she sings it.

This band get's progressively better with each release and, “Can You Deal,” from just this track alone sounds like it may end up being possibly better than Welcome to The Worms because this band is finding a groove and will be taking over the world before we know it.

5. I Palindrome I-They Might Be Giants

So I'm a go WAYYY back to ye mythical Year of 1992 with the second track to the masters of quirky 90's alternative rock They Might Be Giants partly overlooked masterpiece of an album Apollo 18, “I palindrome I,” which in the title and a lot of it's lyrics ironically enough is a palindrome which is just one of many examples of how this quirky little duo may be the most ingeniously intelligent band around.

“Some day mother will die and I'll get the money, Mom leans down and say's my sentiments exactly, You son of a bitch I palindrome I,” start a very kind of dark and almost jerky little number that again doesn't over stay it's welcome and is dripping with this bands patented brand of charm and spontaneity in it's rapid fire pace you're delivered a stellar track that'll wiggle it's way into your subconscious and serve as one of MANY reminders that this band is more than a couple of bad ass Looney Tunes tracks.

For real if you get the time look into this bands catalog because they have made a fucking shit load of REALLY good songs that are very quirky in nature but at times can be surprising in just how well written and clever they actually are.

SO there you go people 5 bad ass songs I'm listening to right now it's been pretty fucking fun to of been doing this whole site for the past 7 years which is still FUCKING CRAZY to wrap my head around because I didn't think just how long it'd been and my facebook on this day memories thing are loaded with my post of these different songs of the day's and I've written some cringe inducing shit for sure but at the same time this little project has also given me some fucking spectacular memories especially from all the people who've read the different post and told me how much they liked them those people are the fucking best and deserve the biggest thanks along with all the bands and artist I've covered thanks for giving me a reason to go on for 7 years and the years to come but hey let's quit being sappy and go ROCK THE FUCK ON!!!!!

Sam's Thoughts...

Guy's My Age-Hey Violet

I was watching this video on the internet called Billboard breakdown where this guy analyzes the Billboard Hot 100 every week and this past week this song apparently charted somewhere in the lower half of the chart recently and I remember this critic being very harsh on this song to a point where that along with the small clip just kind of made me have to go check this song out and a few listens later I'm a small bit perplexed.

So some context to all this apparently Hey Violet consist of the members of a band called Cherri Bomb who from what I heard were an all girl pop punk act that made what was pretty bland fair very reminiscent of their tour mates 5 Seconds of Summer with a sound that give me this feeling that I'm way to old for this teenybopper shit so from that after the lead singer decided to go AWOL they reformed and changed their sound to go from a kind of teenybopper pop punk group to what I can best describe as Melanie Martinez trying to make a radio Disney rock record.

The chick they have singing for them pretty much sounds like a Disney channel knock off Melanie and from this and the other songs they've made her lyrical themes seem to consist of edgy teenage girl things like hating on “Fuqboi's,”  being young and, “Feeling it,” and of course the subject of today's post wanting to fuck older men.

This song from the beginning drops pretty much all the Radio Disney rock sounds of their previous tunes and instead adopts a kind of trap music tone with a pretty decent drop as she lulls along a chorus that sounds exactly like something Melanie Martinez would write, “Guy's My Age don't know how to treat me, don't know how to treat me, don't know how to treat me, don't know how to touch me, don't know how to love me good,” croons this purple haired choker clad chick that I had to verify that she's 18 while she does her best to basically personify a Tumblr post validating why it's not at all creepy for women this age to go after men who are at a significantly different point in their lives than them.

You have an incredibly creepy undertone going on here where the whole I'm a bad girl who's mature for her age is spending 3 and a half minutes making a very 2016 sounding pop tune that's admittedly pretty fucking catchy with it's formulaic but solid beat being complimentary to a vocalist that's clearly taking notes from Melanie Martinez and Halsey in trying to be very forbidden fruit sexy but equally uncomfortable and admittedly I only find this song interesting for the fact that somebody who enjoys Melanie Martinez as much as I do should theoretically enjoy this song a lot more but really I'm getting more of a vibe that I'm listening to a cheap knock off that just makes me wonder if all future pop bands are going to be this kind of blasé edgy teen bullshit from here on out because modern radio has been stagnant with only a couple of real gems shining though and if this sound is apparently what it takes to get on the hot 100 and get 6 million plays on Youtube than I'm just starting to think that Billy Corgan was right in saying Rock is Dead and the internet has fucked everything up because this catchy but underwhelming bit of Tumblr jams is a bad example of things to come.

