X4S - Manhattan
Rock
United States
Overall Impression: Stringing together assorted snapshots of The Big Apple in action, X4S's "Manhattan" underscores pre-pandemic day-in-the-life imagery with dystopic tones and an ominous feel for a gritty, yet candid glimpse into the inner workings of The City. Intensely raw vocals combine with a nearly funereal, marching pulse for a memorably menacing listening experience!
Strongest Point(s): X4S's implementation of audio samples and stylistically sinister sounds work together to give "Manhattan" a cohesively unnerving feel. Elements such as the jackhammer at 4:35 give the soundscape depth and the narrative a lively and immersive quality! The plodding imminence of the verse instrumentals serves the accompanying vocal performance dutifully, and the introduction of organ and guitar in the chorus contrast the verses very well. Lyrically, "Manhattan" feels authentic and honest in its perspective, giving play-by-play depictions of city life in motion while allowing the instrumental and vocal inflections to provide the emotional context.
Target Audience Appeal X4S's creative approach produces a sound and style that promise to resonate well among fans of darker sounds and grittier deliveries. Listeners with a love for unsettling artistry will find that "Manhattan" contains a wealth of intriguing images, starkly set against a deep and dreary backdrop for enhanced dramatic effect! A sort of promissory note of more to come, X4S's debut album This Record Headache Ain't Nothing a Cold Beer Can't Cure stands to capture the attentions of those that appreciate raw artistic drives across a wide range of genres
Artist target suggestions: Marilyn Manson, The 69 Eyes, Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon, Smog, Murder By Death, Jack Stauber's Micropop, Miracle Musical, Ten Years After, The Grass Roots, Misfits, Rancid, Minor Threat, Fugazi, Bloody Hammers, 45 Grave, The Dahmers, The Other, Bloodsucking Zombies from outer Space
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.