LITM Rock Picks Tunes To Turn Your Mood Around Featuring Brooks John Martin, Martin Kuiper, Richard Tyler Epperson and More!

LITM Rock picks tunes that will surely uplift your mood for the weekend, brought to you by Brooks John Martin, Martin Kuiper, Richard Tyler Epperson, Rosetta West, and We Have Ghosts

1. Brooks John Martin - Clear Blue Waters
   With "Clear Blue Waters," Brooks John Martin presents a soul-quenching trip of self-discovery and rebirth. The song seamlessly wed his folk heritage with cinematic richness, building an expansive, though intimate, soundscape. With the initial chord of his guitar, Martin establishes a field of contemplation, conjuring the serenity of clear waters as much as the grandeur of open skies.
   From Cedar Falls, Iowa, Martin has travelled through many creative paths in the form of Toast and The Blue Danes. Under his own name now, he contributes a down-to-earth authenticity that can't be overlooked.
   The rich, stacked instrumentation on the song recalls Brian Wilson's grandeur without losing the folk sincerity of Neil Young. Lyrically, it's a poetic appeal to strength, with the likes of "Come back to the clear blue water with me" ringing as profoundly personal yet universally relatable.
   A veritable work of art, "Clear Blue Waters" is Martin at his best.

2.  Martin Kuiper - Dreams
Martin Kuiper's Dreaming Of A Sea of Time feels like opening a beautifully weathered journal- intimate, poetic, and introspective. "Dreams," the lead-in to the EP, establishes the atmosphere with ethereal acoustics and wispy synths that swim through your head like a soothing tide.

Kuiper's voice bears the gravity of one who lived and learned, drawing you into his world of remembrance and change. Erik Neimeijer and Jim Zwinselman's unobtrusive arrangements give each note its time, as if relishing the air between hope and remorse.

This isn't music- it's a sonic memoir, the second in a trilogy that's as concerned with the passing of time as it is with the narratives we bring. For listeners of reflective folk with a cinematic bent, Kuiper's Dreams is a precious thing to be discovered

3. Richard Tyler Epperson - December Night
“December Night” from Richard Tyler Epperson’s Fragmented Night doesn’t just kick things off- it transports you. This isn’t your typical rock; it’s dynamic storytelling set to a soundtrack of shifting moods and stunning crescendos.

Epperson demonstrates he's no prisoner of the genre. As "December Night" smoulders with understated intensity, "I Love It When It's Cold" creeps in with neo-soul murmurs and a tip of the hat to the edgier face of pop. And before you can say you think you know him, "Let's Drive" erupts- half country-funk, half indie adventure.

This record plays at the fringes of what defines rock, taking bits from its neighbours and building something that is distinctly Epperson. With its cunning use of space, dynamic colour, and emotional grime, Fragmented Night is a call to explore the confines where rock and the unexpected intersect.

4. Rosetta West - Circle of  Doubt
Rosetta West's "Circle of Doubt" is a blues-rock fever dream- dark, smoky, and addictively trippy. Beginning with a mesmerising guitar riff that's like a looping incantation, the song draws you into a psychedelic underworld where blues meet psychedelia.

Joseph Demagore's vocals are a chilling chant, thick with tension as he belts about spiritual wars and struggling for liberation. The swirling guitars and glinting cymbals create a sonic texture that's both frantic and healing.

Flip to the B-side, and "The God Who Made Me Cry" swaps haze for down-to-earth grit, mixing folk-inspired storytelling with darkened distortion. Rosetta West evokes a timeless atmosphere, weaving old themes into contemporary bluesy enchantment. "Circle of Doubt" is not merely a song- but an enchanting ritual you'll return to again and again.

5.  We Have Ghosts  - You. Know. Want
We Have Ghosts’ You.Know.Want is akin to being sucker-punched by the '90s alt scene- unbridled, raw, and wonderfully unpredictable. This three-piece outfit from the UK combines punk's punky fringes with grunge's heavy swagger, creating a sonic brew that is half pandemonium, half catharsis.

Benjamin Mace-Crossley's spoken-word vocals cut through the din in staccato fashion, laying down lyrics that grapple with vulnerability and deception. Underpinning the energy are Sam Edwards' throbbing bass and Juan Sanchez's explosive drumming, the track a relentless, hypnotic force.

Most striking is the duality- punk toughness and melodic sweetness combining to produce a song that's as bristly as it is clingy. You.Know.Want is not a song but an emotional riot that has you gasping and clamouring for more. Floor-shaking? Yep. Soul-shaking? More than that.

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This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks is all about the alternative exploration with artists like Tic Tic, Matt Basile, and James Perciv

This Week's LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks is all about the alternative exploration with artists like Tic Tic, Matt Basile, and James Percival

Matt Basile - Hang on St. Christopher 

Matt Basile is a singer-songwriter and blues artist with irrepressible charisma. In his latest release, ‘Hang on St.Christopher’ is a conversation with St. Christopher, seeking for protection. With deep tonal grooves, classical guitar melodies, and baritonal blues, the track flows into a pleasing country rock. He keeps the atmosphere mellow and molten, slowly trotting on. It is a retro, old-timer kind of music that puts you into a nice bluesy state of mind. And with this he branches into a weary melancholy that is both refreshing and reflective. 