Sam Reviews an Album: Chris Crabtree, "Songs From the Edge of the Sky"

So occasionally I get reached out by some artist to cover their music and sometimes I actually manage to take the time to give their work a listen and that's the case with this release from local Singer song writer Christ Crabtree with his latest EP a follow up to his 2015 releases Counterfit Heart and Zen the Art of Killing Your Self a quaint little EP called Edge of the Sky.

From the opening title track you're greeted with a very dark and kind of ominous track that is ever so reminiscent of a Ryan Adams that's very focused on trying to express a series of complex emotions over some very simple and stark instrumentals that are often very heavy in acoustic guitar work and reverb heavy electrics in the background that are there to add atmosphere that's very strongly prevalent in the EP's first single the dream pop Easy.

With the opening and Title track you have a tune that's actually quite solidly good in a lot of way's really with it's steady pace and Crabtree most complimentary showcasing of his vocal range this song just moves along at a good pace and has just enough lightness to give things a bit of a groove to help not keep things from feeling too dark or broody once you give the lyrics a listen.

Since a lot of the tracks present on this EP are mostly acoustic lead folkish rockers with the occasional duet featuring a singer called Julie Sternman I'm given a feeling that the music here could work on a more Adult Alternative radio format marketed towards older individuals that are looking for music that is more introspective without being too in your face or overly rocking.

If you're a fan of later day Tom Petty or want a softer Ryan Adams this is a good collection of songs to be listening to especially in the fall because they're some very laid back and introspective tunes that are very approachable for a good variety of listeners and I'm sure upon repeated listens you'll find a tune or two to do the thing for you and for me Edge of the Sky and GFM are my own personal highlights.

If you're interested he'll be performing all of these tracks at his EP release show on November 29th at The Uptwon Arts Bar where you can see him perform all of these songs and a few other he's been working on and of course you can purchase them online that same day and at the show so if you have the time on a Monday night give it a shot the records solid and well worth the listen.


Easy:



GFM




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Song of the Day 8/30/16

Rolling Thunder-BROTHER


BROTHER are a KC based group that I've been wanting to write about for quite a while now ever since I saw them back in April but with only one bad ass single in the form of Mobbin' that for lack of a better term was pretty easy to describe in a single sentence I kind of decided to wait off until they decided to get another tune out to really get a comparison of just what this band is all about and they've done so with their newest cut in the form of a blisteringly catchy cut, “Rolling Thunder,” and it's a groover for sure.

If I were to describe this band to the unfamiliar I'd say their A LOT like the 1975 in that they have a vocalist with a voice that's equal parts frail as it is a good compliment to the synthesizer heavy groove laiden tracks that are equal parts catchy as they are reminiscent of a variety of sounds and influences and while Mobbin' is a very steadily paced number that's built on a killer hook and a really solid guitar line that has an incredibly New Wave feel to it again very similar to a 1975 and bands of that variety.

Rolling Thunder as a track gives me a lot of R&B feels with very simple lyrics like, “She moves like Cleopatra,” being carried by an infectious but simple groove that's very complimentary to the verses and Quinn Pudenz's voice has a kind of Mat Healy meets BORNS vibe to it that which is slightly frail but really focused on trying to deliver on all the high notes.

Overall this song is fucking dope people and I most certainly say you should give it a good listen and keep tabs on these guy's because I get the feeling that they're going to find a sound that can give them a bit of a distinction from some of the acts that they're very heavily comparable to and could be making a strong impact here sooner then later.

The KC Showcase: Rachel Mallin and the Wild Type, "Degenerate Matters"

Image Courtesy of Bands Facebook

Rachel Mallin and The Wild Type-Degenerate Matters

I've covered this band a few times on this blog already so introductions shouldn't really take to much but for those who haven't heard Rachel Mallin and the Wild type are a 5 piece Indie rock act consisting of bassist Justin Walker, lead vocalist/guitar player/songwriter Rachel Mallin, drummer/back-up vocalist Austin Edmisten, keyboardist Jesse Bartmess, and lead guitarist Matt Kosinski and just recently after months of hard work and a successful Kickstarter they have finished recording their debut EP Degenerate Matters and if you're like me and have spent the past few months seeing these songs form you got to believe the anticipation is FUCKING REAL!

