Author: Shannon Shumaker

Review by Shannon Shumaker I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time is real. That’s the best way to describe Moose Blood’s debut full-length record. The lyrics on each track on this album are personal and emotional, making even the slowest, softest songs really reach out and hit hard. It’s difficult not to feel like you know and understand Moose Blood, as if you share the personal experiences in each song, and that’s exactly how an amazing album should make you feel. The opening track on I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time is mellow, melancholy, and…

With the first half of his two part EP series, 2×4 Vol. 1 out now, we got the chance to chat with singer-songwriter Aryk Crowder about the new EP, the reason behind the series and his inspirations as an artist. You can pick up 2×4 Vol. 1 now and keep an eye out for the second installment in the series next spring! For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to listen to your music yet, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? How would you describe your sound? Hi, my name is Aryk. I like ice cream, my favorite color is…

Review by Shannon Shumaker The Funeral Portrait’s debut EP, For The Dearly Departed is theatrical, anthematic and explosive. As far as first impressions go, The Funeral Portrait definitely deliver with this EP. From the moment that the first track, “Casanova (Ces’t La Vie)” begins, they’ve got me hooked, and then when the powerful chorus pumps through my speakers, I’m blown away. In fact, “Casanova (Ces’t La Vie)” is easily the strongest track on the album, both vocally and musically. The Funeral Portrait waste absolutely no time in throwing you right into a theatrical anthem and I wouldn’t have it any…

Review by Shannon Shumaker The coolest thing about Rain City Rockers’ new full length Mayday, is that it is timeless, as punk music has the tendency to be. It makes sense that this band knows what they’re doing and knows just the right sound to create, though. With members coming from bands such as Sum 41, Gob, Die Mannequin and Goldfinger, it’s no surprise that Rain City Rockers are completely on top of their game, and Mayday just proves it. The first track on the album, “Mindful Madness,” is the perfect mix of punk-rock and 50’s doo wop. It’s catchy,…

Review by Shannon Shumaker The great thing about James and the Drifters’ All That Gold is that it doesn’t get old. It’s easy to play the entire album through and start it all over again, just because you can’t get enough of it, and that’s just what you want from an album like this. The first thing that stands out about James and the Drifters is the pretty, mystical quality of their sound on the first track on the album, “Lucille The Wall.” The guitar work on “Lucille the Wall” is gorgeous and sweeping, making it a good opening song,…

Review by Shannon Shumaker To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I listened to Thank You Scientist’s Maps Of Non-Existent Places for the first time. I had heard of the band before, and from what I had heard, they were not something to be missed. And within the first few tracks of Maps Of Non-Existent Places, Thank You Scientist prove that assumption to be absolutely true. The prelude track on the album builds suspense, but then it fades out and the horns come in on “A Salesman’s Guide To Nonexistence” and within seconds, Thank You Scientist…

Review by Shannon Shumaker The American Scene’s Haze is everything that an indie-rock album should be and more. Following up their well-received 2012 release Safe For Now, The American Scene breaks away from the more emo/punk sound that they originally set with a more mellow and hypnotizing haziness (hence the album’s title) while still sticking to their roots. In fact, the great thing about Haze is that it can easily appeal to a wide audience, from fans of The American Scene’s older material to newer listeners. Haze is a winner for both fans of indie-rock acts such as Minus The…

Review by Shannon Shumaker After nearly a five year gap between record releases, American Hi-Fi’s newest album, Blood & Lemonade hits hard, absolutely proving that they are back and ready to take over. Throughout the entirety of the album, American Hi-Fi’s sound is well rounded, consistent and incredibly strong, making Blood & Lemonade a great listen. “Armageddon Days,” the first track on Blood & Lemonade, is an amazing opening track with high energy, an amazing guitar hook and commanding vocals that really pull you in and keep you around for all ten tracks. The best part about Blood & Lemonade…

Review by Shannon Shumaker The first thing that can be said about The Foxery’s debut full-length, Unless, is that it is unconventional. With layers upon layers of different vocal styles that most people wouldn’t even imagine meshing together coupled with both gorgeous clean and muddy distorted guitar parts, it’s hard to really confine Unless into just one genre or category. But the thing about The Foxery’s unique sound is that it works. The opening vocals on “(In)ferno,” the first track on Unless, are absolutely hypnotizing and even haunting, and by the time that the other vocals and the rest of…

Review by Shannon Shumaker I won’t lie, I get a little weary when I hear that a monumental band that I used to listen to years ago puts out a new album. It’s mostly because they usually either do one of two things; they’ll either stick to the same old sound that launched their career over a decade ago, or they change their sound completely and become almost unrecognizable. Amber Pacific, however have found the perfect middle ground, making their new record, The Turn an absolute must-listen. Amber Pacific keep their trademark sound (especially with the return of original vocalist…