Month: August 2014

THE PROS AND CONS FOR STUDENTS CONSIDERING AN ART DEGREE

From the time you were young, drawing pictures and creating paintings were two hobbies you always enjoyed. All throughout your primary and secondary school years, you pursued classes in the field. Now, the time has come to decide upon a college major, and you want to know the benefits and consequences of obtaining a degree…

TOKYO CALLING: ASTROATTACK

Buy a ticket in to any regular week-end, multi-band event at a music venue, and usually the line-up may be a mixed bag. A beginner band, a good band, a band you like, and a band no one likes. Sometimes there is a band you think will be good ~ someday. Sometimes there is a…

TOKYO CALLING: DIR EN GREY

Dir en grey is perhaps the quintessential heavy metal act when it comes to Japan. Forming in 1997, members consist of vocalist, Kyo; lead guitarist, Kaoru; rhythm guitarist, Die; bassist, Toshiya; and drummer, Shinya. Having been together for 17 years, the band not only has a firm grip on how to play music, but the…

SKOPE NEWS FOR AUGUST 29, 2014

BACKWORDS SHARE “I’M NOT LYING” VIA BROOKLYN VEGAN Yesterday, Brooklyn Vegan shared the opening track to their upcoming album Nest. The single follows “Gloria”, which debuted earlier this month. The band has announced a hometown record release show in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right on September 20th. The bill also includes Wild Yaks, Dead Stars,…

INSPIRED BY THE CURRENT EBOLA CRISIS THOUSAND DAYS RELEASES “ONE TRUTH”

A renowned scientist who has been covered by CNN, MSNBC and the Smithsonian Magazine, frontwoman of alternative rock band Thousand Days, Pardis Sabeti, wrote “One Truth” after she learned her colleague Dr. Shiek Humarr Kahn contracted Ebola while treating 80 patients at one time. The track, which also features the voices of six amazing women…

MOSES GUNN COLLECTIVE DELIVER “SHALALA” VIDEO

Moses Gunn Collective is a 4-piece psych-rock band from Brisbane, Australia. Combining psychedelic dream pop with soulful crooning and howling riffs, the band creates music that feels classic and refreshing all at once. The sound comes from an eclectic mix of established musicians and draws from their individual projects (Orphans Orphans, The Belligerents, The Furrs,…

THE PREATURES NEW SINGLE “SOMEBODY’S TALKING”

Sydney, Australia’s five-piece rock band The Preatures released EP Is This How You Feel? on Harvest Records in October 2013. The title song, “a mid-tempo, feel-good, groove-based confection that explodes into one of the year’s best choruses,” was named Best New Track by Pitchfork, and the band was declared a CMJ Artist To Watch by…

Emma Constance, Hot Stuff

Don’t panic! If you’re looking for a sassy reworking of the Donna Summer classic ‘Hot Stuff’, Emma Constance has got it covered. Buy – https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hot-stuff-single/id906163832 Listen – https://coast2coastmixtapes.com/audiodetail.aspx?audioid=375008 It’s always a little concerning when approaching a cover version of a song that is so embedded in classic pop culture, not least when it’s the kind…

GRADUATION GOALS: TIPS TO SURVIVE YOUR SENIOR YEAR

If you are headed into your final year of college, you’re nearing the end of a long journey. While it is tempting to slack off and do as little work as possible in your last year, don’t give into the temptation. Take a look at some tips on how to approach your senior year of…

SKOPE NEWS FOR AUGUST 28, 2014

THE NORTH STAR GROUP LAUNCHES SOURCE 360 Iconic brand presents a fresh and innovative event where Hip-Hop meets Hipster. The NorthStar Group and The Source Magazine, the first major Hip-Hop periodical in the world, are breaking ground in a new way – producing the first ever SOURCE360. The inaugural SOURCE360 will be a three-day expo,…

GRAHAM NICHOLAS NEW SINGLE “WANDERING ANGEL”

Graham Nicholas has announced the release of his debut LP, Sometimes Chicken, Sometime Feathers on Tuesday, September 30th. He’ll also embark on an Eastern Canadian tour in support of the release. Dates are listed below. On the album, Nicholas has created an emotionally resonant world inhabited by troubled and love-hungry characters. Never alienated for their…

LEANNE KINGWELL “SUNSHINE”

The MuseBox today announced the release of “Sunshine,” the new single from Australia’s Leanne Kingwell. Dubbed by the Australian music press “the queen of Aussie rock” after fronting legendary Australian rock band, The Angels, Kingwell has since received much critical acclaim for her solo records, Show Ya What and Choking on Halos. Produced by David…

SCATTERED HAMLET NEW VIDEO “SHELTER”

If Stone Cold Steve Austin teamed up with Bo and Luke Duke and got into a heavy duty parking lot brawl on a Saturday night, you would have yourself the personification of six-piece outlaw metal band SCATTERED HAMLET. Known for their rowdy live shows featuring harmonicas, double and triple guitar attacks, and lots of whiskey,…

