Jacob McCoy – “All I Need” / “Rear View Mirror”
If we were to have a patron saint here at Ear to the Ground, we would be hard-pressed to find someone more qualified than Jacob McCoy. His sound exemplifies us as a site. His vocals make us melt with all their Americana folk goodness, while his lyrics are incredibly memorable. Fans of troubadours like Ray LaMontagne and Noah Gundersen will undoubtedly love their new favorite singer songwriter. His recently released album is an absolute gem of undiscovered songwriting. We think you will agree.
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Mantell – “Lulu”
Fresh off their EP release, this quartet is winning fans with an intriguing sound we dig. The fuzzed guitars and soaring vocals are just two reasons that make “Lulu” work, but behind these, the band crafts a sometimes brooding sound that brings them to the forefront of up-and-coming conversation. With a little shoegaze blended into their sound, Mantell make a diverse and emotive sound we think is capable of transcending more than a few genres.
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Kyle Cook – “Wolves”
You may not recognize the name, but Kyle Cook is definitely known and loved by many already. As guitarist for seminal act Matchbox 20, Cook has helped to craft some of this generation’s most beloved pop classics. Amassing over 30 million records sold, the artist is going solo and we are immediate in love with his intelligent and mature sound. Lyrically, there is a depth here that speaks of a life lived in the industry while musically, it engages audiences in a way that will make younger artists jealous. We were not sure how to approach this release, but we are so glad we gave it a listen. This track is a refreshing breath of existential folk wonder.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2ifkBioI24]
