Reviews
Review: I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME – 1981 Extended Play
Monday, November 4th, 2019 by WLOY Staff
By: Aly Martinez
I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME – 1981 Extended Play
Release: November 8, 2018
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Ricky Montgomery, The Honeysticks, half·alive
I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME also known as iDKHOW is an American indie pop duo that features Dallon Weekes and Ryan Seaman that was formed in 2016. Dallon Weekes is a former member of the popular band Panic! At The Disco, and he worked with Seaman before in the band The Brobecks. Weekes and Seaman had a unique vision to create a band that people would have to discover on their own, by only performing at small venues they built a devout fanbase.
If I were to describe this album, I would say it is fun and futuristic. It has incredible upbeat vibes and makes you want to get up and dance. My personal favorite is Do It All the Time, this is a song that you would listen to walking through the streets feeling like you can take on anything. I truly think this is a band we have to keep an eye on.
Tags: album, album review, Music, music review, new album, new music, new release, review
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Review: elbow – Giants of All Sizes
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019 by WLOY Staff
By: Aly Martinez
elbow – Giants of All Size
Release: October 11, 2019
Rate: 8.5/10
RIYL: Doves, I Am Kloot, Turin Brakes
elbow is a band that is based in England. They came together as a band in the ’90s when they were all in college and have since then created 8 studio albums and have received several awards for their music. They caught national attention with their debut EP in 1998. They have become staples in the UK rock scene since their creation.
When they recorded this album, some songs were done live in the studio and others in individual studios so they could all form their sound. It is an interesting dynamic that both appreciate teamwork and individualism. They can be described as a mellow rock sound mixed with some more hardcore sounds flowing in and out of the songs. The rock feels mixed with powerful and sometimes angry lyrics can be very capturing to the audience. One of my favorite songs is called “Empire” which has a somewhat upbeat sound mixed with slow and dragged out vocals. I recommend this to our listeners.
Tags: album, album review, Music, music review, new album, new music, new release
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Renaissance Celebrates Fifty Years
Friday, November 1st, 2019 by The Professor
Annie Haslam captures a moment of magic for posterity
by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
Renaissance is experiencing its own renaissance. The storied band has reached a milestone of five decades as a recording and touring unit. Joining Renaissance on stage as a guest musician was Jim McCarty original founding member and longstanding drummer with The Yardbirds. The Saturday, October 12, 2019 concert was recorded as a live performance presentation on BluRay, DVD and CD to be released next year.
Renaissance in 2019 are Annie Haslam on vocals, musical director Rave Tesar on keyboards, Mark Lambert on guitar, Geoffrey Langley also on keyboards, Frank Pagano on drums, and Leo Traversa on bass. Renaissance was accompanied on stage by the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, ten musicians handpicked by the band for their individual musicianship. (more…)
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Review: Shannon Lay – August
Monday, September 30th, 2019 by WLOY Staff
By Aly Martinez
Shannon Lay – August
Released: August 23, 2019
Rate: 8.2/10
RIYL: Molly Burch, Bedouine, Anna St. Louis, Boy Scouts
This album truly caught my attention because of its dreamy and soothing sound as well as its powerful lyrics. Lay wrote this album to commemorate the month in 2017 when she quit her job to follow her dreams of making music. The album is a way for her listeners to feel and hear her liberation and finding herself as a musician.
This album was written in a span of 3 months during her solo tour. This was a way for her to create her own sound away from the band she used to play with called Feels. She was able to capture an easy flowing mood within her music. She compares her sound to the flow of a river. Her heavy use of acoustic guitar makes it the perfect music to listen to when you’re chilling out or crunching for a big test. Full of mellow waves of guitar and soothing melodies and deep impacting lyrics makes this album a “Must Listen.
Tags: album, album review, august, Music, music review, new music, shannon lay
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Review: Bodywash – Comforter
Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 by WLOY Staff
By Aly Martinez
Bodywash – Comforter
Release Date: August 30, 2019
Rate: 7/10
RIYL: Memoryhouse, Craft Spells, Japanese Breakfast, SASAMI
Bodywash is a band that came to be in 2014 when Chris Steward (vocals, guitar, bass, synths, and drums) and Rosie Long Decter (vocals, and synths) started to play music together at McGill University.
The band captures a very dreampop sound, with its soft vocals and heavy use of synth to make you feel like you are being lifted up to the clouds. They recorded this album in a span of two years making the sound absolutely perfect. The dedication and hard work put into this album is seen in songs like Twins and Reverie. You can tell that this album come from self-exploration and learning to let things be the way they are. I would recommend listening to this album when looking for something to relax to, or even if you’re going through your own self exploration journey.
Tags: album, album review, bodywash, comforter, Music, music review, new music, review
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Concert Review: Thunderpussy at Metro Gallery
Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 by WLOY Staff
Whitney and Molly
of Thunderpussy
I had the chance to see Thunderpussy on Sunday, August 11th, at Metro Gallery here in good ole’ Baltimore. It was the Seattle based band’s first show in Baltimore. The show was opened by Baltimore’s own, Thunder Club. Thunder Club was very quick to acknowledge that there was no relation between them and Thunderpussy, but instead, was just a happy accident. Thunder Club opened the show with an incredible set of indie rock that was energetic, fun and incredibly good. I’m a little ashamed to admit that I hadn’t heard of Thunder Club before that since they are from the area, but will be sure to listen to now. Isn’t that what live music is for?! Their new EP, Summer Vice, is the perfect album for summer days, and I’m sure will stay in my rotation for a while.
