clearflowers music

As I was just trying to go to bed after posting my Duran Duran review, Jade Puget (AFI/Blaqk Audio/XTRMST) posted his new project Twinsign with his friend named Shaina Broadstone doing vocals. If you are not familiar with Jade Puget's talent as a producer then I hope that this EP shows you the versatility of his style.  I have been an on/off fan of AFI, not all their albums piqued my interest, but when it comes to Blaqk Audio, I am a total STAN.  Jade is great producer and can arrange melodies and accentuate songs at the right moments.   This album is not like any of this other projects, the guitar is present but restrained in the back to feature and compliment the soft and airy vocals of Shaina Broadstone, who in the first song "Benjamin" invites you to join her to reminisce about a boy, her memories about their childhood and what became of this person in adulthood.  The rhythm consists of simple beats arranged on a drum machine, but melody master Jade uses his acoustic

I have been a Duran Duran fan since I got the cassingle of "Ordinary World" when I was twelve.  I have come to expect great melodies, synth, bass heavy songs, and of course those distinctive vocals and harmonies.  Duran Duran are one of my favorite New Wave eighties acts that defined the British boy-band aesthetic. They are also prolific hit makers: giving music some of the best hooks, such as "Notorious" which rapper Biggie Smalls infamously took as his moniker and sampled in "Notorious B.I.G".  Dance floor favorites "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Rio", "The Reflex" and "Girls on Film" are examples of their lasting impact on music.  Their last release Paper Gods in 2015, featuring an amazing track with Janelle Mon á e and Nile Rodgers entitled "Pressure Off". First, let me get the petty annoyances out of the way, all the tracks and title are in ALL CAPS! In this age of internet sub context, my first thought is

 I will be starting off my music writing again by returning to album reviews.  I have always liked listening to new music and sharing my opinion, since the Rasputin Manifesto days, I hope I have grown as a writer and since then.  Back in the days when I used to work at the record store, new music used to come out on Tuesdays.  These days, and for a while now it has been Fridays, which gives me a couple days to give you a review of the album from this past week (if any) was worthy of reviewing.  I will be sticking to genres and artists that I like with an open mind for new and exciting artists and albums that are making an impact. I tend to like pop and post punk music, with a penchant towards the more dark and electronic influences: industrial, experimental, future-pop, dark wave/cold wave, new wave reprints, etc.  I am hearing a lot of good music these days and through my Spotify account I can check out bands and really get into their new material when it is released. Follow me on Twi