If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Jac Mestel Happy Little Clouds have had this particular sound that is both completely all their own while sounding strangely familiar. The Boston band's latest single, "Higher," has a distinctly 90's feel, although it sounds modern at the same time. Musically, the song sounds like a funkier, less dream pop version of Belly. Despite how rough around the edges the song's vibes are, it's still quite pop based and dances right on the line of being ethereal. I'm also not saying that "Higher" is a ska song, but there's just something about the groove of the track that reminds me of the genre. Happy Little Clouds are a band that has been knocking it out of the park over and over again lately, and "Higher" continues that trend. Vocalist/guitarist Jac Mestel says of the band's latest single: “When you see enough examples in life of relationships that masquerade as love, you can then understand what unconditional love really is a...

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins Along with recording her new album, Sunny War recently moved from Los Angeles back to Nashville. Her newest single, "Higher," was written at the end of a break up. The song starts like a fairly standard modern folk song, although Sunny War's vocals keep anything from being very standard. As the song progresses, we get more dissonance and noise, and the song gets a little bit heavier without getting faster or changing her vocal delivery. It's a song full of heartbreak with the vitriol that goes along with that. With "Higher," Sunny War continues being one of the most unique voices in Americana/roots music today. In a press release, Sunny War says of the new song: “I wrote ‘Higher’ around this time last year, just a few days after my ex collected the last of his belongings from our apartment. The break up was fresh and I was thinking about all the years we spent together. I was also thinking about how much stronger I was before ou...

I have an odd fondness for rock duos. There's just something refreshing about music stripped down to its bare essentials while still having a full, fleshed out sound. London's Leisure Tank bring a sense of groove and melody to the rock duo genre. Their latest single, "Higher," has a driving beat along with an incredibly danceable rhythm and bass line. The song passed catchy within the first few seconds, and it will sound and feel familiar while twisting and turning into multiple unexpected directions. "Higher" is fun and inventive, and I truly can't imagine a listener that can't find something to like here. You can listen to "Higher" below. The single is available now via Goddamn Records. For more on Leisure Tank, check out their website . HIGHER by Leisure Tank