Overall Impression
“Black Magic Marker” is a haunting new release from the New York City band, The Sense. This track features a mesmerizing folk-rock sound with a dynamic build, highlighted by delicate 12-string guitar, warm electric bass and meticulously arranged percussion. Lead vocalist Allen Rosso explores the sensitive subject of living with and loving someone who is dealing with depression, his striking melodies countered by tuneful bass lines and sweetened by gorgeous female backing harmonies. Fans of melancholic and artful indie folk-rock should absolutely check out The Sense’s “Black Magic Marker”, available now on all major music platforms.
Strongest Point(s)
Excellent production, solid mix. Very chill vibe and atmosphere. Great dynamic build-up over the course of the track, culminating in a beautiful finish. Guitar sounds nice and bright, without overpowering. Wonderful bass tone, brilliant counter-melodies and just a vey melodic playing style. Outstanding percussion; love the triangle, and the hand drumming added a fiery rhythmic edge to the overall sound. Tremendous vocal performance, super engaging style and delivery. Has a bit of grunge-era sensibility to it. Backing harmonies sounded amazing, great blend of voices. Terrific lyrical content; great subject matter, with intense imagery and use of metaphor. All in all, this seems like a superb group effort that comes together swimmingly. Should have fairly broad audience appeal, thanks to its unique and eclectic sound. Stellar work, by everyone involved!
Target Audience Appeal
Fans of Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Alternative Folk, Indie Folk, Folk-Rock, Post-Grunge, Adult Alternative, Neo-Psychedelia
Artist target suggestions
Cat Stevens, Donavon, Jeff Buckley, Luka Bloom, Martin Sexton, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Billy Bragg, The Decemberists, The Lumineers, Wilco, John Wesley Harding, Father John Misty, Ryan Adams, Tom Petty, Connor Oberst, Harry Chapin, The Black Crowes, The Wood Brothers, Beirut, Damien Rice, Rusted Root
About The Reviewer
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.
Vocals: Strength
Lyrics: Strength
Instrumental Performance/Execution: Strength
Melody/Rhythm: Strength
Arrangement/Flow: Strength
Recording Quality/Overall Mix: Strength
Leave a Reply