LIVE PHOTOS: HOOKFEST 2014 @ REDHOOK BREWERY

Photographs from the HookFest 2014, an outdoor music & beer festival on the lawn of the Red Hook Brewery in Portsmouth, NH, with Lettuce, The Nth Power, Bim Skala Bim, Michael Bernier & Freeevolt and the Spittin’ Vinnies. View: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.452373791571120.1073741877.125992310875938&type=1 All images © 2014 Alexandre da Veiga http://www.daveigaphoto.us

Django Mack, Sweet Life

While it is true many feel the music industry is in disarray, it’s always a breath of fresh air to hear a new band or artist that’s not afraid to take chances with their musical expression. With San Francisco based Django Mack’s latest musical offering “Sweet Life” it’s clear to me he has surpassed what…

Royal Holland, Volume One – The Maze

Running the gamut from folk to dance Royal Holland’s “Volume One – The Maze” is a lot of fun. The combination of the radically different styles brings to mind Beck’s early experiments with folk and found sounds. Lyrically the collection ranges from the celebratory into sadder territory. With such a collection Royal Holland is able…

5 BENEFITS TO GETTING A DEGREE IN MUSIC

Music is a beautiful form of art that can allow you to express your feelings in a unique manner. Whether it’s through singing, piano, teaching music, or any type of music, getting a music degree can allow you to grow in your sound and develop your skills. A music degree is oftentimes looked down upon,…

Curious Quail, After The Lights Failed

“After The Lights Failed” is an album about togetherness. Curious Quail creates a rich warm sound with satisfying buildups. Chamber pop rarely sounds this good. Thanks in part to the immaculate taste of Curious Quail the rock and classical elements play off of each other. Strings sound positively divine as they give the songs their…

Maggie Anderson, Acoustic EP

Maggie Anderson’s “Acoustic EP” is soulful. Quite the accomplished singer-songwriter she keeps things remarkably simple. With a stripped-down raw feel to the work her music comes directly from the heart. Exploring different playing styles throughout the three songs she is able to display the subtleties inherent in her voice and in her guitar. The songs…

Perry Bonck, Heart of a Cowboy

Perry Bonck is celebrating his latest release, Heart of a Cowboy. This Louisiana native shows his true colors throughout this entire CD. He boasts with pride about his home town in several tracks and paints melodic pictures of his life and upbringing. Bonck has a vocal styling that is reminiscent of Dwight Yoakum and is…

SKOPE NEWS FOR AUGUST 27, 2014

BLOOD SISTER SHARES NEW SINGLE VIA STEREOGUM Blood Sister is back with their heady brand of blown-out rippers. Ezana Edwards, formerly of Brooklyn act Night Manager, relocated to San Francisco after the band parted ways and initially started jamming with members of Bay Area mainstays such as Ganglians, The Mallard, and Warm Soda for early…

LAUREN GLEZER ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE “THE LIVING”

Gifted Melbourne singer songwriter, Lauren Glezer has announced her new single, This Living (out September 12), lifted from her debut EP, Searching For Tall set for release on September 19. Glezer will be celebrating with an east coast tour kick starting in Canberra at The Co Op on September 10 and moving through to Melbourne…

THE SILENCE KIT NEW VIDEO

While a marionette farmer plans for a nuclear fallout in ’60s black and white PSA footage, Philadelphia-based post punk band The Silence Kit blasts through the melodic rush of their 2 minute “You Think I’m Crazy Now?” from their new LP “Watershed.” Undercurrents of the Psychedelic Furs, Wedding Present, The Cure and Echo and the…

NEW VIDEO BY UNDENIABLE “BLUE BACON”

In light of the recent events and the constant police brutality, Undeniable releases a new video directed by The God Ali carrying a message: “Courtesy, professionalism, respect, serve and protect. Empty words when abuse of authority goes unchecked. It takes a certain kind of animal to put good people in cages. Revolution is UNDENIABLE.” http://youtu.be/8YUz9PM4JsQ

FAKING IT: STARS YOU NEVER KNEW HAD PLASTIC SURGERY

Being a star in the limelight places the importance of a physical appearance in a completely new category. Stars today are inspected and judged on the way they look and act. As celebrities age, many of them turn to plastic surgery. Some stars see the advantages of fixing cosmetic problems even before they get to…

THE CHRON OF THE CROP: THE RISE TO THE TOP

Electro duo Chron is taking Miami bass to new levels, with scorching hard beats and live vocals by Christianna, while knob twiddler and producer JDub keeps the party rockin’. Miami has been known for years as the home of bass music and Chron has wisely chosen to ride that wave while firmly placing their own…

