here they are:
"Are You Listening?" by The Kopecky Family Band: Well, ARE you listening?! 'Cause if not, you're missing out on a good one! Though not nearly as catchy as their adult alt smash hit, "Heartbeat", "Are You Listening?" reveals a more folk-y, contemplative side to The KFB. Being that the record this song came from ("Kids Raising Kids") came out in late 2012, the exchange between male and female vocals (a la Of Monsters and Men, Civil Wars, etc.) is not surprising, as it seems to have become somewhat of a trend in indie-pop/contemporary folk-rock music. The billowy, buoyant sound of "Are You Listening?" almost seems to provide a contrast to the relentless happy energy of "Heartbeat", but the diversity in their sound choices is just one more thing that makes The KFB so likable!
"Come to My Party" by Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears: The greatest James Brown imitators of the 21st century continue to bring in the funk into what is slowly becoming the middle of the 2010's! No real deep message to this song, but there doesn't need to be, really. "Come to My Party" is a song whose title pretty much explains what it is. It's a song about just having a good time! Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears bring the party straight to your ears in just a little over two and a half minutes. So there's only two things you have to remember when listening to this song. Put on your dancin' shoes, and boogie!!
"Rollin' N' Tumblin'" by North Mississippi Allstars: North Mississippi Allstars are another band who are more focused on the roots of rock 'n' roll than on what it has become. Their latest song, "Rollin' N' Tumblin'", doesn't have very many words (though the words it does have seem to be references to various parts of rock history - "drinkin' muddy water" = Muddy Waters, "I ain't gonna be your dog" = The Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog", etc.) It does have a lot of instrumental parts, though, which seem to combine the dirty blues of The Black Keys and the neo-psychedelic freakouts of The White Stripes. "Rollin' N' Tumblin'" seems to basically be a song that makes rock 'n' roll come full circle, from its Robert Johnson style guitar licks to its memorably odd homage to neo-psychedelia towards the middle of it. Rock lives!! Too bad no one seems to notice.
"Sunnier Days" by Diego Garcia: Like most Diego Garcia songs, "Sunnier Days" has a breezy, tropical folk-rock sound. Unlike most of his songs, "Sunnier Days" is more upbeat. It is not an aching ballad like "You Were Never There", "All Eyes On You", or "Nothing to Hide". Instead, it's a "sunny" song, like its title suggests. At least it tries to be. The suspended chord changes during the pre-chorus of the song give "Sunnier Days" a more moody flavor that most Diego Garcia songs tend to have. Its rhythm makes the song sound more hopeful, though.
"The Way I Tend to Be" by Frank Turner: A similar case to The Kopecky Family Band (see "Are You Listening?" - also listed in this week's blog), Frank Turner had a super catchy adult alt mega-hit ("Recovery"), which has a notable contrast to his second hit so far, the more subdued, reflective, "The Way I Tend to Be". So what IS the way Frank tends to be?! Eclectic, as far as I can see it. Although every Frank Turner song I've heard is centered around acoustic guitar, he always manages to use the instrument to convey different emotions like confidence, mixed with sarcasm ("Recovery") and more anthemic moods as well ("I Still Believe"). "The Way I Tend to Be" is more of a bittersweet song, as far as I can tell. "If you remember me, you can save me from the way I tend to be", Frank sings, over a melancholy strum of acoustic guitar. I dunno about you, but I think music itself is saving Frank from the way he tends to be!
Showing posts with label Diego Garcia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diego Garcia. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
New songs for May 9th, 2012
here they are:
“Nothing to Hide” by Diego Garcia: Every song Diego has done is one he has poured his heart and soul into, but so far, none have done so like “Nothing to Hide”! Its sound suggests that of an orchestral version of R.E.M.’s “Man On the Moon” (and of Cowboy Junkies’ even more emotionally aching “Angel Mine”). No percussion, synthesizers or electric guitars to be found here! Just the winsome, sweeping sound of acoustic guitar and a string orchestra to support the guitar! Well, that, and Diego’s tender vocals, and tell-it-like-it-is lyrics (you can’t get more “tell it like it is” than “In my heart, I’ve got nothing to hide”, can you?!) “Nothing to Hide”’s instrumentation is stark, but its overall sound is complete nonetheless! Nothin’ like a Diego Garcia song to tug at the ol’ heartstrings, eh?!
