Single Review: "Polka Dot Dress" by Stained Glass Studios

Stained Glass Studios, is it a band? Is it a supergroup? Is it a glass blowing factory? The name simply poses too many questions for one to solve. It's simply too big a mystery for me. Or is it? Lead by Mike Antonio Jr. and Curtis Gruver, this new single advocates one's longing for a relaxed, happy, and cool life.

This song promotes the simpler things in life by its audible representation itself and while the name might not imply that (maybe?): the general structure, soft vocals, and casual nature of the percussion pushes you along a seemingly positive and serene journey. Remember years ago in a time where you thought about nothing, and looked up at the stars while eating some KFC? Yeah, it's kinda like that.

At 0:02 seconds in, you'll feel like you dropped something off of your desk. Until 0:25 the song is very reminiscent of 90's ska punk, with the quick guitar plucks followed by the bass. If you like bands such as Slightly Stoopid, Sublime, hell even The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, you'll find your head bobbing soon enough.

The music video is a trip, not as in a psychedelic one. The song spans 4:20 but, the clips that make up the video can't be more than 4-6 sec long per shot. So the video tells a tale of a party but it's done so in a way that matches up with the song; it makes you feel like you were there. Plenty of close-up shots on this have been either: slowed down, sped up, clipped, repeated, lightened, cropped, and otherwise mutilated. But? It works and works well.

Stained Glass Studios is a new band to watch out for in the future. This might be a first time endeavor but it's a strong one. It's one that really strikes an impression to those who listen close enough. If you've heard it more than 5 times, listen 5 more. Spread the word, fight the power! Peace out.

Stay Classy

- DjjD

Stained Glass Studios:

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stainedglassstudios/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClKeM7iYEX532c4RZmYOHoA

Album Review: Finding My Home by Postać

Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Postać debuts on the DjjD blog with his new album titled, "Finding My Home". Having 8 years of musical experience with various instruments, this artist released a 10 track collection of the deep, chilling tones of icy coolness. As I write this, it's snowing outside at a chilly 28 F, this album fits more than you might realize. It may not be the largest album I've ever reviewed, but man, the tracks really hit the spot for me.


"Finding My Home," really sets the foundation aesthetic for the whole album. A nice intro, complimented with a wide yet glassy pad which in turn introduces all of the floating, delicate melodies surrounding the percussion which, despite it's simple texture to the song...totally works in this case. Is your house an igloo? There's such a crystalline glow about this song, it's hard to describe but, imagine someone tapping on tuned, transparent wine tasting glasses and that's about as close as I can get to a description. This is great and it also, reminds me of another song, who is from a really good friend of mine. I could, see a collaboration happening.

 

Only getting better from there, the next track, "The Clock Keeps Ticking", really emphasizes the glassy feel from the first but somehow manages to represent a total change in structure and mixing. Now I could be wrong, but it feels like a lot of time when by between the production of the first track and the second one, there's a vast improvement here. Things feel much wider and thus...envelopes the listener more.

I took a few moments to ask Postac his background in music and ask if there was anything he'd like to say to his fans:

"Postac is from Buffalo New York.

Postac started in middle school as the creator, lead singer, and guitarist for the punk rock band Tripod Black. The band dissolved shortly after perusing a B.A. in Music Industry where Postac honed his musical skills in classical guitar, jazz, and classical composition.

Postac has been writing and composing music for a little over 8 years.

Greenday was the band that inspired Postac into music with their album American Idiot. Music from the 80's and 90's from the U.S. and Europe (having lived there for 3 years) has been a huge influence, so artist like Peter Shilling, Coldplay, Dido, Roysopp, to name a few have been heavy inflences. Also music from Kenai Kawai, Philip Glass, Baden Powell, and Charlie Parker have been inspiring and influential."

You know when I started this blog, I wanted to find music I could relate with. I wanted to find artists that could challenge my perception as a critic to find better qualities in instrumentation, arrangement, and whatever else. The goal? It'd be as much of a learning experience for me as well as a promotional advantage for whoever I'd be writing about. I'd be gaining new insights for different types of music and how artists ebb and flow across a digital or analog workstation while it might help them out to be exposed to the people I've met, who might read this blog.

Most times, it's a really easy process. Pure honesty here folks. You take a few tunes, you listen to them over and over until you're singing them in your head without help from speakers/headphones. You judge, you decide, you make several inquisitions and you piece together the results of what you've appreciated or disliked from your pros 'n cons chart.

This album, "Finding My Home" relates to those paragraphs in a way that well...it's kind of existential. Music is freeing, yet the more you travel down the path of a composer/producer, the more away from "home" it feels like. This album is definitely one of the best I've had the pleasure to listen to in 2015 so far. It's chilling, soothing, unique, and it provides classy production.

Thanks for reading!

-DjjD

I give this album a 9.3 out of 10

Links:

Homepage: http://www.postacmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/postacmusic
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/postacmusic
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/finding-my-home/id940120085
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Home-Postac/dp/B00PHPDWN0
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/6oFCllEZfpU7VNG2wckxGX?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open
Jango: http://www.jango.com/stations/328408003?l=0