Anna Bates - Holy Smokes [Music Video Review] June 03, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Bedroom, Alternative, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Smokin’ and tokin’ with Jesus. Sign me up! Ann Bates offers this fun track with beautiful tender vocals and wryly sharp set of lyrics that makes you stop and think. A fun track with a lively yet subtle beat and soft set of vocals that wraps around you like a warm blanket. No doubt more than a few will be offended, but I’d sure like to think Jesus would dance and smile along to this jaunty track.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Redwoods - On The Weekend [Review] June 03, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Straight up Rock and Roll energy from the very beginning! Redwoods is delivering that supercharge brand of rock that bands tend to shy away from for some reason. here, “On The Weekend’ is all about getting our there and having a good time. Just letting yourself enjoy things as they come. Like a blend of old school Loverboy meets to Foo Fighters. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger open.spotify.com/track/04MP6ZzrVzuHNasjcQeLVI?si=13ae1a0550ec43b1 facebook.com/RedwoodsVancouver instagram.com/redwoodsvancouver/?hl=en
RONIN - I JUST FKN HATE YOU NOW [Music Video Review] May 28, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Rock, Hip-Hop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Coming with a male Billie Eilish feel, this dark and emotive track fromRONIN unleashes a tight lyrical refrain that is laced with both anger and vulnerability. The emotion is very much palpable on this slow and deliberate build. The arrangement is a perfect match to the nuance of the performance and mood of the track. The writing is dark and stark at times, but spot on in capturing the essence.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Two Phase Commit - Sometimes [Review] May 23, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “This is the kind of Alt Rock song you don’t hear as much these days, but fans of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden will find it easy to dial in and connect with the track. All will others because the single offers a timeless set of vocals that is lacking in today’s charts. Talented and emotive, this build holds the listener tight and keeps them leaning in. The melody and musicianship are every bit as strong. The hard edges make this one easy to love. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
DYLYN - Bring On The Blues [Music Video Review] April 30, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Pop, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “A haunting early build slides into more of an internal determination with a harder edge as the track progresses. DYLYN goes back and forth with a slow, yet deliberate delivery that reveals the emotion and vulnerability of the well-written lyrics. Finding comparable isn’t easy as the track straddles several genres but for me this is somewhere between Billie Eilish and Halsey.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Kat Von D - Enough (Bat Cave Mix) [ April 13, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Kat Von D is an icon. Her reach has expanded far beyond the tattoo world and you never quite know where she will be making an impact next. For now you can enjoy her sultry tones at the mic where she is supported by Dave Grohl’s masterful drumming to bring her track, ‘Enough’ to your speakers. The track is all, about mood and vibe as is Kat Von D herself. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
De'Wayne - Die Out Here (ft PoorStacy) [Music Video Review] April 09, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Rock Rating: 4 out of 5 “De’Wayne unleashes this Alt-Rock track about being true to yourself rather than allowing your need to fit in or the demands of society dictate who and what you are. This energetic ode tp personal freedom feels unique in its arrangement and construction and highlights the artistry every step of the way. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
The Congregation - Soundtrack to the End of the World [Music Video Review] April 07, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Pure Rock and Roll revolution! As me tentatively reenter into the post pandemic world we need a walk up song and this track is it. The Congregation has given is the ‘Soundtrack to the End of the World’ and is is hard charged and glorious so kick open the damn door and stomp on through to the other side. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Connor Kauffman - Bleed [Review] March 11, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Pop, Punk, Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “We have all shed some blood, at least metaphorically, in the name of love. Connor Kauffman has tapped that emotional vein on this passionate track that has a hint of 90s Rock along with a contemporary Pop Punk vibe at times. ’Bleed’ offers a catchy hook and a lyrical progression that is easy to dial in on and sing along with. Straightforward Rock that speaks to the heart.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Spinning - St. Stephen's Green [Review] March 11, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Punk, Pop, Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Written immediately after a trip to Ireland, ‘St. Stephen’s Green’ is a Punk Pop track with a nice bit of reflective emotion pushing it forward. We all get in our own way from time to time and let our emotions color the world around us. this can spoil our own joy as well as our relationships and just recognizing that fact can be all we need to find solid ground once again. This track just might help, as with a lot of great art, it simple resonates in a way that lets us know we are not alone in our thoughts feelings, and anxieties. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Attics - Comic Sans [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Unreliable narrators are tough to pull off in literature and even more song in song form but the Attics do exactly that with ‘Comic Sans.’ Channeling the voice of their braggadocios and self-described dishonest grandfather, the band has a Tom Petty kind of vibe as it unfolds the wisdom of a misguided man. This unique perspective lends the song a uniqueness that carries the listener along wondering what to expect.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Matt McKnzi - Dying Breed [Review] February 18, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Commercial, R&B Rating: 4 out of 5 “Some artists are able to distill events from their life into a track that spans but a handful of minutes and yet encapsulates something much bigger. This is what Matt McKnzi does on ‘Dying Breed,’ and here, the artist explains the intent behind the song far better than I could in a brief review. So says McKnzi ... Before I got sober I was self-destructive. I hated me- whole-heartedly believing I didn’t deserve love. I carried a TON of shame. Dying Breed is centered around that shame, and around our inability to let people in. At its core, the track is about owning your truth—no matter what that looks like, no matter what the consequences are.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
WellBad - Robbery [Music Video Review] February 18, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Riding a funky little bass line and beat, WellBad gives us a bit of everything on this track. The lyrics tell the story of a man who gave a vixen everything in a ‘Robbery’ of the heart. The vocals convey a bit of Nick Cave and a Splash of Tom Waits and really it just one of those songs you simply feel in your bones. Especially if you’ve ever been in a similar position. Attitude and passion carry the day on the track and sell the emotions quite well.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Penny Lame - I Don't Talk To Boys That Make Me Cry [Review] February 10, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Pop, Punk, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Penny Lame strikes Pop Punk gold with their latest single, ‘I don’t Talk To Boys That Make Me Cry.’ Fed up and pissed off, the lyrics leave no room for doubt that the time has come to move forward. The energy and build feel like Pink meshed with Avril Lavigne with an old school splash of No Doubt tossed in for good measure. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Eric Lee - Come Break My Heart [Review] February 04, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Adult Contemporary, Americana, Country, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Written for his wife, ‘Come Break My Heart’ is a tender and heartfelt ode of love. Could be classified as Country or Americana or simply a songwriter sharing his heart but what you can the track isn’t nearly as important as the emotions fueling it. With a hint of gravel and a nice emotive tone, Eric Lee delivers a track that sticks with the soul. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Jon McCollin - Scenarios [Review] January 22, 2022 by Kreadiv Kesh in R&B, Alternative “We often play different scenarios in our head just to escape reality. Jon McCollin “Scenarios” allows us to musically see how life can be. The vocal tone relaxes your mind to visually create every lyric and relate it to your own scenario. ” — Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]
Wild Giants - If God Only Knew [Review] January 14, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “The gravel in the vocals provides instant emotional connection, and while the track does have a slight retro feel of the mid 90s to early 200s sound it does so more as a homage than a reliance. That gives the track a fresh contemporary feel on top of that familiarity. The emotional resonance carries the day and a down tempo shift at the end of the song really brought it all home for me. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
RIVER - Someday [Review] January 14, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative “Nostalgia and melancholy ride tandem in this track from Hamburg’s RIVER. ‘Someday’ is the kind of track that can mean different things to you from day to day depending on your own mood and headspace, but no matter what you take away the easy groove and clever writing will engage you and pull you deep inside the rhythm of this Indie Rock effort. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Khamari - Doctor, My Eyes [Review] November 14, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Neo-Soul, R&B, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “A soft acoustical track of heartfelt vulnerability, ‘Doctor, My Eyes’ is not the track you might expect, but it is the track you need. Khamari showcases his artistic talents in both the delivery and the writing of this emotionally laden single. This is a song you feel as much as hear, and it definitely conveys a mood of melancholy and hopeful observance than we have all felt from time to time.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Faded Rose - Judgment Day [Review] November 12, 2021 by Travis Erwin in Music, Americana, Alternative, Country, Singer/Songwriter Rating: 4 out of 5 “Faded Rose delivers a sound that falls somewhere between Lucinda Williams and Maranda Lambert. Perhaps a touch more commercial than Lucinda, but still with that jaded and ticked off attitude. Faded Rose is not quite as commercial as Lambert, but still possesses that same strong feminine determination that has made Miranda a star. ‘Judgement Day’ is a well-written track with emotion and musical punch to make you feel it deep in your bones.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger