Ear Candy – "Lonely"

5 out of 5

Sometimes you read a name of a song and you think you know what it’s like but when you turn on the music, the vibe of the song is completely different from your expectations. With Ear Candy’s new track “Lonely”, this is the case. While the subject mater of the song is serious, the melody is happy, even uplifting. Perhaps, it’s this fact that reels in the listener or then it’s just the song’s irresistible pop sensibilities. Who knows? Yet, I do know this, “Lonely” is a great pop song with some real nice vocals and very cool keyboard work. Oh, and the production works well too. You'll love it. 

A tip. Listen to this track alone. Let’s be honest, it’s better to have no witnesses in case a tear escapes from the corner of your eye as you listen to the lyrics. “Lonely” is a break-up song that deals with broken hearts and broken dreams. It’s funny really. Most relationships don’t last. Finding compatibility is excruciatingly hard, which is most likely why we too often settle for less than we deserve. Of course the danger in that is that this usually ends up with us getting even less than we settled for.

 

Love can be a sad business. However, the upside of that is that songs like “Lonely” are born.

Listen here: "Lonely" by Ear Candy

Review by Tom Tikka for MBTM

KNETX - "Ruined"

6 out 5

You know, during my twenty years in the music business I've heard about a million grunge bands that all claim to be the next Nirvana and obviously, 99% of those don't even come close. This is why I don't go for this genre very often. The problem is that usually, even though always loud, these track, fort the most part at least, lack real fire and the explosive energy that you need to hear in order for your brain to register that you are listening to grunge. If you open your dictionaries, the definition for the word grunge is: dirt. Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks once sung about "life getting you dirty." I feel that grunge should do the same thing. It should get you dirty.

"Ruined" by KNETX (how you pronounce the name of the group is beyond me) is a track that's sleazy enough to get the job done: you'll get dirty. That of course is not the track's real merit. The real merit is that this song is a brilliantly written pop/rock tune that's played and sung with such vigour and passion that it won't leave anybody cold. In fact, it's such an electrifying performance that if you feel unmoved when listening to it, you need to get your head and heart examined. 

Listen here: "Ruined" by KNETX

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

Rohit Sen – "Sudden Complacence"

5 out of 5

"Sudden Complacence" is an original track that has a great bass line, kick-ass guitars and powerful lead vocals. It's a very good composition and I dig the lyrics a lot. However, the real attention getter here is the coda that's the longest part of the song, some nice guitar playing there and you got to love the outro's drums that are played with brushes. Just want to say that this is what all indie pop should be like: innovative and brilliant.

You'll find the song here when it comes out on October 14: Rohit Sen

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

Neil Taylor – "We All Hurt Inside"

5 out of 5

Neil Taylor has been around for a long time. He started his career with Tears Of Fears and toured the world with them, after which he did the same thing with Robbie Williams! Quite a feat by anyone's standards. Did I already mention that Neil has also collaborated with a quite a few other superstars along the way? The list is too long to include here but the ones that really impressed me were Tina Turner and Rod Stewart. In short, if somebody has earned his stripes, it's Neil Taylor.

His song "We All Hurt Inside", featured on his 2019 album Come Out Of The Silence, is a great classic rock track that will do two things. Firstly, it'll remind you that there was an era when main-stream music had ... well, more content than it does today and secondly, classic rock is really fantastic when it's performed by an authentic artist from the era of the genre's heyday. 

And the song itself? Well, it's a banger. Taylor's singing is great and his guitar-playing outstanding. The track is well mixed and produced. Any fan of classic rock will love this.

About the lyrics, I do feel Taylor's right. We do all hurt inside. Anyone who has ever read the works of the famous American clinical psychologist/suicidologist Edwin S. Shneidman will know that everyone will react to psychological pain differently: some will hurt others, some will hurt themselves. Either way, the greater the pain, the more dire the consequences.

Check out "We All Hurt Inside" but don't leave it at that, give Taylor's Come Out Of The Silence album a spin. It's more than worth your while. My favourite track is "Unbroken". Which one's yours?

Listen here: "We All Hurt Inside" by Neil Taylor

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

Peter Groenwald – "Do You Remember?"

5 out of 5

Peter Groenwald's upcoming single "Do You Remember?" is a very accomplished pop number that will stick in your head long after the last note has faded. It's very cleverly produced soft pop/rock with lots of ear candy for the listener. The acoustic guitars that come in at the beginning of the second verse are fantastic as is the orchestration. In fact, the song begins with a pizzicato riff that will grab your attention right away. 

Yet, the real star here is Peter's singing. It's effortless and inviting. This guy has a great voice and his falsetto is absolutely brilliant. To me, it's reminiscent of Carl Wilson's wonderful voice. Peter's got the same range and softness. Check it out and you'll know what I am talking about. 

