This edition of LITM Rock Picks brings you soulful poetry as well as energetic solo numbers from the artists: The Stray Lions, The Crystal Teardrop, Queen City Rising, FORRM, and The Elusives.
1. The Stray Lions – Someplace Else
If you’re in the mood for a good soul stirring grungy alt rock session, The Stray Lions’s latest track would be a great recommendation. The track truly does take you ‘some place else’ with its mesmeric instrumentation, which includes equal parts grungy and silky textures from whirring synths, undulating guitar strums, smooth strings interspersed with the melody, while in the foreground, buttery vocals give the song a floaty feel, keeping you suspended within the music’s core. The mix adds a soft echo and shimmer, making the song more hypnotic. Check it out here-
2. The Crystal Teardrop – Love You More
The Crystal Teardrop’s latest track might just make you want to have a 2 AM one person rave by yourself, with its bright yet soulful rock electronic blend. The arrangement is dynamic with a great contrast of varied instrumentation from the backdrop of drum fills and foreground of suspended vocal legatos. This coupled with the crunchy harmonies soaked in a bit of electronic influence makes a sharp landing each time it hits with a twangy aftertaste. The resulting whizzy soundscape evokes all sorts of make colours and shapes, keeping it engaging from all sides.
3. Queen City Rising - A Drug Life Indeed
“A Drug Life Indeed” as the evocative title suggests really embodies the very essence of unfiltered truth. Made by Queen City Rising, the solo project of New York born singer-songwriter and guitarist Mike Paris, the song tackles the rising addiction crisis. His vocals are deliberately raw and unpolished; he uses his raspy vocals and conversational singing style to convey the pain, heartbreak and compassion while singing about overdose, pain and recovery. Carried by minimal instruments such as gritty guitars and steady rhythmic grooves, it leaves space for the message of the song to shine through. Paris never once tries to moralize; the track only has pure empathy.
4. Forrm - Hum
In “Hum”, the artist Forrm completely deconstructs the idea of what a song and what rhythm in itself is by breaking it down to its bare essentials. In fact, it’s less of a song and more of powerful spoken word poetry delivered with such conviction that it feels like it’s both being spoken directly into your ear and presented to a crowd. Forrm’s lyrics are incredibly profound, exploring the quiet, uncomfortable thoughts or the “hum” left in your brain when the outside world fades away. By stripping away everything but words, “Hum” sonically mirrors the lyrics, making it a bold, experimental track.
5. The Elusives - Run Away Into The Night
“Run Away Into The Night” feels like you’re being gently engulfed into a neon tinted soundscape. The Elusives, creators of the song, are done gatekeeping their music and the band (consisting of Paul Gilligan, Joe Brady, Gavin Healy and Laura Hand) finally released it to the world. It has the classic jangly indie guitars paired with lush, shimmering synths which creates a moody yet uplifting vibe. The vocals are smooth and glide over the bassline. However, the bridge is truly the standout moment of the song, and it not only breaks up the arrangement but makes the composition stand out more.
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