This edition of LITM Rock Picks brings to you haunting blues rock, ethereal soft rock, and more. The list features TMYS, JF Roy, Wholes, and more.
TMYS - I Wanna Get High
Carrying the spirit of the 80s and the sound of the 90s, ‘I Wanna Get High’ by TMYS is the kind of alt rock track that you play when you are looking for a momentary escape. The musical arrangement on the song is really well done, with staccato drum patterns, guitar patterns in verse sections, which move on to swelling, emotive riffs in the chorus sections. The electronic synths come in as a pleasant surprise, and add onto the texture of the song. The song might remind you of The Third Eye Blind’s discography. Give it a listen, and tune into that wild, spontaneous part of your heart that is alive but buried.
JF Roy - The Morning Light
A pleasant, gentle soft rock sound driving the track, ‘The Morning Light’ by JF Roy feels like a burst of sunshine after long, endless days of rain and grey. The instrumentation, with regards to its tones, carries a blend of introspection, reflection, and hope and optimism. This results in expansive, bright guitar riffs and layers, and steady, soft well paced drum patterns characterising the song’s sound. The bridge section, with its stripped down sound, carries that liminal sound with respect to the song’s emotionality. The song might remind you of Lifehouse and Snow Patrol’s music, owing to the cinematic, bright quality of their hopeful songs.
Pennan Brae - Scratch
With staccato violin, basslines, and guitar riffs starting off the track, ‘Scratch’ by Pennan Brae offers you that slow build groove that is a characteristic of retro rock. The instrumentation depends heavily on layering of short paced riffs of strings and drum patterns, which form the skeleton of the song’s sound. This gives the song that restless, urgent quality while the lyrics give the pace that balances that fast energy. The vocals are absolutely addictive and are created in a way that will make you want to sing along and loud to it. This song is packed with the energies that make a song that unique entry on the charts, so be sure to give it a listen.
Ferdinand Rennie - Chase the Sun
Reminding you of submit, shimmering waters, and salt air caressing your hair, ‘Chase the Sun’ by Ferdinand Rennie feels like a celebration of life and everything precious and beautiful about it. The instrumentation balances itself upon real instrumentation – guitars, piano progression, drum patterns, basslines – and some electronic elements that give it that sharp quality. Ferdinand’s vocals have that richness in them, that tone of wisdom that comes from having experienced life. At its core the song is about the possibilities that life holds for us, if we are willing to believe, which makes the song especially relevant in a time where a significant amount of darkness plagues our world.
Shannon Sargent - A Lot Riding On Nothing
Driven by a country-rock and blues-rock sound, ‘A Lot Riding On Nothing’ by Shannon Sargent will take you back to the 70s and 80s with its stunning music. The slow, layered build of the song, featuring reverb drenched guitars, dynamic drum patterns, add to a more intensive engagement with the song – it makes you want to give in, and give in fully. Shannon’s vocals are filled with country-blues-rock vulnerable quality, and they feel like an instrument in themselves. The guitar solo section in the latter part of the song is simply breathtaking. You simply cannot miss out on this song, if you call yourself a rock or blues fan.
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