This edition of LITM Rock Picks brings you hypnotic Rock arrangements, dreamy soundscapes, and hard-hitting lyrics from artists - Bluesnado, Emerald Park, Body, What’s The New Mary Jane, and Stay Strange.
1. Bluesnado – Still I Carry On
Nestled somewhere within blues-rock territory is this decadent track from Bluesnado, ‘Still I Carry On’. It’s a sizzling slow burn, capturing a smoky evening sunset vibe with its sultry guitars and smooth-sailing bass and drum underbed. There’s a unique textural mix of earthy and silky layers within its vocals and overtones. The ever-so-light atmospheric waves draping over this soundscape create a vividly meditative mood, while the guitar riff in the middle adds the perfect glassy texture, maintaining that compact, soulful theme. This is one of those songs that oozes charm—one you can turn to to seek escapism and solace, both lyrically and emotionally.
2. Emerald Park – Lovers In Reverse
Swedish indie-pop artist Emerald Park creates a soft, dreamy “road less traveled” vibe with his latest track ‘Lovers In Reverse’. With its airy structure and fluid underbed, the track creates a bubbly-against-slopey contrast, and its passionate, semi-hypnotic composition leaves you with an anti-gravity feel. The hazy swirls of instrumentation craft a blend of frothy guitar murmurs and sunken drums as synth notes ripple in between, while the vocals add a soothing, glassy contrast on top. The atmospheric mist adds to the intensity and romantic ambience as the lyrics take you through story beats between the two lovers. Overall, the track feels more in the ‘cozy intimate’ space rather than a ‘dramatic declaration’.
3. Body – I’m Still Alive
Body’s latest track, ‘I’m Still Alive,’ is a piece that gives the dual feeling of being suspended in time but also being rewound at the same time—like skating backwards. The song dips silky atmospheric synths one by one into the arrangement, giving it a feverish mix of hypnotic melody lines and an upbeat tempo. The track leaves plenty of breathing room for experimentation with tones and textures while keeping most of the song anchored expertly by just a single note played rhythmically atop. Below, a frothy mix of synths and peppered drum beats, along with minimal crunchy guitars and warping bass notes, frames the soundscape. The multiple layers of echoing instrumentation and ghostly vocals make the track a thrilling, hypnotic listen.
4. What’s The New Mary Jane – A Piece of Fruit Will Set You Free
A structurally psychedelic piece drawing influence from indie and alternative sonic palettes is ‘A Piece of Fruit Will Set You Free’. It strikes a great balance of gritty and lilting soundscapes, leaving space for scrunchy instrumental take-overs that carry the listener through the tonal haze seeping in between. The lyrics are introspective, delivered with a thought-provokingly ‘unfazed’ cadence, yet with a gentle approach echoed by the soothing strums of the adjacent guitar. The contrast of synth textures ranges from translucent and bubbly to sandy, creating a sandwich of layers that naturally blend together, slowly growing louder as they bring the song to a close.
5. The Constellations – Stay Strange
Another gritty track on the list that tests the depths of range is ‘Stay Strange’ by The Constellations. The Nashville-based band ties different flavors of hard-hitting riffs with deep-water tones together, layering a set of crunchy guitars over a guttural bass and gritty drums that play with different textures, while atop sit earthy vocals that fit perfectly into the mix. The arrangement keeps the mix fluid, with each instrumental and vocal layer resurfacing one at a time in step formation, allowing you to really feel the viscosity of the track. The slow build-up of tension from the guitars results in a pull that gives the feeling of thick waves about to slow-crash against rocks.
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