#kurt suchman

[drag-tween]

Tommy Dorfman and Kurt Suchman at the opening of Club Curran's "Author's Night in Celebration of Love's Many Facets" at FoundRae Gallery, New York on 7 Feb. 2024. Madison Voelkel for BFA

[umusicians]

UM Single Review: Charlie Puth (ft. Selena Gomez) -“We Don’t Talk Anymore”

“We Don’t Talk Anymore” -Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez Label: Atlantic Records Release Date: January 29th, 2015 Reviewed By: Kurt Suchman For a career nearly 7 years in the making, 24 year-old New Jersey vocalist Charlie Puth, has become an unsung jack-of-all-trades in the entertainment industry. From his humble beginnings as a YouTube vlogger leading to his Berklee College of Music degree, further leading to celebrity friendships with the likes of Meghan Trainor, Puth has finally been able to master his undeniable vocal talent on his debut album ‘Nine Track Mind’.  While the album itself is a far cry from mastery, tracks on the album such as the effervescent “We Don’t Talk Anymore” is enough to keep the faith in his future releases. Featuring the more notably multitalented Selena Gomez, the pair comes together to make an R&B head-bobber that is equal parts loving and longing. A restrained, steady beat bubbles under an almost tropical guitar melody as both Puth and Gomez look back on their once stable relationship. Although a total breakup song, the song is by no means bitter. It is much less dramatic, and more so compassionate. Puth and Gomez reminisce on their history, but continue to wonder what went wrong in the first place. In a time where pop music and substance can be considered mutually exclusive, “We Don’t Talk Anymore” tells the full story of the highs and lows of a relationship, before as well as after a breakup. Purchase “We Don’t Talk Anymore” on iTunes

Connect with Charlie Puth on the following websites: www.charlieputh.com www.facebook.com/charlieputh www.twitter.com/charlieputh www.instagram.com/charlieputh www.youtube.com/user/CharliesVlogs https://www.snapchat.com/add/notcharlieputh

[umusicians]

UM Review: Title Fight -‘Hyperview’

Title Fight -Hyperview Label: Anti-Records Released: February 3rd, 2015 Reviewed By: Kurt Suchman

Pennsylvania emo and punk vets Title Fight have been around the block a few times. Originally forming in 2003 and continuously growing through their releases, they have been a standby for pop punk and hardcore fans. Their last release, 2013’s Spring Songs EP, was classic Title Fight; bloodcurdling, yet melodic. It was emo without self-pity. On their latest release, Hyperview, took their long time fans for a loop and amassed a new following for their more accessible sound.

Please be aware that though their sound is different and far more accessible than past releases, the last thing they did was sell out. They simply grew up, trading in their angst for apathy. The sound of Hyperview is something that no one expected to hear from Title Fight, for it leans towards a hazy shoegaze sound. The band threw away most of their old influences and widened their scope to a plethora of new sounds. Instead of anger, there is now lethargy. They have been stripped of their Black Flag inspirations for a Jesus and Mary Chain reminiscence. Their sound is fuzzy, lush, but still heated. The change comes from a new sense of maturity. They know how to process anger now, and it definitely works for their advantage.

If you come into this album looking for screaming, stop right there. Singer Jamie Rhoden mumbles over drowned out melodies, resembling Morrissey on tranquilizers . The fluidity on each song is cut by sharp, soaring twangs of a guitar. The guitar keeps your ears attentive. While it is easy for some of these songs to fade into the background, a sudden pluck of a guitar string brings you right back where you left off.

If you miss Title Fight’s root sounds, it is all still on this album. Songs such as “Chlorine” are inarguably pop punk. “Trace Me Onto You” and the album closer “New Vision” are hardcore influences without being repellent. Both songs are fast-paced and driving. Instead of Rhoden’s vocals blending in as any other instrument, the vocal melodies are much more pronounced on these songs, recalling old Title Fight releases.

Bands have to keep people guessing. Not only to garner new fans, but to keep long time followers entertained. While Hyperview was not expected from long-time fans, it definitely appeases their appetites while tempting new listeners to have a taste.

Rating: 3.5/5 What is most respectable about Hyperview is the risks that were involved in creating it. It manages to be a total revival of Title Fight without being disingenuous. The band obviously had a vision of this album for a while, because a reinvention of this stature cannot be pulled off easily.

Hyperview is available everywhere now.

http://titlefight.org/ https://www.facebook.com/titlefight http://titlefight.tumblr.com/ https://twitter.com/titlefight

[umusicians]

UM Review: American Authors- ‘Oh, What A Life’

American Authors -Oh, What A Life Label: Mercury/Island Records Release Date: March 3rd, 2014 Reviewed By: Kurt Suchman

Genres have a way of reinventing themselves in the music business, today. When a term such as “folk music” comes to mind, most people would imagine Joni Mitchell’s magnum opus Blue or the likes of Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot’s expansive discographies. Contemporary music has noticed a boom of folk music in the past few years with acts such a Feist, Bon Iver, and Fleet Foxes producing some of the most critically acclaimed albums. From that came a variety of folk-influenced sub-genres and bands sweeping mainstream charts. Among those acts is American Authors. Even though their music strays far from classic folk music, many subtle nuances in their music are inarguably folk based, and it all makes for a debut worthy of an attentive listen.

Before getting into the album, please be aware that there is not much beneath the surface of American Authors. Their songs are twangy, plucky, upbeat, and a little naive. However, their saccharine melodies and honesty are enough to get you hooked for a good while. The albums opener, “Believers”, is a polarizing mix of personalities. It is humble, yet ambitious. Naive, but realistic. Frontman Zac Barnett wears his heart on his sleeve on this song, proclaiming “I’m a little bit sheltered, I’m a little bit scared, I’m a little bit nervous I’m going nowhere.” Their lyrics are not much, but the sincerity in the music is what keeps it going. It is this honesty that harkens back to the old days of folk music, where songs told stories of growing up and realizing the Sesame Street specials have been wrong all along and the world is not as beautiful as it is made out to be. Other notable songs include the summer trailblazer “Best Day of My Life” and the album’s closer and titular track, “Oh, What a Life.” All of these songs come from true sense of self, which can be something of a rarity these days.

Deeper cuts on the album feature American Authors experimenting with a more diverse musical palette, but this seldom works in their favor. Their implementation of more synths and drum machines towards the end of the album does not mesh particularly well with their sound, and strips away some of the integrity the other songs hold. Songs like “Trouble” and “Heart of Stone” show us a lack of identity and self-assurance, which ends up making American Authors sound like an Imagine Dragons cover band.The irrefutably worst song on the album is “Home”, which seems like not only four different songs, but four different bands in 3 and a half minutes. Not only is it impossible to get into, it does not render any emotion at all from the listener, which makes one think exactly what made them write the song in the first place.

Though the experimentation falls flat, the album should not be entirely dismissed. While the album is not exactly exciting or innovative, it is charming. The self-actualization this album consistently holds is what garners fans. No one on the face of the earth has their whole life together, and American Authors do not waver in the face of this notion. Naive as it may be, the album is brave, which is able to carry the music a lot further than people give credit for.

Rating: 3/5 If American Authors stayed in their lane this album would be a piece bubblegum folk bliss for the summer. Though their sound is not very daring, American Authors do their sound well, and the lack of pretense on the album makes it accessible to a wide audience.

Oh, What a Life is available everywhere now.

Connect with American Authors on the following websites: http://facebook.com/americanauthors http://twitter.com/aauthorsmusic