Outside Forces: Haroula Rose

Music Review

Sweet sounds from Los Angeles will sweep you into a pastel-colored spring day in a quiet neighborhood, all in the form of a folk singer named Haroula Rose.

Her clear voice shines through each of her songs on her latest EP, "So Easy", like the fresh scent of a blooming magnolia. Inhale Rose's wondrous sounds from songs speckled with a simple truth like "Only Friends" to songs with a lonely yearning that pulls at your heart the way "Already Yours" does. This is the kind of music that plays in the background while you lie on your back, spread out in star-fish mode, with only the sun to blanket you in warmth. This is the kind of music that will be your best friend on lonely, cloudy days. 

A perfect match to your next walk through a park on a cool, clear-skied day, "So Easy" is an EP that deserves to join the ranks of your favorite folk albums. Buy it for only five dollars here and don't forget to check out Rose's website or to like her facebook page. 

Outside Forces: Monstrauss

Music Review

Thanks to a friend of mine, I've been introduced to part of the music scene in San Jose, California, starting with the ska-grunge band, Monstrauss.

Upbeat and mosh-worthy, their music is something of a mish mash between the hard core and the more easy-going ska. Their EP, "My Brain and Me," has captivated me with its authentic sound and quality.With intense screams thrown into songs from their EP like "Winston," you can feel the raw intensity rip you in two. A strong bass line provides the underlying black outline to Monstrauss' sound, and the heavy-to-light guitar in songs like "Space Cadet" give something solid to grab onto like the cords of a rock climber.

Nothing but the most genuine sound comes out of this band. Made up of members Noaa Rienecker (vocals/guitar/bass), Jason Hallyburton (bass/guitar), Kennedy Applefield (guitar), and Robin Signorelli (drums) along with Noah Sanchez DeTagle (trumpet), Gabe Perez (baritone saxophone), and Jimmy McElreavy (alto saxophone), Monstrauss puts together a tough-to-beat crew of dudes ready to rock.

Check out their music here and download their EP while you're at it.