Tags: Baltimore, concert, concert review, hollis brown, live music, metro gallery, review, show, show review, thunder club, thunderpussy
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Strangers on a Plane “Wings” Review by Jovial Njinyi
Friday, February 22nd, 2019 by WLOY Staff
Strangers on a Plane – Wings
Released: 2018
Rate: 8.8/10
Review by Jovial Njinyi
Wings by Strangers on a Plane, is a really interesting album that boasts sounds of cool indie pop. You can listen to them now on Spotify. Strangers on a Plane have developed a sound similar to a mix between Billie Eilish and Lana del Rey.
The songs on the album are definitely more on the soft soothing side. Track 10, “Wings”, that shares its title with the album, has a slightly more upbeat tempo than the other songs, with a lot more complex instrumental composition and base in the background. But of all the songs, track 5, “Look At Me”, is my personal favorite — considering it was the song that drew me to review the album in the first place. (more…)
Tags: Music, music review, Strangers on a Plane, wings
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Concert Review: Emarosa at Baltimore Soundstage
Sunday, December 9th, 2018 by WLOY Staff
On Tuesday, November 27th 2018, five bands rolled up to the Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, MD to liven up a welcoming crowd. Arlington, the Faim, Devour the Day, Emarosa, and Hands Like Houses made for an interesting line-up for sure.
I’ve found that Soundstage always has amazing opening bands, and Arlington was no exception. In fact, I’m listening to them as I write. Anyways, the show started off with Arlington, a three-member band from southern California. The first thing that I noticed besides their incredibly full sound and high energy performance was that the lead singer, Tyler Benko, sounded like Alex Turner from the Artic Monkeys. Then I realized that this band had the sound that I wish the latest Artic Monkeys album had. Amazing. Arlington was definitely one of the best performances that I’d ever seen. They even played a cover of “Reptilia” by the Stokes, which the bassist Channing Peake took on the vocals. It was Peake’s birthday, and “Reptilia” is one of his favorite songs. I also have to give credit to drummer Grant Whitson. I honestly wish they could have played longer, as I would have loved to hear so much more! Arlington’s sound, stage presence, mastery of instruments, crowd reaction, and style were all around incredible, and I definitely recommend checking them out. (more…)
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The Things They Do for Ringo
Wednesday, June 6th, 2018 by The Professor
The All-Starr Band trumps its winning hand of Aces in Atlantic City
Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
Ringo Starr on tour? It must be summertime! That’s right, Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band are on tour, but the USA only scored two exclusive dates: June 1st & June 2nd at The Borgata in Atlantic City. The full-scale 2018 All-Starr Band tour appeared at dates in Europe this summer before the current incarnation will return to launch an extended tour of the USA in the Fall.
The 13th All-Starr Band line-up is featuring its first change in five years. Joining the veteran ASB as a first-time performer is Graham Gouldman, bassist with 10cc. 10cc routinely tours across Europe and the United Kingdom, but American audiences should recall the two major hits 10cc had in the 1970s.
Participating in the 2018 installment of the All-Starr Band are guitarist Colin Hay from Men At Work rejoining the ASB from two previous tours in the past, guitarist Steve Lukather from Toto, keyboardist Greg Rollie from Santana, and drummer Gregg Bisonette from Spinal Tap as well as multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham. The Euro tour showcased two guest performances: Joan Baez in Paris and Klaus Voormann in Hamburg.
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Review: Pompeii Graffiti- Internet World Tour
Thursday, April 26th, 2018 by WLOY Staff
Artist: Pompeii Grafitti
Album: Internet World Tour
Release Date: 04/29/18
RIYL: Turnover, Bong Wish, ManDancing
Rating: 7/10
Recorded at a bunch of different locations with a bunch of guest musicians, each song on the local band’s new album, Internet World Tour, has its own personality. Although all the songs are unique in their own way, they still all blend to create a cohesive album, representative of Pompeii Graffiti itself. The whole album keeps you jamming out to its inviting lyrics, sonic depth, and upbeat percussion.
Internet World Tour takes the fun, nerdy pop-punk of the old Pompeii Graffiti and adds a level of maturity, reinventing and evolving the band that WLOY knows and loves. With its various guest musicians playing string instruments, songs like “Vanishing Act” and “Black Aggie” feel full and have an element of mystery that is new to Pompeii Graffiti’s sound. I like to call this the new nerdy pop-punk: representing the pop-punk concepts of failure with a more indie and modern rock sound.
My personal favorites are “Pulling Teeth,” which makes you want to jump around, “White Coat Syndrome,” which brings out some 2000’s alternative nostalgia, and “Gaius,” which is more mellow with playful violin. However, I had a hard time even choosing three favorites, seeing as each song has its one merit, whether it be an alternation in female/male lead vocals, melancholy lyrics, kick-ass guitar solos, arena-like energy, or even a horn section. You can find your own favorite here once the album is released on April 29th, or watch the live performance of each song off the album here. With all these different sounds to choose from and all these videos to watch, it’s almost impossible to pin Pompeii Graffiti down, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
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