“Oh Susannah” by Neil Young: Neil Young is heavily influenced by folk music, and this is a cover of a beloved American folk song. But don’t expect your ears to be soothed when you listen to this version of “Oh Susannah”. Neil rocks it once again here, turning what was once a gentle song with a benign enough melody to make it suitable for a children’s song into a powerful, jammin’ rock ‘n’ roll anthem!! He tweaks the lyrics a little here, too, turning the “Banjo on my knee” part into “B-A-N-J-O on my knee” (spelling out the word “banjo”, as opposed to just saying it). Perhaps not the best song if you’re a folk music “traditionalist”, but for the classic rock fans, as well as those who are looking to expand their musical vocabulary, Neil Young’s take on “Oh Susannah” is well worth the listen!!
“Trojans” by Atlas Genius: Pleasant folk-rock and funky, spacey new wave collide in the latest (and first) song to get noticed from indie-pop-sters Atlas Genius (not to be confused with fellow alt/indie-rockers Atlas Sound). In addition to having an odd sound and a weird band name, the lyrics to this song are equally cryptic (someone please explain what, “Your Trojan’s in my head” is supposed to mean!!) On the plus side, though, the song is catchy, and the rhythm is straightforward. There’s no surprise dips into what seems like a completely different song during the middle part, so it keeps pretty consistent throughout. If anyone has ever heard “Cool For Cats” by the new wave band, Squeeze, “Trojans” actually sounds a lot like that, only with acoustic guitar as the backing instrument instead of piano. A funky, disco-in-space sounding electric guitar throbs at the heart of “Trojans”, which is probably the catchiest element about this song!
“Used to Rule the World” by Bonnie Raitt: Since Bonnie’s last successful song was a cover of a Gerry Rafferty song, I was thinking that maybe this was a cover of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” under a different name (like how Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” was a cover of Moby’s “Run On” under a different name). Boy was I wrong (and I’m glad I was!) “Used to Rule the World” is a blues-y vamp, recalling the faster, grittier side of Raitt’s catalog. Many of the songs on Bonnie Raitt’s latest CD, “Slipstream”, are cover songs, but (as far as I know) this one isn’t. Once again, I think this proves that Bonnie is the best when she sticks to her own material!
“Nothing to Hide” by Diego Garcia: Every song Diego has done is one he has poured his heart and soul into, but so far, none have done so like “Nothing to Hide”! Its sound suggests that of an orchestral version of R.E.M.’s “Man On the Moon” (and of Cowboy Junkies’ even more emotionally aching “Angel Mine”). No percussion, synthesizers or electric guitars to be found here! Just the winsome, sweeping sound of acoustic guitar and a string orchestra to support the guitar! Well, that, and Diego’s tender vocals, and tell-it-like-it-is lyrics (you can’t get more “tell it like it is” than “In my heart, I’ve got nothing to hide”, can you?!) “Nothing to Hide”’s instrumentation is stark, but its overall sound is complete nonetheless! Nothin’ like a Diego Garcia song to tug at the ol’ heartstrings, eh?!
“Oh Susannah” by Neil Young: Neil Young is heavily influenced by folk music, and this is a cover of a beloved American folk song. But don’t expect your ears to be soothed when you listen to this version of “Oh Susannah”. Neil rocks it once again here, turning what was once a gentle song with a benign enough melody to make it suitable for a children’s song into a powerful, jammin’ rock ‘n’ roll anthem!! He tweaks the lyrics a little here, too, turning the “Banjo on my knee” part into “B-A-N-J-O on my knee” (spelling out the word “banjo”, as opposed to just saying it). Perhaps not the best song if you’re a folk music “traditionalist”, but for the classic rock fans, as well as those who are looking to expand their musical vocabulary, Neil Young’s take on “Oh Susannah” is well worth the listen!!
