Alex Kunce

Happy birthday, Patrick Stump! I will take the opinion to my grave that Soul Punk is a masterpiece.

1 day ago | [YT] | 1

Alex Kunce

READY FOR COMBAT!

Hello all! This week, I am recommending a great new record from Icon For Hire—The Reckoning. It's almost a natural progression for an artist to go more mainstream the longer they're in the game, but it's rare for one to get heavier. This is the case for Icon For Hire. The Reckoning is hardcore, borderline metal, yet it doesn't compromise the punk attitude or soaring hooks we've come to love from Icon For Hire. This album also features arguably the most hip hop influence on an IFH record so far. This blend sounds like a recipe for nu metal, but the sound sort of transcends that feeling into something more complex, mixing traces of 2000s nostalgia with a firmly contemporary feel. Ariel's vocals have really matured, giving every track an added weight, and Shawn's leads rock. My favorite tracks include crazy powerful Dismantled, heavy and emotional Emo Dreams, infectious Diseased, and beautiful Sunflower. I can't neglect to mention the awesome vibes of the three interludes. My favorite of all of them has to be Ready For Combat. The pure energy, dynamic vocals, and ripping guitars make for a perfect walk-up, pump-up track. Go give The Reckoning a listen!

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

3 days ago | [YT] | 1

Alex Kunce

Hello all! Ariel Bloomer and Shawn Jump of Icon For Hire were kind enough to answer my question on stream earlier! When asked if a song of theirs surprised or changed them, Ariel answered their track Diseased on their latest record The Reckoning. Here is their answer on stream:

youtube.com/clip/UgkxhrQAGzdfqqr93OyNgvBnV5eB7O4ef…

And here is Diseased. It's a sick track! Oh, and check back this Friday for a full review of The Reckoning!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8-3S...

Icon For Hire is fully independent and fund their projects through fans on Patreon. If you're interested in their work, they're currently working on the rollout for their next album!

1 week ago | [YT] | 2

Alex Kunce

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

Check out Daisy Grenade's EP Sophomore Slump. It's a recent favorite of mine that harkens back to 2000s punk without sounding old or overly nostalgic. It's actually quite creative and carves its own niche into the punk realm. The performances are great, and the writing is quite deep while keeping things fun and sarcastic. Give it a listen!

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

1 week ago | [YT] | 2

Alex Kunce

I've been saving all my summers for you...Like fro-o-o-ot...

Hello all! It's time to recommend one of the best pop records of the past decade. If one pop star knows how to make something unique, it's MARINA. her third album Froot marks a change in direction following the more maximalist Electra Heart. MARINA pushed away the producers and executives, closed the doors, and wrote a really concise, meaningful album. Incorporating classic funk, rock, and disco with an atmospheric contemporary production, Froot paints splotches of color against a black background. And those colors sparkle. While it's hard to beat her bombastic performance on The Family Jewels, Froot may just have MARINA's most beautiful vocals. While she can carry fuller tracks, the minimalism on this release really lets her voice step to the foreground. My favorite tracks include Solitaire (a track I personally connect with), conscious and powerful Savages, rocking Forget, and heart-melting I'm a Ruin (my favorite version of which being the acoustic session). Perhaps it's a basic choice, but my #1 song has to be Froot itself. The song is just so unique and good; the wild bassline, the ethereal synthesizers, the deliciously haunting vocals, the complex lyrics? And the movement of the arrangement is inspirational. The lyrics are about patiently waiting to finally be ready for love, and what better way to reflect that than to make the listener wait almost two minutes and five sections into the song for the chorus? If I've succeeded in piquing your interested, go give Froot a listen!

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

(If you choose to listen on YouTube, I highly recommend listening to the full arrangement. MARINA music videos are great, but the chopped up arrangements are never as awesome as the real tracks! You can listen to the full arrangement of Froot here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_D4M...)
(And you can listen to the incredible acoustic version of I'm a Ruin here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCt1_...)

1 week ago | [YT] | 2

Alex Kunce

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf!

Hello all! This week, I'm recommending a pretty new record that I fell in love with after listening to by the name of Coco Moon by Owl City. Known for his hits such as Lucid Dream, Good Time with Carly Rae Jepsen, and of course Fireflies, (I'm partial to Kamikaze myself), Owl City has built a reputation for being wholesome without sacrificing interest and meaningfulness in his projects, and his latest release is just that. Coco Moon tells fun and creative stories, some real and some fictional. The electronica/indie sound is underpinned with a tropical vibe for this record, expressing Adam's love for the ocean. The lyrics are really thoughtful and poetic, and the paired instrumentals never disappoint. My favorites include calming and motivating Adam, Check Please, climactic The Tornado (we just adore the scream, don't we?), rocking Vitamin Sea, magical Dinosaur Park, thoughtful and heartwarming The Meadow Lark, and the beautifully loving closer My Muse. I have to give an honorable mention to bonus tracks Car Trouble and Boston (a cover of Augustana). Car Trouble is both adorable and electric, Owl City nails Boston's punk rock influence and crushing emotion. However, my absolute favorite has to be Learn How To Surf. The unbridled energy, the inspiring lyrics, that INSANE solo? Learn How To Surf is epic, and so is Coco Moon. Go check it out!