If I were to try and put a description to this bands sound I'd probably say it's like a very melody focused brand of indie rock that is equal parts 60's danceable-jangly-rock along jams with some 90's fuzz thrown in to keep things interesting with a variety of lyrics that are sweet, a little tongue and cheek, and every bit as real as the people performing them.

Degenerate Matters starts out with one fucking doozy of a track White Girls which has a kind of a doo-wop and surf rock sound to it that's filled with plenty of hand claps and tempo changes to keep the listener interested and wanting to groove along to it's very summery tone and Rachel Mallins almost hypnotic vocal delivery that is so damn chilling that you will find yourself almost distracted you from it's rather snide lyrics.

Starting with the almost venomous, “there's a special place in Hell for girls like you, who go out on weekends and prey upon weak men who have a girl,” to it's constant uttering of, “I can't compete with these filthy white girls,” that I'll personally change to FUCKING white girls which is going a bit off track but that's just me, as well as the constant repetition of the phrase, “God Save the White Girls,” give it a very kind of fuck you vibe that's almost like a statement about society as much as it is a means of acting as a perfect counterbalance to it's dreamy instrumentals before the track decides to just build up to a final minute where Rachel just delivers one intensely satisfying final verse that she just fucking belts out in such a way that will leave you screaming along as you find yourself blasting it out of your radio and it's especially potent when done live.

It's also quite satisfying that this song is actually starting to  breaking on radio in the Kansas City area even if it's courting some awkward controversy that is neither here nor there when talking about one breakthrough of a single.

Afterwards we're treated to the very shoe-gaze 90's sounding feedback heavy tune and the records hype track with Dropout a track that came out late last year and is still as awesome as the first time I remember hearing it in their Kickstarter promo video.

It's an almost autobiographical track about leaving college to go do more fulfilling things with yourself and the way's people seem to react to such a decision. This song is just filled with plenty of parts to clap along to, some super fuzzy guitar tones, various tempo changes to make you think twice about when to keep clapping along, and plenty of strongly delivered verses that all around really do highlight what is just a damn great track through and through, and it's a track that often serves as the closer to their live shows.

Whenever I'm listening to this track it sounds a lot like it needs to be used as the background music for the opening shot of the best god damn low budget independent movie you've ever seen.

So after a bad ass kind of surf rock track and an equally awesome fuzzy almost shoe-gaze indie track what could we possibly have next? Well Cash 4 Gold is a track that I can only really describe as probably the most adorably cheery thing I think I've heard in a while. For real it has an almost sing along the campfire feel with Mallin and Edmisten sharing vocal duties very well along a variety of whistles and toy pianos that give it an almost feel good vibe that's sure to make you smile more then you intended on.

From all that we reach the end of the EP with the track Dance Card which is by far the most ambitious track on this whole album. A very dreamy little poppy number that shows constant changes in tone that at one second are dreamy as fuck and the next feel kind of like you spiraled down a rabbit hole of awesome this song in my opinion has THE best guitar and bass work on this whole EP has to offer with everyone kind of firing on all cannons this song just effortlessly covers the biggest spectrum of sounds.

In a way what you have is a track that's kind of the best showcasing of a formula that they seem to have of songs slowing down and speeding up  while also never getting too complaisant or predictable to a degree that you come to expect after a while when listening to this little collection of songs but even with that in mind this one still kind of does that the best out of all the songs on here and the little section about how, “I smoke too much (you smoke too much), I drink to much (you drink too much),” and her punchy delivery of the line, “To punch my dance Card,” give the multiple stanzas this song takes a bit more of an effective feeling .

This song is also a bit of a juggernaut when played live because of all those moving parts that make up the song it really shows just how fucking talented each member of this group really is because every single time they play it they knock it out of the park and it's easy to see why they choose it to end what's maybe one of if not THE BEST extended play or even album to come out this year beyond just the Kansas City scene.

I have to say that what's really crazy is as good as this collection of songs is there's still plenty more tracks that didn't make the cut that they play around at their shows that are just fucking phenomenal and will leave you begging for the future full length release because these guy's are on a roll right now and the great songs are just pouring out left and right but until the day comes that they can put out an album proper this EP can help at least make that wait not too terribly long.

Image Courtesy of Facebook

To quote the cinematic masterpiece that is Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, “I FUCKING LOVE THIS BAND, THEY ARE THE BEST BAND EVER PERIOD.” ladies and gentelmen Kansas City's finest Rachel Mallin and the Wildtype with a collection of songs so good that it's a god damn crime that you don't have it in your possession at this very moment you definitely need to do yourself a favor and go pick yourself up a copy as soon as you physically can like at their upcoming EP release party tomorrow at the new Record Bar here in Kansas City Missouri with special guest Pink Royal and Spirit is the Spirit or if you live to far you can also download it over at their official website which I'll link below but either way you NEED TO BUY THIS ALBUM it's fucking great and well deserving of a good listen or half a dozen million squared times two.

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http://www.rachelmallinandthewildtype.com/

Tour Dates:

August 26 The Social Room Columbia, MO

September 7 The Riot Room Kansas City, MO

Sam Suggest a band: Vigil and Thieves

SO first off I'd like to say that these guy's are honestly some of the nicest fucking people I've had the pleasure of getting to talk to in quite some time.

When it comes to their music there's a very mesmerizing quality to them that's incredibly hard for me to put my finger on because at the surface you have some very well written and performed tracks that range from this very delightfully punky Vicious Ears, the kind of gothy Haunting, and a very bad ass bass driven post punk number Hate that when performed in a live environment end up taking on a life of their own and showcase what really is a talented group of performers that craft some REALLY damn catchy tunes.

Their current release Neverland is quite a bad ass little offering which you can download on their bandcamp and give a listen to down below although just because you can get it for free doesn't mean that it wouldn't be worth your time to throw down some hard earned cash for the download or at the very least wait for the physical pressings to come so you can appreciate the bad ass album art a little more.

I'd also like to make note that their lead singer Sarah Storm has a very hypnotic fashion to how she sings that kind of lures you in and doesn't quite feel the need to explain why you'll think she's so fucking alluring but leave you knowing that you're hooked by a voice that's an odd combination of both confidence and vulnerability.

Also I'd have to say that their song Vicious Ears is my personal favorite of theirs because it's very fast paced song that has a very bouncy punky tone to it that I just fucking love and lyrically it's a little more playful then the rest of Neverland but still maintains something interesting to bite into and maybe it's simplistic nature is why they seem to enjoy using it as an opening track to their set list.

So yeah this band kicks ass and I'm glad I decided to take the time to go see them live because they're pretty fucking cool people and we can all use that in this world of ours. 

The KC Showcase: MOBS

MOBS are an alternative rock act from right here in Kansas City who I recently got the pleasure of getting to see live for their, “Your Tide,” Ep release party over at Brothers Music in Mission Kansas which I'm a take 30 seconds to inform you guy's that it's a REALLY nice little record store with plenty of quality records at fairly affordable prices that I can't give enough credit to for doing a fantastic job hosting the show even if the place was filled beyond capacity and I'll provide a link to their Facebook at the end of the article along with the EP stream from Spotify and MOBS social Media accounts.

On the topic of MOBS if I were to describe them they're an alternative rock act kind of in the vein of a group like Thursday but with a more substantially listenable vocalist who knows how to put just the right amount of umph into his chorus' and with plenty of strong guitar work from everyone involved.

Like I said there's a kind of early 2000's alternative rock flair to the 4 bright and addictively catchy tunes right from the get go with Walks a track that's short, simple, and to the point in establishing instantaneously catchy chorus' with very clap along percussion and some solidly to the point guitar work and a short runtime that only leaves you salivating before my favorite and this groups probably best track in Your Tide which starts out kind of slow and steady before just kind of punching you in the face with the ultimate combination of this bands biggest strengths, it's excellent chorus and it's kind of jumpy guitar work which leads me to want to drive around and scream along to it's chorus while I blast it out of my car stereo in the middle of the night with it's constant shifts in tempo you'll be going through a series of highs and lows that'll hit just the right notes.


The Following track Looking around is a lot like Your Tide but with a more upfront approach and like Your Tide it's a strong track that just keeps moving along what's already soon to become one of your favorite EP's even if it's almost identical to the track before it but I guess that's alright whenever you also manage to be just as ASS KICKINGLY FUCKING AWESOME!

