It’s refreshing to hear music performed by humans – like naturally delivered vocals without the metallic soak of autotune. Like real guitars played and recorded through amps, granting their output a richness of solid, growling air. Like real percussion and not a looped, “drag-and drop” afterthought. So, the latest track by musical duo Stereo Glow – “Dig It Up” – is definitely refreshing.
“Dig It Up” – the second release from Stereo Glow’s forthcoming debut album (May 5th) — is good, catchy, well-performed and cleverly conceived music by humans. Without even realizing it, and at about the second listen, I was singing the chorus along with lead vocalist Jessica Jellen (“somewhere, suh-uh-uhm-wheeeeere….”). Great stuff, and I really like how the second “somewhere” curves upwards to dial up the emotional urgency.
Jellen’s voice reminds me a bit of Sheryl Crow, but with a more rounded tone. Crow’s voice, to me, is quite thin and always conservative — there’s never a risk to push her range and punctuate a feeling. Jellen sings what the song asks for, and embraces the feeling. If it’s a risk, she takes it, and lands it effortlessly.
This song is strong, but subtle when it needs to be. And the guitars from Mark Burke – those glorious, natural sounding, never over-processed guitars – are always gurgling and warbling underneath, or just above to keep the song driving forward, and chord changes properly promoted.
“Dig It Up” is intelligent, melodic, and accessible music, and it takes very little digging to be immediately impressed. Highly recommended.
—-
BELOW: Listen to Stereo Glow and check them out on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify. Please support Stereo Glow by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
(Want to have your music reviewed on The Ark of Music? Click HERE.)
Follow, stream, download & connect with STEREO GLOW online:
