AeroLynx Music Blog

I first heard DREAMERS at the Radio 104.5 Festival in Camden, and I thought they were decent enough. A listen to their debut album (which apparently doesn't exist, haha) further cemented that, but they stayed purely as a band around the level of Circa Waves, not very original but fun enough to drag out once in awhile. Then LAUNCH popped up in my notifications, and I got hooked. All of the EP is so good Karma barely comes out on top, and picking a second best is impossible. They're still not the most original, combining notes of Bad Suns, The Strokes and other recent guitar based bands, but they put it all together so well and with such emotive lyrics and well written instrumentals that they almost make you forget it. They may not be pushing the boundaries of music but they do the old style so well that you want them to carry that banner for as long as they can. This new track continues in the same vibe, starting in a relaxed groove but then kicking in with the powerful based a...

This was actually the first song I seriously listened and payed attention to by Mansionair, and I was well rewarded.This song, along with their other recent single Violet City is complete electropop ear candy, and even has some well-placed guitar and playable instrumentation to boot. Slightly trippy, offbeat drums in not extremely inventive but mildly eclectic types played on percussion pads start the song, anchoring it in a large room but keeping it down to earth with a human-played rhythm. Soft keys and lovesick vocals lead into a short guitar line which brings us to the second verse. This verse has the backing electronicized vocalizations of the overworked keyboardist, but much more soothing than the ones in Astronaut, an earlier single. The chorus is appropriately large, with a weak guitar backing and more cinematic backing vocals that distract a bit from the lyrics but also help the song. The second verse shows off the excellent ear fro melody and songwriting of their lead singer,...

I first heard of this reverb soaked, gentle NY indie band in a magazine about two years ago, but didn't really start listening until last year. Their chill and unique instrumentation and slow but memorable songs captivate me, and I'm glad to support local bands, even though they're not quite as good as Surf Rock is Dead. They came out with the single Crush a week or two ago, but then they just made it into an EP with the initially elusive Sesame Syrup a couple days ago.Crush starts off low like many CAS songs, but doesn't quite have the warehouse echo space of many of their other songs. They run the risk of sounding very similar to themselves over and over if they have the low key guitar start the song and some basic decay laced drums coming after, more cinematic guitar, etc because they do that in almost every song, and this song is no different. It is beautifully orchestrated as the guitar drums and maybe even some violins or light synths weave in and out, and the ...

Pale Waves really built themselves up over the last year, coming off a major tour with The 1975 that gave them lots of exposure, the excellent singles Television Romance, New Year's Eve and There's a Honey. They also put out the ALL THE THINGS I NEVER SAID EP this year, with the standout track The Tide showcasing the best of their shiny guitar driven pop, and the single Kiss also earlier this year. Now they have this single, Noises, which starts off with some major key light and low guitar strumming backed by the 80s-inspired synthes they got initially from The 1975's production on their first couple tracks. After the first verse of forgettable "emo" lyrics (seemingly sung with a smile) they launch into the standard melancholy but grand guitar riff progression backed by glittering bell-like synths that is almost overused in their music. The addition of a powerful surging bassline (from a keyboard or a real bass, its hard to tell) certainly livens it up, but its...

Hippo Campus just came off the release of their first full album and a massive tour (I saw some of it, and reviewed it ), and the release of the three track Warm Glow EP. They've been building their fame since 2015, starting in High School and releasing Bashful Creatures and South (the better of the two), two stellar EPs. I knew they'd release new music at some point as they played a few new songs at their show, but I assumed they'd release the song Joy, not this song, which I don't think I heard them play at their show. The song starts with a possibly electronic light and low bouncing beat reminiscent of bongos, surprising because they've traditionally been a real guitar and drum based band, but not really surprising considering they make more Indie music. Like the vocals in a lot of Hippo Campus songs the lyrics are hard to understand, but in this case still pretty inscrutable after many listens. The slightly gated piano is also new, partially because its a...

Finally! Young The Giant is back, and they're coming out with an album (hopefully) this summer. I really hope they release more tour dates, because I narrowly missed them at Central Park last summer, and now it seems like all four dates they have in New York are inconvenient. Well, whatever. I can't do anything, so I'll just enjoy their new album as much as I've enjoyed their last two - immensely.The first thing that really strikes me about the song is the range of moods, tones and volumes they can go through in one song. They go from blazing guitar and shouted vocals to melancholy strums and whispered promises in a very short time, and pretty much accomplish it and make it work.The song is also excellently crafted, with all the right instruments at the right times, and very catchy but not extremely meaningful lyrics. The second verse is definetely the best, but the deepened vox echo effects really threw me for a loop, but they ...