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Alex Kunce

Clem Burke, legendary drummer of Blondie and the Ramones, passed away yesterday. One of my favorite songs of his is Dreaming—his drum part is iconic. Give it a listen. Mr. Burke will always live on in the history of music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2WMe...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Alex Kunce

Even when I'm all alone, our loves goes on and on...

Hiya all! I am doing an about face from last week and covering a beautiful, dramatic, and uplifting record. It's Artemis by Lindsey Stirling. Lindsey wears two faces during this album: The archer goddess Artemis, and a citizen dismayed with a dystopian future. The sound of the album conveys this pairing. While Lindsey's arrangements have always been excellent, Artemis indulges in a new depth of complexity, blending her violin meets EDM roots with dark, vapory sounds and tastes of a vintage, almost victorian quality. Having anchored her sound in her previous releases, Lindsey branches out and experiments with different sounds from her violin and other instruments. I especially love the pizzicato portions of the album. My favorites include the enchanting Love Goes On and On with the legendary Amy Lee, hypnotizing Underground, waltzy Masquerade, dramatic Foreverglow (featuring some lovely vocals from Lindsey herself), contemplative Sleepwalking, and tranquilly transcendent Guardian. My very favorite has to be Darkside. From the instantly striking intro, into the uneasy verse, to the rocking chorus, Darkside captures an exhilarating spiral into the shadows. It's simply electric, as is this whole album. Go give it a try, and enjoy!

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Alex Kunce

Screaming out your name.

Hello all! This week, I have a properly insane record that was recommended to me, that I am in turn sharing with you. Metal music can express intensity and anger. Records like The Downward Spiral capture a feeling of chaos, hopelessness, and darkness. But I've never before heard music that made me feel scared. That's what Soundtracks for the Blind is. And it is an experience. Built from a collage of recordings and textures paired with live instruments, Soundtracks for the Blind by Swans performs this uneasy bleakness that doesn't seem to stop, only to change and morph in front of you. The album foregoes expected structures and doesn't hold back in employing any and all sounds. But it's also not a mesh of randomness. There is a biting intentionality behind every sound, deeper meaning that almost begs to be conveyed. Being a very long album that flows through many movements, it's difficult to choose favorites. However, while listening, I tried to pick out songs that especially interested me. I am often inclined toward transition pieces and instrumentals, which may be the root of my liking of Live Through Me. The complex textures of this track provide a deep listen that leaves you wondering what comes next. Volcano is striking, subverting its resemblance to eurodance and 90s club music. The sickening descent of Mellothumb haunts your thoughts. But there are moments of beauty too—Animus treats us to some smooth synths and calm vocals. Even the tense bits of the track show some merciful restraint. The building rock section of The Sound is climactic and engaging. Blood Section feels like waking from a dream into another dream that's not quite right. The vibraphone and breakdown of Empathy are twin highlights. Secret Friends' mysterious lilt makes you wonder just what is in that dark corner of your room. I will forewarn you—I can guarantee it's not for everyone. But I can also guarantee that it is an experience, and an experience I cannot accurately compare to any other. If you like some music, Soundtracks for the Blind might not be for you. But if you like *music*, I am certain that if you listen, you will get something out of this record. You can give it a try here:

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Alex Kunce

High, above the world below...

Hiya all! This week, I'm recommending a terribly underrated record. It's Evanescence's eponymous third release. This album sees a bit of a divergence from orchestra, emphasizing intricate synthesizers and arguably the most metal, prog sound Evanescence has experimented with. This marks a stepping stone in their sound leading into the complex arrangements of Synthesis. There are no words to compliment Amy Lee's voice. If you appreciate good singing, listen to any Amy Lee project. If you like heavy rock with ambient synths and a pop flavor, Evanescence (the album) is the record for you. Standout tracks include What You Want (that drum intro is iconic), soaring The Other Side, powerful Never Go Back, and the sweetly tragic album closer, Swimming Home. While my favorite song of Synthesis is The End of the Dream, one song overtakes it on Evanescence. It is My Heart is Broken. The visceral emotion driving the track makes it shine with blinding colors and powerful heart. Follow your heart! Listen to this album!

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

1 month ago | [YT] | 2