Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Petal Aggression, Francesca Fuentes, Loose Panic, Fate-Touched, Rhonette Smith, ILL-ADVISED, and 1adam12. Plus a look back at "Jerry Ryan" by The Deafening Colors.
Petal Aggression - "Beach House". Petal Aggression's first new song in six years, "Beach House", is a chill power-pop earworm, that almost makes you overlook the less happy lyrics.
Francesca Fuentes - "Barely Breathin'". This is a, "breakup song, [but] it’s also an anxiety song, a story of navigating the uncertainty of the future", says Francesca Fuentes on her Bandcamp page. She also refers to it as, "chapter 1 in my story". I can't wait for the rest of the story, as this chapter's acoustic pop sounds entices to want to hear more.
Loose Panic - "(Just Like) Madeline" [feat. Lydia Blair]. Lydia Blair's harmonizes so beautifully with Loose Panic's lead singer, Jarret Crawford, on the new single "(Just Like) Madeline". Maybe it is because I am a long-time Counting Crows fan, but this song feels like it would fit well on their "Recovering The Satellites" album. I can't wait to hear it along side the rest of Loose Panic's forthcoming album.
Fate-Touched - "Arbor". Fate Touched's Bandcamp page describes their new album, "Arbor", as "a dozen lesbian breakup songs about trees, vampires, and someone who once made me promise never to write a song about them." I got so enraptured by the songs and Fate Touched's vocals that the 43 minute album flew by, and I realized I needed to listen to it again right away.
Rhonette Smith - "Maybe". Rhonette Smith returns with what may be her most personal single yet, "Maybe". She crafted a modern rock song, that is powerful and entertaining, but with relatable lyrics about self-doubt that could have easily fit a sparse acoustic ballad... and who knows maybe an acoustic version exists (or will in the future)... but I love that this version rocks!
ILL-ADVISED - "I'll Stick Around". Harry Metzler, aka ILL-ADVISED, has had a rough few years, but I'm glad that his new single, a powerful acoustic ballad is about, as the title suggests, that "I'll Stick Around". This is the first single from his forthcoming album, "Family Cruelty", out later this year.
1adam12 - "Eternal Rounds". This is a collaboration that came from 1adam12, "hanging with musical brethren: David Voigt, Greg Markarian, Dino Citraro and Dave Thomas" and leaving them, "with a scratch vocal/guitar and they all went to town decorating...totally free-form." The result is a fabulous piece of pop infused psychedelic garage rock.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
The Deafening Colors - "Jerry Ryan". It was July of 2015 when The Deafening Colors released their "Carousel Season" album. "Jerry Ryan", if I remember correctly, was the first single from it, and the second I heard the chorus, with its beautiful Beach Boys-esque harmonies, I knew this was a song I would be listening to forever. I never did ask the band if the Jerry Ryan in the song is the founder of the Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival, but with that festival having just happened it seemed like a good time to spotlight this song.
Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon (and bridged on BlueSky)