You'll find the song here when it comes out on October 6: Peter Groenwald

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

The Outer Spaces - "I Made You Cry"

5 out of 5

As I was listening to this I was grinning from ear to ear. This track is so damn good. It's a fantastic retro-flavoured pop composition - amazing melodies and clever chord-progressions throughout. I love it. The lead vocal is top-notch and the harmonies are nothing short of mind-blowing. It's Roy Orbison, The Beatles and The Beach Boys wrapped up in one. Enjoy. Music doesn't get much better than this.

Listen here: "I Made You Cry" by The Outer Spaces

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

Noah Chenfeld - "In Our Room"

5 out of 5

"In Our Room" is a wonderful retro-flavoured pop song. Great vocals and great guitars. It's simple but then again, simple is what works best most of the time. Oh, and even though the song's only true harmonies are in the middle eight, they come in exactly at the right time. Also, listen to that guitar riff that begins and ends the tune. It's fabulous. 

Listen here: "In Our Room" by Noah Chenfeld

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 Giovany Revelle - "45"

6 out of 5

My era was the late 1990s but I got to say I like the pop music of the 1960s as well. Not just the Beatles, who are still (in my book at least) the greatest band there ever was but also a bit more obscure bands, like Herman's Hermits, Manfred Mann and The Hollies. The thing that I find appealing in their songs is the certain naiveté that would disappear from pop songs by 1967. If you listen closely, this is when the genre of pop music changed and it did so very rapidly – in just a few years. Dylan put out "Ballad Of A Thin Man", The Beatles released "Tomorrow Never Knows" and then there were the newcomers: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and well ... the list is endless. The point that I am trying to make is that nothing in the pop realm was really never the same again after this period.

"45" belongs to that more simple and naive era that existed prior to 1967 and this is one of its biggest charms. I can picture Gerry & The Pacemakers performing this song. And I mean that as a complement. I believe the score I am giving this tune speaks volumes. And really, what's there not to like? Revelle's song has a great oldies pop groove, an outstanding melody, fantastic lead guitars and well-delivered vocals. And the acoustic guitars ... don't even get me started on those – they sound amazing. 

Another thing I want to point out is the song structure, which ties it firmly to the era I am mentioning above. Notice how "45" lacks a chorus. This was very typical for pop songs of the early sixties. Instead, you get that instrumental break, which in this case is the guitar solo. The odd thing is that the absence of a chorus doesn't matter because the verse is so versatile and melodic. Personally, I love the way it was done back then and I love that Giovany has revisited this style of writing with his new single. 

"45" is a breath of fresh air amidst all the modern production gimmicks and the "oh-oh-ohs" and "ah-ah-ahs" of trendy pop. The song's like a time machine that at least I am going to step into many times in the days to come. In fact, I'd continue this write-up but I can't because I'll be too busy pressing play.

Listen here: "45" by Giovany Revelle

Review by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

The Satellite Station – "Slow"

5 out of 5

"Slow" is full of emotion, hauntingly beautiful and a song that truly touches you. The arrangement is very delicate. There are no big crescendos but yet the way the song unfolds is in a way, perfect. From that point of view, perhaps crescendos are not really needed. One of this track's appeals is that it stays in one feel. I respect that. This is difficult to do without losing the listener. Yet, The Satellite Station does this expertly. They grab the listener in the beginning and don't let go until the very last note.

"Slow" is a show of force from Travis Rue, whose moniker The Satellite Station is. To me it doesn't matter what he calls his project. The music this multi-instrumentalist is producing is wonderful.

Listen here: "Slow" by The Satellite Station

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

Cade Hoppe – "Faded Love"

5 out of 5

This is a great pop track and one of those songs that will grow on you. It's got a gorgeous melody and very subtle but effective production AND it even has a proper middle eight – something that is no longer a given in today's pop music. Another thing I find appealing is that, although the song is unapologetically rather commercial, it still has its own distinctive character. It's distinguishable and original. In short, it's irresistible.

Also, "Do you want to love me just to love somebody?" is a wonderful line and the question at the core of love, marriage and relationships. As we age, this question becomes more burning in our minds. Staying with a person to whom we are replaceable is perhaps one of the worst decisions anyone can make. I could go on but I won't but I will say this, the above line alone validates this beautiful track.

Listen here: "Faded Love" by Cade Hoppe

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

Zach Hood – "When She Was Mine"

5 out of 5

Well, even though I'm not really that big on love songs simply because they are usually very one-dimensional (some guy missing some girl somewhere, wishing he hadn't let her go), I do love this track. I suppose it's the feel of the song and the vocal delivery that makes it stand out from all the other similar tunes I've heard lately. The way Zach Hood delivers the song gives it credibility and you find yourself thinking, "Yeah, that's what happens sometimes. People want different things." 