“Trojans” by Atlas Genius: Pleasant folk-rock and funky, spacey new wave collide in the latest (and first) song to get noticed from indie-pop-sters Atlas Genius (not to be confused with fellow alt/indie-rockers Atlas Sound). In addition to having an odd sound and a weird band name, the lyrics to this song are equally cryptic (someone please explain what, “Your Trojan’s in my head” is supposed to mean!!) On the plus side, though, the song is catchy, and the rhythm is straightforward. There’s no surprise dips into what seems like a completely different song during the middle part, so it keeps pretty consistent throughout. If anyone has ever heard “Cool For Cats” by the new wave band, Squeeze, “Trojans” actually sounds a lot like that, only with acoustic guitar as the backing instrument instead of piano. A funky, disco-in-space sounding electric guitar throbs at the heart of “Trojans”, which is probably the catchiest element about this song!
“Used to Rule the World” by Bonnie Raitt: Since Bonnie’s last successful song was a cover of a Gerry Rafferty song, I was thinking that maybe this was a cover of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” under a different name (like how Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” was a cover of Moby’s “Run On” under a different name). Boy was I wrong (and I’m glad I was!) “Used to Rule the World” is a blues-y vamp, recalling the faster, grittier side of Raitt’s catalog. Many of the songs on Bonnie Raitt’s latest CD, “Slipstream”, are cover songs, but (as far as I know) this one isn’t. Once again, I think this proves that Bonnie is the best when she sticks to her own material!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
New songs for October 12th, 2011
here they are:
"All Eyes On You" by Diego Garcia: Before I get to reviewing this one, I'd like to apologize for overlooking Diego's previous "hit", "You Were Never There" from earlier this year. It's a very beautiful song and I'm sorry for not reviewing it when I should have. Well, that being said, hopefully my review for Diego's latest, "All Eyes On You" will compensating for my not reviewing his material earlier this year. "All Eyes On You" is a lovely song with beautiful string orchestration that manages to combine the seductiveness of the flamenco guitar with the sensitivity of the typical indie song. The sentimental, melancholy atmosphere of the song tends to make "All Eyes On You" the perfect sort of "sunset music" to me, as I can picture a romantic couple beneath the sunset watching it go down when I listen to this song!
"Come See About Me" by The Tedeschi Trucks Band: Not to be confused with The Supremes' song of the same name (though they are both written in D major), the third single from The Tedeschi-Trucks Band is a tasty rock-blues-'n'-soul romp! Its flavor, aptly enough, is between the brightly righteous soul music of the TT Band's "Bound For Glory", and the electric guitar fueled rock 'n' roll of their other big song, "Learn How to Love", as both the horns and guitar (and Tedeschi's husky, bluesy vocals) are prominently featured instruments in "Come See About Me". Perhaps the title is a sly wink at The Supremes' "Come See About Me", as Tedeschi DOES say "Come see about your baby" in the chorus in addition to the title of the song, which The Supremes also did in their "Come See About Me".
"Dawned On Me" by Wilco: It's been a busy (but exciting) year for Wilco, hasn't it?! There have been three successful songs from their latest CD, "The Whole Love", so far, including the adult alt radio mega hit, "I Might", and "Born Alone", the latter of which I just reviewed last week! Which brings me to their most recent song to get added to radio rotation, "Dawned On Me", which, melodically and vocally (at least in the verses), plays off somewhat like a "serious" version of The Rutles' "A Hard Day's Night" spoof, "I Must Be In Love". Just like The Rutles intentionally use opposites in the verses of "I Must Be In Love" ("I feel good, I feel bad, I feel happy, I feel sad"), Wilco uses the same technique in "Dawned On Me", with a similar rhythmic pattern, too ("I've been young, I've been old, I've been hurt, and consoled"). The chorus and instrumentation are more typical Wilco, though. Still, I'm pretty amazed (and amused) that I'm comparing a Wilco song to one from the self proclaimed "Pre-Fab Four"!!
