There are two types of bands existing on an ever-evolving modern music scene. On one side, we have music outlets repeatedly reinventing the same old wheel, while the other side tries to sound as unique as possible. Stone Arch Rivals, an outstanding American quintet based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, delivers a unique and innovative sound that will immediately appeal to all music enthusiasts looking for cleverly assembled, tastefully arranged, and flawlessly performed music. With their latest release, “Sitting On The Eastside,” they prove that alternative music can still sound as fresh as you heard it for the first time. Serving as their fourth piece of work in 2025, “Sitting On The Eastside” arrives as a perfect follow-up to “The One You’ll Want Tomorrow,” “Fire,” and “Riverside,” three exceptional compositions released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. However, this particular composition also brings innovations in songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing, demonstrating a natural progression of an already incredible band. Sonically, the band uses various techniques, approaches, and many complementary styles to create a lush sonic imagery. Perhaps soul comes to mind, but you’ll also notice how some of the finest properties of soul rock, alternative rock, and alternative pop found their way into this sonic equation. They use all these additional sonic ingredients as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to elevate their music to new heights while simultaneously remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. Besides embracing the qualities that meet all the trends in modern music production, “Sitting On The Eastside” also carries a subtle touch of nostalgia, making it suitable for listeners who appreciate all eras of soul rock music.
As soon as you press play, you’ll notice that the band thought about everything when writing and composing this excellent song. “Sitting On The Eastside” arrives with a fascinating structure, adorned with many profoundly detailed segments, brilliant ideas, and superb musicianship. You’ll also hear how the marvelous, soulful, passionate, sincere, confident, emotive, and powerful vocal performance acts as a centerpiece, guiding listeners, commanding attention, and elevating everything to new heights from beginning to end. The impressive vocal range seamlessly balances low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse, emphasizing everything the remainder of the band intended to achieve with this composition. Besides decorating all those segments and orchestrations, these vocal harmonies also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity over an already intricate structure. You’ll notice how impressive, vividly hearable, complex, warm-sounding basslines shape a perfect backdrop for all the vocals to shine upon while providing heaviness, clarity, and depth. Later on, these powerful low ends act as a binding element between guitars and rhythmic patterns while simultaneously contributing groove, warmth, and detail to the song. In the meantime, the brass section accentuates particular moments during the verses, but becomes a leading force during pre-choruses and choruses, with all those catchy, memorable, engaging themes, melodies, harmonies, and other sonic maneuvers. The guitars are subtle, yet vividly hearable in the mix. You’ll notice how all those marvelous chord progressions help out basslines to shine even more while giving more high-end to the song. Of course, like other instrumentations in “Sitting On The Eastside,” these guitar works become more dominant during the choruses, where they emit tremendous power. The exceptional drumming performance, based upon wisely assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, keeps the remainder of the band in line while dictating groove and pace. Every hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, and splash over the cymbals has its place and purpose. Everything sounds impressive from scratch to finish.
“Sitting On The Eastside” is a soul rock masterpiece, performed by the experienced, creative, wise musicians who know their exact sonic direction. There’s so much passion, skills, and talent involved throughout the entire track that you’ll gladly spin this soul gem over and over again. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out.
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