War causes irreparable damage to everyone involved. An unjust, not to mention failed war multiplies that suffering. In the first single from his upcoming album, Milwaukee native and folk purist Trapper Schoepp sings of such suffering. A plucky guitar riff and spare drums run free for a few bars before he begins to sing. “Brother don’t you know we were
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Milwaukee-based and genre-bending, Khal!l released a steady stream of singles last year. “Fast Break” is his first track of the new year. 808s knock and snares snap under his autotuned vocals, synths coming and going to leave plenty of space for the lyrics to come through. The song progresses somewhat over its short length, with female vocals coming in to back the last
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ARTS & Crafts, the latest project from Milwaukee’s own Quies Terry, dropped last week following a one-of-a-kind album release party. The album and the event stand as mirror images of each other, Quies as host and Quies as poet together reflecting a single picture of what he and his music stand for. I was greeted at the door by the
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The latest single from Stuart is a heartfelt ode to the love of his mother. Solely backed from beginning to end with sweet fingerpicking, Stuart is vulnerable as he tells stories of the moments that shape his view of the woman who raised him. His conversational, half-sung verses are separated by a chorus sung by Klark. Stuart loves his mom,
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A new face in Milwaukee has hit the ground running with a new album, According to Us. Having just moved here back in August, the nineteen year-old DIY guy is itching to put himself out there. “I started doing music as a revenge story,” he says, having found creating to be an outlet for his frustration with not being taken seriously in school
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Giving expression to the weight of unhappy experiences in the past, “Baggage” appears to be a catharsis for Ja Dubb. Seriously melodic, the song has a sweetness to it that is balanced out by fat 808s and snappy high hats. This newest video from Ja Dubb, directed by Millie x, which accompanies the track shows her spitting bars and singing
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Some musicians know their sound in a definite way. Atmospheric soft-rock is the definite sound on the newest album from Dan Kolesari. The first couple tracks soar with sweet guitar riffs and saxophone lines, most of the back half chug along with somber instrumentation and heartfelt vocals. All the while Dan relates all sorts of feelings and experiences. From longing
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The newest from NEWSKI is here. On this EP, the locally established singer/songwriter provides something for everyone who enjoys some well-done modern rock. With tasty guitar throughout, the 5 tracks on this EP stay fresh from one to the next. Some go upbeat in a bluesy way (Seek Asylum From Myself), others lay into the laid-back grunge like a bed
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Newest from Milwaukee native Wells is this LP, “ParkingLot Musick (Greatest Love Story Ever Told). Enthusiastic from the start, the songs here show us that Wells has a lot to say about the woman in his life. Intimate moments together, navigating trust issues, and the thrill of planning for the future are all explored on the bars here. Did
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Milwaukee alt-rocker Zach Pietrini has a new album out, and it sounds of the DIY guy’s many influences. Opening track “Dead End Town” is upbeat and sets a pattern for most of the album’s songs: being lyrically reflective and often somewhat sad on one hand, musically leaning heavily on often-riffing guitar and chill drums on the other. The more upbeat songs on the
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At the close of a summer full of basement and club shows, Midwest tours and a sold out showing of a locally made feature length film, three bands and a DJ play a show which they unanimously agree was their best show yet.
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