Dark themes akin to Updike, Bukowski, Dostoyevsky mix with musical influences of Radiohead, Townes Van Zandt, PJ Harvey. Introducing: Dallas-based God of Love.

NEWS

James Burnett, the man behind God of Love, took up the piano at 14-years-old just so he could join his older brother’s band.

“We had a small following in Dallas but by my senior year we were ready to split up,” he says.

Break-ups and make-ups, Burnett spent the next four or five years in and out of various bands with his brother and friends, recording two albums and moving to Los Angeles for a spell to pursue the dream.

However, he ultimately decided that he was his own best band mate.

“I had always wanted to take my own solo project seriously, so I decided to take advantage and focus on my own writing which takes on a more dark and brooding tone.”

Dark and brooding it is.

Propulsive and gripping, with influences ranging from Radiohead and The National to Townes Van Zandt and PJ Harvey, the upcoming single “Take You Seriously” by Burnett’s solo outing God of Love is out July 2nd on Red Zeppelin Records.

Chris J. Norwood walks the red carpet in the new video for "I Am Not Cool," available now on The Boot

VIDEO PREMIERE

Wow, sounds opulent! “Scenes of Norwood walking a red carpet, performing onstage and being approached by fans..."

Oh, wait… “Chris J. Norwood has a whole lot of fun making his point in the music video for his cheekily titled new single 'I Am Not Cool.' The new clip, premiering exclusively on The Boot, juxtaposes the singer-songwriter's life in the spotlight with mundane slices of life out of it."

Well hey - at least Chris got to experience just a little bit of that sweet, sweet fame. It's all about those red carpets, am I right?! Link in bio.

New album I Am Not Cool arrives Aug. 20 via State Fair Records, and each purchase comes with a free evaluation of what you're wearing (no, it doesn’t).

The Big Takeover reviews The Original Plan by The Enigmatic Foe, due July 30 on double 45RPM vinyl

REVIEW

Many thanks to The Big Takeover for the early review of The Original Plan by The Enigmatic Foe. "It mixes leisurely, The Church-like shoegaze... with more propelling, Kitchens of Distinction / Real Estate dreampop... springy, vivacious, The Go-Betweens / The Smiths indie pop... and even jazzy and disco-fied, horn-flecked soul."

If those words don't get you to check out The Enigmatic Foe, then how about these words from me: check out The Enigmatic Foe! Go here to pick up 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 (out July 30) on sweet, double 45RPM vinyl.

Dallas band Abbreviations sign to Red Zeppelin Records; To release debut single "Turn On You" June 18th.

NEWS

Abbreviations is a rock band from Dallas.

Also a pop band, an alternative band, and a supergroup (of sorts) i.e. members Ashley Leer (Guitar / Vox), Matt Leer (Guitar), Chad Walls (Bass), and Tony Wann (Drums) have played in many of the city’s most active bands over the years.

Staying active makes you strong, makes you super. “Turn On You,” the upcoming debut single from Abbreviations (Red Zeppelin, June 18th) radiates understated power.

No wonder that producer Stuart Sikes (himself a Grammy®-winning superpower for his work on Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose, in addition to his credits with The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Phosphorescent, Cat Power, and many more) signed on to helm “Turn On You.”

“It’s about that moment where you realize you have feelings for someone other than the one you’re with,” Ashley says of the tune. Abbreviations is finishing its debut album now with a release scheduled for late 2021.

The Morning Call appreciates Mark Bryan's "rootsy, unpretentious quality"

REVIEW


In a recent review as park of a “best new music” roundup, The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania wrote that Midlife Priceless “suggests Bryan brings more to [Hootie & the Blowfish] than appearances suggest. Bryan’s solo songs have a bit poppier feel than Hootie & the Blowfish, but there’s still a rootsy, unpretentious quality to these songs.”

FLOOD shares debut single by Elroy, "Excite Me Much"

TRACK PREMIERE

FLOOD Magazine calls the new Elroy single "Excite Me Much” a "lounge-y, downtempo tune that boldly contrasts with its title,” while Elroy himself explains that "the guitar just sort of played the line from this song without me thinking or trying too much.” Well, jeez! I'd like to have my guitar write the songs for me, too! Hear it now!

The self-titled debut album from Elroy - a member of the Finn family (of Crowded House fame, amongst so many other ventures) as well as a touring part of Wild Nothing and Connan Mockasin - is out August 13 from Grand Phony.

Gregory Ackerman is "Still Waiting Still": Los Angeles-based songwriter teams again with Pierre de Reeder of Rilo Kiley (and new friends, too) for sophomore album, Out Sept. 17th

NEWS

“I used to feel like I was the only one that should have a say in my process,” says Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Gregory Ackerman of his music. “I’ve since discovered that both life and music get better the more people you share them with.”

The latest work that Ackerman is sharing with the world is Still Waiting Still (out Sept. 17th, 2021), the follow-up to 2019’s “Stresslove EP” (V2/Munich Records), and Ackerman’s first full-length since his debut album And Friends in 2018.

