Nick Cline
Jan 7, 2025
Alternative music will have a huge impact on 2025.
Hello everyone! First, I would like to apologize for the lateness of this one. December and January are some of the craziest times of the year, as most of you can attest. But, besides that, welcome! Welcome to the first playlist picks for 2025. I want to thank all of y'all for the support you've been giving since I started at this magazine in June of last year. I am very grateful for all the opportunities and people I have met through this magazine, and I hope to continue meeting all of you beautiful people in the future. Okay, enough with the yapping. Let's get into it!
1
Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice In Chains
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First up on the chopping block is this beautiful song from 90s legends Alice in Chains. This song is from their 2009 album, Black Gives Way to Blue. It is the title track of the album that we will be discussing today. The song, 'Black Gives Way to Blue', is a song that gets me through the harsh months of December and January. It is a tonal masterpiece that will leave chilling reminders of your triumphs, darkness, and lives ahead of you and the lives before now. It is perfect for that somber feeling of winter, and it can give you hope to push past the harshness of the past year into the greatness you will become in this new year.
2
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Next up is a local Louisiana act, Kris Russ. His song 'Bleed' is an absolute banger. It is a grand testament to the possibilities of the music scenes in Louisiana. His mixing of early 2000s alternative and pop rock is a masterful determination of sonic mixing with modern sounds. The lyricism hits every note of the broken-hearted minds that will find his music inspiring and soothing. I can't wait to see what awaits Kris Russ in 2025, so I hope y'all feel the same after checking out his music. Follow Kris Russ closely because he has crafted a sound all his own.
3
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The following two picks will be more local acts that light the stage on fire with every note and beat they lay across. First up, Goodbye Academy. Goodbye Academy is a band located in the Baton Rouge area, and let me tell you, everyone needs to treat themselves to their live set. They are a powerful trio of musicians with so much energy and personality, and their sound reflects this in perfect unity. Their song, 'Drywall', is the ideal introduction to their music that fuses the sounds of midwest emo, punk, and high-octane rock. Please do yourself a favor and check out this song and their catalog. You will not be disappointed!
4
Daydream by Jean Claude Seagal and The Gosh Darn Dangs
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Next up, we have the last local pick for this installment. Welcome, Jean Claude Seagal. Their sound is reminiscent of alternative legends of the 80s and 90s, but they fit in the modern twist of hard rock and punk. The song I want to show off today is 'Daydream.' This song is a special treat to listeners because it shows off another great band, The Gosh Darn Dangs. They are an amazing group to check out as well. This song offers sonic pleasures that will show off both sides of the two bands involved in the project. 'Daydream' reminds me of Dinosaur Jr. in every significant way, but it has its sonic uniqueness that I genuinely feel deserves more love. Mixing fuzzy, spacey melodies, progressive drum styles, and pounding bass lines offer a sonic palette that will satisfy just about anybody. Do yourself a favor and check out this band of wickedly talented people.
5
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The last of this first playlist picks is Sleep's wicked song, 'Dragonaut.' The stoner rock legends Sleep offer a different light to the playlist picks. They are a heavy, droning, and ready to beat your eardrums into the ground type of band. If you are a fan of old-school Black Sabbath and a fan of walls of fuzz, then you are in luck because these guys offer that in strides. Please do yourself a favor and check out Sleep and their discography. They have cemented themselves as legends in the stoner rock genre. This song is an excellent introduction to them because of its familiar feel of blues-influenced rock with that twist of walls of fuzz, droning melodies, and a rhythm section that could floor just about anybody.
Check these tracks out and let me know what you think.
-Nick-
Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun, and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com.