By COOPER BROCK
In a world dominated by popular artists such as Mac Miller and Adele, the hidden gems of the music industry are often overlooked, and are robbed of the recognition and commendation their work deserves.
A refreshing change from the depressing emo-rock that has taken over the alternative genre is Male Bonding, an English punk rock group that finds the perfect balance between new wave and all out thrash.
Vocalist and lead guitarist John Arthur Webbs’s distinct and warm voice makes one reminisce of an old Beach Boys CD, and gives Male Bonding a unique sound and feel. Their recently released album, Endless Now, is a collection of head-banging harmonies that are sure to please classic rock and alternative enthusiasts alike. The opening track, “Tame the Sun,” is a great preview of the coming tracks, catchy choruses, upbeat tempos, and distorted chord progressions that make up the substance of Male Bonding.
An accomplished comedian, writer, and actor, Donald Glover, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, now gives Hip-Hop a fresh face and style. His unique approach to Hip-Hop, is that he does not take it seriously. That is not to say he does not put effort into each rhyme, but rather he raps purely for recreation. Childish Gambino is just a side project for Glover, who stars on NBC’s Community.
With a background in comedy, creating clever sets of couplets was second nature for Glover, who took it a step further and released a Hip-Hop album, entitled Camp.
In one of the more powerful pieces on the album, “Bonfire,” Glover becomes a lyrical freight train, building momentum as the track progresses. Using rhymes like “My green is where it’s supposed to be, your green is in my grocery,” Glover demonstrates his ability to infuse his wit into every rhyme.
A long standing, yet lesser known techno/electronic group, Passion Pit, mixes heavily synthesized techno with modern pop flare to bring an exciting and whimsical air to each track.
What started as a belated Valentine’s Day present to lead singer Michael Angelakos’ girlfriend, Passion Pit has evolved into a full fledged electro-pop group, bringing the best of both genres together. Their most recent release, Manners, offers a more refined experience than their first EP, Chunk of Change, having more uniform and identifiable sound.
The bonus track version, available on iTunes, features unplugged versions of “Moth’s Wings” and “Sleepyhead,” two tracks that are essential to the Passion Pit experience. Both originally effect-heavy pieces, Passion Pit does a magnificent job of stripping down the tracks, revealing melodies of incredible serenity.
To hear samples of the aforementioned tracks, visit hilights.org