Still Waiting Still was produced by Pierre de Reeder of Rilo Kiley who adds touches of hypnotic mysticism on top of the California summer sunset melodies, which beautifully combine with Ackerman’s plainspoken philosophical lyrics and twisty, dexterous guitar to create what is now Ackerman’s signature sound.

“It’s not perfect, just as nothing with a heartbeat ever is, but I hope that it represents some part of me that perhaps I could not express any other way.”

Still Waiting Still, the second album by Gregory Ackerman, arrives on Sept. 17th, 2021.

J Hacha De Zola asks, "which way to heaven?" in a new track from East of Eden, available now on American Songwriter

TRACK PREMIERE


“Never before have I felt such a departure from reality as I have during the lockdown—people dying, family, friends, and their families, dying,” reveals J Hacha De Zola, discussing the deep feelings behind his new single "Which Way.” De Zola told American Songwriter, which premiered the track today, that “never before was there this blatant defiance of all rational thought being demonstrated by those in positions of power, pure fear, pure hype, [and] the population at large seemingly trapped in this dogmatic, dualistic fatalistic slow decay.”

New album East of Eden is out June 11th via Caballo Negro.

Jared Colinger of The Enigmatic Foe initiates podcast in the ramp up to The Original Plan

NEWS

The Original Plan - the new album from The Enigmatic Foe - arrives July 30! Fans of Empire Of The Sun, tahiti 80, and #starflyer59 (with whom E-Foe's Jared Colinger has worked with previously) will feel the first single. Now, Colinger is offering up some insight into his creative process via a short podcast series with his collaborators.

He explains, "In this episode, you’ll be hearing a phone conversation I had with Frank Lenz who did the drums, percussion, and background vocals on The Original Plan. We spoke about music, his gear, the songwriting process, and you get a real behind the scenes look at the production of the album."

Check it out via the link in bio, then pre-order the gorgeous gatefold 45RPM double vinyl here.

Americana Highways shares Chris J Norwood's "I Am Not Cool," from the upcoming LP of the same name

PREMIERE

If you ask me, Chris J Norwood is cool. But I am a fan of humility, so I will tell you on his behalf that his new singe, “I Am Not Cool," and his upcoming album of the same name (due August 20 from State Fair Records), is fantastic. It premiered earlier today on Americana Highways and will be out everywhere this Friday, May 21 - the same day Chris celebrates his birthday in Dallas. Americana Highways praises the song as “unpretentious and genuine,” and Chris says it’s “one of the most ‘me’ sounding tracks that [he’s] ever released.

Elroy Finn – going simply by Elroy – to release debut album following up extensive worldwide touring as part of father Neil’s band, Crowded House.

NEWS

After years of touring and collaborating as a drummer and multi-instrumentalist in various groups (Wild Nothing, Connan Mockasin), as well as with his family (extensive worldwide touring with his brother, Liam Finn and as part of Crowded House with his father, Neil Finn), Elroy Finn (going simply by Elroy) will release his debut self-titled album on Aug. 13th, 2021.

A talented multi-instrumentalist – “I was obviously surrounded by instruments a lot growing up thanks to my Dad, so I was very fortunate in that way,” he says – Elroy was written, produced, recorded, and mixed by Elroy himself.

A brief self-release of the record in his native New Zealand earned attention right away for the hazy, coaxing sound that Elroy says he hopes will “evoke the weightless feeling you get just before you fall asleep.”

Adam's World engages J Hacha De Zola, whose East of Eden arrives next month, in a charming chat

INTERVIEW


Another great chat to chat about! J Hacha De Zola and Adam Bernard recently met on Zoom to open a pack of ProSet MusiCards and talk about the great artists therein, from Tina Turner (“at the top of the list… a force of nature”) to MC Hammer (Spoiler alert: yes, J did once own parachute pants), and how each relates to De Zola’s musical upbringing.

J Hacha De Zola’s new album, East of Eden, is out on June 11 and lead single "Lost Space" can be heard everywhere here.

J Hacha De Zola appears on the Enter The Shell podcast

INTERVIEW
Before the latest single from J Hacha De Zola’s new album 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 drops tomorrow, take a listen to his recent appearance on the “What The Music?!” podcast from Enter The Shell.

De Zola’s Greatest Hits is available now. His new album, East of Eden, is out on June 11 and lead single "Lost Space" can be heard everywhere here.

Spill premieres "The Kids Are Alright," from The Enigmatic Foe's upcoming double LP

PREMIERE


Spill Magazine just premiered “The Kids Are Alright,” the first single from Enigmatic Foe’s upcoming double LP The Original Plan (out July 30). As Spill notes, while “the album’s first single lifts its title from The Who, Jared Colinger’s original tune ‘The Kids Are Alright’ is far from a cover. In fact, the song shows off just how singular Colinger’s voice and music actually are.”

The Enigmatic Foe
The Original Plan