For real all terrible grammar aside it kind of blew me away because those two tracks when you're listening to them will make you think god damn this is the best song and no matter how much you bounce between them you'll keep saying that over and over.

Badlands is the albums closer and it's a solid way to end out what's just a completely fucking awesome collection of ass kicking rock cuts with a slow pace that's more of a build up track to calm you down and finish strong.

Your Tide it's a tease of sorts and an album that immediately upon completion you'll probably hit that play button all over again and be blasting the ever loving fuck out of it's 4 stellar tracks for real do yourself a favor and 1. purchase the ever loving fuck out of this album and 2. GO SEE THIS BAND because they'll sell you with some of the most solid musicianship around for real this band fucking rocks.

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Brothers Music

Sam Suggest a band: The Young Wild

So last week I went to Afentra's Prom which if you aren't aware is a yearly free show thrown by Kansas City's 96.5 The Buzz where you basically have an adult prom and this years line-up was fucking awesome with KC's own The Sluts opening and killer sets from Dreamers and Andrew W.K. but today's focus is another band that played that night The Young Wild.

This band in only a few words I can best describe as very catchy hooks and many sing along chorus' and their new EP All The Luck is just jam packed with those. It's a modest collection of 4 songs that'll leave you wanting to figure out just what's your favorite from the very large sounding Not a One, the danceably anthemic Moment Goes, the groovy fuck you of Ain't Got Nothing On Me, and the remix ready closer All the Luck this EP is just all killer no filler quality stuff that reminds me just why I liked their show so much.

From what I can tell looking at their website if you're in California you can see these guy's live over the next couple of day's so if you can I'd advise you do so because not only is the EP good but they put on a very good live show that'll sell you for sure.

Hopefully these guys tour around soon because I'm probably going to be listening to this on and off for a while....

Song of the Day 5/4/16

Wasted on You-Bleached 

 So the new Bleached album is a very New Wave tinged Shoe-Gaze album chocked full of really good tunes that I've rotated here and there and if there's one stand out track I've heard it'd have to be this song in particular.

 At it's Core this song is just a straightforward heartbreak tune about realizing the love you have for one particular individual may be very much in vain and pining for them is a waste of your time but yet you find yourself yearning for this love that will never be. It's like Superstar by the Carpenters just with more of an ass kicking rock and roll sound. This group kicks ass and I'd advise giving their new album a listen if you want some 80's New Wave in your 90's shoe-gaze

Song of the Day 5/3/16

So recently one Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees fame has recently announced that he's denounced the Mormon faith and has decided to drop a very strongly worded solo single and video to let the world know about this recent deceleration of loss of faith.

The song in question isn't bad it feels like a more electronic focused cut that could have fit onto the last Neon Trees album but hearing it so many times I think it's soul purpose as a song is to express an idea of a clash between religion and sexuality and the fact that he's gay and will never get a complete acceptance by the faith he's spent his life following his whole life and how he's done with it.

While it's nice to see him step out I kind of hope that this doesn't delay any new work from Neon Trees or at the very least his solo album have more variety in sounds instead of just doing kind of club beat sounding new wave but only time can tell otherwise here's a track that kind of acts as more a think piece and expression of a desire to expand one's material as well as being the first Song of the Day in god knows how long...

KC Showcase: The UK's

The UK's-Bad Seed

In my string of shows that's populated my month I went to another album release show and it was for a band called The UK's and god damn if you want one awesomely high energy show by a group of some hungry young rockers then this band would be right up your alley.

These guy's have a sound that's kind of a combination of the Black Key's, Cage the Elephant, and The Arctic Monkey's and their debut album Bad Seed a conceptual album about a drug dealer who falls in love, get's his heart broken, and eventually goes on a killing spree that leads you through a series of solidly great rockers that range from the awesomely catchy opener Bad Seed which is a definite highlight in my opinion with it's who-oh's and solidly steady guitar work, the emotionally heartbreaking Delia and how she's gone away, and ending with the straight up rocker Trigger Man and all it's abrasive musical nature all end up forming a very nice collection of 10 songs to establish a newly branded rock group looking to make it big.

While the album is very solid I will say that these track are especially meant to shine when played in a live environment because this band really does put on quite an energetic show that brings a certain level of chaos to plenty of this albums strongest songs.