But there's more to the song than just the delivery. "When She Was Mine" also has an incredibly inviting melody and the production is magnificent. Check it out. You'll love it.

Listen here: "When She Was Mine" by Zach Hood

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

Mad Meg – "Beyond Repair" 

6 out of 5

It's original, it's crazy, it's got a great lyric, a fantastic melody AND a thrilling performance. I love it. It's not with every track that I get to say that there really isn't anything like this out there right now but with Mad Meg's new single that is a fair statement. If it brings to mind anything, I'd say it's very close to what the Turtles were doing in the sixties. 

I also want to point out that comedy is one of the most difficult things to attempt to inject into a pop song but Mad Meg has truly succeeded in this. It's a brilliant release.

Listen here: "Beyond Repair" by Mad Meg

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

Alexa Borden - "Not Like That"

5 out of 5

After I head the opening line ("You're talking crazy, you must be off your meds again") I knew I that I was going to love this track. What can I say? It's perfect guitar-driven pop/rock with great vocals and stellar lyrics. It's an "individual against the society" song and obviously, for anyone who has the ability to self-reflect and ponder on what's happening in the world today will truly appreciate the lyrics. However, the lyrics and disarming melody aside, "Not Like That" is also a very accomplished production from this young Canadian artist. It's one of those records where everything falls into place so naturally that you can just focus on enjoying the song. There's nothing you would want to add or take away. It just works.

Her Spotify bio says that "Borden creates a thoughtful musical landscape that gets in your head and stays." While so many Spotify bios are sexed-up to the point where the picture they portray of the artist is, how should I put it kindly, well ... inaccurate, Alexa Borden's couldn't be more on point. She truly has a talent for creating meaningful music and lyrics AND has a tremendous ear for pop sensibilities, which is probably why I find myself singing the chorus over and over again in my mind. 

Listen here: "Not Like That" by Alexa Borden

News post/review by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

The One Eighties – "No King"

5 out of 5

This is what the new ABBA songs should have sounded like, in case you are wondering. "No King" is perfectly produced and written pop gem. It's got great vocals, great orchestration and great guitars too. Love it!

You'll find the song here when it comes out on October 14: The One Eighties

News post/review by Tom Tikka for MBTM

Silja Rós – "Lie Just To Lie" 

 6 out of 5

This song isn't out yet. So under normal circumstances, I wouldn't write about it yet BUT in the case of this track, I thought I should make an exception. It's fantastic from start to finish and one of those songs where the old meets the new in the most compelling way imaginable. 

There's a bit of retro soul, a touch of sixties pop influence (in the vein of Dusty Springfield) and also influences from more modern artists like Duffy and Adele. But the point that I am trying to make here is that with its orchestration, guitars, drums and absolutely brilliant vocals "Lie Just To Lie" is a gem. Also, listen to the timber in Silja's voice. If her performance doesn't give you chills, check your pulse.

You'll find the song here when it comes out on October 21: Silja Rós

News post/review by Tom Tikka for MBTM

Greg Herzenach – "A Simple Way"

5 out of 5

Sometimes fantastic music is made at home. Although everything about "A Simple Way" is very rough and ready, including the vocals, there's something about the song that just works. It's very artsy in the folk sense of the word and reminds me of Nick Drake's Bryter Layter. What I can I say ... it's brilliant.

Listen here: "A Simple Way" by Greg Herzenach

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 ECHLO – "Head High"

5 out of 5

ECHLO's "Head High" is a bone-chilling alt/art pop track. It has a very ambitious arrangement and vocals that are absolutely fantastic. And "I can't breath" is a great hook both melodically and lyrically. Well, the score I am giving it says it all: bravo! 

Listen here: "Head High" by ECHLO

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

Jennifer Holliday – "So In Love"

6 out of 5

Well, it doesn't get better than this folks. Hence 6 out of 5. "So In Love" is timeless with a brilliant arrangement and out-of-this-world vocals that are so filled with soul that at times, one might be fooled into thinking he's listening to Aretha Franklin. A stunner! Wow! 

Listen here: "So In Love" by Jennifer Holliday

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

KAØØS – "Running"

5 out of 5

A stunningly beautiful, albeit melancholic new single from KAØØS. This song will haunt your dreams, not just because of its subject matter (suicidal thoughts) but because of the power in its lyrics, composition and vocals. Love it!

Listen here: "Running" by KAØØS

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM

 

MIXIE – "Fuccboi"

4 out of 5

A brilliant new pop single from MIXIE that'll set your foot a tapping. That is if you are on one of your innocent moods. If you are not ... well, I won't get into that here. 

Listen here: "Fuccboi" by MIXIE

News post by Tom Tikka for MBTM