Christina Gaudet, Wild Things

Christina Gaudet s a hot running artist/band from the New York area. Her latest CD released in 2014 is entitled “Wild Things”. Nowadays making music is so accessible to anyone and being that we have the do it yourself attitude, it just makes sense. Most bands don’t want to sit around just waiting for someone…

Stellar, Fight For Love

Positive, upbeat, and filled with sounds that will cheer you up this summer, Stellar’s latest track, ‘Fight For Love’ is one of the happiest electronic pop song’s you’ll hear today. https://soundcloud.com/stellar4u/fight-for-love-singlefree-download It’s easy to be immediately reminded of Cheryl Cole’s similarly titled ‘Fight For This Love’. That song was altogether darker in tone – Stellar’s…

Ari and the Alibis, Self titled EP

Ari and the Alibis are a band out of Sarasota, FL and is making waves in a short period of time. Building quite the following with their worldly sounds fused with jazz, blues and a powerhouse vocal that exudes confidence and is winning their audience over. Listen – https://soundcloud.com/ari-and-the-alibis/sets/ari-and-the-alibis-ep There is a nice Latin flair…

Big Apple Blues, Energy

On “Energy” Big Apple Blues narrates a day in the life of an average New York. Full of kinetic energy the songs refuse to slow down. Rather they move at full speed for there is no slowing down. The band clearly listens and works off each other creating a well-oil machine that effortlessly creates fully…

SKIING ALL SEASON: COMMON SKI INJURIES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Skiing can be an exciting and fulfilling sport, whether you compete or take to the slopes over long weekends. In fact, alpine skiing accounts for about one third of the athletes on the snow slopes. But, like any other sport, skiing involves a high risk of injury. Many athletes injure these body parts while skiing.…

SKOPE NEWS FOR AUGUST 26, 2014

QUENTIN REDDY DEBUT ALBUM OUT NOW Country Music Television Star Quentin Reddy has found a Diamond in the Rough with the release of his debut album. This mohawked music man wrote his first song at age seven and taught himself guitar by age nine. Primed for the stage landing an enviable top two slot on…

BENTCOUSIN NEW SINGLE “DIZZY”

Bentcousin are twin’s Patrick and Amelia. Their new single is a paean to their home town Brighton. The song captures the energy and hustle-bustle of this popular British seaside town, and incorporates the twins dual love of pathos and fun. Patrick, the younger twin explains, “The song brings together our love of pop, surf, and…

BROOKLYN’S SNOWMINE VIDEO “GLIDE”

The Brooklyn quintet formed out of a longtime friendship between bassist Jay Goodman, drummer Alex Beckmann, and lead singer/composer Grayson Sanders. They soon met guitarist Austin Mendenhall after his then recent move from the DC jazz scene, and finally invited their old friend, guitarist Calvin Pia, to complete the five-piece. From the band: “To give…

HELENA NEW SINGLE “RAVEN”

On the heels of HELENA’s highly receptive Spring release, “Levity” feat. Shawnee Taylor, dance music’s heroine returns with the festival ready “Raven,” out today on Ultra Music. “Raven” encompasses all the right elements of electro, from the killer big room drop to the rave like synths and sirens, combined with an euphoric breakdown and a…

NAZDAQ BRIXX NEW SINGLE “RED DRESS LUV”

Brixx officially began writing rhymes and working on his delivery in high school while juggling his school work at the same time. He went on to receive his college degree in Economics and Business from Central Connecticut State University and tested the waters down on Wall Street for a brief period before taking time off…

STOLI IS ‘BLOWN AWAY’ BY THE DAVE GODDESS GROUP

Hello there good people of the world. We are still all here and that is a good sign. So I will admit that I have always been a fan of the MTV VMAs. This year though I had no idea that they were on last Sunday. The only thing I knew was that a back-up…

MATT SORUM ADOPTS AND SAVES BEAR PHOENIX

Rock legend and animal activist Matt Sorum is keeping tabs on a moon bear he’s named Phoenix who has been treated by vets at a former Chinese bile farm. Phoenix has been rescued by animal welfare charity Animals Asia as part of the world’s biggest bear rescue as they transform a one-time bear farm in…

ARMY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER PENS OPEN LETTER ON IRAQ AND ISIS

Chief Warrant Officer Paul Holton, author of “Collateral Kindness: The True Story of an Army Interrogator in Iraq,” penned an open letter to the Administration and American people about the situation in Iraq. “Dashed hopes of the Iraqi people: Why did we leave them so unsecured and unprotected? As disturbing news reports continue to flow…

Tommy West, Frequencies of the Sun

Tommy West’s “Frequencies of the Sun” is a real trip. Over the course of eleven songs Tommy West displays his considerable chops. “Frequencies of the Sun” is a remarkable album with the uncanny ability to show off talent while remaining well attuned to the necessity of melodic progression. His penchant for 70s rock is particularly…