Also even with this album recorded they managed to debut a couple of newer tracks that in their early stages and are quite bad ass and showcase really well that this band is just getting started and the creative process isn't going to be stopping any day soon.

This is some good stuff and I highly advise going on Spotify and giving it a listen because Bad Seed is quite a damn great song that can hopefully get some traction on radio here soonish and of course if you want to see if the hype is real you can see these guy's playing shows all around the Kansas City area either May 7th at the Dubliner in KC live, June 4th or July 22nd at the All Star Rock Bar ,or June 18th at Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club which if you can I'd very much say you set your calender and give their show a visit and maybe pick up a CD you won't be dissapointed.

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KC Showcase: Kangaroo Knife Fight

Kangaroo Knife Fight

Aside from having a bad ass name this band is one bad ass collective of musicians that make the tightest and most focused rock and roll I've heard in quite some time and I recently got to see them again for their album release party for their new EP The Dark which of course can be bought on iTunes and Google Play and pretty soon after you done reading this little piece I'd very much advise picking up a copy because it's a great collection of live ready tracks that will get your blood pumping and leave you singing along well after it's over.

Every song works really well in a live environment and seeing them bust out Mr. Lovedrunk and Skyfalls with such energy and precision that really can only come from a collective of musicians that very much know what the fuck their doing and have been doing it for quite some time is something of a treat especially when you realize just how good a vocalist Anthony Avis is just throwing himself into each and every song while stomping around and just putting his all out there to give you something to remember and tracks like Mr. Lovedrunk, Hold On, and It's You will surely become solidly great sing along tracks the day the rest of the world get's realizing just how good a live act this band is.

If these guy's come around close to you I'd very much advise going to see them and also getting a copy of both available EP's because Mr. Lovedrunk especially is a track that'll invade your conscious and just never let go.

This band are some of the nicest people who just really make some bad ass well performed and written rock and roll and if you'd like to see them play they'll be playing as a part of the Middle of the map festival Friday May 6^th.

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Hmmmmm Sounding Similar?

So people as you know I do love me some 1975 and not too recently they dropped a new single in the form of a little jam known as Love Me which they seem to not want to post the full track on Youtube but you can either listen to it on Spotify or just listen to this preview...





Now as dope as that sounds I just kind of feel it necessary that upon a few listens I've come to realize that this song seems to sound like INXS doing their best rendition of Fame by David Bowie and if you don't believe me well here's the classic in motion for you to compare....





Now this could very well just be me overthinking things but you'd have to admit they do sound really familiar now don't they?

Song of the Day 9/24/15

You know of all the times I've ever had an excuse for the absence my computer deciding to die on me was probably the best I was ever going to have so yeah that happened and now here's a Meg Myers Song...

A Bolt From the Blue-Meg Myers

SO Meg Myers recently released her official Studio album Sorry and I've been giving it a listen and while it's pretty much everything you could possibly expect in the form of a solid collection of songs that don't really exceed many song topics with a few cuts here and there from her Make A Shadow EP it's a good effort that I couldn't really review but there's one song that I'd like to highlight and that's today's cut.

This song straight up is like a Kate Bush tune with the heaviest use of synthesized vocals on the whole album and the most straight forward 80's new-wavey dance pop sound that I honestly thought it was an awkward Spotify Commercial I was hearing up until Meg started singing and actually delivered one surprisingly BAD ASS song that's just the most awesomely groovy cut that feels a lot more natural then a lot of the other synthesizer heavy tracks on that album.

Good stuff people....

Song of the Day 9/10/15

So I've been doing my best to cover as many things as I can and there's a band from Missouri that I've wanted to cover for a minute now but it took until them releasing their debut album to finally get some official audio up on Youtube and with that I'd like to present to thee Radkey.

So this band sounds like what would happen if Danzig and The Misfits kind of decided to just play each other at the same time and kick even more ass because it's this kind of broody gothic sound with some deep menacing vocals and a real do it yourself punk ethic that you can't help but find to be so awesome and if you get a chance I'd advise giving their Dark Black Makeup album a listen it's a pretty choice album that's only real flaw is that some of the recordings are a  bit slowed down and not every song is a pure thrash em and leave em banger but minor complaints aside this band is like what Glenn Danzig wishes he could have been...