"Free" by Graffiti 6: Alt-rock hasn't been as simultaneously bouncy and stylish since the days of David Bowie and INXS (of which this song has a somewhat similar sound to the latter band). The lyrics to "Free" tend to come off like the typical love song, nothing too special. The appeal to "Free" lies in its catchy, sleek instrumentation, its unforgettable rhythm, and the wide vocal range of Graffiti 6's lead singer. For a song with rather ordinary lyrics, "Free" is pretty remarkable, though. It's not only a song that doesn't easily leave your head, but its bell-like sounds and string instruments in the background also give it a very distinct flavor!
"Free My Mind" by Katie Herzig: Feels funny reviewing a Katie Herzig song, since I can remember back when she was an unknown "new" musician that got a song of hers played on the well-loved indie/folk public radio showcase, "Morning Becomes Eclectic", a couple years ago. I don't remember much about the song, except for that I liked it and that Katie's last name, "Herzig", sounded unique enough for me to remember it years later! So now, on with Katie's first big song, "Free My Mind". There are many things to like about this song, I think! First off, the instrumentation is rather unusual, even for an "indie" song, with its thumping bass at the beginning, that quickly gets joined by a swirly synthesizer, a somewhat synthesized, propulsive percussion section, and the "classical" sound of both flutes AND a string section backing up a song with an otherwise "contemporary" sound. Katie's cute but dry sounding vocals are also a notable feature of "Free My Mind", as are the lyrics (a sample of which would include, "Maybe this is what the world will see/A tiny little version of the tallest tree/An optical illusion of the human mind/Posing as a real life"). Welcome to the indie bandwagon, Katie. Enjoy the ride!!
"Shake It Out" by Florence and The Machine: For all you dancin' fools who think the title to this song sounds similar to booty shakin' classics like "Twist and Shout" and "Shake It Up", I'm going to issue a warning. "Shake It Out" is NOT supposed to be a "feel good" song. When Florence says to "Shake It Out" in this song, it's not instructions to dance, but rather a way of "shaking out" her inner demons, supposedly regarding a hangover (which also seems to be the theme of Florence and The Machine's biggest hit so far, "Dog Days Are Over"). Though the rhythm of "Shake It Out" IS somewhat danceable, it seems like it is more meant to be therapeutic than it is bouncy. Though I've never been (and likely never will be) one to engage in drinking alcohol, I can somehow still feel Florence's inner pain in this song, and for some reason, I love when songs have that effect on me!!
"All Eyes On You" by Diego Garcia: Before I get to reviewing this one, I'd like to apologize for overlooking Diego's previous "hit", "You Were Never There" from earlier this year. It's a very beautiful song and I'm sorry for not reviewing it when I should have. Well, that being said, hopefully my review for Diego's latest, "All Eyes On You" will compensating for my not reviewing his material earlier this year. "All Eyes On You" is a lovely song with beautiful string orchestration that manages to combine the seductiveness of the flamenco guitar with the sensitivity of the typical indie song. The sentimental, melancholy atmosphere of the song tends to make "All Eyes On You" the perfect sort of "sunset music" to me, as I can picture a romantic couple beneath the sunset watching it go down when I listen to this song!
