k3ko "stay with me" Music Video Review
On “Stay With Me,” K3KO blends swag and vulnerability, exposing the contradictions at the heart of her lyrics.
Read MoreKaitlin Cassady "North Star" Album Review
With North Star, Kaitlin Cassady avoids the sophomore slump entirely. It’s a record unafraid of vulnerability, of beauty, of speaking plainly about things most people keep buried. By weaving her own experiences into melodies that feel both personal and universal, Cassady invites listeners not just to hear her songs but to find themselves inside them.
Read MoreNina Luna "Restless Romantic" Album Review
When I listen to Restless Romantic I get this feeling that we are listening to a page straight out of Nina’s diary. Her most personal, most present self expressed through her greatest strength- creating music.
Read MoreThe Twins of Franklin ‘This Life’ Album Review
Right off the bat this album starts out full of emphatic energy. I was having a particularly lazy rainy day until I put This Life album on. Then I started organizing my closet which then led me to mop my floors (a well overdue task). The energy is infectious.
Read MoreAmanda Grace "Give Me Away"
Do you ever get the feeling that you should just hop into your car, turn your phone off and start driving with no GPS, just your intuition leading the way. You grab your favorite snacks (pizza flavored Combos and cool ranch Doritos obviously), fill the gas tank up and go. The only real question is what do you play on the radio. This is where Amanda Grace should come into play. When I played her first song “Give Me Away” I was instantly transported to my car with the windows down on I-94 or maybe it was 35W. Pushing the gas pedal a little too angsty while the Twin City skyline fades into the rearview mirror.
Read MoreAndy's Songs of the North Playlist Reviews - February 2024
2024 is here and I am ready for another year of original music from Minnesota. Luckily, I was able to find some more Hip-Hop, rock, our first repeat artist, and more. Honestly there’s plenty out there as long as you’re willing to dig, which I have no issue with.
Read MoreDrive-In Movies You Can Dance To: An Album from the Back Seat
A double album with 22 fantastic tracks, Annie and the Bang Bang’s “Radio Baby” offers variety in just about every aspect that an album can. The title track states, “I am an FM radio baby raised in the back of a car,” and like an FM radio on a long road trip, the album switches tones and genres often. Its lyrics also give the listener opportunities to imagine music videos or feature-length films, the perfect thing to do on a long road trip. As songwriter and lead singer Annie Enneking puts it, the songs on Radio Baby are “drive-in movies you can dance to.
Read MoreAndy's Songs of the North Playlist Reviews - December 2023
The cold December weather is here along with our collective groan of it arriving. We really should be used to this by now since many of us have lived here for a while. However, to brighten your mood I’ve found even more artists who will at least be able to warm your soul.
Read MoreMelodic Noise Insider Podcast: #7 Mae Simpson
Witnessing Mae Simpson and her band live has been on my bucket list for a while. Their debut full length Chandelier & Bloom is a killer album showcasing their musicianship, chemistry, and endless positive vibes.
Read More2023 Album and EP Considerations List
With 2023 coming to an end, it’s time to look back and all the albums and EPs that have come out of Minnesota this year. This list is all of the albums and EPs that I could find that were released by someone who is from Minnesota. If your project is on this list it is up for consideration when we write our “Favorite Album and EPs of 2023” article in January.
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