Stop, Rock, and Roll

Though the weather outside may be frightful, Stop, Rock and Roll is here to make sure your playlist isn’t! Here are five great local releases to warm you up this winter:

Mason Wasserman – “elderberry”

Local guitarist Mason Wasserman returns with a stunning new track. “Elderberry” features a beautiful chord progression that is a perfect mix of accessible and enjoyable as well as indicative of his songwriting chops. A distant, melancholy electric guitar line dances over crisp acoustic guitars like rays of sunshine over a lake on a breezy day. In the background, a melodic bass line provides the cherry on top.

Liminal Space – “Flower in my Mind”

The leadoff track from Liminal Space’s long-awaited debut EP Fantasyland grooves beneath a warbly haze. Harkening back to the jam band resurgence of the ’90s, the song maintains those chill vibes while staying concise and bringing in heavier elements in the chorus, which balances the mellow with the massive. Overall, the song brings to mind a beach, which is more than welcome at this time of year.

Vertigo – “Ringing Me”

Vertigo is a band known for its crushing slower tunes, but this track, off of their debut EP Lockjaw, cranks the tempo up, making this song the fastest in their repertoire. A re-recording of the only single the group released as “The Gotham Lights,” the improved musicianship and additional experience show here, as the song features more alt-rock trappings than their other material yet doesn’t lose any of their ferocity or power. The screams still rip through the walls of effects-laden guitar, groovy bass, and vicious drums (having a human drummer also improves the song over the original tenfold) while showcasing a different side of the band.

Kench – “Whisky Sunrise”

This song, a single off Kench’s newest album The Sun Sets West, starts off with a beautiful, shimmering guitar and a bass line that plays like a mix between Peter Hook of New Order and Joy Division fame and a flamenco guitar. When the drums and melancholy vocals come in, the song doesn’t lose any of its beauty, becoming reminiscent of a latter-day Pink Floyd song. The chorus only adds to the Pink Floyd similarities, with flange-drenched backing vocals and skyscraping distorted guitars. Even the vocals bear an uncanny resemblance to Dave Gilmour! A massive guitar solo towards the end of the track seals the deal.

Tysk Tysk Task – “City Lights”

Fresh off a performance at the one and only Boston Calling festival, Tysk Tysk Task have unveiled their cavernous new song, “City Lights.” Reverb drenches roaring guitars and ominous vocals, turning the fierce into the ethereal. Despite the atmospheric nature of the song, it doesn’t float off into sonic oblivion, instead staying surprisingly grounded and maintaining its power. The song is an interesting take on shoegaze and late ’90s alt rock. •