Mafia Hill: China Girl

Turn on the radio or scan Youtube and you will come across an uncountable sea of "safe" artists that pretend to be edgy. Recently I was sent a track from the band Mafia Hill. "China Girl" has a reckless garage band vibe that just throws everything out there and doesn't really care what you think about it. I myself like the idea of Garage Rock because it has the attitude of Punk Rock but you don't get weighed down by the socio/political ethos that Punk so often brandishes. 

That said this is a straight up rocker. The guitar work done on the track has a nice gritty tone that will wake you up and get you out of bed. The right hand work has a sloppy technique yet it stays in the groove. It's the fun type of electric guitar playing that doesn't really care about the rules. Around the three minute mark the guitar lays back to break up the vibe. A crescendo of notes that peak into a guitar solo do well to help move the song up a notch.

The bass guitar on this track is present, but isn't really given the head room to breath. That said, you can tell that this is a guitar song. Probably based on artistic preferences but I would have liked the bass guitar more prevalent in the mix. It does well, it holds down the low end and fills out the sound scape but I wish that the vibe and attention to detail used on the guitar would have been applied here as well. 

Percussion on the cut I will presume is programmed. Essentially it is a loop that continues through the duration of the song. Personally I love guitar fills, but in a sense it is like a throw back to early rock 'n roll where the drums weren't allowed much room for blossoming. They fit well in the mix and keep time well, almost too well for garage rock. Sometimes attitude gets in the way of proper time keeping and adds to the flavor in result. I would have liked to hear more flash on the drums. 

As far as vocals are concerned. Garry has the attitude to match the guitar work. The production is low-fi in nature and that fits with the song's garage rock appeal. The overdubs are minimal but help with dynamics of the performance. I like the rough-neck approach to the love of a beautiful woman. Which he calls his "China Girl".

If you are looking for a song to crank while out on the open road this is your cut. I could totally see myself road raging to this track with the pedal to the metal. I recommend this song to those that like Rock, Garage Rock, Indie and Alternative.

Check out the video: https://www.facebook.com/garry.butlerkania/videos/1310599822479137/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mafiahill/

Michael Smith

Fireglow: "Modern Life"

Take a trip to the other side of the world in your mind and on your calendar and you will find without a doubt the happiest dark song you will ever come across. Based out of Sydney, Australia comes a band that is full of fun for the whole family. Maybe though, you don't want the kiddos to listen to hard to the music. "Modern Life" is a happy-go-lucky song that starts of singing about the oily water with bricks and glass. It's the kind of song that draws the listener in, gets bobbing their head and then... "WHAT!"

All that said I really like the song. It has an upbeat groove and style that is indicative of what you might hear during the montage of a Brady Bunch episode. The sing song nature as well as the infectious groove will have you humming this in your head well after the song is over. I really like the percussion work on this track. It holds the groove well and has a number of tasteful fills that give the song the right balance and spice that it needs. The band overall has the 60s - 70s retro music style down cold. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head that nails it so well. The guitar work at hand  has that indelible clean tone that makes you want to put on your favorite sneakers and smile while skipping in the grocery store. I even found myself wanting to air guitar a few times while listening. The bass guitar is in the pocket (though I would have liked it a bit more prominent in places). The tone is spot on with a bounce and growl that makes you want to shake your hips and howl at the moon.

Keyboard work it on spot as well. With a groovy organ tone you want to look for your bell bottoms and put on some rose colored sunglasses. Piano sounds cascade in the right places make you want to drop the top and sing along at the top of your lungs. What I find most delicious and prominent in this song is the vocal harmonies dominating in the chorus. That's the million dollar hook that propels this song into short term memory replay part of your brain. The vocal textures are fun and bounce through the ears that make it nearly impossible to frown despite the gloomy lyrical subject. Mix and production are really pretty good. This isn't some group of hacks in their garage recording with their thumbs with everything cranked to 11. 

If you're in the mood for something different, like retro-rock or want something that will put an extra kick in your step then check out Fireglow and their track "Modern Life". Just make sure that you aren't in a room with low ceilings you may find yourself bopping your head and getting a concussion. Other side affects include: swaying hips, an unending smile and a fear of postmodern industrialism. 

Michael Smith