"Come See About Me" by The Tedeschi Trucks Band: Not to be confused with The Supremes' song of the same name (though they are both written in D major), the third single from The Tedeschi-Trucks Band is a tasty rock-blues-'n'-soul romp! Its flavor, aptly enough, is between the brightly righteous soul music of the TT Band's "Bound For Glory", and the electric guitar fueled rock 'n' roll of their other big song, "Learn How to Love", as both the horns and guitar (and Tedeschi's husky, bluesy vocals) are prominently featured instruments in "Come See About Me". Perhaps the title is a sly wink at The Supremes' "Come See About Me", as Tedeschi DOES say "Come see about your baby" in the chorus in addition to the title of the song, which The Supremes also did in their "Come See About Me".
"Dawned On Me" by Wilco: It's been a busy (but exciting) year for Wilco, hasn't it?! There have been three successful songs from their latest CD, "The Whole Love", so far, including the adult alt radio mega hit, "I Might", and "Born Alone", the latter of which I just reviewed last week! Which brings me to their most recent song to get added to radio rotation, "Dawned On Me", which, melodically and vocally (at least in the verses), plays off somewhat like a "serious" version of The Rutles' "A Hard Day's Night" spoof, "I Must Be In Love". Just like The Rutles intentionally use opposites in the verses of "I Must Be In Love" ("I feel good, I feel bad, I feel happy, I feel sad"), Wilco uses the same technique in "Dawned On Me", with a similar rhythmic pattern, too ("I've been young, I've been old, I've been hurt, and consoled"). The chorus and instrumentation are more typical Wilco, though. Still, I'm pretty amazed (and amused) that I'm comparing a Wilco song to one from the self proclaimed "Pre-Fab Four"!!
"Free" by Graffiti 6: Alt-rock hasn't been as simultaneously bouncy and stylish since the days of David Bowie and INXS (of which this song has a somewhat similar sound to the latter band). The lyrics to "Free" tend to come off like the typical love song, nothing too special. The appeal to "Free" lies in its catchy, sleek instrumentation, its unforgettable rhythm, and the wide vocal range of Graffiti 6's lead singer. For a song with rather ordinary lyrics, "Free" is pretty remarkable, though. It's not only a song that doesn't easily leave your head, but its bell-like sounds and string instruments in the background also give it a very distinct flavor!
"Free My Mind" by Katie Herzig: Feels funny reviewing a Katie Herzig song, since I can remember back when she was an unknown "new" musician that got a song of hers played on the well-loved indie/folk public radio showcase, "Morning Becomes Eclectic", a couple years ago. I don't remember much about the song, except for that I liked it and that Katie's last name, "Herzig", sounded unique enough for me to remember it years later! So now, on with Katie's first big song, "Free My Mind". There are many things to like about this song, I think! First off, the instrumentation is rather unusual, even for an "indie" song, with its thumping bass at the beginning, that quickly gets joined by a swirly synthesizer, a somewhat synthesized, propulsive percussion section, and the "classical" sound of both flutes AND a string section backing up a song with an otherwise "contemporary" sound. Katie's cute but dry sounding vocals are also a notable feature of "Free My Mind", as are the lyrics (a sample of which would include, "Maybe this is what the world will see/A tiny little version of the tallest tree/An optical illusion of the human mind/Posing as a real life"). Welcome to the indie bandwagon, Katie. Enjoy the ride!!
"Shake It Out" by Florence and The Machine: For all you dancin' fools who think the title to this song sounds similar to booty shakin' classics like "Twist and Shout" and "Shake It Up", I'm going to issue a warning. "Shake It Out" is NOT supposed to be a "feel good" song. When Florence says to "Shake It Out" in this song, it's not instructions to dance, but rather a way of "shaking out" her inner demons, supposedly regarding a hangover (which also seems to be the theme of Florence and The Machine's biggest hit so far, "Dog Days Are Over"). Though the rhythm of "Shake It Out" IS somewhat danceable, it seems like it is more meant to be therapeutic than it is bouncy. Though I've never been (and likely never will be) one to engage in drinking alcohol, I can somehow still feel Florence's inner pain in this song, and for some reason, I love when songs have that effect on me!!
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