originally published on February 3, 2018 His debut album O∆, pronounced circle triangle, was released in 2017 having a track list of eleven songs. OATMEAL, being the opening track to the album, tells the story of lazy saturday mornings where most people’s dreams live. O’Connor remarks on how many of us are not brave enough to go after those dreams. The first verse, even though in a major key, has a lower tone, but once the chorus comes in the feel of the song lightens. Everytime a verse hits, the tone darkens and broods. STEAL, delving deeper into the album also dives deeper into O’Connor’s life as a younger man going around looking for stuff to steal. The high range of the chorus perfectly juxtaposes the low monotone versus. This blending of opposites presents a really interesting auditory experience to listen to. GUTS is very similar to STEAL in the way that it’s another song that presents tonal opposites very well. From again, the versus to the chorus. GUTS talks about that
written November 10, 2017 From 4th of July barbecues to supper clubs, four best friends from Roseville, California, living just blocks away from each other, start playing music around town. In 2015 the band Vista Kicks was born. When first listening to their music I was reminded of another small local band, Meeting House. With their debut EP Chasing Waves making Apple Music Featured New Artists page last year, I thought it only appropriate to review the EP. The EP features songs such as: Mona Lisa A bass and percussion heavy song, accompanied by the soft and smooth voice of Derek Thomas the band’s lead vocalist. The band’s sound is one that is not easily imitated, which seems counter intuitive due to the fact that they’re just a bass, a guitar, and some drums which every indie rock band has access too. Their sound is a killer combination of surf-rock with a twist of the unhinged spirit of indie rock artists. Waiting on you This song opens to a layered guitar pouring over the