Dear lover of cool albums,
I’ve found an amazing punk jazz band from Brooklyn called Goldbloom, which seems to create incredibly catchy sound. With several releases already under their belt, Goldbloom has announced the release of their second album "For Money and Power," which is set to drop on June 8th. You might be wondering what drew me to Goldbloom. I believe that fans of the band will agree with me that Goldbloom has a unique style.
Raised on classical jazz, Goldbloom has added a pinch of adrenaline in the form of grunge and punk to their sound. I must admit, I was initially surprised, and it immediately grabbed my attention. It’s stylish, modern, and possibly even a smart commercial move. In any case, it works, it's audible, and it's intriguing. The ones who have intrigued everyone are Blake Opper on saxophone, Steve Williams with his basslines, and Grant Martin on drums. Remember these names and watch out, friends, because these guys might just make you fall in love with jazz forever!
The trio has already established itself as a band that creates complex, vibrant, and expressive music. But let me lift the veil of mystery: in their new album, the guys lean more towards classic jazz, exploring a broader spectrum of influences from country music to Charles Mingus. I had the chance to listen to "For Money and Power" before its release, and it’s molten fire. Ten tracks – ten stories, opinions, styles, and sounds. The new album is like a new little life, an island of sound with no rules. You'll feel it from the very beginning, with the first track "Redneck." The track’s leisurely development, perfect sound, and swinging jazz rhythm transform the space around you. I love how there’s an almost melancholic, minor haze throughout the track. If tracks were times of the day, this one would be night.
It’s that moment when the clock has passed 3 a.m. Passion and sensuality in the album mix with playfulness and carefree vibes. Can you feel it any other way with the track "Ketchup Man"? The leading saxophone line seems to tell a story, while the swaying rhythm sets a great backdrop. I love how the saxophone’s style sounds. It seems to replace a vocal line, yet the sound is very articulate, stylish, and incredibly emotional.
What sets the music on the album “For Money and Power” apart is its uncompromising sound within a classic jazz format. You’ll feel chills run down your spine when listening to the track “Roger Ebert v The State of Illinois.” It’s as if a previously hidden energy bursts forth, with phrases flowing one after another and the vibrant drumming keeping you on edge every second.
It’s incredibly powerful and stylish, with an atmosphere created solely by saxophone, drums, and bass guitar that gives the impression of not a trio, but at least a quintet. An utterly potent and relentless track that captured my heartbeat and made me sweat. Wow, pure emotions! However, the album’s atmosphere sways and soars, smoothly transforming in tracks like “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” and the final “Still Kansas.” I was especially struck by how Goldbloom completely controls the sound and fully expresses emotions through their instruments. In the final tracks, I heard such a cohesive, strong, and magnificent sound that seemed ready to burst into flames again at any moment. It’s something absolutely incredible! You must listen to the album on June 8th. Don’t forget to mark that date!
Goldbloom masters any sound and any format, yet each track carries a common thread: their uncompromising sound. In the new album, you can feel layers of meaning through the cover and the title “For Money and Power.” Goldbloom’s punk grunge spirit is expressed in their candid perspectives and the music’s thematic weight. Don’t worry, dear listener, you will catch this essence simply by immersing yourself in the tracks of the upcoming album “For Money and Power.” And that’s what I love most about them!
P.S. Hey Goldbloom! Thank you for making such amazing jazz. You are so unique, stylish, and capable of addressing important topics through jazz music. I’m absolutely thrilled! I was especially captivated by the energy of your music, your concerts must be a sea of energy. Oh, how cool! You have poured so much energy and inspiration into this release, and I’m sure you will find many new listeners. Your music deserves to be heard! Yeah!
*This review was made possible by SubmitHub.
Dear reader of SoundVille, I want to share with you an incredible observation. I’ve noticed that quite often when I come across light and experimental soul-pop albums, there’s a great story behind them. This is exactly the impression that the debut album "33" by Waylen Roche left on me. Originally from Florida, but creating impeccable music in NYC and the Hudson Valley, Waylen Roche uses the language of music to express his life experiences over the past five years. So, the album "33" seems to have settled in my memory for a long time. The gentle and light alt R&B tracks and electro pop sound take on a new narrative form when you hear the lyrics of the tracks.