James Percival - Curtains Closed 

When you think of slice of life songs, James Percival should be the first artist you should think of. His latest release is the ‘Curtains Closed’ EP, a six track collection that explores the aching feeling of having someone you love in the hospital. The title track especially gets into this. A soft, acoustical composition that blends fine lines of piano and guitar melodies to craft a network of thoughts, memories, and feelings. The protagonist beseeches the person in the hospital to get well soon, the things that they can do once that happens, the things that they used to do before it happened. It’s quite beautiful to journey through it all. 

Tic Tic - While the Shadows Grow 

TiktTic is a singer-songwriter and modern folk duo. They have a way of dilating themes in a way that is so artful and pleasing. Their latest release is ‘While Shadows Grow’, the duo project a theatre of style and sonics, building ethereal acoustics into expressive shoegaze frames, electronic elements and deep vocal manipulations. This song, keeping in theme with the title is made to distort the reality of the listener, incept an atmosphere, an emotion that you can viscerally feel and experience. It is alternative folk rock at its best and most imaginative. Listen Now! 

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LITM Rock Picks Tunes Featuring Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, Joe Reeves, Breaks and More!

LITM Rock picks tunes brought to you by Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, Joe Reeves, Breaks, Powers of the Monk and James Bruner.

1. Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate - Between Two Worlds
   "Between Two Worlds" by Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate is a bold, intellectual journey of the periphery of existence. From a prog-rock sensibility, the song layers rich guitar melodic phrases, grinding bass, and screeching synths to create a dense, layered sound picture. The metaphysical words struggle with duality and contrast and oppositional dichotomy of being, choice, and self. The emotive, soaring harmonies add a touch of drama to the story, heightening the story. A rousing instrumental break midway is a ride through the band's musical virtuosity, with rotating solos and rhythms that leave you in awe. The tune is wide-sounding as if it were pushing into something just beyond human understanding. Perfect for the concept rock fan, "Between Two Worlds" is head-stimulating and music-hypnotizing.

2. Joe Reeves - Jenny
Joe Reeves' "Jenny" is a down-home tribute in a warm folk-rock embrace. The song, founded on acoustic strumming and gentle percussion, is earthy in its appeal, recalling campfire ballads. Reeves' gritty, tortured vocals offer a tear-jerking mix of wistfulness and vulnerability. The song is a tribute to Jenny, a muse who is real and mythical, representing love, loss, and hope. The addition of an electric guitar solo in the bridge is a welcome shock of bite to an otherwise mellow song, adding emotional depth. Earthy presentation with timelessness, "Jenny" is a love letter to oneself in music form. It is simple yet incredibly moving—a silent triumph for fans of folk narrative.

3. Breaks - Two Glass Eyes
"Two Glass Eyes by Breaks is a delightful burst of energy that treads the line between rock and playful electronica. With rhythmic beats that feel buoyant rather than brooding, the song carries a carefree charm, perfect for daydreaming or dancing in your room. The whimsical vocals float effortlessly over a sparkling synth backdrop, injecting the track with a youthful, infectious joy. The instrumentation has an understated complexity, with shimmering textures and subtle arpeggios that feel alive with optimism. "Two Glass Eyes" creates an inviting soundscape, drawing listeners in with its light-hearted rhythm and an irresistible melody that lingers long after the music stops. It’s the kind of track that brings a smile to your face, a feel-good anthem for those moments when life feels weightless. Fans of feel-good rock-electronica will undoubtedly find a new favorite in Breaks’ charming creation.

4. Powers of the Monk - Strip The Bone (Remix)
Powers of the Monk's "Strip The Bone (Remix)" is a hypnotic journey into ambient techno, as the beat throbs like a muted heartbeat amidst a morning fog. The remix strips the original song to its bare bones and reworks it with surgical savagery. Atmospheric pads transition smoothly into pounding, ringing basslines, bathing the scene in an otherworldly, trance-like ambience. The insistent beat mesmerizes you, yet subtle embellishments and flourishes—such as glinting hi-hats and distorted vocal snippets—still reveal the aural terrain. This is introspective late-night music or getting lost on a dark dance floor. The stripped-down atmosphere of the song seems to be performed deliberately and thoughtfully, illustrating that sometimes less can be more.

5. James Bruner - Eye in the Sky (Acoustic)
James Bruner's acoustic rendition of "Eye in the Sky" is a minimalist masterpiece that thrives on restraint. The rock staple is remade with gentle fingerpicking and Bruner's emotive vocals, giving it a considered introspective feel. The naked emotion in his singing gives new life to the lyrics, highlighting their questioning of trust, perception, and betrayal. Lacking the rich production of the original, the song sounds more vulnerable and human-like, as if Bruner were speaking in confessional terms. The acoustic instrumentation preserves the song's ethereal melody but brings warmth that is entirely its own. For hardcore devotees or recent converts to the vintage song's pleasures, this is essential listening—a celebration of the virtue of strong songwriting.

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