This Week: Songs You Need To Hear

It’s been a busy few months at Forthright HQ with the wrapping of our first feature film (more news to come on that soon!), but in the meantime, the song submissions have kept coming. And the more they come, the more we continue to be blown away by the amount of quality music being sent our way.

Here’s a few of our recent favorites:

I. “Sawyer” by Loveseat Pete

First up, we have a new single from the New Jersey-based alternative rock band Loveseat Pete. Succinctly, “Sawyer” is a running bass-driven radio banger. The track is the perfect ‘windows down, volume on blast’ singalong for your early summer highway cruising. Let it carry you off, above.

II. “Won’t Be No Use” by Jed Potts & The Hillman Hunters

Next up we have the incredibly soulful “Won’t Be No Use” by Britain-based band Jed Potts & The Hillman Hunters. The track is highly cinematic in feel—drawing the listener in from the jump as you wait patiently to hear the answer to the musical question they’ve crafted. And what’s the payoff? A hard-hitting Southern Rock anthem nested in skillful guitar work and a gritty and authentic vocal performance.

III. “Ralphy, I Can’t Feel My Arms” by Futurelust

Speaking of hard-hitting, Futurelust turns things up loud on “Ralphy, I Can’t Feel My Arms” off their recent self-titled album. From my perspective, artists approaching the hard rock genre often can fall into a big “hit or miss” category. That said, Futurelust is a homerun on this track and their catalog at large. They’ve got the perfect amount of grit, energy and balance to create this adrenaline-pumping soundscape.

IV. “Power Lines” by Dover Lynn Fox

Ontario-based singer/songwriter Dover Lynn Fox dropped off a perfect example of what I refer to as “iconic” music. Her single “Power Lines” has the intangible and nearly indescribable element that is present in all of the songs that reach inside and hook us deep inside. It’s nostalgic in its core, but meaningfully present in all the right ways.

V. “Not My Circus” by The Stone Eye

The newest single “Not My Circus” from Philadelphia’s The Stone Eye delivers a brilliantly acoustic-distorted, beer-raising, porch-rocking, tempo-changing and top of your lungs singing vibe. The talented group captures the energy of the stage perfectly with the production as well. From the first strums, you’ve made up your mind that you’re going along for the entire ride.

VI. “Time Is Running Out” by Slender Dan

Nashville-based duo Slender Dan released their full length album Gestalt earlier this month, and it’s full to the brim with innovative soundscapes and memorable indie electronic composition. “Time Is Running Out” is a perfect example of the heady / introspective feel they skillfully craft throughout the release. And when Terence McKenna appears mid-song, you know you’ve got me hooked.