It's like falling off a bike for the first time: joy is replaced by pain, and you immediately understand the full beauty of the upcoming life. However, you find solace in the hands of loved ones – and it’s not so scary to take a new step. Similarly, the album "33" is very candid, personal, but always warm and gentle. Unlike harsh reality, Waylen Roche offers salvation through his music. He raises questions about love and its end, about findings and losses, about all the deep feelings that replace each other in the modern digital environment, like the colors of a kaleidoscope. Can you find light in this world? My answer after listening to the album: “yes, and yes again!”. If you need an album that will make your heart flutter and your thoughts deepen, then quickly turn on the album with the mysterious title "33".
I suggest we start listening right now with the track “Granite.” Here, Waylen Roche, through vivid lyrics, complex harmonies, and an amazingly unique rhythm, hints that an equally stunning psychedelic soul show awaits us ahead. And I absolutely love it, especially the magical flute with its warm sound and the elusive moment when the processed sound flows into the live piano. The song “Jordan” plays on emotional contrasts. The gentle and stylish soul-R&B sound merges with a pop wave, accompanied by a raw, seemingly almost unprocessed vocal. It rides on an emotional wave that constantly shifts between live performance and perfect studio sound, creating a dissonance. This underscores the conceptual nature of the album and makes the sound unique. It seems to me that Waylen Roche uses a solid foundation of genres while creating a new sound by mixing the incompatible. After all, isn’t life and emotions just the same?
Playing with tonalities, instruments, and vocals, the track “Proof” achieves that hypnotic and melancholic sound that allows full concentration on Waylen Roche’s voice. The song's words penetrate the subconscious, and the almost ritualistic yet cosmic arrangement amplifies their meaning. If you close your eyes, it feels like you’re disappearing into this lush sound. I am a fan of the harmonies in this song. Flawless, damn it. The sound changes again in “Water.”By bringing percussion and a refined bass line to the forefront, the track acquires sensual and passionate soul motifs, while Waylen Roche firmly holds his ground in his own sound universe. This is an excellent song for walking, drinking, flirting, and living your best night life. I believe this is one of the strongest tracks on the release.
I'm sure you'll experience the same amazement I did with “Fingertips.” Tears welled up in my eyes, and my throat tightened at the stylish shift in Waylen Roche’s voice. It's incredible! A perfectly grooving pop track that won't leave you a second to ponder. Bright, almost funky guitars and a catchy rhythm change the album's mood and add a pinch of carefree spirit, which is picked up by “Crystalline Giant.” Just give in to the sound and let yourself be carried away by this deep pop sound and the lightest duet. I confess, even the finale surprised me. As if promising to stay true to his unique path and carry his amazing and distinctive sound to the very end, Waylen Roche concludes the album on the most touching note. In the track “Tara,” Roche's delicate acoustic performance is supported only by keys and a bright beat, offering a comforting ballad for your day. Meanwhile, the final track “For Lewis” completely transforms the sound. With its ringing beat, bright mood, and memorable lyrics, it leaves a strong impression, placing an ellipsis at the end of the release. I wish I could turn back time and hear Waylen Roche’s debut album “33” for the first time again. It was so amazing! Dear listener, you are incredibly lucky because "33" is available on all digital platforms. Be sure to give it a listen!
P.S. Hey Waylen Roche! Thank you for creating such unique, unusual, complex, and captivating music. How do you manage to maintain a balance between such intricate genres and instruments? Especially in the last track. The sound is so rich, yet it feels incredibly light. Your voice, like a unifying instrument, soars over everything, and it sounds simply divine. I absolutely love it. I'll be re-listening to your album because I'm now your fan. I'm going to show it to all my friends because my heart is leaping out of my chest – it was that amazing. Keep it up, you’re making incredible music! Yeah!
*This review was made possible by SubmitHub.
Dear lover of passionate tracks,
Turn on "Jane" by The Girls Upstairs and enjoy. The perfect vocals, splitting into multiple voices, create a dizzying feeling that pulls you in more and more.
The slow swaying of the track, the booming rhythm, and excellent bass make this track my favorite. The catchy melody and unique vocals truly stay in your mind for a long time. I just can't stop playing it on repeat, can you?
P.S. Hey The Girls Upstairs! Thank you for releasing such amazing music that could easily be the soundtrack to a great movie. I love your music, keep making more, keep making it better!
Your best friend, SoundVille
