In this week’s edition of LITM Rock Picks, we bring you vibrant and rich rock sounds featuring soaring guitar riffs, synth ambiance, power-packed drumming, passionate vocals and impactful lyrics from artists The Margaret Hooligans, Erick Castrillon, Jason Myles Goss, Waves Crashing and Marshall Fassino
The Margaret Hooligans- Alley Cat Stomp
“Alley Cat Stomp” by The Margaret Hooligans is a sonic belter, crashing into you with their garage-rock, indie and rock n roll sounds. Opening strong with distortion-heavy riffs and a mosaic of percussive sounds, the track sets an energy-packed groovy rhythm that the rest of the song follows. The duo’s vocals are suspended lightly over weighted instrumentation. Wielding a satirical tone, the artist sheds light on the gun violence epidemic plaguing the U.S. through the story of “Mikey” and his frustrating life. The lyrics also pay tribute to legendary guitarist Stevie Van Zandt. The track is bursting with life in its use of catchy guitar hooks, vocal melodies and unique percussion sounds; showing the creative prowess of The Margaret Hooligans in reviving rock genres with a personal touch.
Erick Castrillon - The Great Awakening
“The Great Awakening” is a futuristic dark rock song chronicling the final moments of a cyberpunk-era android, before it is shut down. Erick Castrillon, a screenwriter and director, shows us his musical mastery in this track. The song opens to a ominous and melancholic tone with solitary acoustic bass notes, fluid electronic ambiance and grounding beats. When the singer’s voice comes on, an eerie and other-worldly quality seeps into the musical backdrop, which is enhanced by the reverb effect. Some parts of the song remind you of psychedelic rock elements from Pink Floyd and the vocal effects prevalent in The Gorillaz. As the song progresses, intensity builds, not just in the music, but also in the lyrical story; with the android becoming self-aware and hauntingly declaring “I am now a man, More than a man, I am the AI”. Studded with metallic, robotic and electronic notes, the song displays the production skills and experimental indulgences of Erick Castrillon.
Jason Myles Goss - Younger Man
“Younger Man”, the opening track of Jason Myles Goss’ latest EP “Misfit” is a neck-bobbing and emphatic sonic hit. Jason’s voice, deep and resounding in texture, sweeps you whole and you will find yourself swaying with the song’s irresistible beat. The rhythm is bouncy with bass licks and crisp with groovy drumming. The highlight of the track are the spiking guitar riffs characterized by reverb, gritty texture and passionate melodies. There are elements of 70’s soul, blues and rnb in the rhythm that elevates the emotional depth of the “bad love” narrative in the song. Jason delivers an interesting and tasteful mix of genres in the song, which continues to echo in your mind long after it has ended.
Waves Crashing - Sleepwalk
“Sleepwalk” by Waves Crashing churns out emotions from the deepest corners of your mind with its rich and haunting indie-rock ambiance. Starting off bright and luminous, like a supernova, the song explodes with vibrant sonic elements, featuring powerful melancholic guitar riffs, driving drums, reverb-heavy vocals that add emotional depth to the song. The chorus stands out with its oscillating tones that go from brooding to blissful melodies, much like the swings of emotions that one endures in the midst of an existential turmoil. “Sleepwalk” lures you in with its enigmatic atmosphere and you will find yourself contently lost in its abundant soundscape.
Marshall Fassino - Better All The Time
Lively rhythm, bright guitar riffs and emphatic vocals define “Better All The Time” by Marshall Fassino. Marshall’s vocals are vivid and bursting with emotions, delivering the lyrics with power and honesty. The guitars shine bright in the soundscape with its electrifying riffs and a maddeningly brilliant solo—a testament to the mastery at display in this song. Drums set an up-tempo pace and lift up your spirits. Tinges of garage-rock, indie-rock vibe permeate this song’s soundscape. The chorus evokes feelings of carefreeness and joy bringing warmth to the track. A potential side-effect of this song’s listening experience is humming the lyrical hook in the chorus over and over while you are blissfully unaware of this symptom. Watch out for that!
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