Detroit Underground

It’s a Corporate World, the highly anticipated LP from Detroit local band Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr, was released today under the Warner Brothers label. (I guess it really is a corporate world) The LA Times uses the word “cute” a lot to describe them, and perhaps that is deserved. They aren’t exactly the embodiment of [...]

For the second annual songwriting challenge, Esquire (@esquiremag) chose Detroit as the subject. In the article, Esquire explains why they chose Detroit, and what this challenge meant to the people involved. When we started thinking about where we would base our songwriting contest this year, we had nothing but options. Los Angeles, Austin, Asheville; all [...]

Incredibly diverse and sound in their technical ability, the Phage sounds like a different band from one song to the next. In 2002, the Kish brothers met up with Ben Moore and created the prog/garage rock band The Phage. Creative melodic rock backed by the strong garage influence of the Motor City, the band brings [...]

It doesn’t take long for Oblisk to draw your attention and take you to a musically unique place. The first song of their album Weather Patterns will leave you wondering where this sound has been all your life. Remnants of My Bloody Valentine begin to surface with their wall of sound technique and spacey vocals, [...]

A very  odd sensation is derived the first time through Beauty Damaged, the newest release from Detroit artist Robin Parrent. A compilation of his solo works and material recorded with recently formed backup band the Revenants. Ever changing, unique shades of indie/baroque pop with a tinge of folk, Beauty Damaged maintains a unique sound throughout, [...]

Robin Parrent - Nobody Hurts You Like Yourself [ 4:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Beautiful arrangements with an overlay of subdued and airy vocals, the album Dark Enough for Stars by Detroit outfit Au Revoir Borealis has been compared to Icelandic ambient rock outfit Sigur Ros. Although the comparison can easily be drawn, the dynamic of Au Revoir Borealis is quite divergent from the music of Sigur Ros. The [...]

Au Revoir Borealis - Stella, My Brightest Star [ 5:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rebel Inc. offers listeners gritty and honest rock music in the style of Rage Against the Machine with a more conventional delivery. An aggressive blend of punk, rock, rap, and metal forces the listener to think, question, analyze the world around them. Determined to become more than another faceless entity in the world of rock [...]

Beginning on an upbeat and quirky note, the opening track “Able Archer” begins with a little well placed static, dramatic buildup with pounding drums leading into a beautiful melody rich in texture and optimism. Perfectly placed in the typhoon of ambient indie pop outfits that are helping redefine the Detroit local music scene, Computer Perfection [...]

Computer Perfection - We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell [ 4:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Catchy beats, a variety of different musical textures, and powerful vocals will immediately draw listeners into the wonderment that is Taxis by Zoos of Berlin. The Detroit outfit incorporates layer upon layer of brilliantly constructed instrumentals fusing together in a pop phenomenon unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Drums go from catchy to ominous, vocals from [...]

  Perpetually uplifting Detroit indie pop at its best, the final release of the Recital, Succulent Leftovers E.P. shells listeners with a diverse assortment of clever arrangements. Down to earth lyrics, trippy effects, and perfectly placed beats keep the listener hooked, boring each song deep into their mind, the type of music so infectious, listeners [...]

Sweeping distortion, spacey, ambient vocals, and a level of deep construction and introspection seldom heard on debut releases, You are You by The Summer Pledge is not easily classified. Elements of progressive rock, shoegazer, and pop fuse together perfectly to create a unique range of layered music that one can easily become lost in. The [...]